Chapter 9:

Mix Ups and Birthdays

Jess pulled the blankets up over her head, it was three in the morning and the cell was going off. She felt Don nudge her; without opening her eyes she reached out to the nightstand and grabbed it, she flip it open and groggily answered, "Angell"

"Angell?" Stella questioned she pulled the phone away from her ear she thought she had dialed that number.

"Yes Stell, it's me. Do we have a dead body somewhere?" Jess asked

"101 Avenue. It's a place called the Pyramid Club," Stella informed her, "the body is in the ally behind it."

"Kay," Jess yawned kicking of the blankets and pulling herself out of bed, "I'll be there in fifteen." Before clicking the phone shut, "Babe," she elbowed Don, "I got to head in, are you going to be okay with Em?"

Don nodded not wanting to open his eyes, "Uh-huh," he mumbled, "I'm on call too so if my cell rings I call?"

"Alli," Jess said pulling on a pair of jeans, "She'll come over. Alli has classes but Melissa is coming over in the morning anyhow." Jess explained that her regular baby-sitter would be coming over since Emma didn't have school because of a teachers' workshop and they both had nine o'clock shifts.

Jess pulled a sweater out of the closest and was almost ready to go when the other cell went off. Don reached for it. "I guess I'm calling Alli," Jess mumbled to herself as Don hung up and placed the cell back on the night table.

"Yes you are," Don replied getting out of bed too, "That was Lindsay. I got a body at the north end."

Jess picked up the cordless and dialed Alli's number as she went to the closest to get her gun and badge out of the safe, "Yes Alli, I know what time it is," Jess said passing Don his things, "I'll owe you one."

Alli laughed, "You owe me a lot," she stated into the phone, "its fine, my alarm was about to go off in ten anyhow. I need to finish my Enzyme Kinetics assignment. I'll be over in 5."

"Thanks," Jess replied hanging up.

"I'm gone," Don said giving Jess a sweet kiss, "Be careful," he said against her lips.

"Always am," Jess replied and added, "You too."

"Always am," Don repeated before walking out the bedroom door and heading out to the scene. Jess shoved her hair up and walked out to Emma's room as Alli came in, "Jess I'm here. Making coffee and eating your food"

Jess grinned, "Em," She nudged

Emma eyes' sleepily opened, "Mom has to go into work. And Don is already gone in. Alli is here studying at the kitchen table."

"She'll be asleep when I wake," Emma said knowing the routine well.

"She has a nine o'clock class. So wake her," Jess smiled, "Melissa will be over. Love you, Emmie."

"Love you too Mommy. Be careful," Emma warned

"I'll come home to you." Jess said kissing Emma on the cheek like she always did before she went into work.

Jess pulled her car up to the scene; she could see the lights flashing from the other police cars indicating that the street had already been blocked off. Jess opened the car door and headed towards the lights. She badge her way through the blockade and made her way over to where Hawkes was examining the body.

"Angell," he greeted.

"Doc," Jess replied.

Stella was over talking to another officer when she saw Jess arrive at the scene she clued up the conversation and walked over to where Jess and Hawkes were standing. "So what do we have?" Jess continued

"First responder found her ID in her purse, Erica Jameson," Stella replied smirking at Jess, "But no cash or credit cards."

"Sounds like a robbery gone wrong, " Jess suggested, "I'll run her. Who found her?"

"Bartender, Dennis Jones. He was bringing the garbage out and found her like this," Hawkes stated

"TOD?" Jess asked feeling Stella's eyes on her and a smile on her face.

"Between 12 and 1," Hawkes stated.

"Alright I'll start taking statements," Jess said, "And what is with that look on your face?"

"Nothing," Stella smirked

"Uh-huh," Jess said, "I think you've been inhaling too many chemicals." Jess rolled her eyes and walked away to take statements from witnesses and potential suspects.

"What is with the grin?" Hawkes asked standing up from their victim and giving Stella a questionable look.

"Both Flack and Angell are on tonight," Stella explained, "I called Flack for this case and Lindsay called Angell."

"So why is Jess here?" Hawkes asked

"For the same reason Flack is with Lindsay," Stella smiled, "Angell answered Flack's phone."

"Why would Angell have Flack's phone? Especially at 3 in the morning," Hawkes inquired trying to wrap his mind around what Stella was hinting about.

"Only one reason I can think of," Stella smiled again.

"Hey Monroe," Flack greeted walking into the apartment and finding Lindsay in the living room processing.

"Flack," She smiled

"So what do we have?" He asked

"Kirk Anderson," Lindsay replied, "Doesn't look like anything is missing"

"Rules out robbery," Don said, "Who called it in?"

"Roommate," Lindsay pointed towards the woman that was talking to Mac, "Tiffany Johnson. She went to work at the Lace Gentleman Club, came back to find him like this."

"And they were just roommates?" Flack asked raising his eyebrow in doubt.

Lindsay gave him a look, "What? You don't think boys and girls can just be friends," She said trying to stifle a giggle in her throat

"I do, just don't think they can live together pontonic," He replied

Lindsay shook her head, "what about work together?" she mumbled to herself

"Huh?" Flack asked not hearing what she had said

"Nothing," Lindsay smirked.

"I'll start canvassing," Flack said confused and started to walk away. He made it so far before turning back around, "Almost forgot, Happy birthday Monroe"

Jess sat at her desk working on the Jameson case file. It was almost lunchtime and they had already wrapped up the case. It was an easy one; Erica had been trying to buy some E to spice up the party. The problem arise when she questioned the quality of the drugs, the drug dealer also knew as the bartender took it personally and stabbed her then cleaned out her wallet to make it look like a robbery.

Jesses looked up from her computer, stifle a yawn and stretched catching Don and Danny walking into the bullpen and heading towards Don's desk, which was directly to the left of hers so she couldn't help but overhear the conversation.

"Because I have plans," Flack told Danny, "Don't you have plans?"

"I did but now someone is saying I can't come over and watch the game on his big screen TV. What kind of plans could you have?" Danny stated

"None of your business," Don stated sitting at his desk.

"Is it a date? Are you back with Devon?" Danny continued to pepper Flack with questions.

"None of your business," Flack answered again, "And no I'm not back with Devon."

"So these plans, they do involve a girl because you're missing a ranger's game," Danny pointed out

"None of your business," Flack said, "Take the hint."

"Why won't you tell me?" Danny asked completely ignoring Don.

"Because," Don said slowing his speech, "and listen to me carefully…it's none of your business."

Jess had been trying not to laugh but she couldn't help it, they were so funny, "I'm sorry," Jess said still laughing as Don and Danny each gave her a look, "It's none of my business. But it's funny."

"It's not so funny where I'm sitting," Don disagreed, "Actually it's annoying."

"Maybe," Jess said, "Messer you should take the hint and butt out"

"I took the hint," Danny declared, "But I don't care, I always stick my nose into Flack's business."

"And yet I've never hit you," Flack said

"You must have unbelievable self control," Jess joked.

"Funny," Danny replied

"Look it doesn't matter what my plans are," Flack went on, "I assumed you and Monroe would be spending the evening together."

"Why?" Danny asked completely clueless.

"Awe man," Jess sighed, "You forgot."

"Forgot what?" Danny asked

"You might want to check your calendar," Jess said getting up from her desk and walked over to the printer to get her report she just send there.

"What did I forget?" Danny asked again,

"Today, it's the 3rd," Flack stated, "April 3rd"

"So," Danny said, "what's so special about today?"

Don rolled his eyes, "its Lindsay's birthday,"

"Oh man," Danny said, "She's going to be mad."

"Ya think," Flack stated shaking his head.

"Wait you remembered, why didn't you tell me?" Danny asked

"Because I didn't think you were that clueless," Flack said, "Boy did you prove me wrong."

Jess walked back over with the report in her hand and stopped by Flack's desk to get a pen to sign the file, "How do you forget your girlfriend's birthday?" she asked

"I don't know, men aren't wire to remember dates," he tried to defend himself.

"And now I'm walking away," Jess said rolling her eyes.

"Wait, Angell," Danny said, "Any advice?"

"Yea," Jess replied, "Beg"

Jess walked into the Blue Green café, she looked around until she spotted Lindsay and Stella who she was meeting for lunch. She headed over to the table to join them, "Hey guys," she greeted

"Jess," Stella and Lindsay said grinning at her again.

"Ok, seriously what is with the look?" Jess asked, "Because I have been getting it all day, First from Stell at the scene, Hawkes at the lab and now you," she referred to Lindsay, "So please let me in the loop."

Stella and Lindsay nodded at each silently agreeing to put Jess out of her misery, "I called Flack this morning," Stella explained, "for the Jameson case,"

"And I dialed your number," Lindsay said, "For the Anderson case."

"Lindsay and I have been trying to figure out what possible reason why you two would be answering each other phones especially at three in the morning. And well we could only come up with only one reasonable explanation," Stella grinned

"And what was that?" Jess asked knowing that she was busted.

"That you two are more then good friends," Stella said

"How long have you been dating Flack?" Lindsay asked not bothering to beat around the bush.

"There is another possible explanation," Jess reasoned, "Ever considered that it was three in the morning and you thought you called Flack but you called me instead, same thing with you, Linds."

"I thought of that until I hit redial," Lindsay said, "I did indeed dial 516-2384, that's not Flack's number yet I got him"

"Six months," Jess admitted knowing she was beat and there wasn't much point denying it..

"That's great," Stella said

"Yeah," Lindsay agreed, "Why didn't you tell us?"

"I don't know," Jess said, "I'm still the rookie and he outranks me. He's a co-worked. I didn't want to be judged"

"Well I'm not going to judge you," Lindsay stated, "that would make me a hypocrite."

"So Hawkes knows too. Who else?" Jess asked

"I didn't tell anyone," Lindsay replied

"I only mentioned it to Hawkes," Stella said, "I'm not judging but some advice, report this O'Bryan."

"O'Bryan already knows but thank you for your concerned," Jess said, "I don't mind you two knowing. I probably would have told you soon anyhow but I'm not ready for the entire bullpen to know."

Lindsay and Stella nodded their heads in understanding, "So now I'm going to change the subject," Jess smiled, "How's your birthday so far?"

"Well let's see," Lindsay said, "I was at a crime scene at three this morning which means I was no longer in bed. Oh yea and boyfriend forgot my birthday and I'm convinced he's creating on me. It's definitely not going to make the top ten."

Jess and Stella gave each other a look, "Maybe he didn't forget," Stella said hopefully, "Maybe he is pretending to in order to surprise you later."

"No he forgot," Jess said, "I saw him earlier talking to Don, he knows now. However, Don had to tell him. But that doesn't mean he's cheating on you, just means he's a moron."

Lindsay smiled despite herself, "Forgetting my birthday is just the tip of the iceberg. Everything has been messed up since Ruben's death. I know Danny had to grieve but I don't know how to explain it. Things have been weird and then a few weeks ago he started to blow me off. Now he forgets my birthday." Lindsay tried to explain, "I don't have any evidence but I just know, he's sleeping with Rikki. I know it"

"I'm sorry Linds," Stella said not sure what else to say to her friend.

"When I hinted about my birthday and our plans; he told me he was watching the game with Don and Hawkes. I don't believe him," Lindsay said

"Well that was true," Jess explained, "Sort of. Danny was bugging to go over Don's earlier to watch the game. The only thing is Don has plans to watch it with Emma and me. Maybe you're jumping to the wrong conclusion about the cheating."

"Maybe," Lindsay sighed, "I don't think I am. However, if I am, I still don't trust him, what does that say about our relationship? I don't want to talk about it anymore"

"Alright," Stella injected, "Us girls should do something this weekend"

"Yes!" Jess agreed, "Dancing, this weekend."

Lindsay smiled she was lucky to have friends in her life like Stella and Jess.

Jess walked into her apartment to be greeted by the sweet scent of something, "Hey what are you doing?" Jess asked walking over to where Emma was cutting up some peppers and gave her a kiss on the top of her head.

"I'm helping Don cook dinner," Emma smiled

"I'm sorry, you're doing what?" Jess joked

"She's helping me cook," Don said coming out of the bathroom, walking over to Jess and giving her a kiss on the cheek.

Jess giggled, "That's what I thought she said."

"Oh just cuz you can't cook, doesn't mean I can't," Emma defended.

Jess made a face, "So what are we having?" she leaned against the counter as Don walked over to the stove.

"Fajitas," Don smiled, "Em, done with the peppers?"

Emma brought the cutting broad over and dumped them into the frying pan, "I'm going to go wash up," she said skipping out of the kitchen and heading into the bathroom.

"So how was your day?" Don asked

"Not bad," Jess replied, "Yours?"

"Good, the case wrapped up quickly. The roommate did it," Don answered

"Cool. Oh by the way Stella, Lindsay and Hawkes now knows about us." Jess stated

"How?" he asked

"We answered each others phones this morning," Jess replied

Don shook his head laughing, "very good. It's not a big deal, is it?"

"Nah, I don't mind them knowing but I'm not ready for the bullpen to know" Jess said.

Don nodded, "Whatever you want."

"Can I ask you something?" Jess questioned biting her lip.

"Yes of course," Don said

"Has Danny said anything to you about cheating on Linds?" Jess asked

"He's umm what?" Don asked spinning around from the stove to look at Jess.

"I take that has a no," Jess said

"He wouldn't tell me that," Don said, "He's my best bud but he knows I would kick his ass if he did something like that to Lindsay. He's not cheating on her is he?"

Jess shrugged, "I don't know. Lindsay thinks he is."

"Hey can we eat in front of the TV?" Emma asked returning to the kitchen and putting an end to the conversation, "the game is about to start."

"Sure,' Jess said, "Go turn on the TV"

"Oh I almost forgot," Emma said passing Jess a handful of papers, "Messages from Uncle Chris and Pop"

Jess tossed them aside she caught the expression from Don and Emma, "I'll forgive when I'm ready. Right now it's the silent treatment," Jess said

Emma rolled her eyes and went on out into the living room to get ready. Don passed Jess two plates while he grabbed glasses, bottle of Pepsi, napkins along with his own plate.

Everyone got situation as the hockey game started. Emma looked around and smiled, "this is nice," she stated

"What is?" Jess asked

"Just this," Emma replied sweetly looking back on the TV.