Chapter 12: Bad Egg

. . .

Another two weeks had passed and everything seemed to be working like clockwork. Despite Jo and Mac's crazy working hours. They took turns taking care of the kids and when they both had to go out to a crime scene, Ellie willingly looked after Rick and Lily.

Deep down Jo was pretty amazed how well her teenaged daughter got along with two kids. It was almost as if she wanted to make up for all those years when she was the little sister, always dreaming about being the big one. What was even more amazing, Jo noticed how it also changed her own relationship with Ellie. She didn't act like a stubborn teenager anymore. Sure, she still had some moments, but much only rarely. Now, she was responsible and mature most of the time, ready to discuss every issue and reach a compromise, instead of blindly insisting and trying to get what she wanted by using all possible means, from begging to screaming.

It also worked the other way round, as Jo got the impression both Rick and Lily were getting more and more comfortable with the new situation because of spending more time with Ellie. With Lily it was quite simple – she just loved everyone who showed her some affection. It was much more tricky with Rick, though. Any signs of affection seemed to make him uncomfortable, but at the same time he was constantly seeking attention. He didn't want to be in the center of it, but didn't want to be left out either. Jo noticed that while being around Ellie, Rick was significantly more open. He talked more and laughed more. And he also seemed to be impressed by Ellie, who after all was a high-school junior now. Jo couldn't help but smile as she saw him following her daughter around like a little puppy, always craving her company.

Now, while being at Jo's place, Rick didn't seem to be waiting so impatiently for Mac to return from work. Quite the opposite – he seemed to almost dread this moment, as it usually indicated that soon they had to go back to their own place. Of course Rick still was very close with Mac, as he had been from the very first day. But their bond was different and to be honest, Jo couldn't quite put her finger on it. She often wondered if they talked at all while at Mac's place, as they both seemed to value the silent understanding that seem to exist between them over sharing their feelings by talking about them.

But it wasn't much of a surprise taking into consideration Mac's personality. That's why she was always astonished by Mac's behavior around Lily. It was almost as if she was witnessing another man. Lily seemed to be the only one who wasn't taken aback by Mac's guardedness. She never hesitated to show how much she liked him and it was very easy for Jo to notice how it always both touched him and somehow rendered him helpless, as if he didn't know the right way to express his feelings. But the thing was – there was no right way for Lily – she gratefully accepted every sign of affection, no matter how clumsily it was showed.

Jo didn't want to admit it, even to herself, but she loved watching Mac and Lily interact. And not only did she enjoy watching them, she also felt she had to do it, as Mac was totally defenseless when it came to Lily. It was enough for her to merely look at him or pout her lips and he would agree to everything. He was completely unable to tell her 'no' and more than once Jo had to step in and stop him. She smirked lightly, thinking how funny it was that it was actually a 4-year old girl, who managed to wrap the chief of the New York crime lab around her little finger.

''What are you doing?'' Ellie's voice broke into Jo's thoughts. She sat on the washing machine and watched as her mom folded freshly washed laundry. Jo glanced at her, amused.

''And what do you think?'' She asked with a smile and Ellie rolled her eyes.

''I'm bored.'' She admitted.

She had returned home earlier than usual, as her last two classes had been canceled due to a teacher's absence and now she couldn't find anything to keep herself busy. It was the second week since Rick had started to go to school again. And Lily wasn't there either, as both Jo and Mac decided it would be good to send her to preschool, even though she wasn't very happy about it. They started by dropping her there for 2-3 hours at a time, but still she seemed to be the most happy when it was time to come home.

''Don't you have any homework to do?'' Jo asked her.

''OK, I'm not that bored.'' Ellie admitted and Jo laughed.

''Once I finish this I'm going to pick up Lily and Rick. You can come with me and we can all do something fun together.'' Jo offered.

''Cool!'' Ellie agreed happily. ''I'm going to get ready then.'' She said and rushed to her room.

In no more than 10 minutes they left their place. Lily's kindergarten was just two blocks away, as they had chosen the nearest one to make it easier to drop her there or pick her up anytime.

Once they arrived, Jo scanned the playground, but she couldn't spot Lily anywhere. She started to get anxious, when she heard Ellie.

''There she is.'' She said and pointed to the left with her hand. Indeed, instead of playing with other kids Lily was sitting on the low wall, looking rather miserable.

''Hi, sweetie.'' Jo greeted her as they approached. She noticed how the girl's face lightened up for a moment upon seeing her and Ellie. But then, almost instantly, the corners of her mouth turned down. ''What's with the sad face?'' Jo asked her. ''What happened?'' She crouched in front of her and gave her a hug. Much to her surprise it didn't help, as Lily started to cry.

Ellie frowned deeply and crouched right next to Jo. She stroked Lily's hair and said, ''Hey, lil' one, can you tell us what happened?''

Upon hearing her voice Lily pulled away from Jo and looked at Ellie.

''He said that nobody wanted me.'' She uttered between sobs.

''Oh, honey...'' Jo started, but she was cut off by Ellie.

''What?!'' She asked, not sure if she heard Lily right.

''He said that Jo isn't my real mom and that I'm an orphan.'' Lily added and started to cry even more.

''He said WHAT?!'' Ellie asked again, fuming at what she just heard. '' 'He' who?'' She asked quickly and before Jo could react, Lily pointed with her finger at the boy near the swing.

''That one?'' Ellie made herself sure. ''In the red T-shirt?''

''Yup.'' Lily nodded with a sniff.

''El, don't you dare...'' Jo started, but it was already too late, as Ellie hurried towards the boy. ''Oh my God.'' Jo groaned, as she had never seen her daughter so angry. She covered her mouth with one hand in horror, placing the other around Lily's shoulders, ready to cover her eyes in case things got brutal.

She witnessed how Ellie stopped in front of the boy and put her hands on her hips, assuming a menacing pose. Then she pointed with her head towards Jo and Lily and the boy glanced over at them. He looked at Ellie and nodded lightly. Only then Ellie bent over slightly, moved her face closer to his and started talking slowly. Her face was impassive, in contrast to the boy's. First his brows arched and his eyes widened, then his chin started to tremble. Finally he burst into tears, backed off slightly and then ran away whining loudly. Ellie followed him with her gaze and then slowly returned to Jo and Lily.

''Ellie!'' Jo gasped. ''What have you done?''

''I didn't even touch him!'' Ellie noted.

''But what did you tell him?'' Jo asked again, truly horrified that her daughter was capable of bringing a little boy to tears in less than 2 minutes.

''Oh, I just told him what will happen to him if he bullies Lily once more...'' Ellie said and shrugged her shoulders.

''You threatened a 4-year old?!'' Jo whispered in shock, shaking her head in disbelief.

''4-year old or not, he was mean.'' Ellie said stubbornly. Then she crouched in front of Lily. ''I can bet he won't bother you again, lil' one.'' She told Lily tenderly and she nodded in response. But something was clearly still on her mind.

''He told everyone they shouldn't play with me.'' She said woefully. ''Because there has to be something wrong with me as nobody wanted me.''

Jo looked at her sadly and was just about to start comforting her, when Ellie said, ''He's thick as a brick. Nothing is wrong with you. You're wonderful.'' She said firmly, but Lily didn't seem to be at all convinced by her words. ''Have you taken a good look at him?'' She asked and Lily shook her head slowly. ''He's got ginger hair! And he's covered with freckles! I bet that when his mom saw him in the hospital for the first time after giving birth to him, she wrinkled her nose and said 'ewwww'.'' Ellie said and Lily finally laughed, while Jo did her best trying to stifle her own chuckle. ''But what could she do? He's her son... She couldn't give him away, even if she wanted to.'' Ellie continued. ''And you? You're sweet, pretty and clever. No wonders we all loved you from the start.''

''You did?'' Lily asked quietly, turning her gaze from Ellie to Jo.

''Of course.'' She assured her.

''See? Everyone loves you. You stayed with us not because we had to take care of you, but because we wanted to. We chose you because you're the best, Lily.'' Ellie finished and Jo was able to see how Lily's face lightened up with a big smile. ''Promise me you won't ever let anybody tell you otherwise.'' Ellie told her seriously and Lily nodded. Then she threw her little arms around Ellie's neck and hugged her tightly.

''Where's your jacket, sweetheart?'' Jo asked Lily when she finally pulled away from Ellie and jumped off the low wall. She furrowed her eyebrows for a moment.

''I left it on the bench.'' She finally recalled.

''Go get it and then we'll go pick up Rick.'' Jo told her and Lily ran towards the playground. ''Well done, kiddo.'' Jo whispered to Ellie and kissed the top of her head. ''But you shouldn't scare this boy...'' She added.

''Oh, come on, mom! He totally deserved it.'' Ellie rolled her eyes. ''I only told him that the next time he's mean to Lily, I'll feed him to sharks.''

''El!'' Jo gasped in shock.

''What?'' Ellie asked in high-pitched voice. ''He should know there are none in New York.'' She said and Jo laughed.

. . .

After they picked up Rick from school Ellie came up with the idea of having ice-cream, which of course was fully accepted by Rick and Lily. They bought the ice-cream and headed back home, making a detour through the park.

When they finally got home it was almost evening and Jo started to prepare dinner, as soon Mac should be back from the crime lab. She wasn't mistaken, as after only a while the intercom buzzed.

''Ellie! It's Mac. Can you let him in, please?'' Jo asked from the kitchen.

''Sure!'' Ellie answered.

''Hi there.'' Jo greeted him as he entered the kitchen.

''Hi.'' He murmured, rather grumpily.

''How was your day?''

''Fine.'' He answered.

''You sure?'' Jo asked again as she threw him a curious glance over her shoulder. She knew he wasn't very talkative, especially when he was tired, but this was unusual even for him.

''We have to talk.'' Mac told her with a sigh. Jo quit what she was doing and turned around to face him.

''You look serious.'' She noted. ''Did something happen?''

''No.'' He shook his head, but before she could release a relieved breath, he added, ''at least not yet.'' She put the cloth aside and sat across the table from him, watching him carefully. ''So... I got a call from Judge Collins' office last night. Caroline, his secretary... well, let's just say we've known each other for a while, so she called me instantly when she got the news.''

Jo made a mental note on 'knowing Caroline for a while', but decided not to ask about it right now, as she was more concerned about what Mac wanted to share with her.

''She told me that there is another couple who applied to adopt Rick and Lily.'' He finally said.

''Oh...'', was all Jo managed to utter.

''They seem to be perfect.'' He sighed. ''Married for almost 11 years, they can't have kids on their own. They have a house in the suburbs...''

''What does it mean?'' Ellie's voice suddenly cut into Mac's words. They both turned around and looked at her. She was standing in the doorway, her brows furrowed.

''Well... Rick and Lily weren't supposed to stay with us permanently, hon.'' Jo started to explain. ''Only until the adoption case and now...''

''You think this couple will get to adopt them instead of you?'' Ellie asked point-blank.

''Yes, pretty much that's the case here.'' Mac sighed.

''But how come?'' Ellie shook her head in disbelief. ''They've already grown accustomed to living with you. It's just started to work...'' She tried to reason, but quickly emotions took over and she looked at Jo sadly. ''Mom, I don't want them to be adopted by someone else.'' She complained in a broken voice.

''None of us wants that, hon.'' Jo told her honestly and smiled sadly at her.

''So let's do something!'' Ellie said strongly. She pulled the chair out from the table and sat next to Jo and Mac.

''I don't know if there's anything we can...'' Mac noted shyly. Ellie eyed him a moment and visibly winced at the lack of spirit he showed. Then she turned all her attention to her mom.

''Mom, you have to do something.'' She repeated.

''Ellie, I don't think we can compete with a couple like that.'' Jo sighed, deciding to be painfully honest with her.

''But you're already taking care of them, aren't you? Doesn't that count at all?'' Ellie asked.

''I guess it does.'' Mac interjected, causing Ellie to look at him again, more softly this time. ''But I fear it won't be enough.'' He added and Ellie turned back to look at her mom.

''In such a case the main thing is to examine whether the people who apply for adoption are capable of providing safety and stability for the children.'' Jo explained to her.

''But you can do it as well. You've already done it. With me.'' She noted.

''It was different, Ellie...'' Jo sighed deeply, not wanting to go into details. ''There is no chance the judge will seriously consider us when he has the perfect candidates right in front of his nose.'' She told her. ''We don't even live together.'' She added hopelessly and leaned back in her chair.

''So start living together!'' Ellie told her. Then she glanced at Mac. ''Is it that hard? To move in together?'' She seemed to address her question to Mac this time, but he remained silent. He glanced at Jo and their eyes met, although he couldn't tell what she was thinking about the idea.

''Well...'' Jo hesitated. ''It's easy only in theory.'' She said. ''How do you imagine that? Mac and Rick moving in here? We don't have enough room here, our place is too tiny.''

''My place is bigger.'' Mac noted quietly and both, Jo and Ellie, turned their attention to him. Ellie smiled lightly, while Jo tilted her head to the side and eyed him. She couldn't quite believe what he had just said. He was the last person who she would suspect of eagerly accepting such an idea. But then, she was more than aware how much Rick already meant to him. And how very happy Mac had been over the past several weeks. Actually, she couldn't recall ever seeing him so happy before.

''Mom?'' Ellie asked, wanting to know her opinion on the idea.

''Mac's place is too far away from Rick's school and Lily's preschool.'' She told her sadly and Ellie sighed in disappointment.

''So our place is too small, Mac's place is too far away...'' She repeated with frustration and went silent for a moment. ''Then we have to move to another place.'' She said suddenly.

''What other place?'' Jo asked her, confused.

''I don't know.'' Ellie shrugged her shoulders. ''Some place that will be big enough and conveniently located.''

''You want us to rent another apartment and move in there?'' Jo asked in disbelief.

''Or buy it.'' Ellie specified.

''Ellie, that's crazy...'' Jo told her.

''Why?!''

''Because we can't afford to rent another apartment. Nor do we have enough money to buy another one.'' She explained.

''But you own this apartment, right? And Mac owns his. You can always rent them out, can't you? Or even sell them and buy one together.'' Ellie told her with enthusiasm.

''El, I don't think it's possible.'' Jo shook her head.

''But mom...!''

''Ellie, seriously...'' Jo started, but broke off as Mac suddenly shifted in his chair and cleared his throat.

''Actually... I can see it working.'' He admitted hesitantly. ''I mean, in theory.'' He added quickly. ''Taking into consideration the value of your place and mine on the real estate market we should be able to buy quite a large apartment, located in a nice neighborhood, if we sold our two.''

Jo fixed her eyes on him, having a rather hard time believing he was actually seriously considering this.

''See?'' Ellie asked, looking at her.

''OK... Assuming we could do that... What if we do that and we lose the case anyway?'' Jo asked, keeping her eyes still on Mac. He looked at her as well and slightly nodded, letting her know that he understood her point.

''You're two are hopeless!'' Ellie groaned. ''I thought you wanted to adopt Rick and Lily.''

''We do, but...'' Mac started, but wasn't able to finish.

''Then dooo something!'' Ellie moaned in frustration. ''Mom, you always told me that sometimes you have to take a risk in order to win. That only wimps stand idly by and do nothing.''

Even though Jo was still looking at Mac, she heard Ellie loud and clear. They both did. Their eyes remained locked, as if they were trying to read each other's mind. Then suddenly Jo slightly arched her one eyebrow, like she wanted to ask him a silent question and Mac smiled lightly at her expression. The corners of her mouth curled up and his smile grew wider. Then she raised her eyebrows, not being quite sure what his smile meant and he nodded in response.

''Let's do it.'' He finally said. At first Jo froze, as she couldn't believe it wasn't just her imagination, but that he had actually said that. ''But only if you want to.'' He added quickly.

''I do.'' She nodded and she noticed that he let out the breath he was holding. ''I still think it's totally crazy, though.'' She emphasized. ''But at the same time I hope it'll be worth it.'' She added.

''Yeeesss!'' Ellie exclaimed, throwing her arms in the air, above her head. ''I'm going to search for some apartment listings on the Internet.'' She said and rose to her feet almost knocking the chair down with her sudden movement. ''No, first I'm going to run downstairs and grab the newspaper!'' She suddenly changed her mind and left the kitchen in a hurry. The silence hung between Jo and Mac for a moment.

''I wish she had so much enthusiasm towards studying or doing house work...'' Jo sighed, which made Mac laugh. Then she got back to preparing dinner. ''So... Caroline, huh?'' She asked casually.

''Yea... we used to date. Nothing serious, only a couple of times.'' Mac admitted reluctantly.

''It didn't click?''

''No, it didn't... It's hard for it to 'click' when every date ended with me having to leave for some crime scene.'' Mac sighed.

''Oh, yea.'' Jo agreed sadly. ''So... Claire, Caroline, Christine... You seem to have a thing for women whose names start with a 'C'...'' She joked, trying to lighten up the mood.

''It does seem so, doesn't it?'' He laughed. ''I guess it's about time to switch to another letter in the alphabet.'' He joked.

Before Jo could come up with an answer, Ellie got back. She entered the kitchen, panting heavily, and put the pile of newspapers on the table. Jo turned around and eyed her carefully.

''OK, so now I'm going to search the Internet and...''

''Ellie, slow down for a moment.'' Jo asked her. ''Sit down, please.'' Ellie frowned slightly, but listened. ''I don't want you to get too excited, El.'' Jo told her. ''Even if we live together we'll still be far from being that couple who's married for over 10 years.''

''Well... You're both single, right? You can always get married.'' Ellie blurted out.

''Have you lost your mind?'' Jo asked her slowly, looking at her with her eyes wide open. Then she turned her head to look at Mac and make some comment about her daughter's mental sanity, but as soon as she looked at him, she forgot what she wanted to say. She was prepared to see all sorts of emotions on his face: embarrassment, confusion, bafflement, fear... But she saw none of those.

His head was slightly tilted to the side and a small smile played on his lips. But what caught her attention, was the glint in his eyes. She didn't recall him ever looking at her like this. What was even more – she didn't recall him ever looking at anybody else like this either.

. . .

A/N So in order to prevent the depression caused by the fact that freaking CBS canceled my favorite TV-series, I decided to keep myself busy with working on the update.

Many, many, many thanks to UrbanMuse for correcting this chapter, as my regular beta, Jessica, decided to take a vacation. Which is always good, just not too long. I really hope she'll be back soon, as I'm sure making UrbanMuse working double shifts as a beta violates at least bunch of employment laws and sooner or later I'll get sued... if not by her, then by labour union ;)

I hope you'll enjoy it. Please don't forget to tell me what you think!