Dallas, Texas

"Thank you Mr Ewing."

"Honey, you can call me JR."

Eyeing the waitress as JR played his usual game, Bobby glanced across the crowded bar at the table where Jenna and Sue Ellen sat, their heads close as they talked, likely about him.

Dinner had been difficult to get through, not because he didn't like Jenna, but because he did. He knew it, Jenna knew it, and JR wouldn't stop making comments to indicate how supportive he was of their potential. It was a lot to take in and he hadn't had a minute to himself or alone with Jenna to process it all.

"JR", grinning, the waitress took the tip JR offered her and motioned for them to return to their table.

Attempting to moving away from the bar, through the masses of people, he stopped as someone called out their name, in a less than friendly tone.

"Ewing?"

"Yeah."

Both answering, he and JR got a look at who was questioning them, and he knew that if things were to escalate, he'd be the one to end it. JR could be vicious with his words but he was no physical match for the man antagonising them.

"Ewing Oil?"

"What's it to you?"

Using a tone that indicated he wasn't in the mood to talk, JR didn't particularly help the situation.

"You're what's wrong with the world nowadays."

Not entirely sure what the man was talking about himself, JR seemed to have a better idea of what he meant, shaking his head and answering, "that's a heavy accusation to make."

"I don't think so."

"No?"

Challenging him, JR appeared to be looking for a fight, which he certainly wasn't.

"No. It might not matter to you that the consumer price of gas is rising and so are restrictions, but I'd say for everyone here tonight it's a big concern."

Revealing the reason behind his hostility, the man raised his voice, trying his best to get more people involved.

There were issues as far as the oil crisis went and he appreciated that it could feel personal, because he wasn't unaffected, no one was. That said, he didn't think now was the time or place to have a discussion about it, nor was JR the one to take anger out on.

"Hey now, that's not fair, companies aren't immune from feeling the impact of the current climate either."

Fighting his own fight, JR had answers prepared, although he didn't get the feeling words were what the man was looking for.

"Oh, I feel so bad for you."

Looking between the two men, his brother and a stranger, he could see exactly what was about to happen, and sure enough, within a few seconds he was lunging between what had descended into a physical altercation rather than a war of words.

"That's enough!"

Pulling JR back, he wasn't quick enough to escape the familiar dizzy feeling of a strike to his own head, a throbbing jaw and unpleasant metallic taste in his mouth.

"JR!"

Hearing Sue Ellen first, he spotted her a moment later, appearing at her husband's side.

Pushing through the crowd, Jenna made her presence known, holding a tissue to his face and grasping his arm possessively, breaking any physical barrier they'd been respecting earlier.

"I'd thank your women, they saved you."

Leering at both Jenna and Sue Ellen, the man addressed him, indicating he would have had more for him had the ladies not arrived, but now that they had he wasn't going to continue.

Ignoring the comment, having had no intention to fight when he'd arrived, ladies present or not, he instead focused on what Jenna had to say.

"Why don't we take this somewhere else?"

Thinking for a second that she was inviting him back to her home, he acknowledged the disappointment he felt when he realised what she really meant as they returned to their table.

He couldn't pinpoint exactly when he'd made his decision, just that following his return from Houston he'd made one, and she was making it difficult not to act on that decision now.

"Does it hurt?"

Ice pack in one hand, her other on his chest a few minutes later, things didn't feel so bad anymore, especially not as she was as close to sitting in his lap as she could be without actually doing it. He could feel the pain, but his mind was elsewhere.

"It's not pleasant, but I'll be fine."

Watching them from across the table, JR chuckled, stirring the pot as he'd been doing all night when he suggested to Jenna, "maybe you should kiss it better."

Shaking his head lightly, amused at just how much JR seemed to like Jenna, he had no complaints when she followed his advice, placing light kisses from his forehead to his cheek and then to his lips.

Gentle with him, careful not to put any pressure on his bruised face or cut lip, she managed to make him feel wonderful even with the softest of touches.

"Better?"

Whispering in his ear, the feel of her warm breath on his neck and the scent of her perfume rendered him speechless for a moment.

"Mhm."

Remaining close, she continued to whisper so only he could hear her.

"Good. I don't think you have a concussion, but I'd be happy to stay with you tonight to make sure."

Flirting with him, she had no way to know that what she'd said had just taken him out of the moment, but it had.

"We'll see."

His heart beating fast, he didn't want to upset her, so he left it open-ended, but he knew what his answer would be at the end of the night.

He'd met Pam when he'd quite literally bumped into her, concussing himself, and despite knowing she was gone, and knowing where he wanted to go next himself, reminders of her continued to hit him hard, sometimes out of nowhere.

He wanted Jenna, and he'd have her, but not tonight.

To be continued…