When You're the Captain CH 21
The next morning they had breakfast and were getting ready to go out to get the boys their suits when David asked. "Did you guys see the message on the answering machine?"
"No." Karla said. "I didn't even look."
"Play it will you?" Dan asked.
David hit the button. "Karla, this is Dr. Suttons office. You have an appointment with him for 10:00 am in the morning. Please bring your medical history and any prescription information you have. You do not need to call back unless you are unable to make this appointment." The message went on to give the phone number.
"Who's Dr. Sutton?" Brent asked.
Dan met Karlas eyes and saw both fear and anger in them. They both knew that Dr. Sutton was the psychologist that the department used for anger management classes. "I can't go." She said.
"You have to." Dan told her reasonably. "You know you do."
"What about the boys suits?" she asked.
"I can buy them. Karla, you know this is a big issue."
"I could call them and reschedule it."
He came over to stand in front of her and look straight into her eyes. "Get it over with. The sooner it gets started the sooner it's done."
"You be careful. If you need me, call me. I'll leave my cell phone on."
"I will. Just remember, I love you. That's what counts. We'll get through this together."
"Yeah. Hey guys, just remember suits in pink do not go over well with the girls."
"Pink? Dad!" David protested.
"Thanks." Dan said wryly.
"My pleasure. I'm going to worry about you."
"I'll be fine. I'm more worried about the doctor."
"Ha ha. Police Captain slash Comedian."
Dan took his boys out to the car and backed out of the parking spot. Karla was on the porch and waved to them. He was very afraid of what was going on with her today.
The boys had grown two sizes since they'd had new suits. David was shooting up and Brent was starting to spread out in the shoulders, but he'd not gotten any taller. They both chose blue suits. David wanted one that was more powder blue, but Dan vetoed that. This one had to last him awhile. There was a brief battle of wills until Dan told him one word. "Pink." He gave in and accepted a darker blue one, but not as dark as Brents.
The shop agreed to get alterations done by 3:00 so they could wear them that evening. Dan had to pay extra for the service. He took the boys to lunch then he was so tired he needed to go home. Karlas truck was not there. He considered calling her but decided against it. She'd call if she needed anything.
Brent saw how tired his father was and challenged David to a game of Monopoly. Karla had old board games still around and the original Monopoly was one of them. Dan laid on the couch to wait for her and listen to the boys game. He drifted off to sleep. He heard, sometime later, David say "Karlas home."
He struggled to wake up. The boys went out to see if they could help her with anything. He sat up and waited for her to come in. The boys came back in without her. "Is she home?" he asked.
"Yeah. She told us to come in and tell you she's okay. She went into the barn. She said she'd come inside in a while." David said.
He had a feeling he knew what that meant. He eased himself up. "Dad, she said to tell you not to come out. She said you'd try." Brent said. "She seemed pretty mad. I wouldn't go out there if I were you. She's really mad like Mom gets when she makes us clean our bedroom."
That was the ultimate mad as far as the boys were concerned. He considered his options. He wanted to be there for her, but she obviously wanted to be alone. He stepped out on the porch and heard her swearing in the barn. He couldn't hear the words, but the tone was very clear. She was furious. Not just mad, but absolutely furious. He could see the horses in the pasture, watching the barn warily. They were eating, but were nervous with all the loud noises and banging in their home.
He figured he'd give her awhile. He went back inside. "Is she okay?" David asked. "She sure was mad."
"I think she'll be okay. We just need to give her some space." He tried to sound casual about it. He sat down and the boys continued their game.
Better than an hour passed before she came in. It was obvious she was exhausted and had been crying. She came in and sat on the other end of the couch from Dan. Her emotions were still raw. "Who's winning?" she asked the boys.
"I am." David said happily.
"Hi." She told Dan.
"How are you?" he asked.
"About like you'd expect." She said, laying her head on the arm of the sofa and curled up against the end.
He wanted so badly to touch her, to console her, but until she turned to him all he could do was be here for her. "Did you have lunch?"
"No, I'm not hungry."
"Are you thirsty?'
"Some water would be nice."
"I'll get her some, Dad." Brent said.
"Thanks, son."
Brent brought her a bottle of water out of the refrigerator and she took it listlessly. "Thank you." After a minute she sat up and tried to unscrew the cap. It was on too tight. He held out his hand and she gave it to him. He loosened it and gave it back. "Thank you." She took a sip then another then chugged the whole thing down.
"Guys, we're going to go into the kitchen to talk. Don't come in unless you ask first, okay?"
"Yes, sir." They said.
Dan got up and held his hand out to her. She got up and preceded him into the kitchen. She sat down without comment in a chair and looked at him. She was wary, he could see that. "I'm not going to attack you." He said gently.
She looked down, embarrassed. "Sorry. I know you're not."
"Look at me, please." She did but she couldn't hold his gaze. "What the hell went on there?"
"Nothing."
"Something did. You've never been like this before."
"I've never been in therapy before, either." She pointed out logically.
"I expected you to be upset, but this is beyond what I expected. What did he say to you?"
"Nothing."
"Karla…" he said urgently.
"Dan." She responded in kind then dropped her gaze again. "I'm tired. I'm going to go lay down."
"Do you want some company?"
"Enjoy your time with your boys." She left the kitchen and went into the bedroom like she could barely lift her feet. She closed the door quietly. Not at all like herself.
The boys looked at him for clues. He smiled at them. "We'll go in a bit and get your suits. Do you have shoes and shirts that fit?"
"I've had to have shoes twice since I tried mine on last. I doubt they'll fit." Brent offered.
"I think mine do, but they're at home." David said reluctantly.
"I guess we're going shopping again. I should have thought of this earlier."
"We were worried about Karla." Brent offered. "Is she going to be alright?"
"She will be. She's just tired." He nodded.
He dozed on the couch while the boys continued to play their game. Karla came out about 45 minutes later, looking rested, but sad. She came over and tentatively touched his hair. He opened his eyes and saw the need for reassurance in her eyes. He reached up and took her hand. She walked around the end and came to sit next to him. He put his arms around her and she snuggled against him, even with the boys surreptitiously watching them. "Feel better, sleepyhead?" he asked, teasing her gently.
"Yes. Did you get the suits?"
"I have to go back and get them in a little while. They had to be altered. They also need shoes and I guess I'd better get them some new shirts, too. Want to come with us? I'll take us out to an early dinner."
"That sounds like a plan."
He squeezed her gently to him and kissed her softly. "Get a room, Dad." David said with a smile.
"You're lucky I don't have something to throw at you." Karla told him.
David giggled. He knew that he didn't have anything to fear from her. "Hey, Brent, that's my railroad. Pay up."
"I'm going to go get some yogurt. Do you want anything?" Karla asked.
"That sounds good. Want me to get it?"
"No. You guys want anything?"
"No, thank you."
She went into the kitchen. Dan followed her. "I'm sorry."
"For what?"
"That it was such a rough morning. I wish I could do something for you."
"I know you do. I have to get through it, like the flu."
"Can I give you a hug?"
She didn't answer just come over to bury her face against him. He could've sworn she was about to cry again, but she didn't. She lifted her face for his kiss. He kissed her. With tenderness, with love, with longing that he wasn't able to express vocally with the boys so close at hand. "We can continue this later, can't we?" she asked, tentatively.
"Absolutely. We'll come back here while they're at the dance. I want to make love to you without having to be quiet."
"They do have good hearing, don't they?" she smiled, touching his face.
"Too good. Let's sit out here and have our yogurt. I want to talk to you about something." She stiffened warily. "Not about that. Please."
He pulled out a chair for her and then took one next to her. "I want to get all the arrangements made for the wedding. I want us to be married, soon. Do whatever you have to do to make it happen and let's do it. Is there anyone you want to invite?"
"Bobby and Alex, Mike and Carolyn. That's all. If it's okay with you."
"That's fine. Who do you want to give you away?"
"No one. I don't have anyone to do that."
"Then let's keep it simple. I was thinking that Bobby could be my best man, and whoever you want for your matron of honor, Alex maybe. The boys can tell the minister that they give me to you, because that's the truth anyway, Mike and Carolyn can be witnesses and the only other people I want to invite is my folks. What do you think?"
"I haven't even met them."
"They'll love you. I'll invite them anytime you want to. I don't want to wait anymore. I want you to be my wife. Right now."
"What about Nancy and Todd?"
"If they want to come, that's fine, but this is our wedding. If you aren't comfortable with it then we don't have to invite them. They'll know about it because of the boys, but I really want this."
"Then let's do it. When did you have in mind?"
"A week from Saturday. Nancy will be home from the hospital and the boys can go back home while we are on our honeymoon. I'll be healed enough for a real honeymoon and then we'll be together forever."
"I'd like that. Dan, I want to talk to you about something. Something that is work related, but I don't want you to listen as a captain, but as my other half. Can you do that?"
"I think so. This sounds serious."
"It is. I'm going to check into and put in for a transfer to some other department. I'm not comfortable going back to records nor to serve under Captain Sackett."
"You're angry right now. You emotions are not settled yet. Give it a few days."
"I'm not making the decision right now and I realize that at least part of it's anger, but I'm not happy there and I don't think I can serve under her again. I'm thinking I'm either going to transfer to another department or leave the force all together."
"You like the force."
"I do, but it's not the only thing in the world. I don't have all the answers. I just wanted to talk to you about it."
"You are serious about this."
"I am. I don't really feel like a part of the department anyway. Not the way I want to be, so it's not as much of a loss for me as it would be for you. I won't be able to be in your squad once we're married anyway so what else is there to recommend it?"
"Your rank for one thing."
"Sergeant of Paper pushers. I can be a paper pusher anywhere. I don't have to be in the NYPD to do that. I'd appreciate it if you'd think about it."
"Wow. We're having some real council of war here, aren't we?"
"About time, isn't it?"
"Can I come in?" Brent asked.
"You both can." Dan said, eyeing Karla. She was intently eating her yogurt.
"We should get going if we're going to get the suits before we go to the dance." Brent said as he came into the room followed by David.
"You're right. Are you guys ready to go?"
"Yes, sir." They said.
"Let me run a brush through my hair and I'm ready too." Karla said. "Excuse me, guys."
"Do you suppose we could find somewhere to get a hair cut, too? I'd like to look nice for this dance." Brent asked surprisingly.
"I wish you had said something sooner. I'm not sure if we'll have time now."
"That's okay." He shrugged.
Karla came back out. "I'm ready."
"Brent wants to see if we can get him a haircut, too."
"This is New York. I think we could do that." Karla said. "It's not like there's a lack of places around."
"Then we better get moving."
Dan drove again. He stopped at a hair salon, but the wait was too long. They stopped at two others as well, but they were just as busy. They decided to do the shoes first then see about coming back. They went to get the suits as long as they were so close. They got shirts there and got another surprise. The suits were not hemmed and wouldn't be in time for the dance. Dan scowled at the man. The receipt said they'd be done. The man agreed to take the price of the pants off the receipt. "But that still won't get them done before the dance." Brent said tensely.
"Let me hem them for you. It won't take long." Karla told him. "Hems are easy."
He seemed doubtful, but there wasn't a lot of choice in the matter. They went to more salons, but there wasn't any openings. "I guess you'll have to go the way you are." Dan told him. "You need to speak up sooner next time."
They went home and Karla had them go in and put on their pants and the new shoes. She had them stand on a kitchen chair and she pinned the pants up. While Dan helped them lay out everything they needed she hemmed them and pressed the hems. They looked professionally done. Brent was satisfied. David wasn't as particular.
Brent came out and sat down. "I'm ready, but I wish I'd been able to get my hair cut." He said morosely.
"May I?" Karla asked coming up behind him, gesturing to his hair.
"Uh, sure." He said tentatively.
Karla reached out and touched his hair gently. Then she ran her fingers through it. "There's a lot of it but it's not too thick. I can cut it for you, if you'd like or not. It's up to you."
"Have you cut hair before?"
"It's been awhile, but I remember how. I used to cut the hair of the boys that came here to live, there wasn't money to have it done."
"I don't want to look funny." Brent said doubtfully.
"What kind of cut do you want?"
"Just a regular one, like Dads."
"That's easy. I can do that. I'll have to start now, though so I have time to finish it."
Brent looked at Dan. He wanted his hair cut but he wasn't certain if he should. "If you don't like it, I'll pay to have someone else do it next time." Karla said.
"Okay." He looked at both the adults looking at him. "Okay, I'll let you cut it."
"Take of your outer shirt. You can leave you T-Shirt on. David, go out to the barn and bring in the ear clippers, please."
"Wait a minute. Horse clippers? No way, forget it."
"Brent, when this hair comes off your neck will be exposed and all the hair there will make you look like you're a werewolf. It's just to shave your neck. I know what I'm doing."
"Dad?"
"I have never had her tell me she could do something that she couldn't do. Let her do it." Dan said with sincerity.
"Okay."
They went into the kitchen and Brent sat nervously on a kitchen chair. Karla got a comb and scissors. "Before I cut one hair, are you sure? There's no going back once I've cut it."
"Go ahead." Brent said, with a strangled voice.
Karla combed his hair several times, squinting at the length and then used some clips to hold part of it off to a side. It was fascinating to watch her work. Dan had had tons of haircuts but never seen someone cut so much off from the back. There was a pile of hair on the floor when she was done with the initial cuts. "How are you going to comb it. Off to the side or down the center?" she asked absently.
"Off to the side." Brent said.
David had plugged the clippers into the wall. Karla cut Brents hair to the length in back. Dan figured it could be done a lot faster in a beauty shop but it looked good. He looked more mature, but also more like the kid Dan used to know. Karla stood right in front of Brent and looked at his hair on both sides of his head. Brent colored, embarrassed. She ignored his looks and nodded in satisfaction. Then she thinned it on top and used the clippers on the back of his neck. And he was finished.
"All done." She said. "Go look in the mirror. And you might want to run through the shower so the left over hair doesn't make you itch all night."
Dan looked from his son to Karla. "Woman, you never fail to surprise me. You never told me you could do that."
"You get yours done. This was an emergency situation."
"David, how are you?" Dan asked.
"I'm fine, Dad. Honest." Davis said hurriedly.
"Go ahead and get started getting dressed." Dan told him. David ran out like he thought Karla was going to come after him next.
Karla reached for the broom. Dan touched her arm and took it from her. "You have gone above and beyond the call of duty. Go get on a pretty dress, I'm taking you out to dinner."
"A dress?"
"Yes, with a skirt and everything." He teased sweeping all the hair into a pile.
"Mean man." She teased, but went in to do just that.
He carefully bent and picked up the hair. He went into the bedroom and changed into a suit. It was like old times. The boys came out looking handsome. Dan grinned at Brent. "You guys look great."
"Thank you, Karla, for cutting my hair. You did a good job." Brent said.
"We're going to have to get married soon so that haircut lasts." Dan told her.
"Quit. You're going to embarrass him." Karla said with a smile.
"So you're going to do it?" Brent asked.
"A week from Saturday." Karla said. "And we're hoping you guys can be there."
"Can we dance with the bride?" David asked with a smile.
"Yes, you can. But I get the first dance. Scoot to the car or you'll be late." Dan laughed.
The boys went out and he pulled Karla to him. "You have a couple of admirers. I'd better snatch you up soon or I'm liable to have to fight my own sons for the privilege."
"Don't worry, my Dan. No one will ever replace you in my heart."
"Good, because you're mine."
TBC