A/N: I'm deeply sorry for the delay. I have no real excuse, except that my mind has been elsewhere these past weeks. Well, here's the seventh chapter. There's less romance in it, it's mostly a scene I couldn't wait to write! Hope you'll like it, reviews are my drug so please don't let me go through withdrawal!
Dedicated to: k8lyn2002, nu224, Slug's bay, 24isthebest, Jessloz58 and kimberley l hughes. Thank you all so much!!
Chapter seven: Getting used to it
Jack pushed the heavy wooden door and was greeted by the expected cloud of cigarette smoke. He blinked several times, and as his eyes were adjusting to the radical change of light, he looked around the now familiar bar. It had become a relief over the years, a place for him to relax after the exhausting days his work made him go through. He would go there 2-3 times a week, enjoying the animated chatter without really participating. It was a nice reminder of what normal life is. Since Teri's death, it had also become a refuge, an anonymous comfort to his pain. The place had never changed; it still had the creaking stools, the old dart game and Andrew serving the drinks. With a life ever so unstable as his, it was quite a reassuring thing to know that this was always going to be there.
However, there was something unusual in the picture. Jack looked more attentively to the couple and, once he recognized them, found himself curiously embarrassed. He stood still in the doorway for a while, observing them as they laughed and talked. The girl caught sight of him staring and quickly whispered something in the ear of the man before making her way to the bathroom. Jack took it as his cue to approach. He walked towards the bar and signaled to Andrew to serve him the usual beer and then sat down, avoiding the amused stare of Tony.
- So, Jack, outside of the office you don't recognize us? A wave would have been enough.
- Didn't want to disturb your date…
- Look Michelle and me talking after business hours doesn't automatically mean we're on a date.
- Oh well it didn't look like a business meeting. When was the last time you laughed while discussing national security?
- All right, I'll give you that one. Maybe we are not just colleagues.
- And it's not like you two are that subtle. Pretty much everybody knows about it.
- Is that so? Well good for them!
- Hey, it's okay. All of them are glad you found someone. You haven't had it easy on that matter the last couple of years.
The conversation came to an abrupt halt at this point, the vague allusion to Nina having killed the light-hearted atmosphere. They remained like that, staring at their drink, occasionally taking a sip, for a few minutes. Each lost in their personal (and painful) memories of the woman who shattered so much in both their lives, they probably wouldn't have resumed their discussion if Michelle hadn't showed up. She came by slowly, having noticed the brooding mood of both men, and putting her hand on his arm, softly asked Tony for some change. Despite her efforts, Tony still startled at her appearance. Shrugging off the dark thoughts, he handed her mechanically some quarters. He watched her walk in direction of the jukebox, as he had suspected. A slight smile began to form on his lips when Fleetwood Mac began to play, partly covered by the mixed chatter of the place.
- She just cannot help herself. She has to hear those old 70's songs as often as she can!
Jack looked at him perplexed, then glanced at Michelle, who immediately turned her attention back to the songs listing, blushing at the fact that Jack had caught her blowing a kiss to Tony.
- How did you do it?
- What do you mean?
- I mean, you seem to be so at ease with each other. It's like you have been together for years when it's only been what, a month?
- I couldn't explain it. All I can say is we're comfortable in this. There's nothing annoying or bothering us. We just don't question it. And by the way, you seemed to be getting pretty comfortable yourself a couple of weeks ago.
Tony then had the surprising satisfaction of unsettling his friend. Jack let out a small chuckle and finished up his bottle, a good pretense for not answering that remark.
- Oh come on Jack, it's no big deal. I've seen how the two of you are around each other and there is something there. Why shouldn't you act on it?
- I thought I should but it's not that simple. You should have seen Kim's reaction when she saw Kate at the apartment last week. I'm pretty sure it's too soon, for her and for me. We saw each other a couple of times since but I don't know, it's getting complicated. It felt right but I'm having second thoughts about it.
- Do you like her?
- What? Sure.
- Does she?
- I think so, yeah.
- Then what's the problem? Jack, it's been almost two years since Teri died. I know you and Kim are still getting over it but you deserve some happiness now. It's ok to move on. Trust me, once you let it go it'll all fall into place. It's just a matter of time, all right? You will figure it out.
Seeing Michelle coming their way, Tony stood up and, after a last comprehensive smile, left Jack with his thoughts to straighten out. He joined Michelle and wrapped his arm around her waist, leading her to the door. She smiled broadly at him and waved at Jack as they passed him by on their way out. He barely returned the gesture, his mind buried deep in the issues to resolve. He ordered another beer, knowing full well that he wouldn't leave any time soon.
She was at her desk, which was barely visible under the mountains of papers and files. The computer screen was showing the main points of an upcoming meeting of the board of direction, along with several windows of recent statistics. Kate looked away from the work at hand and let out a big sigh. She sat back and ran her hand through her hair and across her sore neck. She had been working restlessly for the last three hours and the effects were now starting to appear. She rested for a minute, closing her eyes. Her mind drifted to more pleasant matters, specifically to that memorable night. The swirl of emotions ran through her body, making her pleasantly shiver. She allowed herself to dwell on the memories, deliberately ignoring those of the last week, which uneasiness was too depressing to be remembered.
The buzz of the doorbell made her reluctantly quit her daydreaming. When she arrived at the front, she peeked through the peephole and was quite surprised to see Jack. She felt her cheeks grow redder by the second, as though he could imagine what she was thinking moments ago. Mentally scolding herself for being so childish, she reached for the knob but hesitated as she grabbed it. After all, their last meeting had been at best uncomfortable. They had gone out to dinner, but he had spent most of the evening being troubled and absent-minded. It had taken Kate extraordinary amount of creativity to keep up the conversation going, having to deal with his one-word replies. She was pretty sure he didn't actually wanted to be there so she figured that was it. The fact that he was standing there obviously meant something else. After that dinner, I must not get my hopes up. Again, do I need another let-down? Well, he's here, I better just deal with it. She opened the door and welcomed him with her usual shy smile. She let him in, he quickly passed her by and headed for the living room. This doesn't look good, he seems even stranger than last time.
She caught up with him and sat next to him on the sofa. Looking intently at him, she waited for him to talk, since she had no idea what to say herself. He lifted his head up and stared back at her, an indefinable look in his eyes. The words came out, not the ones she had feared.
- I came to tell you that I'm sorry. Sorry for the way I acted this week, sorry for pushing you away. I had to clear up my thoughts but it still is no excuse. I just hope I haven't ruined everything between us. You see, I wasn't sure about it and I must say Kim's reaction didn't help. I know I seemed confident but I wasn't. I shouldn't have put it on you that way. The truth is I think I'm falling for you and… well, I guess I didn't know how to deal with it. Now I want to deal with it and more.
Kate looked at him with total disbelief and completely speechless. She had been ready for anything, the official end of their starting romance mostly, but certainly not for this kind of declaration. Suddenly she didn't feel so bad for her own feelings, knowing they were somehow reciprocated. She hoped her thoughts at the moment were sufficiently shown in her eyes that were locked with his because there was no way she could have spoken them. Apparently they were because a smile of relief appeared on his face. They both leaned into a sweet kiss, one that held many promises for the future.
A/N (again!): I think Jack is a little OCC in this one, what do you think? I seem to have some problems with sensitive Jack! Let me know your opinion!
