TBITC Chp. 20

He kissed her again, and she put her arms around his neck, pulling him close. He didn't resist, because in truth he wanted this. He'd been attracted to Alexx since he first saw her. She was everything he wasn't. Compassionate, funny, kind, tender. He was hard, unfeeling, violent. In a strange Freudian sort of way, he thought they would make a good match. But then he thought about how it would complicate things, at least at this juncture. They needed to get the situation with Sam fixed before they moved to 'other' matters. Reluctantly, he pulled away and looked at her.

She pulled back as well, worry on her face. "What? What is it?"

"We can't do this. At least not yet." He added, quickly. "Let's get this thing with Sam taken care of first, then see where we stand. But I do want this, Alexx, and I hope you do to. But I don't want to lose your friendship for the sake of romance."

She smiled and nodded in understanding. "Thank you, Jack." Then she hugged him. "And just so you know, I want this too. But even if it doesn't work out between us, and I do get custody of Sam, know that you'll always have a place in his life."

Jack felt a lump forming in his throat as she spoke. He swallowed. "Thank you, Alexx. That means a lot. As for you getting custody of Sam, don't worry about that. I'll make it happen."

There was an intensity to his words that surprised Alexx. She understood now that he was willing go to any lengths to protect Sam, and her as well. She sat back as Jack started the car and pulled on to the road, thinking about what had just occurred. She felt a wave of pleasure course through her body, but managed to control it.

"You think Sam's asleep?" Jack asked.

Alexx glanced at the clock on dashboard and saw that it was nearing midnight. "He better be."

Jack laughed at this sentiment, and she couldn't help looking at him. "What?" she asked, dumbfounded and a little miffed. "What's so funny?"

"You. You've only known the kid, what? Three days? And you're already attached to him."

She gave him a 'well, duh' look and said, "Well, I can't help. He's just so darned cute and sweet and…" she stopped. "Well, don't you feel the least bit paternal towards him?"

Jack was so caught off guard by the question, that he couldn't play it off as nothing. And the reality was he should've known the conversation would go this way. Finally, he shrugged. "I guess. But I think I intimidate him a little. Maybe even scare him." He said, guiltily.

Now it was Alexx's turn to laugh. "Intimidated? Baby, he idolizes the ground you walk on. When you were meeting Pavel, it was 'Jack this or Jack that' and I started to feel like chopped liver." Alexx said.

"You serious?" he asked, surprised.

"Of course." She said, as they stopped in front of the house. She saw Horatio and Calleigh standing out front, talking. "You wanna have some fun?" she asked, giving him a sly grin. He realized what she was thinking, and grinned back. "Sure, why not."

She leaned in and kissed in, on the mouth. He returned it and they parted reluctantly after a minute. As they got out of the car, Jack noticed the look on his father's face and it was priceless. He walked past the two CSI's without saying anything, but when he was sure they couldn't see him he smiled. He didn't know where his and Alexx's relationship would go, but right now life was good.

000

AIB Chief Rick Stetler was pissed, which wasn't a stretch for him. He was usually in a foul mood and, like now, it usually had something to do with Horatio Caine, or his team. At the moment though, his mood had something to do with Dade County Medical Examiner Alexx Woods. He knew that she had taken custody of an unnamed child at a crime scene processed by Horatio Caine's team. That alone would've justified taking the child from her, in Stetler's mind anyway, but she'd given him an air tight reason by not following procedure.

He looked up as Nancy Jefferies, a Social Services agent, walked through the door. "Detective Stetler, based on what you told us, I see no reason to leave the child in Ms. Woods custody for the time being, but," she added quickly before he could speak, "that doesn't mean that once she files the proper paper work with our office, Ms. Woods couldn't receive full legal guardianship of the child. Understood?"

Stetler looked at the woman and grinned, nodding. "Of course."

"Alright. Do you know where the child is?"

"Yes. A private residence owned by Pavel Delko."

"And you have officers en route to retrieve the boy?"

"Actually, I thought we could go ourselves. I have two units outside waiting for us."

Nancy felt her stomach turn. She'd been doing this job long enough to know Horatio Caines' reputation for being someone you didn't want to mess with. And she'd done her homework on his son, Jackson; a seventeen year veteran of the U.S. Army Green Berets and Delta Force. In short, these were two men she didn't want to piss off. But the orders had come down from on high and as she would dutifully carry out said orders like the good bureaucrat she was. "Alright, let's go."

Rick smiled and it made her stomach do a back flip. "Lead the way, madam."

Nancy had a sinking feeling that if Rick Stetler had any brains at all, he'd leave this case alone.

000

A/N: Sorry about the cliffhanger. I just didn't want to make this chapter too long, and leave you in suspense so you'll keep reading. I know I'm evil, you don't have to tell.