Chapter 11 - Family Dinner

Ruzek stood in front of the microwave, watching the seconds tick down to zero. Just as the microwave beeped to tell him his frozen dinner was done, Burgess walked into the kitchen from the bedroom. She had changed into a pair of yoga pants and a black tanktop, her hair down from its usual ponytail. Ruzek pulled the frozen mystery meat and vegetables out of the microwave and threw in a second tray. Burgess went to the refrigerator and took out two beers. She handed one to Ruzek.

"Thanks," he said.

Burgess took the tray of food Ruzek had removed from the microwave and brought it over to the table. She sat down, sipping her beer. Ruzek joined her with his microwave dinner a few moments later.

"You really need to start getting better food," Burgess commented, staring at her mystery meat.

"Oh, like the food at your place is any better?"

"At least I buy brand name frozen dinners," she retorted.

"Yeah, weight watchers. I starve to death when I'm at your place."

She smiled, knowing he was just teasing.

"So…" She began. "You're not working this weekend, are you?"

"Not unless we catch a case."

"Oh. Well, do you have any plans this weekend?"

"I thought we'd just hang out and watch the game this Sunday," he answered.

"Right. The game."

"Did you have something in mind?"

"Well, my sister Lucy is hosting a family dinner on Sunday."

"Oh, ok. Well then, I'll just go to Molly's for the game with the boys and we can rendezvous back here after dinner." She looked away from him, concentrating on pushing the mystery meat around with her fork. "Clearly that wasn't what I was supposed to say."

"My parents won't be there. They're going on a cruise or something. It's just going to be sister and her husband."

"Does that really count as a family dinner, then?"

"It's just…I want her to meet you. For you to meet her."

"You want me to go with you to family dinner?" He asked.

"Well…yeah."

"Does Lucy even know we're together?"

"No, but I want to tell her," Burgess answered. "I'm tired of us being a secret from everyone. She's my sister, Adam. I want her to know why I've been so happy recently. I want her to meet you, to get to know you."

"I thought you said your family didn't like me because they blame me for you not getting into Intelligence."

"My parents aren't exactly in your fan club, but that's because they don't know you. They have no idea that we're together now. And they're not even going to be there. My sister will love you. I know it's a big step to start meeting each other's families and I…"

"Kim, I just don't…"

She tried to hide her disappointment. He clearly wasn't interested in spending time with her and her family.

"It's ok. Don't worry about it. Like you said, we can meet back here after dinner."

She stood up, clearing her mostly uneaten frozen meal off the table. She dropped it in the garbage and went to the sink to wash her silverware. Leaving his food behind, Ruzek walked into the kitchen. He put his hands on her hips.

"I'm sorry," he apologized.

"No, it's fine. You're not ready. I get it."

"It's not that I'm not ready." He paused. "I'll be there."

"You don't have to."

"Yes, I do."

"Are you're sure?"

She turned around, his arms capturing her against the sink.

"Yes. I want to go. I want to meet your sister. It'll be our official coming out as a couple."

"With family only," Burgess corrected. "Voight and everyone else still can't know."

"Of course."

She smiled. "Thank you."

"You're welcome."

Burgess couldn't tell whether she or Ruzek was more nervous as they pulled up in front of her sister's house. She knew Ruzek wanted to make a good impression and she wanted her sister to love him. Being the protective, older sister, it was rare that she liked any of Burgess' boyfriends. She was hoping Ruzek would be different.

"You ready to turn on the charm?" Burgess asked.

"I was born charming, babe."

Rolling her eyes, Burgess climbed out of the car. After grabbing a bottle of wine from the backseat, Ruzek walked around to her side of the car and took Burgess' hand. They walked to the front door together. Burgess rang the doorbell and they waited. A few moments later, the door opened. Burgess was expecting to see her sister. She was not expecting to see her mother.

"Kimberly!" Her mother exclaimed.

"Mom? I thought you and dad were going on a cruise."

"Your father came down with a stomach bug. He's at home recuperating. We had to postpone the cruise. Who is this?" She asked, staring at Ruzek.

"Mom, this is Adam, my…boyfriend."

Her mother clapped her hands together, excitedly. "You didn't tell me you had a boyfriend! Come in, come in."

Burgess glanced over at Ruzek, trying to tell her she was sorry in advance for her mother's behavior.

"It's ok," he whispered as they walked into the house. "Parents love me."

Burgess tried to keep a smile on her face. As they entered the living room, Burgess' sister played the dutiful hostess by taking their coats and opening the bottle of wine. Burgess introduced Ruzek to her sister, who nodded approvingly. They all sat down in the living room, waiting as the food cooked. Burgess and Ruzek sat on the loveseat, Ruzek's arm draped around Burgess' shoulder.

"So…Adam," Burgess' mother began. "We know nothing about you. Kimberly has kept you quite the little secret. What do you do?"

"Mom, don't interrogate him," Burgess said.

"I'm just asking what he does for a living, Kimberly."

"I'm a cop," Adam said. "We work at the same precinct."

"Oh, so you're a street cop," Burgess' mother said.

"Not exactly," Ruzek explained.

"Adam works in Intelligence, mom," Burgess added.

"Oh. Wasn't that the department you wanted to work for, sweetie?" Her mother asked.

"Yes mother."

"Wasn't the reason you didn't get that promotion was because that sergeant thought you were trying to sleep your way to the top?"

"Can we not talk about this?" Burgess asked. She knew exactly where her mother was going to go next. It was as if the woman couldn't help herrself.

"Wait…he's the one, isn't he?" Her mother asked, pointing at Ruzek. "He's the one who caused you to get passed over."

"Mom…" Burgess tried to interrupt.

"And now you're dating him? What's wrong with you sweetheart? I raised you better than that!"

"I am a grown woman, mother. I can make my own choices."

"I just don't understand how you can be with the man who ruined your career! And you didn't say he was engaged at the time? Are you his mistress or something?"

"Mrs. Burgess, Kim is not my mistress. My fiancé and I ended things before Kim and I even…" Ruzek tried to say.

"And worse!" She continued, ignoring Ruzek. She was staring at Burgess. "You brought him into our house!"

"He's not a monster, mom! It was a misunderstanding. Sergeant Voight jumped to conclusions about Adam's and my relationship. That's why I didn't get the promotion. And I already told you, Atwater deserved it just as much as I did and…"

"I just thought you'd have more self-respect than to…"

"Dinner's ready!" Burgess' sister announced, trying to calm the argument. Burgess watched as her mother stood up and stormed off to the dining room, her nose in the air.

"I'm sorry," Burgess whispered to Ruzek.

"You have nothing to be sorry for," he replied quietly.

"My mother's being...awful. I swear to you, I didn't speak badly of you when I was passed over for the promotion. I mean, sure I complained about it a little to her and then I guess she drew her own conclusions. And I suppose I can see why she might not like you, but she don't even know you and I think if she just…"

Ruzek put his hand on her arm.

"It's ok," he assured her.

"I just...I don't want her to hate you."

"Look, I'm great with parents. I just have to get her to see me for me, and not the guy who screwed up your promotion."

"Adam, you didn't…"

Burgess was interrupted by her mother shouting from the other room.

"Will you two be joining us?"

Ruzek stood up. He put out his hand for Burgess. He helped her to her feet.

"We could leave," she said. "We could walk out right now and go back to your place and…"

"No. We are not leaving with our tails between our legs. I'll win her over. I promise. Come on."

Together they walked into the dining room. Burgess' sister was just putting a cooked turkey on the table as Adam helped Burgess into her chair. He sat down beside her.

"So, Adam, tell me, how long were you a street cop before you got into Intelligence?" Lucy asked.

"I was…ah…pulled right from the academy," Adam answered truthfully.

"Imagine that. It was like you didn't even have to pay your dues," Burgess' mother stated.

"Mom," Burgess said with a warning in her voice.

"So, they plucked you from obscurity for a job that I'm sure other law enforcement personnel would have been more qualified for," her mother continued.

"Mom, that's enough," Burgess warned.

"I said it before and I'll say it again, I don't understand how you can bring home the man who ruined your career!" Her mother exclaimed.

"He didn't ruin my career, mom."

Her mother chose to ignore her. "Do you have any idea how difficult it is for a female police officer?" She asked, directing her question at Ruzek.

"Mrs. Burgess, I…" Adam began.

"Kim has had to work twice as hard as any male officer!" Her mother continued. "And then she's passed up for a promotion because they claim she's trying to sleep her way to the top! Maybe that's what other girls do, but not my Kimmy! What did you do? Seduce her into sleeping with you?"

"You just don't know when to quit, do you mom?!" Kim shouted, standing up. "I wanted to come here to have a nice meal with my family. And I wanted Lucy to be able to meet the person who has made me so happy these last few months. Because no matter what happened before, Adam makes me happy, mom. But you just have to go and ruin it! I can take care of myself, mom! I don't need you lecturing me about who I should date and why or why not. I don't need you to tell me about my career! And you know what, you don't have any idea what it's like to be a female officer because you aren't one! So back off!"

Burgess stormed away. Without even grabbing her coat, she went right out the front door, slamming the door behind her. Ruzek knew he should probably just not say another word and just follow her, but there was something he had to say first.

"I know you think I'm taking advantage of your daughter, Mrs. Burgess. I know you think I'm a terrible person for getting involved with her in the first place and I know you blame me for her getting passed over for that promotion. I can't change what happened and I wouldn't want to. I wouldn't give up any minute I've spent with your daughter because she is kind and smart and beautiful and one of the best damn cops I've ever worked with." He took a breath. "Now, I don't know what's going to happen in the future. I don't know if she'll get passed over for another promotion or if I'll stay in Intelligence for the rest of my career or what, but I do know that, no matter what happens, I want her in my life. I love your daughter, Mrs. Burgess. I love her and I hope that one day all of us can sit down and forget about what happened and just enjoy a meal together...for her sake." He turned to Lucy. "Thank you for having me over. I hope to see you again soon."

Ruzek stood up and walked out of the dining room. As he made his way towards the front door, he grabbed both of their coats from the hall closet. He pulled his coat on as he walked outside. Burgess was standing, leaning against the car. Her arms were folded over her chest, trying to keep warm.

"You look like you're freezing," he said, pulling her coat over her shoulders.

"I didn't want to go back in the house," she replied. "I didn't want to give my mother the satisfaction."

He pulled the keys from his pocket and unlocked the car. He saw Burgess wipe a tear from her cheek.

"It's ok," he said.

"It's not ok. She was...horrible to you."

"She just being protective," he assured her.

"My mom just doesn't know when to quit sometimes."

"All moms can be like that."

"We should have just stayed home and watched the game," Burgess said.

"No."

"No? I can't imagine that could have been much worse."

"It wasn't all bad and I'm glad we came."

"Why?"

He shrugged. "Because if we hadn't come, I don't know if I would have had the courage to say what I just said in there."

"What are you talking about? What did you say?"

"That you were incredible and smart and a damn good cop." He met her eyes. "And that I love you."

It took a moment for the words to sink in, but when they did, she smiled.

"You love me?"

"Yeah. I love you."
"I love you, too."

She threw herself into his arms. He was forced to back up against the car as she attacked his lips with hers.

"Your mother could be watching," he warned her.

"Let her," she replied, kissing him until they were both breathless.

Author's Note: I don't know if Burgess' sister ever really got a name in the show so I made one up because I couldn't find it anywhere. Hope you enjoyed my version of family dinner night. Thanks for reading!