Disclaimer: Don�t own characters, just muddle on through the plot� For lyrics to Send in the Clowns visit my Lyrics page. S e n d i n t h e C l o w n s P a r t E i g h t Standing by the fire watching his little girl steadily painting her first real portrait Jack felt somehow peaceful and content. Forgetting his wife was in the same room he stretched out in his chair as Sarah carefully drew out the lines of his mouth and the shape of his eyes � school projects were always so much fun. It hadn�t been an easy evening; he�d come home late and sat in silence eating his overcooked dinner, the awkwardness of their argument from the night before still hanging in the air as he did so. But that�s all it was now, argument after argument. Perhaps that�s what marriage was all about, compromise, losing you and instead immersing yourself in blissful life. He smiled at the thought and Jessie stared up at him from her corner of the room, both staking out sides like some boxing match. �There Daddy, I�ve finished.� Sarah announced standing up proudly. �Beautiful and a very good likeness I believe.� He smiled scooping her up. �Let�s go hang it someplace appropriate where everyone can see it.� She clapped her hands as he carried her out of the lounge. After he�d tucked her up in bed and read several short books to her Jack went down to his office and started looking through his notes for tomorrow morning. He was taking his latest prot�g� into court with him. Nora Lewin hadn�t been with him long, only a few months but they�d already built up a strong rapport. And he had to admit he was quite taken with his trainee � but then Jack McCoy had something of a reputation for young girls, luckily Nora wasn�t aware of that. She was very beautiful, and somehow unaware of the fact, which made her all the more appealing and very charming. For somebody so young and new to the game she had taken to the work easily and had not been scared of coming forth with ideas and contradictions to his arguments. He liked that, somebody setting him a challenge, offering him views. It wasn�t often he worked with the ones still in University, they got out every now and then to do relief work, voluntary, which really meant for free and probably when they could actually use the spare time for studying for final exams. But still she seemed enthusiastic and he was beginning to relish the time he spent with her, obviously not a good sign. He turned back to the first page of the notes and started re-reading them again � this time he would need to concentrate if he was to make any sense of what he�d written. * * * Nora hadn�t stopped talking since they�d left the courtroom and although usually Jack would have enjoyed a little down time to collect his thoughts there was something endearing about her chatter. Perhaps the sweet voice and the excitement in her tone, maybe that�s what he needed to recapture if he was going to survive years battling with the law, a passion for his work. It was slowly diminishing along with his marriage and more importantly his self-respect. �Jack, you�re not listening are you?� �I�ve heard every word.� He smiled holding the door open for her. �Sure I�m not boring you?� �Not in the slightest, I�m beginning to enjoy our long walks back from court. It�s when you have your best ideas.� She hit him playfully on the chest. �Very funny.� �I�m being serious. Your company is the only thing making this case interesting.� �What! I�m loving every minute of it.� �Well I never would have guessed.� �I can see I�m not going to get anywhere with you in this mood.� �Probably not � shall we go get coffee?� �Only if you pay and get me doughnuts � remember I�m still a poor student.� �How can I resist that pleading tone in your voice?� * * * Harmless banter, that�s all it was right. Just discussing, conversing and giving and taking ideas � sharing. Now where the hell had that idea gone from his life, sharing. Wasn�t that what marriage was all about, in that case what life was all about? Being there to support the ones you love so they will one day do the same for you? For gods sake if we weren�t here to love each other then really what was the point in being here? Jack looked across the desk to where Nora was busily scribbling something down. She had pretty much taken over his desk that afternoon, his office was only small and it really didn�t take much to make it untidy. So when she�d returned from the library with twenty different books piled in her arms he knew his space was lost. Night had come sooner than he�d hoped, and now as she read by lamplight he couldn�t imagine a more perfect sight. �Nora.� �Hmm.� �What do you think about sharing?� �You mean like with friends, relationships?� She removed her glasses. �It�s probably the essence of them isn�t it? I mean if you don�t share ideas and beliefs and love then what�s the point being together?� Jack smiled at her as he chewed his pen. �What? You think I�m being too young and idealistic don�t you?� �No, I was actually talking about my desk space, sharing it.� �Oh right.� She looked up at him as he laughed and threw her pencil at him. �You�re terrible McCoy.� She caught sight of the clock. �Oh god I have to get going.� �Date?� �Yes as a matter of fact � jealous?� She teased. He tried not to look bothered but stumbled over his words a little too much. �No, well I�� �It�s ok Jack.� She laughed. �It�s with my parents for dinner. I have to check in once a week just so they know I�m still taking care of myself.� �Oh right, I see. Do you need a lift home, I gotta get going anyway.� �No it�s ok I�ll walk.� �It�s raining.� She pulled on her coat. �I like the rain.� �What about your books?� �They�ll still be here tomorrow won�t they?� He nodded. �I should think so.� �Then I�ll call and pick them up after lectures. I�d kind of like to do some more work on it anyway, if it doesn�t bother you.� �Not at all.� He stood up and stretched his arms as he followed her to the door. �Well thanks for working so hard.� �It�s ok, I enjoy it.� �I know.� She turned back to him as he leant against the door and smiled, wonderfully bright and clear and breath taking, and in that moment he forgot where he was and what his role was and leant forward and gently kissed her mouth. She didn�t respond, didn�t move, didn�t object. Probably surprised, or disgusted, Jack mused afterward. She just squeezed his hand before she opened the door to leave. �Nora.� �Yes.� �I, earlier, I mean I meant �well I agree, what is the point in relationships if you don�t share? You�re not young and too idealistic, you just believe in it all. And you should, for as long as you can.� �I�ll try.� He watched her walk down the hall for a while then closed the door and leant against it closing his eyes, and then quickly opening them again so he could stare at the place she�d been sat. At her belongings still spread on the desk, at her writing, anything that was hers. He was being swept along by the emotions, but it didn�t seem to matter. P l e a s e r e v i e w S t o r i e s |