Keeping Katie Ch 2
Don woke up and knew immediately Karen wasn't in bed with him. It was early in the morning but too early even for her. She was still worried in spite of his reassurances. He rolled out of bed and from long habit he pulled on his pants, even though there was only the two of them in their quarters. Sometimes Karen brought one of the kids in here for private chats.
She was curled up on the couch, looking out the sliding glass doors at the rain coming down and holding a cup of tea. "Hi." She said.
" 'Morning. How long have you been up?"
"Just a bit. I couldn't sleep." She slid forward.
He sat down on the space behind her and she leaned back against him. He wrapped his arms around her warm form and kissed the top of her head. "You're still worried about Katie, aren't you?"
"I keep going over it in my mind. What could she have found that would require us to make an appointment so urgently."
"It could be any number of things. Not all of them alarming."
"It is though. I can feel it."
"Are you turning into a witch on me now?" he teased gently.
"I always have been except where you're concerned." She smiled up at him and gave him a kiss.
"Mmmm. You smell like tea. I need to go make me some coffee."
"It should be ready in a few minutes. I already set the pot up for you."
"I should take you to the precinct with me. You make a better coffee than anyone I know. Even better than that axle grease Munch makes."
"Bear grease sounds better from what I hear. And I couldn't be around you all day without wanting to kiss you and I don't think the Chief of D's would care for that."
"He's just jealous. But you're right. I like you here at home, in my arms and in my bed. How long until that coffee is done?"
"It just kicked on."
"Are you in a hurry to get up for the day?" he asked.
"I suppose that depends on what you have in mind."
Don nuzzled his way to her neck and kissed it while his hand was sliding inside her robe and touching her bare breast. "I think I can distract you from what you were thinking about."
"I think you can." She said breathlessly moving against him so she was able to put her hand behind her and stroke the front of his pants. "Uh, Don."
"Hmm?"
"This might make you late for work today."
"I don't really care. I want to make love to you and I don't care if it does make me late."
"Mmm." She responded with growing excitement. She tilted her head up and captured his mouth.
He took the coffee cup from her and put it out of the way. "I want you so much. You are the sexiest woman alive." He rubbed her nipples to hardness.
She turned toward him, pulling the knot in the belt of her robe undone so it fell open and he could see her large, luscious breasts coming toward his mouth. He opened his mouth and pulled one into his mouth while he massaged the other with his had. He slid his hand down from one breast to the front of her so he could insert one finger in her hot wet depths. She clenched down on it and moved around on it, using her tongue to excite his mouth into a frenzy. She was making loving noises now and he was getting hard and achy, just thinking about her on him and moving like that.
She was moving faster now and he was building toward something beautiful. She flung her bathrobe wide and reached for the waistband of his sweat pants. He helped her pull them down and she urged him urgently to turn around and slide down so she could straddle him. He was ready for her when she sank down on him, hot and wet and ready for him.
As she sank down on him he surged up into her and within minutes he was tense all over as he exploded into her plunging depths. She rode him hard and he thought he was going to lose his mind before she came too in a toe-deep groan and collapsed on him. She lay against him and he kissed her hair, not able to move just yet.
She rose off him and sank down on the couch next to him. "You are the horniest man I have ever met. I was worried that we might not have a good sex life. I was wrong. It's great."
"I think so." He admitted with a smile.
They heard noises from outside their quarters that indicated that the rest of the household was getting up. "I guess we're up for good now." Don said.
"I guess so. You seemed to be up already." she patted his chest.
He chuckled and kissed her. "I need to get a shower and get going. Damn, I hate mondays."
"I like any day that I wake up next to you. You be careful today, okay?"
"Every day, but especially now that I have you to come home to."
She smiled. "Take your shower and I'll make you some coffee."
"We're going to have to remodel the bathroom." he said getting up.
"Remodel it? Why?"
"We need a bigger shower so we will both fit." he chuckled and laughed when she blushed.
"Then we'll never get to work on time."
"Exactly."
"Go take a shower, Don. I have to make breakfast for the horde this morning. I love you."
"Love you, too."
He climbed into the shower and thought that remodeling the room was still a good idea. The shower was good, but the head needed to be higher for him and it really could be wider for other reasons besides the one he'd mentioned. He smiled. She was so cute when she blushed. It was a sweet thing that she did.
How much would it cost to make this part of the house bigger? Maybe make a small kitchen in here as well? It didn't need to be much, just for him and her. He'd have to give it more thought. Or maybe they'd build a separate house for the two of them and Karen could make this into more rooms for the kids. Somedays it seemed like the house was bursting from the bodies in it. Don was lost in a happy daydream when he heard the sounds of anger from out in the kitchen. Males shouting. Karens voice commanding, but worried too.
He hurriedly finished and threw on his suit. His coffee was on the table, he snatched it on his way out the door. Karen was standing protectively between Laslo and Barry. She was looking angrily from one to the other. Don came out and walked up to her, giving her a kiss on the cheek and a squeeze around her shoulders. "What's going on?" he asked.
Karen left him standing there, sipping his coffee and looking from one hostile juvenile to another. She moved back to the stove where something smelled good, french toast. "Someone tell me." he demanded a bit more firmly.
"He's trying to kick me out of the house." Barry indicated Laslo resentfully.
"It's time you left. You have a job, a car and you can go. Karen can get someone in here that pays and it won't be so hard on her." Laslo said sharply "Instead of coming here and lording it over us that you can go if you want to."
"Excuse me?" Karen said from the stove. "In the first place, Barry can stay here as long as he likes, he has just as much right here as you do. This is his home too, just like when you get to be his age if you want to stay you can. In the second place, you don't worry about the money here that's my job."
"And mine." Don put in.
"Our job." Karen flashed a smile at him. "How old are you now, Laslo?" she asked as though she didn't know, which Don knew she did.
"I'm 16, almost seventeen." Laslo said importantly.
"You just turned 16." BB said for the first time that morning.
"I think, if you're starting to worry about money, how about if you start seeing if you can find a job outside of here and school?"
"H-How will I get to work? And back home?"
"It'll depend on the job. If you can get one directly after school you might be able to go right from there and someone will come get you when you're done at night. We'll also check into getting you a drivers training course. You've earned the right to be out in public, but you need to be aware that they're going to watch you closely because of your past behavior and where you live. Think about it. Don, what do you think?"
"I think it's a good idea. Depending on your hours and mine, Laslo, I can pick you up on my way home some nights."
"That would be cool. Thanks." Laslo said shyly.
"Do you want me to leave, Karen?" Barry said.
"No, Barry, I do not. This is your home, just like always and it will be for as long as you care to come home. Enough of this nonsense. BB, you could check around too for something you could do. Sometimes kids your age can get some jobs here and there. But you all know the rules. The checks come here and we decide together where and how they'll be spent. I'm still your legal guardian."
"If I earn it..." Laslo said indignantly.
"Barry never had a problem with not having enough money and you won't either if you're careful. And by the time you need a car you'll have some money to go look for one, plus some savings. Not negotiable, Laslo." Karen said firmly. "Eat your breakfast, the bus'll be here soon. You, too, Miss Katie. We have to go somewhere today."
Katie, looking rumpled, had just gotten up. Her school was out for the day. Don went over and stroked her hair down. "'Morning, Katie." she little girl just waved and sat down. Don grinned at her. She was always slow to wake up.
"It's not fair, that Katie doesn't have to go to school today." BB said.
"Katie goes to a different school than you and she has inservice training today. What is in your food that makes you all whine like babies today? Come on let's move. I have things I need to do today too."
"We know." Laslo said meaningfully looking at Don and back.
Karens face went cold and completely still. She pinned him with a cold, cold glare. Smart to a fault, Laslo quickly ducked his head. He'd gone way over the line that time. "I'm sorry." he said.
"Sweetheart, I need to get going. Las, Barry, walk me out?" Don said.
Karen shot him a surprised look, but she nodded when she caught his eye. "I get a kiss first." she said cheerfully.
"Of course."
"Did you put your dry cleaning out? I can take that in if you want."
"I'm not asking you to do that." he said.
"I'm offering. I have to be right near there anyway. It's up to you."
"I'll set them out. Thank you."
He finished his coffee and went back into their quarters. He got out his shoulder holster, and put his gun on then grabbed his badge. He was all dressed when he came back into the kitchen. The kids were bustling around getting their stuff ready when he emerged. Karen looked over at him and winked when she saw his badge. It seemed to turn her on. He figured that it might be different if he were wearing it while he made love to her. It'd be a little cold. He smiled at the thought. She looked curiously at him and he shook his head slightly. He'd tell her later. "Come on, guys."
He went over and kissed Karen gently. "I'll see you tonight."
"Tonight. Take care. Love you."
"Love you, too."
The guys knew he was going to talk to them, that wasn't rocket science. He opened his car door and started it. "You and I all know what went on this morning was not about Barry moving out or not. What's going on?" Laslo scuffed his foot in the dirt of the driveway. Barry looked smug. Neither said anything. Okay, since you won't tell me, I'll tell you. Barry, you haven't moved out even though you can and Laslo you want to be the man of the house, you're certainly getting old enough. The fact of the matter is, that I'm here now and I am the man of the house. But that doesn't mean I don't need help. Since we all live here and we all care about Karen we all have to take care of the place and her. I'm counting on you guys to help me keep Karen, Katie and BB safe. You are both my eyes and ears when I'm not here. Let me know if there's anything I need to know, discreetly. Can I count on you?"
"Yeah." Barry said.
"I guess." Laslo sounded disappointed.
Don felt sorry for the young man. He'd obviously been looking forward to being the man of the house. "Las, do you have a cell phone?"
"No."
"Well, I think it's time we check into one for you. You'll need one if you're going to be the one who helps me keep an eye on things around here. I'll help you get it, but it'll be up to you to pay the bill, okay?"
"Okay." he tried to keep the joy and pride out of his voice.
"I need to get going. I'll see you both tonight. No more arguments over whose the big dog around here, Okay?"
"Yes, sir." they both said.
Don drove out of the driveway and headed for his job in the city. He felt like a Dad. He grinned, even though the heavy traffic that made him a little late. Karen had done that for him. He was happy.
"It's about time you got over that." Fin was telling Munch in a cranky voice when Don walked into the squad room.
Don laughed at the similarities between the two sets of males. He was grinning when he walked through the squad room and it didn't go unnoticed by the detectives. Elliott grinned at Olivia. "Someone is happy today."
"Good, it's about time." Olivia said with a smile.
Don spent the morning getting all the fires put out from over the weekend. At 11:00, Elliott knocked on his door. "Got a moment, Captain?"
"Sure. What's up?"
"THings sewem to be going well for you at home then?"
"I walked in on two different arguments this morning. Laslo and Barry and...
"Fin and Munch, right?"
"Let's just say the difference is minimal." Don snorted in amusement.
Elliott laughed. "I broke up an argument between Dickie and Elizabeth. Something in the air, I think. I, uh, thought I'd mention that Kathy and I are not seeing eye to eye these days and I'm not sure she's going to be coming with us and if she does it might not be all sunshine and light. I thought I'd let you know so you can warn Karen."
"I'll tell her. Is there anything I can do?"
"No, but thanks. I take it things are good at home?"
"Yes, they're good. Was there something else?"
"I think we're on to something with the Ripley case."
Elliott told Don all about the case and he listened but it wasn't with the full attention he probably should have had. His mind kept wandering back to this morning and his body tried to follow. He was forced to stay seated until Elliott left then he considered smashing his hand in the drawer just to break the train of his thoughts. Not really, but he had to knock this stuff off. He tried like the devil to concentrate on his job. It helped when they brought a suspect in and he went to watch the interogation. Except the kid wasn't much older than Laslo on the surface. When he opened his mouth, the difference was obvious. This kid had it figured out that no one cared about him and he was out only for himself, viewing everyone else as unimportant and useless. As hardened as Don had become he found himself shuddering at the kids careless, apathetic attitude.
"Make sure we keep him here. He's a danger to himself and everyone else." He told Munch. "Do we have the information on his parents?"
"He's in the foster care system. He has been in twelve different homes since he was 6. I think the current home, just doesn't care any more. I'm going to call Childrens Services and have them investigated. I called them four hours ago and I haven't heard from them."
"Good idea. In the meantime, get a advocate here for him. And call Novak about charging him as an adult."
"As an adult? Captain, he's only sixteen."
"With an outlook like his and the crimes he's done he's committed he'd be lucky to make it to 17 unless we do an intervention. Come down hard on him and make him pay attention to what his crime is. He think he's invincible because he's a minor, let's show him he isn't."
"Okay."
Don strode back to his office and dug into the pile on his desk. Now he was back in his captains mode. He was a veritable whirlwind of activity until he saw Casey Novak headed back out of the Squad room. "Casey, can I speak to you?" he called.
She paused and looked puzzled at him. She checked her watch and came toward his office. "I don't have a great deal of time." she said.
"I won't keep you long." He assured her. He closed the door to his office and sat down on the front of his desk. "What do you know about adoptions?"
"Uh, they aren't my specialty, but I know it's easier if two people are married, even common law or in a long term relationship. But it's not just a couples game anymore. Singles can be parents too. Why? Are you thinking about adopting Ripleys killer?"
"Not hardly. You've heard that I've been seeing Karen, I'm sure. No one knows, but everyone suspects that I've asked her to marry me and she said yes."
"That's wonderful."
"Yeah, it is. There's a little girl that lives with her, us, that we want to adopt. Her name's Katie and she's 6 now. She's had some problems in the past and she has no relatives that we can tell, but Karen got a call from a lawyer who mentioned a problem. We have an appointment on Wednesday to see her, but it has Karen and frankly me in knots over what it could be. Can you tell me what it might be? Could us not being married be the problem?"
"It might be part of the problem at some point, but not this early in the proceedings. It could be almost anything. Have you contacted the lawyer to see if you could get any information?"
"We just found out about it last night. I don't know who Karen talked to and whether or not she called the woman back today. This means alot of both of us. I hate to ask but could you...?"
"I can check into it if you want. Just get me the name of the lawyer and any other information you have and I'll see what I can find out. Okay?"
"That would be appreciated."
"I really do have to run. Call my office with what you have and I'll get started on it right away."
"Thank you." Don said gratefully.
He went back to the squad room and looked around. Everything looked status quo. He went into his office and dialled home. "Wesson residence." Karen said sounding distracted.
"It's me. Is everything okay?" he said.
"Hey, me." She said with a smile in her voice and it sounded like her attention was all on him now. He liked that about her that she could put a smile in her voice when she chose to. "Yes, everything is fine. I'm trying to get this stupid computer to do what it's supposed to. I'm at the 'ready to chuck it out the window' stage. How is everything with you?"
"It's good. What was the name of that lawyer you contacted?"
"Um, let's see. Crystal Dettrich. And it was just a casual thing so she won't bill us yet. Why, did they contact you?"
"No, I was just thinking about that."
"I'm trying not to. I can't figure out what is wrong that would send up problems with this. It's not like Katie has any relatives or anything. Maybe it's just paperwork."
Don didn't believe that, but he let her think so. He hoped he was wrong. "I just had a break and I thought I'd call you. Do you need me to pick anything up before I come home tonight?"
"Nope, I have everything, but thank you, that's a big help."
"Okay, I'll see you about 6:00. I love you."
"Love you, too. I'm looking forward to seeing you."
"Same here. I'll see you soon."
"Bye."
He hung up and called Caseys number leaving the information he had for her and hung up. The rest of the day he was on edge, but he didn't hear from Casey before he left the office. He really didn't expect to. She was a busy woman.
His phone rang while he was on the way home. "Cragen."
"It's Casey. I have some information for you."
"Tell me." he pulled off the road so he could talk on his cell phone.
"That attorney is skilled in adoptions. I called her office and spoke to her. It looks like Katie has some relatives that weren't uncovered until now. I think they're going to seek custody of her."
"What can we do to prevent it?"
"I'm not sure if you can. I don't know all the particulars, but having Dettrich on your side is a good idea."
"Thanks, Casey. Send me the bill at the office, will you?"
"There's no bill, Captain. I'm collecting favors." Casey laughed into the phone.
Don snorted with a smile. "I think I'd rather pay the bill." he shot back. "Thank you for checking into it for me."
"No problem."
He eased back onto the road and drove the rest of the way home. The kids were in the house, getting ready for dinner when he walked in. Karen took one look at his face and knew something was wrong. He nodded and didn't say anything. There was no way they could talk about it until later. They all sat down to eat. Neither he nor Karen ate too much. For whatever reason, the kids were anxious all evening and didn't settle down until well after they were supposed to be in bed.
Finally they were all asleep. Karen left the door open a crack so she could hear if there was a problem. She turned to Don. "What's wrong, Don?"
He pulled her into a hug and closed his eyes, wishing he didn't have to tell her the news. "We've got a problem." he said.
TBC
