All dressed up and someplace to go
A/N: With all the anticipation for the ball, I have turned it into a two parter. Here's the first.
"We go to a party, and everyone turns to see
this beautiful lady that's walking around with me
and the she asks me, do you feel all right?
and I say yes, I feel wonderful tonight.
I feel wonderful, because I see
the love light in your eyes
and the wonder of it all
is that you just don't realize
how much I love you."
-Wonderful Tonight, Eric Clapton
"You're late, Flack." Jimmy Sullivan, or Sully as all the guys called him, announced, briefly glancing up from a wrinkled copy of that day's New York Times as the young detective stepped up to the front desk.
The duty captain was white haired and beefy and nearing retirement after nearly thirty five years on the job. He'd worked with Flack Sr for his entire career, almost a decade spent as Sr's partner. His own son, Keith, who Flack Jr had been extremely close to through his childhood and teenage years, had joined the army the day after high school graduation and was currently deployed on the front lines in Iraq. Leaving behind a wife and two young daughters to worry incessantly about him. Like Flack, Keith had been expected to follow in his daddy's footsteps and become a cop. When he didn't, old Sully nearly disowned the kid.
"So?" Flack asked, as he reached for the clipboard and pen in order to sign back in. "What are you going to do? Fire me?"
"Don't tempt me." Sully replied.
In reality, he had a soft spot for Flack Jr. Becoming a detective in record time was no small feat and deserving of accolades, no matter what Sr said about his son not paying his proper dues out on the street before selling himself out to the brass. Way Sully looked at it, having a determined, tenacious young guy like Flack Jr out on the street as a beat cop or a patrol man didn't do the city a damn bit of good. Having him solving the crimes and using his head was what was winning the wars out there. The cases that kid solved were absolutely incredible. Especially the Wilder drug bust a year back. Narco wasn't usually Flack's bag, but when one of his confidential informants said the Wilder Gang had been moving drugs in and out of a warehouse in Brooklyn for nearly a year, Flack had spent almost two months organizing things in conjuncture with Homeland Security. And because it was his informant that was so helpful, the department let Flack lead the raid.
It turned out to be a huge success and Flack got all kinds of accolades for that one. Too bad all his old man could dwell on was two things: One, it was his son's own damn fault he'd been injured in the bomb blast two and a bit years ago. If Jr had have just gotten the hell out instead of playing hero with Mac Taylor, he wouldn't have ended up on deaths door. And two: the Dean Truby/log book/ Mac Taylor fiasco that Jr could not seem to escape from. His old man just couldn't let it go. He stopped short of calling his flesh and blood a rat, but Jr and everyone else were well aware it's how his father felt.
Biggest bust of your life and it had to be against another cop, Sr had said in disgust on more than one occasion. You must be so proud of yourself.
He wasn't. It bothered the shit out of Flack nearly every day. Almost as bad as it bothered him that his old man never showed up at the hospital to visit him as he lay so close to death. Or even after wards when he was on the slow, painful road to recovery.
Sully was convinced of two things. A: Jr had done the right thing as far as Truby went. The guy was a scumbag, low life dirty cop who brought shame to the department and deserved what he got. More guys should have the balls to do what Jr did. And B: Jr hadn't turned out to be the first class prick his father was. By the Grace of God he was a decent human being who tried damn hard every day to be an even better human being.
"You said four thirty." Sully said and checked his watch. "It's going on ten to five."
"So what?" Flack asked, scrawling his name on the sign in sheet. "I lied."
Sully frowned.
"I got held up at the at women and children's." Flack said. "Then I had a script to pick up and some other things to get."
"What the hell were you doing there? Your girl still not feeling well after all the bullshit that went down on the upper west side?"
Sully had met the tiny, gorgeous brunette CSI a few times. She didn't pass by his end of the station house to often. But he was happy for Flack. The woman was stunningly attractive and from what he'd heard she was ferociously intelligent. And he saw, when Flack had first introduced the new woman in his life to him, the way the two of them looked at each other with complete love and adoration and respect.
"For once, it had nothing to do with what happened." Flack said. "I get any calls?"
"Two. One from some broad named Devon and the other from your old man."
Flack groaned inwardly. His two least favorite people. "What they want?" he asked.
"I just take the messages, Flack. I don't ask questions. Your old man sounded pissed as usual and the broad, well, she just sounded crazy."
"That about sums her up." Flack said.
"You never answered my question. Why were you two up at the hospital? Good news, I hope."
Flack nodded. "Very good news, actually. I'm gonna be a dad."
Sully's eyes widened and a slow smile spread across his face. "No shit?"
"No shit. Went for an ultrasound today and they said she's three months. We got to see the heartbeat and everything. It was amazing." Flack reached inside his jacket and took one of the photos from the pocket and passed it across the desk. "Can't really see much 'cause she's not that far along, but that's the heartbeat that's circled."
Sully grabbed his glasses from on top of a stack of files beside him and slipped them on to see the picture better. "Didn't have these things when Lorraine had Keith and his sister. But Keith got to see it with his kids. Wait until I tell Lorraine about this. That little Donnie Flack's got a kid on the way. She'll be thrilled. Every time she sees your mother she's always asking her when you're gonna find a nice girl and settle down. It's been a while since you stopped by the house. You should come over for dinner and bring your future wife with you."
"I will." Flack promised.
Sully stood up and handed the picture back. "Congratulations, Donnie. Great news. Another cop in the family in about nineteen years."
Flack put the picture back in his pocket. "Yeah? Well some days, I think the kid's better off being the criminal. Hear Gerrard's been looking for me."
Sully nodded and sat back down. "Who the hell does that guy think he is? Who died and made him God? Walks around here intimidating people and talking to them like shit. He was not like that when he was on the streets with me and your old man."
"You know how it goes, Sully. Each promotion you get, the bigger of an asshole you become."
"Hope this is your last promotion then, 'cause your a big enough asshole all ready. How does that nice young thing even put up with you?"
"I'm an angel when it comes to her." Flack declared. "I have to be. She'll kick my ass. She's tiny but she's damn scary. Trust me."
"She's also the best thing that's ever happened to you." Sully pointed out.
Flack couldn't agree more.
Thankfully, Gerrard had abandoned his 'rake Flack over the coals' plan and had resorted to watching intently from the doorway to his office, as the young detective crossed the bullpen area and headed to his desk. Flack removed his jacket and draped it over the back of his chair before sitting down and getting straight to work. When Flack felt someones eyes on him from across the room, he glanced over and saw Gerrard standing there, staring at him, furious. The old man had his hands planted firmly on his hips and his lips pursed and his eyes blazing.
Flack offered a smile.
Gerrard smirked and his nostrils flared and he stormed into his office and slammed the door so hard the glass rattled.
Flack couldn't help but grin. Sometimes pissing the brass off was too much to resist. He reached over and powered up his computer and grabbed the first file off the pile to his right and flipped it open. He'd found that ever since the Dean Truby thing, he'd been Gerrard and Sinclair's whipping boy. Made even worse when he refused to flip on Mac during the IAB trial following Clay Dobson's death. Truth was, Flack didn't see a damn thing that day and as far as he was concerned, whether Dobson jumped or Mac tossed him, it didn't make a damn bit of difference. Dobson was dead and hopefully in hell where he belonged. In his heart, Flack believed Mac's version of the events, and his loyalty to the man who'd once put his hands in a gaping hole in his stomach to save his life, had earned him no brownie points with the brass.
Not like Flack really gave a shit. It was a job and no more and no less. It wasn't his life. He loved his job and the people he worked with and it paid the bills and would adequately feed a family of three, but it was not the be all and end all. The funny thing was, before Sam, work had been his life. It took his mind off being lonely, especially after the bombing. Now, especially with a baby on the way, he viewed his job as as the way to put a roof over their heads and food on the table and clothes on their backs.
And speaking of roofs. He'd forgotten to call his current landlord and tell him that he'd be leaving in two months. And to ask if maybe he could get away with leaving in one month, even if it meant having to pay the rent on the second month. He picked up the phone on his desk and dialled the number. He had to leave a message and went back to his work.
A shadow fell over his desk and he briefly glanced up.
"Why is it you have this uncanny abiity of irritating the shit out of me?" Flack asked.
"I haven't done anything." Angell replied.
"You don't have to."
"Saw you talking to Sully." Angell said. "What was that you showed him? Homemade porn?"
"Actually, it was an ultrasound picture." Flack said without glancing up from his work.
"Of?"
"Of the baby Sam and I are having."
Angell was stunned. Even more stunned than hearing the news that Flack had gotten engaged. "A baby?" she asked.
Flack nodded.
"As in nine months of pregnancy, the pain and agony of labor and eighteen years of sheer hell?"
"If you want to look at it that way, yeah."
"When did you find this out?"
"Sam took a home test on Sunday and when it came back positive, she made a doctor's appointment."
"So let me get this straight." Angell said. "You, of all people, are going to be a father?"
"You find that so hard to believe?" Flack asked.
"Yeah. Considering all the years we've worked together, you've never had a relationship that's lasted longer than three dates and all of a sudden you're getting married and having a kid."
"First of all, my dating practices are none of your concern, Jess. Second of all, we've only worked together two years. We haven't known each other a long time and we're not even friends. In fact, we haven't even worked together two years 'cause I spent four mounts recovering from the bombing. You were temporarily promoted just to pick up my case load and maybe take my place if I didn't come back. Only I did come back but lucky for you, you're Gerrard's golden child and got promoted anyways. So don't stand there and act like we're buddies. We're co-workers. That's it. And that's all we're ever going to be."
He stressed the words that's it and that's all so she'd get the picture that he wasn't interested then and he wasn't interested now.
"You're still technically single, Flack. And there's lots of guys out there that have kids but don't end up with the mother."
"Well, I'm not one of them." he informed her. "I asked her to marry me before we found out about the baby for sure. I'm not doing it 'cause I feel obligated. I'm doing it 'cause I love her and I want to be with her."
"Still fare game until that ring goes on your finger." Angell told him.
"Sorry. I play by my own rules. And that ring's gonna be there in three months do don't be getting your hopes up. Now do you mind? I have tons of work to do. You seem to have a hell of a lot of time on your hands to be socializing. Need something to do?" he grabbed some of the folders on his desk and held them out to her. "Here. Make yourself useful."
"I'm not your bitch, Flack." Angell retorted. "You want that, go upstairs to the lab and find her."
"Jess, do me a favor? Take a walk. Preferrably off the Brooklyn Bridge."
"You'll regret it, Flack. Trust me."
"No." he said. "I won't. And I don't."
"Whoa!" Detective Tony Scagnetti exclaimed, a hand clasped over his chest as the vision in ice blue satin glided towards him. "What did a guy like Flack do to deserve someone like you?"
Scagnetti was a twenty year veteran of the force. A tall, burly man with a heart of gold. Sam called him Detective Prada because shortly after she started at the lab, he'd walked into trace carrying a baby pink Prada handbag a uniform had found in a dumpster that they believed belonged to their vic.
He was used to seeing the tiny CSI in casual and business attire, so seeing her all dolled up, old Hollywood glamour like was a welcome and drastic change. The dress shimmered as she walked. Ice blue satin with navy and clear stones on the spaghetti straps and around the slender waist and a small train. The dress boasted a modest, scooped neckline but a dangerously low back. Sparkling barrettes held the hair off the side of her face. A wrap and strappy heels that matched her dress and small navy beaded evening bag completed the look. She carried a suit back and shoe box.
"Quit flirting with my fiancee, Scagnetti." Flack said, as he closed his last file and logged off on his computer. He stood up and stretched until his back and shoulders cracked. "What would your wife say?"
"Never mind my wife." Scagnetti said. "What about all my other girlfriends?"
"You know what they say about men who brag like that." Sam commented. "It means they're not getting any."
Scagnetti grinned. "I hear Donnie's getting enough for both of us. He told me the good news. Congratulations. Can you imagine this shmuck changing dirty diapers and patting up a burp and getting baby puke all down his suit?"
"He'll do fine." Sam said. "He's off to a good start."
"Hey, if you wanted a baby daddy, I would have been more than willing to..."
"I'd keep that comment to yourself, Scagnetti." Flack warned him.
"Just joking. I'm happy for you two. Especially for you, Donnie. Finally found yourself a good woman to take care of you. Congratulations. And you look beautiful tonight, Samantha."
"Thanks. Once in a while, I like to look like a girl."
"Well you clean up good. You're a lucky bastard, Flack. Don't fuck it up."
"Not planning to."
"Night, guys." Scagnetti said as he departed. "Have fun hobnobbing with the mayor."
"Rather gouge my eyes out with a dull spoon!" Sam called after him. She held the shoe box and suit bag out to Flack. "Hurry up. Get dressed before we're late. Carmen and Tim and Mac and Stella are waiting outside in the car. A limo, actually. Mac thought it would be nice."
"He's in a giving mood. Don't I get a hello? A hi, how are you? How was the rest of your day? Something like that?" he put a hand on her hip and leaned down to give her a quick peck on the cheek.
"Hi." she chirped. "How was the rest of your day? Good? Now hurry up and get dressed."
"Do I really have to wear a tux?"
"I didn't go all the way to lower Manhattan to get it and you not wear it. Besides, every guy there will be in a tux. Not to mention Tim will kill you if he has to wear one and you don't."
Flack sighed heavily. "You're demanding."
"Do it or you won't get laid tonight." she said.
"I'm gettin' laid tonight regardless." he told her and took the suit bag and the shoe box from her. "I'll be back. It's not ugly is it? It's not pastel blue with a ruffled shirt or anything is it?"
"Carmen helped pick it out. Trust me, you'll look great. Very James Bond-ish."
He grinned. "Did you just say bondage?" he teased.
"No. I said Bond-ish. James Bond. Just go and get changed all ready."
"Fine. I'll be back." he told her and walked away, heading for the locker room. "By the way," he said and cast a glance at her over her shoulder. "You look incredible." He winked at her.
She smiled and took a seat at his desk while she waited. Passed the time by surfing the Internet on his Blackberry. It was fifteen minutes before he finally came back.
"Wow." she said, nodding approvingly and standing up. "Detective Flack... you're a hottie."
He looked devastatingly handsome. And it was hard to surpass when he was already pretty damn fine to begin with, whether in clothes or out of them. But in the well tailored black European cut tuxedo with a crisp white dress shirt, black onyx button covers, matching cuff links and a simple bow tie, she wanted to say hell with the party and let's just take advantage of the hotel room.
"James Bond enough for you?" Flack asked.
"Very. Spies are very sexy."
"I'll give you credit. It's not bad. I was kinda worried when you said you'd pick it out."
"Hey, I know what my man looks good in." she said and straightened his bow tie. "You look very handsome." she told him and smoothed down the lapels on his jacket.
"Thanks. And you... there are no words for you."
"Check out my rear view." she said and turned to give him a peek.
He swallowed noisily. The damn dress at at the small of her back. That was completely sexy. All that smooth, bare skin on display. The thoughts that were going through his mind at that moment. "I'd like to do things to your rear view." he said.
"Be a good boy tonight and I'll let you do whatever you want to my rear view." she promised.
He grinned. "You're a dirty, dirty girl, Samantha."
"Sometimes." she admitted.
"Not that I'm complaining. You look amazing. And that dress..." he shook his head. "Wow."
"You like?"
"I like. You're beautiful." Laying a hand on the small of her back, he kissed her gently. "Ready?" he asked, offering his arm.
"Absolutely." she said and put her arm through his. "By the way," she said as they headed for the doors. "I took our stuff over to the hotel about an hour ago. It's where I got dressed with Carmen. Anyway, our room is unbelievable. We have this big jacuzzi tub that can fit at least ten people and this massive four poster bed that I swear is twice the size, if not more, of the one at your place. And you know how much I love a large playground."
He grinned. "Well you'll be playing in it a lot later one, trust me."
"I'll hold you to that." she said with her little giggle.
"I hope you do." he told her and bent to kiss the top of her head before using his free hand to push open the door. He noticed she even smelled beautiful. Soft and exotic and oh so feminine.
The night had turned chilly. As they walked to the black limo parked nearby, she shivered and he took off his jacket and draped it over her slender shoulders.
They stopped at the side of the limo. The driver made to get out to open the door, but Flack politely declined and motioned for the man to just stay in the car.
"So if Devon is there tonight, you'll stick up for me against the wicked witch of the west?" Sam asked, her eyes twinkling in the light from the street lamp above them. She was more than capable of sticking up for herself. But part of her was still a damsel in distress that liked a man to take care of her. Spoil her. Protect her.
"Of course." he assured her.
"My hero." she giggled and he kissed her long and soft and warm.
The window next to them was rolled down. Bringing an end to the mini make out session.
"Rent a room, you two!" Stella teased. "Or I'll have to bust you guys for indecent exposure."
Flack grinned and opened the door. He helped Samantha slide in and with the train on her dress and then climbed in beside her.
"Well hello Miss Bonasera." Flack greeted, checking her out. Her hair pulled back, body on display in a deep burgundy sparkly halter style dress, make up gracing her Greek goddess porcelain features. "And you, too, Miss Devine." he said to Carmen, who looked remarkably like that actress Anne Hathaway in her emerald green strapless to the floor gown and her hair piled on the top of her head, soft curls tumbling down along her face and onto her shoulders.
"Hello yourself, Detective GQ." Stella said. "You polish up nice."
"Thanks. You two ladies look beautiful."
"Not as beautiful as that lovely young lady on your arm however." Stella said.
"Yeah... she's something else." Flack declared and leaned sideways to kiss her cheek softly.
"Look at you two." Sam said, nodding at Mac and Speed. "Very, very nice."
"Stella says the look suits me. Very James Bond like." Mac said.
"What is it with you women and James Bond?" Flack asked.
"Spies are sexy." Carmen declared.
Sam nodded. "And that new James Bond? Daniel Craig. Hot. That's all I can say. That scene with him in his bathing suit?"
"Don't get me started." Stella said, fanning herself.
"Excuse me." Flack said. "There's guys in the car here. We don't want to hear this. Keep your sex fantasies to yourselves."
"Or at least share them with us in private later tonight." Mac said.
Sam and Carmen stared at him, mouths open in shock.
"Mac!" Sam exclaimed.
"What?" he asked innocently.
"You?" Carmen couldn't believe it. "Talking like that?"
"We're out of the lab." he reasoned. "Time to loosen up a bit. Not to mention Stella is bringing out the lighter, funnier side of me."
"Thank God." Flack said.
"You guys staying over night too?" Stella asked Sam.
She nodded. "We have a room right next door to Carmen and Tim. We can actually go from our bathroom, into theirs."
"Memo to self," Speed said. "Make sure the door is locked. Last thing I want to walk in on is you two in the bathroom doing the nasty."
"That goes both ways." Flack told him. "Bad enough we'll have to listen to all your guys' noises."
Carmen laughed. "This coming from a guy whose fiancee makes enough noises to rival any porn star!"
"Hey," Flack said with a grin. "I take it as a compliment. Means I'm doing something right."
"That bun in the oven says that too." Stella said.
Everyone laughed. Then fell into a comfortable silence.
Ten minutes later they were pulling up in front of the famed Waldorf-Astoria.
"Something tells me we're in for a hell of fun night." Speed commented as everyone began climbing out of the window.
Everyone hoped he was right. God knows they all deserved it.
Thankies to everyone R and R'ing! Now that my comp. is up and running properly, I can go back to returning mail!!