| 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 Nine � Partnerships Monday 18th March Nora was sitting at her desk, head resting in her hands, glasses sliding down her nose, daydreaming. It was Monday afternoon and after a perfectly wonderful weekend she was suffering from the strains of having to work. She looked down at the papers in front of her and began chewing the end of her pen. Jack tapped at her door before entering. �Now there�s a sight, hard at work are we?� He teased as he sauntered towards her. �Don�t I�ve had a hell of a day.� �I saw the mayor in here earlier.� He prompted, but she continued to shuffle the papers in front of her. �Did he have much to say?� He leant on the edge of her desk. �What? Oh no, not much, the usual.� He continued staring at her, something had happened he could tell. �Oh, ok.� She threw her pen down. �As a matter of fact he warned me about the dangers of dating somebody at work, how it might harm my re-election next year, cloud my judgement and most of all the dangers of dating somebody like you.� Jack swallowed the lump in his throat. �And?� �And basically I told him that my personal life was personal and that�s how I hoped it would say. And who I dated had nothing to do with him.� Jack smiled, relieved. �Good for you � and what about the other thing, the gossiping girls.� �Hmm, I�ve decided to play it cool, let them think I�m an ice queen if they want I�m not going to change how I work just to please them. Besides surely somebody out there likes me.� She gestured towards the window. �I do.� �Your biased - I let you sleep on the left hand side of the bed.� �So we both happen to like the same side, is it my fault?� He raised her hands innocently and she laughed. �Alright go now, I have to finish this. And I�m sure you have cases to win.� �Well you know, reputation to keep up. How do you fancy dinner later, thought we could go out � but that look tells me you can�t.� �I�m sorry, Anita called me this morning and I said I go keep her company. We haven�t seen each other in weeks, I�ve been too wrapped up in you.� �Ok, I�ll eat alone.� �Poor baby, why don�t you call Lennie, I�ll make it up to you tomorrow.� �I might, just as long as you�re free Wednesday.� �Why?� �I have a surprise for you.� He leant forward to kiss her but she put her hand up. �Not here. I�ll call you tonight when I get in.� �Ok, have a nice time.� �You too.� * * * * * Nora swallowed the last of her wine and watched Anita preparing sandwiches for them. �Sure you don�t want me to help?� �Positive, I know you.� �Oh come on, even I can�t mess a sandwich up.� She looked at Anita smiling incredulously. �Ok, so maybe I could, but I�m getting better, I have a teacher.� �Mmm, I bet you have. So are you going to tell me all about this new love then?� �How did you know it was love?� Nora sat down at the kitchen table. �You think I don�t know that look on your face, you�re practically glowing.� Nora consciously put her hands up to her face. �So, how are things with you and the wonderful Jack?� �You sound skeptical about him.� �Not at all.� She sat down across from her and placed a sandwich in front of her. Nora refilled both their glasses. �I just, well I don�t want you to get hurt, it�s happened to you too many times before, and besides I�ve heard things about him.� Nora shook her head annoyed. �It seems everybody has, but their wrong, can�t people make mistakes? And as for me, this time I�m trying to take care of myself, I�m not so young and naive anymore.� �And you have a career to think about.� �Oh Anita, he makes me happy, that�s all that matters.� Anita took hold of her hand. �Of course it is, and for the record this is the happiest I�ve seen you.� She squeezed her friend�s hand. �So tell me all about it, are all the rumours true?� �What rumours?� �You know, about what�s he�s like in bed, how good he�s supposed to be.� �Anita! I can�t believe you�d ask that.� �Come on, you don�t expect me to believe that flowers and wine have put their smile on your face. From the sparkle in your eyes I�d say the rumours are spot on.� Nora took another gulp of wine, she was beginning to feel a little lightheaded, this was what came of eating nothing all day and quickly consuming too much wine. �Ok, the rumours are wrong, he�s much better than they say.� �And�� �And, you want all the details.� �I live a sad life indulge me.� Nora laughed. �Well he�s very considerate, you know slow when it needs to be slow. Takes time to make me feel special, attractive, touches all the right places.� She smiled over the rim of her glass. �Is that enough gory details?� �For now, what about the serious?� �Well, that�s a little more complex, it has that typical man thing, you know won�t say something until it dangerously needs to be said. But when he does say it, it�s like being in some romance novel. He spoils me, cooks, runs me baths, takes the time to listen to me, teaches me how to play chess.� Anita laughed. �So you�ve finally learnt how to play.� �Very well actually. I know there are so many things about him I don�t know, his past, his hopes for the future, skeletons that he has hidden. But at the moment I�m looking forward to learning about them. He�s moving in.� �I thought he might be. And marriage?� �Goodness no! We�ve not even discussed it yet; I don�t want to scare him off. Just take things slowly I think and see what happens.� �It�s good to see you in love, how does he feel about you?� �The same I hope, I told you he doesn�t say things like that very much, sometimes when I�m just falling asleep he says he loves me, like it�s not out in the open or something then.� She smiled. �But he shows me that he cares.� Anita laughed. �Oh god, I�m so jealous, I remember how it feels to be in that first flush of romance. Just wait until you�ve been with him as long as I�ve been with mine.� �I can�t wait. Now didn�t you say something about chocolate cake and you needing help with your son.� �Hmm, now there�s something you don�t have to worry about, the perils of having children. I�ll get the cake I think we�ll need it.� �What the hell can he possibly have done?� �You just wait and see, and don�t go all Auntie Nora on me and take his side neither.� Nora laughed and leaned back in her chair. �As if I would.� Anita disappeared to fetch the cake and Nora realised how much she loved sitting in Anita�s kitchen, there was a complete sense of family about it, perhaps Anita wasn�t the only one who was jealous about some things. * * * * * Wednesday 20th March �Well how do I look?� Nora asked as she turned herself about in front of the mirror. Jack lay sprawled on the bed. �You�ve changed four times already, it�s only a dinner.� �Don�t say that like it�s nothing, I�m meeting your daughter, it�s a big thing � for me anyway.� �Kate won�t mind what you�re wearing.� �Of course she will, it�s the first thing we notice, she�ll probably judge whether or not I�m good enough for you on what I�m wearing.� �Well, I think she�ll probably take one look at you and think what the hell is a classy woman like that doing with my jerk of a father.� He came up behind her and slid his arms round her waist, kissing her head. �You look fine, stop worrying, look at you, you�re practically shaking.� �I know, this is worse than going into court. You just wait until you meet my family.� She looked at them in the mirror and watched as he gently kissed her neck. She had to admit they looked good together. �You smell so good.� �Now don�t get carried away, we have to go.� He looked up into the mirror and smiled at their reflection. �You�re looking damn fine Ms. Lewin.� * * * * * Nora fidgeted and began rearranging her napkin again; she could feel Jack�s eyes on her. �What time is it?� She asked without looking up. �Ten minutes since you last asked.� �Don�t be flippant.� She looked up at him and laughed when she saw his smirk. �Ok, I�ll calm down.� �Good, because she�s here.� Jack slowly stood up and hugged his daughter. Nora was surprised she didn�t look more like Jack, she was tall and slim like him but she had long blonde hair, must be her Mother�s side she thought. �Good, to see you Dad. You look good.� �So do you, grown up.� �Well you should call more often.� �You know me. How long are you in New York for?� �Just this week, I thought I should make an effort to see you while I�m here.� They would have continued the private conversation all night if Jack hadn�t noticed Nora�s expectant face watching him. �Oh god I�m sorry, Kate this is Nora.� He said turning Kate around to see her. Nora stood up and shook the young lady�s hand. �It�s so good to finally meet you.� �Nice to meet you too, Dad didn�t mention you�d be here.� �I did, I�m certain I did.� He butted in. Nora smiled to cover the awkwardness. �Well it doesn�t matter. Sit down, let�s order some wine.� She held a chair back for Kate. �Oh I don�t drink.� �Sorry forgot to mention that.� Jack looked at Nora. �But we can have some.� �Sure, don�t mind me.� Nora attempted to keep the conversation going while Jack flicked through the menu. �So, what are you doing in New York Kate?� �A photo shoot.� �Are you a model?� �No, the photographer. I see Dad told you lots about me.� She folded her menu and put it down. �I�m going to the ladies. I�ll have a salad Dad.� �Nothing else?� �No, that�s fine.� She walked away and Nora let out a sigh of relief. �Is it just me or has that girl taken an instant dislike to me?� �It�s not you, don�t worry about it� �You could have warned me.� Jack shrugged. �She�s like it with everybody. It�s the way she was brought up.� �What do you mean?� He noticed Kate returning. �I�ll tell you later, just relax, go with the flow, trust me.� �I feel like I�m on eggshells.� �Everybody does around her. Just have a salad and play along.� �I daren�t order anything else.� She stopped short when Kate sat back down. �So how long have you two been together?� Kate asked sipping her water. �Oh about two months.� Nora smiled. �That�s not bad for you Dad.� She laughed turning herself to face Jack. Nora chewed her lip and remained practically silent throughout the remainder of the meal. * * * * * Nora was sitting up in bed, supposedly skimming through some notes, but her mind was elsewhere. She didn�t want to be rude about Jack�s only daughter, but that girl was very difficult to like. She�d felt excluded for most of the meal, even like she was there uninvited. And she couldn�t help but notice how formal Jack and Kate were towards each other, cold even, not like she imagined family to be, definitely not like they were in Anita�s home. �Hey, you look worried.� Jack said switching the bathroom light off. Nora looked up at him. �What is it, work?� �What do you think?� Jack took a deep breath and pulled back the bed sheets, climbing in next to Nora. �Kate right, I know she�s difficult.� �Difficult!� �Yes, but really you shouldn�t worry about it. I told you it�s how she�s been brought up. Look she�s been spoilt; her Mother�s family is very rich, that was part of the reason we divorced. I couldn�t stand being judged by them all the time, like being involved with the law was a bad thing, a lowly job even. But I�ve got used to Kate over the years, sometimes she can even be quite nice, you just have to get to know her. I know she was a pain tonight but she�s my daughter.� �I know that�s why I didn�t slap her.� �Well I don�t see her often, she only visits on occasion so you don�t have to see her too much.� He lay back switching the lamp off on his side of the bed. She rested her hand on his shoulder. �Hey I�m sorry, if you say it will be ok then I believe you. I just find it strange I suppose, I mean I�m not a mother myself but I come from a loving family and I guess I see all families as being the same.� �We can�t all be the Waltons.� He shrugged and turned over. She got out of bed and slipped the notes back into the file on her dressing table, took off her glasses and ran her hand through her hair. She didn�t like the silence but really there was nothing else to say, she didn�t want to upset him anymore. She got back into bed and switched her lamp off, lying on her back and staring at the ceiling she felt awkward and suddenly cold. She pulled the sheets closer to her and closed her eyes, listening to the sound of Jack�s breathing and replaying the entire evening in her mind, she hated feeling like something was wrong, like she must change something. She felt a tug of the sheets and realised Jack had turned over. He slipped his arm around her waist and buried his head against her chest. She rested her hand on his back and kissed his head, before drifting off to sleep. * * * * * Part 8 Stories Part 10 |