History Repeating Part I

Epilogue

Detective Don Flack removed his aviators and regarded the woman behind the tall desk, noting her smile and the hand that automatically went to check her hair he turned the charm up a notch. He loved summer, pretty women wore less.

"Hi" she said "Can I help you?"

"I hope so" he leaned a casual elbow on the desk, making eye contact for slightly longer than was warranted "I'm lookin' for this kid"

She took the picture he pushed across to her, looking slightly flustered. Flack smirked to himself as she looked at it. Looking back up he stood straighter, and watched her eyes travel as far as his waist, where she noticed his gun and badge.

"He looks kinda familiar" she said "Officer..."

"Detective" he offered his hand "Detective Flack, Don Flack"

She shook it, colour washing up her cheeks as she looked at the picture again briefly to compose herself and back to him.

"I'm Emily" she answered him "Emily Santos, I'm just the receptionist, one of the councillors will know, I'll give him a call"

"Thank you" he smiled as she reluctantly gave him his hand back and picked up the desk 'phone.

…...

"Well I'll be damned!" Don whirled around from his flirting session with the receptionist of the youth centre to see Gavin Moran heading in his direction "Still smooth talkin' the ladies huh Donnie?!"

"Gavin!" Don shook his hand warmly "I didn't realise this was the youth centre you were workin' at"

"The same" Gavin smiled "What can I help you with?"

Don handed him the picture "You know this kid?"

"Yeah" Gavin answered immediately "What's he done?"

Don flicked a look at the keenly listening receptionist, communicating with his eyes.

Gavin gave a barely perceptible nod "Lets talk in the office"

"Nice to meet you Emily" Don said, noticing the colour creep up her face again before he followed Gavin through the door.

"Uh, you too" she replied to the closing door.

…...

"He's not a bad kid" Gavin said quietly "I can't believe he was involved in a murder"

"His prints are at the scene" Don soothed "I jus' wanna talk to him"

"I know the drill" Gavin replied "He comes in, I'll call, I won't spook him"

Don gave him a hard look, he was still unsure of Gavin, especially in a situation like this. Once lost, trust was very hard to replace.

"I know what you're thinkin'" Gavin said "I'm past that, you can trust me"

"I hope so" Don said.

"You can" Gavin held his look, pleading with his eyes for another chance here, Don was torn, but this was the only lead he had on the kid, and he had to take the chance. More than that, he desperately wanted Gavin to prove himself again.

"So how you been?" Gavin changed the awkward subject.

"Good" Don nodded "Well except gettin' blown up last year"

"I heard about that" Gavin answered "Glad you're fightin' fit again, an' what they feedin' you over there at the 12th huh? You filled out kid"

Don laughed "Hard road back from that injury" he explained "Kinda take better care of myself now"

"I bet" Gavin replied "From all accounts you were lucky"

"I was" Don agreed "Owe my life to Mac Taylor"

"I met him a few times" Gavin said "Guys got the biggest balls..."

"Tell me about it" Don laughed "He's like action man, the science version"

Gavin laughed "Yeah, it's all test tubes and bunsen burners, crime fightin' these days"

Don shook his head "Along with good old fashioned police work" he chuckled "Anyway, how about you? This job seems to be workin' out for you no? You been here about a year?"

"Yeah, 10 months" Gavin answered warmly "It's great, I love the kids, some of them have tough home lives, you know? But here, they jus' come outta themselves"

"That's good" Don nodded.

"An' Sue and I...we're back together" Gavin added.

"Oh hey Gavin!" Don reached over and clapped him on the shoulder "That's great buddy, fantastic"

"I know right?" Gavin smiled, there was something under the smile, but not for long, and Don didn't want to pry "What about you?"

Don put his hand across his chest "Still single" he replied "An' lovin' it"

Gavin put his head on one side "You not been tempted to take a ride upstate then?"

"Aw, Gavin" Don knew this question would come up, ever since he'd set eyes on his old sergeant a half hour ago "You know that's not what either of us want, we're friends, we stay in touch"

Gavin nodded "I know, I just hope that one day..."

"We're not like that" Don smiled "We have different lives, busy lives"

"Too career focussed you young people" Gavin said with a sigh.

Don shrugged "She's doin' OK from the last time we spoke" he answered "Loves it up there"

A shadow of regret passed over Gavin's face before he answered "She's certainly busy"

Don realised that talking about Lexi was probably painful for Gavin, and if he was honest, it was slightly uncomfortable too. Standing he offered his hand.

"I'll give you a call" Don said "We can grab a beer or catch a game"

"Sure" Gavin also stood and took the hand, smiling brightly "I look forward to it"

He watched Don leave, knowing that it would probably never happen, the beer or the game. Both men knew it, it was like telling a woman you'd call, a polite way to end a conversation.

Gavin felt ill at ease, if only life had been different.

Flack breezed through reception, handing his card to Emily with a killer smile he urged her to call him if she 'thought of anything'.

Watching the door swing closed behind him, Emily Santos desperately tried to think of anything about the kid in the picture.

…...

Well that's this one done. I hope you have enjoyed a little trip into Flack's past. As I said the second part will be coming shortly – I hope you will read that one too :) Many thanks!