Lucy and Fabian carry groceries up to the apartment. An older man gives Lucy an unnerved look before shutting his door. A woman across the way darts her eyes, then wanders down the stairs. Fabian turns to look at the stairwell, then back at Lucy. She already has her eyes on the same thing. Quietly she ushers him inside. "Come on, Fabe." Locking the door, Fabian walks past her, into the kitchen. He places a paper bag full of groceries on the table. Glancing at her, he says, "Why do all of our neighbors look at us funny?"

Lucy is unable to come up with a good answer without embarrassing herself. Unable to look him in the eye, she keeps her sights down, pretending to rummage through a second bag of groceries. "It's not you, Fabe. It's me."

"They're lookin' at you? What for? You didn't do anything wrong."

"Can you take the other bag for me?" She asks quickly.

Fabian gives her a look, then a nod. He goes back to the kitchen. This gives Lucy enough time to think. He returns back to the living room.

"Fabe, there's something I need to tell you. First of all, I need to ask you a question."

"Yeah. Sure."

"Do I look…fat to you?"

Fabian hesitantly answers, "N…no."

"Maybe that didn't sound right. Do I look like I've packed on a few extra pounds lately?"

"Now that you mention it, you have gotten a little fuller on that skinny frame." He sees her expression of discontent. A little worried, he asks, "Was that alright for me to say?"

Lucy gives a tight lipped smile. "Yeah. It's alright." With careful thought, she asks, "Remember that night a few months ago you stayed over at Corey's?"

"That was in the middle of March."

"And uh, you remember how I was trying to get you on the insurance policy with me?"

"Oh, that was Mr. Henderson. I could see you really liked him." Fabian says while wiggling his brows in a teasing manner.

"Yeah. Well, I was supposed to have dinner with him and uh, he turned out to be a jerk instead. That's why I went over to somebody else to get the policy changed. But, uh, I ran into somebody else the same night. Somebody I used to work with."

"A cop?"

"Yeah. A cop. And uh, he sort of helped me out of my situation with Henderson."

"Let me guess. He already had a girlfriend."

Lucy glances down at the floor, nodding her head. "Yeah. He did." She looks back at Fabian, hoping he's following her story. "And this other guy…the cop, he uh, kind of rescued me."

"Knight in shining armor, huh?" He smiles in an understanding way.

"With a lot of dents and scratches." She adds with guilt. "You remember Neal, right?"

"Yeah. He took me to see the third Indiana Jones movie last year."

"I don't know if you remember his former partner, J.D. You might have seen him when you visited the station some time. I'm not sure."

Fabian shakes his head. He thinks for a moment. "Oh, wait! Brown hair. Kinda tall, about your height?"

"Yeah. That's him. Well, it was J.D. who did the rescuing. And um, I was feeling a little lonely that same night." She puts her hands out. "He stayed with me." Frustrated at herself, she combs back her hair with a hand. "I think you're old enough to know about the birds and the bees."

"Sex?"

Lucy hesitates. "My point exactly. Look, Fabe. What I'm tryin' to tell you is… There's gonna be somebody else living with us before next year." She puts a head to her hand. "That doesn't sound right. I'm uh, eating for two." Nervously she says, "Fabe, I'm pregnant."

"I'm gonna have a baby brother or sister?"

"Fabe, please don't hate me for it. It's not something I planned. I figured with my age that I wouldn't have any. I was happy with just you. Ya know? Of all the people for me…"

He says in quiet awe. "I'm gonna be somebody's big brother."

Lucy looks at him apologetically. "You need time to digest whatev…" Suddenly, he catapults up, taking her by surprise with a big hug.

"I get a second chance. You saved my life from what I could've had. The best thing I can do to repay you is to not mess it up. I'll be the best big brother!" Then he thinks. "What about J.D.?"

Closing her eyes in grief, she shakes her head. "He was the one who passed away after that car accident I told you about. Who I was grieving for over a month. So, it looks like it's gonna be the three of us, kiddo."

"Did you love him?"

Lucy chooses her words cautiously, unable to deny it. "Uh,… Yes. I…I guess."

"You'll be okay though, right?" Fabian looks at her hopeful.

"Yeah. I'm okay. You're okay. We're okay." She says with a growing smile.

Fabian marvels at a thought. "Wow. I'm gonna get to be the man of the house."

"You sure are."

He hugs her again. "I love you…Ma."

Lucy holds onto him, beaming with pride between tears.

...

Frank begins undressing as soon as he enters the bedroom. Joyce sits up in bed, tucked part way with her glasses down as she figures out a crossword puzzle. He steps out of his pants. She shakes her head, staring at the curled newspaper. He crawls onto the bed, tucking himself in right beside her.

"I went to visit Warren today at his office."

"Uh-huh. Is he done with his honeymoon of newly becoming chief?"

"What he suggested surprised me." He looks at her. Clearly Joyce is far more interested in her crossword puzzle than listening to anything he has to say. "He thinks I should make Neal Washington a lieutenant."

Joyce answers looking back at him, "Doesn't an officer of the law need to be a sergeant first? Oh, and, what is a six letter word for the meaning of 'The threat of adverse events?'"

"Yes. The chief wants me to make Neal a sergeant, without taking an exam. Six letters? How about injury."

"Didn't you have enough playing politics with Fletcher Daniels?"

"I would say so."

"So, what's the problem?"

"I would have to do it to the detriment of another one of my officers." He looks at her. "He wants me to let go of Goldblume. Apparently, Sanchez from Midtown told Briscoe about what he said regarding the Corgan case. Also, Briscoe has come across Neal and likes what he's seen from him."

"The question is, since you're in charge, how do you feel?"

"I haven't made up my mind yet."

Joyce looks at the crossword puzzle again. "Injury is interesting, but I was thinking danger would fit better." She drops the curled newspaper down on her lap. Pulling off her glasses she says, "Frank? I'm scared. I can't help but think about that Arturo Marquez and what he said earlier. The hatred in his eyes gave me the creeps."

Frank pulls her chin in his direction. "Don't let it. He's trying to intimidate you. These are the type of punks who try and get whatever they want by menacing others. They are just words. If they want to cause danger to anybody I care for, they're going to have to get past me."

Joyce gives him an uneasy smile. "Okay."

He kisses her. Then he thinks for a moment. "Joyce, how would you feel if I slicked my hair back, wore a half open shirt with gold chain?"

"Does this come with a pin striped suit?

"It could." He smiles back.

"I would have to say, I'd want the old Frank back. Or is this an evil twin, notably a mobster from Sicily who gorges down linguine?"

"Very possible."

"Uh-uh. I only want my pizza man."

Joyce leans over him. He reaches to shut off the light.

"Ow! I think you left the pen on the bed."

"That was a fingernail. You just ran into my twin. She's a werewolf."

"Ow! Now what was that?"

"Her fangs which are better to bite with." Joyce hisses.

Frank says back in a seductive tone, "You animal."

They giggle in the dark.