| 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 8 � Lazy Days �I told you look very elegant.� Jack smiled as he watched Nora twirling herself round under the streetlight. �I may look elegant, but these shoes are killing my feet.� �Well if its any consolation, my feet are killing too, I think it�s the dancing.� �Well it was your suggestion � and personally I loved very minute.� She kissed him. �Shall we go home and you can rub my tired feet all better.� He gripped her hand. �I have a better idea.� * * * * * They sat at the side of a fountain with their bare feet submerged in the water, Nora�s head resting on Jack�s shoulder, and holding hands. �I feel like a school kid again.� Jack whispered. �Afraid to say you don�t look like one, but I don�t mind.� She rubbed her forehead. �What time is it?� �Erm, nearly 3 a.m.� �Good god, I haven�t stayed up until the early hours of the morning for years. It must be your bad influence.� �Well if you will hang around with bad boys.� He kissed her head. �Are you warm enough?� �Perfectly wonderful.� She lifted her head up and smiled at him, glorious under the moonlight. �Doesn�t the city look breathtaking from down here? � �Absolutely.� He brushed the hair back from her face and took a deep breath. �Nora, I�� �Oh no, no deep conversations now, I think we�ve had enough for two days in a row.� �You�re probably right. Ok, no deep stuff right now, I�ll leave it for a while.� �At least a week I think.� She bent over dipping her hands into the water. �How are your feet feeling?� �I�m not sure � frozen.� She squeezed his toes. �Feel that?� �Hey, yes! Want me to do the same to you?� He laughed as he leant forward almost knocking her into the fountain. �No, get off.� She stood up and raised her dress to her knees. �You look ridiculous.� �Don�t want to ruin the dress, it was expensive.� �As is everything about you. Come back.� He held out his hand to her. �And risk being soaked, I don�t think so.� �As if I would ever do anything like that.� He smiled and she slowly started coming back towards him, but he jumped up and lunged towards her, lifting her up and spinning her round. She screamed. �Shhh, people are sleeping.� �Then put me down, your insane� She giggled. �Better get used to it.� He began wading towards the edge of the fountain. �You�re not really going to carry me all the way home are you?� �No, thought I�d hail a cab � rather than risk killing myself.� �That�s it, you are so dead when we get out of here.� He only laughed at her empty threats. �You think I�m joking � I�m not.� �Alright I believe you.� He sat her down on a park bench and knelt down in front of her to put her shoes back on. �I feel like Cinderella, though slightly less innocent of course.� She quickly grabbed his shoes off the floor and ran back to the fountain throwing them in before collapsing on the ground in fits of laughter. �What the hell, Nora, I only have one pair of shoes.� At this she only laughed more. �Well, I guess you�re gonna have to go shopping tomorrow, I mean today, aren�t you.� �On a Sunday, I think not, I have far better things to do.� �Such as?� �Well I a few hours I think I should probably cook you breakfast.� �Goodness I am being spoilt.� �It�s a thank you for putting up with me.� �And what will you cook � not oranges and coffee I hope.� �Hmm, perhaps some bacon, scrambled eggs.� �Ooh the healthy stuff.� She wrapped her arm around his neck and brought his head closer to kiss him. He smiled before pouting. �My shoes.� He sobbed. �Oh don�t worry, I�ll buy you some new ones.� She stood up and pulled him to his feet. �Lets go home, and get drunk.� He put on a serious face and looked at his watch. �At 3.30 in the morning, you want to get drunk. Aren�t you tired yet?� �Are you kidding I spent a day in bed, I�m full of energy.� �Then let�s walk back to your apartment.� �Mmm home, warmth, comfy sofas, lovely wine.� She took hold of his hand between both of hers. He squeezed her hand. �Home�� �It could be your home too.� �I thought you�d said no deep conversations.� �Ok, just consider it for a while.� �I will.� * * * * * They were lying in bed, watching the early afternoon sunlight cast shadows on the wall, their used dishes were on the floor, and two empty bottles of wine were abandoned next to them. Nora was sitting up leaning against the wall with Jack�s back resting against her chest; she slowly rubbed his shoulders in rhythm with the gentle music he�d put on for them. �Now this is how to spend a Sunday afternoon � lazy.� �We�ve had a lazy weekend, I haven�t lifted one piece of work from my briefcase.� �Me neither.� He hummed along with the tune, and she smiled, it was so good to see him relaxed and easy going, and knowing it was down to being with her made it all so much sweeter. �Who�s this singing again?� �Hartman, erm Johnny Hartman I think.� �Never heard of him before.� �This next one is Dinah Washington, now there�s a voice.� She kissed his head. �I never knew you liked music so much.� �It depends what mood I�m in, but I can listen to anything really.� He closed his eyes and rested his head closer against her. �Isn�t it strange how you get to that point in life when you think nothing is going to change, not significantly anyway. And then you find something as good as this.� She was silent, she didn�t want to disturb the mood, it wasn�t often he shared his feelings, she was simply content to listen. �I mean I�ve been in love before, a couple of times when I was younger, but nothing like this, and I keep wondering is it because I�m older and it�s so much sweeter to know I�ve got somebody there who cares for me, really cares. Or is it just because it�s you and all those absurd destiny stories we�re told by Disney are true.� She laughed at this. �You know what I�m saying right.� She was almost choking on all the words she wanted to say, but she settled for a weak �Yes.� The pretence of massaging his shoulders was long over and he loosened his self from her grip and twisted round to look at her. �How was that then, deep or what?� �Lovely, just what I need to hear every now and then.� �Once a year?� �That will be fine.� She shuffled down to lay next to him and he leant over her kissing her deeply and slowly. Before finding the remote control and turning the music off. �I was enjoying that.� �Can�t make love with the music on.� She smiled and rolled him over so she was on top. He caught her waist and held her still with one hand while running the other through her hair. �You�re very beautiful.� �And you�re damn sexy, but don�t tell anyone I said so ok.� She closed her eyes and tilted her head to kiss him, �I love you.� She whispered into his mouth and the kiss went from his mouth down his neck and over his chest. * * * * * �Once in every life, someone comes along, and you came to me, it was almost like a song.� Nora could just make out Jack singing over the noise of the shower, he seemed so happy and she was reveling in the warmth of knowing he cared for her and that song was meant for her. She felt like some heroine in a tacky romance novel, only this was real, he�d showed her it was time and time again this afternoon. There was something magical about his voice moaning her name while he loved her, his usual deep and steady voice trembling with emotion and feeling. She drained the last of her coffee while leaning against the bathroom door. She heard the shower go off and quickly moved, taking a quick look in the mirror, she�d finally dressed at almost 7 p.m. she knew there really wasn�t any point and it didn�t matter how she looked today but she wanted to look nice anyway. Jack came out of the bedroom with a towel round his waist and drying his hair with another. �I�ve been thinking, it�s not bad this place you�ve got here. I mean you�re bathroom is bigger than my lounge for a start.� She laughed. �And.� �And, well if you want me, I might just sell my old shack and enjoy the pleasures of living in a luxury apartment.� �Nothing to do with being with me right.� She handed him a mug of coffee as he sat down on the bed. �Absolutely nothing.� He smiled up at her. �You look lovely by the way, what�s the occasion?� �Well, I�ve cooked for you. Thought we�d have a nice romantic meal together.� �I thought you hated to cook.� �I do, whether I�m any good at it or not is another question. But I�ve even lit some candles.� She took the damp towel from his hands. �It won�t be long.� �You know, I�m not sure I�ll be able to face the reality of work tomorrow morning.� He said as she returned the towel to the bathroom. �Me neither, and I�ve got a meeting with the mayor, which should be a joy.� She leant on the doorframe again and watched him dress. �Jack, thank you so much for this weekend.� He stopped to look at her. �Feeling better about being with a man like me?� �Like the luckiest woman alive.� * * * * * Part 7 Stories Part 9 |