Summary: SEQUEL TO FLYING TOGETHER…a continuation of the life and times of the mighty ducks…Focus on Dean, Charlie, Connie, Guy, Adam and Julie…again. What can I say, they're my 6 favorite characters!

Disclaimer: The Mighty Ducks and all its characters belong to Disney. I do not own any of it!

Grown-ups

By Rebecca

Chapter 6: What is it with this girl?

Officer Portman was back on the job two days later and by then, was so eager for distraction from his lonely apartment, didn't care about the pimple-faced kid Parker stuck him with.

            The chief had started him out slow of course, working afternoon patrol hours on 5th avenue. Nothing but purse-snatchers most of the day. Dean was still bored, but at least he wasn't home, going through all of Fulton's things.

            It was 4pm before he knew it and Dave, his ever-enthusiastic new kid, glanced at his watch. "Time to go chief?"

            Dean rolled his eyes, "Kid, I'm not the chief. Just call me Portman k?"

            He nodded, "Cool," he snapped his fingers and palms together, nodding like an idiot.

            Dean sighed, "Yeah, we're off. Go ahead and take the car back-"

            Out of nowhere, Dean heard a scream. His head shot across the street to Macy's where the dumb-teenagers-of-New-York brigade had struck again. In a split second, Dean reacted and took off after the "dude" clutching a beige purse to his chest as he sped down the avenue, unaware that he was headed straight for the cop. Dean caught him fairly easily, cuffed him and shoved him into his apprentice.

            "I'm sorry man. That was stupid. Come on, I won't do it again, I swear…"

            "Yeah, yeah. Get in the car punk," Dave shouted, incredibly pumped, jumping up and down as if he were in a boxing ring as he read the guy his rights like a kindergartener who'd just successfully memorized the pledge of allegiance.

            Dean smirked again, trying desperately not to laugh at the LAPD wanna-be, "You're some kinda cop, Dave," he mocked. Dave didn't seem to catch on.

            "Thanks, want to take him in?"

            Dean shook his head. "Nah, it's your arrest. I'll talk to the girl."

            Dave shrugged, seemingly unable to grasp why his new partner would dare pass up the opportunity to shove a man into the metal bars of a jail cell. "Aight," he sped off with his first collar.

            "Excuse me," a voice said behind him. He turned around, "thank you Officer. I don't-" the woman stopped short and stared blankly at Dean, who had gotten passed his own shock and started to chuckle.

            He couldn't believe it. It was her, the red-haired beauty he'd seen that night at the rink. "Well, well well," he laughed, "I believe this belongs to you." He held out the bag.

            She sighed and smiled, shaking her head as she took it, "Thanks."

            Dean smiled back, "Told you I was a cop," he stood proudly, showing off his navy blue coat.

            "And I believed you too," she laughed, "and thank you." To Dean's utter shock, she turned to leave.

            What is with this girl? "Hey, that's it?"

            She paused and spun back around, "Oh, I need to file a report or something don't I?"

            "Well," he stood and shrugged, "yeah, but…"

            "But what?"

            Dean moved forward, bringing him only inches away from her. Maybe it had been the dimness of the rink that night or he really just hadn't been looking for it. But he caught his breath as her classic beauty captivated him once more. That auburn hair teased him, peeking out in loose strands from under her white woolen hat. Her eyes, deep chocolate brown shown with a vibrancy and wisdom he'd never before seen. Dean had to retreat a few steps band clear his throat to fight the impulse to kiss her right in the middle of 5th Avenue.

            "Look ma'am, you don't know me from Adam. And I don't know you either. But I do know that we've run into each other twice now…in New York," she smiled and shook her head as he continued, "That's pretty hard to do dontcha think?"

            She nodded, her eyes sparkling as her smile grew, "That it is."

            "So how about you and I get out of this cold and get that cup of coffee hmm?…here I'll start. I'm Dean."

            She uncrossed her folded arms as she eyed him skeptically and finally gave in, extending her gloved hand to his own, "Annalisse."

            An hour later, they were still sitting in Roxy's. Coffee turned into lunch and lunch turned into dessert while Dean practically spilled his entire life out to her. He was amazed by how comfortable she was, almost familiar. Like they'd known each other years ago and now were catching up. Her eyes held his intensely, piercing through his with a smile, an equal match for Dean Portman who sat in mild shock at this woman who was not at all intimidated or caught off guard by his well practiced charms. Her laugh was contagious, her smile stunning. The more they talked, the more convinced Dean became that he'd never met anyone like Annalisse McHugh.

            "It ended about 5 o'clock last Wednesday," he concluded softly, "I flew right home after."

            Annalisse's hands covered her mouth, "I'm so sorry," she whispered, reaching out to pat his hand, then quickly drawing it back, "That must've been awful."

            Dean shrugged, "I'm still kind of in shock, I mean…I might not be sitting here with you. Fulton would've been all over that kid today."

            She smiled, "Yeah?"

            "Oh man, that dude would've hit the pavement before you'd even had a chance to yell!" he laughed, hitting the table…and then retreated clearing his throat. "Sorry."

            But Annalisse had broke into a wide grin as she laughed out loud, "A real enforcer huh?"

            Dean's head shot up and stared.

            "What?"

            His face softened, and he shook his head, "Yeah…we uh always called ourselves the bash brothers when we played in school." He had already enlightened her on all that was mighty and duck-ish.

            She threw her head back, "The bash brothers? That's great!" He just grinned as he sipped his coke, waiting for her to settle into a quiet chuckle. She did and her eyes turned serene, "Well, I'm sorry about what happened. He sounds like a very brave friend."

            Dean smiled, "Yeah, he was." He was beyond amazed at this point. It was the first time he'd been able to talk about Fulton since the shooting where he hadn't gotten depressed or drunk.

            Annalisse looked at her watch suddenly and jumped back against the booth, "Oh wow, I gotta get goin'."

            "What, whatsa matter?"

            "I'm sorry, I have to pick up my son."

            "Oh, well uh-"

            "I'm really sorry. He gets upset if I'm late."

            "Well, can I walk you there? Call you later?" he asked more out of habit than anything else. Annalisse stopped in the midst of gathering her things and eyed him again with the same skepticism that she had at the ice rink, as if Dean had just asked her to sleep with him! She took a deep breath, "I…don't know."

            It suddenly occurred to Dean that they'd spent the entire lunch talking about him…he knew very little about her yet save for her name and the fact that she had a pretty schedule-driven son. "Hey, I just meant that I…had a good time today. I wanted to…see you again," he struggled, nearly unable to grasp the possibility that he'd again lose her in the big apple. What is it with this girl?

            But her brow had un-creased and she gazed at him thoughtfully. "Well, ok…I still have to file that report after all."

            Dean tried to hide his sigh of relief. "Definitely. Um-"

            "Here," she reached into her purse, recovered a piece of paper and scribbled her name and number down. After a brief hesitation, she handed it over. "Not tonight though, Tyler's bound to be pretty tired."

            He nodded, mentally recalling the image of mother and son skating in the twilight. Tyler, he thought. She smiled again and left the restaurant as Dean tucked her number safely in his wallet.

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