Disclaimer: I own nothing. All characters and stories belong to NBC and Dick Wolf.

A/N: Post Trophy. Jack and Claire talk. My other Jack romance pairing. Sorry if Claire seems out of character. I've only seen her in a few episodes (when I can get home in time or my ass out of bed at five in the morning on weekends). I'm clearing my head of biology. Exams are in a week. AHHHHHHHHH! Please review. Love, Lawabidingchild.

Not One Word

"You didn't have to make the deal. We could have just gone to trial." Jack stared at his assistant, confused as to her motives.

"I know, but I thought that's what you wanted, Jack. Ha ha!" she chided, smiling and shoving him lightly on the chest. The two of them turned away from the courthouse and walked back to the office.

Jack stared at the beautiful young woman across the room. She stayed on the other side, staring back at Jack. This was the woman who replaced Diana Hawthorne in his eyes. Diana wasn't the most intelligent person in the world. Intelligent people don't walk around facilitating criminals.

Claire Kincaid, on the other hand, wouldn't do that. Not for anyone, especially Jack. "Look, she did what she did," said Claire. "There's no way around it."

"I know, Claire," he said gruffly, unsure of what to say next. Claire stared at him, confused. "I just don't understand why she would do it. She should have waited for something else to come up."

"But she didn't. It's been five years since those boys were killed. We have the right guy in prison. I think that's enough."

Jack didn't make a gesture of confirmation nor denial. He just sat there, staring at Claire for some indication of truth. When he didn't find it, he shrugged and tried to push the matter aside. "So, you think that this was a way of finding out what a fraud that relationship really was?" asked Jack.

"I think that you, of all people, should have been the most angry." She peered into his dark brown eyes. "And you were."

"Scared you, didn't it?" he joked.

"A little, but as far as fear is concerned, I'm okay." She stepped up to him. "The question is, are you?"

Jack reached his hand out for Claire's cheek, rubbing the pressure center with his thumb. The gentle motion made Claire close her eyes in ecstasy. "I am now," he whispered, emphasizing the word "now." Claire smiled and leaned in a bit more to his touch. "There's just one thing that I have to ask you."

"What is it, Jack?" asked Claire.

"Did Diana ask anything about us?"

At this, Claire opened her eyes to look at him. "She asked if I was involved with you."

"What did you say?" Jack was now anxious for a reply from Claire.

"I didn't confirm it." Jack looked relieved, but then Claire opened her mouth again. "But I didn't deny it."

Jack still looked relieved. At least Diana knew that they were never going to be "them" again. "That relationship was a fraud."

Claire raised an expression of confusion. "So you're saying you lead her on?"

"No. I'm saying that I thought I was in love with her. I was recovering from a messy divorce and she was the closest person at the time. I finally realized my mistake three years later." He then looked sincerely into Claire's eyes. "But you're different. We're different."

"Why is that?" asked Claire, trying to figure it out.

Jack's eyes looked genuine. They were full of emotion and love. "I'm in love with you. That's what's different."

Claire smiled and pulled Jack in for a kiss. It was sweet and lingering. They were both drinking in each others presence at the end of a messy and imploding trial. In the end, they were still there. "I love you, too, Jack," Claire whispered after they broke apart. She fell into his arms, resting her head on his shoulder. She didn't say anything more. Not one word.