History repeating – Part II
Ok, this is part II of History Repeating. The prologue is long but needed, so don't worry, all chapters won't be essays! I hope you enjoy where I am taking this...:) As Mac would say – everything is connected...(even AU fanfics :) ) This one starts after At your door/life at the one-two, about 6 months later and contains the same OC's. All recognisable characters are CBS and not mine.
Prologue – 14 years later
"What's that?" Kate Flack asked, sneaking her head onto her husbands shoulder as he sat on the sofa.
Don gave her a glare and shuffled away, huffing.
"Oh good" she grinned brightly "The silent treatment"
He gave her a look that clearly said 'Ya think?!'
"Come on" she wheedled "I'm sorry"
"Hmmm" he responded, finding himself up against the arm of the sofa as she closed in again.
"I really am"
He continued to ignore her as she ducked under his arm with a cheeky grin and laid her head on his chest.
"I know you loved that shirt, but it literally fell apart" she told him with appealing eyes.
"Humph" he replied, lifting his arm higher to concentrate on the newspaper.
"I'll make it up to you" she said seductively, sighing when she got no response.
"Is that a cross word?" she asked finally "I didn't know you'd started doing cross words"
"You're too busy throwing away my favourite clothes" he muttered.
She stifled a laugh "Which one are you stuck on? Maybe I can help?"
"Four letter word" he answered "For pain in the ass"
She frowned at him as he put his pen to the paper and made a show of writing "Oh yes, wife. Thanks"
"Awww don't be mad at me" she pleaded "I bought you some new ones"
"Since when do I need you to buy my clothes?" he asked, eyebrow raised.
"You don't" she smiled sweetly "But..."
"It's those white ones isn't it?!" his eyes glinted with amusement "Like the one I got a few weeks ago"
"Might be" she pulled back and shrugged with nonchalance "I didn't really notice"
"Right" he snorted "I bet anythin' you like it's them white shirts, you said you liked them"
She shrugged "I do and it is" she answered "Now stop bein' so stubborn"
His face told her that he wasn't ready to give in yet so she increased her assault, resting her head on his chest again and stroking his inner thigh softly.
"I really am sorry" she crooned "Honestly baby, I wouldn't have thrown it out if it could have been repaired"
"Crap" he shot back "You always hated it, and don't 'baby' me. You only say that when you want somethin' or you done somethin'"
"I didn't hate it" she grinned as he shifted in his seat, but didn't deny the rest of his accusation.
"You did" he said through clenched teeth "An' now you got your own way, again"
"Let me make it up to you" she urged, increasing the pressure of her hand.
"No" he snapped "You've upset me"
"Yeah, but I'm gettin' to you right now" she laughed.
"Physical reaction" he snorted "Nothing more"
"Right" she whispered "I love you"
"Uh-huh" he turned his attention back to the cross word, with difficulty.
Never patient, Kate stopped abruptly and stood up.
"Wow, your mother did warn me you could sulk" she said.
Don looked pointedly at his watch and then at Kate "I thought I'd get at least another hour of grovelling"
She climbed onto his lap snuggling her face into his neck as he chuckled "I'll grovel all you want, are you hungry?"
"Not really, just tired" he yawned "Hold that thought until tomorrow"
He lifted her from his lap by her waist and she put her feet down, pouting at him.
"I'm gonna take a shower an' go to bed" he kissed her on the cheek "'Night babe"
She watched him saunter off, folding her arms crossly.
By the time she'd locked up and got into bed herself, he was stretched out on his side away from her, he looked peaceful. With a last resentful look in his direction she got into bed and switched the lamp off.
A few moments later he turned over and an arm crept around her waist.
"Hmmmm, no pyjama's" he whispered "Must be grovelling"
"Changed your mind huh?" she replied with a smile in her voice.
"Uh huh" he said, a hand sliding along her thigh "Actually, I am hungry. Could use a sandwich"
He started to laugh as he felt her body tense and pinned her arm to her side with his own "Now now" he chuckled "Be nice, you're supposed to be grovelling"
"You're an asshole" she hissed, which made him laugh louder.
"Any of that cold meat left?" he asked in her ear.
"I'll shove it..." he cut her off by rolling her onto her back, pinning her hands and kissing her.
Looking up at him her expression caused him to grin wider.
"Well let me up then!" she snapped "So I can make your damned sandwich"
"I don't want one now" he kissed the side of her lips "I want something else"
"I'm not cookin'" she muttered.
"No" he agreed "You're not"
"I knew you'd give in" she was as smug as he had been "You always do"
"Only because you seduce me" he replied "And it works"
It was her turn to chuckle, relaxing she slid her arms around him "Move over then, I'll show you grovelling"
…...
Hours later Kate woke up, something was wrong but she wasn't quite sure what, and then she realised that the bed felt wet, and she was burning up. Throwing the covers back she lay for a while, trying to cool down. Getting more and more irritated with the snoring next to her.
"Don!" she finally growled "For God's sake!" he mumbled something and turned towards her, his breathing settling again.
Kate lay for ages, thinking. She was 44, she might be considered a little early for menopause, but she'd started with a few symptoms recently and it was seeming more and more likely.
Finally driven to distraction as Don started to snore deeply again she got out of bed in disgust, leaving her side covers back in the hope that they would dry off. Creeping downstairs she was wide awake, she got herself a drink and booted up the family computer.
"What are you doin'?" Kate jumped at the voice behind her, she looked guiltily at the clock, she'd been playing solitaire for over an hour.
"Can't sleep" she answered "Too hot"
He gave her an odd look "Are you sick? You never get too hot"
She shrugged "Maybe, I'm OK now"
"No you're not" he folded his arms, an indication that he wasn't going to let this go "Too hot and out of bed by your own volition, I don't buy it. What's goin' on?"
"Well think about it!" she snapped, switching the computer off irritably and skirting around him to go back upstairs.
She was changing the sheets when he came back in "An' why are you doin' that?" he looked genuinely confused, and concerned.
"Because they're wet" she answered "I sweated a lot before I woke, I don't wanna sleep on wet sheets, do you?"
"No" he answered, sliding one hand over another and clicking his knuckles.
"Then quit standin' there like an idiot!" she raged as she fought with the duvet and it's cover "And help me!"
"Hey hey!" he soothed, taking the covers from her stiff grip and wrapping his arms around her "What's wrong?"
"I don't know!" she wailed, shoving at his chest.
"Well something's up" he murmured into her hair.
"Oh leave me alone!" she snapped, stalking off to the bathroom as her let go and watched her, puzzled and hurt.
"Kate?" he tried, racking his brains for something he might have done.
"I'm sorry" she turned to him "I didn't mean to take it out on you"
"OK" he said carefully "I'll sort the bed"
"I mean it" she said, biting her lip "I just feel a bit shitty, I might be coming down with something"
He stepped towards her and took a hand, seeing her eyes full of unusual tears "It's fine" he soothed.
She squeezed his hand and leaned up and kissed his cheek "You put up with so much shit from me"
He shrugged giving her a grin and hiding his concern "Someone's gotta love ya"
"Thanks" she said sadly before heading for the shower.
"Damned PMS" he shook his head wryly before turning his attention to the bed.
…...
"Mollie!"
Kate heard her husband yell at their middle child as she finished dressing, she rolled her eyes.
"Mollie! Stop it! Leave you sister alone!" he shouted.
"But it's mine!" the childish voice retorted.
"I don't care!" he roared back "She's a baby!"
"I don't likeyou daddy!" Mollie retorted harshly "You're mean!"
"Yeah well right now" he answered her "I don't like you much either!"
Kate heard the predictable wail as she came down the stairs and knew exactly what she'd find, and she was right.
She saw Mollie in her favourite place, her fathers arms, and a look of guilt across his face.
"Of course I didn't mean it" he crooned at her "Daddy was jus' a bit cross"
"But...B..ut it's my dolly" Mollie wailed "A...And she'll b...b...break it"
"I know" he soothed "If she does, I'll buy you a new one"
"Will you?" suddenly all trace of tears were gone "The new one? That cries?"
"Yeah" he sounded muffled with his face in her hair.
"She knows exactly how to play you" Kate sniggered at him.
"She's upset" he defended with a smile.
Kate sighed "Uh-huh, what do I get if you upset me?"
"You get enough" he answered smartly.
"Tsh!" she laughed.
"Are you OK?" he asked with concern.
"I'm fine, honestly" she assured him "I musta had a nightmare or somethin' last night"
"OK" he answered "As long as you're OK"
"I am" she smiled, a happy smile.
He watched her for a second, deciding it wasn't odd for Kate to have mood swings.
He smiled back "You ready?"
"Yeah" she frowned at him "Though I have no idea why you are insisting on coming, I'm refereeing a soccer match, not actually playing myself, I haven't been back on the team long enough yet"
He shrugged, giving her a sideways look "Jus' want to"
Suddenly Kate stopped packing her bag and rounded on him, laughter coming through her words.
"I get it!" she was triumphant "I'm reffing the academy guys soccer teams, an' you jus' realised that I'll be runnin' round a pitch full of young guys?"
"No!" he said, a little too quickly "It's ages since I saw you play, I used to come all the time before you quit an' had Mollie. I thought seein' as I'm off..."
"You can dump the kids with whoever an' come make sure no young, hot rookie gets too close?" she teased "I got your number Flack"
"It's not that..." he grappled and then gave up, it was no good, he knew when he was beaten "Fine, it is that"
She laughed "You're so possessive!"
"What of it?" he grinned back "Anyway, I was gonna bring the kids with me, an' then we can all go out, after"
"How about" she tried "You take the kids out this morning while I ref this match, an' if I can leave the young hotties alone long enough, we can all go out later, for dinner?"
He folded his arms "I don't like it"
"I know you don't" she reached up and tweaked his cheek "But it's that or you try an' control the wild child and Rosie by yourself, at the side of a soccer pitch, DJ might behave"
The thought obviously made him waver, and Kate pushed her advantage.
"I'll make it up to you" she smiled sweetly.
"You look good in shorts" it was half an compliment and half an explanation.
She laughed "Take the kids out, we'll get lunch when I get finished, and then maybe you can take me out for dinner later. We could even push our luck an' see if we can get a babysitter, you know, go somewhere that has adults only for a change?"
Despite Kate moving into the K9 section and now working part time, they still seemed to always manage to grab an hour here and there together. It was hard work.
"Done" he answered, the lure of a night with Kate, alone, with no tantrums from Mollie, no DJ complaining because he was bored or no Rosie throwing food about was too strong "I'll arrange a babysitter"
She smiled at him and he spontaneously smiled back.
…...
"Hey Mollie, stop kickin' my chair would ya? I'm tryn' a drive here!" Don frowned at his daughter through the rear mirror.
"Sorry Daddy" she grinned back at him, he couldn't help but smile back, she was his daughter alright, same eyes, same smile but blonde and fair.
"Hey Dad?" he glanced at his son, sitting next to him in the front seat.
"Yeah Deej?" he replied, in that flat tone most parents used when they suspected they were going to be parted from their cash.
"Can we stop off at the sports store?" he pleaded.
"What for?" Don's eyebrows shot into his hairline "Your Mom got you new sneakers last week"
"New gloves" his son informed him "Mine are gettin' tight again"
Don sighed, his son knew exactly how he worked, mention hockey and DJ could have what he wanted, and he knew it.
"OK" his father agreed "Just don't tell your Mom"
"Deal" his son gave him his own smug smile right back. Don knew the day that his own mother had discovered he was going to have a son, and gave out the curse 'I hope he's just like you', it'd come back to bite him in the ass.
"Daddy..." came a whine from the back seat, Don sighed again, he was about to kiss goodbye to more money.
"Yeah?"
"If DJ gets something, then I have to have something too, and Rosie" she told him "Mom says it's only fair, and if she does find out..."
"I know" he replied "What do you want?" he was well used to having the three women in his life manipulate him on a regular basis, he watched his daughters use the same tricks their mother did to get her own way – well some of them anyway.
"A puppy" she announced.
"I don't think so" he laughed "How are we supposed to hide another dog from your Mom? And anyway, we already have one, and when your mom gets her work dog, we'll have two"
"But Daddy" a sob came from the back seat. Great he thought, action two on the 'I will get my own way' initiative from Mollie, he melted when she cried and she knew it "I really need a puppy!"
He looked at her in the rear mirror again, big tears rolled down her cheeks, she looked like her world was ending. Big, tough, hardened New York Cop he was, he could handle this.
"Mollie don't" he pleaded, shooting a look at the baby asleep in her chair, hoping she wouldn't wake up, and join in.
"C...Can I have a pony then?" she sobbed.
Don glared at DJ as he snorted with laughter.
"A pony?" Don stalled for time.
"A white one, a nunicorn" Mollie pouted.
"Great idea Mollie! A unicorn?! Can I play with it?" DJ interjected.
"You" Don turned to him, he couldn't keep the smile off his face though "Aren't amusing, at all"
DJ laughed "Well" he said, reminding Don of his mother "She's bein' stupid"
"I am not!" Mollie raged "I want a nunicorn!"
Don sighed "I dunno if I can get you a real one" he hedged.
"Can we try?" she begged, he chanced a look in the mirror again to see her little face lit with hope.
"We'll try" he replied.
"Mom's gonna kill you" DJ chanted.
"Shut it you" Don warned with amusement "You started all this"
DJ shrugged, he knew how to get round his father too, despite adoring his mother, he knew if he wanted anything, he was far more likely to get it out of Don than Kate, Kate wasn't as easily persuaded by tears and pouting as Don was.
"I only wanted some gloves" he said slyly.
"Yeah, well now as well as the pool, we're stoppin' at the sports store an' the toy store" Don huffed.
DJ just laughed as Mollie cut in "An' the nunicorn store!"
"I think they sell them at the toy store" he told her, hoping to God they sold toy ones, the ensuing tantrum if they didn't wasn't worth thinking about.
"Today is gonna cost me a fortune isn't it?" Don grumbled, although too young to realise, he'd have to get Rosie something too, it wouldn't feel right otherwise.
"Probably" DJ grinned.
Don gave him a wounded look that made the boy laugh louder.
...
Kate raised her eyebrows as Mollie marched proudly into the house, carrying a stuffed toy in the shape of a unicorn almost as big as her.
"Whatch'ya got there?" Kate asked her.
"A nunicorn" Mollie told her "Called Snuffles"
"Oh" Kate watched her head for the garden "Why are you takin' him out there?"
Mollie gave her a look that made Kate feel slightly like an idiot "Nunicorns eat grass Mommy" she said in a tone that suggested that Kate should really already know that.
"Right" Kate frowned and turned back to the open door as DJ shot up the stairs "Hey!" she called "Where you off to in such a hurry?"
DJ stopped, but didn't answer, looking behind him as Don stepped into the house, holding Rosie and a large figure of a well known animated character, wearing a sheepish expression.
"You may as well show her" Don said in defeat "She'll only beat it outta me later"
DJ slumped back down the stairs and opened the bag he held, Kate rifled through it.
"Hmmm" she said "New gloves, shirt an' pads"
"Can I...?" DJ pointed to the stairs.
"Go on" she smiled, knowing he couldn't wait to try them out. She turned to Rosie as Don set her on the floor, putting her toy in front of her and setting it off. It started to make noises and bounce, getting steadily faster.
Rosie squealed with delight and tried to copy it, crawling after it along the hallway. Kate looked at Don, as he tried to avoid eye contact with her.
"I didn't know the pool sold toys an' sports equipment" she teased him.
"They ambushed me" he grumbled.
"Every time" Kate laughed "Every time you take them out on your own, you end up spending a fortune"
He decided to brazen it out "They're my kids, I like spoiling them"
"Your wife wouldn't mind spoiling" she eyed the bag he hid badly behind his back.
"My wife always gets spoilt" he told her, handing her the bag with a sigh.
"Oh chocolates" she raised her eyebrows at him "And perfume"
He shrugged, mischief in his eyes "You're not that bad a wife I guess" he replied "I suppose you deserve a treat now an' again, keep you sweet. I also arranged for the kids to sleep out, Mollie is goin' to stay with Sam and DJ is goin' fishing with Dad while mom plays baby with Rosie"
Kate closed the bag and looked at him, trying to decide how to respond.
"You'll pay for that later" she leaned into him "When I'm being an amazing wife"
He kissed her "That a promise?"
"You bet" she grinned before kissing him back.
…...