Family Matters

Detective Catharine Willows took a slow deep breath as she walked out of the heat of Vegas and into the small Casino/Hotel at the very edge of Vegas' most popular strip.

She looked around taking in her surroundings. It had been almost a lifetime since she'd seen him, but she heard rumors her was coming to town.

There he was. Five people sat at the table, but somehow she recognized him. He easily recognized her and an excited glow lit his face.

Don stood and climbed over the toddler who was enjoying her hamburger and fries. "Cathy?" He wrapped his arms around her small body without the slightest hesitation.

"I heard you were coming down here." She whispered. "What brings you back?"

"God, Cath, long story. How about you join us for lunch and we'll catch up later?"

She nodded her agreement as he returned to his spot on the other side of the little one.

"Okay you," He smiled at Catharine as he began introductions. "Danny and Lindsay are close friends, co-workers and designated child-care providers… at least while we're here anyway. Stella, my wife of damn near 6 years now, and than our baby girl… Jordan Ann."

They all waved their hellos as he went around the table.

Don nodded back towards Catharine. "She's my…" He hesitated before adding "…half sister?"

She agreed with a laugh before explaining. "My father remarried when I was about 15 and they had Don… but his mother took him to New York, so visits were few and far between."

"Yes." Don grinned. "Her name's Catharine by the way." He turned his attention to the blond haired woman sitting at their table. "Geez, I haven't seen you since high school."

She shrugged. "I'm sorry… things have been busy and-"

He held his hand up. "No excuses. We're cool." He leaned across Jordan and hugged her again.

Catharine felt something in him the way he held on to her. Something was wrong and she could feel it almost flowing though his body. As he pulled back, she studied him closely. Than, diverting her eyes, she looked at Stella. "Tell me about yourself, Hun."

Everyone was quiet as Stella nearly finished her water. "Hmm, well, I'm 39, my favorite color is red…" She giggled. "I don't know. What would you like to know."

Catharine leaned back in the seat and smiled. "Are you treating my baby brother well?"

Stella mock-frowned, "No I'm not. I'm making sure he's absolutely miser-"

"Mommy!" Jordan interrupted as she leaned past Don, French fry closed tightly in an outstretched fist.

Don picked her up and passed her to his wife.

"What's the matter, baby girl?"

She grinned as she sucked on the soggy end of the fry. "Nothing." She looked over at Catharine and waved shyly.

Catharine waved back as Don's interrogative style succeeded in breaking out any information she had for him about her life and what she'd been doing with herself through the years.

It wasn't long after Catharine's arrival that Danny and Lindsay had excused themselves and returned to the room.

They were now both sitting quietly in front of one of the fans, staring out the second floor window into the desert town before them.

"So, umm, what do you want to do?" Lindsay asked as she studied the blades on the fan.

"Cool off." Danny's shirt was soaked through as he attempted to wrestle it off. He got his arm stuck in the neck and abandoned the attempt and just sat, arm hung up.

Lindsay glanced at him and started laughing. "Lemme help you there, Messer." She knelt on the chair as she peeled his shirt off and up over his head. "How's that?"

"Thanks, Montana. You are the BEST." He slouched down in the chair, one hand on his bare chest, the other on the back of his head. "So, did ya wanna go out tonight… or stay here at the hotel?"

Lindsay thought for a moment. "I have a deck of cards we could play with if you wanna just hang."

He nodded. "Cool. Works for me. Don't think that the Flack family will be back anytime soon, they need the time together."

"Yeah." She wasn't sure where he was going with that comment. It wouldn't have affected them either way. Or at least she didn't think so.

Danny picked the phone up and dialed the reception desk.

"Hotel Reception." A young voice answered.

"Hey, can I arrange to have food delivered to my room?"

"Certainly, sir. Room number and order?"

He rattled off an order for sandwiches and gave her the room number. He hung up and turned around to find Lindsay sprawled out across the cool sheets on her bed. He crawled in next to her and grinned. "Hungry?"

"It's too warm out to eat, but we can stash it in the little fridge and eat it when it gets cooler out." She suggested hopefully.

"Hey, yeah. Sounds good."

Lindsay stood. "I'm going to take a cold shower, set up the cards."

He watched her leaving and suddenly realized just how much that girl meant to him.