WOW! TALK ABOUT AN OUTPOURING OF SUPPORT AND INTEREST FOR THIS STORY! I AM SO OVERWHELMED AND APPRECIATE EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU! THIS STORY WILL BE LIGHTER THAN MOB AND BE FAMILY AND FRIENDS ORIENTED AND OF COURSE, MAINLY FEATURE FLACK AND SAM. I HOPE YOU ALL CONTINUE TO ENJOY IT. ONCE AGAIN, REVIEWS ARE ENCOURAGED. BUT PLEASE, NO NASTINESS. LIFE IS TOO SHORT FOR THAT SORT OF THING.

DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN CSI:NY OR ANY OF ITS CHARACTERS. I ALSO DO NOT OWN TRATTORIA DOPO TEATRO WHICH IS AN ACTUAL RESTAURANT IN NYC AND LOCATED AT 125TH WEST 44TH STREET. THEIR ON-LINE GALLERY IS AMAZING!

CIAO, BEG 75

P.S: ANGELL IS JESSICA IN THIS

Live, love, laugh

"So many people gonna say that they want you,
To try to get you thinking they really care,
But there's nothing like the warmth of the one who has put in the time and you know he's gonna be there,
Back your border when she knows someone crossed it,
Don't let nobody put you down, who you're with
Take the pain of protecting your name, from the crutch to the cane to the high wire

I'm in love with a girl who knows me better,
Fell for the woman just when I met her,
Took my sweet time when I was bitter,
Someone understands,
And she knows how to treat a fella right,
Give me that feeling every night,
Wants to make love when I wanna fight,
Now someone understand me,
I'm in love with a girl."

-In Love with a Girl, Gavin DeGraw

As guests began arriving in a steady stream, Samantha waited patiently at the front reception desk in the main lobby of the restaurant. The hostess had called the manager fifteen minutes ago and so far, he'd yet to return her call let alone make an appearance. A year ago, she would have been tapping her foot and huffing and puffing and picking up the phone and calling the man herself. The most impatient woman on earth for the first thirty-one years of her life had been transformed by an eight pound infant who made his debut in the sub zero temperatures during the worst snow storm in New York City history. In the middle of the living room nonetheless. And if being a mother had taught her anything, it was that patience was a virtue. Especially when you had to repeat simple commands over and over again and clean up messes around the clock. And that was just taking care of the husband, never mind the kid.

She loved the man. But sometimes…..

"Whoa…." a familiar Staten Island accent said from behind her. "Mrs Flack. Check you out. You actually look like a girl."

"Watch it, Messer." she shot back as she turned around to face him. "Or I'll gouge your eyes out with my fifty dollar French manicure. And if I don't have perfect nails for tomorrow, Carmen will kill you."

"Why is it you're so tiny yet you scare me more than Flack does?" Danny asked, wrapping her in a friendly hug and pecking both her cheeks.

"It's okay." Sam replied. "He's absolutely terrified of me." she smiled at the shapely brunette detective in a stunning sparkling bronze dress standing beside Danny. She was surprised to see Max and Danny arrive together. Especially when Max had told Flack she had other plans for that night.

"Probably because if he doesn't do what you want, you'll cut him off." Danny said.

"Probably. And most likely because he knows I'll make him do dishes and scrub the toilet. He's deathly allergic to housework, you know."

Danny laughed and held her out at arm's length. "Wow. You look nice."

"Thanks. You don't look so bad yourself. You're actually wearing a tie. I'm impressed."

"Erica couldn't make it." Danny said. "Max changed her mind and said she'd come with me."

"Well I'm sure Carmen and Tim will be happy to see you're both here. The room is the first one on your left when you hit the bottom of those stairs there. Order whatever you want to drink. Tab's covered." she waved her MasterCard as proof to that.

"Hope you still got some of that money left if Erica and I decide to take the death plunge." Danny joked, as he gallantly offered his arm to Max and then lead the way to the stairs.

"You kidding? Don's just hoping there's money left to buy groceries next week." Sam laughed.

Someone whistled noisily.

"Shut it, Scagnetti." Sam called out to the big detective as he passed by her. "I'm married to your boss, remember?"

"Shoulda made my move first and I woulda won that thousand bucks in the office pool." he teased.

"Please. As if. And you couldn't afford me anyway."

"How does Flack manage?"

"We have an arrangement." Sam said. "He pays me in other ways."

Scagnetti laughed. "You look beautiful." he told her, then disappeared down the stairs. "Hope there's lots of pretty ladies down there." he called back to her.

"I stacked the guest list in your favour, Scagnetti. Unfortunately , you have to stay away from Carmen and Gus and Stella."

"That's every hot woman in the place." Scagnetti complained.

"I'll try not and be offended." Detective Jessica Angell quipped as she stepped up beside Sam.

"Is it me or does he hit on everything that walks with a wiggle?" Sam asked, turning to face her friend. She and Angell had long ago put their rivalry and nastiness and pettiness to rest and Angell had evolved into one of Sam's most cherish friends. Although no one could ever come as close to Carmen in that department.

"No wonder he's been through three marriages." Angell said. "That is one hell of a hot dress. Flack must have been all over you before you could even get out of the house."

"Never mind me," Sam said, checking out the soft pink sheath dress with sparkling spaghetti straps and scalloped hem that accentuated every one of Angell's curves. Her dark hair pulled into a loose up sweep and held together by crystal pins. "Check you out. You're gorgeous."

"I tend to clean up rather nice." Angell laughed. "Sheldon's just out finding a parking spot."

"And how's that going?" Sam asked , reaching into an etched crystal bowl on the top of the desk and scooping out a small handful of chocolate covered mints wrapped in silver foil. She took Angell's hand, opened it, and placed a candy inside of her palm. "Too many of those and we won't fit in our dresses." she said with a playful wink.

"I plan on working any calories off with some extracurricular activities later." Angell said, unwrapping the candy and popping it into her mouth. "The kind that takes two people."

"I know that kind very well." Sam giggled and slipped the mint into her mouth. "So you and Hawkes. Spill. It's been three months. You must have something juicy to tell me after three months."

"We're enjoying ourselves." Angell said. "He's a wonderful man. Totally unlike anyone I've ever dated. Or slept with even. I honestly wish I had have noticed him sooner instead of holding onto something that was never going to materialize."

"I thought we were never going to talk about that." Sam said. "Part of our whole, let bygones be bygones thing."

Angell smiled. "We were pretty shitty to each other, weren't we."

"It's a long time ago, Jess. Behind us. It's better that way. And I'm happy for you and Sheldon."

"Thanks. And I'm happy for you and Flack. He's totally different since he met you. Not as mean."

Sam laughed. "I don't know about that…."

"How's Kieran? Haven't seen him a couple weeks."

"He's still causing all sorts of hell. Yesterday, Don left his cell phone on the coffee table and Kieran got up on his knees and grabbed it. So my husband spends an hour tearing the apartment apart looking for said cell phone. He found it eventually. In the cat's litter box."

Angell laughed.

"Needlessly to say, he was not impressed. Couple days before, Kieran shoved half a dozen Mega Blocks down the heating vent in the living room. And last week, Don turned his back on him at breakfast time and when he turned around, Kieran had dumped an entire bowl of Cheerios and milk over his head."

"In other words he's a little shit." Angell concluded.

"Exactly. But he's got Don's DNA too so I shouldn't be too surprised. Christ, I've become so damn boring. Talking about my kid all the time. I need to get out more. " Sam said, then smiled at two gentlemen that walked through the door.

One of medium height and slender build in a black suit and black shirt with blue and white thin stripes and no tie. Short red hair and dark Ray Ban sunglasses. The other man was much younger and was tall, dark and extremely handsome. He looked Latino. And his black well tailored suit showed off a fit body and broad shoulders. The light pink dress shirt, unbuttoned at the top, playing up his dark features.

"Ladies." the red head greeted, slowly removing his sunglasses and folding them and slipping them into the chest pocket of his suit jacket. "Would either of you know where the rehearsal dinner for Speedle and Devine is being held?"

"Just down those stairs there, first room on your left." Sam told him. "Just follow the noise of all the half drunk cops and you'll find it. We'll be heading downstairs in a minute ourselves. If the manager ever gets here." Sam directed the last comment to the hostess.

"He's on his way, m'am." the hostess assured her with a sugary smile.

Angell snickered at the m'am comment, and the fact Sam looked ready to smack the girl for saying it.

"I'm Lieutenant Horatio Caine from the Miami-Dade Crime Lab." he offered his hand to Samantha.

"I'm Samantha Flack." she said, shaking his hand. "I work at the crime lab with Tim and Carmen and this is Detective Jessica Angell. She's with homicide."

"Pleasure." Horatio said, shaking Angell's hand.

"Eric Delko." the Latino introduced himself, offering his hand as well. "I used to work with Speed."

"I've heard a lot about you." Sam said. "Both of you, actually. Thanks for coming all the way from Miami, Carmen and Tim are downstairs. Go down, make yourselves comfortable. Have some drinks. Should be a good time. Just word of warning, watch Addison. The baby. She has a bit of a puking problem."

"A bit?" Angell snorted. "She ruined a brand new Dior suit I managed to get for seventy percent off at Macys."

"It's what you get for wearing Dior to babysit a newborn." Sam told her.

Horatio chuckled. "We'll see you soon, ladies." he said, then lead the way to the stairs.

Both Sam and Angell watched the two men head down to the next floor, then disappear. Then the two women turned to each other and wide smiles spread across both of their faces.

"Hello." Sam said. "Did you see that guy?"

"How could I not. Makes me want to ask for a transfer to Miami."

"Whose transferring to Miami?" Hawkes asked from behind them, then placed his hand on his girlfriend's back and kissed her cheek softly.

"Sam's in love." Angell told him.

"I have two men in my life already." Sam said. "That's enough for me. Doctor Hawkes, you're rather dashing this evening in your suit and tie."

"Had to look at least presentable alongside of this lovely lady." he declared.

"Please." Sam laughed. "Give it a year, and you two won't care what you look like. Ask Don. He's seen me in nothing but flannel pyjamas and baby food stained ratty clothes for nearly a year. And you know what, he's surprisingly okay with it. I think this is the first time he's seen me dressed up in a long time. And he nearly fainted in shock."

"You need to be nicer to that man." Angell teased her, as hand in hand with Hawkes, she headed for the stairs.

"Trust me, he's treated very well." Sam said. "He has no complaints. And if he does, he's lying. Hey, if

I'm not down there in a couple hours time, be a doll and bring me some food!"

The hostess sighed heavily at that snide comment.

"Trust me, sweetie." Sam said. "No one is more irritated then me. This is costing me sixty five bucks a plate. Plus alcohol. You would think you'd people would love someone like me showing up to pay for something like that. So do me a favor and get back on that phone there before I make the call myself. And trust me, you don't want that."

"M'am, I…."

Sam leaned over the desk and snatched the phone off the cradle and held it out. "Please and thank you." she said.

The startled hostess grabbed the phone and dialled the number.

To hell with patience, Sam thought. Sometimes nastiness was just a bit better.

Carmen stood a few feet from the white wrought iron table. A soft smile curving her lips at the sight before her. Six foot two, over two hundred pounds of tough, smart ass, aggressive homicide detective who was more than capable of putting someone through a wall, sitting and holding a tiny baby girl. Seeing Flack that way for the first time nine months ago had shocked her. She had stood, just like she was now, in the doorway to Sam's hospital room, transfixed at the sight of him smiling down at his newborn son cradled so protectively in his arms. The way he touched the baby's features so delicately, as if getting to know every part of his new son and commit it to memory and talked to him in a soft, soothing voice that Carmen never knew Flack possessed. She'd never seen that side to him before, and it had been so striking of an image it had brought tears to her eyes. And every time afterwards, when she observed him with both Kieran and Addison, she thought about what a beautiful sight it was to see Flack in that way. Although she'd never actually tell him that. Because he'd blush like hell and get that bashful, little boy way that very rarely came over him.

"You're a born natural, Flack." Carmen commented as she pulled out the chair beside him. "By day you're the scourge of the NYPDs most wanted, by night you're the perfect dad. How do you do it?"

"I am far from perfect." he said, smiling down at the baby in his arm. Addison was looking up at him with those big brown eyes and was making content, gurgling noises. "I almost left Kieran in Target last week."

"How the hell did you manage to do that?" she asked, trying to suppress a laugh.

"I left him in the shopping cart. I was talking on my cell phone to one of my guy's and all distracted, and I took the cart back and walked away without grabbing him. I only got as far as the car and realized I didn't have the kid to put in the car seat. I was less than twenty feet away and he wasn't hurt or anything. But I still feel like shit about it. And Sam doesn't know. So please, don't tell her."

"I won't." Carmen promised. "Addie really loves her Uncle Donnie." she mused, running a hand over her daughter's silky hair. "It's really good of you and Sam, Flack. Paying for all of this and taking her for three days . You guys are practically newlyweds yourselves and don't get enough alone time as it is."

"We manage." Flack said. "Kieran sleeps in his own room now so we don't have him to worry about too much. And he can't get out of his crib so he can't wander into the room in the middle of the night."

"You guys actually manage to have sex? Lucky you."

"We don't have it as often as we'd like too, trust me. But we sneak it in when we can. Why? You and Speedle haven't gotten that part of things back in order?"

"We haven't even started getting those things back in order." Carmen sighed.

"Sorry." Flack said sympathetically. "But if it makes you feel any better, I do know how you feel. After Kieran, it was almost four months before Sam and I had actual sex. And I was almost insane by that time."

"What happened to us, Flack? All of us?"

He gently transferred the baby in his arms, so that her tummy rested on his chest, her head on his shoulder. He kept a protective hand on the back of her neck so her head wouldn't fall back, and another on her diapered bum.

"What do you mean?" he asked.

"We've all changed. Drastically. We're becoming old married people with children, driving SUVs and minivans. I mean, we used to be able to come and go as we pleased, drink as much as we want, stay out as late as we want, work as many hours as we want. We were free and easy. What happened to us?"

"We became old married people with children driving SUVs and minivans." he said with a grin. "I wouldn't go back to my old life for anything in the world. My wife and my kid….all that matters to me. The time I spend with them? It's golden. And I can't imagine not having either of them."

Carmen smiled and curled her arms around his bicep and hugged herself to him. "You've become such a sentimental bastard, Flack. You ever think of having more kids?"

"All the time." he admitted.

"Really?"

He nodded. "I like the idea of having them close together. Giving them each other to play with. They can walk together to the same school, defend each other on the play ground. That type of thing. And every time I see Sam with Addie, I just think what an amazing mother she is and how much it makes me love her even more."

Carmen stared at him and then looked at the glass of dark coloured liquid and ice cubes sitting on the table top. She leaned forward and grabbed it and took a sip. She grimaced. "You're talking like that and no alcohol?"

"I haven't touched it in ten months." Flack said. "You know that."

"I know. And I'm proud of you. You've done good, Flack. And you know Sam wants a baby like right now, don't you?"

"I know." he said with a nod. "Maybe we'll see what we can do about that. So you nervous? About tomorrow?"

Carmen held out a trembling hand. "Does that answer that?" she laughed. "Were you nervous? The night before you and Sam got married?"

"Night before, afternoon of. I was terrified. I didn't think I would be, because we were having the baby and living together, but marriage made it all so permanent. And I thought I'd never get married. So yeah, I was nervous. Very. What are you so nervous about?"

"My first marriage was a disaster. I thought I knew Matthew and look what happened there. I'm scared of the same thing happening with Tim."

"Hmmm….." Flack said. "You comparing Speed to Matthew like that reminds me of someone."

Carmen frowned. "Who's that?"

"The Sarge. The way he was always comparing me to Zack just because I'm a cop."

"You always have a way of shooting me down, Flack."

"You're lumping all men together, Carmen. That's not fair. We're not all bad guys out to hurt the women in our lives. I mean, I'm not always the best man in the world, but modestly speaking, I'm a damn good husband and father. And Sam and I may fight, but I'd never do anything to hurt her. Or Kieran."

Carmen nodded. Taking in everything that her friend was saying.

"And Speed would never, ever do anything to hurt you or Addie. He loves you both too much. And besides, he knows if he did, I'd kill him and that I know a hundred different ways to dispose of a body. And I'll do it, too. You know it."

Carmen smiled. "I love you, Donald Flack Jr. You know that, don't you?"

"I'm flattered. I really am. But I don't think my wife would be too thrilled to hear that. And Speed…well you are kinda marrying him tomorrow."

"I meant like a brother you moron. You and Sam are my family. You two have always been there for me. No matter what."

"It's because we love you, Carmen. And because you're the only person other than my mother who Kieran isn't a little bastard for."

"He's a doll, Flack. You should be very proud of him."

He smiled. "I am. You know, there's only one thing I regret about the way Sam and I did things."

"And what's that?"

"We didn't have a big wedding like this. I mean, it didn't matter to me. I just wanted to marry her. But deep down, I think she would have liked a huge deal. A church, lots of guests, party afterwards. And I would have loved to have seen her in a white wedding dress. Veil and all. Imagine what she would have looked like with all the dark hair? She's gorgeous now. Can you think what she would have looked like in white?"

"You know, you guys could always do it all over again. Say, ten years from now for your anniversary. Have a big ceremony and a kick ass reception afterwards. Renewal of the vows."

"We could." He agreed with a nod.

"Carmen?" Speed called from across the room, where he was gathered with a small group of their guests that included Mac and Stella and two gentlemen she'd never met. "There's some people I'd like you to meet."

"Go." Flack said. "Do the whole blushing soon to be bride thing. And take your kid. She made a mess and the smell is almost making me gag."

"How do you manage with Kieran?" she laughed, standing up and scooping her daughter up into her arms.

"I don't do shit. Human shit. I just don't. Sam handles that. I've done a handful and I swear to God, my eyes water and I nearly puke. And Kieran's on breast milk and that doesn't smell as bad coming out as the formula crap you're feeding this kid."

"I can't believe she's still breast feeding and he's got those teeth."

"She's been doing the pumping and the bottle thing since she went back to work. But sometimes she still feeds him the old fashioned way. Most beautiful thing I have ever seen in my life, I swear."

"God, you are so in love with your family, Flack. God bless you." She pressed a kiss to the top of his head before heading off to join Speed and the others.

"Devine." Danny said as she walked past him, shaking his head and whistling lowly. "You're hot."

"Behave yourself, Messer." She warned him. "Or it might be you I drag to the altar tomorrow."

"Over my dead body." Danny declared and dropped into the chair she'd vacated. "Crime stopper," he said, sipping a bottle of Stella Artois. "You're wife is upstairs with guys hanging off of her every move. You actually let her out of the house in a dress like that?"

"I've got one kid to keep an eye on Danny. And she's a big girl. She is more than capable of taking care of herself. She looks hot, huh?"

"You are one lucky sonofabitch, my friend. What's your poison?"

"Coke."

"And?"

"Ice."

"That's it?" Danny looked both skeptical and surprised.

"I haven't touched booze in months. Why would I start now? Where's Erica? Why'd you walk in with Max?"

"Erica had to work so Max agreed to be my date."

"Why?" Flack asked.

"Why what?"

"Why'd you ask Max? She told me she had plans for tonight and didn't want to come. Then she shows up with you? What's up with that? You're not stepping out on Erica are you?"

"Are you crazy? What's wrong with you? Erica's my world. You know that."

"I also know you, Danny. And you drink too much and you'll find yourself going home with Max and you're relationship over."

"Don't insult my intelligence or my self respect."

"Don't say I didn't warn you." Flack said. His cell phone tucked in his jacket pocket beeped noisily and he groaned noisily and pulled it out to check the caller I.D. "Gotta take this." He said with a heavy sigh and stood up. He flipped open his phone. "Flack." he answered. "Hang on, I have to take this outside."

"You go into work and you'll be sleeping on the couch for the rest of your life." Danny warned him. "And you'll face the wrath of Carmen."

"Better than the wrath of Gerrard." Flack said and headed from the room.

"Don't be too sure about that." Danny called after his friend.

"Where are you going?" Sam asked her husband, as they passed each other on the stairs. Frowning when she saw the cell phone clutched in his hand. "Please tell me you don't have to go into work."

"Just have to call back one of my guys. Something about missing paperwork and Gerrard having a conniption."

"But you're not going back in, right?" she asked warily.

"I don't know until I return the call." he replied and kissed her softly.

"It's Carmen and Tim's rehearsal dinner." she reminded him.

"Sam, I said I won't know until I call them back. Relax. Go and get a drink and take it easy and I'll be back in a few minutes. Don't throw a fit. You're a big girl. You don't need me around you every second."

"Maybe I wanted you to be around me every second for a change especially on a night that's so special to my best friend. But whatever. You go and take care of your work shit because work shit is what you do best."

Flack caught her by the arm before she could get any further down the stairs. "Don't be like this." he said, his voice gentle and calm. "You know I'm still on a short leash with Gerrard."

"I said for you to go. So go. It's not like I'm going to run off with some strange man. Just try and avoid having to go in. That's all I ask. You know how much this means to me that things are perfect for Carmen and Tim."

"I know." he said and kissed her once more. "What's up with the present?" he nodded a brightly wrapped gift in her hand.

"It's for Carmen. Rick Santucci just dropped it by. You know how he's always had a thing for her. Guess he finally gave up and came to the realization that this wedding is the real deal. I asked him if he wanted to come down and mingle and have something to eat. Not like another person will bankrupt us. But he said he didn't feel comfortable and left."

"Weird." Flack said.

"Hope it's not a bomb. I've heard about these jilted wannabe lovers that just go nuts and do shit like that."

"You watch way too many cop shows." Flack told her. His cell phone beeped once again.

"Go." Sam said, nodding in the direction of the front door. "Go and play policeman."

"Rather play policeman with you." Flack said, watching her ass and hips sway as she made her way down the stairs.

"Take a cold shower." she shot back, then disappeared.

Flack sighed heavily and answered his phone and headed through the lobby of the restaurant and out into the fast approaching darkness. He found the nearest bench to park himself on and took a pack of smokes and a lighter from his jacket pocket. Shaking a cigarette out, he lit and inhaled deeply while listening to the rookie detective on the other end rambling nervously about Gerrard having a 'shit fit'.

"Well what do you want me to do about it?" Flack finally asked when the rookie took a breath.

"You are the boss, Sargent." came the reply.

"For the last time, Campbell, just call me Flack. No need for anything formal. And you still haven't answered my question. What would you like me to do? I'm about forty minutes away and I have no more clue where the reports are than you do. I'm in the middle of my wife's best friend's wedding rehearsal dinner and I'm off for the next three days. Times like this? These are the times I wish you guys would be more organized like I'm always nagging about."

"But Gerrard is having a shit fit, like I said."

"The DD-5's have to be somewhere. Someone has them gathering dust in their desk. My suggestion? Whoever is there with you still helps you go through all the guys' desks. Including mine. Because my head has been up my ass lately and it could be I've already filed them and set them down and forget to hand them in."

Campbell managed a chuckle. "Okay…..I guess we can do that. Gerrard says he's going to call you himself in an hour if those reports aren't on his desk."

"Well you tell Gerrard I'm on my three day paid holiday and I'm not answering my phone. Okay?"

"I guess." the rookie answered reluctantly. "And if we don't find them, sir? I mean, Flack."

"Then and only then do you call me and I'll come in and smooth things over with Gerrard. Understand?"

"Yes, sir."

"You're making me feel old with this Sargent and Sir shit, Campbell."

"Sorry, sir…..Flack."

"Goodnight, Campbell." he said and pressed end. He snapped his phone shut and shoved it back into his jacket and took a long drag from his cigarette.

"Thought you quit." a voice said from beside the bench. Mac had a grin on his face as he sat down beside the younger man. He pulled out his own pack of cigarettes and lit one.

"I did. Only I started up again after I quit drinking and Kieran came along. It's my only vice, Mac. Sam's always on me to quit again but I am hooked all over again. I'm an addict. Plain and simple. Started out half a pack a day, now I'm at almost two."

"Your kid isn't that bad, Flack." Mac laughed.

"Not just the kid. The kid is the least of my problems. He's a damn hellion and runs the house, but he's tame compared to his mother. I love my wife, Mac. To death. But sometimes…."

"Nothing is ever sunshine and roses all the time, Flack."

"I know. She's always on me about how much I'm working since I became Sargent and how I don't spend enough time with her and the baby. And she's right. I don't. But I work all these hours to be able to provide for her and the baby. I want us to have a house one day. And more kids. And if I don't pull in the hours, that's never going to happen. She doesn't see it that way. She accuses me of using work as a way to get out of family responsibilities."

"Is that what you're doing?" Mac asked honestly.

"Hell no. I love my wife and my kid. I want to spend more time with them. But I need my job at the same time. And she just doesn't get that. And now this Dean Lessing shit is on my plate."

Mac nodded. "He's being released next month."

"How is that remotely possible? I don't get that. He planted bombs and murdered someone. He nearly killed me. And he's getting out? How?"

"The doctors at the psychiatric hospital feel he's rehabilitated. He'll be released under strict parole regulations and placed in a half way house where his movements will be monitored. And I've been assured he's on heavy medication to keep him balanced."

"Balanced?" Flack snorted and finished off his first cigarette and dropped it on the sidewalk and ground it out with his shoe. He quickly lit another one. "I have a wife and a kid, Mac. What's going to stop him from finding out where we are and doing something fucked up to them. He must know my name. It was in every paper and on the news. Whack jobs like him cut all the articles out and brag about their handiwork to their buddies."

"It wasn't a personal attack, Flack. He wasn't targeting anyone in particular. Whoever happened to be in the building that day. So I highly doubt he's after you or your family."

"Can never be too safe these days. Mac." the detective reasoned.

"If it makes you feel better, I can have someone tail him to make sure he comes nowhere near your family."

"I haven't even told Sam about it yet." Flack said with a sigh. "You know, I've almost been married a year now and my wife barely knows anything about the bombing. I've told her very little. Only thing I told her about was my injuries and re-hab and stuff like that. I never told her how bad it really was and how you saved my life that day. And she never asks. Once she asked and I told her I'd talk about it when I was ready. And I haven't been ready."

"Maybe it's time to be ready, Flack." Mac suggested gently.

Flack sighed.

Why did Mac Taylor always have to be right?

Samantha was on her third drink in the span of fifteen minutes. She hadn't been much of a drinker since Kieran had been born. Not only was she breastfeeding which made consumption of alcohol a strict no-no until he was able to take expressed milk from a bottle, she had had no desire to return to her old form of a party girl. She fondly recalled the days of going out with the team and tying one on. Dancing on a table while Danny slipped money into the waistband of her skirt and enticing the guys by leading them into thinking her and Carmen were about to have a lesbian affair. Getting her tongue pierced. And a mountain of other more stupid things she'd rather forget from her days in college.

She didn't miss those days of hard drinking and killer hangovers and she didn't yearn for the booze. Not drinking again had been made much easier when Flack began attending AA meetings for his self proclaimed mini alcoholism. But the stress of planning Carmen's rehearsal dinner and the responsibilities of being the matron of honor had taken its toll. And one lemon drop martini had quickly turned into two. And as she downed her third one and headed for the bar for another, she knew she was in for a hell of a night.

At least things were running smooth now that the bill had been somewhat squared away. She'd paid off the remainder of the balance for renting the room and the thirty guest meals. The only thing outstanding was the bar tab and the night was still young. The guests were mingling and laughing and checking out a display of pictures of Speed and Carmen that Gus and Stella had made up. Speed's aunt and uncle had even made it from Syracuse and were now fawning over Addison.

"What can I get you, doll?" the bartender – tall and muscular with neatly coiffed black hair and dazzling grey eyes- asked as she stepped up to his domain.

"Lemon-drop martini, please." she requested.

The young Latino CSI from Miami she'd met earlier sidled up beside her and smiled warmly. She noticed how dark and sparkling his eyes were. And how damn good he smelled. She needed that drink and fast. To wash away the dirty thoughts running rampant through her mind. You can look but you can't touch, she reminded herself over and over again. Your husband looks at other women all the time. So it's perfectly okay to look at other men.

"So Speed was telling me that you're the maid of honor." Delko commented.

"Matron of honor." Sam corrected.

"There's a difference?"

"A little."

"Well as best man, I guess you and I will be spending a lot of time together tomorrow. Not that that's a bad thing."

Jesus, Sam thought. Is he actually for real? And is he actually checking out my ass? Ten minutes ago he'd been making a play for Angell and got shot down.

"Let me buy you a drink?" Delko asked.

"I already have one, thank you." Sam replied, as the bartender sat the martini glass down in front of her. She snapped open her purse and reached in and pulled out a five that she tossed on the bar as a tip. "And seeing as I'm the one paying for this entire night," she said, turning around to lean against the bar. "I guess technically, I'm buying your drink."

Delko smiled and ordered a rye and Coke.

Sam noticed he had perfect white teeth and amazing lips. She took a long sip of the martini and attempted not to notice anything else.

"So you're a CSI, too?" Delko asked.

"I am. Level two."

"Same here. What's your specialty?"

"Ballistics."

"No kidding? Wow. You don't seem like the type."

Sam shrugged. "I like shooting and blowing things up. I like adventure. I'm a sick, twisted girl."

"You're date doesn't have a problem with you walking around by yourself and chatting up strange men?"

"First, you're chatting me up. I'm just here enjoying my first taste of alcohol since I had a baby nine months ago."

"You have a kid?"

"A son. He's nine months."

"And you look like you do?" Delko chuckled and shook his head and gave her a long once over.

"Second," Sam continued. "He's not my date."

"Really?" the CSI from Miami's eyes lit up. "So you're here solo?"

"No. I mean he's not my date. He's my husband."

"Husband?"

"Mm-hm." Sam took a sip of her drink. "Husband. And he's standing right behind you."

Delko's face fell and he slowly turned and found himself looking into the cold blue eyes of an unimpressed, smirking Detective Don Flack. The CSI looked back at Sam who was struggling to refrain from bursting into laughter and then back at the husband.

"She's yours?" Delko asked.

Flack nodded.

"You got a hot wife, man." Delko said and grabbed his drink. "Congratulations." he said to Flack and left quickly.

Flack watched the CSI go. And smirked even more when he gave Stella a second glance when walking past her and then decided to slip into the chair beside her. Flack knew that Mac was a mere few minutes away from coming back into the room.

"I can't let you go anywhere alone." Flack said to his wife, joining her at the bar. "Let you out of my sight and you're off meeting new friends."

"They seem to find me." Sam sighed. "Well? What's the verdict?"

"No verdict." he told her and laid a hand on her hip as he kissed her. "I don't have to go into work."

"Good. You've been smoking, haven't you." It was more of a statement than a question.

"I only had two. Nothing major. You have your lemon things, I have smoking. It's a win-win situation."

"Lemon drop martinis can't give me lung cancer." She said.

"No. But they can give you liver disease."

"My liver is long shot." She declared and finished her drink off in one long sip.

"Well I prefer to keep you healthy and alive." Flack told her, wrapping both of his arms around her waist and drawing her in close for a long, soft kiss. "I called home. My mom said Kieran tried to shove his Bear Paw cookie in the same heating vent we found all the Mega Blocks."

"Kieran? Whose Kieran?" Sam asked jokingly. "I don't know a Kieran. Whoever he is and whoever he belongs to, he sounds like a little shit."

"He is. He takes after his mother."

"Yeah? In that case, I feel bad for the father."

"Nah." Flack said and shook his head. "He's pretty damn lucky."

"Yes." Sam agreed and pulled him down and into a long, steamy kiss. "He is."

After dining on a sumptuous meal that included homemade crepes wrapped around wild mushrooms and lobster as an appetizer and either grilled rib eye steak with seasonal vegetables and mashed potatoes or penne pasta in a wine rose sauce, guests sipped alcoholic beverages or specialty teas and coffees and enjoyed cupcakes with navy and baby blue icing that had been catered in. Everyone enjoyed themselves and Horatio and Delko and Tim's aunt and uncle had been welcomed with open arms and quickly became part of the fold. Max and Delko seemed quite cozy at the table they inhabited along with Scagnetti, Horatio and Danny. They spoke in hushed tones with their forehead's nearly touching and Max's arms curled around his forearm. Every so often, a loud peel of laughter would erupt from her and her eyes would sparkle and she'd come thisclose to planting a kiss on the gorgeous Latino's luscious lips.

All of this was not lost on the other guests. Most offered up a smile at the sight and then ignored him. Samantha and Angell, sitting side by side at their table with their respective partners, couldn't help by indulging in little girl gossip at the sight of what they could tell, was the start of an amazing night for Max.

"Unreal." Angell said and sipped her Long Island Ice Tea. Nothing fancy for her. She'd wanted nothing more than a Bud she could sip straight from the bottle, but decided to be a little more feminine. Much to everyone's amazement.

"We need to thank him tomorrow." Sam said, stirring the lemon wedge in her martini. "Not only is she happy and going to get laid later, but it means she leaves our men alone."

"I don't blame her." Angell commented. "I mean, he's massively hot."

"Massively." Sam agreed.

"I'll pretend I didn't hear that." Flack said.

She smiled and drained her glass. That had been her fifth. Or was it sixth? Seventh, maybe? She'd long ago lost count and knew by the tingling in her feet and the haziness in her brain that she was going to regret drinking that much in the morning.

"You know I love you bestest." she said and wrapped her arm around his shoulders and kissed his cheek.

"You need to cut her off." Angell told Flack. "Before you're carrying her out of here."

"I am fine." Sam declared and waved a waitress over to order another drink. "And besides, I'm not going home tonight. I am doing the girl's night in thing at the Hilton with Carmen and Gus and…..and……" her brow furrowed as she tried to recall the last name.

"Stella." Flack offered.

Sam's eyes widened. "How'd you know?" she asked.

Flack grinned and sipped his pop. "Lucky guess." he responded.

"You're just so smart." Sam gushed and kissed and nuzzled his cheek and neck and stroked his hair. "I love you. Isn't it too bad you won't be able to enjoy uninhibited Sam tonight?"

"Yes." he said with a heavy sigh and a nod. "It is."

"Probably a janitor's closet around here somewhere." Angell told them, placing an order for another drink with the waitress that came to clear their table. "And two more for her." she said, jerking her thumb in Sam's direction.

"Don't encourage her." Flack said. "Carmen will lose it if she has a severely hung over matron of honor tomorrow."

"I'm fine." Sam insisted, playing with his tie and loosening it off. "I'll be fine. Just a couple more. And than whatever Carmen has stocked in the room. You need to just relax. Angell's right. Maybe there is a closet somewhere. That always relaxes you."

He opened his mouth to offer up a perverted, off handed remark, but was halted when Carmen stood up at the head table and so very lady like put two fingers in her mouth and offered up a shrill whistle that not only shut everyone up in a hurry, but nearly deafened them all.

"Jesus Christ, Devine!" Danny exclaimed. "You mind?"

"Hey, this is my night and I'll do what I want."

"This wedding can not happen soon enough." Flack said. "So you're less of a pain in the….."

"There's just a few things I'd like to say." Carmen cut him off with a cold glare. "Tim asked me to do the talking because he's shy and not very good at that kind of thing and I'm…."

"Loud and obnoxious?" Gus offered up sweetly. "Sorry, hun, but Flack's right. This wedding needs to happen and fast. You're driving us all nuts."

"As I was saying," Carmen continued, ignoring the good natured teasing. "I just want to say a few things on behalf of Tim and I. First, I want to thank Samantha and Flack were paying for all of this tonight. It was a generous wedding gift from them and it cost them a fortune and we're now taking donations of canned goods at the crime lab so they and Kieran get eat for the next month."

"Thank Zack." Flack said. "It was his money."

"Okay…..to Zack Tanner. For dying and leaving Sam money. It was the two best things he ever did in his life."

"That's harsh." Speed complained.

"Second," Carmen continued. "I want to thank each and every one of you for taking time out of your busy schedules and home commitments and personal lives to be here tonight. It means a lot to Tim and I that all of you care so much about us and Addison. And a special thank you to Tim's aunt and uncle Maureen and Ken were drove from Syracuse to be with us tonight and Lietunant Horatio Caine and Eric Delko from the Miami Dade crime lab who made special effort to be able to be here."

"Not a problem." Delko said, snuggling in close to Max. "Lots to see here in New York."

"We know exactly just what you're seeing." Speed said. "Or what you will be seeing."

"Can I finish?" Carmen asked in exasperation. "Last but definitely not least, I want to say a little something about my matron of honor."

"That would be me!" Sam exclaimed, waving a hand over her head.

"Jesus Christ." Flack sighed and wished he'd opted for alcohol after all.

"Samantha is my best friend." Carmen began. "We met each other at the crime lab the day of my interview. She'd only been there less than a week herself, but with all that confidence and attitude that oozes out that tiny body, it was like she owned the place. She's always known exactly what she wants and how to get it and to hell with anyone or anything standing in her way. Yet she is so warm and genuine and makes everyone feel good about themselves and welcomes you with open arms."

"Until you piss her off." Danny called out.

"She can be a pretty tough," Carmen agreed. "But everyone in this room will tell you that they trust her to have their back in the most dire of situations. Sam was the main reason Tim and I met. She was the one that first checked him out on the subway and made me check him out too. I have a feeling she would have scooped him for herself, but she'd already managed to hook a great guy of her own so Tim was all mine. In fact, I think Sam and I managed to snag the two best damn bachelors in all of New York."

"Derek Jeter's my husband?" Sam asked, causing everyone to laugh.

"Sam and I became best friends right away. She's always been there for me when I needed some advice or a shoulder to cry on or to even go and have a good drink. 'Cause as you can all tell, she's very good at the drinking thing. To make a long, long story short, when Tim and I got engaged, there was no doubt in my mind who I would pick to be my matron of honor. And Sam's done a hell of a job. She planned this entire night, helped me tirelessly to plan my wedding and still manage to work, take care of a nine month old be be somewhat of a decent wife to a poor, poor suffering man that just wants her back and all to himself."

Flack nodded in agreement.

"Samantha…" tears welled in Carmen's eyes. "You're my best friend. And I love you like a sister and there's nothing I wouldn't do for you or wish for you."

Sam sniffled noisily.

"Oh here we go." Flack chuckled. "Way to go, Devine. When she starts she can't stop."

Carmen picked up a small box wrapped in silver paper and carried it over to the table where her best friend was sitting. The two women embraced and kissed each others cheeks and Carmen presented her with the gift.

"Now let's have a toast." Speed suggested.

"Wait!" Sam cried as she sat back down. "I don't have a drink!"

Angell held out the lemon yellow concoction. "It's right here." she said.

"Okay….I'm good." Sam exclaimed. "Go ahead, Tim!"

"Gonna be a hell of a reception with all you people." Speed said and picked up his glass of red wine.

"We're harmless but a hell of a lot of fun." Danny informed him.

"Just a small toast in honor of all of you that are here tonight." Speed said. "And to finding love and managing to hold onto it no matter what. 'Cause a lot of us here tonight waited a hell of a long time to find the person we're with and we have to work damn hard to hold things together sometimes. Yet I don't think one of us would want it any other way."

"My kid threw my cell phone in the litter box yesterday." Flack offered. "I can do without that."

"So other than Flack who managed to produce the spawn of Satan…." Speed teased. "To love." He said and held up his glass.

"To love." everyone echoed in sentiment.

"So you wouldn't want me any other way, huh?" Sam asked her husband, leaning into him, her eyes sparkling as she smiled.

"Sure I would."

Sam frowned.

"Naked. At a hotel somewhere far away with no kid and no cell phones. Just me and you."

She grinned and kissed him softly. "That's wishful thinking." she said.

Flack smiled but said nothing in return. His mind already working overtime on turning that wishing into reality.

Special shouts out to the following who took the time to read and review:

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