What happens in the hours after
Okay, I had to give this an M rating because of a small part at the beginning
"And if I need anything at all
I need a place that's hidden in the deep
where lonely angels sing you to your sleep
though all the world is broken
I need a place where I can make my bed
a lover's lap where I can lay my head
'cause now the world is spinning
the day's just beginning"
-Atlantic, Keane
A/N: Thanks to Mauveine for this song! Ironically, this was the song that played at the end of Consequences in Season Three
The room was bathed in rays of warm sunlight. A cool, refreshing breeze wafting through the open window. Flack's eyes opened slowly, trying to adjust to the shards of light falling on the bed. In his semi-awake, slightly hung over state, he saw the unfamiliar bed and walls surrounding him and wondered where the hell he was. He lay there for several long minutes, on his back, a forearm over his eyes, trying to gather his thoughts and get rid of the cobwebs in his brain. When his normal thought process and realization of where he was returned, he sighed heavily, rubbed at his throbbing temples and checked his watch. It was just after nine thirty. He wondered why the hell he'd woken up so early when they had another night at the hotel booked and didn't have to worry about check out until tomorrow. he yawned noisily and rolled over onto his left side, reaching for the warm, welcoming body beside him. Only all his hand found was cold sheets and an empty pillow.
His eyes snapped open and he sat up. Rubbing sleep out of his eyes as he looked around the spacious, opulent room. Samantha was at the picture window with her back towards him, clad in her robe and nightie.
"You okay?" he asked softly, so as not to startle her. "Why are you up?"
"I felt a little sick and needed some air." she replied.
"You okay now?" he asked with concern. "Did you throw up?"
"No. I just felt like I might. I'm okay now, though. I'm just getting some air and checking out the view."
"You're from New York and you still like checking out the view?" he asked, finding something so innocent and naive about that idea.
"I never get tired of it." she said. "And I was gone for a long time, remember?"
"I can't help but think if you never went to Arizona you would have ended up with the NYPD and working for Mac from the get go and we would have met a lot sooner. Who knows where we'd be now if we'd met a long time ago."
She'd thought about that a few times herself. How if she'd only gone to school in New York like she had originally wanted, she would have prevented a lot of heartache in her life. Started things off on the right foot working for the best lab in the country and meeting the man of her dreams before Zack had managed to take away any faith she had in men. But thinking about it and wishing for what could have been didn't change what was going on now. Now she was happy and in love and established in her career and the past didn't matter. And she found solace in the fact that Zack was dead. As awful as that no doubt made her sound.
"Who says I would have liked you back then?" she asked playfully, glancing over her shoulder as he slipped out of bed and into his boxers.
"You would have." he replied confidently and joined her at the window, wrapping his arms around her from behind and kissing the side of her head.
"I don't know about that. I heard you had long hair a few years ago. I don't like guys with long hair. I like guys who look like guys."
"It wasn't that long. And you would have liked me. I still had the blue eyes and we both know that's what you love the most."
"True." she giggled and he nuzzled the side of her neck.
"And it could have been me that didn't like you back then." he pointed out.
"I doubt that. What's there not to like?"
"Absolutely nothing." he concluded and kissed her cheek. "Good morning." he said.
She leaned her head back against him. "Good morning." she returned.
"Did you sleep good?"
"I wouldn't call it sleeping." she said with a bright smile. "Not much sleeping went on last night."
He smiled as well and lay his hand on her lower stomach. Somewhere in there, growing and thriving was their baby. Someone they had created together. And it was an amazing feeling. "You're feeling okay?" he asked. "No puking or dizziness or anything?'
"You're paranoid, Don."
He rubbed her tummy lightly. "I just don't want anything bad happening." he reasoned.
"I know. But I actually feel really good this morning. Considering how shitty I have been feeling."
"You can argue with me all you want, but you are getting a belly all ready."
"Guess I shouldn't be surprised. Especially with the father being as big as he is. Kid's probably going to be twelve pounds when he's born."
"He? You keep saying he all the time. You think it's going to be a boy?"
"I want it to be a boy." she admitted.
"I just want it to be healthy and have ten fingers and ten toes and everything where it should be. But a boy would be nice. First born being a son. What guy doesn't want that?"
"A Donald the third?" she asked.
"What is wrong with you? No. Hell no. That'd be torture. I'm not out to punish my kid."
"Middle name?"
"Not even the middle name."
"Third name?" she tried.
"How many named do you want this kid to have?" Flack asked.
"I just think we should have your name in there somewhere." she replied. "You are the father. It would make me happy. You want me to be happy, don't you?"
"Of course I do."
His hands ran down her stomach and around to her hips and lower. His fingertips pushing up the bottom of her robe and her nightie and drifting lightly along her bare skin. He felt the goosebumps that over took her body and heard the sharp intake of breath she gave. It was amazing that she was always so responsive. And that it seemed she was even more so in the last couple of months. His lips were against her ear. "I know how to make you happy." he said.
She shivered. "Think so, do you?"
"Mm-hm." he replied, nuzzling the side of her neck and then the sensitive back part, just under her hairline. He kissed and sucked lightly at the soft skin. Ran his hand up underneath her nightie and onto her stomach, pulling her back against him, his erection pressing into her.
"You're very excited this morning." she said and rubbed her ass against him.
"I'm like this every morning. You know that. It's a guy thing. Go to bed horny, wake up horny. And you are just so fucking sexy."
One of his hands slid up to cup her breast and play with the nipple that was all ready rock hard and begging for attention. The other hand slid down, his fingers delving between her legs to find her clit, his lips on the back of her neck. He rubbed her clit in slow, lazy circles. She was all ready wet. Her moisture bathing his fingers. She moaned and closed her eyes and leaned her head back against her chest.
"Feel good?" he asked against her ear.
"So good." she breathed and opened her legs to give him better access.
He slipped two fingers inside of her and used his thumb on her clit while thrusting his fingers in and out of her at slow pace, deep inside of her. Her moans were picking up in intensity and volume. He knew it meant she was getting close. He increased the pace of the fingers inside of her, stroked her clit faster and harder, squeezed her nipple and rolled it between his thumb and forefinger and licking and sucking at the back of her neck, biting it lightly. That small bite sent her over the edge and she orgasmed with a loud, long moan, her muscles contracting around his fingers.
He needed to be inside of her. Now. Hearing her noises, feeling her come like that around his fingers, made him even harder, almost to the point of being excruciating. He yanked his boxers off, put her hands on the window and spread her legs more. Pulled her nightie up. He positioned his cock, all ready leaking pre-cum, at her entrance. She thrust her ass back at him and he pulled back a bit. Teasing her by rubbing the tip of his cock against her opening until she was whimpering.
"Please..." she begged. "Don...please..."
"Just lean forward a little bit and keep your hands where they are...you okay?"
She nodded.
He re-positioned himself at her entrance again and taking her by the hips, eased into her inch by inch. Driving her crazy. Pushing her closer to the window.
"I don't want you to move." he said. "I wanna do all the work. Okay?"
"Okay." she agreed.
He pulled out until just the head remained inside, the thrust back inside quickly. She moaned, leaned her head back against him once more. He moved at a slow, gentle pace, reaching around to play with her clit again. That aroused, he knew he wouldn't last long. And he didn't want to. He felt the familiar tension in his lower back and stomach and moved faster and harder, one hand coming up to fondle her breasts. His fingers on her clit bringing her closer to a second orgasm. Her noises became louder and more insistent, spurring him on, and he pounded into her and rubbed her clit and she came forcefully, screaming his name. He thrust through the tightness of her contracting muscles. Feeling her orgasm around his cock bringing on his own release. Her name was on his lips as he came hot and deep inside of her.
Her body tingled from head to toe. Her breathing was ragged. She shivered at the touch of his lips on the back of her neck and across her shoulders. He ran a hand over her hips and down onto her thighs, pulling out of her slowly and then fixing her nightie.
He kissed her ear. "Let's go back to bed." he suggested. "Stay there all day."
"You do have a lot of stamina these last couple of days." she said.
"It's you, Samantha. All you. You do this to me. You're so beautiful and you drive me crazy and I can't get enough of you."
She smiled.
"You'll never know how much I love you."
She smiled and turned around and looked up at him. "Why don't you take me back to bed and try showing me?" she asked.
Who was he to say no?
After two hours of slow, intense and consistent love making, they ordered breakfast from room service and ate it in the middle of their rumpled bed, then had a warm, relaxing bubble bath that had to be repeated when things turned hot and heavy the first time. Flack passed out the second he lied down, spent from the morning's activities and lulled into sleep by the hot water. Samantha got dressed, frowning when she realized that the Tommy Girl jeans she had just bought less than two months ago were all ready started to get snug in the waist. Wanting to give Flack a shot upside the head for getting her that way, but decided to be nice and just let him sleep. He'd been working a lot of doubles and the occasional triple lately and sometimes went a couple days with no more than a few hours sleep. The job on top of trying to work in some time for their relationship was wearing him out. Especially when he was so determined to to be there every step of the way through her pregnancy.
And then there was the pain. She knew he was in pain still from the horrific injuries he'd suffered in the bombing. He hid it well and changed the subject if she brought it up or just flat out denied that there was anything wrong and tried to convince her that she was reading into things. He wouldn't take a simple Tylenol let alone anything stronger, and it was frustrating not to be able to convince him that it was okay to be weak every once in a while. She'd even talked to Hawkes to see if it was normal that he still be having that kind of pain. Hawkes had said of course. With the severity of injuries Flack had suffered, pain would more than likely be lifelong. Maybe not as intense ten years from now, but nagging nonetheless. Then he'd written a prescription for Percocet in her name so Flack wouldn't think she was doing anything sneaky behind his back. That was nearly three months ago and the bottle was still full in the kitchen cupboard. Stubborn bastard.
Carmen and her took the elevator to the main floor. A little girl time was in order. They toured the hotel. Even if they hadn't left the city, it still felt as if they were on vacation. And now that her own pills had kicked in, Samantha found herself constantly hungry. So their first stop was was the small cafe as opposed to the larger restaurant, where they grabbed a couple of drinks and banana chocolate chip muffins. Sam bought two just in case. And two small cartons of chocolate milk.
They sat on the outdoor patio, enjoying the cool breeze and the warm, bright sun.
"Glad to see you're eating." Carmen commented. "Not much of a breakfast though. Two muffins and chocolate milk?"
"Breakfast?" Sam laughed. "I already ate breakfast. We ordered rom service. Want to try something heavenly? Order the strawberry crepes. Amazing. I had those and some scrambled eggs and toast. That was two hours ago. This is just a snack. I can't believe I am eating this much!"
"Hey, it's probably the little monster that wants to eat." Carmen pointed out. "Forcing you to eat."
"Probably!" Sam agreed. "Just like his father. Eats a lot. And apparently it has rubbed off of me. I'm going to be huge if I keep eating like this. My jeans are all ready getting tight."
"Don't worry. You'll burn it off quick." Carmen assured her. "You're too active not to."
"You know what's going to happen?" Sam asked. "I keep eating like this, this kid will weigh twelve, thirteen pounds when he's born."
"I don't know if he'll be that heavy, but he's going to be big. Look at the size of his father. Speaking of the baby daddy, he go into work or something? Tim tried calling him on the room number and his cell to see if he wanted to come to our room and have some beers and watch the Mets. But he didn't get any answer."
"He's sleeping." Sam said. "I turned the ringer off on the room phone and his cell is off. He's been working a lot of doubles and some triples. And he's trying hard to balance work and us and all the things we got coming up for the baby. He needs some rest."
"By the sounds of what I heard about three hours ago, you two seem to be balancing your relationship just fine." Carmen teased.
Sam blushed. "Sorry. I can't help it. I'm loud. Hard not to be when its as mind blowing as it is. And you and Tim woke us up at five in the morning so I wouldn't talk."
Carmen giggled. "Ooops. Hey, at least we all had fun."
"True." Sam agreed and sipped her milk and suddenly became thoughtful and quiet.
"Something's bothering you." Carmen said. "I can tell. Are you feeling okay? Are you worried about the pregnancy? It's okay to be worried."
"I am." she admitted. "A little. I'm worried something bad is going to happen. But that's not it. I'm fine."
"Okay...so what is it? What's up?"
Sam sighed. "Don's still in a lot of pain from the bombing. A lot. Some days he's not as bad, but others he can barely move. I try getting him to talk about it and he just changes the subject or he gets irritable about it. And forget getting him to take anything for the pain. I even talked to Hawkes about it and he wrote me a prescription for percs but Don refuses to take them. He's a stubborn bastard, Carmen."
"Don't take this the wrong way, Sam. I'm not saying this to be mean. If he wants to pretend that everything is fine, that's his business. He's a big boy. He coped long before he ever met you.'
"I know."
"And I think he's thinking you can't afford to be worried sick all the time. That is main concern is you and the baby. He just wants you to be healthy and for everything to be okay with that baby and he's worried that the stress you work yourself into will cause problems. You need to not worry so much."
"It's hard." Sam sighed. "I mean, what if the doctors missed something? What if he just up and dies in his sleep?"
"Are you kidding me?" Carmen laughed. "That guy is going to go down in a blaze of glory. Trust me. And they didn't miss anything. He had the best damn doctors in New York. If they did miss anything, Don would be dead by now. So stop worrying about him and concentrate on yourself and that little baby in there. Promise me you'll start worrying about yourself and less about everyone else."
"I promise."
Carmen knew that it was a promise her friend wasn't likely to keep.
They headed into the gift shop. Carmen immediately went for the aisle that sold baby things while Sam decided to browse the magazines. Just as she was going through People, a young man in a pair of Dockers and Timberland boots and a white golf shirt accenting a deep tan stepped up beside her, standing close enough so that their arms brushed up against each other when he reached for a magazine. Sam ignored it. She didn't even look at him and kept her eyes on the article she was reading.
"Nice hotel, huh?" he asked cheerfully.
"Very nice." she replied simply.
"Nice than anything I've ever stayed in. Here from Seattle. For a conference. I'm an insurance consultant."
"Good for you." Sam said.
"You from out of town?"
"No. I'm from New York. I'm just here for a nice little get away with some friends."
"Surprised your friends left a pretty little thing like you alone." he commented.
"I'm a big girl." Sam told him. "I don't need an entourage."
"Your accent, it's unique. Where are you originally from?"
"Brooklyn.'
He offered his hand. "John Cooper." he said.
"Look, I'm not interested, okay? In insurance or anything else. So if you don't mind..."
"So you're here with someone than. Where is he? Must be insane letting you wander off alone."
"He knows I can handle myself. And I'm engaged and pregnant so just move along, okay?"
He eyed her from head to toe. "Sweet little thing like you...shouldn't be letting you out of his sight. You know, I'm a nice guy."
"Sure you are." Sam said warily. "Jefferey Dahmer seemed nice at first too.'
"Me and you could have a nice time together." John said, reaching out to touch her cheek softly, pushing her hair behind her ear. "I should take you upstairs to my room, tie you to the bed. Show you a good time.'
"Look, I don't know what gave you the impression I was like that or that I was interested, but I want you to just leave me alone. Okay?"
He grabbed her upper arm to prevent her from going anywhere. "Trust me...someone like you...your man should be tying you up and showing you a good time."
"I'm pregnant. I'd say that meant he has been showing me a good time."
"Come on. I find pregnant women sexy. It'll be our little secret. No one will ever know."
Sam yanked her arm away and laid a protective hand over her stomach. "Leave me alone." she insisted, her first and only priority was keeping her baby safe.
All of a sudden, out of nowhere, there was someone standing beside her. Wrapping an an arm around her shoulders and kissing her cheek.
"There you are sweetie!" Danny exclaimed. "I turned around and you had wandered off. I was worried about you."
Sam was a little startled, but she kissed his cheek in return. "I'm okay, honey," she said. "Just browsing. Spending your money."
Danny chuckled. "Like always." he eyed the tall blond man beside her. "Who are you?" he asked.
"She's with you?" John asked.
"Who else you think put the bun in the oven?" Danny retorted, laying his hand over the hand Sam had on her stomach. "This guy bothering you?" he asked her.
"I was just being nice." John answered for her. "Seeing if she needed any help."
"I bet." Danny snorted.
"He told me he wanted to tie me to the bed and show me a good time." Sam told Danny.
Danny frowned. "You what? That's sexual harassment buddy. I should call the NYPD and...wait a second..." he reached into his back pocket of his jeans and took out his wallet. "I am the NYPD." he flashed his back. "So if she. Take a hike."
John backed off, hands up defensively.
Danny and Sam watched him go. Then looked at each other and smiled.
"You can't go anywhere alone." Danny said, shaking his head.
"I seem to have that problem." Sam agreed. "The weirdos always find me. Thanks, Danny."
"No problem. I won't even charge ya for my body guard duties. Although I think I see body guard number one over there looking at baby stuff. You and Carmen are always together. At work, out of work..."
"In bed."
"Don't start that teasing now." Danny said with a sigh.
"You didn't know? This isn't really Don's baby. Carmen and I found the best scientists in the world and they made it possible for s to conceive together. I'm only using Don for appearance sake. So it looks normal to the public. Once he buys the house and puts money in the bank, he's so out of there. I won't need him."
Danny shook his head. "You're disturbed." he declared. "You really are. You love the guy."
"Of course I do. He knows it. Trust me."
"So where is he? You wear him out or something?"
"I killed him and ate him. The baby craved human flesh."
Danny frowned. "You really are troubled."
"He's upstairs. Sleeping. Yes, I wore him out. But he has no complaints. He said if I saw you, that he'd met you in the bar at four. Thanks a lot. You'll have him drunk by six."
"Hey, you can go one night without it." Danny told her.
Sam laughed. "Uh, no. I can't."
"Which is why you're in the condition you're in. Too much sex."
"I am in this condition because we forgot to use birth control. And don't be so jealous. From what Erica tells me, its not like you're starving for sex."
"I am not complaining." Danny said. But it is nowhere near you and Flack. Guy's a lucky bastard."
"Yes." Sam agreed. "He is."
"Look," Danny sighed. "I just want to say I'm sorry. For the way I acted at the beginning of the party and for flipping out on Flack like I did. I didn't mean to disrespect either of you. I was just surprised. Little hurt, I guess. Things are going god for you guys. Guess I feel a little jealous."
"It's okay, Danny." Sam assured him. "I understand. But things are going good with you and Erica aren't they?"
"Things are great. Amazing. I just...it's been me and Flack for a long time...you know, hanging out, doing guy stuff."
Sam grinned. "Being players you mean?"
"I swear on my mother that Flack is not like that. Didn't go around banging whatever showed interest. I know people think he's like that 'cause he can be a little arrogant..."
"A little?" Sam laughed. "There's an understatement."
"But he's not." Danny told her. "I wouldn't lie to you. And after the bombing... he didn't want to be with anyone after that. The whole not wanting to take his shirt off in public thing."
"I know." Sam said. "He was like that with me at first, too. And I'm glad you brought up the bombing."
Danny frowned. "Why?" he asked.
"I need your help." she replied.
"Sure. With what?"
Sam filled him in on the situation she found herself embroiled in regarding Flack's pain and suffering and his refusal to take anything for it.
"Want me to talk to him?" Danny asked, having listened to her intently.
"I just don't want him knowing it was me that told you. I don't want him thinking I talked about him behind his back."
"I've seen a few things that made me think he was in pain still." Danny said. "I asked him a couple times but he got pissed and changed the subject."
"He's a proud man, Danny. And he hates weakness. He doesn't do weak."
Danny sighed. "I know. I'll just tell him I've noticed some things and I'll try to get him to agree to take the meds."
She hugged him gratefully. "Thanks, Danny."
"No problem. He's my best friend. I love the guy."
Carmen joined them, her hands loaded down with baby clothing. "Look at all this stuff!" she exclaimed, holding it up. "Hey, Danny."
"Hey. Baby shopping all ready?"
"I couldn't resist! It's all too cute!" she showed them three sleepers. One said I Love New York on it, the other two boasted the logos of the New York Rangers and the Mets.
"Flack would have killed you if those were the Islanders and the Yankees." Danny laughed.
"Carmen," Sam sighed. "You don't need to be buying so much stuff."
"Well I want to. That's my niece or nephew in there. If I want to spoil them, I will."
"It's just a little soon." Sam reasoned gently, not wanting to hurt her friend's feelings. "I feel if we do stuff too soon, we'll jinx it in some way."
"That's ridiculous." Carmen told her. "It's not going to hurt anything by being some sleepers and clothes. And I will buy whatever I want. So be quiet and just carry the kid and leave the spoiling to Auntie Carmen."
"So what's going on with the end of the month?" Danny asked as they headed for the cash register. "Still need my moving services or what?"
Carmen nodded. "Still going ahead as planned. Except for the fact that I have to sleep on the couch and give Sam the bed. Just until Flack moves in at the end of October. I'm going to stay with them until Tim and I find a place we like. Makes things easier if I leave and then they have an extra room for the baby and they don't have to worry about finding a place while she's pregnant."
"Weird how things worked out, huh?" Danny commented. "Sam gets pregnant out of the blue and you guys getting a place together kinda gets screwed up."
"God works in mysterious ways." Carmen agreed. "But it's a blessing. The baby. It's a miracle. Any baby is. And Sam and Flack are going to be amazing parents."
Danny nodded. "Gotta admit, though. I never imagined Flack as a dad. But he'll be great."
"I have no worries about him." Sam said confidently. "It's me I'm worried about."
"You're incredible with kids." Carmen assured her. "Even Flack said that. We have confidence in you. He has confidence in you. And that's all that all that matters. How he feels. And he loves you and supports you no matter what. You know that."
Sam smiled. "I just need confidence in myself. Which is why Don arranged an appointment with Gus for me next week to talk about the issues I have about being a decent mother."
"He loves you." Carmen said. "All that matters to him is you and that baby. You're lucky, Sam. Not a lot of women have a guy that's this into the whole thing. He's even reading that expectant father book. He's damn determined to be part of every little detail. It's refreshing to see a guy like that."
"Seeing Flack like that is surreal." Danny declared. "Seeing him grow up so quickly. You've done a world of good for him, Brooklyn."
She smiled brightly. "He makes it easy." she rubbed her stomach. "God I'm hungry." she announced.
Carmen laughed. "All she does is eat." she told Danny.
"You girls wanna grab some lunch?" he asked. "My treat?"
Sam looped her arm through his. "Danny Messer," she declared. "You are a man after my own heart."
It was quarter after four when Flack met up with Danny in the hotel bar. Only a few patrons lingered, sipping cocktails or beer and eating pub fare. Danny was near the end of the bar, watching the last three innings of the Mets versus Rockies, a pitcher of beer and two glasses in front of him, his own half full.
"Hey." Flack greeted, gingerly sliding onto the stool beside his friend.
When he got up, having slept in an awkward position, he knew he was in trouble the minute he stretched and a searing pain shot up his spine and settled between his shoulders. Now it felt as if someone had taken a hot knife and shoved it through his lower back and into his rib cage. Samantha had seen the slow way in which he moved and the grimace he tried so hard to hide, and immediately got on his ass about taking a Tylenol. Or a Perc. She'd brought both.
He was not impressed and a slight argument had ensued over his ability to take care of himself. An argument that resulted in her saying she didn't feel well and needed to lie down. And with her telling him to fuck off when he stepped out the door.
"Sam's through using you as a sex slave?" Danny asked. "She let ya out into the general population? Let you see the sun, breathe the fresh air?"
"She's sleeping." Flack replied and poured himself a beer. Even that slight movement hurt like a bitch.
"At four in the afternoon? You two wearing each other out or what?"
"She's been feeling extra tired the last few days." Flack explained. "The doctor told her to get all kinds of rest and take all these vitamins. Which I think's a bunch of shit 'cause they don't seem to be doing her any good. I don't know if her iron is low or what the hell it is, but she's always tired." He sighed and rubbed the back of his neck and sipped his beer. "Never thought her being pregnant would be this stressful."
"What'cha stressed about?" Danny asked, helping himself to a handful of peanuts from a basket infront of them.
"I'm just worried. This job is stressful, Danny. You know that. And stress is not good for her or the baby. But there's always gonna be stress in her field. Our fields. Always. And now Mac's gonna keep her in the field for a least another two months."
"And you're not happy." Danny concluded.
"I'm pissed. I don't want her out there while she's pregnant. Hell, I don't want her out there half the time when she isn't pregnant. And I know Mac's got her under strict working conditions out there. She can't work alone, she can't run after a suspect, so on and son. But anything could happen out there."
"We'll all keep an eye on her." Danny assured him. "You know that."
"I know. And I appreciate it. 'Cause if anything happens to her or the baby..."
"Nothing will happen." Danny assured him. "Not on my watch, anyway. Ya wanna shot some pool? Come on," he slid off the stool and slapped his friend on the back. "Let's shoot some pool. I'll kick the crap outta ya like always. For old times sake."
He saw the way Flack moved slowly, as if he could barely even move.
"You okay? Don?" he asked, concerned, as they headed to a table.
"Fine. Why?"
"You're moving like you're eighty."
"I said I'm fine. Just rack the balls and break, would ya?"
Danny sighed and popped three quarters in a slot on the table to get the balls released. He racked them up and grabbed a cue. "There's something I've been meaning to talk to you about, Flack." he said as he lined up his shot and broke the formation of balls.
"Don't tell me you're getting engaged, too." the detective said, taking his shot. "That'll be three of us."
"Whose engaged other than you? Speed?! Are you serious? Him and Devine are gettin' hitched?"
"They're talking about it. Keep it quiet, okay? Back to you..."
"Naw. Not ready to follow you and Brooklyn down the aisle of wedded bliss or into parenthood. It's something about you."
"Don't be giving me another one you're fucking up your life lecture." Flack warned him.
"Hell no. I'm happy for you and Sam. You know that. It's about you. Personally."
"Okay...what?"
"I've been noticing lately that you can barely move some days, Flack. You still hurting a lot from the bombing?"
"I'm fine. I just hurt a little some days.'
"A little? Who are you trying to kid? You had shrapnel from a bomb stuck in your chest. A severed artery in your stomach. No one is faulting you for being in pain. I'd be a wreck if it was me."
"Well it wasn't you." Flack said. "And I'm fine.'
"You're my best friend, Don." Danny's tone was dead serious. "I hate seeing you like this."
"Danny, I appreciate your concern. I really do. But drop it."
"You got something against taking meds? You need help, Don. If you're in pain, you need meds. Tylenol, Advil, Percs, Demerol. I really don't care. But you need something to function."
"I am functioning just fine, Danny." Flack said irritably.
"Are you? 'Cause it don't seem that way to me. I know you're not taking the meds."
Flack snorted and shook his head. "Sam opening her big fucking mouth again." he sighed.
"She never said a word." Danny defended her.
"Bullshit. She talked to Hawkes, too. He's the one that gave her the script for the Percs. So if she talked to him, I damn well know she talked to you. So what? She thought you'd be able to talk me into taking them?"
"She's worried about you, Don."
"Well she doesn't need to be. I told her that. I told her to worry about herself and the baby. That should be her main concern.'
"And it is. But in case you forgot, she loves you. And you're the father of that baby. She's gonna worry regardless. And maybe she'd like ya to enjoy the kid when it comes along without suffering all the time. What good are you gonna be when your kid is ten and wants ya to throw around the ball with him or teach him how to shoot a puck and you're too damn crippled up from pain to do it?"
Flack sipped his beer. He had no response.
"You know I'm right. You know she's right. Stop being such a stubborn ass and take the fucking meds."
"I'll think about it." Flack said.
"You'll think about it?" Danny shook his head. "No. You'll fucking do it."
"Who are you? My mother?"
"I'd put ya over my ass and spank ya if I was."
Flack smiled. "You'd enjoy that too much, Messer. You'd get off on it."
"Don't flatter yourself, Flack. Seriously though. It's not weak to need the meds. Okay?'
He nodded.
"I'm serious. You had a hell of a thing happen to you. You're lucky to be alive. So go easy on yourself, and her, and take the meds. Just take them when it's really bad. Give yourself some relief. You owe that to yourself. And to her and to that baby you put inside of her."
"Danny, I appreciate it if you minded your own business." Flack said, as gently as possible.
"Don, you're my friend. This is my business. Take the goddamn pills."
"Like I said," he drained his beer and poured another one. "I'll think about it."
"You are the biggest, most stubborn sonofabitch I have ever met." Danny declared.
They had dinner delivered to their suite and ate by the small table in front of the picture window while listening to some music on the radio. Sam knew something wasn't right the minute she woke from her nap and saw him drinking JD on ice and watching television on the opposite bed. It just wasn't something he would do. She tried to start conversations with him but got one word answers or none at all. And when he did speak, he was rude and off hand. And he barely came anywhere near her and avoided any kind of physical contact.
And now, as they ate dinner, sitting across from one another, he didn't even make eye contact with her. The only sound the fork hitting the plate as he stabbed at the food in front of him.
"You know what?" Sam pushed her own food away. The anxiety the situation was causing her making it impossible to eat. "I can't take this silent game anymore, Don. What's wrong?"
"Why'd you tell Danny about those pills?" he asked, not looking at her.
"I just thought..."
"It's none of his goddamn business." Flack snapped before she could finish. "Or yours."
"I just thought Danny could get you to take them." she admitted.
"I don't want to take them. How many fucking times do I have to tell you? And it's not your place to tell people that stuff.'
"I'm just worried about you." she reasoned. "'Cause you need the meds and you won't take them and I thought Danny could help."
"It's none of your goddamn business, Samantha."
That wasn't the first time he'd ever said that. It was the second time just in that conversation alone. And she was tired of it and it made her snap.
"Gee, I'm sorry. I thought when you asked me to marry you and you knocked me up that it became my business!" she yelled and tossed her napkin on her plate and got up from the table.
"Sit down." he said. "Sit down and eat."
"Don't fucking boss me around, Don! You're not you're father and I am not your mother!"
That reference pissed him off more than anything in the world.
"But you think you can boss people around!" he was on his feet as well, yelling back at her. "I don't want to end up some fucking perc popping junkie, okay? I can deal with this on my own!"
"Yeah." she snorted. "You're dealing with it real well, Don."
"How I deal with it is up to me. Not you!"
"You're dealing with it like some goddamn child refusing to let his mother give him cold medication!" she screamed, walking away from him in an order to calm herself "You need those pills and you fucking now it!"
"Will you just shut up about it?!" he raged. "I don't want to talk about it! Just shut the fuck up!"
"Don't tell me to shut up! I'm doing this because I love you!" she yelled, turning around to face him. "This isn't just about you anymore! This is about us! You, me and our unborn baby! You're suppose to be my husband in three months! How the hell are you going to look after a newborn if you're in this much pain! What if you collapse or something and I'm not around..."
"This is ridiculous." he said and turned his back on her. "You're being so fucking stupid for someone that's suppose to be so smart."
"For fuck sakes, Donald, could you please just be a little more fucking considerate? I need you more than ever! You're just being stubborn for the sake of..." she felt a sudden, stabbing pain in her stomach, had to put her hand on his back to steady herself.
"Don't fucking touch me right now? Okay? Just..." he turned around to face her, to get her hand off of him and she nearly fell into him. He had to grab her arm to keep her on her feet. Her face was white, her eyes wide, her hand clutching at her stomach. "What's wrong?" he asked, immediately alarmed. "You okay?"
She shook her head. "I have...a pain... a really bad pain..."
"What kind of pain? In your stomach?"
She nodded. Tears forming in her eyes. "Oh God... it hurts...so bad..."
He made her sit down on the end of the bed, got her a glass of water. "Calm down," he said, finding it hard to keep calm himself.
"I can't..." her hand shook as she tried to raise the glass to her mouth.
"You know what? We're gonna go to Women and Children's and get you checked out." Flack said, going to the bedside table and grabbing his car keys and his wallet.
"Maybe if I just lie down 'til it goes away." she suggested.
"No. I'm taking you to the hospital. I can't believe this is fucking happening. I didn't mean to yell at you, Samantha. I'm sorry." he was near tears as he grabbed her jacket and running shoes. "Fuck...I didn't mean it... I'm a fucking prick, baby... I'm sorry."
"I know. I just..." she groaned in agony and double over. "Oh God...Donnie...the pain...it's so bad. What if it's the baby? This can't be happening! Don't let this happen, Donnie. Please don't let this happen!" tears streamed down her face as she rocked back and forth in pain. "Will you...get Carmen...please get Carmen..."
"I need to get you to the hospital like right now." he told her, his cell phone all ready in his hand.
"Please...get Carmen...please..."
He hurried next door, pounding so hard on the door and yelling Carmen's name so loud that everyone on the floor stuck their heads out to see what the hell was going on.
After he told her what was going on, she was out of the room and rushing next door before he even had a chance to blink. Him and Speed following behind.
"Samantha!" Carmen rushed to the bed, dropped to her knees and took her friend's teary face in her hands. "What happened? Are you okay?"
"The pain..." she sobbed. "Oh God...Carmen the pain is so bad...like your period times a thousand..."
"Just try and stay calm...Tim? Can you go down and get Hawkes and ask him if he'll come and look at her?"
Speed nodded and hurried out.
"Flack, get me a cold, wet face cloth." Carmen instructed.
He disappeared into the bathroom. Came out half a minute later and handed it to her.
Carmen applied it to Sam's forward. "Shhh...calm down, baby girl. Try and stay calm...we'll get you looked at..." she turned cold, accusatory eyes on Flack. "You guys were fighting? Tim and I heard you guys arguing. What the hell is wrong with you? You know that when she gets stressed, the baby gets stressed."
"It was an arguement. I didn't think that..."
Sam groaned, obviously in a considerable amount of pain. "I have to...go to the bathroom..."
Carmen put an arm around her friend's waist and helped her up. "You call if you need anything or you feel sick." she told her and guided her to the bathroom.
Sam nodded and disappeared inside, closing the door slightly.
Carmen glared at Flack.
"What?" he asked. "We were arguing about those stupid goddamn pain pills. I didn't want this to happen! Do you think..."
"Carmen!" Samantha wailed, in sheer panic. "Oh God...Carmen..."
She burst into the bathroom, and found Samantha sitting on the floor, cross legged in a small pool of blood. Her heart stopped for a brief moment. "Flack!" she yelled, sticking her head out the door. "Go out in the hall and see what the hell is taking Hawkes so long!"
"What's going on, Carmen?" he was nearly panicking himself. And he was the kind of guy who never panicked about anything.
Carmen's green eyes met his blue ones. "She's bleeding." she said simply.
His face went ashen.
"Hurry up and find Hawkes! I'll take care of Sam!" she disappeared back into the bathroom. Helped Sam to her feet and back into the bedroom area. Sam was sobbing. She was in pain and in near hysterics. "Okay...everything's fine..." Carmen tried to remain as calm as possible, even though she was shaking from head to toe and her heart felt like it was going to burst out of her chest.
"The baby..." Sam was crying over and over again.
"Everything's fine. You don't know that anything is wrong. It could be something else. We're getting you help. Just try and relax."
Please God let it be something else, Carmen prayed. Don't do this to her. Don't destroy her like this.
Hawkes came rushing into the room. Cool, calm and collected. Ever the professional. "I'm not well versed in obstetrics and gynaecology." he said in way of an apology. "I only did a six week rotation. If you want to just go out in the hall with Flack and Speed, I'll take a look at her. Samantha, do you want me to take a look? See if I can help?"
She nodded. Past caring if someone she worked with, especially such a good looking man, saw what she looked like naked from the waist down. "Can Carmen stay?" she asked, reaching for Carmen's hand.
"I don't mind if she doesn't." Hawkes said.
Carmen shook her head and sat down on the edge of the bed and held her friend's hand tightly and stroked her hair with the other as Hawkes gently pulled off her pants and underwear and began a quick examination.
"I'm sorry." he said sincerly when Sam flinched and moaned. "I wish I had proper things to work with her."
"Just do the best you can." Carmen told him.
He pressed lightly on her stomach from the outside. "The uterus is still swollen so there's no immediate sign of a miscarriage."
"What about the blood?" Carmen asked. "There's quite bit."
"Could be caused by other things." Hawkes replied. "Broken fibroid, burst cyst... happens a lot once the uterus begins to expand. My best suggestion, she needs to get to Women's and Children's and have her own OB or whoever's on call, check her out. I have people I know on staff there. Let me make a couple calls and we'll get her in there, no ER time. Just straight to the OB ward."
"Thanks, Hawkes." Carmen said.
He nodded, patted her on the back and went to make his phone calls.
"Is the baby going to be okay?" Samantha asked, in a tiny voice that reminded Carmen of a small child.
"I hope so, sweetie. You just try and stay calm. Okay?"
Samantha nodded and closed her eyes and prayed.
So did Carmen.
Thanks to everyone who is R and R'ing!! Please keep it up! With all the PC problems I have been having, I haven't been able to return mail very well. I hope y'all know how much I appreciate everyone one of you. Good news? My new note book arrives in two to three weeks!!