Disclaimer: I don't own CSI: New York.
Series: None.
Spoilers: None.
*emerges from behind barricade* Is it safe? *ahem* Okay, I know this has taken forever, but I forgot I hadn't posted this chapter yet.
Chapter Twenty Eight – Meetings
"This is ridiculous." Jess muttered. "It's one tiny injury; I shouldn't need sick leave."
Don chuckled. "Sorry, sweetheart, but that's not my call. I know you can still do your job, but the doctor has to sign you off for active duty again."
Jess sighed. "I don't know why I'm complaining. The first time, you were still in a coma."
She was sprawled across her bed, lazily watching him deposit his gun in her lock-box. Her leg was now – as far as she was concerned – as good as new, although (and it pained her to admit it) it still twinged every now and then.
It had been six weeks since the bombings and Jess was counting the days until déjà vu would kick in. It wouldn't be long now.
Don collapsed next to her and, with a great effort, she rolled over, nestling into his side as he wrapped an arm around her shoulders.
She stretched and flinched as the scar on her thigh protested.
"I saw that, Detective." Don smirked into her hair. "Apparently the doctor knows what he's talking about."
Jess sighed. "But Don, I'm bored."
"Bored, and sound like a three-year-old." Don commented.
Jess tried to glare at him, but failed, sniggering instead. "Yeah, I know." She sighed again, settling into a more comfortable position. "Don … don't take this the wrong way, but … when was the last time you went back to your apartment?"
"Before the bomb." Don answered, almost lazily. "Why?"
"Just wondering." Jess shrugged. "You didn't have milk in the fridge, right?"
"No, Detective." Don chuckled. "I got rid of it." He ran a hand through her hair. "I'm having dinner with my parents tomorrow."
"You always do." Jess said, slightly confused as to why he was telling her that.
"They want to meet you." Don told her.
Jess shifted so she was propped up on her elbows. "Are you sure you want them to meet me?"
"Of course." Don answered easily. "Why wouldn't I?"
"Well, one of the things you and I always agreed on was the fact that our fathers would both go ballistic if they found out we were dating our partners." Jess said quietly.
"Yeah, but my dad's been ready for this for the last year." Don shrugged. "I've told him everything, bar the time-travel thing. The first time I mentioned your name, he said "You're falling in love with her, aren't you?" Then "don't do anything stupid and don't get her pregnant until you're both ready"."
Jess sniggered. "Sounds like something my dad would say. We'll have to tell them that I'm from the future. What if they think I'm crazy?"
"Take Mom's corned beef recipe." Don suggested. "You have it written down?"
"No, but I can write it down." Jess answered. "You really think that'll work?"
"Jess, not even I know Mom's recipe." Don told her. "It'll work."
"Don, what if they hate me?" Jess whispered as they approached the house.
Don took her hand and kissed her forehead. "Sweetheart, it's not possible to hate you."
"But what if …?" Jess began.
"No." Don knocked on the door. "Stop it. You've got four older brothers I've got to contend with; I'm the only one that's allowed to worry."
Jess chuckled. "Fair enough."
The door opened, revealing a dark-haired woman with soft green eyes. Aside from that little detail, it was obvious which side of the family Don got his looks from – unlike Jess, who looked nothing like her mother's side of the family – and when she spoke, Jess recognised her voice instantly from that one phone call.
"Donnie!"
Don dropped her hand and embraced his mother, kissing her cheek. "Hi Mom. Mom, this is Jessica Angell. Jess, this is my mom."
Jess offered her hand. "It's nice to finally meet you, Mrs Flack."
Katherine Flack took her hand and pulled her into a hug. "Call me Katherine, dear. We've heard so much about you."
"Good things, I hope." Jess commented, feeling a lot less nervous.
"Oh yes." Katherine assured her. "Donald! Don's here!"
The scene was repeated again with Don's father (only without the hugging this time) and then Katherine ushered them in to the dining room for a Sunday dinner of roast beef, roast potatoes and vegetables.
They passed half an hour with small talk, and then the difficult question came.
"You know, Don, you've never really told us how you and Jess met."
Don and Jess exchanged a loaded glance and he cleared his throat. "That's because it's a very bizarre story. I don't know if you remember, but about a year ago a Jersey officer was in a really bad car accident."
"I do remember that." Donald said slowly. "Her family was told she was killed, but it turned out she'd dragged herself free from the wreckage with amnesia and was found outside a hospital in New York." His face cleared. "It was you, wasn't it?"
"Well, not exactly." Jess admitted. "This is where it gets bizarre."
"She was the officer in the car." Don confirmed. "And she was found outside a hospital. But suffering from gunshot wounds."
"When were you shot?" Katherine asked.
Jess took a deep breath, knowing that this was the moment of truth. "November 10th 2009."
There was a beat of silence in which Donald and Katherine just stared at her.
Don nudged her with his shoulder. "Pay up."
Jess chuckled. "Alright." She put her fork down and rooted in her pocket, pulling out a crumpled five-dollar bill.
"I told her you'd go into shock." Don explained smugly, folding it and placing it in his own pocket. "She said you'd immediately pronounce her insane. I thought she was, you know. Until the doctor gave me the photograph she'd been holding when they found her. We should have brought that with us." He added, addressing Jess instead of his parents this time.
"It's hardly proof, Don." Jess commented. "Although your hair is shorter in that picture."
"Alright, then give them proof." Don suggested.
Jess sighed. "The first time round, Don and I met in August of this year. He'd been caught in a bomb blast and nearly died and I was hired to replace him, ironically enough. We became partners and best friends and, after about a year and a half, he had a case that affected him so badly, he swore he'd never eat again. I offered to make dinner, to see if I could sort it out, but I had no idea what to cook."
"Apparently," Don continued, "I had borrowed her phone to call you, so she checked her history and asked Mom for advice."
Jess pulled the recipe out of her pocket and handed it to Katherine. "Don hasn't seen it. I know you haven't told him yet."
Katherine opened it and read it through carefully, before looking at Jess with obvious surprise. "This is my family's secret recipe."
"I know." Jess turned to Don. "You know, we never considered the possibility that they might think I'm some strange stalker and not actually from the future."
"Well, too late to turn back now." Don grasped her hand and squeezed it. "As far as I know, Mom doesn't have it written down anywhere."
"I know." Jess smiled. "That's why I'm going to burn it when I get home before you can look at it. Apparently you had to swear in blood and promise your first-born before you got it."
Katherine folded the recipe up again and handed it back, taking Jess's free hand. "I believe you, dear."
"Thank God." Jess sighed. "Because this would all be really awkward if you didn't."
"Told you they'd love you." Don said smugly that evening.
"Yeah, I know." Jess agreed sleepily. "You're a genius."
"I am." Don grinned, pulling her into his arms. "And our bet wasn't just for five bucks, as I remember."
Jess rolled her eyes. "You're gonna have to take an IOU, Don; I'm exhausted."
Don mock-pouted, but settled down next to her, conceding her point. "Fine. But tomorrow night, you're mine."
AN: Short and sweet. Now for a little request – I know where I'm taking this fic, I just don't know how to get there, so if anyone has any ideas regarding future episodes (especially the first few episodes of Season 3), that'd be fantastic!