| Honeymoon Chapter 6 - Celebration |
| Lennie stretched and yawned, enjoying the sensual feel of the cool satin sheets over his naked body. Jack was snoring softly on the other side of the bed. // Wait a minute. What�s wrong with this picture? Jack, sleeping in? // Lennie chuckled softly; Jack was a notoriously early riser. His favorite thing to do was to wake Lennie up by getting him up, as it were. Finally, his chance to return the favor! Jack was lying on his side, facing the edge of the bed. Lennie slid in behind him, careful not to wake him. His hand slipped under the covers and gently ran it along Jack�s hip, caressing. Then back, a little lower. His fingers just barely brushed his target, still inert, and he was rewarded with a soft sigh and the first hint of a twitch. He smiled, watching his lover sleep, and let his fingers play lightly over the growing flesh, encouraging it. His own was following suit. Jack�s neck looked so inviting, he couldn�t resist running his tongue lightly along the fold, slipping under the silver chain, then up to the earlobe. All the while, his hand coaxed down below, rapidly filling with hot, hard flesh. �Mmmm.� With a sigh, Jack�s eyes blinked open and he rolled back into Lennie�s embrace. Lennie grinned down at him. �Morning, sleepyhead.� He enjoyed getting to deliver the �traditional� greeting for a change. �Who you calling �sleepyhead?�� Lennie looked at the clock. �It�s 9AM, Jack. You actually slept in.� Jack moaned softly as Lennie�s hand kept going. �You�re a bad influence.� �You bet I am.� Lennie�s deep baritone chuckle answered, as he leaned over to suck on that neck. // Damn, I may have to sleep in more often! // Jack thought as he savored the feel of Lennie�s hand and mouth on him, the cool softness of the sheets, the soft pillow-top of the new mattress beneath him. He couldn�t feel more swimming in luxury in a 5-star hotel. Oh, yes, this felt good. He sighed as Lennie increased the pressure, now pulling on him in earnest, his own cock hard against Jack�s back. The mouth left his neck, hot breath now right by his ear. �You like waking up like this, Jack?� He slid over a bit, rolling on to his back so he could pull that face in for a kiss. �Oh, yeah. May have to let you do this more often.� Lennie laughed and pushed the top sheet away, trailing kisses down Jack�s chest, twisting around to face that beautiful cock. He licked it like a lollipop, slowly working his way around, sighing as Jack�s hand found his. It was a lazy Saturday morning, nothing pressing on the agenda, so he took his time. Jack simply laid back and enjoyed. He loved watching Lennie; it was like watching a master painter at work. Hands slid back up his chest to tease at his nipples as that mouth brought him ever closer and closer. He felt like he was floating on a cloud of pleasure; his eyes closed and he gave himself over to it. Lennie knew he was getting close when the hand slipped away from his cock. He picked up the pace just a little more, just a bit more suction, and soon he felt Jack tensing beneath him. A long sigh and fingers threading through his hair told him Jack was content. He squirmed around to nestle his head on Jack�s shoulder. // What a perfect morning, // Jack thought. His climax hadn�t been explosive or earth shattering, but it seemed just right for a lazy Saturday morning. Lennie snuggled up close to him in their new bed. He still couldn�t believe how lucky he was to have Lennie as his lover. No, that wasn�t right. It was more than that now. He needed another word. �Lennie?� �Hmm?� came the drowsy reply. �What are we? I hate to admit it, but I�m at a loss for words. I used to think of you as my lover, but that�s not enough now. You�re not my husband � that just feels too weird. Most gay couples I�ve known use the word �partner,� but that means something entirely different to you. Ed is your partner; Rey and Mike were your partners; I can�t go there. So what are we?� Lennie reluctantly roused himself enough to prop up on one elbow, looking down at Jack. �You still hung up on this?� He gently traced a finger along the jaw line, looking deep into Jack�s eyes. �Don�t worry about it, Jack. There are partners on the Job, there are business partners, there are all kinds of partners. We promised to walk this path together; partners in life. That�s good enough for me.� He bent down and stopped any argument with a kiss. Jack caught him and held him close. �Love you.� Lennie smiled at him. �You too. Now how about some breakfast?� �You didn�t give me a chance to finish you off.� �That�s ok; I�m feeling kind of mellow right now. I�ll get mine later.� His grin left no doubt that he would. Jack laughed. �Ok, food first then sex. Uh, that means you have to get up, Lennie.� They grabbed robes and wandered into the kitchen. Lennie started the coffee while Jack stared into the fridge. Good � they had all the fixings for Lennie�s favorite, French toast. It was a bit of a pain to make, but this morning he wanted to do something special for his partner. He finally let himself think the word. It felt good. Once getting the coffee going, Lennie stayed out of the way until breakfast was ready. His idea of breakfast before moving in with Jack had been cold cereal. Cooking just was not his talent. Luckily, it had turned out to be Jack�s. In fact, he had definitely put on a few pounds the past couple of years. Maybe he ought to consider Jack�s offer to go to the gym together. And it did lead to all sorts of naughty locker room thoughts � While waiting, he went back to the bedroom and threw on a pair of jeans and a shirt, then went down to the building lobby to collect the morning paper. By the time he got back, breakfast was ready. It turned out to be more like brunch; a mountain of French toast, swimming in butter and syrup, sausage links, and plenty of coffee to wash it down. They lingered over the meal, reading the paper, commenting on the crazy things people did, just a lazy morning. Lennie snagged the last link of sausage and sat back, looking out the window at the rain. // About time; maybe it will cool things off a bit. // The past week had seen the return of typical New York summer � sweltering temperatures and worse humidity. He sighed with contentment � there was something cozy about a rainy Saturday at home. He looked over at Jack. �I�m going to throw in some laundry today � you need anything?� Jack chuckled. This was an interesting turn of events. They had always kept their laundry separate � they were too close to the same size, but not quite exactly. Too hard to tell whose was whose without reading tags. At least they could keep their underwear straight; easy to tell Lennie�s boxers from his briefs. Well, if Lennie was feeling domestic, who was he to argue? �Yeah, if you wouldn�t mind, you could grab my underwear. Oh, and the sheets from the old bed � they�ll fit the guest room, so might as well wash them and stash them in the closet.� Lennie grinned. �I can�t grab your underwear, you aren�t wearing any!� Jack just laughed and shook his head. �Seriously, why don�t you call Adam while I clean up here, then we can sort through laundry.� �Now that sounds like a plan.� Jack got up from the table and walked down the hall to his rarely-used study. He looked at the phone, wondering exactly how to tell Adam about this. He had been supportive when Jack had told him about the relationship � somewhat surprised, but once he got past that, supportive. He decided to just go for it and dug the phone number out of his address book. After a few rings, a cheery female voice answered, �Hello?� �Linda, hi, it�s Jack McCoy.� Linda was Adam�s grandson�s wife, mother of his namesake great-grandson. �Jack! How nice to hear from you! I hope all is well in the big city?� �Just fine, Linda. Extra good, even. As a matter of fact, that�s why I called � I have some good news to share with Adam. Is he around?� �Oh, Jack, I�m sorry, you just missed him. He and Brian decided to give me the day off and took young Adam for the day. I have no idea where they went, but they promised me a full day of peace and quiet. Can I have him call you this evening?� Jack sighed. �No, we - I�ve got plans for the evening. But I should be around tomorrow.� �Then I�ll have him call you tomorrow. Any hint on this good news?� He laughed. �No hints; I want to tell him myself.� �Well, then I�ll just have to wait until he talks to you tomorrow, then.� �I guess you will. Thanks, Linda.� �No problem, Jack. Take care.� He hung up the phone, disappointed. Now what was he going to do for the next several hours? He wandered out to the living room, finding Lennie on the couch, channel hopping. He looked up. �That was fast. Everything all right?� Lennie pulled his feet back to make room for Jack on the couch, then promptly parked them in his lap. Jack looked at him sideways, not quite sure what to make of this. �He�s not home. Linda said they were giving her a day of peace and quiet without the baby.� He chuckled, picturing Adam and Brian dealing with a fussy baby. �If they survive, they�ll be out all day. She said she�d have him call tomorrow.� His hand found its way to Lennie�s ankle, absently caressing. �And now it�s going to drive you crazy.� �You know me too well.� Lennie laughed. �Yeah, but now that�s ok; we�re supposed to read each others� minds.� �I thought that was supposed to come from long years together?� �Nah, my wives always thought it came with these.� He flashed his ring, grinning. �Oh, is that what they�re for?� �Yeah, but they only work one way, for the ladies. We�re blind to it. That�s how they know everything we do, and we�re left clueless.� �Then I guess we don�t have to worry.� �Guess again. Remember, Abbie considers me �one of the girls.� And I did just call you on what you were thinking.� Jack just shook his head, laughing. �Lennie, can I ask you something?� He looked surprised. �Sure.� �Did you really not see that she has a thing for you?� The look mutated into confused. �What are you talking about?� �Lennie, Abbie is sweet on you. You never noticed?� He could almost picture Lennie in an old Warner Brothers cartoon, his eyes like a slot machine, spinning around and snapping into a line of cherries as he finally put the puzzle together. �Oh!� Jack laughed, sliding his hand up Lennie�s leg. �I guess I just wasn�t looking for it.� �Don�t worry, I�m not jealous. I just thought it was kinda cute that you didn�t know.� �Cute?� �Yeah. Cute.� Lennie shrugged and decided to let it go. For now. He shut off the tv and tossed the remote onto the table. �There�s a Cubs game on at 2, but nothing till then. Think we can come up with something to fill the time?� He grinned at Jack suggestively. Jack caught the hint. �I do seem to recall owing you something from this morning�� ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Almost exactly at 6, Lennie pulled the car into Rey�s driveway. He was glad the rain had convinced Jack to let him drive; it was just easier this way. Not that he didn�t love the bike, but some things just worked better with a car. Fortunately, the rain had slowed to a drizzle. They got out of the car and jogged to the door, as if they could out-run the few remaining raindrops. Rey answered the door and waived them in to a darkened living room, a huge grin on his face. Suddenly the lights came on and a chorus of �Surprise!� rang through the air along with noisemakers and a rain of confetti. They stood there, stunned, taking in the tableaux. A room full of familiar faces smiled back at them. Against the back wall, a banner proclaiming �Congratulations Lennie & Jack!� hung over a table on which sat a wedding cake. Another table sported a veritable banquet, which accounted for the wonderful smells. Rey laughed and pulled Lennie into a hug, as Anita came up to them. �You didn�t think you�d get away without at least having a party did you?� She hugged both of them, gently kissing Lennie�s cheek. Lennie came out of the shock enough to ask �Lieu? This your doing?� She laughed. �Well, Ed and I hatched the basic idea. Then Rey delivered the perfect opportunity, and Abbie provided some inside information.� Olivia came up to him, carrying a tray with two champagne glasses. �Uncle Lennie? These are special for you and Jack.� �Oh, thank you sweetheart!� He thought his smile was going to split his face wide open as he ran his fingers through her hair before taking the two glasses and handing one to Jack. Apparently everybody else already had theirs. Ed came forward to give the toast � �To our favorite newlyweds!� They raised their glasses to him, then to each other. Somebody started the traditional tapping of glasses, and before they knew it the whole room was in on it. They laughed, looked at each other, and surrendered, leaning in for the required kiss. Of course, Lennie being Lennie, he had to play the moment for all it was worth. He caught Jack off guard and leaned him back in a �dip,� just barely getting him back upright without dropping him. The crowd cheered loudly. �Lennie!� Jack sputtered, caught totally off guard, then the cheers and catcalls pushed him over the line to laughter. �I�ll get you for that later!� He really wasn�t used to the idea of being quite so open about their relationship, but he guessed a wedding celebration demanded it. The immediate festivities taken care of, people started milling around, helping themselves to food and drink, talking with friends. Lennie shook his head, deeply touched by the action of their friends. He saw a lot of faces from the 27 and the DA�s office, even a few others. Was that �? �Hey Jack.� He pointed across the room. �I don�t think he�s babysitting after all.� Jack spun around, looking where Lennie was pointing. �Adam!� He rapidly crossed the room to go to his friend. Adam smiled at him. �Got you, didn�t we?� Jack laughed. �I presume Linda was in on this as well?� �Oh, yes. And apparently she did a good job throwing you off the track.� �That she did. Adam, I really wanted to tell you myself �� Schiff shook his head. �It�s ok, son. Actually, this worked well. Worth it for that look on your face.� Jack bowed his head, deeply touched that Adam used the word �son.� Adam saw it and realized again how much it meant to his prot�g�. �So you really did it?� Jack nodded. �We didn�t plan it this way, it just sort of happened. But I�m glad it did.� Adam looked him over. �I don�t know the last time I saw you so relaxed. You worked too hard, drank too much. This is much better. I can see you�re happy. Congratulations, my friend.� He surprised Jack by pulling him in to a quick embrace. �Thank you, Adam,� Jack managed to whisper before letting go. While Jack was busy with Adam, Lennie wandered toward the food. Ed appeared beside him, grinning. �Gotcha, didn�t we?� Lennie laughed. �I shoulda known you�d pull something like this.� �Hey, only the best for my partner!� A familiar face appeared beside them. �So, Lennie, I guess this means I should return the hope chest?� He laughed. �Rogers? I didn�t think you cared!� She gave an exaggerated sigh. �All these years, he strings me along, only to dump me at the end for a guy. Wait, maybe that�s why you never DID ask me out. Oh, well, I�ll have to find somebody else to stalk now.� They laughed together. �Seriously, Lennie. Congratulations. I didn�t believe the stories at first, but I gotta say, you�ve seemed a lot happier lately. This is obviously good for you.� She reached out and squeezed his hand. Lennie blushed. �Thanks, Rogers. I appreciate that.� She nodded. �Now, you�re standing between me and the food.� �Oh, well, pardon me!� Lennie stepped aside with a grand gesture, ushering her to the table. To his surprise, Ed�s arm wrapped around his shoulders. �She�s right, man. You two belong together � so keep it that way, OK?� �You got it, partner.� Nora and Abbie had joined Jack and Adam; the lawyers seemed to be congregating. Jack eventually found out that it had been Nora who had contacted Adam and told him the big news after Abbie confirmed that he hadn�t done it yet himself. Suddenly, Adam�s face lit up. �Well, this IS old home week!� Jack turned around to see who Adam was looking at and found himself looking at a very familiar face indeed. �Jamie!� She smiled and hugged him �Been a long time, Jack. Apparently a lot of changes around here since I left!� He laughed. �Oh, just a few minor things. Adam retired, Nora took over the big office. Nora Lewin, this is Jamie Ross. She was my assistant before Abbie.� Jamie turned to Adam, who gently took both of her hands and squeezed, then shook hands with Nora. Finally she turned back to Jack. �I think you forgot something, Jack. And I want the WHOLE story.� She looked at the others. �May I borrow him for a while � we have a lot to catch up on!� They found a quiet spot in the kitchen, sitting together at the table. Jack looked at her, not sure where to begin. �So how much do you know?� �Not much. Adam called me yesterday to tell me about the party. He said it was a surprise party to celebrate your wedding, and even though you didn�t come to MINE, he thought it was about time we �got over it,� whatever �it� was. I didn�t even know until I got here that it was about you and Lennie. Have to say, that threw me for a loop.� Jack gave her his best sheepish look. �Yeah, Jamie, about your wedding. I�m sorry. I should have been there. I guess part of it was you looked so sad the last time I saw you, leaving the disciplinary committee hearing, I just didn�t want to bring that to your special day. And I guess I was still not ready to face the idea of �happily ever after.� She smiled at him and covered his hand with hers. �You were hurting so bad back then, Jack. And you wouldn�t let me help.� �I know. But you never stopped trying. I don�t think I ever thanked you for that.� She squeezed his hand. �It looks like you finally stopped hurting, went for happily ever after yourself. But Lennie? I didn�t think your tastes went that way?� Her confusion was written all over her face. Jack took a deep breath. �We didn�t expect it, Jamie. We worked so well as roommates, it just filled a void we didn�t realize was there. And then last November �� Comprehension dawned on her face. �The attack at the office?� He nodded. �We both realized that day that our friendship had grown into something more while we weren�t looking. Trust me, it caught us both off guard. But it�s turned out to be the best thing that ever happened to me. It finally let me put Claire behind me.� Jamie squeezed his hand again. She had tried so hard to get him to get past the death of Claire Kincaid. �Then I�m glad.� �There�s something else you�ll like. Lennie got me into AA. No more scotch.� Relief and amazement chased through her heart. �OK, now I know it�s love. Jack, that�s wonderful. I was really worried about you there for a while.� �I know. I saw the looks, Jamie. But once he moved in, I started needing it less and less, just from having a friend to come home to instead of an empty apartment. But then earlier this year, I hurt him. I got mad, I got drunk, and I hurt him. It won�t happen again.� �I know it won�t.� // Time to change the subject. // �So, how about you and David? Happily ever after working out?� She laughed. �Yeah. Once Neil stopped being a prick, everything got just fine. David�s adopted Katie, we�re a real family.� A brief cloud crossed his face as Jamie mentioned her daughter. �Jack? Something wrong?� He sighed. �Something I never told you Jamie. There was a reason I always refused your invitations to join you guys. Funny, I went for years without thinking about it, and now this is the second time in a week.� �Jack, what are you talking about?� �I have a daughter too, Jamie.� �I think I knew that, but you never talked about her.� �When we divorced, my ex took her to the west coast, and I never saw her again. She was about your Katie�s age. And that�s her name � Katie. It was just too similar, reminded me too much of things I didn�t want to remember.� �Oh, god, Jack!� �Not your fault, Jamie. I just wasn�t coping well with anything back then.� �But it�s better now?� �Yeah, especially now that I�ve got Lennie to lean on.� �Makes all the difference in the world, doesn�t it?� �Yeah.� Just then Rey came into the kitchen. �There you are! Come on, we have to cut the wedding cake!� Jamie laughed as Jack rolled his eyes, remembering this ritual. They followed Rey back into the living room. Anita was dragging Lennie in the direction of the cake. Their eyes met, and Jack realized that Lennie would have to play to the crowd; he just couldn�t resist. So he decided on a pre-emptive strike. The cake was a smaller version of a traditional wedding cake, only two layers high for the smaller group. Somebody, probably Abbie, had had it decorated with blue ribbons the same color as their new sheets. And there on the top instead of the traditional bride and groom figures, somebody had placed two grooms. They had to laugh. Ed returned to the toastmaster role. �OK, guys, we want some dessert, so cut the cake already.� They looked at each other and burst out laughing. Over in the crowd, they heard Abbie stifling her laugh. Everybody else looked confused, not being in on the joke. �Sorry folks, inside joke.� Lennie managed to get out. During the confusion, Jack took his opportunity; he reached out and swiped a finger through the icing and parked it right on Lennie�s nose. At Lennie�s surprised �Hey!� Jack laughed and leaned in to lick the icing off, to the sound of cheering from the crowd. They finally made the first cut, taking the piece Jack had mangled, and got out of the way to make room for everybody else to get some. So as the mob hovered by the cake, they were able to grab a couple of chairs. Lennie shook his head, laughing. �You had to do that?� �Like you wouldn�t have done it if you�d thought of it!� He reached out and gently wiped the last of the wayward frosting from Lennie�s nose. They kind of got lost, looking into each others� eyes, until a small hand tugged at Lennie�s arm. He turned around to see the three Curtis girls standing there, looking very serious as only children can. Olivia, being the oldest, had been elected spokesman. �Uncle Lennie? Can we ask you something?� He looked at Jack, an eyebrow raised, wondering what was coming. �Sure, honey. What�s on your mind?� He held his arms out to little Isabel, scooping her into his lap. �We were just wondering.� She paused and looked at Jack. �Can we call him Uncle Jack?� They laughed, both having expected a much more awkward question. �I guess that�s up to him.� Jack looked at them, deeply touched by the innocent request. This time he wouldn�t hide away. He smiled at them. �I�d like that. But you�ve got to help me, here, because there�s just one of me, but three of you. Now who�s who?� They took a few minutes to sort out the names. �Serena, huh? I work with a lady named Serena. She was going out of town this weekend, or I�m sure she would have been here.� Abbie watched them from across the room; it was so sweet seeing them with the little girls. She turned around and ran into Emil Skoda. �Abbie! How�ve you been!� She grinned. �Hey, Doc! Glad you could make it.� �Oh, I wouldn�t miss this for the world. Thanks for the invite. I�m glad to see they managed to keep it together. Hadn�t heard anything from Jack for quite a while, the curiosity was killing me!� �Oh, it�s been a bit of a rocky ride, but I think they�ve got it figured out now.� People continued to mingle and circulate as the evening wore on. Rey collected the girls for bed around 9PM. Lennie was kind of surprised Mike wasn�t there until Abbie told him that Logan was afraid of slipping with so many cops around, especially after their little m�nage-a-trois last weekend. He could understand that; besides, they�d had one hell of a celebration already. But finally, some folks started hinting that it was time to go, so Ed rounded them up one last time. �Ok, before everybody heads home, we have a few gifts for the newlyweds. Lennie, you want to do the honors?� He handed Lennie a fairly large box wrapped in silver paper. Jack just shrugged, indicating that Lennie should open it. He looked in and laughed � inside were quite a few individual wrapped items. �OK, Jack, you�ve got to do some of these!� They proceeded to take turns opening the gifts, getting cheers and catcalls from the crowd after each: Matching silk boxers in hot pink A catalog from an adult mail-order shop (the same one Lennie already had an account with on-line!) A doctor�s sample pack of Viagra (Jack looked pointedly at Skoda, who gave his best �innocent� look) A copy of �The Joy of Gay Sex� And various and sundry other gag gifts. By the time they made it through the box, their faces were both about the color of those silk boxers! When they came to the end of the box, Jack looked at the crowd. �You realize we WILL get each and every one of you for this?� Anita and Nora pushed their way to the front. �Not next week, you won�t,� Anita said, grinning. Nora continued: �You two are hereby banished for the next seven days. Anita and I juggled the schedules, you�re both on vacation, and we don�t want to see you. Enjoy your honeymoon.� They looked at each other, stunned. Lennie found his voice. �Uh, thanks, but where are we going to go on such short notice in the middle of summer? Everything is booked!� Adam came forward. �I think we can take care of that. The house on the lake is yours for the week. Leave it in one piece, will you?� Jack recovered first this time. �Adam, you don�t have to do that. It�s much too generous.� Adam scowled at him. �What�s a few thousand in rental versus making a friend happy? Enjoy it. That�s an order.� Jack�s defensive posture collapsed. �Thanks, Adam,� he said gently, squeezing his friend�s arm. Adam patted his shoulder and smiled. Rey came up to them, carrying the box of gag gifts and grinning. �OK, guys, this is your big exit. Go and enjoy your gifts.� Jack took the box while Lennie hugged Rey. �Thanks, partner.� �Anytime, Lennie.� They headed out to the car, parking the gag gifts in the back seat. �You know what, Lennie?� Jack asked, settling into his seat. �We�ve got some pretty damned good friends.� Lennie nodded. �That we do, Jack. That we do.� Continue to Chapter 7 Send me some feedback Back to the Story Index Disclaimer: These characters belong to Dick Wolf and NBC; I'm just borrowing them for fun, not profit. |
| A very special evening |
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