"I don't know anyone, and neither do you, who actually likes pickled pigs feet." Quinn puts dishes away in the kitchen of her condo. Sharon Raydor's impeccable tastes shine through with the style, even though it was mostly chosen by her daughter. Bright colors and stain resistant fabrics throughout, appearing to look like room designs from the IKEA showroom floor.
"My roommate is obsessed with them. I don't ask questions. He's from the south." Rusty grins, glancing around. No real sign of two toddlers living here except for the modern high chairs, the small green blanket belonging to the girl, and a matching yellow belonging to the boy. He knew his adopted sister to be as much of a clean freak as their mother.
Sam smirks, leaning against the breakfast bar, bottle of Corona in hand with a portion of lime floating within it, "So, Rusty, how are you planning on surprising mom?"
"I haven't decided yet. I don't know whether to go to the murder room and hide in her office, or hide in her condo until she gets home, or hide here and ring her doorbell later." He bites the corner of his lip.
"So, they all include scaring her..." Quinn smirks.
"That's the general idea." The still teenager grins
"Do you need help?" Sam glances to him, "I'm all for it, by the way." He takes a long swig of his beer.
Rusty nods, "So, what does she usually do with the twins when she thinks you're working and she has to go out?"
"But I am working, Rusty. Can't you tell?" Quinn replies sarcastically with a smirk, "The daycare is there. I'm sure it isn't an issue. When she finishes, she usually takes them to her place."
He glances between the two, "I'll go wait there then." He nods, "Is um..." The teen pauses, "Is Jack coming this year?"
"Better not." Sam mumbles.
"I invited him." Quinn nods.
"What?"
"I let him know that he was welcome for the holidays. He may be a pain in the ass and a terrible father, but no one should be alone for Christmas." She folds her arms across her chest, giving her brother a look.
Sam rolls his eyes, "As bad as Mom."
Rusty shrugs, "Maybe he won't come."
"Oh, he'll come."
The teen sighs, "Okay, well...I'm going to go over to Sharon's. Put my stuff away. Think about this more." He nods, finishing his glass of water, "Thank you for picking me up from the airport."
"Sure thing." Sam finishes his beer, tossing the bottle into the recycle bin.
"I'm glad you're home." Quinn moves over to the young man, hugging him closely again.
Rusty knows this is a big thing for his sister. He knows how she doesn't like to touch or be touched except for a select few. He wraps his arms around her in return. He knows where she's coming from when it comes to this. He was the same way for a while. "It's good to be back." He smiles softly.
Provenza looks to the toddler in front of him, "Can I help you?"
Harper Raydor tilts her head to the side, pouting her lips, as if studying him. She walks closer, lifting her hands up toward him.
"Where the hell is the Captain?" He replies, not very loudly. Not loud enough for anyone to really care about anything he says at the moment.
The girl face changes to that of a more stern expression as she thrusts her hands toward him again.
Provenza sighs, grumbling as he lifts the girl onto his desk, "Happy?" When the girl nods, he raises an eyebrow, chuckling to himself. "Weren't you following Flynn around earlier? Where did he go?"
"Done know." The toddler replies simply, giggling deeply when the older man jumps. Her voice unusually hoarse for a child of her age, causing her to sound much older.
"It talks! Sykes, did you hear that?"
Amy glances toward him, smirking, "She's a smart girl. Why wouldn't she?"
He gives her a look, then turns back to the girl. "That's why we don't talk to her."
Flynn walks back into the murder room, pack of crackers in hand as well as a box of juice, "Are you trying to steal her from me?" He playfully shouts toward his friend. Laughing to himself when the girl pumps her fist in the air in celebration of his return.
"Where's the Captain?" Provenza makes a face.
"Changing the other one's diaper in the bathroom."
He nods, "Good." The older man lets the girl eat her cracker while still sitting on his desk. Smirking when she offers him one, he shakes his head, "Nah, it's all yours."
"I apologize about that." Sharon walks ahead of her grandson, the boy not missing a beat by staying closely to her, "She isn't bothering you, is she?"
"Course not, Captain." Flynn shakes his head, holding out crackers and juice for the boy as well.
Sharon glances to the boy, then to Andy, "Say thank you, Finn." When the toddler hides behind her leg, she sighs. "He usually won't take anything from anyone unless it's Quinn, Sam, Rusty, or I."
"Oh." He stands straighter, "I guess that's the right idea." He places the box of juice and the crackers on the desk.
Finn moves around from her leg, cautious of the other men around and grabs the crackers and juice from the desk, hearing the other men chuckle. "Tank you." He says quietly, returning to his place behind his grandmother's leg, then offers it to her to open for him.
Sharon grins, amused with the boy. She does as he asks, handing him one cracker at a time from the small pack.
"I don't want anymore. Why don't you have some?" Provenza looks to the girl, still sitting on his desk.
Amy grins, watching the men. She slides over toward Provenza, smiling to the girl on the desk, "Is this how you are with your grandkids, Lieutenant?"
"My grandkids usually want something. They don't try to give me things." He grumbles.
She chuckles a little, "I can't imagine you with kids...let alone grandkids."
"Well, I got em both."
"They're adorable, Captain." She smirks to the woman, taking a cracker from the girl when she offers it.
Flynn smirks, watching her, then glances to the Captain, "We don't have anything coming in. You should head home with these two."
Sharon shakes her head slowly, "That wouldn't be fair, Lieutenant."
"Then send us home while you're at it." Provenza smirks.
"Sounds good to me." Sanchez chirps in.
"Me too!" Tao calls out, playing a game on his computer.
Sharon exhales, "Okay, everyone go home. It's Christmas Eve and we have all been pulling extra hours lately anyway."
"Really?" Julio stands, "Seriously?"
"Absolutely. Everyone have a great Christmas." She grins, then glances to Flynn, "Could I speak with you a moment before you head out?"
"Yeah, sure." Andy nods, "I was going to ask if you wanted help anyway." He nods to his co-workers and friends as they leave, "Change your mind about Christmas?"
Sharon licks her lips, waiting for the last to leave before speaking, "Are you going to be okay at Nicole's by yourself?"
He was nervous as hell about it. Anytime it came to spending time with his children given his past with them and of course whatever his ex-wife had told them. "You and your family have tradition. I can't take you from that."
"I insist." She nods, "Rusty isn't going to be there this year and it's going to be...incredibly hard for me."
Andy stands, nodding, "Come with me then...and bring these two. I bet Quinn has some last minute shopping or wrapping to do."
"Are you sure?" Sharon smiles softly, tilting her head to the side.
"Absolutely. Her friends bring their kids. That way we'll have an excuse to leave." He grins.
"Maybe stay over? Rusty's bed is free and Sam has been staying at Quinn's but doesn't think I know about it. Our festivities begin early in the morning with breakfast and..." She shrugs, "Don't feel pressured. The very last thing I want is for you to feel uncomfortable."
"Sounds like it could be fun." Andy nods.
"Really?"
"Yeah, sure. Let me stop home to take a shower and pack a bag, then I'll drive to you."
Sharon smiles to him, "We'll take my car. Car seats can be a pain in the neck to move between cars. You can drive if you'd like."
He raises an eyebrow, "You're trusting me to drive your car?" He lifts Harper into his arms, "I'll help you get them downstairs."
"Thank you, Lieutenant." She walks back to her office, her grandson at her heel, as usual.
Rusty sets his knapsack down next to the door. Smiling as he glances around. She's added things while he's been away, he thinks. A new batch of fresh flowers, framed pictures drawn by the kids, their portraits set up proudly. He laughs a little to himself. Rusty moves to the flowers, noticing a card from a sender, "She didn't buy these herself?" He mumbles to himself, pulling out the card, he reads it slowly. "Thanks for a great dinner and a wonderful night. Andy." He starts to laugh harder, "You've gotta be kidding me."
He sets things the way they were, picking his bag up and quickly moving to his room.
