The new pup has been running me off my feet, literally now since I managed to step in a hole and jack-up my ankle. I've been sitting on this chapter for a while because I wasn't sure how to wind it down but I think I've got the gist of it now. Happy reading and hopefully I'll have another update out by Thursday.

I still own nothing.

Previously: Sam stood quietly, not surprised by the outburst but rather surprised over Sarah's concern. "You can't stop her from getting to know her sister any more than I can. She's a big girl Sarah. Let her do this on her own."

Sarah remained unimpressed at her brother's convictions and snorted before heading to the kitchen.

'Oh yeah,' Sam thought to himself rolling his eyes. 'This is going to be a fun weekend'.

It took another twenty minutes, a quick debate over vehicles and some fast negotiating but eventually they all got out the door. Traci, Zoe and Zoe's middle daughter, Emily had arrived only a few moments after Marissa. Hasty introductions were made before piling into Sarah's hated minivan. they soon took off for the local shopping center.

Sam meanwhile had finished packing up Theo and gotten out the door to head for Jerry and Traci's. Elliot and the other two kids would be coming a bit later but in the interim Jerry and Oliver and himself would be in charge of decorating for this party. He assumed by decorate his sister had meant move furniture around until it looked like people could sit down. That he could manage. He was somewhat surprised then when Oliver showed up moments after his own arrival toting what seemed to be a car full of party supplies complete with a colorful donkey pinata visible from the back seat.
"What the hell is all that?" Sam asked. Theo gave an agreeing gurgle before returning to the plastic keys in his hand.

Oliver shrugged, "Decorations."

"Unbelievable," Sam said shaking his head before walking slowly around the car taking in the full effect.

"I was informed that if there weren't appropriately celebratory streamers hanging from Jerry's ceiling I shouldn't bother coming home. So you can put down the baby and start carrying in some of this stuff. You know for stuff so flimsy it should be lighter," Oliver commented opening the door to a tumble of red and orange crepe paper. Sam swore the donkey smirked.

"You know, if I'd know that "cool" to Laurel meant anything Aunt Andy said was nice I would have kidnapped you sooner," Sarah commented to the seated women.

Traci scoffed at Andy's grin. "Aren't you all proud of yourself."

"What can I say, I have a gift," Andy joked.

They had been at the mall for a solid 5 hours. Laurel had, despite her mother's assertions of finickyness, been more than happy to attach herself to anything Andy suggested. After twenty minutes Sarah had given up offering opinions to the child and had begun pointing out the necessities to Andy. Zoe's daughter Emily seemed swayed by Laurel's devotion to Andy's fashion sense and Zoe soon joined with Sarah in subtle pointing. Marissa caught onto the game quickly and gave appropriate noises of agreement. There was something to be said for tricking children. Being a fashion guru was however completely exhausting. Several bags of new clothes later and the Traci and Andy sprawled across a bench waiting for the other five to reappear.

"You have to give Sarah credit, she runs a tight ship," Traci said with exhausted admiration.

"She has more compulsion to run things than any Staff Sergeant I've met," Andy replied.

"If I didn't know better I would never guess she was Sam's sister," Traci paused as a she spotted the rest of their party leaving a store. "I mean they look alike but Sam is just mister mellow and Sarah just... isn't."

Andy snorted, "She thinks Sam is the high-strung one."

Traci laughed, "No way."

"She's not wrong in some respects," Andy said diplomatically.

Traci didn't reply however. Her attention had been grabbed by what appeared to be a scene unfolding in front of them.

Sarah had, not unlike a lion sensing an undefended springbok calf in the wild, bided her time until the perfect moment to corner Marissa. With the brilliant suggestion of having the girls make a stuffed animal for Theo and Robby she was able to cut her from the herd. With some token noises of agreement at their choices and encouraging words she managed to track Marissa with her eyes to just outside the entrance. A quick motion to Zoe and she was out the door after her sister-in-law's half sister. She didn't waste time with pleasantries as she came up behind the girl.
"What exactly are you trying to do?"

"Excuse me?" Marissa replied completely taken aback.

"I asked what it is precisely you're trying to do? I mean do you want Andy to be your friend? Your sister? Because if you're just in it for you, I think you need to leave," Sarah said simply crossing her arms.

"I really don't think that's any of your business," Marissa snapped turning abruptly to leave but brought up short by the person standing behind her. "Excuse m..." her rather rude tone was cut off as she met their eyes.

Sam, Jerry and Oliver had meanwhile unpacked the car, and strewn the crepe paper on the walls in the living room. After a moment of assessment they determined that only one of them was remotely qualified or capable of doing a decent job.

"Do I even want to guess why you're so good at that," Oliver asked Jerry who had artistically pinned another twisted ribbon to the wall. "I have been through twenty-eight birthday parties and Zoe still just assigns me to balloon duty."

Jerry flushed. "I don't know. It's not hard. Maybe the problem is you."

Sam shook his head in the negative. "No way brother. I'm awful too and I'm a heck of a lot better with tools than you are so don't try to say it's about dexterity."

Jerry just glowered and went back to pinning up streamers while Oliver snorted and continued to arrange handfuls of balloons. .

"I'll go check on the boys then," Sam snarked heading up the stairs.

He reached Robby's room in no time and peeked in at the sleeping babies. At least they were enjoying their afternoon. He came back down the stairs in time to see Elliot, Rebecca and Charlie marching in the door.

"Uncle Sam!" the two children called out happily before giving happy greetings to Oliver and Jerry. "Where's Theo?" Rebecca asked.
Sam couldn't help but roll his eyes. He knew where he fell in family importance. "He's taking a nap. Why don't you take a look at the living room and see if you've got any decoration suggestions." Sam said meeting Elliot's eye, who nodded and shooed the protesting children into the house.

"You can see him later, go help Mr. Oliver with his balloons." Elliot instructed, pointing to a somewhat red and sweaty Shaw.

"So Sarah updated you on the shopping trip?" Sam asked curiously.

Eliot snorted. "If by update you mean she called me from the van last night and said she was getting to the bottom of this, then yes." Eliott said simply.

Sam groaned. "This can not end well."

A loud shriek came from the baby monitor signalling that the babies had awakened. "Hey Becks, if you want to help you can play with Theo and Robbie while we decorate." Sam called out to his niece.

Rebecca turned grinning, and raced up to Sam, an enthusiastic "Thank You, Thank you, thank you" spewing from her mouth.

"Should I be worried about this?" Elliot asked skeptically.

Rebecca mustered up a scathing look for her father. "If I want to earn money babysitting this summer I need references," she said derisively.

Ever easy-going Elliot just shrugged. "As long as you have no ideas of babies for another thirty years."

"Dad!" she whined, looking around embarrassed.

Elliot just snorted and he laughed at Sam's look of surprise. "Just wait until you have a daughter."

Sam paled. He made noises about wanting another baby but he hadn't pictured a daughter.

Rebecca began pulling on his arm. "Okay, okay. We'll fetch the babies," Sam placated and followed her up the stairs.

Marissa had yet to say a word to the man staring back at her. Sarah merely stood back watching the scene unfold.

The man was young, and surprisingly fit. He towered over Marissa which meant he had several inches on Sarah. He had on a 'Fire College Cadet' t-shirt, which Sarah supposed made sense, given they were/ raising funds at a booth less than one hundred feet away. His brown hair and brown eyes reflected the same shock visible in Marissa's.

Finally regaining her footing, Marissa squeaked slightly before her voice came out in a harsh whisper. "What the hell do you think you're doing here?" she demanded angrily. "Are you trying to ruin everything or did you just not care what would happen?"

The man, well, Sarah thought looking at him more closely, more like a boy, looked extremely taken aback by that accusation.

"What am I doing here? What are you doing here and what could I possibly ruin?" he snapped back looking over his shoulder at the curious looks his supervisor was shooting him. He seemed to notice Sarah at that moment and he gave her a somewhat distracted smile. "Hi."

It was then Sarah saw it. It was just a glimmer but it was there. She studied him closer and began to catalogue the similarities; Eye set: identical. Hair color; close enough, smil: Identical. So that was it. This was Jacob. Ohcrap.

Marissa and Jacob continued to bicker in increasingly less friendly tones. The loud "She's here?" from Jacob settled the matter for Sarah.

"Yes, she's here and you still haven't answered my question. What are you doing here?," Marissa snapped.

"That's none of your business. And I didn't stalk you here if that's what you're thinking," he snapped back.

"Sure you didn't. She'll think I invited you and I'm pushing and then she wont want to know either of us. Why are you wearing that shirt? Aren't you supposed to be studying for the LSATs?" she broke off with a questioning look.

Jacob broke in frustration. "I'm not taking the stupid LSATs; I'm going to the Fire College!"

Marissa looked stunned.

"And I haven't told mom and dad yet so don't breathe a word of it to anyone," he said stepping forward.

Marissa just nodded before she seemed to remember Sarah's presence. "Jake, this is Sarah. She's…"

"Andy's sister-in-law. Her husband is my baby brother, though I don't typically claim relation," Sarah joked quietly. "And may I just say if you don't want to take this little play on the road you may want to.. and we're too late," she broke off watching Traci approach at a fast clip followed by Andy.

"Is he bothering you?" Traci asked first putting herself close to the women. "Look buddy, we're cops."

Jacob took a quick step backwards and put his hands in the air. "Whoa, okay. No, it's nothing like that."

"Is everything okay?" Andy asked reaching their side and taking in the scene. She turned and looked at the little group before moving her eyes over Jacob. Sarah could see the millisecond when recognition dawned.

"Andy I swear I didn't," Marissa tried to explain but Andy seemed lost in her own world.

"Jacob?" she whispered bringing her hand up as though she were going to touch his cheek.

"Hello Andy."