Title: New York Stories
Chapter 26 - Unexpected Visitors & Unwelcomed Attention
A/N: Well hope most of you were surprised at the visitor this time! Enjoy!
"Reed?" Mac asks in surprise.
"Hey, Mac."
"How did you find me?"
"Directory assistance," Reed replies as he holds out one of Mac's tattered Fort Hamilton teaching cards.
"Ah right of course," Mac smiles.
"Hey can I um..." he stops, looking past Mac to see Stella. "Oh hi. Sorry I didn't know you had company. I'll um...I can leave."
"It's okay Reed you can come in," Stella calls out.
"Are you sure?"
"We are," Mac smiles; but his smile quickly fades as he finally notices the slightly disheveled look of Reed's appearance. "What happened? You look um...a little rough."
"Couplea guys bumped into me on the subway," Reed shrugs.
"Are you okay?"
"Yeah just some shoving and such. They thought I was someone else. I'm okay."
"Do you need some money?" Mac asks in haste as Stella joins them.
"No...they didn't get anything. I was heading to my job but um...well I just thought I'd come by and well you know hang for an hour or so. Just to hear more about the schooling. So maybe..."
"Reed, you sound as nervous as I did the first day of my job," Mac states warmly.
"Am kinda nervous."
"No need to be," Mac assures him. "I can make some coffee if you'd like and..."
"I can make it Mac," Stella suggests, prompting Mac to look at her in wonder. She offers him a laugh, knowing that he's just as nervous as Reed. These two are going to get along just fine, she thinks to herself.
"Sure," Mac replies as he turns back to Reed. "Hungry?"
"Yeah a little. They never feed us enough there."
"Mrs. Starling still cooking?" Stella calls out as she starts to dig into the fridge for some leftovers.
"Yeah she's like a million years old," Reed laughs as he follows after Mac and slumps down in a nearby kitchen chair. "I want my own place but...well I gotta save some more money first," Reed rambles on nervously as Mac comes back with a few more education brochures.
"Here you go. There was a potluck tonight so Stella is trying to find something for you to eat. Trust me she's better at that than I am."
"You don't mind me just dropping by like this?" Reed asks softly.
"We were just un...winding after the party."
"You were making out?" Reed blurts out and Mac's face instantly reddens.
"I...we were talking."
"Right sorry," Reed stammers as he looks up at Stella who only offers a large smile. Reed and Mac start talking more about the education as Stella brings three mugs of coffee and a small plate of food for Reed. Reed hesitates for a moment but then starts into his food; wolfing it down at first and then slowing to a respectable level as he feels his nervousness starting to subside.
"How was the party?" Reed wonders, prompting Mac and Stella to exchange strained smiles.
"Interesting," Mac lightly frowns.
"It was fun," Stella smiles. "Let me tell you about it..."
And for the next two hours they talk, laugh and once again work at cementing a new friendship. Stella watches Mac interacting with Reed and feels her heart swell, cementing her love for him all the more. Mac's kindness and tenderness toward someone seeking help was so different from Frankie. And while she told herself that she would never compare the two, after tonight's actions, she knows inside that Mac and Frankie are on two different playing fields; with Frankie on the losing end every time.
"So drop by the base anytime," Mac offers Reed as he slowly walks with him to the door; Reed needing to get to work. "You sure you don't need a ride?"
"I'm okay but thanks. It's just one more subway stop to the grocery store. It's not much but..."
"Its honest work Reed. That's what counts the most in the long run," Mac praises. "Drop by again if you'd like."
"You don't mind?"
"Not at all."
"And if you're um...busy?"
"He just won't answer," Stella smiles as she wraps her arm around his waist, her actions warming his face and making Reed smile once more.
"Right. Okay goodnight then."
Mac and Stella watch Reed leave before Mac closes the door and looks at Stella with arched brows.
"What?" She inquires as she drapes her arms around his neck.
"Thank you for the help."
"Figured you wouldn't mind," she answers. "Told you he likes you."
"Why? I mean I'm not the most out going or..." Mac starts only to have Stella kiss him on the mouth and stop his speech.
"Seriously Stella why would h..." Mac tries again only to be silenced once more with another firm kiss.
"I think that h..." he tries once again only to offer a slight chuckle when Stella pulls back a third time.
"Don't make me use tape Mac," she teases. "I think it's great."
"Stella..."
"I think it's great that he felt this comfortable to come to see you tonight to just...be with you. I'm sure the schooling was an excuse but it doesn't matter. He's probably had no one in his life he could look up to; I mean damn his dad is in jail and his mother is dead."
"What can I offer him?"
"Your time Mac, that's all he wants from you," she tells him firmly. "He didn't take your money and you know he didn't steal anything. He just wants a friend; a friend he can look up to."
"That I can give...if it doesn't interfere with us," he replies as kisses her in return.
"Could never be enough," he lightly moans as he rolls onto his stomach and then looks up at the clock. The weekend had been a roller coaster of emotions for him. He had confessed to Lindsay that he loved her; showed her his new shop and then attended the potluck together, only to tell Rikki off for what he hoped would be for good.
He slowly pushes himself out of bed and heads towards Lucy's room. Lindsay was so at ease but he still worries what Clint would tell Lindsay about being involved with a man with a child. He had noticed that Clint stiffened a little when Lucy was around, but maybe he just didn't like children? Or wasn't used to seeing his sister so friendly with one? In any case he hopes that it won't strain anything between the three of them.
"Hey squirt," Danny lightly whispers, prompting Lucy to look up from trying to get her feet out of her closed pajama bottoms and offer her father a slight frown.
"Feets suck dadda," she states sadly before she looks back down and continues to pull.
"Don't pull," Danny groans as he leans over the child gate and scoops her into his arms. "Someone slept through the night," Danny teases as he pokes her soft belly.
"Dadda sept!" Lucy giggles as she pokes him right back.
"No Lucy slept. She was very tired out. Did you have fun at the party yesterday?"
"Yah."
"Did you have fun playing with Ruben?" Danny inquires. But when Lucy returns a shrug instead of a usual affirmative answer he's quick to ask further. "Is that because he broke your dolly?"
"Yah," she frowns as he lifts her wide brown eyes to look at him with an inquiring glance. "Indsy fix?" She wonders as her small golden brows rise.
"Maybe later okay? Right now we gotta have a shower and..." he stops as a knock is heard at the door. He hurries to open and then greets his mother with a smile and kiss on the cheek.
"GAMMA!" Lucy shouts as she flings herself into the arms of the older woman.
"Someone has a lot of energy this morning," Edith looks at Danny in suspicion.
"Blame the pot luck."
"How did it go?"
"After I told Rikki off it was fine."
"Danny!" His mother scolds.
"Sorry ma had to do it."
"What happened?"
"She yelled at Lindsay for defending Lucy and then asked me if I would still consider her as a love interest."
"Bold," Edith huffs.
"Bold but stupid. I'm not interested in her and had to make it very plain."
"Well I just hope you know what you are doing."
"Trust me I do. I gotta take a shower right now."
"Did you show Lindsay the shop?"
"And I told her I loved her," Danny grins in return before he disappears into the bathroom.
"What do you think Lucy. You also love Lindsay?"
"...OVE INDSY!" Lucy shouts and then claps her hands.
"Then I think I might also," Edith smiles at her granddaughter.
XXXXXXXX
"Do you normally eat like this?" Clint groans as he looks at the packet of instant oatmeal in his hands and then up at his sister in disbelief.
"City girl on the run. And try before you complain," Lindsay shoves him a bowl and then the boiling kettle. "Besides gotta be cost effective right?"
"When are you coming back home for a visit?"
"Well not sure. I mean I just started to might be kinda forward to ask Dr. Chan right now but...oh we'll see."
"And will you be coming alone?" Clint tries.
"I don't know. Think mom could handle it?"
"Think Danny could?"
"Trust me, he could handle it," Lindsay lightly frowns.
"What?"
"Nothing."
"Linds..." Clint urges.
"I am just worried what Danny will face from his brother when he tells him he's leaving and then even more trouble perhaps if any of Louie's workers leave his shop for Danny's."
"Ah sibling rivalry," Clint notes. "It'll work out. What's this Louie guy like?"
"He's not good at managing money," Lindsay replies. "But they are brothers so..."
"It'll all work out. When does he tell him?"
"Well he just showed me the shop on Saturday so..." her voice trails off as a wistful look develops on her face; Clint waving his hand in front of her face to break her thoughts. "Right so...so when are you going to bring Wendy to the big city?" She asks as she gets back to her task of her typical Monday morning breakfast.
"Nice change of subject," Clint calls her on it.
"Danny talks to Louie today and I'm worried. Please change the subject. Wendy?"
"Yeah right and turn her loose with my credit card and you on 5th avenue?" Clint scoffs.
"Whatever Clint you are already whipped."
"If I say we aren't going not New Yor..."
"When?" Lindsay presses.
"She wants to come next month," Clint groans. "For the big thanksgiving day sales."
Lindsay laughs as she fills up her coffee travel mug and then prepares her lunch. She had told Dr. Chan that she would be in a bit later, after she took her brother to the airport and did a few errands but he didn't mind as she said she'd work a bit later to make the time up.
They both leave their apartment and head for Lindsay's truck; spotting Rikki getting into her car with Ruben in the backseat.
"I wish she would just move," Lindsay frowns. "I mean if I was in love with a guy who basically told me where to go I don't know if I could live there any longer."
"Come on, don't let her ruin your day. Now tell me more about this club," Clint asks as they get into the truck and head into the city; Monday morning well underway.
Flack takes his leave and then heads for the stairs up to his place; his phone ringing just as he reaches his apartment. He recognizes his sisters number and then answers in haste.
"Hey Sam."
"You alone?"
"Right now I am. Everything okay?"
"Well I never get to talk to you during the day."
"Yeah well Sully has issues," Flack smirks as he lets himself into his apartment. "So whats up?"
"Actually I just wanted to see how the weekend went?"
"Well the potluck had a few tense moments. Rikki tried to corner Danny again and Frankie showed up."
"Was Stella okay?"
"Yeah I was more worried about Mac but everything ended okay. Hey can I ask you something?"
"Is it about that James guy?"
"Why do you ask?"
"Your tone was the same as on Sunday morning. What happened? I thought you said the dance went well. What aren't you telling me?"
"Do you think Jessica has anything to worry about? I mean it Sam, if you were in the situation and some guy like James was always hitting on you, saw you with your partner and then offered him a look of death what would you think?"
"Are you asking me if I think Jessica is safe?"
"That's what I'm asking," Flack states with a heavy sigh.
"From what you've told me..."
"Yeah?"
"No, she's not. This isn't over yet."
XXXXXXXX
"Now that is one happy smile," Jessica tells Tori as she greets her on the steps going into the school first thing Monday morning.
"Tony and I went and saw some Indie films last night."
"Boy he really is your other half," Jessica smiles as they head inside.
"I know who would have thought I would date a man with a hairy chest," she giggles, her face lightly blushing. "Much less one that would drive me crazy."
"Well I know you must drive him just as crazy," Jessica states.
"So when are the four of us going to do that double date?"
"Usually depends on Don's schedule," Jessica answers as they head into the teachers lounge. "But I did mention it to him and he said he'd like to."
"Okay keep me informed and I'm going to get out and get some supplies. When is the trip?"
"Because we needed more money even for Quebec, it's before the board right now. But we are all still optimistic that we'll go. Hey did you ever hear James mention his old girlfriend named Amy."
"Just bits and pieces. I hear she died in a tragic accident but that is about it. Why? Is he still bothering you?"
"No," Jessica offers her a weak smile. "Was just wondering. I had a wonderful weekend."
"Jessica..."
"No, he's backed off since then. I'm sure it's over now."
"Okay. So how late did you guys stay on Saturday?"
"Thankfully we didn't have to close up," Jessica answers as she heads out of the room with Tori and heads toward the computer lab to do some research on the late Amy Finch.
"Tell me about the potluck at lunch," Tori calls out before Jessica disappears into the empty computer lab.
She settles down at the computer and starts her search in the educational database; her mind thinking back to a discussion she had with Don when they first woke up.
'Think this will be a James free week?'
'A what?'
'James free; you know him not bugging you at all. Jessica you know I don't trust him.'
'Did you think about him all night?' Jessica had asked with a frown.
'When I found him in that room with you...Jessica I know you brush it off but the look he offered was the same as when he left the dance; this isn't over. Just be careful.'
"Well if I prove to Don that Amy died of natural causes maybe he'll see that James is just..." her words trail off as the results come up from her search and then she has to start narrowing them down to the correct Amy Finch. Then she had to do a cross reference to James Caulfield. She remembers her conversation with the principle last week when she learned that not only was Amy, James' dead girlfriend but she was also a teacher.
Jessica finally finds the correct Amy Finch and first of all looks at her picture and feels her heart rate starting to rise.
"She could be me," Jessica whispers with anxiety as she quickly closes the page and then starts into the other documents related to her search.
"Local teacher killed in household accident," Jessica mumbles as she starts to read the article from a year ago. She had only worked with James for two years but had no idea he was involved with anyone to a very serious degree, he was so secretive. When Amy had died, he had taken some time off stating that he had a family emergency but that was it and no one asked questions; only small snippets of gossip were heard when she came back but Jessica never put them together since she wasn't interested in the personal life of James Caulfield until he started to pay her heed in the past few months. He was suspected but nothing pursued. Again back then she paid that rumor of him being a suspect no heed, now she was going to pay attention.
It would have been their one year anniversary, Jessica's mind offers as her eyes continue to read. I have to tell Don. But just as she reaches the part where the lead Detective was going to comment on the cause, she looks up to see James watching her intently before he takes a step toward her; wanting to see what she was looking at.
"Morning Jessica. What are you reading?"
A/N: So things will ramp up with James and Jessica and Don, hope you are all still liking it and thanks again.