"So what'd you come for?" Skalany asked mildly.
"My superior officer told me that my presence was 'necessary to maintain the proper public image of our precinct'," he quoted sarcastically, taking a swallow of his drink. He surreptitiously watched Captain Simms, who was dancing with the commissioner. {To say nothing of how much she likes getting me undressed from this monkey suit…one piece at a time.}
"How did Strenlich get out of it?" Jody looked around at the crowd, not spying the heavyset chief's form.
"I didn't." Strenlich pulled up a chair and sat down glumly, looking decidedly out of place in formal attire.
"Where's Molly?" Kermit asked.
Strenlich slumped despondently and sighed. "Sick with the flu. Her and the kids. I offered to stay home and take care of them all, but she told me they were already sick enough."
The group at the table laughed. "Join the 'single's club'," Skalany mourned. "We're all partnerless for the night."
"Not quite all." Kermit nodded in the direction of the dark-haired couple who stood in the doorway of the ballroom searching for familiar faces.
Kacie spotted the precinct gang first, and tugged on Peter's arm, indicating with a nod the direction they needed to travel. He spoke in her ear as they started to the table to meet their friends and she smiled up at him. They shared a quick kiss before Peter skillfully navigated them through the crowd.
Jody asked facetiously as they arrived at the table, "Hasn't anybody ever told you two that looking so happy in public is a crime?"
Peter and Kacie laughed good-naturedly with the group as Peter pulled out Kacie's chair for her. Solicitously seating her, he scooted his own chair close to hers, keeping a protective arm around her shoulders. They were completely unaware of what an attractive couple they made: he, tall and handsome in a tux that fit his athletic form perfectly, and she, a vision in a blue silk dress that left her back and shoulders bare, a small diamond necklace sparkling at the base of her throat.
"Since when has there been a law against being happy?" Peter asked cheerfully, rubbing his thumb up and down Kacie's bare arm.
"Kacie, you look positively radiant," Blake burst out unexpectedly, blushing as everyone else laughed at him.
Kacie colored prettily and beamed at him. "Why, thank you, Blake."
"Real original line there, Blake," Skalany teased.
He looked at them all defensively. "Well, it's true," he said stubbornly. "And I happen to place a very high value on being truthful."
"Just for that, YOU get the first dance," Kacie announced firmly.
"What about me?" Peter demanded indignantly, a pretend pout on his face.
Kissing his jaw, she grinned. "I'm going home with you."
"Oh yeah, that's right." He laughed and took her hand, linking his fingers with hers.
"How are you feeling these days, Kacie?" Jody asked. "You look great."
"I feel great, now that I've switched jobs at work. I'm in post-op, working with the patients waking up after surgery. I get home earlier from work, and even have time for a nap when I need one." She affectionately patted the faintly discernible bulge in her abdomen. "I'm starting to get fat, too."
Peter briefly rested his head against hers and then gestured toward the others. "Have you ever heard of a woman who got excited about getting too big for her clothes? You shoulda heard her this morning: 'Look, Honey, I can't even zip up these jeans any more.'" Peter looked around the table, face glowing with happiness and excitement.
"How far along are you now?" Skalany inquired.
"Sixteen weeks." The Caines spoke as one and laughed together.
. Kacie linked her arm around Peter's and took his hand in hers, entwining their fingers. "I haven't felt the baby move yet, but my doctor says I should any day now."
"I can't wait to feel the baby kick," Peter shared excitedly.
"Easy for you to say," Kacie grinned. "Just wait until your son starts doing gymnastic routines and keeps us awake at night. I told you: I'm up, you're up."
"The doctor told you that you were having a boy?" Kermit looked slightly taken aback. "I figured the two of you would want to be surprised."
"We don't know that for sure," Peter answered. "My wife, here, is the one that says we're having a boy. I don't care what we have, as long as it's healthy and Kace is OK, too."
"I don't care either," Kacie said firmly. "I just know it's going to be a boy."
"What happens if you're wrong?" Blake asked worriedly. "You won't be disappointed if you have a girl, will you?"
"The only thing that would disappoint her would be that she would have to admit she was wrong," Peter kidded. "She hates doing that."
"That's because I'm always right," Kacie remarked smugly. "You just haven't figured that out yet. That's why I keep having to teach you."
"And just how do you go about teaching Peter anything?" Skalany inquired. "We've been trying for years, and not having much luck."
"You just weren't using the right techniques." Kacie winked at her friends. "He's actually very easy to train, if you know the right motivational techniques."
Peter's face flamed as the gang shouted with laughter. "That's enough out of you for one night, Wife."
"Sure, Hon, whatever you say," Kacie spoke demurely, though a devilish twinkle remained in her eyes.
The group from the 101st continued to harass and tease one another, enjoying an evening free from crime and the darker side of life.
"Look at 'em over there," an attractive, green-eyed blonde sneered, her mouth drawn down sullenly. "Acting like they own the place, as usual."
"Come on, Sara, lighten up," urged her redheaded companion. "We're here to have fun, not sit and obsess about a table of glory hounds."
Sara Rezac downed the last of her drink. "Drove me out of the 101st, that's what they did," she groused. "Never gave me a chance over there."
Her companion knew enough not to bring up the fact that Sara's personal conduct, combined with assaulting Peter Caine's wife, had been highly instrumental in her being transferred to another precinct.
"I'll tell you something, Jessica." Sara's voice was ominous. "They're not as smart as they think they are. Some day they're gonna run into a case they can't solve. We'll see how smug they look then."
Jessica shifted in her seat uneasily. {God! I wish she would get over this…thing…she has about the 101st. She's absolutely no fun to be around when she gets like this.}
Sara's eyes narrowed. "Look at Caine and his wife." She spat the last word like an obscenity. "I have never been able to figure out what he sees in her." She watched the couple through narrowed eyes. "One night with me, and he wouldn't even remember her name," she jeered. {He's the only man to ever tell me no and stick to it. He'll pay for thinking he's too good for me.}
Jessica tapped Sara's arm as the blonde continued to stare at the table of personnel from the 101st. "Here come the guys with our drinks."
Sara greeted her date with a welcoming smile, transforming her scowling face into that of a demure, alluring lady. Even as their foursome chatted together, her gaze strayed frequently to the 101st's table, her green eyes glittering malevolently.
Snuggling up to her date's side, she nibbled his ear. "These drinks are pretty tame," she murmured as she pressed a soft breast against his arm. "Have you got any more of that good stuff I tried the other night at your place?"
The man gave her a hooded smile. "What if I do?" he asked, putting his arm around her and sliding his hand under her armpit to fondle the side of her breast.
"You know the answer to that. You make me happy..." She slid her hand down to his crotch and squeezed gently. "I make you...ver-r-y happy."
She nearly laughed out loud at his pathetically eager expression and his haste to pull her up out of her chair to head for the door. {Men are so easy,} She thought scornfully, having to work at keeping her feelings from showing on her face. {Dangle the promise of sex in front of their noses and they'll do anything.} She watched Peter Caine and his wife as they danced together out on the ballroom floor. {Some day, Caine. Some day. You'll beg to have me. You wait.}