It was hard to ignore the argument. Even the well-insulated walls of the law offices did little to keep harsh words at bay.

Since Andy and Whitney were relegated to the law library, which bordered Shirley's office, they essentially had a front-row seat to the bitter end of Shirley and Carl's relationship.

Whitney ate it up, but privacy was one of Andy's most cherished luxuries. She respected others in the same way. So, she feigned disinterest in the heated words going on behind closed doors as she worked.

And made a mental note to stay out of their paths for the rest of the day. Shit always rolls down hill and all that.

By the next day, it was all over the office about the split up. Denny was in seventh heaven plotting a way to win Shirley back, so he was out of Andy's hair. Several different stories were circulating, and Whitney made sure everyone knew what was heard behind the thin walls.

It was none of Andy's business. She disregarded the gossip and even felt a little saddened by it. They seemed so happy, then one disagreement cannonballs into another, then 'wham!' It's back to cold bed and leftovers. But, no one likes a goody-two-shoes, so she kept those comments to herself.

She had a lot of practice keeping her thoughts to herself.

On Friday, after a rather difficult week, a drink was in order. And, she couldn't wait to get to her small stash across town in her equally-small apartment. The bar across the road from work was just the ticket.

As far as bars go, this one was rather swanky. Dark mahogany interior, soft lighting and a clientele that wouldn't be caught dead in the holes-in-the-wall on the other side of town completed the look.

Andy didn't care as long as they sold liquor.

She managed to find a place at the bar and order her drink, fending off an offer to pay for her Tom Collins as politely as possible before retreating to a quiet table near the back to nurse her headache and her thoughts.

Except for there were no empty tables, in the back or elsewhere. And, as soon as she vacated her seat at the bar, it, too, was filled.

Instead of standing there with a drink in her hand in the middle of the bar, she realized she'd have to share a table with someone. And did not relish the thought of mundane conversation with a stranger.

With thoughts of gulping the drink and heading for the door, she spotted a familiar head of white hair in one of the tables near the back.

Funny, her first instinct was to join him.

However, since Carl was alone and obviously wanted to remain that way, she changed her mind.

But, she still didn't have anywhere to sit.

Dammit!

It was rare that Carl went out for a drink by himself. It was depressing to drink alone.

However, through his own choice, alone was what he found himself.

And, he needed a drink.

Being alone wasn't so bad. He could do what he wanted, when he wanted and how he wanted, where as with Shirley, it was mostly what she wanted.

He sipped his drink.

His little pep talk didn't work.

Upon arriving, he found that alone was not what he wanted to be.

But, it took too much damn effort to strike up a conversation with the hundreds of patrons in this bar.

So, when he saw Denny's secretary standing in the middle of the room obviously searching for a place to sit, he knew he'd found his answer.

Andy's gaze settled back on Carl.

And, he'd spotted her.

Instead of looking annoyed, he actually looked rather relieved, motioning towards the empty chair across from him.

Hell, stranger things have happened.

As Andy maneuvered through the crowd, which had thickened considerably since she's arrived, she hoped she wasn't intruding. After all, he'd had a rough week, too.

As usual, it was the first thing that tumbled out of her mouth.

"Are you sure I'm not interrupting?" she blurted out, sweating drink in hand.

An amused smile played at the corners of his mouth. "How could I not enjoy the company of the one person who has shown the least amount of interest in my personal affairs?"

"Why contribute to the rumor mill? And spread rumors against my boss? Two of them, actually. That could never turn out well." She sat as she spoke, setting her glass on a waiting coaster.

"I have a feeling you don't go around advertising much about you or others." Carl settled back in his chair, taking a sip of his drink.

Andy noticed although his tie was loosened and his jacket tossed aside, he still looked the part of the high-dollar attorney. "It doesn't win me many friends, but it doesn't earn me many enemies, either. A nice trade-off, if you ask me."

They sat in comfortable silence as Carl studied his new companion. Something he found himself doing lately rather he realized it or not. She was a woman who had worked in a man's world for so long, and she still managed to keep her femininity about her. Her hair was long, but cut stylishly, and her clothes were quite fashionable.

Thanks to Shirley, he recognized designer brands when he saw them. That woman had expensive tastes.

Andy's jewelry was simple. Small diamonds usually graced her ears, and she wore no rings or bracelets. Occasionally, he saw a small cross necklace dangling from her graceful neck, but not tonight.

Her make-up was slight, just enough to accentuate her flattering features – high cheekbones and large, expressive blue eyes.

Eyes a man could get lost in if he let himself.

Clearing his throat at that uncomfortable thought – must be the booze – he broke the silence first. "You know, you were all concerned about interrupting me, but I never asked you if you were interested in me butting into your quiet evening alone." He took a sip of his drink. "Meeting anyone?"

Andy shrugged. "Had a rough week. Just wanted to unwind a bit."

"Denny?" Carl raised an eyebrow, the surge of annoyance at the very thought of Denny Crane familiar to him.

"Actually, he's been rather . . . preoccupied as of lately."

"That's never good."

She spoke carefully, wondering why she was even saying anything. "Honestly, it concerns Shirley. He's trying to win her back."

Just the mere mention of her name made his dark mood deepen. He took a large swallow of his drink to deaden the feeling as Andy watched. "I don't know if Denny would appreciate his assistant tattling on him."

Andy's eyes narrowed slightly at his harsh comment, but her voice was still light. "He has made it no secret as to what he is trying to do. You've just been holed up in your office all week not paying anyone a bit of attention, or you would know, too."

He couldn't argue with her there. Staying in his office kept him from having to face the questioning glances and hidden whispers. As well as hide him from Shirley. The woman could always see right through him. Plus, he was the one who ended it with her, so shouldn't he be the happy one?

Andy cleared her throat, bringing him back to the conversation at hand.

She could see the emotions running across his face – annoyance, shame, even doubt.

Doubtful was one word she would never use to describe Carl Sack.

So, she changed the subject. Back on comfortable ground. "Actually, my mother had surgery today. I've been on pins and needles waiting to hear about it."

He seemed relieved for the change in topics. "I'm sorry to hear that. Was it something serious?"

Andy was surprised he actually sounded concerned. Absently, she traced the edges of her almost-empty glass with her fingertip. "Breast cancer. They were doing a double mastectomy. But, as usual, she came through with flying colors."

"You get it honest, no doubt."

Andy heard the amusement in his tone and raised her eyes to meet his. "It's the genes. You can't come from a long line of hardscrabble fisherman and not have a little chutzpah."

They shared a smile before Andy continued.

"My sisters-in-law are all there to dote all over Mom, but somehow, I feel I should be there, too." She motioned towards her drink. "Hence, the drink and the self-proclaimed pity party I was all ready to jump headlong into."

"When was the last time you went home?"

"Christmas. I always try to make it twice a year, but I think this year's summer visit is out."

"Time off can be arranged you know."

"Don't you dare pity me, Carl Sack! I haven't been here long enough to earn enough time to make the trip, and that's how it is."

A little taken aback by her outburst, he replied, "I didn't mean it as such."

She sighed, blowing a strand of hair out of her face. "Sorry. Sorry. Just touchy lately. I thought once the trial was over, I'd get back into the normal swing of things. But, apparently not."

"You're out of your element. Working as Denny's assistant is not as mentally stimulating as working for the PD, I'm sure."

Andy had to agree with him there. But, then again, she rather liked Denny. "It's not so bad. Like I told you earlier, you just have to let him know who's the boss up front."

"Hadn't worked for me," Carl grumbled.

"You're a threat to his domain. Two alpha males and all that. Well, I guess three if you count Alan."

"You make it sound so . . . crass."

Andy laughed aloud. "As much as you like to think you're better, Crane, Poole and Schmidt is no different from any precinct police station anywhere in the country! Pedigrees and college doctorates does not change a thing! I'm just here to sit back and watch it all unfold."

"Spoken like a woman who's accustomed to the men in her life."

"True."

"So, did your family know? About the lawsuit?"

Anna made a face and drained her drink, motioning for Carl not to reorder when she saw him preparing to flag a waitress. "I didn't see any need to worry them."

"They have to know you're no longer with the Boston PD."

"Weellll . . . they know." She was reluctant to share, and he didn't push. But, she continued anyway. "They do know what happened and why I was fired, but I did not mention the civil suit."

"We could have gotten you your job back, you know."

"I don't doubt it. But, I didn't want it. It's awkward enough being a woman in their world, but one that is hired back against their will would make it downright hostile."

He leaned back in his chair. "It sounds like we haven't entered the 21st century after all."

Andy shrugged. "It is what it is. You don't go into a world that's predominately male and expect easy acceptance. I just did my job and did it well and went home at the end of the day."

Carl sipped his almost-empty drink thoughtfully. "Shirley likes that about you. Quiet confidence."

"I'm not as gung-ho as Shirley. Trust me."

"She admires honesty and integrity, and you have that. In spades."

Once again, they were talking candidly about their lives to each other. And, once again, she chose to push him as hard as he were pushing her.

"You miss her."

"Who?"

"You know who I'm talking about."

For just a moment, his smooth exterior faded away, and he looked older than Andy ever saw him look.

But, only for a moment. It vanished, his composure firmly in place. "It's hard not to. I left Boston for her. We've lived together for almost a year."

"When I heard you fighting, I had to admit, it saddened me."

Carl gave her a hard stare. "Heard us fighting?"

Andy returned his glare. "Whitney and I were in the law library. The walls aren't that thick."

He looked away. "Not my finest hour."

"You don't think you can work it out?"

"What's there to work out? Sure, we enjoy the same things and each other's company . . . but that's where it ends. I'm not . . . ready to give up on . . . on passion."

"Shirley seems anything but dispassionate."

He gave her a dirty look. "You know what I mean."

"Yeah. Unfortunately, I do." She'd been with several men since Chris died. Some of them were even serious suitors. But, she's grown accustomed to her solitary lifestyle. Marriage just didn't fit the bill. At least not with any of them.

Although, sometimes, loneliness and the 'what coulda beens' threatened on those long, cold nights.

"You're too young to lack passion." Carl's deep voice brought her back to the conversation at hand. He was clearly amused.

She flipped her hair over her shoulder. "Age has nothing to do with it. You just said so yourself."

"True."

"So many men feel threatened by me. I carry – carried – a badge and a gun and fought bad guys. That's supposed to be a man's job. And, the men who did like it only liked it for the novelty of it. So," she shrugged, "here I am. . ."

"Sitting in a bar having a drink with a man old enough to be your grandfather."

"You sell yourself short, Carl. I wouldn't be here if I didn't want to be."

His smile was genuine. "I never doubted it one bit."

What started as one drink moved to dinner at a nearby Thai restaurant Andy had wanted to try. She managed to coax war stories out of him from his years as an attorney in New York, and she regaled him with tales from her sea-faring family. They laughed like old friends who were comfortable in each other's company.

The early summer evening had a hint of the heat yet to come as they returned to the parking garage and their respective cars.

"What do you miss most about Alaska?" Carl asked, hands in his coat pockets as they walked side-by-side. The breeze held a hint of gardenia, and he realized it was her perfume.

She didn't even have to think about it. "The ocean."

"You have that here," he teased.

Even in the dim lights from the streetlamps, he could see the exasperated look she gave him. "It's different. Back home, it's cold, callous, yet beautiful, all at the same time." Her voice took on a dreamy quality. "There's nothing like being out in a storm, the waves rolling, wondering if you'd survive the next minute, let alone the night. Except for maybe the mornings when you walk out on deck and the water is so still, you can see for miles and miles. It makes you feel so insignificant, but important that you were able to be there at that moment in time to witness such a gorgeous site."

"Sounds amazing."

"It is."

Andy was surprised to realize they were standing next to her Volkswagon. This night had flown by, and surprisingly, she was a little reluctant for it to end.

But, didn't see any way to prolong it, either.

She turned to face him. "You know, I had a much more enjoyable time with you than I would have at home feeling sorry for myself."

"Glad I'm here for your amusement."

She smiled. "Goodnight, Carl. See you Monday. And thanks for dinner."

"Anytime."

He watched her climb inside her car and with one final wave, disappear down the street.

Not only did she have a more enjoyable time this evening than she thought she would, but he did, as well. With someone almost half his age.

He couldn't help but be attracted to her. She was a beautiful, poised woman who laughed at his jokes and seemed to see eye-to-eye with him more than anyone else lately.

But, what surprised him – aside from the physical attraction – was the emotional pull he felt towards her. It was something he hadn't felt in a long time.

Shirley would find this amusing.

Shaking his head at his own foolishness, he walked to his own gleaming Mercedes and drove home.

Alone.