Disclaimer: don�t own characters but still playing It wasn�t the most ideal of circumstances, trying to reverse her car down a sloping driveway when there was a blizzard taking place around her. At 3:30 in the morning aswell, on a Sunday, trying to be as quiet as possible when her car was sliding all over the place and her mind was in overdrive mode. Damn Jack McCoy to hell, god damn pain in the ass. This wasn�t at all what she�d signed up for. Somehow she made it down to the street, stopping and resting her head on the steering wheel for a brief second. To catch her breath and thank whatever god was watching over her for allowing her not to slip into somebody else�s vehicle. It was times like these she missed the on-call limousine service she�d had the pleasure of in the past. She put the car into first and gingerly made her way toward the main highway. * Caught somewhat off guard by her limited vision, and control of the vehicle, Nora had probably entered the contest for the slowest driver on the road. Yet somehow she made it to the public car park in one piece, ironic really if she�d had an accident on her way there. She parked, dug her scarf out from her bag and wrapped it around her several times before making the trek across the snow to her destination. It was the quietest she�d ever seen the city hospital. Hardly any patients in chairs, many of the nurses chatting by the door, watching the snow fall. Yes, it was highly attractive when you didn�t have to struggle with your car through it, Nora cursed as she shook the residual snow from her boots and coat. She made her way to the front desk, unbuttoning her coat as she did so and beginning to adjust to the change in climate. �Hi, I received a call concerning Jack McCoy.� The desk clerk eyed her suspiciously. �Yes, I know I must look like hell, but it is only 4 in the morning.� She thought vehemently to herself. �I do hope he�s here and this isn�t some elaborate joke.� She�d adopted her cutting tone she knew but she really was in no mood for hanging around hospitals. �Oh yes, he�s here alright.� The clerk said. �Only, he told us he didn�t want to see anybody � under any circumstances.� �When?� �Must be about half hour since.� �Well,� she lent on the desk, her arms folded. �I was called about an hour, since so either you tell me where he is or I go look myself.� She snapped. �Right this way�� * Jack was feigning sleep, dozing in and out of complete consciousness and really happy just to be left alone. He knew he should feel some sort of pain but right now the alcohol was still gloriously present in his blood and it numbed everything. The curtain was pulled back and he was aware of somebody entering his room, he didn�t look up assuming a nurse had come to check on him. If he pretended to be asleep she might just go away. �Well, this is a fine state to be in isn�t it.� �Oh hell!!� Was his first real thought. �You know I really hate you at times Jack.� He cracked open an eye as Nora stepped closer to his bed, throwing a shirt at him. �Get dressed, I�ve come to take you home.� �No, I�m staying.� He murmured. �You think the public hospital likes catering for drunks who have accidents? Now get up.� He knew better than to argue when she was in this mood, however much he�d drunk. * Luckily it had ceased to snow by the time Nora had gotten Jack to the car, the sun was just starting to rise and the drive back home was much smoother than the one she�d taken earlier that morning. Jack had slept for the duration of the journey, thank god, whilst trying to help him dress he�d slurred at her and cursed everything she was doing. There were times she cursed herself for even bothering to help him. But she couldn�t very well leave him there in that state, how fitting that would look in a newspaper the next day. She�d half carried him from the car to the front door, his arm draped around her neck, his head lolling on her shoulder. Thankfully she�d been able to prop him up against the wall as she unlocked the door and turned the hall lights on. Then of his own accord he�d gone straight to the sofa in the lounge and collapsed. She made coffee and went to sit by him, it was almost 7a.m. now and she was exhausted. �Jack, you want some coffee?� He shook his head; lying draped across her couch with his face buried in a pillow he looked so very old. His face was beginning to show the first signs of a hangover; he would be suffering later no doubt. �Well, do you want some water or something?� He shook his head resolutely. �Leave me alone.� �Okay, like I should have left you alone in the hospital right, like I left you alone this morning so you could go out and get in this state.� She put her mug down and got up shaking her head. �When will you learn this fixes nothing?� She bent over him loosening his shirt. �Come on, let�s get you undressed.� �Not in the mood.� �Jack� Jack will you pull yourself together and give me a break. Take your clothes off and I�ll get you a blanket.� But he was half asleep now there was no way he�d be able to undress himself. Resignedly Nora took off his shirt, jeans and shoes and dug a blanket out from the spare room for him. She noted the mass of bruising already emerging on his chest, found by the police at the foot of a stairwell. What the hell had he been thinking? He was damn lucky he hadn�t been mugged whilst he�d passed out there. She dropped his clothes into the wash basket, washed her own face and crawled back to bed. Whatever had been going through his head it would have to wait until later, right now she needed some sleep. * * * �You look nice.� Jack barely whispered it from his vantage point on the sofa, watching Nora open the curtains and let some light into the room. �I�m having lunch with Robert and his family.� �Sunday lunch � must be a friendly family.� �Mmm, we work together.� She was fiddling with her bag, trying to decide where exactly she�d left her car keys. �Will you be staying there all day?� She asked innocently enough. �Probably not, I�ll go back to my place and feel sorry for myself instead.� �Alright, if that�s what you want. See you later�� �Nora, wait.� He struggled to bring himself up into a sitting position with the pain in his stomach, but nevertheless he wasn�t about to wince and let it show to her. �I think that maybe� well perhaps we should take a bit of a break.� She remained calm. �Okay, if that�s what you want.� �That�s it. Okay.� �Jack I�m not about to argue with you, there�s no point carrying on with this if one of us isn�t happy so if you�re not then fine, we can still be friends. It�s not as if the romance of the century is coming to an end, and I�m certainly not about to get on my knees and beg you to change your mind. If it�s over then it�s over.� She took a breath and steadied herself by leaning on the back of a chair. �But if this is guilt or shame in any way about what you did last night then that�s just childish. I can accept you were upset, you went out and got drunk and stupidly, very stupidly, fell down a flight of stairs.� She bit her lip to stop herself from laughing. �I�m glad you weren�t more seriously injured, I�m hoping it was a one off and that�s that. We move on with it.� Jack suddenly found it difficult to look at her anymore, she was perfectly right, he was being childish � a complete pain in the ass! He held his hands up and smiled. �So� I�m sorry, I shouldn�t have called you out, I shouldn�t have laid this at your door. And your right I was upset and I wanted to enjoy myself, only I�m too old for that kind of behaviour now.� She moved around the chair and sat down, relaxing a little. �Well you don�t have to stop it � just learn how to walk down a flight of stairs whist inebriated.� �Good advice.� �Look, why don�t we just forget about it � why don�t you come with me today, you might enjoy a good family meal!� �I haven�t been invited, they don�t know me.� �He�s a professor of law of course he knows the infamous Jack McCoy.� She grinned rising and smoothing down her skirt. �I�ll call him now and check he�s okay with it, then I can drive you home you can shower and change � you�re in a need of a shave my dear.� She ruffled his hair affectionately and made a move for the phone, turning briefly to glance at him. �That is, if you are sure you don�t want to take a break!� �Funny!� He raised an eyebrow. �Maybe we�ll stick it out for today.� * * Nora had never stored much affection for children; it wasn�t that she was negative toward them, just that personally she�d never shared in that motherly bond thing. Her sister was devoted to her children and would happily give up all her plans and all her career options at the drop of a hat for them, something the ambitious and work orientated Nora had never quite understood. Yet as she sat in the lounge sipping her wine and watching Jack rolling around the carpet with two boys attached to either leg she couldn�t help but feel a swell of warmth and contentment. Living in the city she didn�t get home much and as such missed out on most of the family gatherings that took place. For the majority of the time she was far too busy to even notice what she was missing, it was only every now and then, when she couldn�t make a birthday party or some such thing, that she felt that pang of loneliness. Still the day had turned out surprisingly well, Jack had hidden whatever hangover was present and for some reason had found himself the source of amusement for Robert�s two grandchildren. �I think he�s made two friends.� Nora looked up at Steph who was happily watching her grandchildren. �He certainly has a knack with them.� �So, can I ask how long you two have been together?� She asked turning her attention fully to Nora. Nora swallowed the last of her wine and smiled. �You certainly can, and it�s, well it must be about five months now. And I know, for me that�s quite good.� �Did I say a word?� �You didn�t have to, I know what you two are thinking, all the times I�ve been coming here for dinner and always alone. Would you believe me if I told you it wasn�t that serious?� �Not in the slightest. I think he�s lovely, not at all how I imagined.� �Ahh, so you have heard of him then.� �Oh yes, I believe he dated one of Robert�s colleagues.� �You mean before me?� �Yea, didn�t last long though.� �With Jack few things ever do. Apart from his work of course.� �As devoted as you.� Nora nodded her head gazing intently at her fingers wrapped around the stem of her glass. �It was strange at first, after being his boss for two years then going into this� I think you must be one of the first people to even know we�re together.� �After five months!� Steph exclaimed. �We�ll we didn�t want to rush things and, and in the end it�s just gone so fast. I guess now would be the time to come clean right.� �Well, you�ve already made the first move by bringing him here.� A hand rested heavily on Nora�s shoulder and she looked up to the aging gentleman smiling down at her. �About time we had that chat don�t you think my dear.� �Certainly.� She proclaimed, rising from her seat and following Robert towards his study. �Won�t be long Steph.� �Don�t worry, I�m fully entertained.� She said raising her glass and folding her legs beneath her on the couch. * * * �So, you and Robert known each other a long time then?� Jack noted as he waited for the traffic lights to change. �A very long time, he was my teacher, many years ago. We�ve always been good friends.� �Nice family.� �They are, I�ve always felt welcomed.� She stifled a yawn and stretched out her legs as much as possible in the car, slipping her shoes off with it. �My feet ache though, I really shouldn�t wear heels.� �You should see my ribs, looks like I�ve been in a wrestling match.� �Mmm.� She smiled and closed her eyes. �Are you staying over?� �If you want me to.� �I do.� �Then I will madam.� He glanced over at her, her head tilted to one side and her eyes tightly shut, she would be asleep soon. �Nora, thanks for forgetting about last night. I really could have screwed things up.� �I thought we agreed not to mention it anymore.� �We did.� �So don�t� just drive home �cause I�m so tired I just wanna crawl into bed and pass out.� �I get the message, possible foot massage though?� �Ohh that would be indulgent of me � but yes, thank you. It will make the thought of returning to work tomorrow just that little bit more bearable.� �Can I ask what the secret meeting was about?� �With Robert? We were just discussing my future role, he�s considering retirement next year and he wants me to take over. I�m not totally convinced though, I told him I need time to think on it.� �Ahh, do you miss being DA at all.� �I miss the office, it was a great office!� She smiled wickedly, looking up at him to grant her words more impact. �I can see why.� He returned the joke and laughed as he turned towards where she lived. * * * Jack couldn�t sleep. Despite the fact the day had turned out better than he could have imagined, despite the fact he�d had fun and felt welcomed, even despite the fact Nora was sleeping wrapped up in his arms � still he felt something unexplainable. Some thirst inside him. Some aching pain that wouldn�t disappear. For the first couple of hours he�d mulled waking Nora and talking it over with her, but no, she was sleeping soundly and she had work tomorrow and he didn�t want to be responsible for placing all his burdens onto her. For the next hour he�d paced the house, moving from room to room in the darkness. Then barefoot he had gone outside and stood in the snow watching the clear night sky move above him. This uncertainty about himself, this uneasiness he kept hoping would fade with time wasn�t, and the more he tried to understand what he was feeling, the harder it got to even understand himself at all. So at 3am in the morning Jack sat by the window in Nora�s house, steadily drinking his scotch, and hoping soon enough he would be able to sleep. |
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| T h e S u r f a c e part three |
| by Ms. E |