A/N: Just a little something inspired by the episode "Long Time Dead," I thought some of the dynamics between Elaine, Jackie and Michael were interesting. Hope you enjoy :)
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
In hindsight she supposed she really should have seen it coming.
All those times she'd spent chatting with Jackie, hearing her joke about being the 'personal property' of her boss and how close they truly were, should have tipped her off. As it was she'd been surprised when Jackie had set her up with Michael since she'd always assumed Jackie would end up with him.
Not that she was complaining Michael was everything Jackie had said he was: loyal, loving, considerate…the list went on. He was the perfect boyfriend, except for one thing: Jackie.
Not that she was a problem; really, it was just that their closeness made it difficult for a third person to ever come into their little bubble. Jackie was so much a part of his life that he always tried to fit her and a girlfriend into the equation, though she would always come out on top.
That was the fine print that Elaine really hadn't seen coming.
Not until that evening at the Crawford Hotel where she found that she had to vie with Jackie for her boyfriend's attention. Not that he did it on purpose; he just seemed to naturally tune everyone and everything else out when he was with her.
When he had thought her capable of murder she knew that their relationship was in trouble.
He didn't trust her.
He'd even managed to convince Jackie; even after all they had been through as friends.
It was after Jackie and her colleague had interviewed her about the murders that her eyes were finally opened to the harsh reality: she was never going to be able to compete with Jackie.
Jackie was always going to be the most important woman in Michael's life; he trusted her, respected her and (as she was starting to suspect) loved her.
That was why she had to let him go: he had never been hers to begin with.
He would always be Jackie's, whether he admitted it or not.