Keeping Katie Ch 20

Don drug himself out of bed the next morning to go to work. Everyone else was tired too, so he didn't feel bad. Karen was already cleaning up the kitchen when he left. Charlene had not come in yet. He was in a pleasant frame of mind when he drove to the office. His officers gave no sign of their informal activities of the day before. There was nothing wrong with it, it just might have caused comments by unscrupulous people if it had been known. The day was all about the usual workload.

At 2:30 a woman came in and asked for Cragen. Don met her at his office door. She handed him a paper. "You've been served." she said and walked out.

Don opened the papers. "Son of a bitch."

"Something wrong, Captain?" Elliott asked.

"This is a subpoena from the Jones, seeking custody of Katie on the grounds that I'm an unfit guardian for a young girl. My morals are being questioned." he said in a low, angry voice that all his detectives recognized as him at his most angry. He hurried to his office and closed the door.

"I can't believe that. If there's anyone who should have custody of her it's him and Karen." Elliott said angrily.

"What moral grounds? The fact that they live together out there? So essentially does Charlene." Olivia said hotly.

"They came out to see what dirt they could dig up on them, I'd bet my next check on that." Fin said.

"I think you're right. That means they had grounds. But plenty of people who live together get custody and both Karen and the captain are older." John chimed in.

"They aren't older than the Jones." Olivia reminded him.

"They also aren't related to Katie by blood." Elliott said. He held up his hands when Olivia glared at him. "I think she's better off where she's at as well, but it's not up to me. We've checked everything we can on Jones, but we've come up with nothing."

Don came back out. "I'll be at home if I'm needed. If Novak comes in have her give me a call on my cell." he breezed out of the room.

"Isn't there something we can do to help them?" Olivia asked.

John went over to his computer and sat down. He took a minute to write something down then went on to his computer. "I have a name. Let's go." he told Fin.

"To where, man?" Fin demanded grabbing his coat in his partners wake.

"To get some answers."

Don drove home as quickly as he could. The house had been returned to it's usual condition and so had the yard, which was where Karen was when he got home She was surprised to see him. "Don, what's going on?"

"Have you been here all day?"

"No, we went to the store for supplies. Why?"

"I have some bad news. I got a subpoena from the Jones. They're suing for custody of Katie claiming I'm an unfit guardian for her."

"They can't do that. You aren't her official guardian. I am." Karen said.

"By living here and we're engaged means I'm considered part of the equation. That's going to hurt us."

"But if we're engaged that shows that we're planning on being a family, not just living together. Surely that counts for something." Karen said.

"It depends on the judge. It might work against us, but if we can show that we have made definite plans for the ceremony, we can prove it wasn't just words."

"We haven't had time to do much about the ceremony." Karen protested.

"I know, but now's the time. We need to find out exactly what they're using as grounds so we'll be ready to counter the charges. So you weren't served yet?"

"No."

"I think someone was here while we were gone." Charlene said. "The front door was left open. We don't use that door and the kids know not to leave it open. There's no deliveries there so maybe they were here while we were gone."

"We need to get that new lawyer." Karen said looking scared and determined.

"I left a message for Casey to call me. We'll find out in a couple of days and then we can make a game plan."

"I hate that term. Game plan, like this is an elaborate game. It's not a game."

"No, darling, it's not a game." he pulled her against him. "Let's sit down and see what we can figure out. Are you okay?"

"No. Not even close, but I'm better with you here."

A car pulled into their driveway. Don watched Karen pull away from him and walk over tothe woman who handed her the paper. The woman left and Karen opened the paper, walking back toward Don. "They are seeking immediate custody of Katie on the same grounds as they tried with you except they're claiming that the facilities are unsuitable here and I'm associating with unsavory characters."

"What unsavory... Wait, are they any more specific than that?"

"It says here that the police have been out here numerous times, that I have a known criminal living here and I'm living an immoral life. Can you believe this shit?"

"Numerous police visits... the picnic and the local cops coming out for the picnic, a known criminal... could they mean Joseph? How would they find out about him?"

"Or Laslo. He's had a few run ins with the law."

"And an immoral life. That's got to be us. I'm sorry."

"It's my fault. I'm the one who should have been married to you already. I should have trusted my instincts and made us legal. I just didn't want to be forced to compromise our special day. I wanted it to be free of conflict, Katie as our daughter or almost and everyone happy. Now it may not happen."

"It will. Karen, don't give up. Don't you dare give up before we've begun to fight. I'm not ready to give her up and let them just walk in and take her. We're going to fight this. Are you with me? Are you going to stand with me and keep her here?"

"I will, but do we stand a chance? I know you and the others have tried to find out more about Mr. Jones, but you couldn't have been successful or I'd've heard about it. What more can we do?"

"We'll think of something, Karen. Trust me, we'll think of something. We're a pretty resourceful bunch. Right now, lets go in and contact the lawyer."

"Aren't we switching lawyers?"

"We are, but we need a lawyer right now and she's the one we're paying. Trust me, darling, I have some experience with lawyers."

"I do trust you, Don. I do."

Don kissed her deeply, firmly. "Let's do this together." he said leading her inside. He dialled the number to the lawyers office. "This is Don Cragen. I need to speak to Ms. Dettrich. Please have her give me a call at her earliest convenience. I'm at home, she has the number. Thank you."

"Great she's not there when we really need her. This is not good."

"Relax, Karen. She's in court. Don't lose it now. The kids will be home soon. Listen to me, one of the things I learned from being the captain is that you never let the troops see you worried. Some worry, but not all of it."

"Never let them see you sweat?" she asked with a derisive tone.

"That's a deoderant commercial." he teased gently. "Don't let them win but using psychology. This is just the opening salvo and we're ready for them. We'll turn this around, just watch. Tomorrow lets start lining up everything we need to make us a real family. I'm thinking we should have the ceremony right here at home. We'll get a minister to come here unless you want it in a church."

"No, I had hoped for here, maybe in the backyard with a arch of some kind and flowers so everyone can be comfortable. We'd have the reception here, too, with room for everyone and no one would have to leave in a hurry or be so worried about their kids not being welcome. I want everyone to enjoy themselves and for us to enjoy each other. I'm being simplistic, but that's how I've always pictured my wedding day."

"Then that is what we will have. You were looking at some brides books the other day. Where are they?"

"Brides books? Oh, those things. I gave them back to Charlene. They were of no use to me. I'll never look like that."

"Now wait a minute. There isn't one single thing wrong with how you look. I think you are terrific."

"You're biased, love."

"That's right, I am. I happen to favor beautiful sexy women with something to offer than those underfed, primped up models that they get to wear things like that in fancy magazines. I don't want a cardboard cut out, I want the real thing. You, I want you. I want the sweet, wonderful, loving woman who can take in orphans with problems and lonely captains and make them feel whole again and part of a family. That's who you are and no accident of blood or false accusations by someone like Mr. Jones is going to make you any less than you are. I won't let them take your special qualities and turn them against you. They can't take the wonderful person I fell in love with and turn her any less special. You are special in so many more ways than they will ever know. No, you're not a fashion model, neither am I, but we're happy, aren't we?"

"Yes."

"That's what counts. I'll tell you what? Find your drawings and those magazines of Charlenes and go have your dress made. Just for you. You pick out the colors, the fabric and anything else you want with it and I'll pay for it. I also want you to get everything arranged for our big day

and I'll make sure we have time to go on our honeymoon. I'll pull every string I have to to make it happen."

"It's not going to ruin the day for you? Us trying to hurry this up?"

"I'm fine with making you my wife any time you want. As long as you know I'm not marrying you to keep Katie. I'm marrying you because I love you."

Karen threw her arms around his neck. "I'm glad. I can be awfully neurotic some days."

"You are wonderful, always and slightly nutty others. It's part of your charm." He acknowledged hugging her to him.

The phone rang and he pulled away enough to answer it. "Cragen. Yes, counselor. We received subpoenas for a custody hearing on Katie. Yes, oh, you did. Okay, we'll be there. Thank you."

He hung up. "We're her first appointment in the morning. Let's wait to talk to her before we get all worked up. I'll be right beside you through this. If you need to lean on me I'm here. I love you and I'm not going to go away."

"How did you know?" she asked with a quavery voice.

"I can see it in your face, darling." He took her hand in his and linked their fingers together. "See this? This is who we are. I'm right here with you. Remember this, we're joined you and I."

"Visualizations. I like those."

"You know that trick?" he asked with a smile.

"I take those seminars, too. And I have to do those tests as well. Different reasons, same thinking."

"Some time we're going to sit down and talk about how much training we have in common."

"Do you really think we'll get around to that subject if we're home alone together?" She smiled.

"Eventually. In the mean time, we'll keep working at it until we get there."

The school bus outside honked and they separated. "Someone needs to go find out what she wants. Someone probably started something with Katie and they had to step in to help her."

"You'd better go then. She doesn't know me yet."

"I'll be right back."

While Karen was outside, Don made a phone call. He hung up and greeted the group of them when they came in with a smile. "Who is ready for another party?"

TBC