Without fan fare, Neal Gorton slid the folder across the table to Ben Stone.

"What is this," Prescott asked dispassionately, "an eleventh hour addition to your witness list?"

"My client as directed me to move for an adjournment. he wants to terminate the suit against you," Gorton said lightly.

Prescott moved closer to Stone, skimming the document over his shoulder.

"With leave to re file at a later date, no doubt?"

Gorton let out an amused chuckle.

"As if Judge Northridge would even consider it. No, Mrs. Prescott. I'd like to keep what little hide I have left, after yesterday's meeting in chambers, with the good judge."

Prescott looked at Stone for confirmation. He nodded looking as bewildered as Prescott felt.

"It all looks very straight forward," Stone said passing the file to Prescott. "All the money your client spent, all the time…do you mind my asking what made your client reconsider? Surely you advised him that, in a civil case it would be unlikely he'd come away without some compensation, given the jury's sympathy for a grieving father?"

Gorton sat back in his chair, more relaxed than Stone could remember seeing him since the start of the trial.

"It would not be in my clients best interests to discuss that with defense counsel, Mr. Stone. Danger of counter-suits being filed , possible sanctions from my biggest fan - Judge Northridge - for perusing what the court might see as a frivolous lawsuit. I understand you had occasion to speak with my client privately, Mrs. Prescott?"

"Yes, we shared a cab back from lunch yesterday," she said for Stone's benefit. "I'm sure your client will tell you, I was very clear about the improp-"

Gorton waved a dismissive hand.

"I wasn't implying anything improper went on. I just meant, since you spoke to Peter yourself, I'm sure you understand this was never about destroying your life - financially or otherwise," he said with a wink."By the way - touché."

"Excuse me?"

"Yesterday - the manner in which you responded to my cross - couldn't have done better myself."

Both Stone and Prescott stared at Gorton, who for the time, seemed almost human.

"My pleasure."

Gorton laughed again good naturedly.

"I'm sure it was, Mrs. Prescott, I'm sure it was."

"I'm surprised your client didn't join us for this meeting. May I ask where Mr. Weaver is?"

"Well, Mr. Stone, Peter Weaver is an odd one,"Gorton confided. "He's well aware of his daughter short comings, yet he'll fight with a vengeance to protect her good name. He did what he set out to do. He knows he's gotten as much mileage out of this lawsuit as he could. He's - to us his own words - given 'Jack McCoy as big a taste of his own medicine as the law would allow'. I image he's on his way to JFK by now."

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"McCoy!"

Jack McCoy had just removed his helmet when Peter Weaver strode up to him. Weaver gave the BMW the once over, returning his stern scowl to the jean clad district attorney.

"Mighty bold of you riding around without some sort of security. Especially given the number of enemies a bastard like you must have."

"Mr. Weaver,"McCoy said calmly glanced passed the fragile man, hoping to gain the attention of a security guard. "You shouldn't be here, for a number of reasons."

"What are you going to do McCoy - have me arrested for exercising my right to free speech? So be it. But before you do, I have something to say to you and by God, I'm going to say it."

McCoy leaned against the bike and waited for Weaver to make his next move.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

"Where's Jack?"

Connie Rubirosa was in McCoy's office when she heard the sound of Brooke Prescott's voice behind her.

"I don't know, Brooke. His assistant just stepped out. Let me check his calendar," she said coming around to the other side of the desk. "Is everything alright? You sound -"

"I'm sure there's nothing to worry about," Prescott said as she made an effort to catch her breath. "I just came from the courthouse. The lawsuit's been dropped."

"Well, that's great news. You must be so relieved."

Prescott nodded wanting to believe Neal Gorton was right: That Peter Weaver was out of New York and nowhere near Jack McCoy.

"I'll be more relived when I see Jack. Anything on his calendar for this morning?"

"He should be here," Rubirosa replied, a puzzled expression on her face. "He has an interview scheduled for the senior EADA slot in a half an hour. Jack wanted to review the appilcant's file before the interview-"

"Aren't you supposed to be in court," McCoy asked as he entered the room.

"Trials over. Peter Weaver terminated the suit."

McCoy raised his eyebrows as he nodded.

"I don't know why I'm surprised - it makes sense - given his objectives. Connie, did you need me?"

"I just came in to give you the file on Geleto. You said you wanted to personally handle the closing."

McCoy picked the file up off of the deskas he laid his satchel down.

"Gorton's firm is representing the defendant in that one, right?"

"Right."

McCoy sighed as he handed the file to Rubirosa.

"No reason to give Neal Gorton an excuse to scream conflict of interest - give it to Carver. Tell him I'll be down this afternoon to review it with him."

As Rubirosa closed the door, McCoy went to the clothing rack. Out of habit, he opened the bathroom door to provide a screen as he exchanged his street clothes for the dark grey suit on the rack.

"I'll bet you pulled that changing routine on your ADA's for years," Prescott said with amusement as she sat on the edge of his desk. "Any of them ever call you on it?"

McCoy grinned sheepishly as he grabbed a tie.

"Just the one I married. You looked upset when I came in - was something else on your mind besides the lawsuit?"

"Well, now I feel stupid," she admitted as her cheeks flushed with embarrassment. "When Mr. Weaver didn't accompany Neal Gorton to the meeting, I thought he might be here."

McCoy closed the door,coming back to his desk, as he knotted his tie.

"Don't feel stupid. He met me in the parking garage - don't ask me how he got in there. He felt the need to tell me what he thought of a man my age seducing his daughter, especially after sending her to prison."

"Seducing her," Prescott said with amazement. "Did you set the man straight?"

McCoy shook his head as he sat back in his chair.

"Didn't see what purpose it would serve. The man has a point."

"Which is," Prescott asked startled by his remark.

"I have no business at my age sleeping with beautiful younger women," he said quietly as he reached for her hand. "Much less falling in love with one."

"Listen, Jack. About last night," she began awkwardly. "We were both very emotional. Don't think that I would hold you to anything that was said in the heat of the moment."

"I don't say things I don't mean," he said slyly smiling as he held her gaze a moment before changing the subject. "The man just lost his only child. Peter Weaver knows what his daughter was - rubbing his nose in it isn't going chance anything."

"True," she responded as she walked to the window."Is that all he said?"

"Apparently when my term ends, I can count on Weaver using the money he inherited from his daughter to support my opponent," McCoy said with a smirk. "As if there's a chance in hell I'll be running."

"Hey, you don't know how you'll feel by then. Don't narrow your options yet."

"Right now, I'm not the one with a choice to make - options to weigh. Today's Thursday," he said gently as he walked over to her and took her in his arms. "Any idea what you're going to tell Renard?"

Prescott waited to respond. She was still processing McCoy 's words. I don't say things I don't mean.

"So," she said looking into his eyes. "What exactly are my options?"

"Just like a prosecutor - answering a question with a question," he joked. "Seriously, I don't want you to feel you have to give up something you want to make me happy."

"So, you'd be happy if I turned the assignment down?"

McCoy hesitated. He didn't want to make the decision for her, but he also didn't want to make the mistake he'd made in other relationships. He didn't want to inadvertently push her away by appearing indifferent.

"The more time I spend with you, the happier I am. But that doesn't mean you should base your decision on that."

"It is hard enough making a relationship work these days - especially when the people involved live in different cities. Being in different states? It would stack the deck even more against us."

McCoy nodded.

"I'm not saying you're wrong. I certainly would like to discuss it with you more tonight, when I'm not pressed for time. In the meantime, maybe you should take a look at this," he said as he returned to the desk. "Keep in mind whether you are in New York or Florida, we wouldn't be seeing each other during the week, anyway. At least not often."

McCoy opened his satchel, retrieving a folder and handing it to Prescott.

"These are flight schedules from JFK to Miami. When did you …?"

"I pulled those off the internet last night after you went to sleep. You're not the only prosecutor that prepares a variety of options" he said pleased with himself. "I believe the tasks force starts meeting September the 3rd? I took the liberty of reserving a seat on the 6:00 p.m. flight out of JFK for September 7th."