A/N: Started: Nov 14th, 2010. Amended: April 21st, 2011. I had a vague idea where this was going last year when I started it…but yeah I didn't get very far. Clarky's gone AWOL in this fic… don't hate. Not my best work, but when I get bored at work, sometimes I just have to go there...the dark places of my mind. I dedicate thee to Don'tCallMeMa'am just coz :P
Summary: The morning after the routine evaluations.
1. The Sound of Serious
Their tedious evaluations were finally over and Gerry was a proud grandfather. He walked around to Jack and Brian's respective desks the following day still beaming as he delivered the obligatory round of morning coffee. The general rule was the last one to arrive at the office in the morning drew coffee duty. Sandra wasn't in yet but Gerry was still floating high in the clouds; he'd even stopped off at the bakery on the way in and brought a tray of pastries.
Twenty minutes later Sandra pushed through the doors leading to the stairs down to the office, smiling as the sounds of her boys engaged in conversation below filled her ears. Their serious three-way conversation abruptly stopped when they realized she'd entered the office.
"Oh don't stop on my account!" Sandra shook her head with a smile.
She walked straight over to Gerry. Inhaling on one of the cigars he'd saved from the night before, he watched her cross over from the staircase, blowing out a thick cloud of smoke as she stopped beside him, slouched on the edge of his desk. He looked at her, then the cigar in his hand.
"Er…" Gerry started, waving a hand casually through his smoke cloud trying to disperse it. He took a deep breath, preparing himself to be yelled at.
Sandra leant down, kissing his left cheek, "Congrats grandpa!"
Gerry looked up, surprised to see her still grinning and all of a sudden relieved at not being subjected to another ear bashing. She handed him a large gift bag, bright yellow with multicolored balloons before walking over to the coffee machine to get her own morning fix, absolutely delighted to see the tray of pastries, gleaming with sticky goodness. She helped herself to a plate with one of everything; she never had time for a proper breakfast.
"Excellent choice," she directed at Gerry, tipping her plate in his direction. He nodded then looked back down at the gifts.
"Something to share with your daughter when you see her..."
Gerry flicked the bag slightly open with his free hand and peered inside, finding two similarly sized white boxes and a third smaller one, a yellow bow of ribbon wrapped perfectly around each.
Sure, she could be a right bitch, but…
"Cheers! I'll drop it off later tonight. You er…"
Gerry leant forward, placing the bag on the floor beside him, then twisted back towards his desk, ruffling through the papers he was half sitting on.
"Ah, here y'ar, last one!" he announced triumphantly, handing Sandra her own cigar. She held it up proudly to Brian and Jack.
"So…what did I interrupt just now, sounded serious?" Sandra asked.
Moving to sit on the edge of the desk beside Gerry, she looked around the room at each of them. Jack looked to Brian then Gerry as they all exchanged glances but remained silent.