Author's note:- None episode based but there's likely to be occasional mention of events in the first few series. I love the idea of Grace being given a challenge by her peers that could make things very difficult and if a little, or in this case quite a lot, of smut can get thrown in it can only make it better! Rated for adult themes, sexual content and all the usual stuff. I own nothing.
Ladies who Lunch Ch1/?
"Oh for the love of god." Grace muttered staring at the email in her in box and groaning softly. She'd knew it was coming, she'd been waiting for it, expected it to be something that would give her a lot of work but this was just ridiculous.
"Grace? Are you ok? You look like you can't decide if you want to laugh or cry. If you're choosing I deal a lot better with laughter if you start crying on me..."
"I'm fine Boyd don't worry you're not going to have to pretend to be sensitive I..."
"I wouldn't be pretending I'm very sensitive." Boyd interrupted giving her the sort of cheeky smile that would normally ease any mood she was in and narrowing his eyes as it went completely unacknowledged. "Really are you..."
"Yes Boyd I've already told you I'm ok can't I just get on with the profile you've been pestering me about all day?"
"I haven't been pestering I asked you once and..."
"Boyd! Get out!" Grace shouted much louder than she intended to watching his expression change from amused confusion to real concern before he went to open his mouth to speak again and changed his mind. Instead he turned on his heels and left mutter about how sometimes there was no way to with those the maddening woman.
"I didn't think they were arguing right now, I actually thought they'd been doing that less lately." Frankie whispered as she looked from the autopsy report in her hand and grimaced at Mel.
"They are arguing and it's has been better. Something tells me whatever has upset Grace is it has nothing to do with Boyd he just needled her at the wrong moment." Mel replied looking through the window of her friend's office and seeing Grace sink back into her chair looking every bit as worry as Boyd had implied. Getting up she moved toward the office door knocking quietly before putting her head round the door. "If I ask what's wrong are you going to shout at me too?"
"No of course not come in." Grace sighed already regretting snapping at Boyd when he was actually trying to be caring. "I should apologise to Boyd."
"Why? That's not how you two work is it? You yell at each other then you calm down and carry on as if nothing's happened. If you start apologising to each other you're really make us all nervous." Mel laughed stepping inside and closing the door. The dynamic between the two people they all acknowledge jointly ran their unit no matter who was "officially" the boss was delicate but unwavering in it's strength. It wouldn't be the first time she, Frankie and Spence had speculated as to whether there was or ever had been more to it than professional compatibility. They fought, they never apologised and when it was really bad Spence was convinced, and had the girls convinced, that they "apologised" in a different way away from the office. In spite of the fact she considered Grace one of her best friends she'd never gotten up the courage to actually ask her the question though. "You want to tell me what's wrong? I know there's something but if you don't want to talk about it just say."
"No it's ok I just couldn't discuss it with him because...well..." Grace sighed pointing at the computer screen as Mel moved to her side of the desk her concern peaking as she read the email in front of her then giving a confused and relieved laugh.
"I don't get it you write and present papers all the time you can do this in your sleep. Why's it bothering you so much?"
"My annual "Women in Psychology" lunch is in two weeks, that's where I have to present the paper. One of us is chosen every year and the topic of the paper is picked by the others and has to be away from our usual area of expertise."
"So no "he became a serial killer because..." talks. I get it but I'm still not seeing the problem. Grace I can't see them setting you a topic you can't handle you're one of the best qualified and most respected clinical psychologists in the country you'll nail it." Mel smiled slightly perturbed by the uncharacteristic nervousness in her friend. "Grace seriously what's the big deal you'll..."
"Scroll down" Grace said with a resigned sigh as Mel did and the shocked laugh she gave made her heart sink a little more.
"Umm...ok...is that even a branch of psychology? I mean obviously...actually I don't know where I was going with that sentence..."
"Yes of course it is a branch of psychology, a big one, anything to do with the mind and associated behaviours is psychology. It's just not my area."
"Which is the point?"
"Exactly. I should have seen it coming we haven't had a topic even similar in years I just didn't think I'd be the one to get landed with it."
"I still don't see the problem Grace, if it's as big an area as you say surely there's loads of research out there you can draw on."
"That's the point I'm not allowed to reference already published material." Grace sighed "I have to use original sources and I have two weeks to do it. Even if it wasn't for our normal workload that would be no time at all. I can't even advertise for subjects to interview in that time."
"Ok let me check I've got this right. In two weeks you have to research, write and present a paper to a few..."
"Not a few there's 30 of us."
"Ok so to 29 of your colleagues on "Sexual fantasy and masturbation." You have no time to get subjects to speak to and that's why you look like the world is coming to an end?"
"That about sums it up."
"Well that's easily fixed." Mel smiled moving to the office door and beckoning to Frankie to join them before Grace had a chance to object.
"What's up? Grace you look like..."
"Yeah, yeah she looks like hell we've covered that." Mel interrupted before taking a moment to fill Frankie in on the issue.
"Look it's alright you two I'll work it out you don't need to worry about it or me." Grace sighed as Frankie seemed to find the whole things amusing and she couldn't work out how Mel thought this was going to help.
"We're not worried." Frankie smiled exchanging a glance with Mel that was far too knowing for Grace's liking. "So when do we start?"
"I was thinking tonight." Mel replied loving Frankie a little more for immediately having the same thought she had. "It's Friday, we'll get a truck load of booze and..."
"Hold on wait a minute, what are you saying?" Grace asked pretty sure she knew but wanting to hear it directly from them.
"We're going to be your subjects." Frankie replied "If the three of us have a girlie night and talk about...the subject then you have at least something to work with."
"Yeah and it's not like we need to be all coy about it we're three adults we can talk about sex without getting embarrassed right?" Mel asked as Frankie nodded and for the first time since the email had arrived Grace felt a little of the tension leave her.
"Are you sure? I mean you wouldn't feel uncomfortable?"
"Grace if we can't talk to each other about anything given what we've seen and been through together then there's something wrong." Frankie replied as she heard Boyd summon then to the squad room.
"Thanks you're both angels." Grace smiled as they left the office with the promise they'd be at her home by 7:30 that night and everything would be fine.
"What's going on? What was that about?" Boyd asked when they sat back at the large table in the middle of the room. "What's wrong with Grace and don't tell me nothing I know her better than any of you, something's wrong with her."
"She's fine she just needs..." Frankie began hesitating and saying a silent thank you as Mel took over.
"She really is ok Boyd. She just needs some help with something but me and Frankie have it covered."
"What does that mean you "have it covered" if she needs help why didn't she just tell me instead of biting my head off. Anything she needs I can..."
"Not this time Boyd." Frankie interrupted getting up to present her results in the hope it would steer them away from the topic.
"Every time Frankie. I'm going to speak to her again you have me worried now." Boyd snapped moving toward the office as Mel stopped him giving him a tolerant smile. This was exactly the sort of moment she was sure that if there wasn't already something between him and Grace there sure as hell should be. For all their banter and snipping they'd do anything for each other.
"Boyd trust me and Frankie can handle this. We're seeing her tonight and by tomorrow everything will be back on track." She smiled breathing a sigh of relief as he appeared to finally accept what she was saying.
"Fine...so you two are going to Grace's?"
"Yes."
"Tonight?"
"Yes."
"And if it was something serious you'd tell me?"
"Probably not if she didn't want us to but there's nothing to worry about." Frankie replied before Mel had a chance. "Now is anyone actually interest in what I found on Simon Riley's body?"
"Yes. Yes alright." Boyd sighed sinking into one of the chairs round the table and watching as Grace finally emerged from her office and joined them. Only half listening to Frankie he watched the woman he would literally die for out of the corner of his eye. Even now when she appeared to have regained her usual elegant composure he couldn't forget the look of panic in her eyes when he'd stood at her office door. Grace didn't do panicked and flustered. She didn't do tears at work or even looking like she could be on the verge of tears. Something was wrong with the woman he loved, albeit secretly, and if Mel thought he was just going to sit around while they had it "covered" then she clearly hadn't been paying attention in the years she's known him.
"See you soon Grace I'm going to stop for supplies on the way home then Frankie's going to pick me up in a cab about 7:15." Mel said putting her head back round Grace's office door just as the doctor was picking up her bag to leave.
"Great thanks again for this." Grace replied putting her bag over her shoulder and turning off the desk lamp. "I'll walk out with you."
"Are you all going?" Boyd called from his office seeing them leave Grace's.
"Yes it's Friday Boyd, that day the weekend starts you should give weekends a try sometimes." Grace called back smiling and giving him a small wave as she and Mel left. The smile wasn't fooling him he was now completely convinced there was something seriously wrong and he had to find out what.
"Spence are you still out there?" He called waiting until the other man appeared at his door before continuing. "If you have plans for tonight cancel them."
"I didn't but why?" Spence asked already getting a bad feeling about the look in his boss's eye. "You're not seriously thinking of..."
"Of course I am. You think I'm going to spend all weekend worrying? Go home I'll pick you up about 8 I heard Mel tell Grace her and Frankie were going at 7:15."
"You realise Grace won't thank you for this in fact she might actually kill you?"
"Yes but I've never let that bother me in the past why start now?" Boyd replied grabbing his keys off the desk and heading for the door. "8 Spence...be ready!"