Chapter 6 – Notes on a Crisis, Notes on Romance
Usual disclaimer applies to CBS and their associated production companies. Any similarity to storylines and characters is accidental not intentional.
A big shout out, grateful thanks and future offspring to BEG 75, for checking this over as always. Thanks for lending me Sam and the other OCs from your 'verse honey *hugs*. Hope I'm doing them justice.
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Don found Anna standing by reception at One Police Plaza, staring death glares at Stephanie, the blonde receptionist who regarded herself as gatekeeper to the higher powers. What the higher powers thought of Stephanie was unrepeatable.
Grinning, Don reached over the desk and snagged his sister a visitor's pass and signed her in, giving Stephanie a warning look as he did. He made sure the girl knew that Anna was his sister. Before instantly regretting it, as he knew fine well that news would be all over the building before they reached the 35th floor. Anna flipped the finger at the blonde receptionist as the doors to the elevator closed. Don chuckled.
"So," he said, "Sammy told me she'd called you and suggested this little outing."
"Your wife said I was not a proper New Yorker until I had maxed out my credit limit on Fifth Avenue," replied Anna, "So that's where we're headed first. I'm going to treat her to a spa treatment too."
Don smirked. He didn't think Sam would sit still long enough.
"What you got planned for my wife?" he asked.
"Pedicure, facial," said Anna, "Massage, you know, girl stuff."
Don sighed. There would be a whole load of new toiletries in the bathroom by the time he got off shift, he thought, seeing as girls were real vulnerable to sales pressure when they were all pampered out.
"Where you going for this massage?" he asked, before instantly regretting it.
"Sam suggested this place she knows in SoHo," said Anna, as the doors to the elevator pinged open on Don's floor, "She said something about hot, oiled young men delivering the massages and I said great idea," Anna said wickedly, watching her brother get off the elevator before turning to face her an appalled look on his face.
Anna grinned wickedly before giving her brother a tiny wave as the doors shut and the elevator headed on upwards to its destination. Don pulled out his cell and dialed Sam.
"Baby," he said, a little anxiously, "What the hell was Anna talking about? She said something about male massage men…?" his conversation tailing off as he heard his wife erupting into laughter on the other end.
"Thanks," he muttered, "Gee, thanks a lot for laughing at my discomfort!" before he pressed the call end button and shoved it back in his pocket. Now he had some godforsaken image of his naked, pregnant wife having all her wants and needs being attended to by… He shook his head. Better stop there.
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Sam had apologized to Anna, explaining that she was tied up in ballistics with some test fire thing she was doing with someone named Hawkes. Tapping her feet, Anna craned her neck to look up and down the glass wall-lined corridors of the NY Crime Lab. Sam had introduced her to someone named Lindsay and someone else called Stella, explaining that she was Don's long-lost sister. Aside from a quizzical look from Lindsay, which had been rebuffed by Sam shaking her head furiously, no-one had asked any questions, but the Irish girl guessed she was probably the topic of conversation by now.
Sam had steered her to the break room and handed her a donut and a coffee and asked her, pleadingly, to wait for just a little while, but now Anna was bored. Forensics Monthly was not a particularly good distraction. Then she caught sight of someone familiar.
Thank god, thought Anna, jumping to her feet and hurrying down the corridor.
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Adam was lost in his evidence, a not uncommon occurrence on the 35th floor. He was either explaining it to the rest of the team, bamboozling the detectives with his superb analysis or he was lost in it, finding the answers and the minute pieces of trace that added up into clues and answers. Adam was the lab's answer to HAL and the reason they closed so many cases successfully. He was also known for getting so absorbed in it that he lost track of time completely. It was not unknown for the graveyard shift supervisor to be telling Adam to go home in the small hours, when he had been there since 8am.
He was also good at tuning out interference and gossip from the other, especially female, techs. Slowly he became aware of someone leaning against the table next to him, arms folded and he colored a little, remembering just how drunk she'd got him at Malloy's, before pouring him into a cab and sending him into the night after that lunch at the Flacks.
"Hey Geek!" said Anna, grinning, "Recovered all right?"
"My liver will never be the same again," Adam finally managed to say, blushing furiously.
Anna looked him up and down.
"Nice threads," she commented, "Find an iron?"
Adam blushed even more.
"What are you doing here?" he asked. Anna pushed herself into a sitting position on the edge of the table swinging her legs.
"I am taking your sister out on a bonding exercise," she said, "otherwise known as shop till you drop. She has Don's credit card and I am going to help her max it out."
Adam chuckled slightly. He knew his sister.
"Then," added Anna, "I am taking her off for some spa treatments, my expense." She grinned as she recalled the look on Don's face.
"I told him we were getting massages from hot, oiled young men," she chuckled wickedly, "You should have seen the look on his face!"
Adam's mouth went dry. He knew exactly what look Anna was referring to, but his brain was suddenly filled with the image of the woman in front of him, lying naked on a massage table and he suddenly lost the power of focus and speech. He stared at her, before blushing furiously and tried to absorb himself in what he had been doing, Anna slowly smiled.
"Do I make you nervous, Adam?" she asked, with a little giggle. Adam blushed redder. Anna leaned closer to him and laid her mouth next to his ear.
"Don't be scared," she whispered, "I don't bite," she leaned backwards, waving to Sam as she saw her making her way towards Trace, "Well, she added, "I don't leave marks where they show!"
She walked off, leaving Adam, bright red and flustered, trying to piece together the puzzle in front of him. He looked up to see her walk away, turning once to blow him a kiss and grin.
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Mac Taylor had watched the lab tech that morning walk past his office several times, trying to figure out what was different.
It took him a while before he realized that Adam was not in jeans, but trousers. And that his shirt was buttoned and, get this, tucked in. Not to mention the t-shirt underneath was dark. He still wore trainers, but they were much smarter than his usual ones. Mac pondered what could have caused the change.
Stella walked into the office, coming over to him and offering him a tiny kiss on the cheek. He smiled up at her. She leaned over the desk, looking at the case file he had open.
"Hey Mac," she said, "Penny for them?"
"I was just thinking that Adam suddenly seems much smarter than usual," said Mac, gesturing towards where the lab tech was working.
"Yeah," said Stella, "He really has spruced right up all of a sudden. I wonder what caused that?" she mused.
"Who's the brunette with him?" asked Mac, ever watchful for strangers in the lab.
"Anna," replied Stella, "Don Flack's new-found sister. You remember Adam found her DNA from the staff at Malloy's?"
Mac nodded, remembering a flustered Adam bringing him the news and asking for his advice on how to handle the situation. He'd heard rumors of a little misunderstanding between his CSI and the tall homicide detective about that. He chuckled.
He and Stella watched the scene unfold, Adam's blushes clearly visible through the glass, despite the distance. Then it struck him: The change in Adam. He looked at Stella, who had, quite clearly come to the same conclusion as he had. Score one for the detectives, he thought. The two of them watched the scene unfold, the kiss blown and Sam and Anna walk off towards the elevator, arm in arm. Then they turned back to watch Adam.
The lab tech clearly shook his head, focusing on his work. And then they saw him smile to himself, a small one, but a smile nonetheless. Mac turned to Stella.
"Adam?" he said, incredulously.
"And Flack's sister?" replied Stella.
They turned back to look at Adam. Oh boy, they were both thinking. Oh boy.
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Adam found himself reluctantly dragged to a diner by his brother-in-law to meet the two girls. Don had mentioned something about his sister needing a balance to even out the Flack DNA or something. Whatever.
They walked through the doors to find the two girls laughing over something. A happy, relaxed, blessed out-looking Sam looked up and saw them, waving to the two men. They walked over to join them. Sam had a large milkshake, but appeared to be taking equal sips out of another glass filled with something red, next to it.
"Baby, what is in those glasses?" he asked, knowing he might regret it.
"Phish food shake in this one," gestured Sam, "And virgin Mary in this one."
Adam looked ill. Anna grinned. Don shuddered in distaste.
"Ain't cravings a bitch?" she said, "And it's all your fault baby brother!"
"It takes two," said Flack, smiling smugly, "Want to know where and how?"
"Err, no," said Anna hastily, "And I don't think Adam does either," she said glancing at the man now sitting next to her. Don sat down next to his wife, wrapping his arm around her shoulder and kissing her temple. She leaned into his side, her hand on his chest.
"You OK baby?" he asked, concerned as always.
"Abso-fucking-lutely," she said, smiling blissfully, "That massage was the business. I am going to take you for one too," she said to her husband, "Sven has magic hands, magic," she sighed.
Yeah right, thought Don, when hell freezes over, making a mental note to have Sven's immigration status checked as a matter of urgency.
Anna and Adam were observing the couple closely.
"Special circle of hell," said Anna.
"The one for child molesters and people that talk at the opera," agreed Adam.
"And my brother," concluded Anna, nodding, before grinning. Don looked at them, irritated. Anna turned to Adam.
"I loved that series," she declared.
"Me too," agreed Adam, "Firefly was awesome. Did you like the movie?"
"Uh huh," Anna nodded vigorously, "Serenity was just brilliant. Joss Whedon is a god among mortals."
"Buffy or Faith?" asked Adam.
"Oh, Faith, obviously," replied Anna, "That girl is more feisty and way prettier. What about you? Spike, Angel or Xander."
Adam made the fifty-fifty wave with his hand. "About equal with Spike and Xander," he said, "I mean Spike is way cool, but I feel a strange affinity to Xander."
Anna grinned. Don snorted then leaned over the table and grabbed her collar, making like he was looking down her shirt.
"Hey gerroff!" said Anna, twisting to get out of his grasp, "What are you doing, you great oaf?"
"Checking for geek DNA," said Don, smirking, releasing her from his grip, "Dad will be worried when he finds out you're a Sci-fi nerd."
"Oh please," said Anna, straightening her shirt, aware of Adam and Sam grinning, "Just because I like something with a hint of intelligence." She turned back to Adam.
"I really want to see the new Terminator and Star Trek movies," she said enthusiastically.
Adam nodded and Don chuckled.
"What?" said Anna, "What's so funny?"
"That you have a thing for Arnie," said Don, laughing. Sam was giggling too. Anna looked at Don as though he was challenged.
"I don't have a thing for the Austrian ham," she said, "It's the machines and special effects that turn me on."
Sam spat out the mouthful of milkshake that she was trying to swallow. Don was speechless.
"I like things with a bit of intelligence," she continued, "Like my men. I like an education."
Sam sneaked a look at Adam, who was trying to look anywhere except at Anna. A small smile formed on her lips.
"Hey!" said Don, "You don't need intelligence to be a good man!"
"True," said Anna, "But it helps a lot, right Sammy?"
Sam started to laugh outright. Don glared at his sister then tried to win back a point.
"I know lots of great guys," he said, "I can't wait to introduce you to Scagnetti."
"Please," said Sam, snorting with derision, "That man whore? You can't be serious, your sister?"
"Scagnetti's a great guy," said Don, defending his friend, "He just likes variety with the ladies is all."
"Variety," said Adam, "Is all well and good with Kelloggs cereal, but not so good when it comes to girls…ow!" he said, as Don kicked him under the table. Anna glared back at her brother, before turning her gaze to Sam.
"Really that bad?" she asked. Sam nodded, taking a slurp of her milkshake through the straw.
"Total slut," she confirmed, "Just like your brother."
The three of them, Adam, Anna and Sam erupted into fits of giggles as Don glared at them before going to the counter to place his order.
Don was not impressed with that comment. After their drinks, however, he caught up with Sam outside the ladies and promptly proved her right on her assessment, leaving her flustered and a little disheveled wandering back to the table, followed by a smirking Don.
"That brother of mine is evil," Anna declared.
"Takes a Flack to know a Flack," Don countered, helping Sam into her jacket and grabbing her many shopping bags, "Now let's get over to Sully's and see the guys. There's a few people I want to introduce you to," he said to Anna.
The four left the diner.
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It took Anna all of about twenty seconds to realize Sullivan's was another cop bar and another ten to realize that most of the people in there were looking at her and whispering. She started feeling uncomfortable. She shrugged off her jacket and sat down at the table, a frown on her face. Adam noticed it.
"You OK?" he asked, concerned at her being so quiet. Anna gave a small smile and nod. Not really.
The group was joined by Danny, Lindsay, Hawkes and Stella, who had all just finished their shift. Anna wandered to the bar to help Don, already standing there, to get the drinks in. A drunken co-ed sidled up to Anna, trying to get her attention.
Danny saw Anna glare at the drunken moron who tried to chat her up. In an instant he knew who she reminded him of. It was the same glare that Don gave perps giving him the runaround. He looked from one to the other; the same set jaw, the same tone skin, albeit more tanned in Flack's case, the light hint of pink in their cheeks, the thick black hair and he realized that his first assumption, that they were cousins, was wrong. They were a helluva lot closer than that. Anna Malloy could be nothing other than Don Flack Jr's sister. No wonder Don said things were really fucked up, he thought.
Bringing them back, Don explained who she was. Before Danny could get a wise-crack in, Anna raised her hand for some silence.
"Don's told me all about you," she said,
"I understand you have this bad habit of calling women by the places they're from," said Anna, "Just so's you know, I'm not from Dublin and call me Cork and I will do you a serious injury." She took a swig of her beer and looked him straight in the eye, "And unlike my brother," she added, "I WILL kick you where it hurts if you do, Staten Island. I am a woman of my word."
Flack roared with laughter. Lindsay was laughing so hard tears were pouring down her face and Adam had choked on his beer. Sam was busily thumping her brother on the back, trying to relieve his coughing, which had turned the poor lab tech's face bright red. Danny was speechless. It was one thing to hear that sorta thing coming from outta Flack's mouth, but quite another to hear it like it was his unholy spirit being channeled outta the mouth of a woman. Two Flacks with the same big mouth, quick comeback and sense of humor? Even Danny didn't think this town was big enough for the both of them!
As the evening went on, Danny and Lindsay made their excuses and left, followed by Stella and Hawkes, Stella because Mac probably had dinner ready and Hawkes because he had a date for the opera. Adam was caught up in a discussion with Sam about something work-related, which Anna didn't understand and Don was over at the bar, chatting away to some of his colleagues.
She was really uncomfortable. Insanely uncomfortable. She felt like a zoo exhibit, with everyone watching her. She suddenly snapped, unable to take it any longer. She grabbed her bag and jacket and muttered some excuses, pushing her way through the crowds to the door. Rising swiftly, Sam went to the bar, tugging on Don's arm to get her attention. He looked in the direction she indicated, cursing as he saw the bar door flapping on its hinges as Anna barged through it. He went after her, calling to her as she headed off towards the subway. She stopped and turned, fury in her eyes.
"Where are you going?" said Don, "It's early, I thought we were having a good time!"
"Everyone in there knows who you are Don and they know who Dad is," Anna said, furious. "So what do you think they're thinking right now? They're looking at you and me and they know. They know that our dad cheated on your mother and I'm the result of that."
"Come on," said Don, "No-one's judging you, come back inside." He made a move towards her, putting her hand on her arm. She shrugged him off.
"You're not getting it," she cried out, "You don't get how I feel about this!"
Don stepped back, folding his arms, staring at her a little coldly. Anna ran a hand through her hair.
"You really wouldn't fucking understand Don," she said, "You wouldn't understand what it was like. The parish priest used to denounce my mother from the fucking pulpit, using her as an example every time he talked about fornication or adultery. You know what it was like to hear that shit? As a kid? I used to have to be dragged kicking and screaming to mass. And as soon as I could I stopped going. Kids used to whisper about me behind my back. I had no friends till I went to high school in a bigger community, where there were more little bastards like me."
"Your mom could have done something about it," said Don, instantly regretting the words as they came out of his mouth. Anna's jaw set and her eyes flashed with anger.
"Really Donald?" she said coldly, "Actually you know shit. You want to know something? Mum never had a choice. Abortion is illegal in Ireland and her parents wouldn't let her go to England to have a termination."
"That's not what I meant," he protested, "I didn't mean it like that!"
"I don't care," screamed Anna, "You have no idea what it was like to live with a bitter woman who blamed you for her own mistakes," she said, her chest heaving with the tears that were falling. Don tried to hug her, but she pushed him away.
"She drank herself into an early grave," she said, "Did Dad tell you that?"
Don shook his head. No, their father hadn't. He tried to hug her again, but again she rebuffed him. He threw his hands up in frustration.
"Why are you pushing me away," asked Don, irritated.
"Because I'm not ready for this and neither are you," replied Anna.
"What the fuck are you talking about?" asked Don, anger building in his voice.
"I get it Don," she said, "I get you're not ready for another sister, you're not ready to be a father and I get that you're blindly doing this, bulldozing everyone's feelings and emotions but you can't just do this. You can't just blindly drop me into the middle of your family, your colleagues, your social situation and your friends and pretend that I've been a part of your life from day one. It doesn't work like that. I don't know you Donnie, I spent 30 years on my own, as an only child, even if I did know you guys existed and I dealt with all manner of shit on my own without a brother to beat up the bullies or hug me when my mother was off on one. You cannot expect me to just flip a switch and fit in everywhere, but you do."
"I don't…" Don tried to begin, but he was cut off by his sister.
"You do Donnie, you do," she said, "You might not realize it but you're pushing way too hard and I can't handle all of this right now."
At that moment, Adam and Sam arrived on the scene, looking from one to the other. For once in his life, Adam took charge of the situation, as Sam went to her husband. He walked to the Irish girl and put one arm around her shoulder.
"Hey Anna," he said, "Let's go catch one of those movies at the Cineplex on the next block. There's late night showings. If we hurry we can catch one. I got the times from my iPhone."
Anna nodded, smiling a watery smile, wiping the tears from her eyes. Adam guided her in the direction of the Cineplex. Sam, watching them go, had never been prouder of her brother than at that moment. Way to go Peanut, she thought. She turned to Don, knowing there was nothing she could say.
And Don watched as his sister walked away from him, away from Sullivan's, into the night.
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OK, so humor, crisis, possible romance all in one chapter and I'm still getting no actual academic work done 'cause of the muse [sigh].
Thanks to all the lurkers who've started to stop by! I appreciate it muchly…
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