Jack slowly entered his condo, hands in his pockets and head down. He walked into his bedroom and watched the beautiful woman he'd just spent the afternoon in bed with sitting on the bed in her bra and panties pulling her stockings on. She looked up at him and began pulling the stockings off.

"What are you doing?" He asked.

"Whoever she was, you need to go after her Jack." Carly said.

"No, it's okay, I'll talk to her tomorrow." Jack said.

"It's not okay Jack. She's obviously embarrassed and probably a little hurt and if you care about her at all you'll go after her." Carly insisted.

"I can't. We've got to get to this dinner. I'll deal with it tomorrow." Jack refused.

"I'm not going to the dinner with you." She said.

"What?" He asked in an aggravated tone.

"I changed my mind." She shrugged.

"Why?" He asked.

"Jack, I'm leaving in the morning and who knows if or when you'll ever see me again, but that woman is going to be here. I have no idea what she means to you, but if it's anything worth salvaging you need to go after her." Carly told him and walked toward him.

"I'm just supposed to forget we had plans and chase down a friend, and yes Carly that's all we are." Jack said and wrapped his arms around her waist.

"Judging by the look on your face she is a very dear friend. Now go. I'll let myself out." She told him and kissed him quickly on the mouth.

Jack wouldn't admit it to her, but he was relieved that she was sending him after Kate. He grabbed his wallet and his keys and left the condo, tie still untied and hanging loosely around his neck. He stood in the hallway and wondered where he would even start looking, and when he rounded the corner and he saw her sitting in the lobby he breathed a sigh of relief. He walked toward her and sat down beside her.

"I'm not sitting here feeling sorry myself. I called a cab and I'm waiting for it. What are you doing? Where is your date?" She asked.

"I'm sitting next to her." Jack answered.

"No Jack, no way. Look, this is embarrassing enough without you doing this." Kate said.

"Kate, please. I want you to come to the dinner with me." Jack pleaded with her.

"Jack stop it! You've got a woman in your condo that you apparently just slept with and you want to just blow her off and come down here, hold my hand and take care of poor, pathetic Kate. Well forget it! I don't need your goddamn charity!" Kate yelled at him and stood.

"Why are you yelling at me?" Jack asked calmly.

"I'm sorry, I'm just….I don't know what I am. Jack please just leave me alone." Kate said softly and began walking toward the exit.

Jack watched her disappear through the doors, sat a few minutes until he saw the cab pull up and then slowly made his way back to his condo. Carly saw him enter the room and put her hands on her hips ready to lecture him.

"Don't. I tried. She doesn't want anything to do with me." Jack said in a frustrated tone and dropped himself heavily onto the couch.

"Jack, you're a doll, but you really have a lot to learn about women." Carly said and laughed lightly.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Jack asked not nearly as amused as she was.

"I saw that woman for less than five minutes and I could tell that she definitely wants something to do with you." Carly said.

"You're wrong Carly. I've seen the type of men Kate is attracted to and trust me, I'm not her type." Jack argued.

"But she's your type?" Carly asked.

"I don't know, maybe. I don't really allow myself to think about it much, because I know that it would never happen. Kate and I don't have that kind of relationship. She's just this really great friend, someone I enjoy hanging out with and talking to. She does a good job of keeping me honest, keeping me from getting too high during the good times or too low during the bad times. She makes me laugh. I care a lot about her and hate watching her struggle and being too stubborn to ever ask for help. She must've spent a lot of money on that dress she had on Carly and I know she didn't have it to spare. I feel really bad about this." Jack explained.

"Then go get her Jack and make her go to this dinner with you. Be firm and don't take no for an answer and I bet once she finally gives in, she won't regret it and this awkward thing that has suddenly placed itself in the middle of your friendship will be forgotten." Carly insisted.

"Why are you being so nice and why are you pushing this? We just spent the last couple of days and nights together. Shouldn't you be feeling at least a little bit jealous or something? I'm feeling a little inadequate here Carly." Jack said and chuckled lightly.

"Did I make it seem like you were the least bit inadequate Jack?" Carly asked in a sexy tone.

"Then why don't you want to spend your last night with me?" Jack asked.

"I do Jack." Carly insisted.

"Then why are you pushing me toward another woman?" Jack asked.

"I've known you a long time Jack and I adore you, but let's be honest here, we're friends with benefits and that's the best either one of us has to offer. I saw her Jack, saw her face and your face and I'm standing here looking into those tormented eyes of yours. I don't want to spend an evening looking at those tormented eyes. So go and fix this. I think that woman wants to be much more than just your friend, you just need to open your mind and your eyes and see that because I think you want more too whether you're willing to admit it or not." Carly said.

He knocked softly on the apartment door, waited the appropriate amount of time and knocked again.

"Come on Kate, I know you're in there, I saw the lights from the street." Jack persisted.

He could hear the sound of the chain being removed and the deadbolt being unlatched and finally the doorknob turned and there she stood, still wearing the dress, her eyes a little red and puffy. He'd actually made her cry. He'd never done that before and he wished he didn't suddenly know how bad it felt to have to see her the way she was at the moment and realize he'd caused it.

"You know I'm really touched that you went to all this trouble just for me." He said.

"Jack, you don't have to do this. I'm fine." Kate sighed and walked away leaving the door open for him to follow if he wanted to.

"I know that Kate, you're always fine, even when you're not. Look, you're important to me Kate. I've never had a friend I feel this comfortable with and I care a lot about you and your feelings. I hate that this happened. Please let me make this right." He said.

"It's not your fault Jack. I should've told you I would go with you. I just wanted to surprise you. Guess I was the one that got surprised huh?" She huffed with a slight laugh.

"The word awkward was definitely invented for moments like tonight." He agreed, his head slightly hung and glancing up at her with a hopeful, apologetic look.

"Really Jack I'm fine and we're fine. Go back to your date and enjoy your evening." Kate said, hugging him and kissing him on the cheek, pulling back before he had a chance to return the affection.

"I can't. She left." Jack told her.

"Great, I not only humiliated myself, I ruined your evening." Kate said.

"No, she wasn't mad or anything. I don't think she really wanted to go and was relieved that I had another option." He lied

"Bullshit." Kate replied.

"Okay fine, she insisted I find you and make this okay, but she wasn't mad Kate. You know if you don't come with me I'm going to end up becoming the property of some rich, old lady for a day and night. Do you really want that on your conscience?" Jack asked and offered his most irresistible look.

"Did you spend hours in front of the mirror perfecting that irresistible face, complete with those puppy dog eyes?" Kate teased.

"Did it work?" He asked.

"Yes, it worked. Let me get my purse." She said, unable to hide the smile that was creeping onto her face.