Cottonwood House III

The Hand You're Dealt

Disclaimer: No, CSI: still isn't mine. *sigh*

A/N: This is the third and (probably) final part of the series that began with Cottonwood House and continued in Lost for Words. It isn't written as a standalone piece, it might work out that way, but you should probably go away and read at least one of the other pieces first to be sure you know what the situation is. Because of that I won't repeat what I said in the Author's Notes for those stories, instead I'll just quickly mention some differences. Firstly, unlike the other two, I won't be writing this from a single character's point of view. However, in the hope of reducing confusion, individual chapters will be a single POV, and the name of the chapter will tell you whose. The second difference is that this will be published as a work in progress. The negative part of that is that I can't guarantee posting dates, or tell you how long it will be (my WIPs so far have all ended up being approximately a third longer than I expected), but I am aiming for somewhere between five and ten chapters. The positive side of the decision is that it gives me the opportunity to integrate any questions, comments etc. that people include in their reviews. I know it's a cliché, but reviews do increase update rates because they inspire me to write, so keep 'em coming and I'll try not to resort to shameless begging in any future A/Ns.

Finally, thanks to everyone who's been patient and stayed in touch with me during my writing hiatus, and especially to SylvieT who once again helped by telling me some of the things she'd like to see in this story; my apologies to her for starting to post it just when she might not be able to log on and read so easily for a while.

Chapter 1

Lindsey

I think I hear Mom's voice calling as the doors to the service elevator slide open in front of me. It's a good job I remembered to get the override key from Hal in security, because the tone of Mom's voice proves that it hasn't occurred to her that we might need it. If she just calmed down and thought for a moment she might work out what I'm doing, but I don't have time to turn back and try and fit my explanation in around her negative assumptions. Instead I dive into the dimness of the large car and hit the button sending it, and me, on the journey down to the staff parking level.

You'd think Mom would make an effort to chill out today at least, but everything has to be a drama with her, which is kind of funny considering it's me who wants to go into show business.

I really thought Mom would be pleased when she heard my plans for celebrating my "Sweet Sixteenth", considering the huge, elaborate parties I've already been invited to by some of my friends at Butterfield. In fact she got quite misty eyed when I told her that I just wanted to spend the day itself with her, Gran and my aunt, and that the only party I wanted was a small gathering to say thank you to the guys who were my honorary aunts and uncles while I was growing up – which pretty much means that it's a party for her friends, not mine.

It didn't last long though, as soon as I said I wanted to book the rooftop pool at the Eclipse as the venue Mom started to moan, she wanted me to settle for a back yard barbecue, 'cause she thought some people wouldn't want to strip off for swimming, but for me the pool was essential, and it's not like I'm intending on forcing anyone into the water if they really don't want to. Besides, Mom being a major shareholder in this hotel has its perks, even if everything's tied up with some legal mumbo jumbo that lets her claim that there's no clash of interest between the business and Mom's CSI work. We're getting use of the pool for free and a discount on any food and drink, so it's not really costing us much more than the wages for the hotel chef and bar man who'll take care of the grill and wet bar.

Having the staff to deal with food and drink should have meant less for Mom to worry about and when she still complained I offered to organise everything, she just needed to call the manager and let him know that I was in charge and that everyone who'll be at the party except me is over age so it's OK to have a proper bar and then I'd deal with everything else. Mom just laughed at that, so all my plans had to go through her which left her way over stressed for no good reason.

I look at the elevator's indicator panel, still a ways to go, it's a long way from the rooftop to the basement and the service lift travels pretty slowly compared with the ones available to the guests. Hopefully the time I'm away will give Mom chance to calm down, although it's just as likely that she'll have smoke coming out of her ears by the time I get back. I just wish she'd take the time to use her CSI skills to figure out who is missing from this little gathering, because then she might 'deduce' just what I'm 'up to' right now. Unfortunately, I guess, I seem to be the one part of her life where she skips right over the evidence and leaps to the worst possible conclusion.

I know I had my moments after my Dad died, but now I can't seem to do anything without Mom assuming that, if I'm not being downright evil, then I must at least have an ulterior motive.

Take a couple of weeks ago, for example, I found out that one of the girls in home room with me wasn't doing anything for her sixteenth. We're friends because we both used to go to public school, before my Granddad started paying my fees and Nikki got herself a scholarship. Nikki's problem is that just 'cause she goes to Butterfield doesn't mean her folks have money, they're stretched just paying for the 'extras' her scholarship doesn't cover. Nikki was too embarrassed to have a party at home when everyone else seemed to be booking these grand venues, so she just wasn't going to bother at all. I knew she was upset about it, so I offered to ask Mom about getting her a room for free, but she thought her parents would be too proud to accept, so I suggested we make it a joint party.

I was trying to be kind, but when I told Mom she just went off on one about it being my plan all along so I could have two parties and how much extra work it would be for her. In the end she reluctantly agreed to us having the party a week from now. Since then she's been obsessing so much about today that I don't think she's realised that she hasn't had to do anything all for the 'joint' party. I'm getting what I want today, so now that the room is organised, I'm leaving it to Nikki and her parents to arrange everything the way that she wants it. I'm even saving Mom chaperone duty, I've persuaded her and Nikki's parents not to cramp our style, provided Nikki and I come up with a pair of chaperones who are acceptable to everyone. And there, I admit, I have got a devious plan, because I intend to fix that part of the deal today. Riley's bound to be up for it and Greg likes to think he's still part of the 'young' group, so he'll be flattered, my friends will think they're pretty cool, Nikki's parents will be impressed that they're with law enforcement and Mom can't object without looking like she doesn't trust members of her team. I even sneaked a peek at the roster for next weekend when she brought it home and it's Greg's regular day off, he must have taken leave for today, and Riley's marked down for a day in lieu, probably to make up for her filling in tonight.

Finally, the elevator is grinding to a halt, which is a little worrying considering the Eclipse is still practically new. I turn the master key the way Hal showed me to, so that the car will be held on this level until we're ready to ascend again, and then step out, looking around with a grin on my face to see how well I've managed to time things.

Perfect, as I turn to the right the first thing I see is Uncle Gil, dressed in casual sweats, he's sitting sideways in the passenger seat of a dark blue minivan, the door open and his legs facing outwards while he waits for his carer, Lucy, to emerge from the rear of the van with his wheelchair. When he sees me he grins and opens his arms and I head over as fast as my espadrilles will let me to complete the hug.

"'Inds," he greets me, adding a kiss to the top of my head.

"Hi, Uncle Gil, I'm glad you made it, it wouldn't feel like my birthday without you."

I give Lucy a nod and smile when she appears and she grins back, clearly everything's going well so far. I offer Uncle Gil a steadying hand as he steps down from the cab and settles himself into the now waiting wheelchair. He indicates for me to lead the way and then drives after me as Lucy locks the van and then walks beside him, a small holdall in her hand.

The service lift may not be the grandest of ways for him to arrive upstairs, but Uncle Gil is only just getting used to being out in public again and this way, with the security override on, we can travel virtually all the way from the van's parking spot to poolside without having to manoeuvre his chair into one of the smaller public elevators or deal with other passengers getting in and out, some of whom might be less than polite and stare at my honorary uncle like he's just another Vegas sideshow.

While we travel I take hold my guest's left hand and squeeze. I lost my Father and Grandfather to violence and every time I see Uncle Gil I am reminded of how close I came to losing him the same way. He may not be entirely the same man I remember from when I was growing up, there will be no more stories, no more explanations that make more sense than anything my teachers say and no more butterfly hunts suggested with perfect timing to give me and Mom space to cool off. Still, he has fought back from the brink and the essence of our relationship remains. In fact his new demonstrativeness makes it even clearer that I have his unconditional love, blood relative or not.

The elevator reaches its destination and sun floods in as the doors part. The thunderous look on my Mom's face turns to astonishment and pleasure as she sees who it illuminates. I take a half step back as Uncle Gil begins to move his chair forwards. I am merely the hostess tonight, this is the first time Uncle Gil has faced such a large group beyond the safe environment of his home at Cottonwood House, and he is the Guest of Honour today. In my head he was always going to be.