A/N: Wow I've let myself go in the writing department. I'm ashamed, college is the pits, and I had to fill out paperwork in order to transfer somewhere else for this fall, so I had virtually no time for anything. But now I got time so I'm trying to get as much done, fanfic wise, as I can. This is jumping ahead 2 months after the last chapter, so it's in august 2006. Enjoy!
Chapter 32- Two Months Later
The summer had been a long one for Paige.
Rehab hadn't been easy for Don but she stuck by him, and eventually he had been able to go home at the end of June, keeping his mom from moving into his apartment by having Paige bring her stuff back from Lindsay's and staying at his place. Don hadn't wanted a huge fuss made over him, but Danny had used his key to get in and concoct a surprise party anyways.
After everyone had left, Don had gone to bed and Paige had followed after cleaning up after everyone. The couple had spent July going to and from the hospital for Don's rehab sessions but also enjoying each other's company. Don had also been seeing a shrink so he could be cleared mentally for active duty, but Paige could tell it annoyed her boyfriend to no end. At the beginning of August he had also started doing desk duty, and Paige knew he had had a mixed reaction – he was glad to be back at the precinct but it wasn't the streets.
"Basically I'm supposed to tell this stranger how I feel all the time – she even wants me to bring you to a session," said Don.
"Maybe you should – you'll know my opinion of her if I suddenly scowl," said Paige.
Don laughed. Sitting on the roof of his apartment on a warm summer night eating dinner was very appealing.
"You seem to know about that," said Don.
"My mom and I had a huge fight 'cuz I wouldn't see a shrink after Josie died," said Paige. "I just didn't want to, and I was already 18 by then so I had no idea what her problem was. How's it going, being back?"
"I'll be back when I'm doing crime scenes again – John, Kaile, and Jessica stopped by my desk and decided to procrastinate," said Don.
"Jessica Angell?" said Paige. "I'm still on the fence about her."
"She's dating a guy in Vice – Dean Truby," said Don. "John and Kaile found out she was gossiping about you and they made her go on donut runs until I got hurt – then she kept getting called out, so they couldn't. Now she feels bad 'cuz everyone knows you barely left the hospital afterwards."
"So everyone at the precinct knows Lindsay had to push me outta there?" said Paige. "Nothing is sacred anymore."
They shared a laugh before finishing their food and going back down to Don's apartment.
"So I'm going to Connecticut tomorrow night, but I'll be back the next afternoon," said Paige.
"Why so short?" said Don.
Then it hit him – the ceremony at the Waldorf-Astoria honoring him and Mac for their bravery in the bombing.
"I just wanna be back in time for everything – and your mom called, she wants me to go over tomorrow for lunch," said Paige.
"She knows I have an early rehab session tomorrow, watch out," said Don. "She's planning something, I'm sure."
"She was over a couple days ago, I'm sure she pulled something then," said Paige.
The couple was feeling frisky, and they began making out. Don went to grab a condom and was about to put it on when Paige stopped him.
"There's a hole in it," said Paige.
"You're kidding me," said Don.
He held it up to his bedside lamp. Sure enough, there was a puncture hole. A check of the rest revealed they had all been punctured. Paige suddenly had a horrible thought and went into the medicine cabinet. A quick look revealed that her prescription of Seasonale had been flushed down the toilet and the package was in the trash.
"She flushed my pills!" said Paige.
"You're joking, right?" said Don.
"No," said Paige. "I'm gonna have to call CVS and explain."
As she called and explained, Don rolled his eyes and turned on the TV.
"Guess I'll just go and get a new box myself," said Paige. "Gotta pick up my pills anyway."
"No, I'm coming with you," said Don.
They went to CVS and got what they needed before racing back to the apartment.
They only made it to the couch. Paige immediate climbed on top of Don.
M RATING!
They hadn't had sex in so long. Neither of them were going to take their time or take it slow. When Paige ripped Don's shirt off she literally ripped it. Don was too horny to care, planting kisses all over her. He was inside her in a matter of minutes.
"Don… don't stop," Paige whispered. "Oh, Don…"
They both came seconds later.
M RATING OVER!
They then went to bed.
CSINY
"I'm gonna kill you when we get outta here!" Rhonda yelled.
Mac heard his daughter yelling the threat from down the hall of Trinity General's ER. A college boy with blond spiked hair was the target of her temper.
"Will I have to arrest you for murder?" said Mac. "I really don't want to do that."
"Zac came up from Detroit – he and Abs decided to play with a lighter and fart," said Rhonda.
"When Abs lit up… BOOM!" Zac yelled. "It was a fireball, man!"
He collapsed on the floor and began laughing like it was the funniest thing in the world. Mac then heard a moan and saw Abs lying on his stomach on a nearby gurney. A nurse was putting bandages on his butt.
"Never again, man," said Abs.
"At least you learned your lesson," said Rhonda.
"You haven't had your cast off a week and now you're here again?" said Mac.
"I was stupid – but you're stupid too, that woman is ugly," said Abs.
Mac looked from Abs to Rhonda.
"I can't stand Peyton, she's a snob," said Rhonda.
"She looked at me like I was some kinda thug," said Abs.
Zac was still laughing. Abs gave him the finger. Mac was sure if he wasn't here the boys would be fighting. Both he and Rhonda rolled their eyes in disgust.
CSINY
The next morning Don had made Paige French Toast for breakfast before he had to go do desk duty.
"I'd bet money that I'd get a call from you but that's an unfair bet… you'd lose," said Paige.
Don laughed.
"I got a call from Rhonda – we weren't the only ones with a weird night," said Paige. "Zac and Abs were lighting their farts on fire, and Abs burned himself. Rhonda had to take him to the ER, and threatened to kill Zac within earshot of Mac, no less."
"Sounds like she's got her dad's temper," said Don. "Mac's blown his top a few times. Speaking of, I might go to the lab today. Wanna come with?"
"Sure," said Paige. "Nothing like the smell of evidence in the morning."
Don grinned and they left together after finishing breakfast. They first stopped at the precinct. Jessica was running to Scagnetti and Maka with their coffee.
"Fresh meat fresh meat!" Paige yelled.
Scagnetti slapped his knee and laughed.
"Okay, I deserved it," said Jessica. "Truce?"
"Truce," said Paige.
Scagnetti and Maka snickered. Considering the showdown they knew had happened in D.A. Lantana's office, Jessica had gotten off easy. They also knew whoever was spreading the rumor about Flack being a druggie would be toast. Paige was a sweetie, they all knew it… but even the sweet ones got even. Scagnetti knew it was the redhaired cop Collins two desks over. The kid didn't even know how to shine his badge properly.
"Can I have a donut, John?" said Paige.
"Sure," said Scagnetti.
He then watched Paige place it on Collins' chair. The kid didn't know what had happened until he sat down. When he got back up there was the remains of a Krispy Crème donut on his butt.
"Shitting donuts Collins?" said Scagnetti.
He laughed and watched Don and Paige depart for the crime lab.
CSINY
"I can't believe you did that," said Don as he laughed.
"Now he'll know what it's like to be the center of the gossip," said Paige.
"You bad, bad girl," said Don.
Paige giggled and they began making out just as the elevator opened.
"Hey guys," said Danny.
Don and Paige separated and joined Danny in the break room.
"I thought we found body parts this mornin'… turned out to be pieces of meat! Meat!" said Danny. "Dumb teenagers out for laughs bought some chunks of meat from a butcher shop to scare the tourists, and planted evidence to make it look like a mob hit."
"Glad I missed that," said Don.
The three of them shared a laugh before Lindsay joined and three became four. In a couple hours Paige had to leave so she could take the subway to Queens. She saw Matt and Zac in the station.
"What are you two doing here?" said Paige.
"Felt like coming early," said Zac. "Matt and I went to the dump to look for shit, right Matt?"
Matt rolled his eyes.
"We found a CB radio – we're gonna put it in Zac's car and mess with people on the road," said Matt.
"Jeez," Paige muttered.
She boarded the train. Unbeknownst to her, so had the guys.
CSINY
When Paige got to Queens she heard several guys in their early twenties whistling at her. She rolled her eyes – so she was wearing a dress, it wasn't revealing. She was able to find the Flack residence with ease, and she had only knocked once when Caroline opened the door and squeezed her into a hug.
"You look thin, I hope you've been eating normally," said Caroline.
"I have, don't worry," said Paige. "Don and I have been jogging in Central Park after his rehab sessions if he's not tired, so I might've lost a little weight."
They walked into the house. Paige could smell lasagna and cheeseburgers.
"Cooking for a crowd?" said Paige.
Caroline rolled her eyes and went outside where Donald Senior was cooking stuff on the grill. Gavin was sitting there drinking a beer and talking to Donald Senior.
"Donald!" said Caroline. "I'm making a lasagna! Both of you quit your shenanigans and come in!"
Donald Senior made a face at his wife and resumed flipping a burger. Gavin came in.
"I think he wanted it to be just us guys, no offense," said Gavin.
Caroline rolled her eyes. Paige shrugged.
"Glad to see you under better circumstances," said Gavin.
"Me too," said Paige.
They heard Donald Senior cursing. He came in a few minutes later, throwing a couple black masses in the trash. The other three were trying not to laugh as he sat at the table and watched Caroline place a bowl of garden salad and homemade garlic bread on the table. Soon the four of them were eating and talking like they did it every day. Paige heard a rustling sound in the backyard then Matt and Zac singing "Blue Moon", an old song from the Thirties that Paige had heard from the movie Grease.
"Oh no," said Paige.
"What?" said Caroline.
Matt and Zac then got near one of the doors with windows and mooned the four unfortunate people in the Flack residence.
"That's why I'm dating Don instead of college boys," said Paige.
"Why don't you open the door?" said Gavin.
"What are you and my husband planning?" said Caroline.
"Paige, please open the door," said Donald Senior.
She opened the door. Zac began shaking his naked behind as Matt pulled up his pants.
"Paige! Come out and spank it!" Zac yelled.
"Is this why you followed me all the way from Manhattan?" said Paige.
"Yeah!" said Matt.
"I'm telling Stacy and Amanda when I leave," said Paige.
Donald Senior took an uncooked thing of beef from the fridge and threw it. It hit Zac in the butt.
"That was supposed to be a roast for Sunday!" Caroline yelled.
The guys ran off.
CSINY
They were walking around Penn Station that night waiting for Paige's train. Don wasn't nuts about some of the people prowling around – it seemed as if they were looking to score. He brought Paige to a bench far away from the shady characters and they sat down. He listened to Paige talk as she drank the cappuccino she had bought at a Starbucks a few minutes ago. In his mind it was way too late for that stuff but that was what he loved about Paige – she didn't care what other people thought and lived her life to the fullest.
"I promise I'll be back tomorrow afternoon, barring a suicidal person jumping in front of one of the trains," said Paige. "The bridal shower is a brunch. It starts at ten in the morning."
"Why so early?" said Don.
"Easy, the planning was left in Connie's hands which means there will be plenty of alcohol, which means my dad and I will be doing most of the driving since he isn't invited and I'm not old enough yet," said Paige. "Violent doesn't count because she can't drink or drive."
"Sounds like my mother," said Don.
"I know, they'd probably get along great," said Paige.
The couple shared a laugh as Don took Paige's hand in his.
"I'm not nuts about you travelling this late," said Don. "You sure your aunt said she'd pick you up at Hartford Union Station? Why aren't your parents?"
"I know how my parents operate on long trips all too well, Donnie," said Paige. "My dad refuses to let my mom drive and then come arrival to wherever the destination is they're both exhausted, my dad from the drive and my mom from his complaining about all the other drivers on the road. Aunt Trina called and offered. I don't need any drama from my mother about why I didn't come home for the summer."
"Which line you taking?" said Don.
"Northeast Regional all the way to Hartford," said Paige. "No creepy people there for you to worry about."
Don smiled and kissed her. As they kissed, they heard the train arrive.
"I'll call you when I arrive in Hartford," said Paige. "I love you."
"I love you too," said Don.
She gave him a quick kiss before boarding with her suitcase. After the train was gone, he left and went back to his apartment.
CSINY
"Caroline, just come to bed," said Donald Senior. "Whatever you're worried about, you can go to church tomorrow."
Caroline held her bible and rosary close as she said another prayer. Their puppy, which was named Jack, ran around the bedroom and kept trying to jump on the bed.
"It's Paige, she's not well," said Caroline.
"She's fine," said Donald Senior.
"No, she's not," said Caroline. "How could you not notice how thin she's gotten? She also looked pale."
"She uses sunscreen, unlike the girls her age in this neighborhood," said Donald Senior. "That's all it is, you're used to young women being over tanned. Come to bed and get some sleep."
Caroline put her bible and rosary in the drawer of her nightstand and got in bed, her worries lingering even after she fell asleep.
CSINY
Paige felt drowsy as she stared out the window. It felt weird leaving the city. There also didn't seem to be that many people on the train itself, let alone her car. She took out a book and decided to read in order to pass the time. Don had called her earlier to tell her he had made it home in one piece, which had made Paige happy. Paige then got a text message on her phone from Phoebe Tyler, an old friend who had recently found Paige on FaceBook. Paige remembered how she and Phoebe had been friends until Phoebe had moved away to Italy in the third grade, something had been up with Phoebe's mother but Paige still didn't know what it was to this day. Whatever it had been, she hadn't allowed the girls to stay in touch for that reason. A recent five-hour phone call had helped the old friends catch up on each other's lives. Paige had found out that Phoebe had moved back to the U.S. after graduating high school at 17 and was majoring in Criminal Justice at Northeastern University in Boston. Paige hadn't told Phoebe about Josie yet. She wasn't sure she could.
CSINY
When Paige got to Hartford she got her stuff and got off the train to find her aunt sitting on a bench. They left the station and got into Trina's car for the ride to the hotel Paige's family was staying in.
CSINY
Paige walked into the lobby of the hotel to find her dad waiting for her and they went to the hotel room. After Paige changed into a pair of PJs, she went to the bed she had to share with Violet and fell asleep the minute her head hit the pillow.
CSINY
Paige sat in a room nibbling on brunch fare while people talked and brought Raquel gifts. She wasn't sure why she wasn't in a party mood. Perhaps it was too early, perhaps it was because she missed Don, or because she felt tired. She wasn't sure why she even felt tired, as she rarely ever got tired at all. She hoped she wasn't coming down with something. She got up for a moment and was soon spotted by Raquel and Connie.
"I'm glad you came," said Raquel.
"I wouldn't miss this for the world," said Paige.
"How's your boyfriend?" said Connie.
"He's good," said Paige.
"And you?" said Connie.
"I'm alright," said Paige.
CSINY
She boarded a train out of Hartford later that afternoon, changing to the commuter train at the Union Station in New Haven. It took her all the way to Grand Central, where Don was sitting on a bench waiting for her when she got off. The couple embraced and shared a kiss before going back to Don's apartment.
CSINY
The couple walked hand in hand into the hotel together, greeting their friends and Don's family before they took their respective seats: Don in a chair on a stage next to Mac, both of them in their dress blues while Paige was at a table with Don's family, Rhonda, and the rest of the team near the stage. They talked as Sinclair walked up to the podium to speak about the events. Paige wished she was listening, but the truth was she wasn't. All she wanted was to put the events of May 21st, 2006 behind her and yet it seemed as if no one would ever allow her or Don any peace so the couple could get back to normal.
FLASHBACK
"I don't deserve this, Paige," said Don. "Six people still died, I don't feel like a hero."
"The people who lived through it think you are, and regardless of anything that's happened you'll always be my hero," said Paige. "I'll be standing up for you when they pin that medal on you Donnie."
END FLASHBACK
Mac's medal was awarded, as people stood up and clapped. When Paige stood up, she felt dizzy and had to sit back down. This didn't go unnoticed by Rhonda.
"You okay?" Rhonda mouthed.
Paige nodded.
Sinclair then made another short speech before Don's medal was pinned on him. True to her word, Paige stood up and clapped harder than anyone else in the room. She loved Don, and would always be there for him.
No sooner had she started clapping did she begin feeling dizzy again, only it was worse this time. She felt lightheaded as well and all the noise around her sounded like it was coming down a long tunnel. Everything suddenly turned blurry as she stopped clapping, although she wasn't aware that she had done so.
She saw the ground coming up to meet her. Everything went dark.
I promise the next update will be very soon, because my finals are almost over. So, what do you guys think happened? Review, por favor!