A Surprisingly Elegant Evening

disclosure: I came up with this idea before viewing the finale and wanted to still write it. Sorry if it confuses anyone. I write for enjoyment and do not own any of this show (wish I did).

"What do you mean I HAVE to go?" Abbie shouted. Anyone the building could hear the debate that had started moments after she was summoned to the captain's office.

Abbie had gone in to finish up some paperwork before calling it a night. Things had been slow on the "supernatural" front so she had been assigned a few regular cases to work in the mean time. Crane had left her to those duties as he investigated deeper into the bible he had been buried with over two centuries ago.

A few mintues past with a quiet hush coming from the office before Irving threw up the door and stated sternly, "It's an order not an option. It is for charity and we all will attend. And I mean ALL." Irving sliced the air in front of him with his arm, illustrating that the conversation had come to an end and that he was requesting Abbie to exit the room. He held the door open while she turned away from his desk and crossedthe threshold. She spun around to challenge the "order" once again but was exposed to a door slamming shut in her face.

"Can't believe this!" Abbie grumbled under her breathe as she walked down the hallway towards her desk again. As she reached the main office area, she realized that everyone had heard the interraction and became embarassed. She slinked to her desk and began to gather up her paperwork then left for her house. The paperwork would get done a whole lot faster without a millions sets of eyes on her. She placed the paper Irving had handed her on top and headed for the door. Morales shook his head and laughed as he past her in the hallway, knowing it would annoy Abbie that he truly enjoyed the "show" she put on previously.

"Finally." Abbie sighed as she reached to unlock the door to her house. She had grocery bags and the paperwork in her arms as was juggling the load as she turned the knob the released it as she pushed the door open. Just as the wooden door bounced off the wall behind it, all the paperwork fell out her arms and crashed to the floor. Abbie grunted then stepped over it to placed the groceries down and come back to clean up the messed. She called out into the home, "Jenny, you here?"

Suddenly Jenny sat up off the couch and removed the ear phones from her ears, startling Abbie and making her jump a bit."What's up?"

"Could you help me out?" Abbie requested, jestering towards the pile of papers scattered in the front doorway. Jenny stood up, walked over and began picking up the papers without an agrument or complaint.

A few seconds later, Jenny had them all up and was stacking them up and placing them on the table when a small, delicate piece of parchment caught her eye. "What's this?" Jenny rose and read the small card. "Masked Ball? You going to this?!" Jenny remarked with a slight chuckle in her tone.

"Being forced to go more like it." Abbie replied. she rolled her eyes and went back to putting up the last few items she had purchased.

"Forced? By Who? Crane?"

Abbie stopped mid motion. Crane. She had not thought of that. Her main complaints to the event was that it wasn't her kind of thing and also the date. Attending a charity masked ball with her co-workers was not how she wanted to spend the one year anniversary of Corbin's death. She had hoped to allow the night to past with her in solitude at home so that no one would see how that night effects her. But that night was also the night she meet Crane. He had become a vital part of her life not to mention her everyday. They were partners in the battle against evil and she had come to trust and confide in him more than anyone else. Could she put her feelings of lose for Corbin aside in order to share a moment in time with Crane at the same time? Would the dark cloud of death always darken the momery of their first meeting?

"No, not Crane. Irving. It's a charity ball for the police department and he is demanding all police officials show up except those on duty. Unfornately, he made sure that I was not scheduled for that night so that I would show. I had other plans but he ordered me to attend today." Abbie explained while her mind still comtempleted the Crane delimma.

"Can he do that?" Jenny questioned before noticing that Abbie was becoming more distant and drawn inward into a internal personal comflict in her mind. "Wait. What plans did you have?"

"That is the same night as Corbin's death."

"So? What were you going to do? Stay home and look at old pictures and get drunk?" Abbie shrugs as she closes the last cabinet door and finishes placing the groceries away. "Not a chance! Corbin would have killed us both if we sat around and felt sorry that he isn't here. He would kick our butts."

"Well I still don't want to do that. Come on seriously. Could you see me dressed up like a princess in a mask dancing around with some of the guys I work with?" Abbie fought back the image of her dancing with Ichabod's arms wrapped tightly around her and her body just mere inches from his.

"I agree with Irving. You need to do this. It will be good for you." Jenny stated in a direct tone. "Plus it is for charity and you can list it as overtime since he is ordering you to go." The two sisters enjoyed a much needed laugh as they visualized Irving explaining that overtime payment.

"Fine." Abbie gave in knowing that she would never win this battle. Since Jenny came to stay with her, Abbie had learned that once Jenny puts something into her head it is very difficult to amke the outcome be anything but that. Abbie planned on going for just a few minuutes and leave early with some excuse. Irving had demanded her presence but never stated how long.

"Now we have to figure out what you are going to wear and make sure Crane has something." Jenny was excited because this was what she had dreamed of several times as a girl; helping Abbie get ready for a dance or date like sisters normally do.

"Crane?! Why would he need something?"

"You have to have a date for it and Irving did say all police officials, didn't he?"

"First off, Crane is not a police official. He is more like a consultant. And second, who says I need a date?"

"You going alone? Really?! Is that a great idea.?"

"I'll ask Morales if we can go together tomorrow since he already has to be there. That way it is not a date." Abbie settled then picked up all the paperwork, leaving the invitation with Jenny. She moved towards her bedroom, closing the door behind her to end the conversation before Jenny could protest her decision.