Chapter 21:Weekend Plans

At Sully's

Jess took the beer from the bartender with a quick "thanks" and wove her way through the crowd, heading toward the corner booth where her team was already camped out. The bar was packed—typical for a Friday night in the city—but she didn't mind the noise. Not tonight.

It was her weekend off—her entire weekend off—and she was damn well going to enjoy it. She hadn't had more than a scattered day here or there in weeks, and now, with no early calls or shift changes looming, she could finally breathe.

Mac slid over to make room as she reached the booth. "So, where's Flack tonight?"

Jess sank into the seat across from him, setting her beer down on a coaster before answering. "Poker night with Chris and Ryan."

"He bailed on us for poker?" Danny said, mock-offended, raising his eyebrows over his drink.

Jess smirked as she took a sip. "Don't take it personally. He's got a standing invite now. My dad calls him 'the quiet one with the good poker face.' That's high praise."

"Guess he's not scared of your brothers anymore," Danny said, grinning.

"Please. He's one of them now." She laughed, shaking her head. "Friday night poker with the guys has become, like, tradition. If he's not working, he's there. Sometimes I tag along, hang with my Megan, play with the kids. But tonight? I needed a break from all of it."

"You chose us over family game night? We're honored," Stella said, raising her glass.

Jess clinked bottles with her. "Damn right. Besides, I've seen more of my family in the last few months than ever before . We've been out to Jersey twice for Sunday dinner—and don't even get me started on how much food Sherry tries to send us home with. We're practically meal prepping for the week by accident."

"Sounds like he's really in," Mac said, giving her a knowing look.

"Yeah," Jess said, softer this time. "He is."

She didn't say it out loud, but it felt good—this rhythm they were falling into. Work-life balance still felt like a joke half the time, but weekends like this one? They helped. A lot.

"And we're going to see my brother Mike over Christmas," she added, more to herself than the table.

"Road trip?" Danny asked.

"Yea it should be interesting," Jess said. "With Sherry and dad in the car with us. Dad is such a backseat driver."

They all laughed, and the conversation drifted into easier topics—case gossip, Lucy's first birthday. Jess leaned back, beer in hand, warmth in her chest that had nothing to do with the drink.

Yeah. She was definitely going to enjoy this weekend.

At Chris's place:

Flack sat at the worn wooden table, the amber glow of the overhead light catching the condensation on his beer bottle. Cards were dealt, chips were stacked, but his mind wasn't on the game. He could barely focus on the hand in front of him, knowing the conversation he was about to have would probably be the most important one of his life.

Ryan tossed in a few chips with a grin, clearly unaware of the mental battle Flack was waging.

Cliff shook his head, glancing at his cards. "Oh, I fold," he announced, pushing his cards towards the center. "So, where's our girl tonight?" he asked Don.

Don snapped back to reality. "Oh, Jess? Stella and Lindsay wanted her to go out to Sully's with them."

"I'm in," Chris said, tossing a few chips onto the pile. "Megan asked her to come up earlier, but she said she had plans. I figured it was work."

Don smiled with relief that Stella had gotten Jess to go out with them. The question he needed to ask would have been harder with her in the house, even if they were in separate sections.

"We're off this weekend," Don replied, sliding his chips forward. "I'm in."

"Think Jess will be mad if I take your money?" Ryan joked, fanning out his hand. "Because I have a straight flush."

Chris and Don tossed their cards in, defeated. Don wasn't having much luck tonight; he was distracted and not concentrating on the game. He was trying to find the right moment, but maybe he just needed to ask. He knew he was liked by Jess's family and accepted into the Angell clan—at least he felt that way—so why was he so nervous?

Ryan smiled, raking the chips into his growing pile.

"My deal," Chris said, reaching for the deck.

Chris passed out the cards. Don took a long sip from his beer, hoping the cold liquid might give him the courage he needed. His hand shook slightly as he set the bottle down. This was it. He had to ask—he didn't have a choice. Jess meant everything to him.

Cliff watched Don, having observed his unease all night. Something was clearly on his mind. Cliff's detective skills might have been a little rusty, but he could still read people. "So, what's on your mind, Don?" he asked, his tone gentle but direct. Cliff didn't know for sure, but he had a strong suspicion about what was going through Don's head.

"Here's the thing," Don began, his voice a little tight.

Chris nudged his dad playfully. Ryan put down his cards, his playful demeanor fading into curiosity.

Don swallowed, his gaze fixed on the table. "Jess is incredibly important to me, and I want to do this right. I know how independent Jess is, and I'm not trying to take that away from her, but I feel like this is the right way to do it, you know?"

"Do what exactly?" Chris asked, a smile playing on his lips, though his eyes held genuine interest.

"I want to ask Jess to marry me. Soon," Don confessed, finally meeting their gazes. "And I wanted to ask for your blessing."

A stunned silence fell over the basement. The clinking of poker chips and the low murmur of conversation from earlier were replaced by the quiet hum of the refrigerator in the corner. Chris' playful smile vanished, replaced by an expression of thoughtful surprise. Cliff leaned back in his chair, a knowing look softening his features. Ryan, ever the expressive one, widened his eyes slightly, his hand hovering over his discarded cards.

Finally, Cliff broke the silence, a warm smile spreading across his face. "Don… that's… that's wonderful." He reached across the table and clapped Don on the shoulder. "You have my blessing, one hundred percent. Jess always has a smile on her face but the smile has been different since you've been in her life."

Chris grinned, "Yeah, man, absolutely. We know how happy you make Jess."

Ryan, still slightly surprised, nodded enthusiastically. "Definitely. You guys are great together. You've got my blessing too"

Don sighed a huge sigh of relief "thanks, means a lot. One more thing, could this stay between us yet, we are good yet really good, she's in a good place and I don't want to rush her but I wanted to be ready when the moment is right, ya know"

"Absolutely, Don," Cliff reassured him, his gaze sincere. "This stays here. We understand."

Chris nodded in agreement. "Yeah, man. Your secret's safe with us. You'll know when the time is right."

Ryan chimed in, his earlier playful mood completely gone, replaced by genuine support. "Totally. No pressure from us. You do what feels right for you and Jess."

Don let out another breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding. A weight had lifted. Knowing he had the unspoken approval of Jess's family meant the world to him. It wasn't about tradition as much as it was about showing them the respect they deserved and acknowledging their place in her life.

"Thanks, guys," Don said, a genuine smile finally breaking through his earlier tension. He picked up his beer bottle and took another long sip, the amber liquid tasting much sweeter now. "I appreciate it more than you know."

The atmosphere in the basement shifted. The unspoken tension dissipated, replaced by a comfortable camaraderie. Chris started shuffling the cards again, the familiar sound filling the brief silence.

"Alright," Chris said, dealing the next hand. "Now that the big secret's out, maybe your luck will change, Don."

Don chuckled, a genuine, relaxed sound. "Maybe you're right." He picked up his cards, his focus finally back on the game. The weight of the impending question still lingered in the back of his mind, but now it was mixed with a sense of anticipation and quiet confidence. He had taken the first step. Now, all he had to do was wait for the right moment to take the next.

Cliff watched Don, a fond smile playing on his lips. He knew Jess was in good hands. The worry he sometimes carried for his independent daughter eased a little. Don was a good man, a steady presence in her life, and Cliff had no doubt he would make her incredibly happy.

Ryan, ever the observant one, noticed the subtle shift in Don's demeanor. The tightness around his eyes had eased, and his shoulders seemed less tense. He clapped Don on the back. "See? Told ya talking about it would help."

Don grinned. "Yeah, yeah, you're a regular therapist, Ryan."

The playful banter returned, the earlier seriousness fading into the background. The poker game continued, the clinking of chips and the occasional joke filling the basement. But beneath the surface, a shared secret and a quiet anticipation hung in the air, a testament to the bond between these men and the love they all held for Jess Angell. Don knew he still had the biggest hurdle to overcome – actually asking Jess – but tonight, surrounded by her family who had offered their heartfelt blessing, he felt a surge of hope and certainty that everything would work out exactly as it was meant to.

Back to Don's and Jess' apartment.

Jess lay curled in bed, the soft duvet pulled up to her chin. Ryan had dropped her off about an hour ago after giving Don a ride home from Sully's. Since Ryan was on call at the hospital, he'd been the designated driver for the evening. Neither of them had drunk much anyway; a beer or two was usually their limit.

She reached over to her nightstand and picked up the paperback she was currently engrossed in. The sound of the shower running indicated Don was washing off the evening. Her thoughts drifted to their plans for the weekend. He needed to visit his grandmother tomorrow to run some errands for her. Jess had initially planned to go with him, but Olivia and Abby had invited her on a shopping trip, and Abby was taking young Dawson to see Santa for the first time.

Don had encouraged her to go out with her friends, reassuring her that they would have plenty of time to visit his grandmother together in Queens over Christmas, when there would be a larger family gathering.

the sound of the water abruptly stopped, and a moment later, the bathroom door creaked open. Don emerged, a plush navy towel wrapped low around his waist, droplets of water still clinging to the dark, slightly damp hair on his chest. The soft lamplight from the bedroom cast him in a warm glow, highlighting the lean muscle of his shoulders. Jess looked up from her book, a soft, genuine smile gracing her lips. He looked undeniably good, a familiar and comforting sight.

"What are you looking at, Detective?" Don teased, a playful glint in his dark eyes as he caught her gaze.

"Oh, you know," she replied, a hint of a smirk playing on her own lips as she let her eyes roam over him for a moment longer. "Just admiring the view."

Don chuckled, his smile widening. He was so pleased with how well she had been doing lately. She hadn't mentioned going back to Tilly's since that night a few weeks ago. Don had decided to let her broach the subject when she felt ready, trusting that she would confide in him when the time was right.

Don pulled on his pajama pants and slid into bed beside Jess. "So, should we do something tomorrow night?" he suggested, starting to solidify their weekend plans.

"We can," Jess replied, turning a page in her book. "I'm also perfectly happy just staying in, ordering takeout, and having a movie marathon." The thought of uninterrupted quiet time with him was deeply appealing.

"Nothing too fancy," Don clarified, reaching out to gently stroke her arm. "I was thinking about dinner and a movie. Still need to wine and dine you properly," he joked. "I don't want us to fall into a rut. We've both been so busy lately; you deserve to be taken out."

Jess's smile softened. "Okay, and on Sunday, I'd like to get the Christmas decorations out. They're down in the building's storage unit."

Don nodded his agreement.

Jess marked her page and set the book aside, turning to Don and giving him a lingering kiss. "I was also thinking that black negligee could make a reappearance tomorrow night."

That black negligee. It had seemingly vanished after the shooting, a small but significant reminder of the trauma since they had been talking about it just before it happened. It was as if she had created an "ex-boyfriend box" for the shooting, a place to put away anything and everything that triggered those painful memories.

Don had missed the negligee, but the purple and red ones that had replaced it were equally lovely. In truth, it didn't matter what she wore; she was always sexy, always beautiful in his eyes.

"Oh yeah?" Don grinned, his eyes sparkling with anticipation.

"It's been a while," Jess murmured against his lips, a playful challenge in her voice.

"Too long," Don agreed, his hand tracing the curve of her hip beneath the duvet. "I've missed seeing you in it."

"Have you now?" Jess teased, her fingers tangling in the short hairs at the nape of his neck. "Maybe you haven't been appreciative enough of the other ones."

Don leaned down, pressing soft kisses along her jawline. "Oh, I've been appreciative. Every single one you wear is… spectacular. But there's just something about that black lace."

"Hmm," Jess hummed, pretending to consider his words. "Maybe it'll make its grand return tomorrow night then. If you're good."

"I'll be on my best behavior," Don promised, his voice a low rumble. He deepened their kiss, the earlier lightheartedness giving way to a more intimate tenderness.

They lay entwined for a while, the comfortable silence punctuated by soft sighs and gentle caresses. The weight of the day seemed to melt away in the warmth of their shared embrace.

"You know," Jess said softly, breaking the quiet, "I am really looking forward to Christmas this year. Going back to Queens, seeing your grandma… it feels like things are finally starting to feel… normal again."

Don held her tighter. "Me too, Jess. Me too. And my grandma is always so happy to see you. You've become like another grandchild to her."

"She's pretty special," Jess smiled, thinking of the kind, matriarchal figure who always welcomed her with open arms and endless stories.

"She is," Don agreed. "And so are you." He kissed the top of her head. "Now, are you going to read some more, or are you ready to turn off the light?"

Jess nestled closer to him, the book still resting on her chest. "Maybe just a few more pages. But don't fall asleep on me."

"Never," Don murmured, his arm a comforting weight around her.

The bedside lamp cast a warm glow over the room as Jess returned to her book, the gentle rhythm of Don's breathing a soothing presence beside her. The earlier anxieties and shadows seemed to recede, replaced by a quiet sense of peace and the comforting anticipation of their weekend together. The promise of a date night and the eventual unpacking of Christmas cheer hung in the air, a gentle reminder of the normalcy and love they were slowly rebuilding, one day, one shared moment, at a time.