This is the first cross-over i've ever written, involving two of my favourite shows, and my two favourite couples. I hope you like it.
It's set at the beginning of Series 5 for the West Wing, and the beginning of Series 7 for JAG
CLUB IOTA - ARLINGTON, VA
Cynthia smiled at the tall, blonde women who walked through the door and headed to the bar. She was in here a lot, usually with another woman and a group of guys. It was rare to see her alone, even when she was just waiting for the others she was accompanied by one of the others, a cute guy with curly dark hair who, unbeknownst to her, seemed completely smitten with her.
"What can I get you?" The woman smiled wanly at her as she took a seat next to the only other single occupant of the bar.
"A whisky sour thanks Cynthia" she replied
"Coming right up." The woman smiled her thanks, then turned her attention to the small stage in the corner, where the first act of their weekly open mic night was just starting to play the first few bars on his guitar.
The song was halfway through by the time Cynthia placed her drink in front of her.
"Where are the others this evening?" she asked conversationally, curious as to what had brought this woman here alone. She sighed,
"They'll be along later. I just needed to escape for a bit."
"Rough Day?"
The woman snorted, flicking her hair over her shoulders. "Its just been one of those weeks." She replied, looking away sadly, her eyes landing on the dark haired woman sitting next to her. She was struck by the look in the woman's eyes. It looked identical to the way she imagined hers must look right now: forlorn and slightly lost. She was absentmindedly playing with the stirrer that had come in her drink, twisting it around her fingers, when suddenly she looked up as the next act started to play. Listening to the lyrics, she seemed almost frozen. The song obviously struck a chord with her.
The blonde looked back at the stage, listening to the lyrics as she did so. They were ones that she knew by heart, words that had the power to crack her heart into a million pieces and build it back together with the next line.
He drowns in his dreams
An exquisite extreme, I know
He's as damned as he seems
And more heaven than a heart could hold
If I tried to save him
My whole world could cave in
It just ain't right, it just ain't right
[chorus
Oh and I don't know
I don't know what he's after
But he's so beautiful
Such a beautiful disaster
And if I could hold on
Through the tears and the laughter
Would it be beautiful
Or just a beautiful disaster
They just say it all. The brunette thought sadly. Describes him to a T. He was without a doubt, one of the most beautiful men she had ever laid eyes on, even the lines on his face, left by the emotional baggage that he carried, couldn't distract from that fact. She loved him. She knew that. And if she really considered it, she knew that he loved her too. They were both just too scared to let go for good. The risk was just too huge. He was it for her, once she allowed herself to be with him, she couldn't imagine herself loving anyone else. The mere idea of a life without him should things go wrong was just impossible to contemplate. Recent events had made her reconsider things a hundred times over; Life really was too short, and they were wasting their chance. She knew that. But it didn't make moving forward any easier. If anything, it made it harder.
His magic and myth
As strong as what I believe
A tragedy with
More damage than a soul should see
And do I try to change him
So hard not to blame him
Hold on tight, hold on tight
The thoughts of what he had been through killed her. True he drove her insane a lot of the time, but he was her best friend, the man she had been in love with for longer than she cared to admit and she hated that she couldn't protect him from his demons. She knew that at this point in time they couldn't be together, there was enough scandal surrounding their workplace, without them adding more to it. But she hoped that in the future, they would get their chance. She didn't mind holding on for longer. He was worth it. She tugged in annoyance at a long strand of blonde hair that had escaped from behind her ears. Sitting here listening to this song, she sort of regretted her idea of coming here alone, before the others. He had been driving her up the wall all day, and the 'cat that got the canary' smile that had been a permanent fixture on his ex's face whenever they had crossed paths was enough to push her to where she was right now. Sat at a bar, drinking alone, waiting for him to be done with his ex so that he can come and join her.
[chorus
Oh 'cause I don't know
I don't know what he's after
But he's so beautiful
Such a beautiful disaster
And if I could hold on
Through the tears and the laughter
Would it be beautiful
Or just a beautiful disaster
I'm longing for love and the logical
But he's only happy, hysterical
I'm waiting for some kind of a miracle
Waiting so long
So long
She glanced at the blonde woman sitting next to her. She seemed as caught up in the song as she was herself.
"Who does it remind you of?" she asked softly, unable to stop herself. Somehow talking to a stranger about him seemed preferable to silence right now.
The woman turned at the sound of her voice and smiled sadly,
"My boss" she replied, "You?"
"My partner from work." She heard herself admit with a small smile.
"Are you together?" the blonde asked curiously,
"No. You?" the blonde rolled her eyes,
"He's my boss" she emphasized, "and we don't need the scandal right now."
"But you're in love with him?"
There was a pause.
He's soft to the touch
But frayed at the end, he breaks
He's never enough
And still he's more than I can take
"Yes." She admitted in a whisper. She paled suddenly when she realized that Cynthia was just handing her companion a new drink, and had heard their conversation. "Cynthia you can't…"
"Don't worry, I won't say a word" Cynthia interrupted with a smile.
"What about you?" the blonde turned to her companion suddenly, "Do you love him?"
"With all my heart." The brunette admitted sadly, taking a sip of her drink.
"Why aren't you together?"
[chorus
Oh 'cause I don't know
Don't know what he's after
But he's so beautiful
Such a beautiful disaster
And if I could hold on
Through the tears and the laughter
Would it be beautiful
Or just a beautiful disaster
"I think the current excuse it 'its against regulations'"
"You're military?" she sounded surprised.
"Marine." She replied proudly.
He's beautiful
Such a beautiful disaster
Oh oh...beautiful
Oh oh...beautiful disaster
"So what brings you here?" the blond asked curiously as they both applauded the performer who was now scurrying off the stage.
"I work in Falls Church. We've always heard good things about this place so we thought we'd give it a try." The brunette replied with a smile. She liked this woman, she felt almost like a kindred spirit. "I'm supposed to be meeting my partner here." Her smile softened at the thought of him. "But he's late as usual." Her companion rolled her eyes.
"Men!" she said with a grin.
"I know! You'd think being in the Navy, he'd be able to be on time once in a while!"
"He's in the Navy? How does he look in his dress whites?!" they both giggled.
"Pretty damn good. Although personally I prefer the blue Mess Dress!"
"For me it's the white tie! Which is not helped by the fact that he always wants me to tie his tie for him!" she smiled softly. "Do you ever wonder what would happen if you just said screw the rules and went for it?" she added suddenly. Her companion tilted her head slightly, fixing her with a resigned gaze.
"All the time. Most of our colleagues think we are dating anyway. The problem is neither of us have ever been ready. We've been to hell and back for each other. Literally. But the one time I tried to move us forward, he bolted."
"He's an idiot." The blonde stated. The other woman sighed.
"No." she said, "No he's not. He was right at that point. If I'd listened to what he'd said, we wouldn't be in the mess we are now. We weren't ready then. Now it's different, but I can't be the one to step forward. I can't risk almost losing him from my life again." She felt tears rising in her eyes and she blinked them back angrily. "Sorry," she added, "I'm sure the last thing you wanted when you came in here was some stranger dumping their problems all over you." Her companion shrugged,
"Don't worry about it. It's helping to take my mind off why I came in here early in the first place." She replied with a grin. "So tell me more about this sailor of yours?!"
She added, accepting a new drink from Cynthia, listening intently as the other started recounting the story of how they met.
Both women were laughing so hard that tears were leaking out of their eyes.
"I can't believe he fired a weapon in the court room!" the blonde managed to say through her giggles.
"It was the funniest thing I've ever seen. They're still in there you know!"
"The bullets?!" her blue eyes opened wide in amusement.
"I think the Judge wanted to leave them as a lesson to all other lawyers!" the brunette giggled. "All it's done is make him notorious!"
The blonde stopped laughing suddenly, when a tall, handsome man appeared at her companion's side.
"Sorry I'm late" he said breathlessly, giving the blonde a curious look.
"It's ok Flyboy. If you started turning up on time it would worry me more!" they all laughed. The man was about to introduce himself when they were interrupted by a loud voice,
"Hey!" A handsome guy with dark curly hair was making his way across the bar, a tall woman and two shorter guys in tow. He arrived at her side, giving the tall man an appraising look. "Sorry we're so late. CJ was trying to convince Charlie to come."
The blonde two women exchanged a small smile. So this is the one, they both thought, each eyeing the others' 'friend' with interest. The men, for their part, were both standing at the shoulders of 'their' women, locked in some kind of male territorial war. Finally the curly haired man broke the silence.
"Are you going to introduce us to your friends?" The blonde hesitated, realising she didn't know their names. As if sensing her discomfort, the other man moved first.
"Harmon Rabb" he said, holding out his hand. The other shook it,
"Josh Lyman" he replied.
Well? did you like it?? let me know!? would you like me to carry this on?