| Disclaimer: I don�t own these characters, I don�t pretend to know all the ins and outs of Law & Order � I�ve just started watching it & I�m picking it up as I go. But the story & ideas are mine� please don�t sue! I W a n t L o v e A Jack/Nora story by Rhonda* "I want love, but it's impossible - A man like me, so irresponsible - A man like me is dead in places - Other men feel liberated. I can't love, shot full of holes - Don't feel nothing, I just feel cold - Don't feel nothing, just old scars - Toughening up around my heart. But I want love, just a different kind. I want love, won't break me down, won't brick me up, won't fence me in. I want a love, that don't mean a thing - That's the love I want, I want love. I want love on my own terms - After everything I've ever learned - Me, I carry too much baggage - Oh man I've seen so much traffic. But I want love, just a different kind. I want love, won't break me down, won't brick me up, won't fence me in. I want a love, that don't mean a thing. That's the love I want, I want love. So bring it on, I've been bruised - Don't give me love that's clean and smooth, I'm ready for the rougher stuff - No sweet romance, I've had enough." Part Sixteen � Another one of those days Wednesday 10th October Nora climbed onto the small bed and Lolita wrapped herself around her closing her eyes. She smiled down at her and opened the book. "Ok here we go, Harry Potter and the Philosopher�s Stone chapter one." "Will you read me all the books? My friend back home has heard them all." "Of course I will and sometimes you can read to me. I�ll let you in on a secret but you can�t tell your dad." Lolita nodded her head. "I�m actually very excited, I�ve heard lots about this young man." Lolita settled down contentedly and Nora began to read. * * * * * "Is she asleep?" Jack whispered as Nora eased the bedroom door shut. "We got as far as chapter two and she was fast asleep." "Bet you were upset." "What do you mean?" She slumped down next to him on the sofa. "Come on, I know you�re as excited as she is." Nora laughed. "She likes the room doesn�t she." "Adores it, I�m not sure Laura was pleased about her staying over but she�ll have to adjust." "We all will, best to keep on good terms though." She patted his leg. "I know it�s just, well she gets through so many guys. Which reminds me, she�s invited us out to dinner tomorrow night to meet the latest one, seems to think it�s serious." "What�s his name." "James I think." "Alright, it will be good to go out for a change, we haven�t been in ages." She rested her head on his shoulder. "You�re always too tired." He took hold of her hand and continued watching the news. Within a few minutes he realised she�d fallen to sleep, she was getting worse with these early nights. He gently eased himself up and lifted her sleeping body up and carried her to the bedroom. He laid her down and carefully undressed her, wrapped her up and went back to the television. * * * * * Thursday 11th October Jack slid his arms around Nora�s waist and pressed her stomach. "Mmm, you�re looking good, fancy a drink?" "That�s your chat up line? How the hell did you manage to bag so many dates?" She fastened her earrings. "My natural charm." He kissed her neck. "You smell pretty good too." "Control yourself, it�s only 7.30 and we have a good few hours of polite conversation to keep up yet." "Couldn�t we back out, call and say you�re ill." "Me! Why not you? Besides we can�t and I�m rather looking forward to a treat." "I know it�s your favourite restaurant and they do the most wonderful chocolate souffl�." She turned in his arms. "That�s right and that�s exactly what I�m going to have and you will have lobster." "And how do you know that?" "Because you love it but hate to cook it yourself." She slipped out of his grasp and put her shoes on. "You know me too well." "That�s what time will do for you." * * * * * Nora stepped out of the cab and into the cold night air; she pulled her coat tighter around her while Jack paid. "Why do we always end up being late?" "Because you fuss while getting ready � it�s a good job we have reservations." "True." She held out her hand to him. "Come on, I�m freezing out here." They entered the restaurant and the attendant took their coats while Jack looked around. "It looks like they�re already here." Nora shivered and rubbed her arms. "Are you ok?" "Just a little cold." "You�ll soon warm up in here." Jack led the way to the table and Nora slowly followed; suddenly she wasn�t feeling that hungry anymore, in fact the smell of food had made her feel quite queasy. "Nora, what�s wrong?" Jack grabbed her arm. "Nothing I�m fine." She smiled. Laura stood up. "Is everything alright?" "Fine." Nora smiled. "Well this is James." She smiled proudly introducing the young man. "Nice to meet you James." Jack said shaking his hand; Nora was frozen to the spot � it was the man from the alleyway, the guy from Elmira. James grinned broadly at her. "Nora, good to see you again." He held out his hand and she hesitantly shook it. "You know each other?" Laura asked surprised. "Only a little; I served her coffee at the Inn in Elmira where I used to work." "I remember." Nora sat down trying to avoid his gaze. "Funny isn�t it." She opened the menu and looked up smiling confidently at the others trying to mask her nerves. * * * * * Nora hardly ate at all that night, the only thoughts going through her mind were �please don�t tell Jack�. She couldn�t believe fate was so unfair as to throw her mistake right back in her path, just when things were going perfectly. She switched the lamp off and lay down pulling the blanket high up under her chin. Jack emerged from the bathroom and smiled at her. "Are you still cold?" "Freezing." She mumbled. He climbed in next to her and wrapped his arms around her. "You�re shivering." He pulled her closer and kissed her head. Nora wasn�t sure if it was actually the cold or her guilt that was causing her to shiver. She kept telling herself it was only a kiss, nothing more, but the fact was it could have been more if she�d not regained her common sense. "You know I�ve been thinking." Jack whispered. "What do you think about adoption?" "For whom?" "Lolita of course." She turned over suddenly wide-awake. "What � why?" "I�m not sure she�s really happy, with Laura she has so little stability, always being uprooted, different men always hanging around." "That doesn�t give you the right to put her through that. Jack you hardly know her, Laura�s struggled for five years alone and now we�re here to help she can have some time for herself. That doesn�t give us the right to take Lita away from her mother." "Then you don�t agree?" "No � I can�t believe you�d even consider it. We promised we wouldn�t." "Alright calm down, it was only a suggestion." "If you�re worried about her then talk to Laura seriously about it, she is her mother." "I�m worried about you too." "It�s probably just a cold, that time of year." She turned back over and closed her eyes and Jack rested his head against her shoulder. "I�m sorry." He mumbled. "I won�t ever consider it again." "Good." "I�ll go see Laura tomorrow afternoon." "Isn�t it your big case � the result." "I�m trying not to think about it too much, hopefully we won�t have to wait all day for it. Are you coming into court?" "I wish I could; too much paperwork to get through, seems to have really built up this month. But if there�s a spare glass of whisky to celebrate with, remember where my office is." "As if I�d forget." He pulled her onto her back and kissed her mouth. "I love you." She opened her eyes and touched his mouth. "I know you do." * * * * * Friday 12th October They decided to walk to work the next morning; well in truth Jack decided, he was tense and needed the fresh air and exercise to revive him. He�d practically dragged Nora out and they�d ended up being too early so had stopped for coffee and sat in the park enjoying the autumn sunshine. "It�s not like you to be nervous, even when you were young you were always confident." Jack smiled folding his hands. "I remember we used to have bets at University who�d win the case." "And you made the most money right." His hood hid his face but she could tell he was smiling. "Sometimes wonder what happened to those friends � funny how you drift apart." "You�re very reflective this morning." "Yeah sorry, I suppose we should just accept that shit happens and deal with it." "I wouldn�t have put it quite that eloquently; but I guess you�re right." She swallowed the last of her coffee and jumped down from the wall she was sitting on and held out her hand to Jack. "Come on honey work to do." He followed her lead and jumped down, throwing both of their cups into a waste bin. "You�re looking much better this morning." "Thank you, you see what a good nights sleep can do for you." She smiled blissfully at him; she did look better, the paleness of her face was beginning to go and she�d put the red lip-gloss on again, the one that he�d die to taste. He handed her briefcase to her and they set off through the park to work. "We should take up morning jogging." Jack noted as they passed a group of runners. "We should not!" Was Nora�s resolute reply. * * * * * Jack felt much better; he�d won the case and although he always tried to be confident there was something about this one that had affected him. But now it was over, he�d only been back to the office for a few minutes, Nora was on the telephone when he�d looked in. Like a queen in her office; gleaming blonde hair and the perfect red lips. Professionally neat in her long black skirt and deep red top � but still something sexy about the way she looked up at him and smiled as he placed a small glass of whisky on her desk and mouthed �see you later� as he left. And now he was outside Laura�s flat, one thing out of the way yet another to face. He wasn�t even sure how to handle this one either, but Nora was right it was only fair to get it out in the open rather than let it build up and escalate. What real rights did he have anyway? Technically he�d only been Lita�s father for a few months and here he was dictating how her life should be run. He took a deep breath and rang the bell � best to establish the rules now rather than later. * * * * * Part 15 Stories Part 17 |