Keeping Katie Ch 14

Karen, Charlene and BB were waiting in the kitchen when he stepped back out. BB was dressed in a pale blue dress with a scoop neck, and taffeta skirt. She had her hair up in a semi sophisticated style, with long curls dangling down. Her necklace and earrings matched her dress and she wore low heels that made her seem taller and older than she was. She had just a touch of makeup on and you could see she would be a real knockout very soon. She was smiling nervously and wouldn't meet Dons eyes at first.

"You look lovely, BB." he said. "What exactly does BB stand for? I never heard that."

"Beth Bedelia. My mother liked Louisa May Alcotts book Little Women book and those books about the maid who was slightly ditzy called Bedelia and something that rhymes with it. So she named me that."

"I think for tonight I'll call you Beth. Is that okay?"

"Yes." she said shyly.

"Here, Beth, I have something for you." Don said when Charlene slipped the box with the corsage into his hand.

Her eyes flew to his and saw his kind intent. He gave her the box with the flowers in it. Her eyes went wide and she took it from him. "They're beautiful." she said.

"Open them up." Karen urged.

Beths fingers were clumsy and she finally got them open. Karen helped her put them on her wrist. "You two need to get going so you're not late." she said. She turned to Don. "Take care of her tonight. The other dads will be jealous of you."

"Always. Are you ready, Beth?"

"Y-Yes."

Don turned to Karen. "We'll be back in a while. I love you." he kissed her.

"Just remember who your date is tonight." she said. "I'll be waiting for you."

He offered his arm to Beth and they left the house. She was shy to the point of barely vocal. He handed her into the car, she was awkward, "Relax. We're just going to have a good time and then come home."

"I'm sorry." BB said.

"It's okay. We're a father and daughter going to a dance, that's all. Nothing is going to happen and we'll be fine. Trust me, okay?"

"Okay. Can I ask you a question?"

"Sure."

"You and Karen, you're trying to adopt Katie?"

"We're going to try as hard as we can."

"Could you...I mean, would it be possible...I know I'm older but..."

"What are you asking, Beth?"

"As long as you are adopting Katie, we're like sisters and..."

"You want us to adopt you, too?"

"You're already doing one kid, it should be easier just to do two, right? I mean you'd have all the background checks and things like that already done, wouldn't you? You could just add me to the list."

Don was floored. It was an out of the blue comment. "It isn't that easy." he said.

"It was just a thought." Beth shrugged and looked out the window.

"Don't jump to conclusions. Have you mentioned this to Karen?"

"No."

"Then you need to let us talk about it. You can't throw an idea like that out and expect an immediate answer. That's a big decision for all of us. I would be proud to have you as a daughter. There's no question of that, but it's a legal process and those can't be hurried. Why don't we agree to talk about it with Karen after this weekend? Would you like me to bring it up to her or do you want to do it?"

"D-Do you think she'd want to... well, I sometimes give her a hard time..."

"You've known her longer than I have. Do you think she'd turn you out? Would someone who didn't like you go to all the trouble to buy you that beautiful dress or any of the other things she does for you?"

"She's getting paid by the state."

"Not that much she isn't. She loves you, Beth, she loves all of you. Don't doubt that."

"What about you? Do you want older kids?"

"Where is this coming from? You do realize that if you're adopted, your biological parents won't have any ties to you anymore."

"It's okay. I don't matter to them anyway."

Don reached over and squeezed her hand. "You matter to us. And if you don't matter to them, it's their loss. You are a wonderful girl or we wouldn't be going tonight. Now brighten up or you'll ruin your makeup. You look very pretty and we don't want you to have red eyes at this dance, do we?"

"No, sir."

Don pulled into the school parking lot and parked the car. "Are you ready to go in or do you need a minute?" he asked the girl.

"I'm ready." she said.

"Sit right there and I'll get your door." he said. He walked around the car, nodding to several other fathers who were escorting their daughters into the school. Beth was fidgeting when he opened the door. "You look beautiful. Don't worry." he said firmly.

Beth was nervous when she saw all the others inside, but she wasn't the only one. Everyone was nervous, kids and parents alike. It was rather crowded. Don steered Beth away from most of the crowd. "Hi, BB." one of the other girls said.

"Hi, Lorraine. This is my foster dad, Don Cragen." Beth said. "Don, this is Lorraine Batel and her father, Mr. Batel."

"Clark Batel." the other man said shaking Don's hand.

"Don Cragen. This is pretty well attended."

"We all had to be here or have a really good excuse." BB said.

"I like your dress." Lorraine said told her.

"You look pretty too." BB said.

"Everyone, may I have your attention, please. I see most of you here so we'll start the dance now. I'm Mrs. Muldoon and I need to speak to all of you before you leave. There will need to be at least one dance for everyone tonight and I'm keeping track. Fathers, and significant others, you look as nervous as your daughters. Who wants to be the brave couple to start the dance?"

"How about us?" Don asked Beth. "Let's show everyone how beautiful you look tonight?"

"M-Me?"

"Why not? You came to be seen, didn't you? Come on, I want to show you off."

"Okay."

The music began and Don led her out to the dance floor. It was a slow waltz and Don was careful where he put his hands. BB was nervous, but he was a strong dancer and moved her around so she was paying attention to him and soon she wasn't as nervous. He saw several others doing the same thing including Lorraine and her father. In fact most of the fathers and daughters were now on the dance floor. "See, we started something. It's nice to be the leader, isn't it?"

"I guess."

He smiled at her reluctant response. "Somebody has to start. It might as well be you. You don't have to start everything, but you might as well begin the fun things first."

"Is that what being a captain is? Starting things first?"

"Sometimes. Sometimes I just sit back and watch and others I just direct my officers. It depends on what the situation calls for. Have you given any thought as to what you want to do with your life? After you get out of high school?"

"No. Karen asks everyone, but I just don't know. I don't really have an aptitude for anything special."

"Have you looked into anything?"

"Not really. Some of the kids are talking aobut what they want to do, but nothing sounds good to me. Maybe I'm not good at anything."

"Maybe you're so good at so many things that nothing stands out."

"You don't have to be nice to me because of Karen."

"I'd never do that. Let me tell you a story."

"Here? Now?"

"It seems appropriate. I know a woman who had a really tough home life when she was a child but she went on to become a first rate officer. She didn't think she had much of a future herself, but she does have a very bright one. She could even be police commissioner one day if she wanted to. She has a way of connecting with a victim and getting a suspect to talk that's outstanding. And that's because she has an aptitude for people and she's used that to her advantage. Now, I'm not saying that you should be a police officer, but what about working with . kids or adults like Karen, you could be a teacher. You have a knack with Katie. Maybe you could be a therapist of some kind. Using your natural talents for whatever is a good start careerwise."

"Who is this woman you talked about? The cop? Is it Olivia?"

"No, I suppose that describes her too, but I was speaking of another woman. Her name is Anita Van Buren. She runs another precinct and she's one tough woman. I could introduce you to her if you want to. Maybe she could have someone give you a tour of her precinct."

"How about yours?" she asked, cocking her head like Karen.

"I could, but sometimes the things we deal with are not a pretty sight. I don't invite too many people to tour my house."

"Is that what you call it? Your house?"

Don grinned. "That's a police term. I tend to slip when I talk about my work. Good catch." BB smiled and they realized the music was ending. They clapped cleared the dance floor. Several of the parents made a beeline for Mrs. Muldoon. "I guess now is not the time to go see her." Don said. "How about something to drink?"

"That sounds good."

Lorraine and Clark Batel were the second ones to the punch bowl, followed by several other pairs of dancers. "So what do you do, Don?"

Clark asked.

"I'm in law enforcement." Don said simply. "How about you?"

"I'm the one who people call after they call you. I'm an insurance adjuster." he said with a laugh.

"Auto insurance then?"

"Yes. My business is crashing down around my ears."

Don smiled politely. "Lorraine, Beth was just telling me that she doesn't know what she wants to be when she grows up, how about you? Any plans?"

"Beth? Is that your real name? I think it's pretty. No, sir, I don't. I was thinking of several things, but there are so many it's hard to decide."

"I want her to follow me into the family business. I have a desk just waiting for her when she's ready." Clark said cheerfully.

"Dad! Insurance is so..."

"Boring." BB chimed in with her classmate and both girls giggled.

"I guess it seems like that to you now, but..."

"Please Dad,not tonight."

"Okay, but you know how I feel about it."

"I know." Lorraine said resignedly.

"Are you going to follow your father into the law enforcement business?" Clark Batel asked BB.

"I haven't decided." BB said.

"What ever she does, she'll be great at it." Don said firmly. "Look, Mrs. Muldoon is not busy, let's go see what it is that she wants to speak to you about. Will you excuse us?"

Mrs. Muldoon looked like a true traditionalist. She wore a dress and white gloves. She held a clipboard and a pen and seemed to be taking inventory. She smiled at BB as they approached. "BB, it's good you could make it tonight. You look lovely. And this is your father?"

"Don Cragen." Don said quickly.

"Cragen, uh..." Mrs. Muldoon was flustered.

"I'm her foster father, Mrs. Muldoon. Beth did me the honor of asking me to escort her tonight and how could I say no?"

Mrs. Muldoon smiled broadly at Dons gallantry. "You are so lucky to have a man like him in your life dear."

"What did you need, Mrs. Muldoon?" BB asked.

"I just wanted to make sure that I spoke to all the students and their fathers here tonight. I see some of the students have left already, but I think dancing is such a disappearing art that it's something that we need to continue. Don't you agree, Mr. Cragen?"

"I do, ma'am." Don agreed.

The music started up again. Don turned to BB. "Want to dance again?" the beat was faster on this song.

"Not really." she said eyeing the dancers on the floor.

"Mrs. Muldoon, would you care to take a turn around the floor?" he asked the older woman.

"Well, I must say it sounds like fun, but BB is..."

"Go ahead." she said hastily with wide eyes.

"Well, then I'd love to. Would you hold this please, dear?" Mrs. Muldoon handed BB the clipboard and moved onto the dance floor with Don. She watched in amazement while her foster father and her teacher danced this dance and one more faster one. By this time most of the couples had done their obligatory dance and had left. Not to be outdone, Clark Batel took the teacher around the dance floor a couple of times as well and Don moved back to BB. "Are you ready to go?"

"Yes. What'll I do with this?"

"Let's give it to Lorraine."

It wasn't late clock wise but Don was tired. BB was all wound up so he suggested they stop and get something to eat. BB had pie and a glass of milk, he had pie and coffee. She started to wind down while they were there and was nearly asleep when he finally opened the house door for her to go in first. Charlene was in the living room when they came in. She got up and came out to the kitchen, Karen came out a minute later. "Did you have a good time?" Charlene asked.

"It was fun." BB said tiredly.

"We did. Beth was the most beautiful girl there, just like I thought she'd be." Don said gallantly.

"Go get your dress off, hang it up and head for bed." Karen told the sleepy girl.

"I'll help her, you guys can call it a night, if you want. Don, you look dead on your feet." Charlene said.

"That's a good idea." Karen said.

"You sure you can handle it?" Don asked Charlene.

"I'm sure." the younger woman smiled at them. "You'll need your energy for tomorrow. Good night."

"You heard the boss." Karen said to him. "Good night, Charlene. See you in the morning."

Don followed Karen back into their quarters and gratefully sat down on the sofa. "I'm getting old. I'm exhausted."

"Nah, we just aren't used to dancing with the kids til midnight." Karen assured him. "So what happened tonight?"

Don filled her in on the nights events. "I'm glad there isn't one every week. What went on here?"

"Charlene had a visitor and most of the things are done for tomorrow."

"Who was her visitor?"

"John."

"John? John Munch? Well, well, well. I'm glad for them. She asked me earlier tonight if I'd have a problem with her dating someone from my squad and I told her no."

"She seems happy with him, but I worry that it's too soon for her to be serious with someone after Chuck. I don't want any of them get hurt."

"I think they know exactly who they're seeing. I'm hoping they're anywhere near as happy as we are. I'm really sorry, but I'm tired. Would you mind if we go bed?"

"Not in the least. Thank you for being so wonderful to her tonight."

"It was my pleasure. She's a good girl. I saw too many of the fathers tonight who were just there because they had to be. I was tired, but I'm glad I went. Next time, you and I are going out dancing."

"Promise?"

"You have my word on it." he said tiredly.

"Come to bed, love. Thank you for the gorgeous flowers."

He followed her into their bedroom. She went into the bathroom while he undressed. He saw papers all over the bed, they weren't legal papers, and magazines. Karen came back out. "What's all this?" he asked gesturing to the papers.

"I, uh, was missing you so I was looking at bride magazines. Charlene got them for me."

"Did you find one you liked?"

"No. These are all geared for young, barbie doll types. I'm neither so I was playing with a design for my own."

"Can I see?"

"It's not very good. I'm not much of an artist. And you're tired."

"I'd still like to see." he said, gently.

"Okay. If you want to."

She crawled under the covers and he joined her. He was tired, that was true, but he craved feeling close to her. He curled close to her and she picked up the tablet to show him. Her drawing was crude and probably would never be used for a dress design, but she was meticulous in her sketching. She actually drew it three times. Each time with a different neckline. She showed him the one she liked best and he agreed. She showed him, at his request, the dresses she liked in the bride magazines. He sleepily made a mental note of the magazine and her preferences.

She continued to talk to him just a few minutes more then glanced over at him. He'd fallen asleep.

She smiled at the man who was trying so hard to be a good dad and a new dad at the same time. She put the papers away and turned the lights out, snuggling down next to him to go to sleep.

TBC