Chapter 62: Pimp Pad
On the way up to her apartment Gus asked, "why is it everyone always wants to hang out at my place?"
"Maybe because the rest of us peons all live in hovels," Flack replied with a smirk.
"Mac doesn't," Gus pointed out, feeling guilty about her place but it wasn't like she meant to have the nicest place of most of the gang. She had made a wise real estate investment years ago and it paid off. She didn't know that a major hurricane half destroying her former city was going to cause the market to explode.
"No one wants to hang out at Mac's place sunshine," Flack guided her into the elevator by the small of her back.
"Stella has a nice place," Gus retorted, trying to assuage guilt.
"Nice but small, she doesn't really entertain either," Flack responded, knowing Gus was feeling guilty, and also knowing she shouldn't be.
"True, but still..." Gus said opening the door to her place.
"Lindsay's place barely fits her bed, Danny's place is always a wreck, I don't think anyone knows where Hawkes or Adam even lives, my place has been turned into a flophouse for all of Bobby's degenerate friends. Sunshine, face it, you have a grown up place on a private park. Sure it looked like crap when you bought it but now it's like a pimp pad," Flack said stepping in and gesturing to her place.
"A pimp pad?" Gus laughed, "somehow I feel as though you are insulting me."
"No offense meant," Flack said wandering into the kitchen to pull out a takeout menu.
"Just make yourself at home," Gus called laughing and following him into the kitchen.
"I already did that once, remember?" he said surveying the menu.
"How could I forget the endless parade of badge bunnies or your whiny demands," Gus said grabbing the paper out of his hands.
"I was not whiny, and you were just jealous, surely you can admit that now?" he raised his eyebrows at her.
"I will do no such thing, now let's order before they close, they might refuse to take our order as it is," handing him the phone.
"No way, you want Thai, you are getting Thai" Flack said dialing the number, "Hello this is Detective Don Flack, I need a delivery," he smirked, "no I can't, I'm on the job," he rambled off their order and hung up the phone.
"Flack, you can't just lie to them, that's wrong!" Gus exclaimed.
"Would want to upset your delicate moral code, you want me to call them back?" Flack said kissing her on top of her head and heading to the living room.
"No, I'm hungry," she moped and then interjected, "Hawkes lives in Chelsea. It is a nice place. Adam probably sleeps in the lab."
"How do you know where Hawkes lives?" Flack said with a slight twinge of...was that jealousy?
"Recall I have been having not a date coffees with him for over a year, I've been to his place. It truly is a pimp pad," she said stretching out on the couch.
"Humph," Flack made a noise, sitting beside her.
"What, don't tell me you are gonna do some jealousy thing with Sheldon. I'm not giving up any friends, no I'm not giving up anything for you. I have been down that road and-" Gus could feel the steam starting to seep from her ears, Flack could see it and silenced her with a deep kiss. Gus narrowed her eyes at the end of the kiss, "you can't shut me up Flack!" Gus said standing and headed back to the kitchen for a drink.
"Oh I know that, you are like a dog with a bone. I just wanted to kiss you, that's all", Flack thought well it was partially true, following her.
"Yeah right," Gus said with disbelief.
"So maybe back in the day, a long time ago, I was jealous of Hawkes. You would actually go places with him and you shot me down. It stung a little, figured you were just some stuck up intellectual, wouldn't lower your standards to go out with a cop," he shrugged.
Gus looked hurt, "I never meant to give you that impression. It's just-" Gus looked at Flack trying to figure out is she should say what she was thinking, "Shel's a great guy but there was never a spark, ya know it was more like we besties," she said pouring a glass of wine.
"Besties?" Flack snarked taking the offered glass.
"Shut it. But with you..." she shook out a sheet of hair and started twirling a lock around her finger, "I kinda fell maybe a little head over heels the first day when I ran into you in the hallway, literally."
"Kinda, maybe?" Flack smirked moving in close, and unwrapping the hair from her finger, "I kinda maybe did too" he said, tipping her chin up for a deep kiss and practically throwing her on top of the counter. The door buzzed. Flack swore under his breath, "just had to have Thai, huh?"
"Yep," Gus said, sliding off the counter, "I'll get it, you ah probably should just cool off up here" she said gesturing to his revealing flat front pants and heading for the door.
"Your fault," Flack retorted.
A bit later, sprawled in the living room, take out boxes strewn about and both stuffed, Flack nudged Gus with his foot, "still awake?"
"Barely" she murmured refusing to open her eyes.
"What do you want to do with two days off?" Flack asked leaning over her.
"Pray we don't get called in on the second one?" Gus said opening one eye but remaining slumped against the front of the couch.
"Seriously, is there anything you have wanted to do in New York since you've been here but haven't had a chance seeing as you are always working?" Flack had the desperate urge to show her New York.
"You're one to talk, you go in on your off days." Gus said her eyes still closed enjoying her food coma, "plus I did the whole tourist big apple things a million times when Claire and Mac first moved here. And for school trips". She opened her eyes, stretched and yawned and hauled herself onto the sofa, ruffling Flack's hair as he remained sitting on the floor, "About the only thing I haven't been to is Coney Island and seeing as it is November..."
"You've never been to Coney Island?" Flack said incredulous, pulling himself up beside Gus on the couch, "you can't ever call yourself a New Yorker if you haven't been to Coney Island!"
"Well good thing I haven't called myself that."
Flack looked at her intently, "you still planning on staying here, right?"
"Yeah, I mean I have my pimp pad and all. But I will always be a New Orleans girl. Just like Lindsay will always be Montana and you'll always be Junior from Queens.
Flack winced, "I don't know about that, I'm still on my father's fertilizer schedule."
"You don't think he ever had to make a tough and unpopular call during all his years on the force?" Gus stared at him earnestly.
"Maybe, but he sure doesn't seem like it sometimes," Flack's eyes went almost gray.
"How much do you know about your dad's time on the force? How much do you really talk to him about it?" Gus chewed on her lip seriously.
"We aren't really the talking sort, more grunting at whatever sports happen to be on."
"You don't have to like your parents, Flack, but they won't be around forever. Just remember that," Gus said, climbing down off the couch and leaning over to give him a kiss.
"I'm going to sleep, do what you will," she said waving to him and heading down the hall.
"Can I stay?" he asked shocking himself with the acute need in his voice.
"Yeah, of course," Gus turned and gave him an odd look. Gus turned back, shaking her head not able to summon enough energy to analyze his sudden neediness.
Gus had taken off her work clothes, flipped on music and was digging in the wardrobe for pajamas when she felt Flack's arms circle her waist from behind, "I don't think I've told you enough how gorgeous you are," he said, kissing her neck, admiring her mostly naked state.
"Probably because up until three nights ago I probably would have kicked your ass for saying so," she said not turning around.
"You don't take compliments very well, do you Gus?" Flack said massaging her shoulders.
"Depends on what they are about. I have gotten more than a little unwanted attention in my life about my appearance. I would prefer to be known for my intelligence, personality or performance," she said, shaking him off and turning around.
Flack found that he could empathize with her...once again his heart caught in his throat. "I am pretty fond of those things too," he said, a slow grin spreading across his face.
"Good to know," she said leaning in and kissing him extremely gently and sweetly.
It caught him off guard it seemed much more intimate than all the hungry kisses they had shared over the past few days. "What was that for?" he asked.
"For wanting to stay," she said tossing him a t-shirt, "here's a clean shirt, it may or may not be yours anyway" she said slyly slipping into a pajama top and folding back the covers on the bed.
"I think my ground rule is going to have to be quit stealing my clothes, sunshine"
"You left it here!" she exclaimed sounding hurt.
"Gus, it was a joke, I already told you that you look better in my clothes anyway. I do miss my sweat pants though," he dimpled.
"I can do custody evaluation if you would like. I am very fair in my reporting," she smiled back.
"Nah, I rather like the idea of stealing them back whenever I want," he paused, peeling off his work clothes, "especially when you happen to be wearing them," he grinned, climbing up the foot of the bed toward her.
"You wouldn't leave me pantless would you, Flack?" she said crawling to meet him halfway.
"Not in public," he replied pulling her into his lap with a deep kiss, enjoying the moaning noise she made as he unbuttoned her pajama top.
Afterwards, Gus felt a million emotions running through her. She rolled over to rest her head on Flack's chest, needing reassurance that this was something that was really happening. "So you do snuggle?" he said peering down at her and playing with her hair.
"Another thing you can add to the list of tell anyone and suffer the consequences."
"You don't always be so tough, Gus. People can see right through it once they get to know you."
"What are you talking about?" she said, throwing her arm around him.
"Your eyes give it away, sunshine, you care about your job, your friends, the future of mankind," he kissed the top of her head.
"Like you don't, coach?" she teased looking up at him.
"It is not a bad thing," he said kissing her nose.
"I didn't say it was" she sighed then, putting her head back down on his chest, listening to his beating heart, "you think this is a good idea?" she asked hesitantly.
"What?" Flack looked confused.
"Us, or rather us on a whole new level?" Gus hated to ask, fearing the answer but it was weighing on her.
"Why wouldn't it be?" he said pulling her tighter to him.
"Because it can get damn complicated. And you are a grade above me, so technically you are my superior. Workplace romances can go horrible wrong," she added.
He carefully lifted her off his chest and rolled so they were facing each other, propping his head on his hand, "you gotta quit worrying about everything. We can't be the first set of partners to ever...hook up" he caught himself before saying fall in love, because he knew that would send her running, "and sure 'office romances' get a bad rap but we ain't in no office, we are on the street putting ourselves on the line every day. Plus they only go horrible when they end badly," he smiled.
"Still!" Gus exclaimed.
"Still what? You are a great detective, Gus, you will move up to my grade fast, I swear. As for complications, I don't see 'em."
"Jealousy, betrayal, over protectiveness, being too close, too involved," Gus ticked off on her fingers.
"I really gotta figure out a way to get you out of your head," he said grabbing Gus' hand and kissing each of the fingers.
She looked at him with a grim expression and wide eyes but remained silent.
"I think we are past jealousy, I don't have it in me to betray you, yes I am going to be over protective but I have been all along, I don't think it is possible to get too close to you, and I want to be involved in every part of your life," he said ticking his fingers back to her playfully, but his eyes were a deep blue pool of seriousness.
"But I'm a mess!" she replied.
"I want you to be my mess, Gus" he said, running his hand along the side of her body.
She shivered in delight, "you're sure, this isn't just a reaction to the Truby thing?" she still persisted.
"You and I both know this has been a long time coming, quit fighting it," he shot back.
"Fine, but roll back over, you make a great pillow," Gus said playfully shoving at him.
"Remind me to hit the gym tomorrow then", Flack replied but complying with her request.
"Not what I meant," she said moving back into his arms.
They talked well into the night, about Flack's conversation with his father, about Gus' relationship with hers and Claire, about how Gus felt about Reed finding Mac, and about stupid things, but both fought off sleep just enjoying being with the other.
Chapter 63: Datus Interuptus
Sunlight woke both of them the next morning, though neither opened their eyes, enjoying just being. They hadn't moved from Gus lying on Flack's chest, her left leg thrown over his right one, his left arm wrapped around her. Gus thought she could happily wake up this way everyday, spooked herself, and then gave in to the feeling, tilting her head up to kiss him on the cheek.
Flack slowly opened his eyes and dimpled down at her, "can't think of a better way to wake up, sunshine" he said, stretching.
"I hardly think that is the case", she snorted sarcastically.
"Can I smother you with a pillow now?" Flack replied ruffling her hair.
"What time is it?" she groaned Gus groaned trying to see the clock without contacts or glasses.
"11:24" Flack said, straining to see the clock without moving Gus, who he was enjoying have curled on him more than he would ever admit.
"Seems later," she sighed rolling back and pulling the covers over her head.
"That's because it is too damn bright, maybe I should hang some better blinds in here for you," Flack responded trying to unearth her amidst the covers.
"If I wanted blinds in here, I would have hung them myself. I did own a house in New Orleans if you recall!" came Gus' muffled but annoyed voice from underneath the duvet.
"Sorry there Miss Independence," Flack responded, throwing the covers back and chortling at the face she was making.
She groaned, "that's not a bad thing"
Flack moved down the bed to meet her at eye level, "no, it's not. So what do you want to do with our day off?"
"You can do whatever you want, you don't have to spend it with me," she said yawning and stretching.
"I know that."
"Well maybe you want to spend it with Messer or your family or something," Gus replied with a shrug.
Flack looked seriously at her, this was not the reaction he was expecting, "You trying to get rid of me, Gus?"
Gus rolled over, propping herself up and said matter of fact, "no, I just want to be clear that I do not have to monopolize your time."
Flack sighed saying, "are you aware that every off day I have had off since going back to work I have seen you?"
Gus pursed her lips and snarked, "no, I hadn't really been keeping track but now that you point it out, that's kinda stalkerish," but she curled back into his arms and laid her head on his chest.
Flack squeezed her tightly, "ha! But I'm serious, it is not any different before except for now we've seen each other naked".
"Seen would be a word for it," Gus smirked, tracing designs on his chest. "If you let me up, I'll make you coffee," Flack dimpled at her.
"You are my hero," she sighed, rolling over and curling up with the covers, "turn up the heat too, would ya, I'm cold."
"Of course you are." Gus launched a pillow at him.
An hour or so later after coffee, food and other satisfactions, Gus and Flack were showered and ready to head out. "So what are we doing?" Gus asked, pulling on her coat.
"I don't know, told you it was up to you," Flack said slipping into his jacket.
Gus cocked her head to the side as if deep in thought and then stated, "I want the full Don Flack tour."
"What?"
"Show me your New York, you know places you went as a kid, where you went when skipping school, where you lost your virginity, that kind of thing," she made a face.
"You're not kidding, are you?" Flack questioned, thinking this would be an interesting day off to say the least. "Nope," she said grabbing her back and shoving him towards the door.
"Fine, but we are skipping the last one."
"Deal," Gus replied, locking the door behind them.
They spent the day traipsing from one end of the city to the other. "Damn you got around, blue eyes," Gus announced, exhausted and slumping into Flack.
"Thanks a lot sunshine," he said wrapping an arm around her waist.
"Not what I meant, get your mind out of the gutter for two seconds," suddenly Gus caught sight of the two of them reflected in a window. Light to dark from her blond hair and camel colored coat to his dark hair and black coat, arms thrown around each other looking like an extension of one another, "Oh God" she exclaimed with disgust, stopping short.
"What, what is it?" Flack questioned wonder what possibly could have gotten such a reaction from Gus 'I poke at dead bodies in dumpsters' Broussard.
"That, that!" she said pointing at their reflection and then literally jumping away from him.
"Huh?" he said, searching for a dead body or something horrible.
"Cute couple, we are a freaking cute couple. I hate, HATE cute couples, we can't be a cute couple!" she cried in dismay.
"Jesus Gus you scared the hell out of me, what are you talking about?" Flack looked at her with complete confusion.
"It's a death sentence, like freaking bunnies and puppy dogs, it can't freaking last," she said, her voice full of anxiety.
"You are truly weird, you do know that, right?" Flack said, pulling her in to kiss the top of her head.
"I can't, I can't do this Flack, I don't do relationships and I sure as hell do not do cute coupledom. Just forget about it, forget anything ever happened", Gus said trying to run off.
"You know sunshine, I would not deny you much, but I am going have to deny this. I will not forget that anything happened, you just need to get over your hangups. If you would stop trying to run, I think you just might find that you could enjoy this!" Flack retorted keeping her close. He pulled her back towards him, "I am not going to hurt you, and I'm not going anywhere. Deal with it."
"Easy for you to say," Gus grumbled.
"No, not really, it is not so easy for me to say, but I am saying it," he said holding her face in his hands and looking deep into her eyes. And at least for that moment, Gus believed every promise she saw in his. She gave in, and fell into his kiss until his phone started buzzing.
"Flack!" he answered, annoyed and giving her a "we will talk about this more later" look. He listened saying, "I see, really and what did he say? And where is he now? Fine, I'll be there as soon as I can."
"What's going on, Flack?" Gus asked her eyes and voice full on concern. "Guess who just got himself arrested at a bar?" Flack asked his jaw set. "Danny?" Gus said with a shrug.
"Good guess, but no my dear cousin" his eye twitching.
"Bobby, but he is only 20!" Gus exclaimed in disbelief.
"Part of the problem. I gotta go take care of this, but I'll drop you off on they way. I guess I have to give you an IOU on a fancy dinner," Flack said his face falling.
"No problem. I understand you have to take care of this. If you want me to, I'll come with," Gus tried to remain nonchalant.
"No, I want you to enjoy your night off" Flack protested, secretly thinking he didn't want to part from her just yet even for his stupid younger cousin.
"I don't think I can enjoy it if I am spending the entire time worrying about you kicking Bobby's ass?" Gus said, giving him a playful punch.
"You don't have to come," Flack questioned, opening the car door for her.
"What if I want to?" she asked sliding in and doing up her seatbelt.
"What if it means we look like a cute couple?" he smirked sliding in behind the wheel.
Gus made a strangled noise in her throat, "why do I tell you anything?"
"Actually I would really appreciate it if you would come with me, though I can't figure out why he called me."
"Um, you're a cop?"
"So is his father."
Gus just shot him a look. "I see your point."
"Where is he?" Gus asked looking out the window trying to figure out where they were headed.
"At the 5-2" Flack debated if he should turn on the lights or not.
"What did he do, hit up a bar after going to the zoo?" Gus snorted.
"I don't know, but we are about to go find out", Flack said weaving through traffic.
"You know they might have good cheeseburgers but the Bronx is really kinda ugly," Gus remarked staring out the window.
"Hey now, I like the Bronx." Flack protested.
"I didn't say you were ugly, Flack, I'm just saying it looks like Kenner, and Kenner is ugly".
"You ain't turning into an uptown girl on me are you?" Flack teased.
"I am certainly not," Gus replied indignant.
"Whatever, come on let's just get this done with," Flack said pulling in beside a building that looked more like a church or Tuscan villa.
"The 5-2 has a clock tower, dang!" Gus exclaimed.
"See not all the Bronx is ugly," Flack smirked.
"Forget I said anything," Gus said staring up at the building.
"You just gonna gawk or you gonna help me with my stupid cousin?"
"Yeah, I'm coming." she said following Flack's retreating figure into the building.
Chapter 63: Bar Games
Inside the 5-2 it was the normal somewhat controlled chaos of any police precinct, this one just had higher ceilings. Flack surveyed the room, trying to ignore the looks he was getting from some of the officers. Gus' saw the looks and thought word must have spread fast.
She studied the room instead of following Flack who had headed toward someone he must have known judging by the handshake back pat thing he was doing. She then saw Bobby sitting on a bench, fortunately not in lockup, but still looking miserable. She slid onto the bench beside him, but he didn't look up.
"Excuse Miss, can I help you?" a patrolman asked her. Gus held up her badge, "Oh, okay," he said walking off. This got Bobby's attention. He looked up, his long legs splayed out into the walkway, his sneakers battered and covered in paint, as was the rest of him. His face was splotchy, his eyes red and he was sporting a rather impressive black eye.
Bobby looked embarrassed to see Gus, "I didn't know he was bringing you." Gus just shrugged, sitting there, not saying anything. "What aren't you going to ask me what the hell happened or yell at me?" he asked cowering.
"Nope, I'm not related to you, so I don't have a horse in this race," Gus said leaning on her elbows back on the bench.
"Yeah well Donnie's going to chew me a new one, he kicked at the ground.
"Probably," Gus shrugged.
"So you really aren't gonna ask me?" Bobby was incredulous.
Gus knew from years of experience to not push him, "if you want to talk, I'll listen but otherwise, I'm just sitting". They sat for a few minutes, Flack had disappeared.
Bobby suddenly wailed, "I didn't mean for it to happen!"
"Well most people don't mean to get get arrested" Gus said biting her lip to not grin. He seemed a lot younger than 20, his shaggy hair as dark as Flack's but with dark green eyes and lankier.
A torrent of words started to pour out of him, "it was just after work and some of the guys were going and I didn't want to be a loser, all of them are older and we were playing some pool and this guy was bugging this table full of college girls." Gus still remained silent, but her expression was one of concern. "So I was going to hit the head and I noticed that this guy had one of the girls pinned against a wall. He was like this asshole preppy boy, totally out of place, right? Anyway he was like trying to make out with this girl or something and she was trying to fight him off but was a little drunk. I figured I could take him, so I stepped in between them".
Gus gestured to his black eye, "is that when you got that?"
He shook his head, "Nah, turns out there was a group of these preppy assholes"
"So they ganged up on you?" Gus asked concerned.
Bobby looked deflated and then said, "No, turns out they were with the group of girls and the whole scene by the bathroom was part of like them getting their rocks off or something. Stupid rich kids. This was a from one of the girl's purses." Gus really had to try to not laugh, she forced herself not to react, she must have been successful because Bobby said, "thanks for not laughing".
"How did this end up with you arrested?" Gus was trying to put the pieces together.
"In the middle of it all, I fell on top of one of the chick's stupid bug eyes sunglasses and broke them, apparently they cost more than a car and she started screaming holy hell and said I had assaulted her. The bartender said he was calling the cops."
"And they booked you for assault?" Gus couldn't believe this, it was a stupid misunderstanding, she had to wonder if someone wasn't trying to get a message to Flack.
Bobby slumped, dejected, "not entirely, you see before the cops showed up my work guys decided to show those rich kids a little blue collar justice...and this huge fight broke out and some shit got broken and it was just crazy. When the cops came I tried to tell them who I was, but they didn't want to hear it because the prepsters were all talking about their rich lawyer daddies and judges and what not, so my friends and I got booked on disturbing the peace and some other crap and I also got pegged for being underage. What sucks is, I hadn't even had a drink, I just wanted to hang out with the guys from work!"
"Did you call your parents?" Gus regretted asking before it was even out of her mouth.
"Hell no, are you freaking kidding? My dad would have killed me and it would have killed my ma!" Gus wanted to squeeze him, but knew he would freak out if she did,"you want some ice for that eye?"
"Nah, I'm cool. I guess I deserved it. But I can't believe I've been arrested. And as an adult, this sucks...I just know my parents are going to say something about this wouldn't have happened if I had just gone to college. Maybe I should have at least to a CC or something. Instead I am going to be some blue collar thug pissed off all the time!" Bobby's eyes glowed a bright angry green.
"Bobby one arrest will hardly make you a thug, I promise. Besides you don't even know if the charges will stick. I mean you aren't even in general lock-up, that has to mean something."
"Only because I'm a Flack," he sneered, "and I hated even having to use my name." Gus had to hold back a laugh. "What?" he snapped.
"Nothing, it's just you could be your cousin right about now," she choked.
"Yeah, well he never got arrested. He's like freaking Jesus in our family or at least was until a coupla days ago. And my dad and his dad are God. They won't understand, just like you don't understand".
Gus heaved a sigh,"don't understand why, B?"
"You're like this super smart girl and then you go all Mother Theresa with the people by becoming a cop. You've probably never done anything wrong!"
Gus snorted, "Bobby, when my parents died, I got a little out of control. I just managed to hide it really well. I have been in plenty of hot water, believe me."
"Yeah right", he didn't believe her, to have met her or hear his cousin talk, she could do no wrong.
Gus moved closer to him on the bench, resting her hand on his upper arm, "Maybe someday I'll tell you some stories, but believe me, this won't even be a blip on your radar. As for your parents, they'll get over it eventually. And hon, you are only 20 you don't have to figure out what you want to do for the rest of your life right now, take some time to think about it. You pretty damn responsible, probably more so than half the kids in college".
"It just feels like I am supposed to have more figured out by now," he pouted.
"Shug, I've got nearly ten years on you and I don't have a hell of a lot figured out myself yet, stop beating yourself up," she gave him a playful bump, drawing a small smile out of him. "Harken, a smile" she said, "now you sure you don't want some ic-" she was cut off by Flack coming by and yanking Bobby up by the arm.
"Come on snot wad, they are releasing you to me", Flack snarled at his cousin.
"Ouch, watch it, Donnie!" Bobby said feeling like his shoulder had been dislocated.
"You think that hurts, I haven't even begun..." Flack stared his little cousin down.
"Could we take this outside you two?" Gus asked.
"Fine, let's go" Flack said dragging his cousin out by his arm with Gus following behind. "Get in the back," Flack snapped at Bobby, opening the door.
Gus started in, "you know he's probably seen enough of the back seat of a cop car today, Don."
"Don't take his side," Flack stared her down.
"I'm not saying I am taking his side, but have you even heard what he's been though?"
"I don't care. Get in Bobby," Flack pointed at the back seat.
Gus swooped around Bobby and slammed the back door shut behind her. Flack sighed and shook his head, "if she wasn't here I would kick your ass right now," Flack said over the top of the car to his cousin.
"I know," Bobby said miserably.
They drove back in tense silence. The air was charged with anger and stubbornness. On the way into the house Flack snapped at Bobby, "You picked a really crap time for this you know"
"It wasn't on purpose," Bobby whined sounding more like 12 than 20.
"Just get in and sit down" Flack pointed at the couch with anger.
"You aren't my father," Bobby tried to be defiant.
Flack wasn't having it, authoritatively saying,"Yeah well you called me not him, so deal with it".
Bobby went to the couch and sat like a beaten puppy. Flack sat in a facing chair, in interrogation mode. Gus slunk off to the kitchen, but almost turned back when Bobby gave her a "help me" look. She figured she would come back when the yelling go too loud.
Chapter 65: String Beans
Gus waited in the kitchen for the yelling to start, which took less than two minutes.
"How could you be so stupid?" Flack was yelling towering over his seated cousin, "it's a good thing you didn't try to go to college!"
Gus burst in, ""Whoa, hey, Flack simmer down" Gus pushed Flack down to the chair. Bobby was still sitting, his lip quivering and Gus could tell the only reason he hadn't burst into tears was her presence, "Let's not turn this into some insult contest, all right?" she said handing Bobby an ice pack for his eye. "Flack could I see you for a sec in the kitchen?"
"Fine" Flack snapped, glaring at his cousin.
Flack slumped against the counter giving his partner the evil eye, "he deserves to get yelled at."
"Probably" Gus replied, handing him a beer from the fridge, "but he also deserved to not be made to feel like an idiot. Don't take out your anger at Truby or Mac on your cousin. I think he needs to know that you have his back right now more than anything".
"But he was stupid, getting into a bar fight, he knows better!" Flack took a long pull of beer and then slammed his hand on the counter, "and then calling me like I can magically take care of it" his eyes burned into Gus, "and now you want to baby him, he's not as innocent as you might like to think."
"Flack, I am not saying he is innocent, I'm just saying he might feel a little lost right now. What did the rest of his group from high school do?"
"I dunno," he admitted.
"My bet would be they all went to college, maybe even left town."
Flack shrugged, "so what?"
Gus wanted to strangle him, "Flack, think about it, you always knew what you were going to do. You had this whole path laid at for you from the time you were born practically, and Bobby is the baby of the family and has always had to compete with you!"
"He's a decade younger than I am, he hasn't had to compete with me for jack!"
Gus shook her head, "my main point is was there ever a time you didn't want to be a cop?"
"Maybe when I was five, I might have wanted to be an astronaut,"
"So did everyone in our age group, let me guess until the Challenger blew up right when we were all watching it in school, right?"
"Whatever," he said into his beer, hating she was right, yet again.
"You know I'm right. Imagine for a second you didn't know what you wanted to do with the rest of your life, and everyone else in your family appears to have it all figured out and you are the only one that doesn't. It could be pretty isolating."
"That doesn't excuse his behavior," Flack said on the defensive.
Gus stood directly in front of him, close but not touching, "he was trying to defend a girl's honor and didn't know it was some rich kids stupid game."
Flack clenched his fists so he would reach out and grab her into a kiss,"he went through a plate glass window, did he tell you that?"
"Without any help?" Gus stared him down.
"I hadn't thought of that."
"Well think about it. The other thing to think about is you aren't his father, and his parents will probably tear him a new one as soon as they find out, let them deal with it, it's kind of their job."
Flack took another drink of beer nodding, "still I don't want to see him screw up his life."
Gus looked at him with sorrow in her eyes, "he doesn't want that either. Everyone, except apparently you, gets lost sometimes, it is a hell of a lot easier to find your way back when you have someone on your side."
Flack looked down at her, thinking she was speaking from experience and hating she had ever been so lost that she needed someone to show her the way back and wondering if she had found it yet...he kissed her passionately, leaning her on top of the kitchen table.
Gus kissed back, trying to not fall back into bad memories and trying to hold onto the present and the very sexy detective that seemed to want her most in the world.
Flack's hand was making it's way up her skirt and toward her inner thigh, a moan escaping from both of them when they heard Bobby's embarrassed voice say, "I can come back".
"Shit!" they both exclaimed, jumping up and righting themselves, smoothing clothing and hair. Gus was blushing furiously as Flack scowled until Bobby backed out of the kitchen.
"Er, busted" Gus muttered, "crap."
"He won't say anything if I tell him not to, and also Sam may have already guessed that a slept with you," Flack said, running his hand over his head to his neck.
"Great, why don't we just put an ad out in Times Square?" Gus said her voice tense and tight. Flack pecked her on the cheek, "It's fine."
"Sure, whatever," Gus rolled her eyes.
"Don't brush me off, Gus, I will talk to him"
"You don't have to, I'm not gonna say anything," Bobby called from the living room. Flack stormed in there. "Quit eavesdropping.
"Quit making out on the kitchen table, I have to eat there you know!"
"Speaking of which, I need dinner," Gus said coming in behind trying to diffuse the situation, again. She gave Bobby a desperate, pleading look.
Bobby smiled slightly, he didn't blame his cousin, he almost put the moves on her a long time ago...he put his hands up in mock surrender, "I'm not saying anything."
"Why not?" Flack asked suspiciously.
"Because you are going to come with me to tell my mom and dad and you are going to let them know that it wasn't my fault about what happened in the bar."
"Why would I do that?" Flack asked, staring his cousin down, he wasn't about to be blackmailed by this little monster.
"Because it wasn't," Gus spoke up, "Bobby would you just tell him the story?"
Bobby launched into his second telling of the tale, still looking miserable about it. Flack had never seen his little cousin look so dejected, so much so that he could do nothing but believe him, "Fine, but I don't even want to hear you thinking about setting foot into another bar in the state until you are 21".
"Fine by me," Bobby said, hanging his head.
"Me too," Flack looked over at Gus and sighed, this wasn't how he wanted this night to go, but what could he do? Family was family. "How about we go grab some pizza?"
Tucked into a booth at the pizza parlor, the three shared a piping hot pie. Gus burned herself on her first bite of hot cheese, swearing at the blister immediately forming on the roof of her mouth, "ow!"
Flack wiped the sauce off her chin, "what am I going to do with you?" he asked smiling tenderly at her.
"Gag me," Bobby said.
"Eat your pizza, cuz!" Flack warned.
Walking back to the house, Flack waved Bobby inside, "I think you have had enough excitement today." "Whatever," he said storming inside.
Flack led Gus to the porch, she sat on the swing, her breath puffing out in the chilly night air. "How's your mouth?" Flack asked her.
"It will be fine," she smirked and then shivered.
"It's not even that cold yet, sunshine," Flack said moving next to her with his arm out.
"I know, I fear that," she said snuggling into his offered side.
"I'm sorry our first real date night got ruined" he said as she rested her head on his shoulder.
"I don't need a date night, Flack" Gus sighed.
"You deserve it," Flack retorted.
Gus lifted her head back up and tried to move away, "It's fine."
"It shouldn't be," Flack replied, not letting her escape.
"Why are you arguing with me?" Gus pleaded.
"Because I think you are worth a lot more than you give yourself credit for,"
"I'm good with what we have already, Flack. I know you might not be used to that with the high maintenance model-types you have fawning after you normally but I am more than a little different than them."
Flack snorted, "I'll say."
"Is that a good thing or a bad thing?" she asked.
"I'd say very very good" he replied pulling her toward him for a deep probing kiss. Bobby flicked the porch lights on and off. "Smart ass," Flack mumbled.
"Leave him alone" Gus said moving in for another kiss. Breaking away breathless and panting, Gus retorted, "That's one way I can make it through winter," she said before moving in to kiss him again.
Flack groaned in his chest, knowing that unless he wanted to ravage her in front of the watchful neighborhood, he needed to stop touching her right now. "I should take you home," he said.
"You're never gonna show me your room, are you? What you got porn everywhere or another woman up there?" Gus quipped.
"Neither, but if I take you up there, Bobby will have us on a podcast."
"Once again I am happy to be an only child,"
"And you have the added benefit of living alone," Flack remarked kissing her neck and playfully biting it before he opened the front door and yelled in, "Bobby, I'm driving Gus home, I'll be back. Don't sneak out, we are going to talk to your and parents first thing!"
"Fine!" Bobby sulked.
Settled in the car on the way back to her place, Gus was absentmindedly twirling her hair around her finger, a tic that Flack knew meant she was deep in thought. "Watcha thinking about so hard over there, sunshine?" he asked, pulling her hand out of her hair and entwining his fingers through hers.
"Bobby" she replied wistfully.
Flack groaned, "not exactly what a guy wants to hear, his partner thinking about his younger cousin"
"Not like that you horn dog, I was just thinking about being young and lost and how I never figured I would end up here."
"Where did you think you were gonna end up?" he asked sneaking a glance at her profile while trying to keep an eye on traffic.
She shrugged, but didn't let go of Flack's hand, instead rubbed her thumb along his, which he found to be a comforting gesture. "I don't know, I thought I was going to save the world or the very least change it!"
"Come on now," he said, freeing his hand and tucking her hair behind her ear, "you do both of those things now, you are one of New York's Finest." he said slipping his hand onto her neck.
"Thanks, but not what I meant...don't you ever wonder what your life could have been if only...no of course you don't!"
"I do sometimes, but usually I think I am doing what I am supposed to be doing. I'm getting scumbags off the street and giving justice to victims, it's pretty important and big work if you ask me."
"I'm not disagreeing with that, it's just my life has been so abnormal, that being here almost seems too normal..." Gus trailed off, trying to ignore the fact that Flack's hand had fallen to her lap and now was making it's way up her thigh.
She picked it up and put it back on the steering wheel, "I think you need to focus on driving there, blue eyes."
"I am a talented guy, I can focus on more than one thing at a time."
"Yeah, but you can't have a serious conversation to save your life."
"I can when I need to, but I was thinking you needed the distraction more than you needed a trip down 'what if' lane."
"I'm not getting it on in a car owned by the city" she said as they pulled in front of her building.
"Wasn't asking you to, you have a perfectly nice bed and couch and table and floor and-"
"A nice cold shower," she busted in, "I think you need one."
"Well maybe after," Flack said with a smirk.
"After nothing, I'm going in and you are going back to talk, TALK not yell with Bobby. Good night, Flack," she said kissing him briefly.
"Really?" he asked trying to draw he in for another.
"Really," she replied with a quick kiss to his cheek and sliding out of the car.
"Sweet dreams then sunshine," he called rolling down the window.
"String beans," she called back over her shoulder.
He shook his head and smiled, "string beans? Weirdo," he said to himself watching to make sure she was safely indoors.
Chapter 66: Don't Be a Stranger
Gus let herself into her apartment, it was still fairly early, or early enough for someone who had been on the afternoon shift the past few weeks. She didn't know what to do with herself on a Monday night alone in the city. She didn't want to call Lindsay or Stella because she couldn't exactly engage in girl talk with them about the amazing sex she had been having the past few days. She thought about calling Mac to talk about the whole Reed thing, but she didn't really know if she could have a conversation with him and it not turn into a fight.
Which left Hawkes or Danny and she didn't know if they were on days or nights...ah what the hell she dialed Sheldon's number. "Hawkes."
"Hey, Shel, it's Gus."
"Gus! You've been MIA for the past couple of days, how are you holding up, I heard things weren't going so well in homicide with the whole Truby thing."
"Ah well, Flack's getting the brunt of it I think. And I was off today."
"Off and you actually didn't come into work? Amazing!"
Gus could hear the smile in his voice. "Don't be sarcastic Shel, it doesn't become you."
"Fine, so what's up?" Hawkes asked curious, hoping his friend wanted to do something as he hadn't seen her in a while.
"I was calling to see if you and maybe Danny wanted to go hang out...shoot some pool or something", she asked hesitantly.
"I think that is the best invitation I have gotten all day, we both just wrapped up," Gus heard Hawkes say something to someone and then "Broussard, a night off and you want to hang out with the two of us, we really need to get you a date!"
"Danny, give me my phone back!"
"Hold your horses, Doc,"
Gus just laughed, "I'll see you guys in a few," she said to whoever was on the line.
She walked into Sully's and until that moment forgot that she was still wearing the skirt she had been wearing earlier. "Dang Broussard, I didn't mean we would find you a date tonight!" Danny commented.
"Funny, Messer, funny," she said walking over to Danny and Sheldon and giving them both quick pecks on the cheek, "first round's on me if you can behave, Danny."
"In that case I'll make him behave," Sheldon replied, elbowing Danny.
Gus got a pitcher from the bar and carried it to the pool table, handing the frosted glasses over to Hawkes to pour.
Danny took a huge gulp, "I have to admit Gus, you always buy the good stuff. I buy, it's Bud light, you always go with the fancy imported stuff."
"What can I say, I am a girl of discriminating tastes," she said, sipping on her own pint with a grin.
"So what's with the skirt?" Hawkes asked.
"I own them and can't wear them in the field, thus day off means skirt," she said, gesturing.
"Speaking of which why are you out with us on your night off?" Hawkes asked racking the pool table.
"Because I am touched in the head enough to actually like hanging out with y'all," she said, chalking a cue.
"Maybe we should call Flack, so he can see you in a skirt," Danny smirked.
Gus forced herself to not react, evenly stating, "I think he has a family thing."
"Probably, after that whole memo book incident I can only imagine his life is complicated to say the least," Danny replied shaking his head.
"Yeah, complicated," Gus said and then, "who's breaking because y'all know I'm crap at it."
"I'll go," Danny said.
"Rock on Messer," Gus said as Danny sent the balls flying across the table.
"How are you doing really, Gus?" Hawkes asked leaning into her.
"I'm good, why?" Gus hoped Hawkes wasn't about to go too deep on her.
"Because I feel like it has been weeks since I talked to you, maybe since even before you went undercover," he studied her with serious concern.
"Well you know, life..."Gus replied.
He grinned, "yeah, life, I know. But I miss having coffee with you, I've got a whole lot of academic speak built up."
"Well we can't have that now! And I'm sorry, Shel," Gus said looking down, she didn't want to cut herself off from her friends, she certainly hadn't meant to, but since the close call while undercover and everything that happened since, she had isolated herself.
"No apologies needed, Gus," Hawkes studied her, something was different about her, something was going on, he just wasn't sure what.
"Am I clearing the table by myself or what?" Danny asked handing a cue off to Hawkes and coming to stand on the other side of Gus.
"Broussard, where have you been recently? Am I gonna have to talk to Flack about learning to share?" Danny asked looking intently at her.
Gus tried to not blush, playfully bumping him with her him instead saying, "I don't know, can you share Lindsay?" Gus replied with a slow evil grin.
"Shut it," Danny said, blushing himself.
"Fine, but next round is yours," Gus retorted, tking her place at the pool table.
The joked, talked, and played pool well into the night until the bartender started giving them evil glares. "I guess we should go," Danny said.
"Maybe so," Hawkes replied.
"I hate closing laws," Gus muttered.
"Come on, Miss New Orleans, I'll see you home."
"Such a gentleman, Sheldon Hawkes."
"Not really, but Messer and I both know what Flack would do to us if one of us didn't."
"Yeah and it ain't pretty," Danny interjected.
Gus rolled her eyes, "he is entirely too overprotective".
"Could be worse, you could be sleeping with him, then he would really be over protective!" Danny quipped. Gus took a sharp intake of breath, hoping neither noticed. Hawkes didn't but Danny gave her a look, which Hawkes did notice. She put on a completely poker face as both men stared her down. "Nah" both thought to themselves, "right?"
"Yeah, right, like he stands a chance," Gus joked, "now come on before we get thrown out," she said looping her arms through each of her companions arms, dragging them to the door.
Hawkes saw Gus home, despite her protesting otherwise, "don't be a stranger," he said to her, giving her a hug on the way in.
Gus was happy that the 'old folks' were in bed for the night because god only knows what Mrs. Potter would have said to another handsome man bringing Gus home.
She let herself into her empty apartment and let the silence fall over her like a blanket. She let the fast few weeks fall over her, and fought back an overwhelming wave of emotions. What was she doing? Sleeping with Flack was playing with fire, no matter how great of partners they made or how much she was attracted to him. But she didn't want to stop, even if it meant loosing her job. A job she was loving more than she ever thought possible, despite heavy guilt of disobeying her father, not that he could protest from beyond the grave. A job that she was already worried was in a precarious position from her withholding information from the undercover case. Add that to the fact that she could see her falling for Flack fully and completely and she wasn't willing to give him that death sentence. Maybe she should try to stop this before it went further...
Gus woke up the next morning, still curled on the couch, still feeling confused. Her night had been filled with bizarre dreams of being lost on the old New Orleans streetcar and not being able to find her way, dreams not quiet morphing into nightmares, but not happy dreams either. She noticed her phone was flashing with an incoming text message and looked at the clock, it was only 9:00, she doubted it was a call in already.
I still owe you a romantic dinner...will call after deal with Bobby -F
Gus delighted in the fact that he had sent her the text, but was still torn and confused about what she was doing. She wished she could throw caution to the wind, but it had gotten her in such trouble in the past. She couldn't dwell on it too much, because her phone started exploding with what actually was a call in.
Gus flagged a cab down with her badge, and sped off to the medical center, meeting Flack there.