Jerry As He's Meant to Be
Jerry had never been so relieved to be done with a sting than that night. Not only were they without Bobby and Alex, but they'd been with a man he didn't know against a man who had been dirty and one who appeared clueless. Karen was a good officer, he had no doubt about that, but he wasn't sure how to go about talking to her. It seemed every time he'd done something he thought was a good idea or even voiced and opinion he'd been shot down. He was getting damned tired of feeling like an idiot.
Karen had been so preoccupied with the paperwork and cleaning up all the minor details necessary to get a conviction, indeed they both had, that she'd been unavailable for him to talk to and get this straightened out. Everytime he tried to bring it up she'd shove another stack of forms at him that had to be filled out. "Who the hell made her boss?" he groused under his breath.
"Did you say something?" Bobby asked from his desk.
Jerry had the distinct impression the other man was enjoying his dilemma. "I said…never mind. I didn't say anything."
"Seems to me you haven't been saying much for far too long." Bobby said quietly as he continued to work. He glanced at Jerry and gave a slight jerk of his head toward where Karen was yawning over a pile of paperwork. "Maybe you better get this straightened out once and for all."
"She thinks I'm an idiot."
"She's right." Bobby grinned at the angry expression on his friends face. "That's the crux of the problem, isn't it? You aren't a fool, but those first few days you came off as one. Now you have to prove to her that you aren't really like that, but she won't listen. Then take the initiative. She hasn't been away from those forms for a couple of hours. Take her out to lunch. Get her away and explain how you see the error of your ways and you intend to change. Tell she has to show you how to be the partner she needs."
"That sounds an awful lot like begging." Jerry told him cautiously.
"Not begging. Fighting for the partnership. She's too stubborn to admit if she likes you and you've been rubbing her the wrong way since you met. I don't think she's had a lot of chances to be a real partner with a man without them trying to take charge. If you play your cards right, this could be a turning point for both of you. You showed your partnership potential on this case to the captain, now show it to her. The hardest people to get to know are sometimes the best people to know."
Jerry considered the advice for a few moments then nodded. "Care to come along?"
"Can't. I have a date with three lovely ladies and another guy." He nodded over to where Alex stood with Maggie, Tommy and Frances Annette in her arms. He smiled and walked past Jerry toward his family.
Jerry watched enviously as Bobby kissed his wifes cheek and picked up both his older children in his arms and they all left the room. He turned to see Karen watching them with longing in her eyes. She saw his gaze and hastily dropped her eyes back to the forms in front of her. Jerrys first thought was to tease her about the look in her eyes, but then he realized that was what she expected him to do.
He walked over to her and cleared his throat. She pretended not to hear him. He cleared it louder. She said gruffly. "What?"
He deliberately didn't answer until she looked up, with an insincere anger. "Would you like to go get some lunch with me?"
"No." she said abruptly.
The detective in him picked up on the lack of real conviction in her tone. He wanted to smile but experience with this particular woman had proven that that was the wrong tact. "Are you not hungry or is it that you don't want to go out for lunch with me?"
"Both."
"Then you can pay and I'll eat." He said equatibly.
Karens surprised look at him caught him prepared. He reached down and gently closed the file in front of her. "Karen, we need to eat and we need to talk. The best place to do both is out of here. I'll let you choose since you're paying."
"I'm not paying and picking. You pick or you pay." She gave him a small smile.
"Always with a hard bargain." He teased gently. "Alright, you pick and I'll pay. Next time I'll pick and you pay."
Karen stood up. She was clearly wary of this overture of friendship. Jerry decided this was a good start.
There was a reasonably priced steakhouse 15 minutes from the station. Not many police frequented it because it because it was so hard to park there, but Jerry deftly found one that allowed them easy egress if they needed it. They stood in line only a few moments before they ordered and found a table.
Karen had taken a diet drink to his regular, but otherwise they had ordered the same thing. She folded her napkin on her lap and eyed him levelly. "You said we need to talk." She stated.
Jerry swallowed his adams apple and drew a deep breath. "I owe you a tremendous apology."
Karen sat perfectly still. She gave him the impression his next words would be crucial for this conversation. "Go on."
"I got all excited when I heard I'd gotten this transfer and I allowed it to go to my head. I just didn't think about how my actions would affect you. I assumed, wrongly, that you would be just a sort of window dressing so I wouldn't be the new guy all on my own. A sort of girl Friday, glorified secretary as it were. Those were all very wrong assumptions. You are not nor will you ever be just….." Karens eyes narrowing were his only signs of danger "window dressing. You are smart, gutsy, a hell of a person to have at my back and I'm so glad they made us partners. Even if I don't stay here in this precinct, I don't want anyone else as a partner."
I realize that you don't actually believe that I can be a good partner, because I haven't shown you that I can be, but I swear I won't treat you that way again. They were smart to put us together with Alex and Bobby. I saw that being a partnered with a woman can be a very good thing. What…What are you thinking about us?"
Karen sat there watching him for a few moments. She didn't give him any signs of what she was thinking, except fosr the twitching back anf forth of her eyes. He had about figured that she was going to blow him out of the water when she opened her mouth to speak. And the waiter arrived with their food. She never knew that she interrupted a very tense moment.
"I have two dinners. Who gets what?" she asked.
"They're both the same." Jerry said.
The waitress left and Karen eyed her meal. "I guess I should apologize as well."
"You don't have to just because I did." Jerry hastened to assure her.
Her face went cold. "I guess I should apologize as well. When I came here I expected to find some people who thought I was a country bumpkin because I wasn't from around here and I don't know all the ways of doing things in a city. You looked so nice when I got into the captains office I felt out of place and dumpy so I attacked you. I didn't think I'd ever fit in and I wanted to so bad. I guess I expected you to belittle me and I felt vulnerable. So I jumped down your throat.
"You aren't mean, or nasty or even sexist which I expected, but you can be rather clueless. I have to learn patience, it's one of my many vices. I want us to be partners as well, but I guess that'll be up to Captain Deakins."
"Do you wish sometimes you had a relationship like Alex and Bobby have? Could you work with your husband like they do? Together all day?"
"He'd have to be one hell of a man. I'm not easy to get along with. I have too many temper triggers. It'd be like living with a porcupine."
"I hear porcupine makes a fine meal." Jerry teased.
"That's squirrel, city boy." Karen smiled at him, but this smile was genuine.
Jerry grinned and folded his hands across his heart. "I'm wounded to the core. City boy indeed. I'll have you know, I can camp with the best of them."
"Phsst. I'll have to take you horse back camping some time. Then we'll see how well you get along in the great outdoors."
"Promise?" Jerry was grinning but he was serious. "I'd love to go when the weather gets better."
"When the weather gets better. Yeah, right, I'll keep that in mind. Eat your lunch, detective. We have to get back."
"Yes, ma'am."
They ate in companionable silence for several minutes. In a quiet voice, Jerry said. "They'll probably be deciding soon where we go. Do you have a preference?"
"I wouldn't mind staying right where we are, but I don't suppose that's an option."
"I don't think it is. I guess about anywhere we go will be okay as long as we're assigned together. And we can always call them if we get stuck on something."
"As long as our Captain doesn't find out. We're supposed to be the detectives remember?"
"Right. I hadn't forgotten. So are we good? Think we can go on from here with a clean slate?" Jerry made a puppy dog face at his partner.
Karen laughed and threw her napkin at him. "As long as you don't make that face again."
They headed back to the precinct. Karen was contemplative. "What's up?"
Jerry glanced at her.
"Once he makes that announcement, everything will change."
"It will have to. What are you getting at?"
"I have a favor to ask you."
" A favor? Go ahead."
"I want to have a BBQ. Out at my place. You and me, Bobby, Alex, their kids, Logan Barek and The captain and his wife. Would you help me with it? And help me keep it all straight? I have a big backyard, a big bbq pit and a newly installed swimming pool. I was planning on having a pool opening party anyway, but we could make it a celebration instead. If you- you'll help me give it."
"That's a great idea. What can I do to help?"
"I can throw together food and I can get a side of beef to roast, but I know nothing about beer or things like that. And getting some tables knocked together, maybe some benches or folding chairs to sit on. Oh, and we can have it in the evening then have a campfire so the kids can roast marshmallows."
Jerry watched her face light up at the prospect of the party and it occurred to him that she was striking with all that enthusiasm. You blind fool. He chastised himself, why did it take you so long to see that? He reached over and patted her hand. "Just tell me what you need and when we can do this and I'll be there." He told her.
Karen looked from his hand on hers to his face and didn't pull her hand away.
Bobby was back at his desk and Deakins was in his office. He spotted them and gestured for them to come in. He pointed at Bobby and Jerry indicated Bobby. Deakins nodded and gestured again for them to come in.
"Bobby, Deakins wants us."
Bobby lifted his head, saw Deakins gesture and rose following the other two into his office. "Have a seat." Deakins gestured for them to take the seats opposite his desk.
"Alex is off today, but I got the news of the new precinct assignment for you two and I guess now is as good of a time as any to pass it on."
"Captain, when does it take effect?" Jerry correctly interpreted Karens stillness.
"Two weeks. Why? Is there something I should know about?"
"We knew this would be coming to an end soon, but I was wondering if you could wait to make the announcement. Karen wants to have a party for us, you and your wife, Bobby and Alex and Family of course, and Mike and Carolyn, at her house this weekend, if you're free. Maybe you could announce it then?"
"I'll have to speak to my wife, of course, but I don't see a problem with it." Deakins said carefully.
"Bobby?" Karen asked.
"I think we're free. You're sure about the kids? They can be a handful." Bobby warned.
"Absolutely the kids and bring their swim suits. They'll love my place. It's designed for kids to play in."
"I'll let you know in a few minutes."
"Can you call Mike and Carolyn? I'd like them to be there as well. Please?" Karen said.
"I'll call right now. I-Is there anything else, Captain?"
"No, if that's how you want it, that's fine with me."
"Thank you, sir."
They all got up and headed for the door. "Karen, wait a minute." Deakins held up a hand for her.
"I'll be right out." Karen told Jerry.
Bobby reached for his cell phone as he left the office. Jerry closed the door giving Karen a supportive look in the process.
"Yes, Captain?"
"I'm going to be nosey, but I'm curious. Have you heard any more on your search? The one for your birth mother?"
"No, sir. Not a word. It's like the trail has dried up. Well at least I know she's from around here. That's something. Maybe a lead will show up someday. Is there any particular reason you're asking?"
"I'm interested in my detectives, temporary and permanent."
"It seems we're all temporary, Captain. Some of us more temporary than others. Is that all, sir?"
"Yes, detective, it is."
Jerry waited for an explanation from Karen, but she didn't offer one. Bobby got off the phone. "I talked to Alex. We can make it and so can Mike and Carolyn. What day and time?"
"Saturday at 4:30."
"That's kind of late." Bobby said. "The kids are getting restless by then." He warned.
"Trust me, that won't be a problem." Karen assured him. Jerry grinned.
"Alright, we'll see you then."
A/N: For those who've come along for the ride, the final chapter is next. Can you guess where it's going? Some surprises here. One last chapter.
TBC