The Promise of Love

Part 02 – Date

Elizabeth Scott. The name rolled of Alan tongue wonderfully. The hug that she gave him after her divorce was finalized was only rivaled by the agreement to the date he asked her on, what seemed like seconds after that again.

It wasn't that Alan was nervous. He was jittering (even though that basically was the same thing). He was excited. He was terrified. She could be the one and he knew that. It wasn't a time for him to lie to himself, or even to Denny, and from some of the nightly conversations that he had with Elizabeth, it wasn't a time even hide too much from her.

"On my first date with Shirley, we didn't even sleep together," Denny told him as Alan paced slightly in his office.

"Second date?" Alan guessed, not stopping his pacing.

"Fourth," with Denny's declaration, Alan turned on his foot, looking as surprised it seemed Denny expected him to be. "For the year or so we were together, I didn't even sleep with anyone else," he added again, his eyes going misty as they always seemed to when talking about Shirley.

"Fourth date?" Alan paused, "I'm impressed… you never said why it didn't work with Shirley."

"No, I didn't," Denny's words were strong and seemingly final, so Alan continued his pacing, "What was the first date with your wife like?"

"Easy," Alan admitted, "she was a lot like me, slept together barely a few hours into meeting…the first date didn't really feel…"

"Like this?" Denny provided, nodding in his understanding. He was a man that fell in love hard and fast. He had loved every one of his wives but Shirley was the only woman that he had been with that even as he changed his ways, he didn't really feel as though he was changing at all. It was adapting, sometimes he tells himself that if she had bene a bit older, if she was less like Denny himself, maybe then he would still be with her now. It was that type of optimism that some like Alan admired, but more often than not Denny resented.

Alan looked at his watch, and the clock on his computer and then back at his watch. The blood was rushing around in his head that he missed the rest of whatever Denny was saying. He was more nervous now than he had been, thinking about what the night could bring or even what the night could ruin forever. Not that he wanted to be dramatic, but really, Lizzie wasn't like other people. Not to say she wasn't 'like other girls', no, but other women had never had this hold over him.

"Alan," Denny's stern voice penetrated his muddled brain and his head shot up, "it's time to leave." With those words Alan froze momentarily, blinking rapidly at his friend but making no attempt to actually leave, "or you'll be late." His friend added his eyes wild.

"Yes, of course," he shifted to the door opening it and walking out, returning moments lately, fumbling for his coat on the rack.

"You can do this, Alan, for all of us, go get your Shirley," Denny added with what he hoped was a promising smile, but knew that his best friends' nerves had transferred over to himself. After a few crazy nods Alan left again, speeding moments later past his own office window, before turning around and going the other way.

"… and I feel like I've been talking all night."

"That's because you mostly have, don't get me wrong…that voice," Liz let out a appreciative moan, "I think that's where you win your cases, it has nothing to do with what you say at all…" Alan allowed himself a smile, more often than not people would comment on his speaking abilities but never his voice.

"Is it presumptuous to say that tonight has gone well?" it was the shy tone of his voice that caused Liz to bring her hand across the table, clasping Alan's and smiling kindly.

"God, no," she paused, "we've been here, talking, for nearing four hours, Alan, the stories you've told me about Denny," Liz shook her head with a laugh, "I'll never be able to look at him again." Alan laughed at that, shifting in his seat.

"I guess we should leave," his words seemed filled with hope and for the first time in he couldn't remember how long, he was hoping for the night to continue beyond the realm of the bedroom, he wanted to talk to her. He wanted more of her stories; he wanted to know more about her partner in D.C, her new partner in Boston. He wanted to know everything, and she had a look in her eye that told Alan she was more than willing to give it.

Alan enjoyed the clasp of a hand in his. He loved the way fingers threaded through his own, and the feel of a palm pressed to his. He hadn't, though, in so long spent much time walking the streets of Boston at night, like a teenager, holding hands with anyone. He debated asking her to his hotel, but he was aware of how that would sound and considering how careful he was trying to be he didn't really want to run the risk of losing it all due to an accidental proposal. No matter how moral his intentions.

"You look beautiful tonight," his comment may have seemed out of nowhere to Liz as she grinned, almost shyly up at him, but it was all he could think about since the moment they stepped out into the cold, since the moment they sat at their table, since the moment he met her at her hotel, since the moment he told her the first time.

"So do you," she tried, a light blush staining her cheeks, "I mean, handsome, or beautiful, both…" she dropped her head down and he stopped walking, noticing the quietness of the street they were on, so close to her hotel, to the end of the night. Bringing a hand under her chin, he lifted it, her eyes fluttering to meet his. He let go of her chin, brushing a finger across her pink cheeks, and nose.

"I want to see you in chilly climates, the way your face reacts to the cold is endearing… I bet you had to bat the Nebraska farm boys away during winter," his voice left no room for denial, even if it wasn't true, and his eyes flicked down to her lips, lingering there before moving up again.

"It's not over yet, but I don't think it's presumptuous of any of us to say that this date has gone really, really well," Lizzie breathed a little harder as Alan's finger traced her lips, "as in 'second date' well."

"Third and fourth date are looking promising," he told her before cupping her cheek, making his intentions clear, "May I?"

"Oh, yeah, definit-" his lips met hers before she could finish her response and it took only a few moments before she responded, opening her lips to capture his bottom lip between hers. There were a few seconds of alternating before tongues added to the mix and what started off as an innocent first kiss quickly moved beyond passionate as they moved against each other. His hands moved to her waist as hers moved to thread through his hair and it was the little moan Liz made that caused Alan to take a step back, aware of his surroundings.

"Okay, wow, okay," she moved her hands down his arms to cover his hands that still rested loosely on her waist.

"Yes," his voice was barely above a husky whisper, his teeth brushing over his bottom lip. He linked one hand with her again and they both made their way to her hotel.

The next day saw shared calls and messages between Liz and Alan; plans for the next date and after lunch gained Alan a radio silent Elizabeth. For the first time since meeting her, Alan became acutely aware of just how dangerous her job could actually be. She could be busy, but she could, also, be facing some sexual psychopath with a thing for blue eyed brunettes. She could be in danger.

He found himself in need of reassurance from someone, he needed someone to tap him on the head and say that he was overreacting. He needed Denny to distract him with talks of the date – but that wasn't possible, due to Denny hitching second chair on Shirley's murder trial.

"Alan, you look lost," the familiar voice of Denise cut through his coffee pouring in the break room, he placed the pot down and his cup up, his wide eyes trained on her, "your date went well."

"How wou-" he cut himself off, a reminder that Denise was Elizabeth's friend first and foremost, of course Liz would have spoken to her, although this was the first time since their situation started that Denise had actually come onto him about it, "better than I…it was… good." Although he finished lamely, he noticed what seemed like a happily surprised expression on her face.

"You know, the moment she came to my office after she first met you, I told her not to bother," Denise paused, picking up her own cup and pouring some coffee into it, "Liz is a relationship type of woman, Alan, she can't just sleep around and feel nothing, and you're just…the opposite."

"Mm," was the only response he offered. He was afraid almost of what else she said to say, and how his words could confirm what Denise believed in him if he decided to be cocky about anything.

"She didn't believe me, or at least, that you were as bad as I said, but then, I've seen you Alan… did you even know that Marlene has transferred?" The obvious surprise on his face confirmed her suspicious, he hadn't, he hadn't even noticed when Melissa had transferred to work with Jeffrey Coho. He would be the last to admit that his usual women senses haven't been…tingling like they used to. Not since Elizabeth.

"Where is this going, Denise, I am such a busy man?" he stepped into her personal space, "whilst your company is enjoyable it is not the company I would prefer to keep." Her eyes automatically drifted to his lips, which were smirking slightly, before stepping back and rolling her eyes.

"I've never seen you like that, Alan, I've never seen you… even that little act there, getting close to me, you almost relaxed with relief when I stepped away," she let out her own smile, "just don't use her, okay? Don't use her because you think she's going to fix you or something. Not after Tom." Alan had to stop himself from coming out with a bored response, he had to resist telling her to mind her own business.

"I wouldn't…" just as he spoke the words, his phone vibrated in his pocket, his reaction instant and his conversation with Denise forgotten, even as she remained in the room.

Lizzie
Had no signal all day. Did you miss me?

Alan
What do you take me for? That I can't handle a few hours without contact from you.

Alan
Because you would be right. I did miss you.

There was a chuckle that distracted Alan from his phone, and Alan met Denise's knowing grin before she shook her head and moved to exit.

"Alan Shore in love, I never thought I'd see the day," she exited in the room, leaving him to his thoughts, patiently waiting for a reply.

"…and you didn't sleep with her?"

"No, Denny, for the last time," Alan chuckled and shook his head, "that kiss though."

"Which one? The one in the street or the one against her hotel room door, you can tell me that one again," Denny paused letting out his own moan of appreciation.

"Both," Alan, bit the inside of his bottom lip, the memory of the kisses fresh in his mind, "kisses are promises, a promise of what's to come, a promise of what will always come… and that promise she gave me last night, Denny? That was everything." His eyes were set out to the nights sky, but his mind was barely paying attention.

"There's something else," Denny pointed at him with his cigar, "something you're not saying." Alan turned his head slowly, his eyes drooping slightly, "I-I know you, Alan, you can't keep anything from me. Flamingos."

"Flamingos," Alan repeated in agreement, taking a quick drag from his cigar, letting out the smoke easily, "her job."

"Mm, guns, blood, interrogation, those pants suits," Denny shut his eyes with a shiver, "I can't see a problem with that."

"She could die," Alan's words stopped any jovial or sarcastic response that were on Denny's tongue, "I feel the urge to run, before it gets too much, before I fall in love and then…"

"You realise it's too late?" Denny supplied, and Alan let out a self-deprecating chuckle.

"It's a cowards move, knowing that with time I will be able to move on and pretend that her possibly dying won't mean anything to me…" he looked down, taking another drag of his cigar, "but I find that whilst I know this, there's nothing about not seeing her again, not even ignorance about her wellbeing, that is appealing to me."

"Love is a losing game, my friend; played by fools," Denny remained quiet for a moment, "sleep over tonight?" Alan chuckled happier this time.

"Yes."