Chapter 10: Girls' Night/Guys' Night
Jess chewed her bottom lip and stared at the vending machine, debating over what snack to get, a bag of M&M's or a bag of salt & vinegar chips.
"Get the M&M's," Don said walking up behind her, "the chocolate will raise your blood sugar," he suggested in a mocking tone and she knew he was making fun of her.
"How do you know M&M's is even an opinion?" Jess asked, "I could be looking at the Kit-Kat"
"You were deciding between the plain not peanut M&M's or the bag of lays salt & vinegar chips," he said smugly
She let out a puff of air "I really am that predictable…huh?" she asked
"Yes, you are," he answered, "So roommate, I'm almost done here"
"I'm not," Jess said, "this case is going to be an all nighter"
"I know," Don said, "You're reverting to chocolate"
"Like you said keeps the blood sugar high," Jess stated, "Oh I almost forgot Stella, Lindsay, and Jillian said they would come over tomorrow night to help me unclutter my apartment so there will be room for your stuff," Jess said
"Good luck with that," He said
"Thanks," She smiled
"Messer, Hawkes and Adam are in to help me pack and Mac said maybe," Don said
Stella walked around the corner "Jess, I got something, let's go," she said
"Coming," Jess said she put her money in and got her M&M's ,"I'll see you later roomie" she said, giving Don a quick peck on the cheek before heading off with Stella.
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"Jess, you are a pack rat," Stella said pulling out an outfit of clothing from the closet that was clearly from a decade ago.
Jess smiled "I know," she replied, "I can't throw anything away"
"Well you better start otherwise this is a pointless activity," Lindsay said
"I know but I only need to get rid of enough stuff so Don has some closet space," Jess said
"That's not how this works," Jillian said coming into the room with a bowl full of popcorn. "It's time to get rid of your junk"
"Oprah does say if you haven't worn it in a year, then its time to toss it," Lindsay said, "like that thing Stella is holding has to go into the 'get rid of ' pile"
"I don't know," Jess said smiling, "I might wear those lime green leggings and floral t-shirt again"
"Yeah, when was the last time you wore this?" Stella asked
"Oh I don't know," Jess said, Stella, Lindsay and Jillian eyed her "Okay, okay it might have been like 1993ish."
Jillian shook her head and laughed at Jess, "Don't laugh missy, I distantly remember you having the same outfit, only I believe you had the hot pink leggings," Jess said
"Yeah but I tossed mine," Jillian said
Stella tossed it into the get rid of pile and pulled out another outfit. "Oh my goodness, what kind of fashion sense did you have?" Lindsay asked laughing
"Oh come on…it use to be popular," Jess said trying to defend her choice in buying the leopard print leather pants.
"Alright definitely the toss pile," Stella said
"I am a little surprised," Jillian stated
"About?" Jess asked taking a sip of her wine and getting up from the bed to help Stella..
"That you're going to live with a boy," Jill said
"It is a big step," Lindsay said
"Are you scared?" Stella asked
Jess thought for a second and shook her head no, "I want this," she replied smiling.
"You're happy," Lindsay commented
"I'm always happy," Jess said, "My father used to joke that I was on pep pills."
'This is a different kind of happiness," Jillian said, "I've never seen you like this, it's like you're glowing with joy"
Jess blushed "It's right," she said, "Ok…next outfit"
Four hours later, they had her closet cleaned out, in addition they had made room for Don's things in other parts of the apartment too. Also, they had put post its on the furniture that was going for the movers. Jess and Don had decided to divide their stuff and keep the best of it. Don's couch set was newer and came with a nice recliner so Jess was going to get rid of her old one. Jess had the widescreen TV so hers would be staying. Her bedroom set was newer and more comfortable so they would keep that one. But they decided to put Don's in the spare room and get rid of the old one that was in there.
"So I guess the next thing we'll hear is wedding Bells," Stella said jokingly
Jess walked out from the kitchen where she had been refilling the popcorn bowl, "Lets not push it," she said sitting down on the couch cross-legged
The girls found Jess' expression so funny they had to continue to tease her "Maybe we'll hear the sounds of pit-a-patter of little flack JR's feet," Lindsay said
"ha-ha," Jess said, "if wedding bells are pushing it…what do you think the idea of babies is?"
Lindsay, Stella, and Jillian blew out laughing, Jess actually looked scared. "Relax, Jess," Jill said, "We're having fun with you"
"Do you know what I realized?" Jess asked
"What?" Stella asked
"We left the guys alone to pack with a ranger's game on," Jess replied
"Oh they really got a lot accomplished tonight," Lindsay said, every one started to laugh again.
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"Yes!" Don screamed at the TV as Avery scored another goal against the goalie from the Washington Capitals.
"How is it you're the one moving and everyone but you is packing?" Hawkes said tossing the bubble wrap and packing tape at Don.
"It's not my fault. ..it's a good game," Don said taking one more look at the TV before heading towards the back room where they were packing up his CDs, video games and other knickknacks "I don't understand why Jess suggested we pack the same night that a game is on," Don said shaking his head.
"Suggested? Told you mean" Danny said laughing
"What are you saying?" Flack asked
"Jess has you wrapped around her finger," Danny said
"Oh, you're one to talk," Don said, "and what do you call where Lindsay has you?"
"No way I'm whipped more then you," Danny said sticking out his tongue
"Oh yes you are," Don said slapping Danny in the back of the head.
"Okay," Mac said, "You're both equally whipped, now stop it or I'm putting you both in time out"
"Yes sir," they both said mockingly
Hawkes and Adam were slightly amused by the scene. This was a normal occurrence when the guys got together without the ladies. Mac now understood why Jess had been so interested in if he was going or not. Mac rolled his eyes at Don and Danny, they were never going to get this done. Don made a face at Danny before he started to put things in the box.
"Living together is a big step," Adam commented placing more stuff in the box.
"I guess," Flack said he didn't see what the big deal was, he and Jess and been practically living together anyways, "We were pretty much living together all along"
"Its different," Danny said, "Now you won't have a place to run to when you fight"
"I didn't do that," Flack said, "I stand my ground like a man; not run away"
"Funny," Danny said, "I give Jess a week before she comes to her senses and realizes she can do better"
"Well Lindsay hasn't made that realization yet so I think I'm safe, " Flack said smiling.
"Ha-ha," Danny replied
They worked quietly for a few minutes, unhooking the computer and packing it into the boxes. "I guess we'll see Jess wearing a ring soon," Hawkes said
"ha-ha…Not any time soon," Flack said
"I wouldn't wait to long Don," Mac said, "Jess really is too good for you," he said teasing Don.
"I know, I've really settled," Jess said smirking walking into the spare room with the girls right behind her.
Don turned to see her standing there against the doorframe with a silly grin on her face
"Hey, you," Don said "What are you girls doing here?"
"Crashing your boys' night," Lindsay answered
"We were done at my place so we figured we would drop by," Jess said
"Did you drop by to check on our progress?" Don asked
"No," Jess said looking at her feet
"You really are a bad lair," Hawkes said
Jess shrugged her shoulders "I know," she said. Jess knew she sucked at lying to people she cared about as long as she could lie to suspects it didn't bother her.
"There is something cute about a cop who can't lie," Don said making her blush
"So I see you've got a lot done tonight," Jess said having a look around, the guys had just barely begun packing. At this rate, they'll never be ready to move his stuff into her place by the weekend.
"Well we just got four more volunteers," Don said smiling
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Two hours later, the spare room was completely packed up and Don's room was almost done. They had managed to get the majority of things into boxes, what was left Jess and Don could pack up on their own later.
Jess and Lindsay walked into the living room, where everyone had settled, carrying beers and snacks in their hands.
"So what are we talking about?" Jess asked passing a beer to Don and sitting down on the floor in front of him.
"You two," Jillian said pointing to Jess and Don.
"Like I was saying," Stella continued, "they were trying to keep their relationship secret but everyone knew"
"Not so," Jess said, "the guys didn't have a clue"
**Flashback**
Jess got out of the shower and got dressed in her lounge pants and Don's academy sweater that was twice her size. She was at Don's place and they were getting ready to watch the hockey game together. Jess breaded her hair and headed out to the kitchen. "pizza here already," Jess called out when a knock came on the door. "I got it," she said grabbing her purse of the counter
"Babe, I haven't even ordered it yet," Don called from the bedroom. Jess had the door opened and came face to face with Danny, Sheldon, and Sid. "You're not the pizza delivery boy," Jess said
"You're not Flack," Danny said shocked to see Angell standing in Flack's apartment wearing Flack's sweater.
"Babe, who are you talking to?" Don said coming out of the bedroom
Jess moved aside and let the guys in "babe?" Hawkes said laughing
"Shut-up Hawkes," Jess said, "what are you morons doing here?"
"It's hockey season" Don said looking apologetic. It was tradition, for each game the guys would get together to watch, rotating location each week and Don had totally forgot this week was his turn.
Jess closed her eyes and wished there was a great big hole that would suck her up, "right hockey season"
"Its his turn," Sid said
"Oh my goodness, Angell is the bimbo you've been seeing," Danny said
"A bimbo," Jess said
Don shook his head "I never said that," he said, "and I think the guys are going to watch the game at the bar"
"wow, so you two, really," Hawkes said
**End of flashback**
"See Stella and I knew," Lindsay said
"No, you assumed," Flack said
"For a bit," Stella said "but then it became so obvious."
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Jess finished brushing her teeth and walked back into the bedroom, crawling into bed. Don wrapped his arms around her, "I guess this is my last night in this place," Don said, "you know I've lived here since I made detective seven years ago"
"Long time," Jess said. He nodded his head, she positioned herself so she was facing his eyes, "Not having second thoughts are you?"
"No," Don said, "I want to live with you more then anything"
Jess smiled "Good because I got rid of a pair of leopard print leather pants that I've had since 1994 for you," she said smirking
"Oh what a sacrifice," Don said laughing
"I thought so," Jess said closing her eyes
Don rolled his eyes "You're insane," he said
"And you love me," Jess said
"Totally and completely," Don said