| 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! [email protected] 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 5 - Shocks Nora slipped easily into the balcony chair, despite the noise of the city and the slightly muggy weather this morning was beautiful, to her anyway. She sipped her coffee, closed her eyes and let her head fall back so the morning sunshine danced over her face. If she concentrated hard enough she could make herself believe she was in Greece or Italy even, enjoying a lazy holiday. But really when she opened her eyes and looked around, right now there was nowhere else she�d rather be than right here at home, in the greatest place in the world, New York City. She felt overcome with emotion and had the urge to stand up and sing or simply lean over the balcony and shout �I�m in love.� That was it, she was in love, after so many years and pitfalls and lonely nights, she was feeling all those ridiculous things you hear them sing about in songs she�d always tried to avoid. Now she found she was singing those songs to herself in the shower, how comical was that? She heard footsteps and saw Jack�s shadow over the balcony, he kissed her bare shoulder as he passed and then took the seat across from her at the table. �Good idea of mine wasn�t it, to put a table out here. Now we can fully enjoy the summer when it comes, though the weather�s not bad this morning.� She only smiled and watched as he cut and segmented an orange; he did this almost every morning, no toast or bagels or cereal, an orange and strong black coffee. How quickly she�d gotten to know him, a few weeks and she was starting to get his habits down, perhaps that was because she watched him so closely. �I have to go change.� She said regretfully standing up. �Already?� �Sorry, time for breakfast tomorrow maybe. Have an early meeting, don�t have a day off like some people I know.� �Nora, before you go, I�ve been meaning to bring it up, what shall we do about work?� �What do you mean?� �I mean I think for the moment we should keep it just between us.� �Really.� She sat down again. �Look I just don�t want them gossiping, teasing, causing problems you know.� �Ok I suppose� I mean I know its not easy, for either of us, we don�t have good track records. But I want this to work. And for the moment I think you�re right we�ll keep it private but I�d rather not hide it forever.� She took hold of his hand and kissed it. �I love you.� He smiled and kissed her hand back in return; well it was better than nothing. She left him on the balcony and locked herself in the bathroom. It was strange how he never said anything about his feelings, she supposed he just found it difficult to share those things, especially after so many heartbreaks. Perhaps that�s why he was so adamant that they should keep this to themselves, maybe it was for the best. She certainly didn�t relish the idea of being the office gossip. What was it her mother said, never date anyone you work with, well she�d blown that one. Still she wasn�t going to let it bother her; they could say what they wanted in the end, as long as he didn�t join in. ***** Nora ate the last of her sandwich and threw the wrapper in the waste bin, she was on top of the building, looking out over the skyline and enjoying the only fresh air she�d felt all day. She hated days like these, when it was a beautiful day out and she was stuck here, and what made it worse was knowing Jack was sitting in the sunshine enjoying his day off. Alright so he had promised to cook dinner for her tonight, how sweet was that? How long had it been since somebody had cooked for her? She�d given him a key to her apartment, surely that was a good sign that this was all leading somewhere, somewhere good. But why then was she feeling like this, like he didn�t care, didn�t want to share things with her. Perhaps this was why it all went wrong so often, because she questioned it too much, analysed it like it was a case she was fighting. Maybe it was better just to do what he did, enjoy it, relax, stay calm and enjoy it. She straightened herself up, put her jacket back on and went inside. ***** She decided to stop off at the coffee machine on the way back to her office, she had an entire afternoon to get through after all. She was just passing the storeroom when she heard the girls laughing, loudly, she wondered if they�d share it with her, she certainly needed to smile for a minute or two. �Apparently they�ve been at it for weeks now � can you believe it?� �Sexy Jack with Nora, of all the women who�d indulge him.� �I know I certainly would.� Nora�s breath was caught in her throat, and she could hear her blood pumping through her ears, was her face getting redder. She put her hands up to cover it and ducked back into the storeroom, she had the urge to cry, but she couldn�t, she was too dumbstruck. They were laughing all of them, at her, making lewd comments � one half of her wanted to go out and sack them all while the other half wanted to crawl into a hole and die. How could they say such things about her? Like she was some cheap whore just sleeping with Jack for the thrill. How did they even know? She stood up straight and pulled her jacket tighter around her, that was it she wasn�t staying here to listen to this, she grabbed the door handle and prepared to leave when she heard a squeal of laughter. �No listen, apparently Jack�s said she�s such high maintenance the sex is hardly worth staying for.� �I�m not surprised, she�s such an ice queen.� �Speaking of being an ice queen, we should get back to work before she spots us.� The voices died down again and Nora slipped to the floor, how could he after everything they�d� oh god she felt sick. She dragged herself up and ran from the storeroom to the nearby bathroom. ***** Part 4 Stories Part 6 |