Guarding Red Riding Hood

by Rita Hestand

  "Yeah, you're probably right. I don't blame her it is frustrating being cooped up with people you don't know and don't particularly like." Daniel agreed. "And it might get worse."

  "She got that way at my place too, but she just went in the bedroom and slammed the door so hard the walls vibrated. When she came out, she was better." Tony explained. "They say red-heads have bad tempers. My dad won't date one."

  Dan had to laugh. "Could be some truth to that."

  Tony nodded.

  "Then I'll give her some time, then talk to her." Daniel smiled and helped himself to a sandwich.

  For an hour or so they munched down on the sandwiches and chips, while watching a football game on TV.

  But Daniel needed to talk to Gabby. It was time for a talk, and he dreaded it. He should have been used to frustrated females by now, but he really hated giving them 'just be patient' talks.

  He went to her door and knocked.

  "Come on in," She muttered, her frustration simmering on hold. "The door's open." Came her sarcastic voice.

  He opened the door and saw her sitting on the floor at the edge of her bed, watching TV.

  She shot him a quick glance, "Are you here to tell me to be patient again?"

  He blinked and turned his head, a slight smile playing at his lips. "It's not easy for any of us, you know." His voice lowered now, trying to find the right words.

  "I know that. But first I was held up in Joe's apartment, now here. I haven't been home in ages. Good thing I don't have a pet." She wailed miserably.

  "That's something I was going to ask you about earlier. Maybe that's what we need around here, some pets." Daniel chuckled softly.

  "Don't you get tired of this kind of work?" She turned her attention to him for a minute.

  "Sure, I’m human." He smiled.

  "Really? But you take it so easily. Of course you came here knowing that it would be some time, I suppose."

  "Yeah, I knew."

  She turned back to the TV. "You don't have to babysit me. I'm a grown woman, I'll get over it. But honestly, all I was trying to do was help the kid. Now I'm in this mess. It's like something off of television. I'm still having a hard time realizing it's for real."

  "The problem is, no one deserves this, but it's necessary to save lives." He said finally. "If some of Joe's associates had come in before me, it could have been a totally different outcome." He let that sink in for a moment.

  She looked down now, as though considering his words. "So what happens to Tony when his father is arrested, does he just go in the system and is forgotten?"

  Now she was looking at him for answers, and Daniel knew she was right. Trouble was, he didn't have all the answers. He never did. She asked a sensible question and deserved some kind of answer. He wasn't used to talking to sensible women. It stunned him that she seemed to care so much about the kid.

  "You were right to try to call CPS. He needs a new home. And that's the logical place to start."

  "He's been in new homes before. The system doesn't work you know. Sometimes the homes they are put in are worse than what they came from." She said sadly. "It's a known fact, I see it every day. Tony isn't the only one. He's one of many. You see the school I taught at, had lots of hard cases. Tony is one of many. You see it day after day and you wonder if there is anything you could do to stop some of it. You naturally want to help."

  Now he looked at her, because she was finally talking about what was eating at her. He thought she was worried about her boyfriend. But she was worried about Tony and that touched his heart. He didn't want it to, but it did.

  "I know that as well as you do." He answered with a sigh. "But sometimes it does work."

  She pulled her knees up, and laid her head there. "He's a good kid."

  "I know," He rasped. "I like him too."

  "What if I took him," she asked, chancing a glance at him.

  "You work, no one to take care of his needs. I'm not sure they would consider you." He crooked his head. "But it's a nice thought."

  "Then…why don't you take him?" She asked, staring at him now.

  "Me?" He stared at her as though he'd never considered such a thing. Then his mind began to function and he considered her question before he answered. He had a big home, with plenty of family around. He wouldn't be alone. It never dawned on him, but in some ways it sent some strange joy through him for a few seconds. A kid.

  "The courts might consider me a risk, with my job and all. But you know, I've never even considered such a thing. I don't know why. I tell you what, I'll consider it."

  She looked at him now differently, her breath rushed from her body.

  "You'd really consider it?" She asked with skeptic sounding voice.

  "I'll think about it. I like kids. Always have."

  "Then why haven't you married?" She blurted from nowhere.

  He chuckled now, "I hadn't considered that either."

  "A good looking guy like you?" She teased with a smile.

  "You think I’m good looking?" He asked, with a sexy smile.

  She shrugged, "You're not bad. But don't let it go to your head. Your kind of wild looking, some might consider it quite sexy."

  He laughed now.

  "So why haven't you married?" She asked once more.

  "Most women don't like my schedule. Heck, dating can be a bit tricky with my job." He answered a little more seriously than he should have.

  "Let me guess, you date blonde bimbos right?" She chuckled.

  He stared at her intently, is that what he'd been doing? And she could see right through him. "How'd you know."

  "It figures." She rolled her eyes. "Some men are so typical. You don't want to get serious so you date bimbos."

  Again he tried to shrug it off. "Blonde bimbos don't want to get married. They just want to have fun."

  "So you go out for fun then." She smiled somberly.

  "It has a way of releasing tension." He explained just as somberly. But he didn't look at her. He didn't want to see that skeptical look she had a way of throwing around.

  Trouble was, she was right. He did date blonde bimbos. It was a real eye opener that someone who didn't know anything about him, could read him so easily.

  "I know a lot of cops that are happily married. Maybe you just date the wrong crowd." She suggested.

  "You don't like me much do you?" He countered.

  "It's not that." It sounded like a lame apology on her part. "I can see your point. Maybe if I was a man, and in your situation, I'd do the same thing. I don't know." She finally really smiled at him.

  "I guess I seem pretty shallow to you." He studied her a moment, but looking at her this close, made his gut ache. She was so darned pretty. All that red hair and pink lips. His gaze went to her lips. It was those pink lips that he couldn't stop looking at. He licked his own lips. What would they taste like?

  "No, you're not. I mean you do come on that way. But I don't think underneath all that undercover cop thing, you're shallow. I know I've acted pretty immature. What you are doing is very brave and you must have the patience of Job. I think deep down, somewhere, there must be a really nice guy, under all that cover." She whispered.

  He stood up suddenly, he was too close, he needed to back off, because for a second there, he thought about kissing her and that was not part of the job. He cleared his throat and started for the door.

  She stood up too and put her hand on his arm, then she did the unthinkable. She reached up, and kissed him on the jaw.

  Before he returned the favor, he looked her in the eye and tried a smile on his face. "I better go check on Tony."

  "You really are a nice guy. I’m sorry I've caused you trouble." She said in a low voice. "It wasn't intentional."

  He smiled at her and left.

  Chapter Seven

  What the hell almost happened in there! He was a breath's way from kissing her, and he knew it. He'd wanted to badly, but he knew his job. He knew better. But he could almost taste those p
ink lips. He'd never gotten involved on a job before. He wouldn't be starting now! She was a Senator's daughter, that would never work! He'd better stick to blond bimbos.

  He went back to the living room, telling himself it was all wrong. Tony was into a game and barely acknowledged him.

  It was this job. He lost contact with reality in this job. Distancing himself when he couldn't go any further than the door just didn't work.

  He fumbled through some old magazines, but he'd read every one of them the last time he was here. Right now he felt the need to leave, get out of here for a bit. But if they couldn't leave, then he couldn't leave either. He needed to forget those pink lips, and that luscious head of red hair. She was off limits. She was a Senator's daughter; a teacher to boot. Were there enough things on that list to keep his hands off the lady? He'd schooled himself long ago about getting involved with a witness. Not to mention the times his boss reiterated it.

  "So, did she calm down?" Tony asked offhandedly.

  "Yeah, she's okay." Daniel said in a rasp. She was! But was he?

  Tony shot him a strange look, "She's pretty isn't she?"

  Daniel looked over at him, wondering if the kid had that kind of perception? "Yeah."

  They both smiled.

  He hadn't fooled Tony for a minute. Man, he was rotten at this. They could see through him.

  "She's really worried about you Tony." Daniel told him.

  "Yeah, I know. It's kind of neat having someone worry over me like that, too. Kind of like a real mom."

  Dan thought about that. "I guess it is Tony. So, are you worried?"

  Tony stared at him, then sighed.

  "Yeah. But I know the routine. It's happened before." Tony didn't take his eyes from the television. Just from his voice Daniel knew he wasn't playing it up for sympathy but trying to figure out how to handle it. A kid his age shouldn't be handling anything. He should be having the time of his life. "They'll put me in a foster home." Tony tried not look like a sad sack, but Daniel could see it was on his mind too.

  That's when Daniel began thinking about Tony and his situation. Why couldn't he apply for custody of Tony or even Temporary custody. He could live there, in his home and be comfortable and play with Mike, go swimming, all the things kids loved to do. It might mean a real start for Tony. And himself. Obviously he needed to be involved in something other than being a cop. His family had nagged him to get a life. Maybe it was time he looked into a few things.

  Suddenly he stood up, ran his hands through his hair and literally shook himself. He was getting way too involved here. He had to slow down. He was getting way too involved with both of them and he knew it.

  This was a job, not an application for family. Sure, he felt for the kid. But what kind of life could he offer him?

  Tony saw him, but didn't say anything. Either he was being polite, or he didn't care what was wrong.

  What had gotten into him, first he wanted to kiss the girl, now he wanted to adopt Tony. Had he lost his mind? Or had time finally caught up with him. Deep down he knew he wanted all those things, like any other guy. But he'd also put himself in a different category than most men. An undercover cop, wanting to settle down. How could he possibly maintain a household full of people and his job?

  Of course he'd never really considered the fact that he was human. That he felt things, wanted things. He'd simply put a 'not a chance' sign on himself, and kept it there.

  Daniel had to admit he'd been lonely a lot. His private life was spent doing things in the community and helping others, but he had no wife, no children, no family of his own. The more he thought about it, the more it appealed to him.

  He needed to talk to his family, but he couldn't talk to anyone right now. He'd have to put the thought of getting custody of Tony on simmer until later. Right now, he needed to clear his head and think about his job. Until Joe was arrested he couldn't do anything about the situation. And since when did he let his job get to him like this? It puzzled him how he could get so involved in so little time.

  Gabby took a bath and when she came out, her hair was still wet, Daniel nearly bumped into her as he was headed for the bathroom when she came out.

  She was wearing a towel on her head and her body. She looked at him and smiled. "It's all yours."

  He held his breath. She hadn't seemed shy about her state of dress, but he sure was. God, he couldn't keep his thoughts to himself when she was fully dressed, much less when she was wearing nothing but a towel.

  But hell, he'd seen her naked. Maybe that's how she looked at it too. Why be embarrassed now?

  This was exactly why he didn't like this detail. It threw him in a family atmosphere and his job shouldn't be family. When it was just him and the bad guys, he could handle that. But this, weeks of being thrown together, getting to know the people and involved in their emotions, it was too much.

  But Gabby had quickly scuttled into her room and closed the door. He realized she wasn't being flirty, just trying to maintain sanity through this. Had he made a big deal of it, it would have really caused trouble.

  He stood there, trying to breathe. Since when had things gotten so complicated around here. She was seeing a teacher. She was probably much more suited for a teacher than a jock that couldn't be counted on to come home for supper.

  He so needed out of here. For the first time in a long time the walls were closing in on him. It seemed as though everything was closing in on him. He didn't like it.

  But she dressed in jeans and t-shirt again and then looked for something to cook for supper.

  Fish sticks seemed in order so she decided on mac and cheese, fish sticks, spinach salad and rolls.

  But when Daniel went to get him and Tony a juice from the refrigerator, he got a whiff of her sweet soap and he shook his head. Man, it was getting very hard to ignore her. He didn't want to ignore her.

  Why was it so hard for him this time? His every nerve was alerted to them both. They didn't have a problem, he did. Maybe he'd been doing this too long. Maybe it was time for him to take a desk job.

  Nah, he wouldn't be good at that!

  But he didn't need this kind of detail either and he'd tell Harry that next time.

  He asserted that part of the problem was that they were living like family. Except no one went to work. No one was married and the kid was just that a kid, with no parents.

  When you lived with someone you tended to notice all the little things about a person. Gabby ran around the house barefoot most of the time. Tony liked to put his feet on the coffee table. He wondered if they notice anything he did all the time. Tony also liked to chew gum a lot. He didn't smack it, but he did blow bubbles every now and then.

  He wondered if he could move them to his house, at least there they'd have things to do, like go swimming. Gabby would probably relate to his sister too. If he moved everyone, it might relieve some of this doldrums he had to be going through. He could concentrate on his job more and leave them to the house, but it would mean putting his own family in danger too. No, he couldn't do that!

  If he was going to move them, he needed to do it now, and not wait two or three weeks. If he waited too long someone could discover them. However, he knew staying in one place too long wasn't a good idea either.

  But he'd never taken anyone to his home before from his work. He could endanger his siblings or them. Still the prospect was inviting.

  He couldn't move them. He knew the routine. Find a place and stay there until contacted or until the trial. He needed to find a way to keep them occupied and himself from becoming too involved. That hadn't been a problem before. Only once had he succumbed to a pretty lady in distress and his friends at the prescient let him know it. He had promised himself he'd never let another lady get to him. He'd half fallen or the girl, and when the assignment was over, she went home to her boyfriend and forgot him. He swore it would never happen again. Once burned, he didn't need a repeat. Gabby had a life and she'd get back to it someday.

  Wh
en he thought about it, he hadn't had too many witness protection jobs. Only four and two of them were men. The woman was madly in love with the guy she was about to testify against. The second woman he fell for hard. She was beautiful, intelligent and so helpless around him. He'd felt protective of her first, then slowly, as he bent the rules and kissed her, he'd fallen for her. So why hadn't it lasted?

  Simple, she had a life before he met her. And so did Gabby. He had to keep that in mind. This was not for real, and he was the one forgetting it.

  But these two were different. The girl was an innocent teacher that just happened to get too involved in one of her students. The boy, was the typical sad story of the kid getting caught between a rotten parent, and the legal system. It didn't help that the girl was drop dead gorgeous, nor the boy being such a great kid.

  He only wished his boss would hurry up and do something. Before he considered marrying the girl and adopting the boy. What a fantasy!

  "So guys, how does fish sticks, mac and cheese, with spinach salad sound?" She asked just like a typical wife might ask her family.

  "Love fish sticks," Tony shot her a smile.

  "Most kids like mac and cheese." She tossed him a lopsided smile.

  "I can put that away pretty easy too." He chuckled.

  "Good, how about you?" She asked Daniel as he pretended interest in the television.

  "Sounds fine to me," he answered.

  She made the meal and they sat at the table the three of them, like a family, Daniel mused. That was what was wrong, this was a taste of family life. Did he like it? Yes! Did he want more of it? Yes!

  Gabby must have picked up on some of his thoughts when she blurted, "So, how was your day dear?"

  When his head jerked about to look at her, she burst out laughing.

  "I couldn’t resist. No family I know of sits at a table together anymore." She chuckled.

  Tony wasn't laughing though, "I kind of like it."

  Gabby's smile faded. That must have really hit a sore spot with Tony. And Gabby just realized it.