************
Jake peeked inside the curtain at his sleeping wife. Out in the waiting room, Brunell, McKendry and her partner paced. Since dispatch had called Jace to let him know that his wife was being rushed to the hospital, all four of them hadn't stopped to think. While Jace was in back with Colleen, McKendry and her partner kept their eyes onBrunell.
Jake peeked inside the curtain at his sleeping wife. Out in the waiting room, Brunell, McKendry and her partner paced. Since dispatch had called Jace to let him know that his wife was being rushed to the hospital, all four of them hadn't stopped to think. While Jace was in back with Colleen, McKendry and her partner kept their eyes on Brunell.
"Baby..." Jake whispered. He hated to see her hooked up to all those monitors and the oxygen tube under her nose. Last time he'd seen her like this was when she was in that coma.
Frankie's eyes fluttered open at the soft sound of Jake's voice. She turned her head towards him and smiled weakly. "I'm OK." she whispered. Before she could stop herself, the tears started again and she began crying softly. "I'm sorry..."
Jake sat down on the edge of the bed and picked her up, holding her close to him as she sobbed. "For what? You're all right, the doctor said the baby is fine and he has good hopes that you'll deliver in the next week or so. He did, however, say to keep you on complete bed rest until then."
"Mother... I called my mother." she choked out between hiccups. "She.. she was so.. hateful... Jake, she accused... accused me of not knowing who the father was... and..."
Jake snarled softly at Caroline's stupidity and callousness. "What happened baby... what else?"
"She... said that I was to blame for Eric... hung... hung up on me. After that, the pain started..." she cut loose in another round of sobs as Jake held her close. "I'm so sorry... I'm so sorry for scaring you..."
"It's OK darlin'," he soothed softly. "Forget about her baby. She's not worth it anymore. Listen to me; I don't want you to worry about her anymore. You just worry about yourself and our baby." He stroked her hair and rocked her as she calmed down even more. "Shhh baby, relax. I'll stay here with you. Those IA detectives can wait until hell freezes over."
Frank had maneuvered his way past the nurses and doctors and wandered his way to just outside the curtains of Frankie's bed. He stood there, listening to Jake comfort his wife. He had a relatively good idea of what had happened. But as Frankie's friend and Jake's superior, he had to make sure that Frankie was OK. He cleared his throat and reached for the curtain. "Excuse me..."
Jake looked up, and then looked past Frank. Frank nodded and closed the curtain. "Keep your voices low. I made sure that the nurses kept everyone out while I was back here. Frankie, are you alright?"
"She's resting Frank," Jake whispered as Frankie lifted her head off of his shoulder.
"Hey darlin'," Frankie smiled weakly at Frank. "I'm OK. Just a little baby kick is all."
"Baby kicks don't land pregnant women in the hospital." Frank teased and reached out to tug a lock of her hair.
"Well, you can blame my mother for this one." She groaned and lay back down on the bed. Jake twisted his hand into hers and stroked the back of it softly. Frank smiled, brushed her bangs out of her eyes and winked.
"Take the rest of the day, Parker. Take care of your wife. We can continue the interview tomorrow." He winked one last time, bent to kiss Frankie's forehead and then left.
Once back in the waiting area, Mike told Brunell to take the rest of the day off; that he had cleared it with his captain. He then ushered Detective McKendry out to her car. After the door had closed, she started the ignition and they were on their way back, he told her about Frankie's condition. "She's fine, had some false contractions. I only heard some little part about her mother. Call Alex, bring her in as Colleen's sister and get her the hell out of here until this case is over. I must have been out of my fucking mind to let her into this."
She reached over a laid a comforting hand on his thigh. "There's nothing you could have done to stop this. I have a nasty feeling that she tried to call her mother. She hasn't spoken to her since when, Eric's funeral?" At Frank's nod she sighed. "Yeah, I have a feeling that our dear little Irish tried to call mommie dearest and the call went bad. When that happened, the stress of the case combined with the upset of her mother's attitude sent her into false labor."
"I don't really care. She's out of here as soon as Alex can get her out."
"I don't know, Frank. Think about it. If Frankie goes, then Jace gets panicky. I agree, bring Alex in as her sister, but keep her there to watch Frankie. And she'll have to be in disguise and kept out of sight as much as possible...she has a history with Brunell. It'd give Jake some comfort to know that Alex is there in case anything happens to Frankie and it gives us one more person to rely on when we make the bust. We're close Frank, I can feel it."
Frank wasn't so sure. Things had changed drastically in the last few hours. He wasn't sure if he could continue to keep things as they were. "Let me think about it."
************
"Forrester." Shay heard when her call was answered.
"Hey, Code-man. Miss me?" She laughed.
"More than you'd know, Donovan. Alex is a cranky bitch when she has to sit in one place for long."
Shay laughed. "Well, I'm just as cranky on this end. Put her on...her sitting is over." When Alex came to the phone, Shay filled her in on her new assignment as Colleen's sister and to get to the Parker's residence as soon as possible.
"All right, Shay...I got it. Anything else? Oh wait...Cody wants to talk to you again," Alex said.
"Shay?"
"Um...yeah, Cody. Who else would it be?"
"BossMan might've grabbed up the phone, ya never know. Hey...look...can you meet a friend for dinner tonight?"
Shay frowned at the phone. "You know Frank would never approve you meeting me for dinner."
Cody laughed. "Just be at Einstein's Food for Thought at 7pm."
"Cody..."
"Just be there, Shay."
She stared at the phone as it went dead and shook her head. "Cody's losing his mind."
"Was there ever a doubt?" Frank replied. "Alex all set?"
"All set." Shay bit her lip. "Frank?"
He looked over at her as he pulled into the parking lot of the IA offices. "Yeah, baby?"
"Can we risk going to see Frankie at the house? I spoke to the doctor and they were allowing Jake to take her home after a couple hours observation. I need to make sure she's okay..."
Shay's eyes pleaded sadly and he fought inwardly knowing it was not the best idea in the world. Before he could tell her no, she was talking again.
"You know...it wouldn't be all that out of the ordinary if we showed up to check on her...after all, we were there at the hospital without a real reason to be."
Frank blinked as he realized what a slip they had made. There really had been no real reason for them to follow Jace Parker to the hospital. "Okay, Ash...just a quick stop."
They stared at each other for a moment. Each wanting nothing more than to be in the other's comforting embrace. A car door slamming nearby broke the moment and the two began the short walk to the office building. Frank leaned close and whispered, "I'll find a way for us to be alone again, Ash. I need you."
Shay's breath hitched in her throat at hearing those words. She nodded and longed to curl her hand around his. She needed him, too. More than words could say. "Make it soon, Tiger..." she whispered in return.
***********
Jace fluffed a pillow before setting it behind Colleen as she settled back on the couch with the help of her "sister" Moira. Moira had surprised him by being in the house when he had brought Frankie home from the hospital. It was a good thing Pete was not with him, although he had promised to stop by the house later. That was who he thought was knocking on the door when the sound came.
"I'll jus' be gettin' tha'," Moira stated with a wink.
Colleen let out a small laugh and thanked her "sister" as Jace settled into a chair next to her.
Moira checked the peephole before opening the door slowly to the man and woman who stood on the porch. "Hello," she drawled in her thick Irish accent. "An' who migh' ye be?"
Mike smiled softly as he lifted a hand toward Brenna. "Detective McKendry. Lt. Richards, ma'am. If it's not too much of a bother, we came to check on Mrs. Parker. We were with Officer Parker when she was taken to the hospital."
Moira moved away from the door allowing them access. "Come in then. Colleen is jus' settlin' down in the den. Jace is with her."
"Thank you," he replied with a nod as he and Brenna entered the house. They followed "Moira" to the den. Frank smiled inwardly at Alex who had donned a deep auburn wig, the hair falling to her shoulders. Deep green contact lenses disguised the ice blue color of her eyes, as well as the thick black-rimmed glasses she wore.
"Ye have visitors," Moira informed as they entered the den.
Jace looked up to find Brenna and Mike standing in the doorway. "Hey...what brings you two here?"
Colleen noticed Brenna looking around nervously. "It's okay, Shay...he's not here."
Shay went to Frankie and knelt before her, hugging her softly. "I've been so worried, Frankie."
"I'm fine, darlin'. Just fine," she assured with a smile. "Scared me beyond words, but that was it."
Shay brushed a lock of hair from Frankie's cheek. "No more...do you hear me?"
Frank knelt beside Shay and took Frankie's hand. "That's right, Frankie. If anything happens to you or the baby...I'll never forgive myself."
Frankie gave his hand a squeeze and smiled brightly. "You two are the most...do you know that? You'd risk this case just to check on me?"
"Yeah...well..." Shay began.
Frank chuckled. "As Shay pointed out to me earlier...we risked it by going to the hospital. Brenna and Mike had absolutely no reason to follow Jace there."
Moira laughed. "Tis true. An' hopefully, the man in question will no' realize it."
"In any case," Jake laughed. "You two better get going; Pete's due to drop by soon. I'm sure we can explain you being here...but I'd rather not."
Shay nodded. "Besides...Mike has a date to get ready for," she said irritably.
"What?!" Frankie cried.
"It's nothing...really," Frank assured. "Just dinner with another IA detective."
Frankie, Jake and Alex all looked from one to the other and then at Shay.
She shrugged. "Yeah...just another IA Agent. Brunette...with boobs out to here." For emphasis she held her hands out in front of her chest to give them an indication.
"Oh, stop it," Frank admonished as he gently pushed her toward the door.
Alex laughed. Deciding to give Frank a little taste of his own medicine, she said, "All is well...Shay has a date tonight, too."
Frank looked over at his wife who grinned like a Cheshire cat. "A date?"
She nodded. "Yup...a blind date. I'll give you the details tomorrow."
Close to the door now, they nearly jumped off the floor when they heard a loud knock. "That'll be Pete," Jake whispered.
Frank nodded indicating to Moira to open the door as Jace made his way back to Colleen's side.
Moira opened the door saying, "And I'll thank ye no' to bother me sister an' brother at their home again."
"We're very sorry to have intruded," Brenna replied and then turned her attention to the man at the door. "Officer Brunell. How nice to see you again." She smiled at him, noticing the large teddy bear he held in his grasp.
Brunell nodded at the two as they brushed past him. He heard McKendry ask her partner to drop her off at the station to get her vehicle...she had dinner plans at "Einstein's Food for Thought" at 7pm.
"Ye comin' in, Sir?" Moira asked impatiently.
Brunell turned his attention back to the woman standing at the door. "Oh...yes. Sorry."
************
to be continued...