Jeannie tore a piece off of her croissant, trying daintily but unsuccessfully to stuff it into her mouth. She chuckled, and Maggie reached across the table to brush away the crumbs with a natural yet slightly maternal touch. "It is impossible to eat those things and look elegant," Maggie said lightly, "but my god, they are good."
Nodding in agreement, Jeannie washed the pastry down with a sip of her cafe au lait. "They sure are," she grinned.
The two women were having a wonderful time and neither was afraid to show it. From the moment Jeannie set eyes on the stunning older brunette, getting a better look at her than when she was laying beside Mike, she knew that this was her father's type of woman: striking, confident, intelligent and fun. She reminded Jeannie a bit of Irene Martin, the Robbery inspector who was briefly Mike's fiancée. But something deep inside, even though she had only known Maggie for a couple of hours, told her that this woman was a more compatible match.
In short, she was thrilled for her father.
"So Mike tells me you're going for your Ph.D. in urban architecture?" When Jeannie nodded, Maggie continued, straight-faced, "So, you wanted to get into hair styling but it was all filled up?"
Jeannie stifled her initial outburst of laughter, glancing self-consciously around the small café. "I've been interested in architecture since I was a kid, and I honestly don't know why. I mean, my dad was a cop and my mom was a housewife; I know they went to New York City once when I was still in the womb – maybe they went to the New York Public Library and I was inspired," she chuckled.
Maggie was sitting back, smiling warmly, obviously impressed by this beautiful, vibrant, bright and quick-witted young woman who more than likely was going to become her daughter-in-law.
Jeannie glanced down at her plate, hesitated then looked at Maggie from under her brow, as if reluctant. "Maggie," she paused then, "I know what Dan told me, but, well, what really happened between you and Mike, I mean, when you were here the first time? I know Dan knows, but you know men, a little light on the details." She shrugged and rolled her eyes.
Maggie, who had glanced toward the café window, turned back and smiled. "You mean when my husband was killed?"
Jeannie looked at her sadly. "I'm sorry…"
"Don't be," Maggie said kindly, "that's in the past. It was wonderful while it lasted, but it's a part of my past now. And Mike is my future."
Jeannie smiled warmly at her, realizing with each passing minute that this woman was Mike's perfect match
"As for your father," Maggie started, " well, he was –"
Jeannie, who had glanced at the café window, put her hand up quickly and Maggie stopped. Jeannie turned to her then back to the window. "I'm sorry, Maggie, but I just saw the same guy walk by the window again and look in."
"About five-ten, dark hair, wearing a checked shirt and camel sportscoat?"
Jeannie looked at her with a furrowed brow. "You saw him?"
"Yeah, and that's the third time he's been by the window. Hey, with my background, you learn to notice everything. But you; I'm impressed – you are definitely Mike's daughter."
Despite the sudden seriousness of the situation, Jeannie smiled; she always loved it when people compared her to her father. But her thoughts quickly returned to the present. "What do you think that's all about?"
Maggie sighed guiltily. "It's gotta be me. You know I was in witness protection, right, and I left all that when I flew here. I was so worried about Mike that I didn't even think about it – and to tell you the truth, I didn't care. I wasn't going to let it stop me from being with him." Realizing she was almost chattering, she paused. "What I'm trying to say is, it might be someone tied to the Jersey mob that wants to follow through on their promise to make me pay for ratting on them." She seemed to lose her composure for a few seconds, as the immensity of what she had disclosed registered with them both.
"So what do you think we should do?" Jeannie asked, hoping to get Maggie back on track. This was not a frivolous woman, she had learned in the past couple of hours.
"We?" Maggie asked with a smile, then she looked down and her smile turned wistful. "Well, I guess it is we now, isn't it? I mean after all, when Mike and I get married…" She let the rest of the sentence hang and both women smiled shyly.
"So," Maggie said suddenly, "I think we should get back to the hospital and tell Dan; he'll know what to do. They won't try anything while you're with me," she said with a heartening conviction that seemed reassuring.
"But Dan won't be there," Jeannie reminded her. "Remember? Mike sent him back to work."
"Oh, you're right. Well, I don't want your father to know anything about this, so we better talk to Steve. I'm pretty sure all his cop instincts are still there and he'll know what we should do."
# # # # #
They could hear Steve's laugh through the door as they pushed it open. He was still sitting in the chair, chuckling, it seemed, to himself. Mike, in bathrobe and slippers, was sitting in the upholstered chair beside him, a blanket once more over his shoulders. He was smiling in that innocent 'what did I say?' way that he had.
"Well," said Maggie with a wide smile as they entered, taking it all in, "you two seem to be having a great time." Mike grinned up at her as she got closer, leaning over and kissing him. "You look great. How are you feeling?"
"Good," he said with a warm smile, taking her hand. "Did you guys have a good breakfast?" he asked carefully, trying not to wince. Maggie frowned.
"Yes, it was wonderful," Maggie said perfunctorily, eyeing him worriedly. "Are you sure you're okay?"
He nodded. "It hurt getting into the chair; they just did it a few minutes ago. The pain'll go away," he finished encouragingly.
With a troubled smile, she nodded and kissed the top of his head lovingly, her lips lingering for several seconds as she closed her eyes. Steve glanced up at Jeannie and they smiled warmly at each other.
When Maggie raised her head, Jeannie said, "So, what were you laughing about?" They all looked at Steve.
"Okay, so, they've given Mike this thing," he picked up what looked like a large graded plastic cylinder with a handle, and a thick tube with a mouthpiece attached to the bottom. "He has to blow into it and it will help improve his lung function. It's all very scientific."
"Okay," said Maggie slowly, "what's so funny about that?"
"Well, this is called a spirometer."
"Okay…?" Maggie and Jeannie were still waiting.
With a smirk, Steve turned to Mike. "And what did you call it?"
"I told you I couldn't remember the name," Mike said quietly, obviously in self-defense.
"Tell them," Steve said calmly but firmly.
"I called it an 'Agnew-meter'."
Jeannie erupted with laughter and Maggie bit her lips to keep from giggling. Steve chortled silently, but snorts kept escaping. Mike looked hurt and embarrassed, but they all knew it was an act. Eventually, he smiled as well. "I know what it's called," he said petulantly, "I was just making a joke."
"Yeah, right," said Steve dismissively, but with an affectionate chuckle.
"That's actually very funny, Mike," Jeannie said, wiping tears of laughter from her eyes.
Mike paused slightly, then grinned. If she was calling him Mike again, he must be getting better. "Thank you, sweetheart," he said with a curt nod to his daughter and a dismissive sneer in Steve's direction.
"I'm impressed," Maggie added with an approving nod, "funny and politically savvy. I seemed to have scored the whole package here." She wrapped her arms lightly and gently around Mike's shoulders. When he couldn't see her face, she looked quickly and pointedly from Jeannie to Steve.
Jeannie turned to the younger man, groping for some excuse to get him out of the room. Sensing her dilemma, Maggie pulled a chair up beside Mike and took his hand. "We had a marvelous breakfast," she said, "but I forgot to get orange juice. Would you like some too?" When Mike nodded, she turned to face the other pair.
"Steve, Jeannie, could you do us a favor and go down to the cafeteria and get us some orange juice?"
"Ah, sure," said Steve as Jeannie shot her an almost inconspicuous 'thank you' nod and they left the room.
Maggie turned back to Mike. "You have quite the daughter there, mister. You've done a terrific job raising her."
# # # # #
Once into the corridor, Jeannie stopped Steve with a hand on his arm. "We have to talk," she said quickly, keeping her voice low.
"What's going on?" He stopped, suddenly concerned.
"Come on, we'd better go to the cafeteria like Maggie asked or Mike'll get suspicious." She pulled his arm and he fell into step beside her. "Something happened when we were at breakfast and we need your advice."
# # # # #
"Whoa, what are you doing here?" Lessing said with a happy smile as Dan walked into the Homicide office. "That's gotta mean only one thing – Mike's doing a lot better, right?"
Dan laughed and nodded. "He sure is. As a matter of fact, he's the one that ordered me back here, so you know he's on the mend."
Fielding more greetings, Dan made his way to his desk, checking the messages that had piled up in his absence. He glanced towards Mike's office, smiling, and actually felt himself relaxing for the first time in days. He looked up again, scanning the room.
"Lee, where's Norm?"
Lessing turned from his desk. "He was in this morning but he took off about a half hour ago, went down to Narcotics, I think. Why?"
"Just wondering. He still working on Mike's case?"
"Yep, and he's getting pretty frustrated. Can't get a lead on that Stanton kid and I think he's been down every avenue – nothing."
"Thanks…" Dan answered absent-mindedly as he studied one of the messages left on his desk. He quickly picked up the phone and dialed.
# # # # #
A glass of orange juice in each hand, Steve pushed the door open with his shoulder, Jeannie close behind him with two glasses as well. "We decided to join you," she smiled, holding the glasses up. "It just smelled so good and fresh." She crossed to her father and handed him a glass.
Steve handed his extra juice to Maggie, and as they made eye contact and he smiled knowingly, she gave him a barely perceptible nod. "Thanks, Steve," she smiled as she took the glass, glancing briefly towards Jeannie.
They made small talk as they sipped their juice. Jeannie realized she had not told Maggie about Mike's unawareness of the Moscone/Milk assassinations, and she hoped the older woman wouldn't bring it up in the course of conversation. She knew she had to get Maggie aside at some point.
She had also not informed Maggie of the implications of Mike's injuries and the reality that his days as a street cop were over, and she didn't think that Dan or Steve had done so already either. That revelation could wait; she didn't want to disturb the euphoria that surrounded them all at the moment, a situation she knew would be short-lived.
Finishing her orange juice, Maggie turned to Steve. "Sweetie, could you do me a huge favor and drive me to Dan's place so I can change and freshen up? I never expected to stay all night," she chuckled, looking warmly at Mike. "You don't mind if I leave for a bit, do you, Mike?"
"Not at all," he said quietly, then grimaced, closing his eyes.
They all looked at him, suddenly unsettled. "Are you sure you're okay?" Maggie asked anxiously.
He opened his eyes and smiled. "Yeah," he nodded, "I'm just a little sore this morning. Blowing into that…thing," he pointed at the spirometer, "it's really painful."
"Yeah, the doctors said that most people only have one lung that's been injured," Steve said quietly, laying a hand on Mike's forearm and squeezing, concern tingeing his words.
"I'm okay," Mike said with as much conviction as he could muster, "and I have Jeannie here with me." He smiled at his daughter and she smiled back, worry furrowing her brow.
Maggie leaned forward and gave him a kiss. "I won't be long, I promise."
# # # # #
"Robbery, Healey," came the gruff voice over the phone.
"Dan, hi, it's Dan." There was the usual chuckle on both ends of the conversation. "I just got in and got your message. What's up?"
"Well, before we get down to specifics, the fact that you're in the office, that means Mike's getting better, right?"
Ah, detectives, thought Dan Robbins, they never miss a thing. "Mike's doing great. You guys should really get in to see him, he'd love that."
"That's great news. Yeah, I'll try to get there as soon as I can."
"So, what's up?"
"Look, you know Norm has been heading up the investigation into Mike's shooting pretty much all by himself, right?"
"Yeah."
"Well…" Dan heard Healey take a deep breath, "I'm getting a really bad feeling about all this, like Norm is reaching the end of his rope. Dan, I'm really worried about him. Look, why don't you and I get together for a…juice or something," there was a dry chuckle, "I need to bounce a few things off you, okay?"