Chapter 14

Megan's POV

As Thanksgiving's go, this has not been one of the best. A real bad case of the flu seems to have taken a serious toll on the NYPD, including Don. He's at his parent's house with a 102 degree fever. Trying to nurse my pretty sick fiancé and mind Maura Flack's house rules was a little too much. First Don asked me to help him take a shower. He really did need help given how unsteady on his feet he was. Maura heard him say this and just about blew her stack saying we are setting a horrible example for the children. Which since the children are all under seven I find kind of hilarious, I don't think they think about things like that. Maura said she'd help him, which did not go over well with Don. He did not react well to her comments about having changed his diapers. Luckily, Tony got involved at that moment and suggested that maybe I help Don take a sponge bath because neither Maura nor I would really be able to do anything if Don really lost his balance. Maura wanted to argue, but since the priest who was going to perform our wedding said it was okay, what could she say?

So Don is finally sleeping and I'm bringing some Thanksgiving leftovers to Danny and Lindsay and anyone else around today. First, I stopped by Don's place and put clean sheets on the bed and stuff. I'm going to try to convince them to go crash there for awhile. Apparently, so many officers are out sick that Danny and Lindsay have been both CSIs and homicide detectives for the last couple of days. I don't think they've made it home to Queens. Maybe they'll sleep a little at Don's place instead of just napping on the couches at work.

I get signed in (I don't think it hurt that Don, Sr called ahead to grease the wheels). I leave half of what Maura sent in the break room the detectives use and take the rest upstairs to the CSIs. Danny and Lindsay are passed out on couches opposite each other. I wake Lindsay up and give her the keys to Don's place. She promised they would eat and try to catch some sleep at Don's place. I didn't like the glassy look in her eyes. I pretty sure she's getting sick. Hopefully, others will get well first.

Don's POV

I feel like I want to die. I know the flu rarely kills healthy adults, but right now I'm not so sure. I know Megan and Ma got into it over taking care of me earlier. The whole thing was absurd and I'm glad Tony intervened. It was all I could do not point out to my mother that Megan and I have been naked together many, many times so could we please stop pretending that we were in some kind of 19th century novel. Just a few more weeks and Megan will be my wife. I can't wait. Right now, if it was up to me, I'd have Tony do the ceremony right now and be done with all this crap. I just want to start our life together without this attempt at a façade to make other people happy.

Anna's POV

I had a great time in Montana. Spending time with my mom's family was great, plus, I get to see Olivia, who is my best friend in Montana. We've been friends since the first day of kindergarten. However, it's really nice to be back here. I would have said before that Bozeman was home, but as much as I enjoyed being there, I missed my friends in New York, Danny, and Lindsay. I guess I kind of have two homes these days.

Danny and Lindsay both look like death warmed over. Apparently, they worked almost nonstop while I was gone while everyone else was out with the flu. Now they both have the flu and are wiped out. I think I'll see if I can make some soup for dinner and bring it upstairs to them. Then, I have to get started on the homework from all the school I missed.

Lindsay's POV

Anna is home. Megan picked her up at the airport since Danny and I are lying in bed dying. Well, obviously we aren't really dying. We just have the flu that everyone else had a week ago. I should probably get up and make us some dinner.

Just as I was thinking about getting up to make dinner, Anna knocked on our door. She came in with a tray carrying two bowls of soup and some crackers. I love that girl. She asked if she could have Chris come over to help her with some homework that she missed. I'm not sure that Danny and I count as supervision right now, but I can't think of a reason to say no. So I tell her that it would be fine.

Anna's POV

Lindsay said I could have Chris over, so I called him. He is going to help with me some math that I missed.

When Chris got here, we set-up in the dinning room and worked on the math. It didn't take very long to finish once Chris explained it, so we went to watch some TV in the family room. Being the Sunday after Thanksgiving, there was a football game on. It wasn't one either one of us really cared about, but it was a decent game. All of a sudden, Chris leaned over and kissed me, softly on my lips. It was an incredible feeling.

When Chris pulled back, he said "I hope that was o.k. Anna."

I smiled and said "it was very much o.k."

Chris smiled and said "I'd really us to be a couple, you know, exclusive."

"I'd like that," I answered.

Then Chris's phone went off. It was his mom letting him know she was almost here. So I leaned in and kissed him again before he left.

After Chris left, I head up to my room. I need to call Hannah and Olivia.

Lindsay's POV

The dinner Anna made helped me feel better, so I decided that I needed to go check on Anna and Chris. I was just about to walk into the family room, when I saw Chris lean in and kiss her. It was a sweet gentle innocent kiss, almost a peck. Anna's face lit up and Chris's face lit up when hers did. I stayed out of sight to watch and listen, and then scampered upstairs when I heard his phone ring. I wouldn't want them to know they had an audience.

When I came back into our room, a groggy Danny asked "how are the kids?"

I said "Chris's mom is on her way over to pick him, up, but I think I just stumbled in on Anna's first kiss."

"And you left them down there to make out?" screeched Danny.

"Hush, no. They weren't making out. They exchanged a couple of very chaste kisses and decided they were a couple. They are entitled to a little privacy. Not that much, but a little. Besides, they may be a couple, but remember they are pretty much limited to being here, at Chris's, school events, or out in groups."

"But she's just a kid and he's . . ."

"He's what? He's a kid who's voiced practically cracked when he asked Anna if it was ok that he kissed her. All in all, I'm pretty happy with him for her first kiss and her first boyfriend. I think after awhile, I'll call Jen Miller and let her know about these developments."

"But what about when she's not here where we can keep an eye on her?" asked Danny.

"Well, we can't keep an eye on her all the time. Besides that's one reason I want to call Jen Miller. Remember two CSIs, a narcotics detective, and social worker who deals with teens in rehab? I like our chances."

Anna's POV

Yesterday was just wonderful! Chris kissed me and asked me if we wanted to be a couple. It was incredible. Then he called me and we talked for a long time before bed. Both Hannah and Olivia think I'm very lucky. I am.

Chris was waiting for me at my locker. He smiled at me and squeezed my hand quickly. Then we walked to homeroom with our friends. This boyfriend thing might be very, very nice.

In homeroom, I was told to go see Father Tony. I wasn't sure why, but I figured I'd find out..

When I walked into Father Tony's office he says, "Hi Anna. I hope you had a great Thanksgiving. I understand you spent it with your mother's family in Montana."

"Yes, Father. It was nice to be back in Montana," I answered

"Sit down Anna. Listen, I know that you've had a rough year. You've settled in remarkably well. However, I do think that it might be a good idea of you to have someone to talk to who isn't directly involved. For instance, I would imagine that it is hard to tell your Aunt Lindsay how much you miss your old life in Montana without feeling like you are criticizing what she has given you. At the same time, I bet telling your grandparents, especially your mother's parents about what you like about your life here could be kind of hard too.'

I don't really know what to say, so I nod by head.

"All of that is perfectly normal. I'm amazed at how well you've dealt with everything. We have a new school counselor starting today, Ms. Cook. I think it might do you some good to talk to her. Just get to know her so she can be a resource. I thought you could see her during PE today since as I understand it you aren't up to speed yet. That doesn't mean that you can't talk to me or anyone else. My door is always open. You are doing wonderfully, and it's my job to help make sure that continues. Besides if you like Ms. Cook maybe you can convince others she a good person to talk to."

The Father Tony handed me a pass back to class and a note to get out of PE to go talk to this Ms. Cook. I'm not sure how I feel about this.

Lindsay's POV

"Hi Jen. This is Lindsay Messer. I just wanted to catch-up you up on the developments between our kids if you have a few minutes," said Lindsay on the phone.

"Yes, Lindsay. That would be great. Chris couldn't stop smiling when he came home the other day, but he wouldn't say why," said Jen Miller.

"Well, Chris and Anna don't know it, but I almost walked in on what I'm pretty sure was their first kiss and a discussion of being a couple. It was very cute. Normally, I might say they are too young to be exclusive, but since the universe of places they are allowed to go, is pretty small, I'm ok with it," reported Lindsay.

"That would certainly explain Chris's smile. Thanks for keeping me up to date. I'll let you know if I come across anything you should know. They are great kids, but until they are a little older, I like keeping a fairly short leash on them."

"Absolutely," answered Lindsay.

Anna's POV

The meeting with Ms. Cook, well she said to call her Jamie, wasn't so bad. She just asked a little about my life. She didn't make me talk about my parents or anything too hard right away. It did feel kind of good to be able to talk about how much I miss Montana, but how much I love it here at the same time. Plus, she was pretty cool when I told her about Chris and didn't get all after school special on me. I'm supposed to come see her every week while I can't take gym and then we'll see, but she was thinking maybe every other week before or after school.