Irreconcilable differences

This is my first fanfic in quite a while, due to grammatical difficulties. So now, I'm back with hopefully improved grammar. All thoughts are in italics. So here it goes, wish me luck.

Annabeth sighed in frustration, as her notes blurred before her eyes. It was ten o'clock, and here she was, just sitting in her office, knowing she should go home, but not terribly eager to do so. Jack had been extremely distant since the Calvin Riggs case. He would just sit in their living room; holding their daughter, as if it was the last time he would ever see her. Sometimes when she entered a room, he would get up and leave. It was as if he was trying to prove some kind of point. He seemed to feel that she wasn't a responsible parent, because she had stuck with the case. As much as she tried to sympathize, his reaction still seemed exaggerated. She had taken a guilty man off the streets, saved countless innocents, while Jack was sitting at home, unable to see past his nose. Sighing she closed her notes. To be honest, there were no new cases, well none that would be assigned to her anyway. She tried to tell herself that, she was just eager for another case, but deep down she knew; that going home didn't hold as much luster, as it had just a few weeks prior.

"I guess I should go home", she spoke to her empty office. Gathering her jacket and keys, she headed down towards the lobby. The building was nearly deserted, only night staff and workaholics remained. Not that she could judge. Part of her even considered stopping, to see if she could offer any assistance. Keeping her head down, she was quite startled, when somebody called her name.

"Ms Chase", her back stiffened, she knew that voice. She would probably never forget it.

"Mr. Hellman", a smile tugged at her lips as it turned to look at him. He was dressed immaculately, as always, a smirk plastered on his face. Normally he would have been the last person that she wanted to see. However, ever since the Riggs case, she had begun to see a different side of him; a kind side he actually seemed like a real person. He was no longer just the arrogant jerk that defended any scum who could afford his fee. She owed him big time for the tip he had given her; in fact talking to him was the least she could do. Looking up into his eyes, she awaited his next words.

"It's a bit late for you to be here, isn't it?" For some unknown reason she blushed, 'I must be really tired', she thought, 'because he's beginning to look attractive'. Aloud she said.

"Yeah well", she shrugged, "I was going over my notes", Hellman chuckled at that.

"You're a horrible liar Annabeth", she started he had never used her first name casually before. She found that, she liked the way he made it sound; it was almost exotic.

"Well how do you know I don't have any work", she queried bristling-slightly-at his cocky demeanor. He leaned forward his smile widening. He was so close it made her nervous. Taking a deep breath, she was overwhelmed by the scent of cologne. It was a heady scent, probably expensive, it was with great difficulty that she focused on what he was saying.

"Because I don't have any work Ms Chase, and we always seem to be facing each other, don't we?" Annabeth wasn't sure if it was a statement or a question.

"Yes", she agreed, "It's quite the coincidence".

"Uh huh", he cocked his head, "Yes well I'll see you in court". The abrupt end to the conversation startled her.

"Aren't you going to walk me to my car?" He arched an eyebrow at her.

"Now why would I do that Ms Chase?"

"I don't know, because it's late, it's a common courtesy". She felt foolish as soon as the words left her mouth. The defense lawyer eyed her oddly.

"No", he looked her up and down, "you can take care of yourself", with that he turned and walked back in the direction she had come from. She stared after him for a few minutes, thoroughly confused, by how disappointed she felt.

Annabeth sighed as she put her car in park. It had been an uneventful ride home; in fact, she had spent most of it trying to quell a rising sense of dread. The lights were still on, that meant Jack was up. He was either waiting for her, or brooding neither was a good sign.

"Shit", she didn't want to deal with any stress. Even if she had chosen to stay late, it had been a long day. Trudging to the door, she opened it as quietly as possible. It had become a routine. She came home late, slipped in quietly, and Jack pretended that she had always been there.

How could two people drift so far apart in just a few short weeks? Taking off her jacket, she entered the living room expecting to find it empty, but luck wasn't with her. Standing in the kitchen doorway was an obviously seething Jack.

"Where have you been?" He managed to fill the words with more venom, than any curse he could have thrown at her.

"I've been umm…" she was too stunned to form a though. She had never seen him like this, so raw, just barely clinging to his control.

"Working on some high profile case, SOME OTHER CASE THAT WILL ENDANGER OUR FAMILLY". "But wait you don't have any cases, so you have no excuse for being so late". "Honestly Annabeth, HOW AM I SUPPOSE TO TAKE CARE OF THIS FAMILLY, WHEN YOU CAN EVEN TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF".

"Jack hush you'll wake the baby". His words stung, curious that they were the exact opposite of Hellmans'. 'What, why is he in my head at a time like this'. Meanwhile Jack was just getting started.

"Like you care she never sees you anyway"

"Oh I see her", anger was coursing through Annabeth's veins, how dare her husband speak to her like this. "I just don't hide behind my daughter to escape from my problems"

"Like hell you don't, some sicko puts a bullet in our daughters hand, and what's the first thing you do?" "Not only do you keep prosecuting, but you use the incidence as an excuse to gain more time for the investigation". "You've forgotten what love is, sometimes I think you're worse than the people you put away", if words could kill, Annabeth would have died right there.

"You know that's not true", she struggled to keep the tremors out of her voice. "I'm going to bed, we'll talk tomorrow when you've calmed down", she turned in an attempt to escape. However, in one bound he had crossed the room and grabbed her shoulders.

"You can't get out of this it's your family, we'll always be here", suddenly his expression clouded over and his grip tightened. Rage swam in his eyes, and for the first time in their marriage, she feared him.

"You're hurting me", she gasped this couldn't be happening to her. "I though you said that, you didn't mind me going back to work". She was crying now.

"I smell cologne on you", his voice was a hiss, as he released her. "Is that where you've been screwing some guy at your office". "Honestly Annabeth I would have though you had enough sense to at least, shower before you came home".

"No I would never do that I love you", she grabbed his arm, "You know I love you".

"Yeah well you sure have a funny way of showing it".

The shrill screams from upstairs signaled this arguments end.

"I'll go", Jack stated, as he eyed his wife with disgust. Hurrying out of the room, he left Annabeth, who promptly collapsed on the couch tears streaming down her face.

A.N

So how was it, grammar ok? Please review I love all reviews. Advice, constructive criticism, suggestions, whatever it's all-good.

The next chapter will be up soon promise.