| The Morning After Jack woke up alone, as he expected. Hardly any memory of the night before, perhaps a faint trace of cheap perfume on his bed sheets. He stripped the bed and put it in the wash before taking a shower and removing the remaining images of the morning after hangover. Unfortunately he lost track of time while in there and had to dress quickly, he couldn�t find his watch and he stubbed his foot on his desk as he got his notes together. Nora had arranged some meeting for that afternoon, he didn�t know what for but all were expected to attend so no getting out of that one. God he needed coffee. Afternoon The familiar tilt of her head, her glasses dangling on her fingertips and a knowing look in her eyes, there was no denying it Jack McCoy was hooked. Mesmerised was a word he rarely used but right now at this meeting he�d succumb to the charms of the woman and that�s how he felt, under a spell. �Ok, I think that will be all. If none of you have anything else to say�� She paused expectantly. �Fine then, let�s go home.� That smile and they were dismissed as calmly as they were summoned. Jack watched them file out, eager to get home for the weekend and he waited. She watched him and then closed the door when they were alone. �You were awfully quiet in there. Do I detect your usual air of distrust or annoyance that I dare to change how something is run?� He shook his head. �Not at all, I like the idea, I hope it works.� �You shock me McCoy.� She began to pack her things away. �I was more than prepared for an argument.� �You want one anyway?� She bit her lip as she looked up at him. �Sure why not, what shall we argue about?� �The injustice of you not dating me.� He proclaimed standing up and stretching his arms. �Oh Jack when will you learn that not every woman is up for grabs?� �When they�re not.� She threw a pen at him. �Grow up!� �Hey, I was joking!� She smiled as she rubbed her neck. �And now we�re arguing� go home, it�s Friday night aren�t you going out?� �Not sure yet, it depends, bad experience last night � you?� He fiddled with his tie before taking it off and opening his top two shirt buttons. �Yes as a matter of fact I am.� �And am I allowed to ask where to?� �I�m going away for the weekend.� �Very nice, with the guy you�re seeing?� �His name is Richard and I would have thought after six months together you would have learnt his name.� �You never talk about him � has it been six months already?� �Yes, so it�s very inappropriate for you to be flirting with me councillor.� She picked up her bag and briefcase and stacked several files under her arm. �Are you going to walk me to my car?� �Yeah why not, I�m going home anyway. I�ve often wondered, don�t you ever feel lonely in that huge limo?� �Jack you ask the most ridiculous things�� She mumbled as she walked away. It was raining again, storm weather, the streets were almost flooded. Jack hid himself in his jacket and Nora quickly found an umbrella out of her bag to shelter them both from the downpour. �You can�t ride home in this.� She shouted across the sound of the thunder. He nodded and followed her to her car quickly climbing in the back and taking off his drenched jacket. �Thanks.� �That�s ok, couldn�t let you drown now could I?� �So I finally get to see inside the infamous car.� He smiled leaning back against the plush seats. �Very funny, start that and you�ll be out there.� �Can you believe the weather we�re having?� �I like it.� She smiled looking out the window. �It�s kind of nice.� He watched her, after all those years some things he still didn�t know about her or understood. And yet sat with her in a simple moment like this always felt a little more important, a little more meaningful than it would with any other person, but still he was comfortable with her. �So this Richard guy�� �What?� She asked folding her arms. �Why are you snapping?� �Because I just know you�re going to say something funny or irritating and basically trash this man.� �I wouldn�t, not if he�s important.� He dropped his tone, he really was curious as to the depth of their relationship. �So is it love Nora, that�s what we all want to know.� She smiled coyly. �Not quite yet no, let�s say affection shall we.� �And how is he in bed?� He ducked as she went to slap his arm. �Ok Jack you�re disgusting!� Evening Alone again, naturally � Jack mused on the lyrics of the song as he sat nursing his third brandy. Yet what were the alternatives, call up Lennie and disturb his evening, or take himself off to some bar and to some girl. No not again, at least not tonight. He�d spent too long with Nora, she was classy and smart and everything that a man should have at his age. Married to her, loved and adored by her - - images of possible scenarios filled his head. The children they could have, the country house they could visit every weekend. The holidays they might have shared, the Sunday roasts and arguments and making up. And yet he wasn�t a family man, never had been. And now never would be. She�d always struck him as that kind of woman though, a family person. She had soft hands and kind eyes and the kind of soothing tone that would put children to sleep. Strange she had never married, even though they�d lost touch over the years, the odd friendly lunch every now and then more out of politeness he suspected than actual needing to lunch together. He�d always kept an eye on her, so to speak, was interested in what was happening with her career and it shocked him that when she�d returned to Hogan Place she was single. She was beautiful and intelligent and funny � and single, what the hell for? Well he didn�t need to ask that question anymore. �A weekend away with Richard.� He said out loud to himself in mock amusement. �Can you believe it?� He reached for the bottle of Brandy and refilled his glass. Review Home |
| Disclaimer: Cos Nora's cute and Jack is sexy and they just HAVE to get it together - ok writers!! |
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