Disclaimer: I don't own any of the CSI:NY Characters or any of the show's storylines that I may refer to from time to time, but the rest of the plot is mine.

AN: Finally I've wrestled something from the muse to produce this chapter, I'm sorry to keep everyone waiting so long. A glimpse into Flack life at home with twins.

24. Totally Responsible

She had just finished repacking the changing bag and cleaning up the footprints when she heard a noise in the hallway. Looking up she noticed Don creeping out of the bedroom, his short hair sticking up in spikes in all directions, his shirt hanging loose from his pants and with no shoes or socks.

He walked into the lounge and looked around, noticing that she was clearing up. "You didn't have to do that."

"What? Clear the debris from the nuclear fall out you seemed to have created while I was in the bath?"

"I was going to do it once they went back to sleep, you weren't supposed to-"

"It's alright. I'm done now. What happened?"

"You don't wanna know, trust me."

"You changed." She commented walking over to him.

"Emily decided to give me a present and your son- We just won't discuss that." He answered giving her a strange look as he wrapped an arm around her shoulder.

"Shirt and pants?" she asked eyeing him up and down and running her hand over his chest.

"One each. Next time you can change the little devils." He told her a serious look on his face. Laura smiled, he was rather brash about the twins, but she knew his real feelings, he just felt a little overwhelmed at times and needed to learn to adjust.

"You love them really."

"... Oh I do, but what they produce is gross." She giggled at the face he pulled and felt his arm tighten around her as he raised his free hand and caressed her cheek, brushing some talc from her face. "Their mother is a whole other ballgame, ..... She is just the most amazing person ever, and at the risk of sounding really cheesy, she's beautiful too." He offered as he tipped his head to kiss her.

Their lips had barely touched when a small cry sounded from the bedroom. She pulled back and he sighed. "I'll go." She whispered and turned away.

"Tell my son that it's not good to interrupt his father's business."

"You wish." She grinned and walked away. Over the baby monitor he could hear her talking to the baby as she scooped him up and cuddled him. A moment later she returned, he watched as she cradled the baby in her arms, still awed at the fact that they were there, that she had adapted so easily to motherhood and he was actually not as bad as he feared at the fatherly responsibilities. She raised her head and looked at him, aware that he had been watching her. "You OK?" she asked laying the now sleeping baby in the pram again. He walked over to her and wrapped his arms around her waist holding her against him and resting his chin on her shoulder as they watched their son.

"You're amazing, you know that?" He mumbled in her ear.

"Don't sell yourself short Tiger. You're doing good too."

-----

Later that night, after Kieran's bath with him dressed for bed, Don had the baby in his arms and was circling the lounge as he coaxed him into sleeping, when there was a knock on the door. Still holding the baby he opened the door to be confronted by the rest of the team bearing presents. Stepping back he let them into the apartment. Stella turned to Mac and deposited her gift in his arms and reached for the baby.

"Going all broody there Stella?" Don commented as she cuddled the baby she had just taken from him.

"He's just so adorable." She cooed as she stroked a finger delicately across his cheek before letting him grab her finger.

"Yeah, for you maybe, round all of us he's insanely jealous. I can't even talk to my wife without him interrupting."

"What's that Flack, he stopping you from getting some?" Teased Danny.

"Like that's even possible right now, I can't remember the last time." Don moaned.

"I'm sure things will settle down soon. Once they get into a routine." Lindsay offered soothingly as she patted his arm.

They all moved into the lounge as Laura joined them with Emily cradled against her shoulder. "Hi, we didn't expect to see you all tonight." She greeted. Lindsay went to take the baby, but Laura handed her to Don. "Sorry Linds, she needs feeding and she won't let anyone else do it. I'm sure Daddy here will be more than happy to give her up after."

"So you got yourself a Daddy's girl then." Danny commented with a big grin. "How hard's that going to be when she comes home with the local scumbag?"

"Messer! Watch your mouth. Emi's going to be a good girl and do just like her Daddy tells her, aren't you sweetie?" Don replied looking first at Danny before directing his attention to his daughter snuggled comfortably in his arms.

"Think she'll listen?" Asked Mac with a cheeky grin.

"I doubt it, she's probably going to send him grey before he's 40 by winding him up the wrong way and challenging everything he says and you know what he'll bitch and moan about it, but he'll let her do it anyway because she has him twisted round her little finger." Laura told them as she returned from the kitchen with two bottles and cloths, she handed one set to Stella who had taken a seat on the couch with Kieran, then she lay the cloth over Don's shoulder and gave him Emily's bottle. "You don't all have to stand around, grab a seat and I'll get some drinks."

"That's Ok, we came prepared, we just need glasses." Hawkes advised as he held up two large carrier bags.

"Does anyone want anything to eat? I could probably find some snacks." Laura offered as she headed for the kitchen.

"We got it covered, we ordered a ton of Pizzas on the way over, they should be here in about 10 minutes." Danny called after her. Emily jumped in Don's arms and dropped the bottle letting out a small squeaking sound.

"Voice Danny, you made her jump." Chastised Lindsay, grabbing his arm and pulling him away from Don a little.

"So you guys are set for the night then?" Asked Don looking at them all as he expertly turned his daughter to his shoulder and rubbed her back where he was greeted with a rather loud burp.

"Say Don looks like you've soon got the hang of that." Hawkes praised.

"He's got the hang of more than that. Just wait for her to puke down his back." Laura giggled as she returned to the lounge with a tray of identical glasses which she set on the coffee table. Everyone laughed. Don glared at a few of them.

"Don't go there Kat, she's already got about 3 shirts today and she's only been home around 6 hours."

"Not fair, you can't blame her for you trying to eat breakfast when she wanted to play or for the time you got clever and decided not to use the cloth."

"O-K, my fault that one, but she's still one up."

Emily let out a wail letting everyone know she was still hungry and not to be outdone Kieran dropped his bottle and joined in. Laura turned her attention to her husband and daughter while Stella, almost expertly, shushed Kieran.

"Give her the rest of the bottle Don, don't tease her." Laura instructed and he lay Emily back in his arm and coaxed the bottle into her mouth and a moment later peace was restored as she sucked noisily.

"So how is it to be home really?" Asked Mac, taking a seat at Stella's elbow on the arm of the sofa.

"Strange, we've barely been here in a month, and now to be here all the time it'll take a little getting used to, as well as having them home. It's a little freaky to know you're totally responsible for them."

"I'll tell you guys, she is a freakin' amazin' mum. She just took to it straight off." Added Don.

"You don't look to be doing too bad yourself, there." Hawkes added watching Don as he still cradled the baby in his arms and looking so natural with it.

"So the big bad homicide detective has gone all soft?" Interjected Danny trying to wind up his friend, who merely glared at him for a moment before answering.

"Never, I just leave him at the door now when I get home."

"Something we agreed on a while ago to stop us talking shop every time we're together." Added Laura as the doorbell rang.

"Fooood, I'm starving." groaned Danny reaching in his pocket for his wallet as he headed to the door.

The sound of voices was followed a few moments later by the entrance of Sid and Adam bearing more gifts, which they added to the pile which now littered the dining table. Danny headed straight for the kitchen following Laura, to set everything out.

Emily let out a big sigh as she gulped the last of her bottle and Don set it aside and turned her onto his shoulder again, where she promptly burped and was sick down his sleeve, much to Adam's amusement.

"Kid I swear you're trying to kill the washer with all this laundry you're creating." He moaned at her, Lindsay, dying to have a cuddle with one of the babies came to his rescue. "That's all you're getting 'til later so you'd better not think of screaming the place down for more. The bottle's empty."

Lindsay took the baby from him. "Ignore your daddy he's a grump, come to Auntie Lindsay and have a cuddle." Taking the still clean cloth with her from Don's shoulder she joined Stella on the sofa.

"Well I guess I'll just uh, go get changed, again." Don offered and disappeared to the bedroom, leaving the guys chuckling at the bid gruff detective whinging about his daughter throwing up on him, while they imagined they'd cope better. Only Sid showed any sign of sympathy having experienced the same type of situations with his own girls as babies.

The evening wore on with endless chatter among the team, cooing and gushing over the babies and sharing of presents with Don and Laura. After everyone had left Don collected the rubbish and disposed of it, cleared the lounge of the rest of the evening's debris, then he moved to help settle the twins, finding Laura pacing their bedroom with Emily screaming in her arms. Looking around for their son she indicated across the hall, so he moved to check on things. For once the jealous boy was sound asleep, oblivious to the screams his sister was giving off across the hall. Don closed the door and returned to the bedroom, carefully removing the screaming child from her mothers arms and propping her on his shoulder.

"Hey sweetheart, it's ok, I've got you, everything is OK." With her propped on his shoulder he rubbed her back.

"She's been like that for 5 minutes, I think she's got wind. Kieran OK?"

"He's fine, fast asleep. First time I've known him not to out scream his sister."

"I hoped that would happen, it's why I brought her in here." Laura couldn't repress a yawn and Don looked at her carefully as he paced around their bedroom, Emily still screaming. He paused as he stopped in front of her and stroked her hair resting his hand on the back of her neck.

"It's been a long day, why don't you get some sleep, I'll take her in the other room for a bit."

"I can't rest while she's screaming," Laura ran her hand over the baby's head trying to sooth her.

"Kat, humour me, I'm fine, you should get some sleep, Kieran's gonna be awake in a few hours for a feed and as much as I'd love to oblige he'll need his mom." He watched her look uncertainly between him and the baby. "We're in this together babe, I can handle it. Get some rest."

Reluctantly she nodded and kissed him and then stroked Emily's sweaty head again before kissing her too. "She's a bit warm. It'll be the screaming. You sure about this?"

"I got her, you take care of yourself. You hear me?"

"Yeah, .. Thanks."

"Don't thank me, it's my job."

"Night Guys, Em be good for Daddy." She stroked the crying baby one more time and Don turned and left the room, the noise quickly disappearing down the hall. Laura crawled onto the bed and forgot about everything.

Don paced the room for some time as he rocked the screaming baby, until she cried herself to sleep.

------

Wailing broke through the fuzz Laura felt she had for a brain and she dragged herself out of bed and crept across the hall. Emily was kicking her arms and legs wildly as her mum peered over the side of the crib. Mumbling to her daughter she lifted her out and sat in the rocking chair letting her daughter feed. Relaxing with her Emily she was finding it hard not to fall asleep, this had been her routine every night for the last week and she was struggling to cope, it seemed as fast as she finished midnight feeds she started the night-time ones. She was just completely exhausted and couldn't focus on anything. She was fine during the day, but the nights were getting to her, managing the almost constant feeding schedule demanded by her children. With Emily still feeding when Kieran woke up she tried to move her to get to her brother, but the little girl was having none of it. Laura leaned her head back against the chair as Emily fed hungrily. Kieran's cries becoming louder, but there was nothing she could do. The tears began to flow.

"Kat?" She never heard her name. "Hey, sweetheart, are you alright?" Don's hand on her head finally drew her attention.

"I can't do this anymore, ... I need to sleep, but they won't let me." She didn't care that she was whining. His soothing hand wiped away her tears.

"Alright, I'm gonna take Kieran through to the lounge, then I'm coming back for Em and you are going to bed-"

"I can't, Em hasn't finished yet and I have to feed Kieran."

"You're exhausted, I'm taking over-"

"But they need me." She whined again as he stroked her hair again and crouched down to her level.

"Not tonight, they can have bottles tonight and when you've had some sleep we'll work out a better routine. You can't keep this up babe, we need to get you straight before I go back to work."

Too tired to argue anymore she nodded and he quickly removed a screaming Kieran from the room.

Sorry for the long gap with this, having written half the chapter the muse totally deserted me. Having almost reached the end of the story it's more than a little inconvenient, so I've taken charge and issued my orders so hopefully I'll have it wrapped up soon.