Relief
Alex Borgia propped her chin in both of her hands and stared at the bulk of the contents of her briefcase and purse and didn't see what she was looking for. Of course it was her luck; of course Murphy interfered again, and on today of all days. The only thing accomplished was the doubling of the dulling in her head that threatened to send her home from work earlier than she wanted.
The morning shouting match should have been an indicator of how the day would progress. The meeting in Jack's office was horrible; the defense attorney a moron, and the seeds of a terrible headache took root then, she knew it.
What she wanted was a quiet place away from conversations, phone calls, computers beeping and florescent lights humming. Add to that, if one more person knocked on her door, she was going to-
"Are you all right?"
Alex turned slowly to see Jack McCoy leaning against the doorframe of her now opened door. "I'd have knocked but…" He nodded in her general direction. She responded with a weak smile of thanks.
"Aside from this, I failed to pack a lunch and I don't feel like going out or staring at a menu to order in," she said. "Do you suffer a lot of headaches and I'm not noticing?"
Jack shook his head. "Mastering migraines. I've already ordered from the deli. Soup for you," he added.
"Have you suffered migraines long?" she asked
"Long enough not to wish them on my worse enemy." He stopped to think about that. "Usually," he said. "Tell me you're not-."
Alex returned the contents to their proper carriers. "Oh no, it's just a headache. I was debating whether or not to make an appointment with a Dr. Stillman. My regular doctor's out of town and usually prescribes generic drugs and useless advice."
He closed the door quietly then took the seat beside her desk. "I remember when Danielle Melnick always carried a bottle with her." Jack took out a snack bar from his shirt pocket and handed it to Alex. "Either I already had a headache or she was going to leave with one."
"Thanks," she said again. "How often was this?"
"Every fight we ever had."
Alex's eyes opened wide with surprise. "In court? You've faced the same defense attorney that many times in that many cases?"
Jack nodded his head, reminding Alex of a bobbing glass bird. "In court, out of court, on the court and during our brief courtship." He held up a hand. "Don't ask."
"I should have bought stock in the company – then I could have afforded to teach," she said, her mind spinning on how and when to fish for some of those other 'courtly' stories from her boss.
"You forget to read the fine print on the benefits page of the teacher's contract," he said, "guaranteed aspirin-taking cause creator for the life of the career. Why do you think it's complementary?"
Alex shook her head. "What I wouldn't do for some relief now."
Out of pants pocket, Jack took out a small medicine bottle and set it on her desk. "You left that in the other room." He got up to leave. "If, after lunch, you're still not feeling all right, you can always take a nap on the couch."
"Thanks, again," Alex said chuckling. "You'll let me know when lunch gets here?"
He smiled back at her. "Of course. I'll even make a personal delivery just for you."
"Gee, thanks."