Chapter 2
The Flanigan Home
Springfield, Virginia
"Molly, please focus. We need to get your homework done so I can get back to work," Bailey coaxed her daughter. It had become increasingly difficult to get Molly to do her homework and it was all Bailey could do to get her daughter to sit still long enough to complete the worksheets that were sent home.
"I don't want you to go back to work," Molly said. "You work all the time."
"It's important for grandpa that I do this," Bailey explained.
"I don't like that you're never here. I want to go home," the child whined. "I want my real school and my friends – I want Daddy." Tears filled the little girl's eyes and Bailey sighed in frustration, running her hands over her face.
"We've talked about Mike, Molly. You know that you get to see him whenever you want…" Bailey began. She felt her patience beginning to slip.
"I haven't seen him since we've been here," Molly pointed out.
"I thought you liked this school," Bailey tried to change the subject.
"I want my Daddy," the child insisted. Bailey studied Molly's upturned face and wanted to take away the child's pain. She was too young to be suffering for the sake of Baileys commitment to helping her father. She was too young to understand the forced separation from Mike and being away from the familiar surroundings of her school and home.
"How would you like to call Mike?" Bailey asked.
"Now?" Molly brightened hopefully.
"Sure, but when you're done talking to him, you have to finish your homework, deal?" Bailey smiled somewhat sadly at Molly's sudden excitement.
"Deal!" The child hopped off her seat and grabbed her mother's hand to drag the woman towards the phone.
Bailey dialed the number for the apartment and handed Molly the receiver. It took a moment before Molly said:
"Hi Daddy, it's me. We're still at grandma's house and I miss you." She handed Bailey back the phone. "He's not home. I got the answering 'chine."
"He's probably working late," Bailey replied, but Molly was quick to say:
"He'll have his cell phone, can we call him there?"
"Ah, Sweet Pea, if he's involved in a case, he's not going to want to be interrupted," Bailey began but Molly seemed to have already given the thought consideration.
"If he's busy he won't answer and I can leave a message but maybe he's on his way home. Please, Mommy."
Bailey rubbed her forehead in an attempt to fight off the headache that seemed to have become a daily occurrence. Molly studied her mother and tapped Bailey's blue-jeaned leg impatiently.
"Mommy…"
"I don't know his number off the top of my head. I need to get my cell phone," Bailey turned to retrieve her purse. "But you have to understand that if he's busy you can't be upset. He'll call you back when he has time."
"I didn't leave grandma's number on the message," Molly realized. "Will you tell me what it is when I'm talking to Daddy so he can write it down and call me when he wants to?"
"Let's get him on the phone first," Bailey said. It was the most enthusiastic Molly had been since they'd arrived in Virginia. She opened her cell phone and pressed the speed dial button for Mike and handed Molly the phone.
"Hello?" Mike answered his phone on the second ring.
"Hi, Daddy!" Molly's smiled radiated through the phone.
"Hey, Little Bit," he replied with a warmth that startled him with its intensity. "Where are you?"
"We're still at grandma's. I left a message at the apartment, too. I really miss you."
"I miss you, too, kiddo. How's school going?"
"It's OK but I miss my school and my friends," Molly told him, walking away with Bailey's cell phone. "Mommy said you might be busy working but I really wanted to talk to you. Are you working? Mommy's working all the time…"
Bailey refrained herself from snatching the phone back from the child and thought it better that she not eavesdrop for fear she would scold Molly for speaking out of turn. She returned to the kitchen just as her mother came in the back door.
"I'm sorry I'm running late," Claire apologized. "Your father was arguing with the nurses about having the IV taken out and I couldn't leave."
"It's OK," Bailey assured her. "You need to take care of Dad. I was trying to get Molly to do her homework."
Claire looked at the worksheet on the kitchen table and then glanced around the room for any sign of her granddaughter.
"She's on the phone with Mike," Bailey explained. "It was the only way she'd agree to finish…"
"You're letting that child run you," Claire stated.
"It's just easier right now to make concessions with her. She's being forced to give up everything she's used to so that we can be here and it's hard on her."
"Mommy, can you give Daddy the number here so he can call me sometimes?" Molly interrupted, holding the phone out to Bailey. Reluctantly, she took the phone from her daughter.
"Mike?"
"Hi, Bailey," his deep voice did strange things to her nerve endings. "How's your father?"
"Arguing with the nurses, so that's a good sign," she replied. "How've you been?"
"No sense complaining," he told her.
"Mike, dinner's ready…" Bailey heard the woman's voice in the background and realized that Molly had interrupted Mike on a date.
"Oh, Mike, I'm sorry. I did tell Molly to make sure you weren't busy."
"I'm never too busy for Molly," he told her softly.
"That's very nice of you, but you don't want to keep your date waiting," Bailey hung up without giving him a chance to respond, only to have Molly wail.
"You didn't give him the phone number!"
"He was busy, Molly. I didn't want to keep him any longer. You can call him another night and give him the number."
"You just didn't want him to have it!" Molly accused her mother.
"Molly, stop it!" Bailey snapped. "Mike didn't have time right now, we'll give it to him the next time you call him."
Claire listened to and watched the exchange silently. Molly burst into tears and rushed into her grandmother's arms and Claire hugged the child to her side. Bailey looked from her daughter to her mother and Claire offered her a comforting smile.
"She'll be fine. Why don't you take some time for yourself and try to relax for a little while?"
"I can't. I have to get back to the bar," Bailey sighed.
"Did you eat?"
"No, I'll get something there," Bailey took a step forward and knelt down behind Molly and rubbed the little girl's back. "I know you're missing Mike, baby, and I promise you'll talk to him again soon, but it wasn't a good time to give him the phone number."
"You just don't like him anymore so you don't want me to like him either," Molly's words were mumbled against Claire's hip.
"I wish I could explain so you could understand, Sweet Pea, but you'll just have to trust me on this."
When Molly didn't respond, Bailey rose to her feet with a soft sigh. She retrieved her keys and left her daughter with Claire and felt that she had somehow failed Molly for the first time since the child's birth.
Goren Home
New York City
"You can at least let me help clean up," Mike stated when he carried his plate into the kitchen.
"I've got it," Charli smiled up at him.
"Why don't you and Alex go relax?" Bobby came up behind her, setting two glasses on the counter. "I'll help with the dishes later," he kissed her cheek. "Lewis brought the plugs for the Mustang so we're going to put them in, if that's OK…"
"And if I say 'no', the two of you will pout," Charli teased, turning to look up at her husband. "I wanted to talk to Alex about the christening and the party afterwards, so you boys go play nice and don't make me come out there," she warned him with a soft laugh. Bobby leaned down to kiss her softly, his hand caressing her hip for a brief instant.
"You guys ready?" Lewis came into the kitchen carrying the spark plugs but he didn't wait for a response; instead he walked out the back door.
Mike and Bobby followed behind him. Mike was feeling certain that he knew less about cars then he did about being a husband and father. But, he reasoned, he wasn't too old to learn and this was definitely better than sitting home alone.
He found his thoughts traveling to Bailey and Molly as the three men finished their work on the car. Talking to Molly had lifted his spirits, but at the same time, he realized how much he missed her. Bailey, on the other hand, had made it obvious that she hadn't wanted to speak with him at all. She had assumed that he was already dating and hadn't even allowed him the chance to explain.
The sound of Lewis' cell phone drew Mike from his reflections.
"My sister," Lewis explained, closing his phone. "Her car broke down and she needs a ride. I need to go. Thank Charli again for dinner for me and tell her I'll be at the church on time next Sunday," he shook Bobby's hand. "Mike, good to see you again. Maybe next time Bailey and Molly can be here…"
Once Lewis had left, Bobby offered Mike a hesitant smile.
"I – I didn't mention to Lewis that you're separated, I didn't think it was my place. He just thinks they're away taking care of her father."
"Don't worry about it. I'm not making any public announcements myself," Mike replied. "Am I crazy?"
"Rumor has it," Bobby chuckled and Mike couldn't help but smile. "But no more than people say I am," Bobby grew serious. "If I hadn't – If Charli and I hadn't found each other, I'm not sure where I'd be. No worse than I was before, but sure as hell not where I am now," Bobby leaned against the Mustang and studied Mike. "What do you want, Mike?"
"Me? I want to sleep through the night without waking up thinking I heard Molly call for me. I want to see a pretty woman walking down the street and turn around to see if she's got a great ass, instead of thinking that she's not Bailey," Mike's laugh wasn't one of amusement. "Hell, I'm not sure what I want anymore."
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to upset you," Bobby began, but Mike shook his head.
"You didn't. I – I just wish I knew what to do – how to handle all of this. Bailey and I knew when we got married it was only temporary but things got complicated. I'm sure you heard about Denton's arrest."
"I did," Bobby acknowledged. "I'm not sure what I would have done…"
"She told me about the rape right before you and I went undercover and I couldn't do anything about it then. By the time I finally got my hands on him, I wanted to kill him," Mike confided. "I probably would have, too, if Bailey hadn't stopped me."
"Molly?"
"Denton's her biological father – When Bailey found out she was pregnant, she couldn't go through with the abortion," Mike was grateful to have someone to talk to about his pent up feelings and insecurities. "Her fiancé left her, her family didn't believe her. It was a mess but she handled it, all of it, alone."
"And she couldn't let you in?" Bobby assumed and Mike studied him thoughtfully. He forgot sometimes how intuitive Goren could be.
"Couldn't or wouldn't – any time I tried to touch her she froze up, or worse yet, she panicked."
"Do you know if she ever sought counseling?"
"I don't know for sure. I don't think so. Why?"
"Until she deals with what happened, she'll find it difficult to move forward. It – I'm sorry," Bobby shifted uncomfortably.
"For what?"
"You probably don't want to talk about this and I'm overstepping my bounds…"
"No, you're not," Mike assured him. "But now that she's left me, I'm not sure that she'd welcome any help from me."
"It might not hurt for you to talk to someone – get some professional advice," Bobby suggested.
"Me?" Mike raised a curious eyebrow. "I don't need to talk to anyone. Bailey's the one with issues."
"But a qualified therapist could give you some ideas on how to help Bailey until she's ready to seek help on her own," Bobby said, rubbing the back of his neck. "I'm sorry – I'm just thinking out loud – what I'd do if I were in your position."
"Except for the fact that Bailey and I aren't together anymore," Mike stated. "She doesn't want me or my help…"
"But that doesn't change the fact that you still care about her," Bobby replied. Mike opened his mouth to deny his feelings, but decided it better to remain silent. As hurt and angry as he might be, Mike knew that he wanted Bailey to have the opportunity to get past the horror that had been Rick Denton.
Pat's Diner
New York City
Mike sat at a table, reading the article in the New York Post about the possible closing of a city landmark. The photo of the restaurant where his and Bailey's wedding reception had taken place stared up at him and the memories of happier times filled his thoughts. Lennie Briscoe had taken him there many times for dinner or a friendly drink once they were off duty. The men had sat at the antique bar sharing stories and friendship, Lennie telling Mike of his dream of one day owning the bar himself.
"Hey, Mike, what brings you here?"
Mike looked up to see Jimmy Deakins watching him.
"Boredom," Mike shrugged, indicating the empty seat across from him.
"Being retired isn't everything it's cracked up to be, is it?" the Captain chuckled as he pulled the chair out and sat down. "Too much time on your hands and no place to be…"
"Nothing to do, no one to go home to – you want to buy a bar?" Mike pushed the newspaper across the table.
"Sure, we'll open it tomorrow," Deakins chuckled. The waitress approached and refilled Mike's coffee cup. The Captain turned over the cup in front of him and waited as it was filled. "Thank you," he smiled up at the young woman. "How's Bailey?" he turned his attention back to Mike.
"I've only talked to her once since the night she left for Virginia," Mike admitted. "I've talked to Molly a few times. She misses me – almost as much as I miss her," he smiled sadly. "It sounds likes Bailey's got her hands full trying to help care for her father and keep his bar open. Molly said that she barely sees Bailey," he broke off with a shrug.
"Doesn't Bailey have any help?" Deakins asked, meeting Mike's gaze across the table.
"I don't know for sure. Like I said, I haven't really talked to her. I'm only going by what Molly says and kids tend to exaggerate if they aren't happy, don't they?"
"Sometimes. Does Molly normally exaggerate?"
"No," Mike replied thoughtfully. He brought his cup to his lips while Deakins paused to add sugar to his own coffee.
"Seems to me that she wouldn't make up something so important, then. Maybe Molly's trying to get Bailey the help she thinks her mother needs and you're the one she knows would be there."
Flanigan's Bar
Springfield, Virginia
Bailey's head pounded as she locked up the bar and she longed to be home in bed. Walking towards her Jeep in the parking lot, she corrected that thought. She longed to be home in New York. She was battling demons in Springfield that haunted her at every turn. The days seemed to be never-ending while she felt as if she only just crawled into bed for brief moments at night before Molly was waking her up to start all over.
Slipping into the driver's seat of the Liberty, Bailey laid her head on the steering wheel for a brief moment, trying to muster the energy required to start the engine and drive to her parents' home. She had hired a bartender on a trial basis but wasn't comfortable leaving him alone yet. She had considered asking her brother, Thomas, for help but he hadn't seemed pleased with her reappearance and they had barely spoken. As tired as she was, she was too proud to beg anyone for help.
Sitting up, she started the Jeep and pulled out of the parking lot onto the main road. If she turned left, she would be at her parents' in fifteen minutes, but it would also mean driving by the house that Lily and Rick had owned – the same house where she had been raped. So instead, she turned right, adding thirty minutes to her drive time in an attempt to avoid dealing with the memories the house evoked.
Major Case Squad
1 Police Plaza
Megan Wheeler sat behind her desk, certain she'd scream if she had to review one more case file. She missed Logan desperately but at the moment, she'd be happy with any partner Ross chose to assign her.
"Wheeler," Ross called to her from his doorway of his office causing her to look up. "You and Logan, in my office."
"Excuse me?" she asked, certain she had misunderstood. Ross nodded towards the hallway and she saw Logan walking towards the squad room. "Captain?" her gaze moved back to Ross.
"Don't get your hopes up, Wheeler," Ross cautioned. "As soon as he's done socializing, get in here."
"Yes, sir," she nodded and looked back to where Mike had paused to talk to Bobby Goren in the hallway. The conversation appeared serious and Megan worried after her partner. He looked tired and she was certain he wasn't taking proper care of himself.
When the two men turned and walked into the squad room, Megan rose and walked towards them.
"Leave you alone and look what you drag in here," Wheeler smiled at Goren.
"Don't start on me, Wheeler," Logan chuckled. "You miss the hell out of me and you know it."
"It's just taking me a while to get used to the quiet serenity," she shot back, but her smile acknowledged the truth behind Logan's words. "Captain wants us in his office. You have any idea why?"
Logan's smile was wide and teasing as he replied:
"We're headed south, baby – you got your suntan lotion and bikini ready?"
"What are you talking about?" Megan followed behind him curiously. "We're going where?"
"There's no 'we'," Ross corrected. "I just got off the phone with DA McCoy," he looked from Logan to Wheeler. "The Virginia DA is requesting that one of you be at the Fairfax County Courthouse tomorrow afternoon for Denton's preliminary hearing."
"What? Why?" Wheeler questioned. It was not standard procedure for detectives to attend a preliminary hearing.
"Based on the circumstances of the arrest, it would seem that Denton's attorney wants the charges dropped and the case dismissed. The DA's, both here and in Virginia, think that at least one of the detectives involved should be there to offer expert testimony," the Captain explained. "You two decide who'll be on the plane when it takes off tomorrow morning…"
End Chapter 2