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Post by skybright on Mar 31, 2007 22:29:46 GMT -5
Daws wrinkled her nose at them. "Sure he would. But there's definitely no room in my office for Jerod Vance to take up permanent residence -- he'd drive me crazy in no time flat."
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Post by Jordanna on Mar 31, 2007 22:45:43 GMT -5
Sid rubbed his chin, trying to disguise a slight snicker. "Maybe ya oughta get used to it now."
"Wasn't it Katharine Hepburn who said something about men and women just visiting each other?" Miriam laughed. "At least Alex and I don't have that problem, or I'd have gone crazy months ago."
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Post by skybright on Mar 31, 2007 22:59:38 GMT -5
Daws grinned. "No kidding. Then again, this is a big house -- and that's a small office. The closer the quarters, the shorter the tempers."
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Post by Jordanna on Mar 31, 2007 23:08:52 GMT -5
Sid shrugged. "Well, the Major's got plenty a' bolt-holes around town, I guess. Gotta be where he keeps pullin' all those followers of his outta."
Alex glanced over at the clock on the wall, then removed his arm from around Miriam's shoulders and ran a hand through his hair. "Say, we've gotta get ready for work."
"Ya want we should take ya back to the city when we leave?" Sid asked Daws.
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Post by skybright on Mar 31, 2007 23:13:29 GMT -5
Daws smiled and nodded. "Sure, as long as you're heading in anyhow. It'll save me a subway ride."
She glanced at Tara and the other kids. "I can give you guys a hand with the dishes while they're getting ready, if you want."
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Post by Jordanna on Mar 31, 2007 23:31:22 GMT -5
Tara grinned--and then looked somewhat uncertainly at Daws' hands. "You don't--uh--have any trouble about... getting fur in the dishwater?"
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Post by skybright on Mar 31, 2007 23:33:53 GMT -5
Daws grinned crookedly. "Not as much as you'd think. But since water's more your element anyhow, how 'bout if I dry?"
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Post by Jordanna on Mar 31, 2007 23:55:52 GMT -5
"Sure." Tara grinned at Daws, then gave her brother and sister a stern glance. "I guess that means you two can go."
"Uh-huh--they can go an' get started on their homework," Sid put in, smiling with mock villainy at his younger children's groans of disappointment. "Ya gotta pay the price fer cuttin' school today, even if it was ta go to the dentist."
Holly and Caleb gloomily trudged off toward the den to find their schoolbooks, and Sid turned to Daws. "Foxy an' I gotta get dressed fer the Club. We'll be down in a few."
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Post by skybright on Mar 31, 2007 23:59:03 GMT -5
"Right." Daws smiled and stood up, reaching for the dirty dishes. "You'll know where to find me."
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Post by Jordanna on Apr 1, 2007 0:21:33 GMT -5
Tara gathered up her own share of dishes, and headed into the kitchen with Daws.
As the sink was filling, Tara stared down into the steaming water for a long moment. Than she glanced up at the detective.
"Miss Dawson... what does Joey really do?" She frowned. "I mean, sometimes when we've talked, he'll be telling me something about what he's been doing that day--and then he'll change what he was going to say. I can tell."
She shut off the water and shrugged, looking vaguely troubled. "Is it just about his work with you--or is there something else?"
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Post by skybright on Apr 1, 2007 0:34:23 GMT -5
Daws took a long moment to roll up her sleeves, debating with herself about how exactly to answer Tara's question. Then she sighed.
"It's . . . complicated, Tara." Understatement of the month. She frowned and glanced appraisingly at the teenager.
"Exactly how much do you know . . . about what I do?" Daws was reasonably certain that Tara had at least a hazy knowledge of what the adults around her were involved in -- but she didn't know how far that knowledge went, or if it included Daws' working for Nicholas Tiernan.
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Post by Jordanna on Apr 1, 2007 22:26:44 GMT -5
Tara frowned and shrugged. "Not much. I guess detective work probably isn't much like you see in TV and old movies. From what you and Dad have said, I've got the idea you're helping the Spooks after what happened to them... and I guess there's something else in that, but I don't know what it is."
She hesitated. "I guess I've figured, since Dad hasn't told me, it's just... better not to ask."
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Post by skybright on Apr 1, 2007 22:33:04 GMT -5
Daws nodded slowly. "That's . . . probably a wise move on your part."
She thought for another long moment, frowning slightly, and then shrugged. "Let me put it this way," She said. "Joey does have another job, besides just workin' in my office. But he only does it to help me out -- to be eyes and ears for me. That's really as much as I can tell you -- without breaking faith with him. He'd have to tell you the rest himself."
Daws smiled faintly at the teenager. "But he is a really good kid, Tara. I can tell you that much without hesitating."
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Post by Jordanna on Apr 1, 2007 22:43:33 GMT -5
Tara smiled, looking reassured. "I was pretty sure of that," she replied, and set to work on the dishes.
"Anyway, Dad doesn't seem bothered about Joey himself. It's just the whole dating in general thing, I guess." She grinned. "Some tough guy. He fusses over people he cares about."
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Post by skybright on Apr 1, 2007 22:51:08 GMT -5
"No kidding? I never would've guessed." Daws chuckled and began wiping the dishes as Tara handed them to her. "We'd better not let on that we've got him figured out, but . . ." She smiled fondly, "We're lucky to have someone to fuss over us like he does."
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Post by Jordanna on Apr 1, 2007 22:59:44 GMT -5
Tara nodded. "I know. Whatever he's doing... I know it's for the best." Her expression darkened a little, and she scrubbed studiously at a plate. "But I... I worry about him sometimes. The nights when he says he's just going to work like usual... but somehow, I know he isn't."
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Post by skybright on Apr 1, 2007 23:09:53 GMT -5
"You don't need to worry, Tara." Daws replied quietly. "Your dad's still got a lot of tough guy in him, when he needs to have it."
She wiped a serving dish and set it carefully to one side. "Besides," she added, glancing sideways with a grave expression, "Nothing's gonna happen to him -- 'cause I won't let it."
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Post by Jordanna on Apr 2, 2007 22:18:06 GMT -5
Tara glanced over at Daws with a faint smile. "Thanks, Miss Dawson. I'm glad he's got you for a friend."
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Post by skybright on Apr 3, 2007 16:29:31 GMT -5
"And I'm glad to have him." Daws replied sincerely, drying out a drinking glass. "You guys are one of the best things that ever happened to me -- and not just because of Alex's cooking, either." She grinned.
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Post by Jordanna on Apr 3, 2007 22:34:38 GMT -5
Miriam came into the kitchen, carrying the empty bowls of ice cream from Holly and Caleb, who had been slower to finish.
"I can finish this up, Daws. Sid should be down in a minute." She grinned. "As for that cooking lesson at the Club, you can pick any day--and if you actually talk the Major into coming with you, I'll be amazed."
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