The Promise of Love
Part 01 – A Spring Meeting
Alan Shore was a man of many tastes. It was a shame that, sadly including his late wife, he was yet to find a woman that could satisfy him. Monotony was actually important to him; it was his unrealistic ideals that caused his relationship breakdowns.
It was during Alan's usual spring time 'in-heat' that everything changed. In his most private day dreams he expected it to be a warm summer's day, where everything was going his way, not a dull spring morning when he was in the motions of tempting another woman.
"…but you seem very in touch with the worst that the world has to offer. You've always been a very bad girl, now you're working into awful and you think that I'm the lucky lad to get you there and you might be rig-" Alan's seduction of Marlene was cut short by the entrance of Denny, his excited panting the only sign of his appearance before he found his words.
"Alan! The FBI is here. The look she gave me," Denny paused, closing his eyes and letting out a shuddering breath, "she's attracted to me." Alan took an instant step back from Marlene, barely taking a second to smile before walking around her, his interest piqued.
"What have you done?" Alan asked kindly. Denny took an offended step back, his hand pressing against his chest in disgust.
"Me? Nothing, I've been planning Los Angeles – which is cancelled by the way – she's not here professionally," he paused completely thrilled, "she's getting a divorce."
"What does that have to do with our trip?" Alan spared a glance for Marlene as she exited past Denny from his office.
"Denise is an old friend… I told her you would take the case," Denny was elated, "I'll second chair, she's a tough one, barely smiled when I introduced myself."
"Denny, honestly, I was looking forward for my…" he bit the inside of his bottom lip, "potential recreational activities in the city of angels."
"If you're anything like me, you'll still be in heat in a week, come on… it'll be fun."
Alan was ready to dismiss the whole thing when Denise turned up at the office door, tapping lightly before walking in.
"Denise," Alan greeted, "I was just telling Denny that I couldn't possi-" his words run off as he caught sight of the woman next to her. Her short brown hair was covered by a black beanie; a long black coat with a red scarf unwrapped lying around her neck. His eyes roamed pleasantly over her form before meeting her bright blue eyes, her face lighting to a polite smile. "I couldn't possible refuse. Alan Shore."
He introduced himself, standing quite close as he brought his hand between the short space for her to shake, her leather gloved hand clasped his shaking gently, her eyes dancing around his face.
"Elizabeth Keen."
"Very special Agent Keen, if the rumours are correct?" their hands had stopped moving, but still clasped together as she licked her bottom lip, his eyes following her movements.
"Special Agent Scott if you're as good at your job as they say you are."
"I'm better," his eyes traced over her face again, enjoying the pink tint on her nose, the cold spring morning, a different type of blush graced her cheeks at his ministrations.
"Denny Crane," Denny voiced to the side of them, causing Elizabeth to drop her hand, awkwardly and tightly smiling at the older man to her side, "Name on the door."
"Yes, I-I remember," she nodded politely, stepping back from Alan and looking to Denise.
"I'm going to leave you with these two," Denise turned to Alan, "Watch yourself, Shore, Lizzie has probably shot more people than Denny." She walked out of the room, after gently clasping Lizzie's hand, squeezing and letting go as a goodbye.
"She's being modest… I'm also extremely good at hand to hand combat," she directed her words at Alan, a smile on her face, before walking to sit herself in one of the seats at his desk.
Denny pulled a face of arousal silently mouthing a thank you up to the sky, a sentiment that whilst Alan shared he had wished that he wouldn't have to spend the whole time trying to fend off his best friends none-too-subtle advances.
Elizabeth Keen was…something else. Even though there was definitely chemistry when it came to business, he had never seen such a character change as she explained her story. Thomas Jacob Keen verbally abusive emotionally manipulative husband that refused not only to agree to a divorce but to leave the house they had shared for the past two years.
Alan could respect the manner in which she held herself, even as her eyes turned glassy as she relayed her story, she kept her composure. She even happily returned the squeeze of Denny's hand as he comforted in, instead of shrinking away.
"The last thing I could suggest is, after we win this, we put in for a restraining order," Alan paused allowing his words to settle, "your husband seems to be relentless amongst other things and if we cannot settle this outside of court, will you be prepared to divulge everything?"
Her nod was brief but firm as she took a settling breath. Before she could speak, Shirley popped into the office.
"Sorry to interrupt. Denny, Donny is here."
"Tell him I'm busy," Denny dismissed, his eyes trained on Lizzie as she waited patiently. Shirley let out a sigh as if thinking of another tactic.
"He has a woman with him," she was slow with her words, deciding to leave out that the woman he had with him was his fiancée. Denny shot around in his chair, twisting to face her at the door.
"Is she blonde?" his question was serious, as if everything road on it. Shirley nodded slowly, rolling her eyes as he let out a 'oh' of pleasure, "Blonde trumps." He jumped out of his chair looking back as if to contemplate his decision, "I'll be back." He told Lizzie, barely sparing a glance for Alan or Shirley as he exited Alan's office, his voice booming, 'Where's my boy?' Shirley shaking her head and following behind him, shutting the door after her.
"He's so…" Lizzie paused a little grin on her face, "fascinating." Alan let out a smile.
"That's definitely a word someone could use to describe Denny Crane." A silence followed at the statement before Lizzie slid her scarf off.
"I'm going to," she motioned at her coat, "my father always said I won't feel the benefit if I wear my coat indoors."
"Mm," Alan replied courteously, his eyes following her movements as she stood and disrobed, taking her hat off her head, moving to place everything on the coat stand. She looking every inch the federal agent she was. Black trousers, a badge on her belt, a deep burgundy shirt tucked in a black blazer on top. It was all Alan could do not to drop his mouth open. Right now, at that moment, she was a client. A client that could handle a gun. He stood from his desk, picking up the papers in front of him, indicating to the sofa to left of them, choosing to sit there instead of the chair to the side, silently pleased when she sat turned close to him.
"Thank you for this, I've heard a bit about you…" she paused, glancing down shyly, "this is probably boring."
"I don't believe anything about you is boring, Elizabeth Keen," he answered, surprising himself at his honesty. "I need you to sign some forms, and you can be on your way." He indicated to the table but kept his eyes trained on her, smiling slightly when she didn't looking away either, shifting closer to him, moving so her thigh touched his.
"I'm a criminal psychologist," her voice almost broke through the sea of tension created between them, almost; "I have sat opposite the greatest and most charming and terrifying of people. I've read them all, but you… I've never been so drawn to… I can't read you." He reached a hand across smoothing down the left side of her face, brushing her hair aside.
"I'm in heat," he stated after a few moments, cursing himself as her drooping eyes shot open, and a quick laugh bubbled out of her lips.
"Excuse me?" he licked his lips shifting closer to her, dropping his hand to her shoulder, squeezing so gently before smoothing his hand down her arm, before clasping her hand in his as it lay on her thigh.
"It's hard to explain, during spring I… and women seem to…" he shook his head, for the first time since admitting this to anyone he felt slightly embarrassed.
"I can get that…" she nodded, turning and squeezing his hand, "in fact I think I can give you a basic profile of you, if you want?"
"I'd rather not hear the truth through your lips, Agent, I don't think I'd fair well," he admitted quietly.
"I'm holding your hand in your office barely an hour after meeting you, I don't think you're fairing badly, do you?" she looked down at their hands, his thumb smoothing over her skin. "I mean, I've been separated from my husband for a few months and the first lawyer I see on the matter of divorce is…in heat…" he smiled as she used his term, her own smile met his.
"I…" he shook his head.
"I will tell you something that I have realised about you," she licked her lips, "you like having the aspect of mystery, you don't want to ever be seen as…banal." He squeezed her hand and let go, shifting in his seat uncomfortably.
"You're a profiler, I shouldn't be surprised that you could pick that up in just one meeting," he bit the bottom inside of his lip and let out a sigh.
"I think if anyone is going to surprise me, it would be you…even with everything I know," she moved away from him, turning and picking up the papers in front of her, plucking a pen up and signing the marked spots.
"Elizabeth…" Alan was overcome with the urge to make it known that he wanted to see her again, needed to see her again, and not just to sort out her divorce. She stood up, dropping the pen and turning to him, moving to clasp his hand in hers again. He looked up at her and for a moment she was shocked at how child-like and vulnerable he looked.
"My friends call me Lizzie, Mr. Shore," she put her hand in a pocket pulling out a card with her numbers on it and opening the hand that held hers, placing it there.
"I already have your number," he moved to look at the card, "Washington D.C." He read carefully.
"Mm, not a Boston girl, Nebraska if we're getting picky," she stopped grinning and looking down, "That's just…a card that has all the means to contacting me. I'm currently transitioning from Washington to the bureau here."
"That's…that's good," he nodded, "I will ring you as soon as I know what's happening… Lizzie." He tried her nickname carefully and was rewarded with a bright smile.
"You don't have to wait that long, you know?" she walked out of from the table and to where her coat hung and slowly got redressed, Alan's eyes remaining on her form throughout as he stood and slowly walked towards her. Stopping just inside her space, he watched her finish dressing placing her hat on her head.
"I'll be in touch with your soon to be ex-husbands lawyers later this morning," he told her again, smiling as he caught her eyes tracing his face. She nodded after a moment and moved to press a kiss to his cheek, lingering there. It was all Alan could do not to turn his head to capture her lips.
"I meant what I said, you have my number," pulling back she smiled again, turning and leaving the office door open as she turned the corner, not looking back. Alan felt an unfamiliar thrumming through his blood. It wasn't sexual, which ultimately confused him.
Sensing someone looking at him, he turned to the window and spotted Marlene on the other side. Her usual manic expression fell when she met his eyes, as if what she was searching for wasn't there, and she looked confused as she turned the opposite direction and walked away.
"I love weddings," Denny took a sip out of his tumbler, a smile on his face.
"You'd assume after six weddings the novelty would wear off," Alan replied steadily, his mind not completely in the conversation.
"Yes, but…this is different Alan, my son, he's getting married," he paused steadily, taking a quick drag from his cigar, "beautiful woman, great taste in men."
"Does she want you, too?"
"Oh definitely," Denny's breath was laboured as he looked as though he believed every word he said, "I-I would never, you understand, not with my son's soon to be wife, not unless he let me."
"Of course," taking a long drag from his cigar, blowing the smoke out into the nights air, Alan's faraway expression was finally noted by his best friend.
"I thought you'd be elated, Alan, what with the morning you spent with that beautiful FBI agent, what was her name again?"
"Elizabeth… Lizzie," he added in a lower tone, shaking his head.
"A-and, I bet the afternoon was spent with crazy Marlene, too," Denny squinted his eyes, letting out a shuddering breath, "what a way to spend your day."
"I didn't see Marlene again," he paused, licking his lips.
"But why? You're in heat man! And whilst I admit that I might have been a bit premature with cancelling the Los Angeles trip, you should get all the pasty Boston girls you can!"
"I just…" shaking his head, he knocked back the rest of his drink, shifting awkwardly in his seat, he looked at Denny, smiling awkwardly and letting out a little shocked laugh before opening and closing his mouth a few times.
"What is it man? I've never seen you like this."
"How did you know? With Bev… With Shirley? How did you know?" he shook his head a few times, as if the whole situation was so bizarre to him.
"Almost instantly, but do not get me wrong, Alan, Shirley and Bev were completely different creatures," he had a distant look in his eyes, "I wanted Bev the moment I slept with her… Shirley… I wanted a life with just her the moment I spoke to her. There's a difference." Alan nodded at his friends words, as if the wisdom his accidentally gave was everything to him.
"I never believed in…in that happening to anyone other than someone with your boundless optimism, Denny," Alan put his cigar out, barely smoked and sat heavily in his chair.
"Is this about, Marlene, the squid? I bet she would be an animal, suck the life right out of you," Denny nodded his approval.
"No, not her… No, Elizabeth…" Alan let out a shocked chuckle again, his eyes meeting Denny's and looking as conflicted as he felt, "I can't even begin to explain it; my thoughts have been consumed by her, the thought of even entertaining sleeping with Marlene…with anyone, whilst there could be a chance I could…"
"She was something else," Denny agreed, "Usually I would make a point of noting my dibs on her, but I'll let you have this one."
"Thanks," Alan contained his sigh, his phone buzzed in his pocket, a smile flitting over his face as he saw the name. He had sent Liz a text half an hour earlier, a simple greeting message and a question of how she was.
Elizabeth K
Hello, Alan. I'm good, how are you? I've been thinking about you.
Alan's eyes widened as he read the last bit, his phone vibrating in his hand to a new message.
Elizabeth K
Please ignore that last bit :$
He spared a glance to Denny as the other man went quiet, inspecting his friends movements carefully.
Alan S
Never. I will say you've been on my mind, too, Lizzie. Dangerously tempting for a lawyer.
"You look as giddy as a school boy," Denny's voice broke into Alan's quiet revere, and the man almost dropped his phone.
"I-I'm…"
"In love?" Denny added helpfully, leaving Alan groaning helplessly.
