When You're the Captain CH 26
Karla was happy the next morning. She made everyone pancakes for breakfast and kept smiling the whole time. It was a quiet morning. She took the boys on a small horseback ride into the back end of the property and spent some time with Dan just sitting on the porch while the boys played ball in the front yard.
They were sitting there with sandwiches for lunch when a vehicle drove up the driveway. Karla didn't recognize it, but Dan and the boys did. "Grandma and Grandpa are here!" Brent said. They bolted for the car.
"Who?" Karla asked.
"My parents. I told them about the wedding, but they weren't sure they were going to make it. I wanted to surprise you." Dan said suddenly nervous.
"Well, let's go meet them. And you are in so much trouble later, Mister."
"Since when is that new?" he asked easing himself out of the chair.
"You overdid yesterday." Karla accused.
"No, it was last night."
"Something else you have to explain. I was asleep." She teased.
Dan took her hand as they went out to meet the older couple surrounded by Brent and David. "Mom, Dad, hello." He shook hands with his father and kissed his mothers cheek, giving her a hug.
His mother looked at his face and smiled. "You look like you're recovering nicely. I like the smile."
"Yes, ma'am. I have a pet dragon to take care of me."
"Dan!" Karla scolded.
"Never let them hear you call them that, son." The older Ross advised with a smile.
"No, sir. How are you, Dad?"
"Fat and sassy."
"Good. Mom, Dad, this is Sgt. Karla Wilkes. Karla, my parents Amelia and Hiram Ross."
"Welcome to our home." Karla told them with a warm smile.
Amelia Ross gave her a big smile, but her sharp eyes didn't miss the nervousness in the younger womans demeanor nor the way she stayed close to Dan. For that she could forgive her and understand. Her own first meeting with her future inlaws had been less than cordial. "It's nice to meet the woman who put the smile back on my Dannys face." She said.
"Karla, it is a pleasure to meet you." Hiram also hadn't missed those signs.
"The same here, Mr. Ross. Please come in out of the sun. Dan Ross, you rat, you didn't tell me what delightful people your parents are. Shame on you." Karla turned toward him.
He understood the ploy immediately. "I wanted to surprise you."
"I think you succeeded, son." Hiram laughed.
"Guys, let's get the stuff out of the car for them." Karla told the boys.
"I'll help." Hiram said.
"Take you Mom into the house, Dan. We'll be right in." Karla told him.
"Are you okay, Danny?" Amelia asked.
"Yes, ma'am. I have to be careful of how much I lift, is all. Karla's making sure I follow the doctors orders to the letter."
"She seems nice."
"She is, Mom, and she really loves me and the boys. She takes good care of us. She's nervous about meeting you so please go easy on her. I didn't tell her you were coming. So this is important to her."
"You never warned me when you were dating Nancy." Amelia said.
"No, ma'am, I didn't but Karla is an entirely different ball of wax. I'll explain it to you later."
"Okay, son, I'll be extra nice."
"You already are, Mom. I just want this to be special for her."
"And you. So, are you going to have another child with this special woman?"
"Still hoping for a granddaughter?" he teased.
She shrugged. "It would be nice." One of the horses whinnied. "Horses? Whose horses are those?"
"Ours. Karla has one, and I bought one each for the boys and Karla got me one."
"You have horses?"
"I do. Is that so surprising?"
"You never said anything about liking horses?" she looked astounded at her son.
He thought she even looked pleased. "I don't remember giving it much thought. We go on trail rides and Karla's teaching the boys the proper way to ride. She's very into her horses."
"Could I see them, maybe before we leave?"
"Of course. Do you like horses?"
"I used to ride. Many, many years ago."
"You never told me that."
"A mother doesn't have to tell her son everything, now does she?" Amelia Ross smiled up at her son.
"The boys and Karla would love it if you went for a ride with them, if you want. I can't go yet, but they boys'd like to show off for you."
"That sounds like fun."
"You can take my horse. He's quite gentle."
"What's his name?"
Dan tells her his name. The boys named theirs George and Orwell. Karlas is named Cinco."
"George and Orwell?"
"It's a long story, Mom."
"I can see I have a lot of catching up to do."
Dan opened the door to the house and let his mother enter first. Laughing and clattering loudly the rest of the family traipsed in after them. "Where do you want this stuff, Karla?" David huffed.
"Mrs. Ross?"
"Amelia, dear. Here by the chair. I brought a few presents for the boys."
"She bought out the store is what she did." Hiram said.
"I did not!" Amelia informed her husband indignantly. "I left a few things there."
"We just finished lunch, but would you like something to eat or drink?" Karla asked.
"Mom, would you like some lemonade? We have some and it's cold." Dan suggested.
"Yes, please."
"Come help me get it, sweetheart." Dan said to Karla.
No one argued that it wasn't necessary for both of them to go. It was one of those social niceties. "Hiram, can I get you something?" Karla asked.
"I'll take some as well." The oldest male Ross said with a smile.
Dan and Karla went into the kitchen and the boys started talking to their grandparents. Karla turned to Dan. He forestalled her with a kiss. "I didn't know they were going to just show up, honestly. It's as big a surprise to me as it is to you."
"They're nice. I think you mother is worried about you, but mothers are supposed to do that. I hope she doesn't think too badly of me."
"You and she have something in common already. She's going to love you. Not as much as I do, but she will."
"What do we have in common? Other than an eye for a good Ross man."
"You'll see. Relax, my darling, everything is good." A chorus of noise from the living room made Dan tense. "We better get back in there before they spoil the boys completely."
"I have a feeling that ship has sailed."
They poured six glasses of lemonade and carried them into the living room. The boys were ogling a new video game system and some games. Dan groaned and his father just grinned at him. "I tried to stop her, I really did."
"Hush, Hiram." Amelia scolded.
"Can we try it out?" David asked.
"In a little while. You haven't seen your grandparents in a while. Visit with them. The system will wait." Karla told them.
"Dad?" Brent appealed to a higher authority.
"You heard her. It's a good idea. Why don't you tell her some of the things you've been up to. Some." Dan emphasized. It was an edited version and they knew it.
So they all sat around the room and chatted. After a half an hour, Dan relented and sent the boys up to their room to play their new game system. "They've grown so much." Amelia said.
"David has a girlfriend and they went to a school dance. They dance pretty well too. We ended up staying for the dance because some of the chaperones didn't show."
"I would have liked to be there." Amelia said.
"Maybe we could do some dancing later? If no one is too tired. The boys would like to show you how well they do." Karla said.
"I like to dance. We haven't been in years." Amelia told her husband.
Hiram groaned and he sounded so much like Dan or Dan sounded like him that Karla grinned at them both. "So how long are you staying?" Dan asked.
"Two nights. We'll find a hotel and stay til after the wedding then see Nancy before we head home. The boys can stay with us tomorrow night if that's okay with you."
Dan looked at Karla. "That's fine with me, but we have to consult Nancy and Todd. We share all those kinds of decisions. It keeps feelings from being hurt. Or any misunderstandings."
"So you have a good relationship, the four of you?" Hiram asked.
"It's an extended sort of family. It's a bit unusual, but it's working for us. The boys will be going back to live with her once she's got things settled down with the baby and all."
"The baby?"
"You didn't know? Nancy and Todd have a new baby girl named Jennifer. She's a preemie so they're dealing with those problems that's why the boys are staying here. That and the horses are here." Dan said.
"How do you feel about that, Karla?" Amelia asked.
"I'm happy for them. It's a big adjustment for the boys, but they seem to be handling it well. We'll see how things go when they actually move back home."
"So you have horses Danny says."
"Dan, made sure the boys got one each. It's good for them to have something to take care of besides themselves. They do their own feeding, grooming, stall cleaning and take care of their own tack. They even help me with mine and Dans. It's a small enough price to pay for all the enjoyment they get from them."
"There you go, Mother. Another horsewoman in the family." Hiram told his wife.
"You are a horsewoman?" Karla smiled eagerly.
"It's been a few years, but you never forget." Amelia smiled.
"Maybe we could go for a small ride if you want to. I know the boys would love it."
"I'd like that." Mrs. Ross admitted.
"Good."
"Son, we know we showed up unexpectedly so Mom and I would like to pay for dinner for all of us. Something with lots of substance. Your mother has me on a strict diet, but I could use some real food. Growing boys need lots of food."
"An excuse to pig out, huh? We have plenty of food here. Karla keeps us well fed. How about we pull some of those good steaks out to thaw and we'll throw them on the grill tonight? We can eat out in the yard and have a bonfire for marshmallows?"
"The boys ate all the marshmallows? Or I'm guessing it's the small boys." Karla teased.
"It had to be." Dan said innocently.
"Sure, I believe you." Karla scoffed patting his hand.
"Dan and I can make a run to the store and get whatever you need. Mother, make me a list of what we need and I'll pick it up at the same time."
The change in his name had not gone unnoticed by Dan. "What do we need?" he asked Karla.
"I'll make a list."
Lists in hand, the men left, leaving Karla and Amelia to stare at each other. "This is ridiculous. We will be family tomorrow. Let's go into the kitchen. I need to get the steaks out. So how did you and Hiram meet?" Karla made the first move.
"We were introduced by our parents, but I want to hear about you." Mrs. Ross said.
"There's not much to tell. I was raised here and I still live here. I'm a Sgt in the NYPD and I'm in love with your son. Not a complicated bone in my body."
"I seriously doubt that. My Danny, Dan, does not choose easily. And he's smitten with you. I never saw him more focused except for his work. You have to be quite a woman."
"No, he's quite a man. He's the best man, I've ever met, bar none. You can be very proud of having raised him."
"You should learn to take compliments."
"I will when they're earned. I'm a foster kid, Mrs. Ross. I inherited this place from my foster mother and I work in the records of the NYPD. I'm not sophisticated or worldly and a lot of things scare the hell out of me, but Dan is always there for me, if not physically, at least in spirit. I would give my life for him or the boys. I love him deeply and that's the truth. I'm not perfect, I'll never claim to be, but I do love well. Family means everything to me."
"Do you want more kids?"
"Yes. I'd like to have a baby with Dan. It's something I've always wanted but I have a hard time getting pregnant and carrying it so it might not happen. I just want you to know. I was pregnant but I lost the baby. This is just between us women. Dan knows, naturally, but I don't tell just anyone."
"Is it physical or just time?"
"Physical. And that's all I'm going to say."
"I understand. I'm sorry. It's a cruel joke what nature can do to a woman. I had trouble carrying Dan. I had some spotting and the doctor told me to go easy for awhile. I never told him. I was so terrified that I'd lose my baby. Thank God, I didn't. Danny has always been such a good boy."
"He still is except he's a good man. I'm incredibly lucky."
"We knew about you from things that Danny has said but I wish I had gotten to know you sooner. I think we missed some wonderful opportunities to get to know each other. So how did you meet?"
Karla laughed and told her about the very inauspicious beginning of her relationship with Dan. They laughed about tormenting the very men they were both to marry. They had similar beginnings. Amelia didn't like her prospective husband at first and did everything she could to annoy him. It caused her no end of trouble with her own parents. Eventually she grew to like him then love him and "The rest is history." She said.
The guys came back with the groceries, laughing. Dan brought in a bag with flowers. He gave a bouquet to his mother and one to Karla with smiles and kisses. "We have to send them to the store more often together." Karla said to Amelia.
"I want to know what they did to need to bring flowers to us." Mrs. Ross agreed, grinning.
"We can bring flowers to a beautiful woman for no reason except that we appreciate beauty." Hiram said indignantly.
"And we have two here." Dan said. "Let's get the boys to help bring the rest in."
"I'll call them."
He went back out and Dan looked from one woman to another. "So did you two have a good visit?"
"Remember those stories that the boys wanted to tell me about you? Nothing compared to what your mom told me. Nothing." Karla grinned.
Dan groaned for comedy effect. "I'm never leaving you two alone again."
"In your dreams, love." Karla patted his face, caught his mother watching them and blushed, turning away.
Dan smiled at his mother. "I'm glad you could come."
The boys came in carrying bags of groceries. "We didn't ask you to get all that." Karla told Dan.
"We needed a few things so I bought them." He shrugged.
"Are they necessities or necessities?"
"Oh, necessities." He said airily.
"Sure. Okay, if you say we need them, we do. You want to fire up the grill?"
"Yes, ma'am."
"Cheeky fellow." Karla accused.
Hiram came in and sat down. "You have a card table in your kitchen." He observed idly.
Dan and Karla exchanged a look and laughed uncomfortably. "It was an old table and there was too much weight on it." Dan told his very interested parents.
"Ah, I see. I think we'll bring that set over that your grandmother had. She, uh, made sure it was good and stout and took good care of it." His dad said with a chuckle.
"I need to check on something." Karla said and fled the kitchen.
Dan gave his parents a sheepish grin and followed Karla. "Sweetheart, are you okay?"
"I think they know."
"I think they do." He could hear them laughing. "I don't think we're the only ones to ever do that. I have the impression that it's a family heirloom."
"The table?"
"That too."
"Don't even go there."
Dan laughed and pulled her against him. "Relax, you don't think they hadn't figured that out before they ever met you? I'm not exactly a child, no matter how my mother thinks. And you're an adult. What and where we do things is our own business. There's nothing to be embarrassed about." He whispered in her ear. "I'll bet they still do that."
"Thanks for the visual." Karla gave him a sharp nudge.
"Watch the ribs." He said.
"Sorry."
"I'm going to go fire up the grill, like I was told to. I love you."
"I love you, too."
Dan went out and Karla returned to the kitchen, but she couldn't look Amelia in the eye.
"I'll go help Dan." Hiram said, understandingly.
Amelia came over to stand at the sink and wash her hands while Karla looked in the refrigerator. "We've been all over. The house and the world. It just adds spice. Our first time was in the barn on my parents farm. Two weeks for the wedding." Amelia said quietly. "I had been riding my horse and Hiram couldn't control himself when he saw me in my riding habit. Don't tell Danny."
"My lips are sealed. How does some baked potatoes sound?"
"Delicious."
Both women laughed and the subject was dropped. The men kept eyeing them suspiciously when they'd look at each other and giggle, but lips remained sealed. Brent and David kept the conversation lively over the meal, thanking their grandparents repeatedly for the system and hurried back to it after the meal.
Dan turned sideways on the picnic table bench to speak to his folks and pulled Karla around with him so she was snuggled into his arms. He was able to lean back against an outbuilding and they were comfortable. Amelia had had her husband bring out some candles for additional light and they were enjoying full stomachs and good conversation. The phone rang inside. "I'll get it. I need to go in for a minute anyway." Karla said.
She got up and went to answer it. She was back a minute later. "Dan! Everyone is called in. We're needed."
"You're on medical leave, aren't you?" Hiram asked.
"Everyone, Mr. Ross. Me included. Can you guys stay with the boys til we get home?"
Karla was all business now.
Dan got quickly to his feet. Karla was not an alarmist and this had to be big for them to call in everyone. "Of course we can." Amelia said immediately.
He strode inside headed for the bedroom to change. Karla was right beside him. "What's going on?" he asked.
Karla closed the bedroom door and started stripping off her casual clothes. "There has been an unspecified threat and all the computers have gone down, system wide. I'm still technically with MCW so that's where I need to go. I'd rather go with you. Be careful, will you?"
"You, too."
They flew into their work clothes and hurried outside. "David, Brent." Dan called as he grabbed his badge and gun. Karla was grabbing hers as well.
Hiram and Amelia had come into the house looking worried. The boys came down at Dans call and saw him in his business suit. "Guys, we got called in so your grandparents are going to stay here with you. Mind them and do what you know you're supposed to. Help them get the table cleared off."
"If we're not back in time, feed the horses in the morning will you? You know how." Karla added.
"Is everything okay?" Brent asked nervously.
"I don't know. I'm counting on you guys." Dan said.
"We won't let you down." David said.
"I know you won't."
"Hiram, Amelia, if it gets too late feel free to use our bedroom. There's clean sheets in the closet. I'll let you know anything I know, I'll probably be free before Dan is. Thank you for staying."
"Go, we'll be fine." Hiram said.
They left the house and walked out to the vehicles. Dan turned to his fiancé. "I'll be in touch. I still plan on making you my wife tomorrow."
"So do I. I do love you, my Dan."
"I love you, too, my Karla." He leaned over and kissed her then they parted ways. Dan went first out the driveway and headed one way. Karla went the other in her truck. It was 4:30 in the afternoon.
At 11:00, Karlas phone rang at MCW. She picked it up. "Sgt. Wilkes."
"It's me. How are you?"
"Buried. How about you?"
"I'm okay, tired, but okay. I intend to call my folks and tell them I won't be home tonight. How about you?"
"Not tonight, I'm afraid. I miss you."
"I wish you were here. Our computers are only barely working and I miss you, too."
"I'm getting the computer under control here, so I should be free soon to go on to other squads. I'll request yours next, if you still need me."
"I'll always need you, but that's just the man talking. Make sure you get at least some sleep tonight and eat."
"I will. Captain Sackett is prowling around keeping an eye on everyone. So far I've managed to convince her I'm fine, but she's not going to accept that much longer."
"Listen to her, Karla. Please."
"I will. There's too much at stake for a pissing match now. I have to go. I love you."
"I love you too. Call me when you know when you're going to be able to go home."
"You, too."
They hung up and didn't get to speak for the next 12 hours. Each of them had a lot of work to do and there just wasn't time. Dan's phone rang at 11:30 hours. "Ross."
"I do." Karla said.
"You do?" he asked.
"We were supposed to be saying that right about now." Karla laughed tiredly. "So I thought I'd tell you that."
"Oh, God, I'm sorry, Karla. I have been so busy." Dan said.
"Don't worry about it. We know what happens when the world gets turned on its ear. We'll just reschedule it. You aren't getting away from me that easy."
"I'm not trying. Did you get any sleep?"
"Yes, the captain made me take four hours off. I have our systems running pretty well. Do you need me in your squad?"
"Yes. I'm lucky to have any computer at all."
"I'll be over there in a bit. Love you."
"Same here." He said as someone else came into his office.
Karla showed up within an hour and reported to him. She looked tired and drawn, but she had brought several of her fellow officers with her. They headed for the computer room and she came to see Dan. "I'm here to help with your computer, Captain Ross." He was in a meeting.
"I've been expecting you. You're more than welcome. Here are the passwords you need." He wrote them down and passed them to her. Also on the paper was a personal note. He smiled at her.
She winked at him and took the paper. "We should have it up and running in a couple of hours. I'll let you know as soon as I know more."
"Thank you, Sgt."
It was more like two and a half hours when she came back to his office. "You have 75 function. The rest will have to be sorted out at great length. It'll be slow to perform most functions, but it has to be a system wide fix. I can't do it just yet until everyone is up to at least the 75."
"Fair enough. Thank you."
"I'll be going off duty now, sir. You have my cell number if you need to reach me. Captain Sacketts orders."
"I'll be leaving here soon as well." Dan said.
Karla nodded and moved back out of his office. Dan finished his meeting and headed for the door. Bobby came over to walk with him. "I need you to see something, Captain." He said.
"Not now, Goren. I'm beat and I'm heading home."
"This really can't wait, sir." Bobby insisted.
"Alright." Dan sighed tiredly.
Bobby steered him toward the cafeteria. There was a crowd there. They parted to reveal Karla in her dress, looking tired but lovely in front of an official, his parents and the boys were there, Mike and Carolyn and everyone else. "We feel bad that you can't have the wedding you planned so we brought it here. This was a collaborative effort. Your parents loved the idea." Bobby said.
"They probably do." Dan said with a smile. He considered saying thanks but no thanks, but the temptation to make Karla his wife was just too much.
He straightened his tie and squared his shoulders and marched forward, taking Karlas hand and facing the official. So they were married just a few hundred feet from where they first met, with an entire crowd of officers in the cafeteria.
Alex had gotten them the flowers and someone had gone and gotten a cake and they had a small party. It was a memorable wedding.
They had moved Dans car to the entrance and they got a bird seed send off to go home.
The senior Ross's had snuck off and taken the boys home. They had another surprise waiting for them at home.
Dan and Karla got home. "I can't believe it that we're married." Karla said tiredly.
"I can. That was a wedding for the record books." Dan said with a smile. "Welcome home, Mrs. Ross."
"Thank you, Mr. Ross."
They got out and headed for the house. Hiram led the pack out onto the porch. "I can't let you come in here tonight. We have something else for you." He said. Brent and David came out of the barn with George and Orwell all saddled. "We arranged a honeymoon suite for you. You know, the clearing with the trees? Your suite awaits."
"How did you know?" Karla asked.
"I might have let it slip." Dan said.
"Up you go." Hiram told them.
They were assisted onto the horses and sent off with a smile. "My mind cannot deal with all of this." Karla told him. "My wedding night and all I can think about is sleep."
"Darling, we have our whole lives to do that. I just want to hold you in my arms tonight."
"Sounds good."
They arrived at the clearing to find a tent all set up, a fire set up but not lit, and stakes for the horses to graze all night long. There was an air mattress and sleeping bags inside the tent. Food and drink next to the bed and a note. The Honeymoon Suite over the door. They grinned happily and took care of the horses and went to bed. Dan laid down and put his arms out. Karla snuggled up to him, they kissed then went to sleep. Exhausted."
TBC