Chapter 21

A large crowd of people were standing outside of the precinct as Captain Shields made his official statement and introduced Brian's promotion. A few media members had gasped at the sight of him; the small blond man that stood before them looked more like a high school student that someone leading the Major Case Squad alongside the captain.

Brian did his best to refrain from laughing as he saw some of the reactions and Captain Shields was pleased with how he had handled the situation.

"If you all think your reactions were something, imagine the guy at the 7-11 where I buy cigarettes. Same guy each time, but he still cards me."

Laughter took over the crowd.

"He gets carded at bars too!" Paul cried out jokingly. More laughter rang out as Brian playfully punched his best friend in the arm.

Shields knew by then he'd made the right choice; Brian was already a natural and it appeared he was going to be well-liked. Brian's co-workers–from the top brass all the way down to the secretaries and clerks–already respected him; it was important to Shields that the public liked the new lieutenant as well.

There was no question that would be the case; Brian came across as compassionate, intelligent, witty, and most importantly, approachable. Paul stood off to one side with a cheesy grin while Joey and Lorelei stood between Brian and Captain Shields as the captain made an official presentation.

As this all unfolded, he had a secret both only the captain and Lorelei knew; the two of them had just gotten engaged the night before and Brian had plans to approach the chaplain before the swearing in of new lieutenants that afternoon, and then taking Lorelei shopping for a ring that evening before breaking the news to Joey.

There would be no doubt the teenager would be thrilled once she knew, but with all that had been going on that day, Brian thought it would be wise to wait until everything had been out of the way first. Joey would be getting the long awaited mother she had dreamed of at last.

Shields had smiled on the pairing: the boisterous yet compassionate police lieutenant who could be heard coming into a room before anyone saw him and had a somewhat eccentric outlook on life, and the sweet, shy woman who had worked in the downstairs office as a clerk. If anything, he had initially thought Brian would go to his grave a confirmed bachelor before the quiet, dark haired woman entered his life. Lorelei had conquered what many had thought was impossible.

And many agreed Lorelei was good for him; working at the precinct, she understood the dangers of police work even though she wasn't a law enforcement officer herself. She wasn't a complainer, it hadn't taken much to make her happy, and she wasn't a 'spoiled princess' type like some of the other women were. Lorelei shopped thriftily, insisted on continuing to earn her own paycheck even after she'd gotten married despite that the considerable raise in salary and benefits Brian would receive would more than care for the two of them and Joey, kept their apartment immaculate, she wasn't high maintanance; going to a fast food place or a more upscale restaurant affected her not at all, and given the choice between going to a club and staying home with a book, Lorelei chose the latter.

Most of all, Lorelei was very devoted to Joey as if the girl were her own daughter, which she soon would be.

That night:

"Oh Jesus, what a long ass day," Brian sighed, kicking off his shoes, loosening his tie, and flopping on the couch. "I thought it would never end."

"Well, how many get promoted twice, pass out in the captain's office, and then charm the press and public all in one day?" Lorelei asked with a grin

"Do not remind me of the fainting episode," he said.

"What do you guys want for dinner?" Joey called from the kitchen. "There's like six thousand things that got sent home with us from the swearing in party."

"Oh God, I think I'm going to puke," Brian groaned, laying back on the sofa back with his arm thrown over his eyes. "Holy shit, kid, don't tell me you're hungry. We've done nothing but eat today. If I eat anything else, I'm going to fucking explode."

"Cool, does this mean I get the night off?" Joey teased.

"Yeah, but don't get too comfortable, little lady, because your ass goes back to school Monday." With that, Brian stood up and began to lower his pants.

"Dad!" Joey exclaimed. "Jeez!" She covered her eyes.

"What? I have on underwear," he protested. "Can't a man get comfortable in his own house? I've been wearing this shit all day."

"Were you like raised by wolves or something?" she asked. "Jesus, Dad. I'm not really interested in seeing you in your drawers."

"I will have you know that some of your friends think I have a nice ass, little miss."

"Brian!" Lorelei cried. "For the love of God!"

"All right, I'll go do this in the bedroom. I guess this is what I get for living with two women."

"That's beside the point, Brian. Don't traumatize the poor girl."

"I need eye bleach," Joey said. "I think that image has burned into my brain for life."

"Jesus Christ, you two act like you never saw a guy in his undies before." He made his way toward the bedroom. "Fine, I'll put on sweat pants if it makes you two happy."

"And a shirt," Joey added. "Paul's right, you really are a white boy. We don't want to see that pasty shit either."

"Keep it up, Josephine, and you'll be locked out on the balcony tonight," Brian called from the bedroom.

Joey turned to Lorelei. "Not to worry, Lor. That's a common threat that he never follows through on."

"And to think this is what is heading up the city's finest," Lorelei smiled back at her. "If they could only see him now."