What I choose to do is no concern to you and your friends

Where I lay my hat may not be my home, but I will last on my own

'Cause it's me and my life

It's my life

Dido - It's My Life

She'd gradually begun giving him more of her time; growing from a few dates a week to a least half of her days off and most of the nights (or days) when they clocked off together; when their shifts overlapped, they invariably drifted to one or other's apartment, arriving with take-out or coffee or just a sly grin and fuck me eyes.

Their shifts had clashed, again; she'd worked the day shift and he was working the night. After running her usual four mile route, she'd had dinner with girlfriends before falling into bed, exhausted. His call roused her from a deep sleep.

"Hey" she'd yawned, smiling sleepily, "I missed you today Don Flack".

"I missed you too baby. I need a favor...please"

Groaning, she'd yawned even wider "Nuh-uh, forget the favor; just come to bed".

He'd chuckled softly, "You have no idea how good that sounds Jess", before his tone turned more somber "I need your help though; I need to track down my sister".

She hadn't asked questions; why he wasn't sure which club his sister tended the bar in or why he needed to find her quite so quickly. She'd simply flashed her badge at the doormen of the clubs he'd had given her the names of and scanned the bar to match the photograph he'd texted to her cell. When he'd called to say he'd finally picked Sam up, she'd only been a few blocks away. She'd watched him usher his sister into the car, rubbing the heel of his hands over his eyes. He'd shaken his head when she offered to come down to the Precinct with them but gratefully accepted the spare key to her apartment, pressing a hasty kiss to her lips.

She wasn't sure what time he'd crawled into bed. It'd been dark and she'd barely woken, mumbling "You okay?" and feeling the nod of his head, as he pulled her tight against his body.

o-o-o

Stirring a little, she shifted towards the centre of the bed expecting to find the warmth of his body. When she found only smooth cool cotton, she forced her eyes open, blinking and adjusting to the darkness of the room. The alarm clock on the nightstand shone 4.03, its orange light illuminating the two badges that sat together; his and hers.

Shivering in the cool night air, she tugged on a soft cotton hoodie abandoned on a chair the previous day and padded silently from the bedroom. The living area was in darkness save for the muted television; ESPN showed highlights from an old Rangers game but he wasn't watching, instead slumped in the arm chair, head resting in his hands.

Perching on the edge of the coffee table, she placed her hands gently on his knees, "Don?"

He lifted his head, sighing, before reaching out and pulling her close. She held him, rubbing his back soothingly and cradling his head until he pulled away, giving her a tired lop-sided smile.

"Want to tell me what was going on earlier?"

He wearily recounted the latter events of Ethan Scott case; Adam arriving at the Precinct with the VIN plates, calling to ask for her help, Lauren Salinas and Sam blowing up as they left. "'...you just wish I was a little more like you', that's what she said Jess".

She frowned, electing to remain silent. He always talked fondly of his younger sister; reminiscing of the fun they had growing up, how smart and clever she was, that she could do anything she wanted and how close they once were, but invariably ending with "I don't know why she chooses to do all the stuff she does; working in the bar, hanging with scum..."

He raised his eyebrow at her expression, "What?"

"I hear what you're saying Don, she was stupid but..."

"But what Jess? I don't see a, but"

She sighed resignedly, "I can just understand a little, that's all".

He leant back, folding his arms, eying her with both skepticism and irritation.

"I'm not excusing her; it's not easy though you know..."

He snorted, "Christ, you're not going to play the 'hard done by, baby girl' card are you Jess?!"

She sighed again, ignoring the jibe. "All I'm saying is I know what it's like being in her shoes; youngest kid, Father breathing down your neck every waking minute, trying to live up to brothers..."

Although he growled, his expression softened a little as she continued. "I've been there. Having my Dad tell me that I need to make something of myself; that I'm going to be the first Angell to go to college and be something smart instead of a cop; being constantly told what my Mother would have said or done or thought; hearing every single day how perfect my brother Chris is and that I should try to be a little more like him".

"Nobody said I was perfect Jess!" he scowled.

"My Father and brothers had my life mapped out for me. The day I ditched college and bought a plane ticket to Europe, all hell broke loose. I know they just wanted the best for me, but at the time...All I'm saying is Don; your sister's a grown woman, it's her life. Sure hanging with assholes and getting into trouble is crazy but the rest of the stuff; where she chooses to work...it's her life".

She watched him process the suggestions, smiling softly and teasing "And no, you're not perfect", before kissing him tenderly and continuing with sincerity, "but you are a good man and a good cop".

He gave her that lop sided smile again before flopping forward and resting his head in her lap, enjoying the calming touch of her fingers. Closing his eyes, he remembered the arguments after his Mother died. Don Flack Sr had spent a lot of time yelling at Sam; about her grades, staying out late, her friends, that she should be more like her brothers...Perhaps, he thought, Jess had a small point, although it didn't excuse most of the stunts his sister pulled.

She let him lie, stroking through his hair, until she thought he'd have worked through a least a little of the funk. Gently squeezing his shoulder, she cajoled him gently "Come on Don, sleep; it's cold and I need to be up early".

Almost immediately he sat up, scrubbing his hands over his grey face. Wordlessly he lifted her into his lap, draping a throw over their bodies and wrapping his arms around her. As she slept in his embrace, her slow rhythmic breaths relaxing him as they always did, he pondered the words she'd spoken before finally resolving to call his sister to make amends.