Resolutions

Chapter Six

Cody was up before the sun. He put on a pot of coffee and went outside. It was cold. He knew it would be. Leaning against the railing he thought about home and Sarah. It's funny how much he missed them. Till Sarah he never missed anything so much. His phone rang. Taking out of his pocket he answered it.

"Hi."

"Morning."

"I miss you."

"Good the kids miss you."

"What about their mother?"

"Oh she misses you too. Very much."

"I love you Sarah. I'll be home by lunch"

"I love you too Cody. Get back to work and find your bad guys so you can get home to the good guys."

"You know it." He hung up. If they could make it though tomorrow they would make it though anything.

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Mornings were not beginning well for Jess lately. Matt knocked on the door of the bathroom.

"Are you okay Jess?"

"Go away Matt and take your friend and his sunshine attitude." Matt looked at Cutler sitting on the chair.

"Pissing her off already, Jimmy it's not even seven o'clock." Cutler put up his hands.

"I was sitting here and she ran in there and all I said was 'good morning'." Matt looked at him.

"I think that was two words that aren't going to work this morning." He leaned against the wall. "Cody called Jess; he'll be back in an hour. They found the two people from the car. The wife of the vic and her boyfriend."

"Good for him." Jess wasn't in the mood to talk.

"I'll go downstairs with Cutler and get some breakfast."

"Bite me." Matt laughed.

"You have your crackers and your phone?"

"Yeah just leave me the hell alone please." Matt and Cutler headed downstairs and left Jess to her misery.

"Is that normal? I mean it sounded like Linda Blair in there?"

"Cody and Sarah said it's normal."

"But she sounded bad man. Like the kid was crawling its way up."

"Yeah well you know how Jess loves to be sick. This is killing her I'm sure." Matt heated the frying pan. "A week and Derek can deal with it. Not that if I had to I could deal with it, I just…hell with everything tomorrow."

"It'll all work out Matt."

"I hope so."

*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-

Jess lay on her cot and took a few deep breaths. Her stomach stopped turning but she still didn't want to go downstairs to Matt cooking eggs and bacon. Her phone rang.

"Hello."

"Jess, how's it going?"

"Better now that my stomach is completely empty." It helped everything to hear Derek's voice. "How's the case?"

"Sick and wrong."

"Aren't they always? I hope its all sunshine and rainbows when you come home."

"As long as your there baby it will be. How was your morning sickness this morning?"

"Worse then yesterday, I think. I might just make it though if Matt keeps the smell of bacon downstairs. I shut the doors and the vents."

"I wish I was there to hold your hair."

"No you don't. I don't care how much you think you love me, it's not pretty Derek."

"I'm a big boy. I can handle it. What time are you leaving for Folsom tomorrow?"

"Around eight I guess. The hearings at eleven thirty."

"If you guys need anything just give me a call."

"I will. I love you Derek."

"Love you too baby." Jess hung up and smiled. Life wasn't too bad. Picking up her phone she brought up Derek's number and entered her first text message. She would show him that she wasn't afraid of technology.

*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-

Cody threw his jacket into his locker and looked at his sister sleeping on the cot across the room. This was going to be a long pregnancy for all of them. Matt told him she'd been sick pretty much since she woke up. He went and sat next to her and brushed her hair out of her face.

"Cody?" She didn't open her eyes.

"How did you know?"

"You smell like you haven't showered for a week. I also smell smoke and evergreen."

"That's what happens when you don't get to sit behind a desk for eight hours."

"Any time you want what I have Cody, feel free." She opened her eyes. "You should get home to your wife."

"I know. I just thought I'd check up on you first. You want me to take you home?"

"Matt wants to keep an eye on me."

"Trying to beat me out for best brother again?"

"I think so. I don't think I could make it down the steps. The smell of bacon is not a good thing when you're fighting morning sickness."

"So I've been told." He stood up. "Call me if you need anything."

"Spend time with your kids and Sarah. Don't worry about me. I have more then enough people downstairs worried my head will start to spin if I don't get my way."

"See I knew this pregnancy thing was just a ploy for others to do your bidding."

"You always knew me best Cody." She closed her eyes and was asleep again before Cody hit the steps.

*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*

Cody slipped on his jacket that hung by the door. He wanted to go home and see his family before coming back for a shift he promised Matt he'd take yesterday.

"You can stay home today. Trainer's back in town. He'll take your shift." Matt stood by the front door.

"Thanks. You got everything covered for tomorrow?"

"Yeah, everyone's pitching in. How's Jess?"

"She passed out again. I think we better think about cutting her some slack in the morning."

"Already done. I don't have her working till three or later the rest of the week. I gave her three weeks off starting Monday."

"She's not going to like being out of the loop that long."

"I think she'll be okay. Derek will be here in a week and it'll all be good. You get home to your family." Cody nodded. "See you later. Mom wants us all for dinner if we can swing it."

"Yeah, I'm sure Sarah won't let me get out of it." He left Matt sitting at the front desk. Cutler came in and sat across from him.

"I can answer phones tomorrow if you want to have the able bodies out on patrol."

"Shep said three weeks Cutler."

"It's answering the phone Matt. I think I can do that with little or no stress to my old decrepit body."

"I'm not saying yes but if everyone needs to take off they know where to find you."

"Okay. Now what's going on with you and Blondie?"

"Who says there's anything going on?"

"Come on Matt I was born in the morning but not this morning. I see the way she looks at you and you look at her when you think the other isn't looking."

"Sound complicated."

"Matt, come on. I'm your best friend."

"You're also a pig when it comes to talking about women."

"You've been talking to your sister again. Come on man you know me better then that. Spill it."

"I'm not talking to you about this Cutler. What ever may or may not have happened between me and Robin is between me and Robin."

"Okay. It took you twenty years to make a move we wouldn't want you to mess it up now would we." He sat back. "Just one last thing and you'll never here another word on the subject. She's a good woman Matt. Don't let her get away."

"That's two things."

"Sue me."

"I know. And I won't. I just need to get though tomorrow with my brother and his family in tacked and Jess on the road to getting her life in order and then I can think about getting my life in order."

"Matt you have to stop trying to make everyone else happy. You deserve to be happy too."

"You should talk."

"I was happy and I blew it." He stood up. "Don't piss it away my friend." He started upstairs then turned it around. "I know what's it like to make the biggest mistake of your life and having to live with it every day." He looked up the steps. "It hurts like hell." He turned and went back up stairs. Hell must have frozen over because Matt was actually thinking about taking Cutler's advice.

*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-

Robin pulled next to Sarah's van parked in front of Jessie and Jackie Hawkes house. It was almost six and Jackie had called and asked if she'd be there when Jess came to try on her wedding dress, Robin knew that Jackie needed the moral support. She had been afraid she had gotten hopes up that Jess might want to wear the dress she had married Jessie in. In the twenty some years she had know Jess Hawkes the only time she had worn a dress was to Cody's wedding. Robin got out of her truck and headed to the front door. Sarah was there to meet her.

"Jess just got here." Sarah pulled Robin in and dragged her to the living room. The men were conspicuously absent. "Okay Robin's here." Jackie looked at Jess sitting in her father's chair.

"You don't have to say yes to anything Jess. I just…you can so no."

"You haven't asked the question yet mom." Jackie handed Jess a box. "Mom…what have you done?" Jess set the box on her lap and opened the lid.

"I know its simple and old fashion but…" Jess looked at the white dress in the box.

"It's yours."

"Yes, it is." Jess looked up at her mother.

"Mom…" Tears started down her cheeks. "I…oh mom are you sure?"

"Of course. You're my daughter." Jess ran her hand down the lace.

"I…" Jess couldn't stop herself from crying. She put the dress down on the coffee table and went to her mother and hugged her. Jackie started crying then Robin and Sarah started crying. "I never even thought about a dress let alone…" She pushed away form her mother. "Are you positive?" Jackie looked at the woman that had been her daughter for most of her life.

"Yes Jess. More then anything if you want to wear this then please, wear it. Sarah can fix the hem because you're a bit taller then I was."

"Thank you." She hugged her mom again. "I was just going to wear jeans." Everyone laughed.

"Go in my room and try it on." Jess took the box and went into her parent's room. She opened the box. The dress was nearly fifty years old but it looked brand new. She took off her boots, jeans and t shirt and slowly unzipped the back. Jess knew that she was heavier then her mother had been back then. Most likely the zipper wouldn't close. Sliding it up over her legs she slid her arms in and looked in the full length mirror. It was perfect. The neckline and bodice fit her perfectly. Reaching back she zipped the zipper as far as she could without help. A knock at the door made her turn. It was Sarah.

"Can we come in?"

"Yeah…sure." Sarah came in first and gasped.

"Jess its perfect." Jackie came in and tears started all over again. She went behind her daughter and zipped the zipper to the top.

"After I had Cody I thought I would never see my little girl in this dress." Jackie put her arms around Jess's waist and put her head on her shoulder. "You are so beautiful Jesse Lynne."

"You're my mother you have to say things like that."

"This is true but you are beautiful baby." Jesse picked that moment to walk into the room.

"Jackie the boys…" He looked at the reflection of his daughter in the mirror. "Jess?" She smiled.

"What do you think daddy?" He took another step into the room.

"Amazing." She turned and spread the dress out away from her legs.

"Think Derek will like it?" Jesse smiled.

"I think Derek Morgan would love you in rags but…you're just as beautiful as your mother was standing in that dress." Jackie started to cry again. Cody and Matt some how made it into the room.

"Dear God she is a girl." Cody looked at Jess and Sarah hit him hard on the back of the head.

"So much for nobody seeing the dress before the wedding." Matt looked across the room at Robin sitting on his parents bed. "The table's set mom. The timer just went off." Jackie smiled.

"I better get dinner on the table. You are staying aren't you Robin?"

"I should go." Jess tuned.

"She's staying mom." Jackie shoed the men out of the room and followed them. Sarah followed Cody but Jess stopped Robin. "Stay." Jess tuned her back to her friend. "Unzip me." Robin did as she was told.

"The dress is great Jess."

"Yeah." She slipped out of it and put it gently in the box. "I want you to be my maid of honor." Sliding on her jeans and shirt she looked at Robin.

"Jess…"

"Cutler would look stupid in a dress and I think if he can grow up for five minutes I might ask him to marry us."

"That's not awkward."

"I know right. You're my best girl friend. I want you to be my maid of honor."

"What about Sarah?"

"Sarah can be my other bridesmaid. Please Robin."

"Okay. But don't ask me to get you a stripper for your bachlorette party."

"I'm not having one so you're safe."

"Okay." Robin thought she should change her mind right now but the look on Jess's face made her change her mind.

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Dinner was over and Matt and Cody cleared off the table and let Jess talk wedding plans with their parents, Sarah and Robin. They were putting the last of the dishes in the dishwasher when one the boys woke up crying.

"I'll finish." Matt told Cody. Cody nodded and went to check on his son. Robin came in a few minutes later with to get her coat off the kitchen coat rack. "Leaving so soon?"

"It's nearly eleven Matt. I have to get up in the morning and get some work done." Matt set down the last pot he was drying and helped Robin get her coat on. He pressed her against the kitchen counter and kissed her slowly, deeply and for a very long time.

"I promise Robin when this is all over I will sit down and figure out what the hell is going on between us. I love the way you make me feel but right now those feelings have to be put aside. I'm asking you Robin Kelly…will you wait two weeks to decide if I'm worth the wait?" Robin smiled and kissed him.

"You have two weeks Hawkes. If you can't figure it out by then I'm out of here." Hugging him close he kissed her one last time.

"I'll see you in the morning."

"If you need me tonight you know where to find me." She slid out from under his arm and went out the back door. Leaning against the counter he smiled. He might just have to find her tonight and give her something to think about for the next two weeks.