A/N: See the intro for the usual disclaimers. Please R & R. I'm a junkie. I need my fix.
LittleCorinthian: No, Tess' was probably not the most healthy reaction. All actions have concequences. SoccerBitch: Welcome aboard. I'm glad you're enjoying things so far. RS: Hopefully, this will give you a little more to go on. For all the lurkers: thanks for reading. I'd love to hear from you, good or bad.
Don sleepily reached out an arm and found empty space. He snapped fully awake and looked around. There was no sign of Tess in the room. He sat for a few moments letting his eyes adjust to the low light. He slid out of bed, found his boxers and pulled them on. He rubbed his eyes and went looking for Tess. Don opened the bedroom door. Tess was standing in the kitchen sipping a mug of something. Don just stood in the doorway watching her. She was dressed in just the t-shirt she had swiped from him and panties. The mug cuddled in her hands steamed. She didn't look over at him.
"I didn't mean to wake you up." She blew at the mug and took a sip.
Don shook his head and stifled a little yawn. "Ya didn't really. I just wondered where ya'd gotten to." Tess nodded. She looked over and gave a small smile.
"Are you hungry? I'll bet the food you brought would be okay if we nuked it."
"I'm always hungry," replied Don. Tess smiled a little more and shook her head. She set her mug down and popped a plate into the microwave. She stood watching the plate revolve.
"I'm sorry you missed dinner," she said quietly. Don closed his eyes, sighed heavily and walked over to her. He touched Tess' arm lightly and when she didn't protest he, drew her close. Don turned her around so she was between him and the counter.
"Ya don't have anything to be sorry about, Sweetheart."
"I pretty much attacked you, Don," she mumbled into his chest. Don rubbed her back. Tess stood there letting him hold her. Slowly her arms went around his waist. Don kissed Tess' hair and rocked her a little. He felt her start to shudder and tears hitting his bare skin. Don pulled slightly away and tilted Tess' face upward. He rubbed the tears off her cheek.
"Are you cryin' over what happened between us tonight?" Tess didn't answer and tried to look down. Don wouldn't let her. He held her face between his hands and locked his gaze with hers. "Just don't, Tess. Okay?"
"It wasn't exactly the healthiest way of dealing with things."
"No. But we've both done it." Tess started to say something, Don shook his head. "Okay. I know that doesn't really make it the right thing to do, but let's just keep that in mind for the next time." Tess gave him a weak smile. She ran her hands up his back and felt a few welts. She traced a finger down one of them.
"But you didn't leave marks." Don closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He opened his eyes again and looked at Tess. He traced a finger over a red mark where her shoulder met her neck. The microwave beeped behind them. They ignored it. Don watched thoughts flicker through Tess' eyes.
"I think we both left a few marks. Are we okay beyond that?"
"I think we'll recover." Tess ran her hand over Don's stubbled chin. "I probably have rug burn from this though." Don grinned at her.
"I have never heard complaints from ya before," he teased. Tess smiled back.
"Well, we were talking along those lines."
Don smiled wickedly and slid his hands along the hem of the t-shirt. "I could check." Tess batted at his hands.
"I don't think the food will be able to handle a third nuking."
"Chicken." Don rested his hands on Tess' hips and leaned his forehead against hers.
"I thought you were hungry." Tess ran her hands up his arms, over his shoulders and around Don's neck. Don gave her a soft kiss.
"I am, but I could be distracted." He buried his nose in her hair. "Besides. Ya smell like gingerbread again. How come ya always smell like somethin' to eat? Do ya know what that does ta me?"
Tess chuckled. "I think I've figured it out, yes." Tess leaned back against the counter and looked into Don's eyes. "It's just perfume." She slid her leg up Don's. "I've got others. Let's see. I've already worn Sex on the Beach. Then there's Cinnamon Toast…I may have worn that already too…Tiramisu…Sambuca…"
Don placed a finger over Tess' lips. "Ya can stop now. I got it. Thanks." He kissed Tess, tenderly and then a little deeper. A sudden pounding came at the door. They jumped back a little. Don threw Tess a questioning look. She shook her head and shrugged.
"Tess! Tess, are you in there? Teresa Suzanne Nagy, open this door!" Don watched the color drain from Tess' face. She pushed hard against Don. He let her go and stepped back. Tess looked frantically around. She dug her fingers through her hair. "Tess? I'll call the super if you don't let me in."
"Adam?" she called, her voice wavering slightly. "Um. Just a minute."
"Tess, just open the door. Mom called. Said you weren't coming home for Thanksgiving. That you sounded... Tess, she tried calling back. Didn't get ahold of you. She's frantic. Open this door and tell me what's going on."
"Adam, I…" Tess looked in panic at Don. She waved toward her bedroom. She practically ran that way. Don followed behind her. She quickly pulled on a pair of jeans. "Shit, shit, shit," she muttered under her breath. "Why the hell would he come all the way down from Boston? At this hour of the night?" Don tugged on his clothes. He looked over at Tess, who was trying to tie up her hair.
"That's yer brother out there?" Tess almost smiled at the note of panic in his voice.
"Yeah. That's my brother out there." She stopped and stood in front of Don. "Do I look presentable?"
Don refused to look her in the eye. "I'm a dead man. I know if you were my sister I'd be a dead man."
Tess shot him a disgusted look. "Then you'd better start praying that Adam doesn't have your temper."
Don looked at her, the worry written across his face. "Does Adam have a temper like mine?"
Tess sighed and tapped her foot waiting for Don to finish dressing. "I don't know. He left for college when I was eight. If he does, you should be quicker than he is. He's older. And he's a musician, not a cop."
"Thanks for yer encouraging words."
Tess shook her head. "I don't have time." They left the bedroom. Tess reached over and smoothed her hand over some winkles in Don's shirt. "Go and grab your plate out of the microwave."
"I don't really think that's gonna fool him," huffed Don, but he did what she said and tried to eat the food. It stuck in his throat. He grabbed the warm beer and took a swallow to try and wash it down. He coughed. Tess shot him a dirty look. God, I feel like I'm back in high school and Julie Cheswick's dad just caught me feelin' her up.
"It's all I've got right now, Don. Please just go with it." Tess closed her eyes, said a brief prayer and settled her face into a neutral mask. She opened the door. Her brother stood there with a thunderous expression on his face. "Adam. You didn't have to come all the way down from Boston."
"What the hell is going on, Tess?" He looked past her into the apartment. Tess stood in the doorway. She didn't immediately answer him. "Can I at least come in?" Tess reluctantly stepped aside. Adam strode into the apartment, his coat floating behind him. He spun and looked at Tess, completely missing Don in the kitchen. "Mom called saying you weren't going home for Thanksgiving. That she tried calling you back and then she had Stephanie call you and you didn't answer."
"And that brought you all the way down from Boston?"
"Mom was a little panicked. She made a convincing argument for checking on you."
Tess rolled her eyes and shook her head. She could just imagine what her mom had told Adam. "I'm sorry I panicked Mom."
"But you aren't going home for Thanksgiving."
Tess bit her lip and shook her head. She could feel tears pricking her eyes. She took a couple of deep gulping breaths and wrapped her arms around her body. "One of my students was found murdered this morning. I have a wake to go to and a funeral on Friday. I didn't really feel like going home. I explained this all to Mom." Adam's mouth dropped open. His expression softened. He hugged Tess tightly.
"Geeze, Tess. Mom didn't say that." Adam hugged her tighter. "I mean she mentioned something about one of your students, but not that. I wouldn't have come down to bug you…" Adam trailed off as he saw Don sitting in the kitchen. Don ducked his head and looked down at his plate. "Teresa, there is a guy sitting in your kitchen. And he isn't Alex." He felt Tess stiffen. Adam released her and stepped away. Tess pushed her glasses up her nose and gave Adam a disgusted look.
"Alex and I broke up in June. You knew that." Tess sighed. She turned toward Don and waved him over. Don reluctantly got up and walked up to the pair. Tess linked her hand with his and gave it a slight squeeze. Don looked sheepishly at Adam. "Don, this is my brother Adam Nagy. Adam, this is Don Flack, my boyfriend." Tess looked from one man to the other. "Where are your manners you two?" They reached out and shook each other's hands and grunted. Tess rolled her eyes. Adam stood up straighter and looked Don up and down. He came up about two inches shorter, but was stockier built than the detective. Don eyed Adam warily still waiting to get throttled.
"So how long have you been dating my baby sister?"
"I'm 29, Adam," grumbled Tess. Adam ignored her and waited for Don to answer.
"Tess and I've been datin' for a while."
"How long 'a while'?" prompted Adam. Don could feel Tess tensing beside him. He stroked his thumb over her knuckles trying to calm her.
"Almost two months."
"Almost two months," repeated Adam drawing out the words.
"Oh for God's sakes, Adam." Tess dropped Don's hand and crossed her arms over her chest. "You want to hear it, so you can quit sizing each other up? I've been dating Don for almost two months. I met him in a bar during the playoffs. And I'm having sex with him. My business. Are we clear?" Both men just looked at Tess with open mouths. Tess shook her head and flopped down on the couch. She waved at them. "Go ahead. Beat the crap out of each other. Adam, go ahead and defend my honor. Don, go ahead and defend yourself. Just remember, Adam, you're the one who's going to have to explain to Christine why you messed your hands up." Both men just continued to stare at Tess. Tess glared back. Then Adam burst out laughing. He grinned at Don, who visibly relaxed.
"Does she always talk to you like this?"
Don smiled back. "Tess does have her moments."
"She learned from the best. Now you know why a call from our mother got me on a train down here."
"So the technique jus' gets refined with age?"
"Yes. Good luck, man." Now it was Tess' turn to stare speechless at the two men. Adam kept grinning and sat down next to Tess. He reached out and gave her hand a squeeze. "Tess, I am sorry about your student. Really. And as for..." Adam glanced over at Don. "I wouldn't use quite that introduction with our folks." Tess sat there blinking her eyes. After a few moments, she leaned her head back against the couch and closed her eyes.
"I shouldn't have used that introduction at all. It was pretty stupid."
"You're a little stressed right now." Adam looked up at Don. "Don't think you're in the clear though. I'm still debating the merits of kicking your ass to defend my baby sister's honor." Tess' eyes snapped open and she started to tug her hand away. "I'm kidding, Tess. You're right. It really isn't my business. Just not what I really expected to run into here."
"I wasn't really expecting you either." Tess looked over at her brother. "And I'll bet I'm stuck with you until morning."
Adam grinned. "'Fraid so. I'm sorry to spoil your plans."
Tess shrugged, trying to be nonchalant. "Plans? Who had plans?" Adam bit down on the smile that played on his lips.
Don nodded, taking her cue. "Yeah. I mean we both have work in the mornin'. I should be headin' out."
Adam just nodded, smiling. "Right." Adam stood up. He held his hand out to Don. "Well, then it's good to meet you Don. Hope to see you again." Don nodded and shook Adam's hand. Tess jumped up.
"I'll walk you down." Tess helped Don collect his stuff and started to leave with him.
"Hey, Tess, can I make a few calls while you're gone?"
Tess came back inside. "Let me get my phone." She ducked into the bedroom and grabbed her cell. She tossed it to Adam on her way out. She shut the door behind her and turned to Don standing in the hall. "I am so sorry." Don nodded and ducked his head.
"That isn't exactly the way I wanted ta be introduced ta yer family."
"No kidding." Tess reached behind her glasses and pinched the bridge of her nose. "Awkward wasn't the word for it." They waited for the elevator in silence. When the doors slid shut behind them, Don swung Tess into his arms. He gave her a quick kiss and leaned his forehead against hers.
"If things were reversed I woulda kicked his ass."
"Then I should be glad Adam had more restraint." Tess ran her finger over Don's cheek. "While you do look good in black and blue I don't think the greenish-yellow any bruises would turn would go with your eyes."
Don grinned at her. "I knew it. Ya only want me for my pretty face and hot body."
Tess frowned and shook her head. "You know that isn't true." She dropped her eyes. "Thank you for coming back tonight."
Don pulled her close. "Ya don't have ta thank me, Sweetheart. That's what I'm here for." Tess leaned into the embrace and let him hold her.
"Gee, and I thought you were into my brilliant mind. I didn't know you were a drama junkie."
"I'm into all of ya, Tess. Drama isn't my favorite. But since I love you, I gotta take the rest when it comes along." Don tilted Tess' face up. "'Sides. My life ain't exactly drama free. Which ya'll find out again on Thanksgiving when ya meet my family."
"Don, I don't…"
"Yer comin' on Thanksgiving, if I have ta truss ya up and drag ya there. You aren't spendin' the holiday holed up in yer apartment. Understand?" Tess just sighed heavily. "Good." The elevator reached the lobby. They stepped out and Don gave Tess another hug and kiss. "Ya goin' ta school tomorrow?"
Tess nodded slowly. "I need to. Waiting until later isn't going to make things easier." Don gave her a squeeze.
"Call me if ya need ta. Ya gonna be okay?"
Tess shrugged. "I'll deal."
"Tess, Sweetheart, I don't want ya ta jus' deal."
"Not much we can do about that, unless you have a way to change the past."
"I would if I could."
Tess gave him a small smile. "But you can't, so you won't." She gave Don a quick kiss. "I've got to get back upstairs, or Adam might rethink giving you a thrashing."
"That'd be bad. I'll talk ta ya in the morning. Okay?"
"No, but I don't have any choice, do I?"
Don reached out and touched Tess' cheek. "Night, Tess."
"Night, Don." Don stood in the lobby watching Tess until the elevator doors closed.
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A/N PS: Hope this warmed you all up for tonight's epi.