Chapter 7 – Fire

Flack got to his place after a hard day of work to an interesting sight. In his living room Lily was playing cards with an eight year old boy.

'Something you haven't told me?' he asked jokingly.

'Don, this is Josh. He's Lisa's son. I'm taking care of him while she's working. You don't mind, do you? If not I can take him to my place.'

'No, no, it's alright. So, what are you playing?'

'Poker. It's great training for when you're at court. But you can't play.'

'Why not?'

'You're going to beat us mercilessly.'

'Not confident in your abilities?' he teased and grinned.

'Just overconfident in yours,' she grinned too.

Flack joined the game anyway and they played for a while.

Flack turned the cards to reveal a three and a four and Lily uttered 'Ha! I won!' triumphantly.

'Take that, Detective!' she said elated.

'I'm tired, it's been a long day,' said Flack trying to defend himself.

'Excuses, excuses,' she joked and stood up to head to the kitchen.

Without much thought, Flack tackled her to the floor and tickled her.

'Don't make – fun of me,' he said in-between her giggles.

When he stopped tickling her she spoke.

'That was low, Don,' she said while straightening her clothes. 'What are you teaching this kid? Revenge is bad.'

Dinner was ready and Flack and Josh sat at the table. Lily came with a pot and served the two boys and herself.

'Lisa told me you liked lasagna,' she was speaking to Josh.

'You made his favourite meal?' asked Flack a bit outraged. 'You never do that to me!'

'Oh, please. It's not like I'm starving you to death or anything …'

'But you never cook my favourite food!' he whined.

She rolled her eyes.

'Poor boy,' said Lily and pinched his cheek.

She returned to the kitchen to leave the apron she was wearing.

'You know it's true, you never spoil me like that, Betty Crocker.'

She laughed heartily and ruffled Flack's hair lovingly.

'Betty Crocker?' asked Josh.

'She is a character who is a fantastic cook. Don's being mean to me,' explained Lily.

They talked animatedly through dinner and when they finished they started playing Monopoly. Half-way through the game the doorbell rang. Flack opened the door.

'Sorry sir, I gotta check on the pipes, see if the leak's comin' from here,' said a fat man carrying a toolbox.

Flack moved to the side and the man saw the other two playing Monopoly.

'Josh? What ya doin' here?' he asked.

Lily looked at the man and her face paled.

'Josh, go to the bedroom now,' she said in a steely voice and the boy obeyed. 'What are you doing here, Rob?'

'Come to fix the leak and find my son with ya. Lisa got tired of him?'

'The leak isn't coming from here, so go away. I'm babysitting Josh tonight because Lisa's got to work, you know, since she's a single mother and all,' Lily spoke coldly.

'I'm takin' my boy with me,' the man said and walked towards the bedroom.

'Hell no!' was the woman's response as she stood in his way.

'I'm takin' him, I'm his dad,' he gave a step forward.

'Over my dead body!'

Flack got to where the man was standing but couldn't prevent him from shoving Lily.

'Hey, pal, not in my place. Give you ten seconds to get out or I'll send you downtown and press charges,' his tone was fierce and clearly said 'don't mess with me'.

The guy shoved Flack instead. Both men got in a fight which Flack won eventually. He called Dispatch and a car got there quickly, taking Rob to the Precinct.

Lily was sitting in the couch, her head in her hands.

'You deserve an explanation … Lisa's greatest mistake was to marry Rob nine years ago. He started beating her a month after Josh was born. I got her the divorce three months later and she's been raising Josh as a single mother. The problem is, once in a while Rob comes and ruins everything. I'm really sorry, Don.'

'Wasn't your fault,' he assured her.

She lifted her eyes, looked at Flack and spoke. 'I thought he was going to take him, you know? The boy was under my care, what would I have told Lisa?'

'But he didn't. No way in hell he'd take him under my nose,' Flack told her gruffly.

Lily started to cry silently. Flack sat beside her and hugged her, muttering 'it's alright'. After some minutes she stood up.

'I'm going to check on Josh.'

It was time to go to bed and Flack, Lily and Josh were watching TV.

'Okay, sweetie, time to go to sleep,' Lily stood up and walked to the room with Josh. A few minutes later she came out and closed the door.

'The boy's already tucked in.'

She sat on the couch with her knees to her chest and pulled the blanket over her. Flack draped his arm over her shoulders and she snuggled closer to him. In that same position they fell asleep a moment later, the TV laid forgotten.

It was late at night and Danny and Flack were having a beer on the latter's living room.

'I don't think you've got a chance,' said Danny, 'you've lost the last four games. We're so going to beat you.'

The door of the bedroom opened and clad in only a red nightdress Lily stepped out. She walked to the kitchen and saw the two men talking.

'Hey, Danny,' she said softly.

He returned the greeting and the men kept talking.

'That's where you're wrong, Messer. We're going to win,' said Flack vaguely, watching the woman out of the corner of his eye.

Danny snickered. Flack started ranting about how good the team was, not taking his eyes off her figure. When Lily finished the glass of water she went back to the bedroom, muttering a soft 'goodnight'.

'Asked her out already?' Danny inquired.

'What?'

'Don't play dumb, Flack. Saw how you had your eyes on her the whole time.'

'What are you talking about?'

'She has a nice body, you've got to give her that.'

Flack nodded reluctantly.

'I'm just saying, if a woman like her was parading around my place half naked, I would have taken her a long time ago.'

'Hey! Watch it.'

'It was just a suggestion,' Danny defended himself. 'She's not my type, anyway. Women with broad hips are your thing.'

'That doesn't mean every time I see a woman with broad hips I jump at her.'

'At least admit you think she's hot.'

Flack didn't speak.

'C'mon, admit it. Say it: 'I think she's sexy'.'

Flack glared at Danny, who smiled.

'You know I'm right. You're dying to take her to bed but don't know how.'

'I've got more game than you, Messer.'

'You wish! Look, if a woman like her feels comfortable enough with you to walk around in only a nightie, it means she wants you to take action.'

'Or maybe she feels comfortable walking around like that because she knows I'm not going to attack her.'

Danny rolled his eyes, knowing that it was useless to argue with his friend and that he'd eventually come around.

'Please remember you're helping me move tomorrow,' she told him as he was leaving the apartment.

As if he would forget! He was dreading that moment. He had gotten used to living with another human being and wasn't so sure he wanted to live alone again. Even if sometimes they had disagreements, Flack knew he'd missed Lily a lot. And he'd miss the feminine touch too, though he would never admit it. But, alas, life goes on and there were no more excuses to make her stay with him. Or were there? Her flat could blow up. Nah, I'm not that lucky. Besides, I'd have to pull a triple shift. He drove to work that morning thinking about all those heavy boxes he'd have to carry, not even dreaming what awaited.

'Please remember you're helping me move tomorrow,' she told him as he was leaving the apartment.

She sighed as he closed the door. Lily knew she'd miss getting home to another person. Because even if Don didn't arrive until four in the morning, she knew he'd get there in the end. She was already hating the thought of a lonely apartment. Despite the fact that her place was bigger and warmer and closer to work than Don's, she liked sharing her life with someone. Just as she had loved sharing a dorm back in college. Lily laughed to herself as her mind was flooded by memories of her college years. She shook her smile away and headed for the subway.

She spent the whole trip thinking how she would miss the manly environment; that every time she'd turn on the TV it was on ESPN, or that when she entered the bathroom in the morning she could smell his nice cologne, or the way some mornings a sexy and disheveled man came to wake her up (in case she hadn't heard the alarm) rubbing his eyes like a toddler. A sexy man? What's wrong with me? Mary's a bad influence. Lily didn't have much time to dwell on her thoughts; she had arrived at her destination.

Lily had fallen asleep on the couch. A noise woke her up at two in the morning. At first she couldn't identify it, but as her mind cleared, realized it was the doorbell. She opened the door to an interesting sight. There, on the hallway, was Danny supporting a drunk Flack.

'Danny? What happened?' asked Lily, still asleep.

'Rough day, he'll explain to you later.'

Danny entered the apartment and guided his friend to the bedroom, getting him on the bed.

'I'll take it from here, thanks,' she told him.

After Messer had gone she returned to the bedroom, where Flack seemed to be sleeping soundly.

Lily sighed and took off his shoes. She also removed his shirt and pants, not wanting to get on his bad side the following morning if his clothes were wrinkled. She moved the sheets to the side and pushed his body farther into the bed. She fetched the sheets and pulled them over him. Kneeling on the other side of the bed, she leaned over Flack to tuck him in. He opened his eyes for a moment, moved his hand clumsily over her butt and put it down again.

'Eww! That was wrong in so many levels,' she said and after putting him on his side, sat on the other section of the bed.

The following morning Flack woke up with a terrible headache and made a grunting noise which he later regretted.

In came Lily with an aspirin and a glass of water. She sat on the corner of the bed as he propped himself up and gave them to him. He gave her a thankful look.

'How are you feeling?' she asked.

He grunted again.

'That well, huh?' she patted his knee. 'I'll be preparing lunch, feel free to join me if you like.'

Lily left the room.

Ten minutes later he came out. She was sitting at the table.

'Want to join me? I'll make you a sandwich in a minute,' she smiled.

He nodded and sat at the table with his head on his hands. A few minutes passed and she returned with a plate for him. He looked up.

'Thanks.'

'Want to tell me what happened?' Lily asked softly.

'Yesterday we investigated the death of one of our own. Aiden was a detective who worked on Mac's team but she was fired some time ago. We found her body,' he took a breath, 'and her killer,' he finished proudly.

She put her hand over his.

'That's not all, is it?' she asked softly.

'Not gonna lie to you, it's been lots of thing. First Danny's brother, then Stella, after that it was Hawkes and now Aiden … It's been too much. I mean, who's next?'

'Nobody's going to be next. Think positive, things will get better,' she ran a hand down his cheek, her other hand still over his.

They ate in silence.

'I don't remember much about last night. Why was I only clad in my boxers?'

'It was my doing.' He raised his eyebrows. 'I mean, I did it because I know how snappy you are if your clothes get wrinkles,' Lily clarified as she blushed.

'And, um, if I did what I think I did last night, I'm … I'm really sorry,' he apologized blushing furiously.

'Don't worry, you were drunk, I understand. Didn't take it too seriously,' she said looking away.

It was a very awkward moment, interrupted by Flack.

'So, about your moving … ?'

'Well it was supposed to be today, but you're in no state to help me, so I guess we'll leave it for tomorrow.'

'Sunday it is, then.'

They were both glad she was moving out soon. These awkward moments had to stop. Thankfully, it would be over soon. However, although they didn't know it, fate had other plans for them.

Okay guys, here's the seventh chapter. I know I've been MIA for a while, but life's been crazy with my mid-year tests and everything. And since I didn't get any reviews, I don't feel that motivated ... By the way, I'm travelling to New York this Spring Break. Any suggestions to what I could do?

Brace yourselves for the next chapter:

Chapter 8 - Exploding

LaUrIsHa-just me

P.S. As usual; thanks to sparkyCSI for her wonderful beta skills. Don't know what I'd do without you.