Chapter 34 – I'm On Fire

"What is it this time?" Jim asked as he stood in front of Johanna's desk. Her arms were crossed on the desk and her head was resting upon them. She flicked a glossy red nail upwards, indicating the floor above.

"The hall of bigwigs," he stated. "That'll do it every time. What happened?"

Johanna raised her head. "I suggested that William Pendleton settle out of court because he didn't stand a chance against the charges brought against his company. The other side was willing to accept a settlement and that would be cheaper than going to court where he'd lose for sure. He got highly offended and took the matter upstairs, telling Roche that I clearly didn't want to do my job and that he'd rather not be represented by someone who should probably be working in a hair salon or a cocktail lounge."

"Bastard," Jim muttered.

"My thoughts exactly. So I get called upstairs and given one of your all time favorite lectures about how the client is always right and we don't just throw in the towel before the case begins. By the time it was over I wanted to throw myself out of a window. The case has been handed over to Stanley."

"Oh boy, that should be good."

"Yeah; so then I get to listen to his stupid remarks while handing over the files. It's been a lovely day."

"Sounds like it."

"Did you drop by to visit or do you need something?"

"Both," he replied as he took a seat in front of her desk. "How do you feel about getting out of town?"

"Let's leave now."

Jim laughed. "You don't even know where we're going."

"That didn't stop me the last time," Johanna replied. "I just hope it's somewhere tropical and that all I need to bring are sunglasses, bathing suits, and suntan lotion."

"I wish it was like that," he remarked. "I'm still debating which one of your bikinis I'm most fond of."

She smirked at him. "I thought it was the hot pink one."

"I do like that one a great deal…but there's also that cute purple one to consider with those little ties."

"I knew you wanted to tug on those ties."

"Just a little," he grinned; "But then again, it might've ended up being disappointing like your Halloween costume."

Johanna laughed. "Are you still upset about that?"

"Devastation doesn't go away easily, sweetheart," he teased.

"You poor thing," she jested. "If we're not going somewhere tropical, where are we going?"

"Albany," Jim remarked.

"That sounds exciting," she quipped sarcastically, making him laugh. "Why are we going there?"

"I have to go there for that Walker case, remember?"

"Oh yeah," she nodded. "I didn't realize that one was coming up already. I guess I lost track of the days."

"Well you know Zach was supposed to be second chair but since he's having surgery and will be out for a few weeks, I need to replace him. I would like for you to take his place since you helped put the case together. You're already up to date on the facts and I wouldn't have to worry about getting someone caught up on such short notice."

"That makes sense. When would we be going and for how long?"

"We'd have to head up there on Sunday; we'll take the train. The trial starts Monday morning at 8:30. I figure it'll take about two weeks but it could always finish up a few days earlier than that. I know you have your own case load but I'd really rather you go along for this one."

Johanna opened her desk drawer and took out her planner. "I'm actually having a little lull at the moment. I was swamped at the holidays and now things have tapered off. With Pendleton out of the way that frees up some time. Sharon can reschedule these appointments that I have and I'll put in for a continuance for these two hearings that were scheduled; they're just preliminarys, those things are always getting postponed so I don't think there will be any problem with that."

"So you'll go?" Jim inquired.

"If you can clear the switch upstairs, I'll be packed and ready. Believe me; I don't mind getting out of here for awhile."

He smiled. "I'll get it cleared; there won't be any problem with that. I'll go up now and take care of it so you can organize your schedule and get those requests put in with the court."

"Sounds good," she replied with a teasing smile. "I'll be waiting for the verdict…I'm always anxious to run off with you."

He chuckled as he rounded the desk and pressed a kiss against her cheek. "That's why I came to you first."

Jim returned a short while later. "Everything is set upstairs. There wasn't any problem replacing Zach with you."

"That's good to know," Johanna answered. "I was worried that today's fiasco might go against me."

He shook his head. "No one said anything; I don't think it's done any damage."

"I'm glad; I'm also glad to get out of here for awhile…even if it isn't somewhere tropical."

He grinned at her. "We'll aim for tropical for the next one, sweetheart. You organize your schedule and I'll take care of everything else. I'll let you know what time I'll pick you up on Sunday. You might have to miss your dinner with your mother."

"That's okay," she replied. "I'm having dinner with her tomorrow night anyway…not that she'll be thrilled with the news that I might have to skip Sunday but she'll get over it."

"Why are you having dinner there tomorrow? I thought that was primarily a Sunday thing."

"It's something new she's started. She wants individual time with us; especially since Colleen alternates weekends and so does Frankie at times. I guess she wants everyone to get the right amount of attention or something. This week is my turn; Frankie had a turn last Wednesday."

"I think she just wants you to come home more often," Jim laughed. "She just had to think up a new excuse for it."

Johanna nodded. "Yeah; that thought crossed my mind too but I know better than to voice it. She doesn't like being accused of having ulterior motives."

"Guess she's lucky that you got your solo turn in at the table before we leave town."

"It's more like I'm lucky; she would pour on the guilt if I hadn't," she answered while silently thinking that Naomi was likely to pour on some guilt anyway when she realized that she'd be away during her birthday. Her mother hated to miss birthdays…tomorrow's meal wouldn't be pleasant if the topic came up…hopefully it wouldn't; at least she could hope that it wouldn't.

"Is there anything special that you want me to make for your birthday?" Naomi asked the next evening.

Johanna shifted in her seat, she had been dreading this. Her mother wouldn't like this news at all. "Mama, I'm going to be out of town for my birthday."

Naomi's eyes widened. "What do you mean you're going to be out of town on your birthday! I haven't heard anything about this."

She sighed. "I have to go to Albany for work."

"Why?"

"Because Jim asked me to go as second chair for a case he has. The person who was supposed to go had to have emergency surgery and Jim had to replace him. He picked me because I'm already familiar with the case because I helped put it together. I just found out about it yesterday."

"Why does it have to be in Albany?" Naomi asked. "Why can't the case be heard here?"

"Because the company is based in Albany and that's where they filed the suit."

"I'm sure there are plenty of lawyers in Albany; why didn't they hire a firm there?"

Johanna blew out a breath. "Our firm is highly regarded across the state. The president of the company chose us because one of our clients recommended us to him."

"Well I think it's ridiculous to drag you to Albany when there are people there capable of taking care of things," Naomi exclaimed. "Why can't Jim take someone else? I let him monopolize you last year for your birthday."

She laughed. "He only monopolized me for the evening and it was with your blessing. You gladly traded dinner for lunch so I could go out with him…so it's not like I didn't spend time with you that day."

"I was hoping that he'd get the lunch shift this year and that I would regain dinner," her mother remarked.

"I'm sorry, Mama; but I have to go. It's already been cleared by my boss, I can't stay home just because it's my birthday."

"That doesn't mean I have to like it."

"For God's sake, Naomi," Frank interrupted. "It's her job; being on big cases and traveling once in awhile will only increase her stature in her field. It'll be good for her career; you'll survive the fact that she has to be a few hours away on her birthday."

"I have never not seen one of my children on their birthdays," she remarked. "I don't like starting now."

"I'm sorry, Mom," Johanna said once again; "But it can't be helped. I promise that I'll call you on my birthday as soon as I get back to the hotel, okay?"

Naomi sighed. "I suppose that will have to do…but we'll celebrate before you go. We'll do it Sunday since everyone should be here."

"I'm leaving on Sunday."

Her mother's lips pressed into a thin line. "What time?"

"At four…"

"Well then we'll just eat early and Jim can pick you up here."

"That's really not necessary; we can have something when I come back."

"Johanna Elizabeth McKenzie; I said we will celebrate your birthday before you go and I mean it. Now you will bring your luggage and be here on Sunday and Jim can pull up out front and pick you up at four and that's the end of it."

Johanna glanced to her father who had fallen back into silence but had been listening intently. "For the sake of your sanity and mine, just agree to it," he stated.

She nodded somewhat reluctantly. "Okay, Mom; you win. I'll be here Sunday."

Naomi smiled. "Good…and you're still going to call me on your birthday."

"Yes, of course. I'd never hear the end of it if I didn't."

Her mother eyed her. "You'll understand one day when you're a mother…and I hope that you have a daughter just like you or worse so you get the full effect of my suffering."

She smirked at her. "Thanks a lot."

Johanna had been at her mother's nearly all day that Sunday when her gaze flicked toward her watch. Jim was picking her up at four and that was only twenty minutes away. Her nephew was on her lap and she gave him a light squeeze and kissed his head before she rose from her seat at the table and shifted him onto her hip. She moved to Valerie's side of the table where she was still sitting and handed Greg to her. "I have to start getting ready to go," she told her.

"How long are you going to be gone, Jo?" Valerie asked as she tried to keep hold of her son who was reaching for his aunt.

"A week, maybe a little longer," she replied, capturing Greg's small hands and pressing kisses to them.

The little boy whined in protest when she didn't take him back into her arms. "I have to get ready to go," she told him; "I hold you again in a minute."

"You can't say he doesn't love you," Valerie laughed.

Johanna smiled. "He's probably the most loyal man in my life."

Valerie soothed her son as Johanna retrieved her luggage from her parents bedroom and carried it to the door. When she was finished, she moved to the doorway of the kitchen where Naomi and Colleen were washing dishes.

"Mom, I'll be leaving in a few minutes."

"Is it that time already?" Naomi asked as she grabbed a dish towel and dried her hands. "Colleen, go out to the garage and tell your father and brother to get in here."

"You don't have to bother them."

"Nonsense; Colleen, go."

Her sister gave her one of those 'nice try' smiles and headed out the back door without even stopping to get her coat. Naomi joined Johanna in the living room and pulled her into a tight hug. "I wish you didn't have to go."

She laughed softly as she returned her embrace. "I'm not moving there, Mama; I'm coming back."

"I know, but I hate when my children are away from home for more than a day or two…and I hate to miss your birthday."

"I know but it'll be alright. I'll call you, I promise."

Naomi pulled back and kissed her cheek. "I want you to call when you get there so I know that you arrived safely."

"I will," she assured, feeling something wrap around her leg. She laughed as she looked down and saw Greg's small arms hooked around her leg and his cheek pressed against it.

"He's determined to keep you," Valerie quipped as she stepped up to hug her.

"I'd gladly keep him too," she laughed.

"Happy birthday, have a safe trip," her sister-in-law told her.

"Thank you, I will."

The back door opened and Colleen came with Frank and Frankie. Her sister headed toward her and embraced her. "Mom's going to guilt you for this for months," she whispered.

"I know," Johanna replied. "I'll see you when I get back."

Colleen kissed her cheek. "Happy birthday a few days early."

"Frankie, hug your sister," Naomi demanded.

"I just hugged her at Christmas," he stated.

"And you'll hug her again now," their mother remarked as she gave him the look.

Johanna smirked as her brother approached her and pulled her into a hug, being mindful of his son wrapped around her leg. "Just think," she told Frankie; "We get to do this all over again in June for your birthday."

He laughed. "I'm counting the minutes. Do you want me to untangle my son from your leg?"

"No; I'll get him in a minute."

"Frank," Naomi said, eyeing her husband with the demand that he be next.

"You act like she's going into the army, Naomi," he retorted. "It's Albany; it's only three hours away."

"I don't give a damn how far away it is, you hug your daughter…now."

Johanna rolled her eyes as he muttered something under his breath and made no move in her direction. She bent down and picked up Greg, carrying him with her to the entryway so that she could get her coat from the hook. If her father didn't want to hug her that was fine with her.

"Frank," Naomi demanded.

Johanna ignored the scene as she stood Greg on the small stand, keeping him bracketed within her arms as she slipped on her coat.

"Byes?" Greg asked, his hands clutching her shirt, keeping her from buttoning her coat.

"Yes, I'm going bye byes," she told him, lifting him back into her arms and then grabbing her purse.

"No byes," he demanded, his small face taking on a look of stubbornness.

She laughed. "Don't make that face, you look like your daddy. We talked about that, you're not allowed to be like daddy. You have to be good and sweet."

"That's right," Valerie chuckled as Frankie glared at them in amusement.

Johanna moved to hand Greg to Valerie but she temporarily waved her off. "Hold him while I put his coat and hat on him, we'll walk out with you."

She eyed here sister-in-law. "You don't have ulterior motives, do you, Val?"

Valerie leaned close as she put Greg's hat on him. "I want to meet your man," she whispered with a grin.

"That's what I thought."

"I'm glad you didn't deny any part of the statement," the other woman teased.

"Jo, there's a car pulling up out front," Colleen announced just as Valerie zipped up Greg's coat and pulled on her own.

Naomi grabbed her coat from the hook as well and put it on and then helped Johanna gather up her luggage to head out the door, Valerie following behind them with Greg.

"Is that her sister?" Jeff quietly asked Jim, catching sight of the women as he unlocked the trunk of the car.

"No; I believe that's the sister-in-law," Jim answered before the women drew near. "Are you ready?" he asked Johanna as he caught her eye.

"I'm ready," she replied, handing him her suitcases to load into the car.

"I'm not happy with you, Jim," Naomi stated as she eyed him.

Jim's gaze darted to Johanna but she merely smiled and looked away. "Why is that?" he inquired.

"You're taking my daughter away and I won't get to see her on her birthday," she answered as Jeff stepped forward and took the dress bag from the woman's hand. "And who is this? Is he going with you? If he's going why does Johanna have to go?"

"Mom," Johanna laughed; "Stop it. This is our friend and colleague Jeff Campbell."

Jeff smiled at her mother. "It's nice to meet you, Mrs. McKenzie; I see where Jo gets her beauty."

Naomi smiled. "It's nice to meet you as well. Are you going along on this trip?"

"No, ma'am; I'm just driving them to the train station so Jim won't have to leave his car there."

Valerie coughed and nudged Johanna. "Aren't you going to introduce me?"

She sighed dramatically. "I suppose so since you seem to be insisting on it. Jim, this is my sister-in-law Valerie; she's been insanely jealous that her son has met you and she hasn't."

"I'll get you for that one," Valerie replied before turning her attention to Jim. "It is nice to meet you though, Jim. Johanna talks about you all the time."

He laughed. "I hope its all good things…if they're bad, she's making them up."

"Oh you don't have to worry," Valerie smiled; "It's all good."

"And apparently that talking thing is mutual," Jeff added good naturedly. "Jim talks about her all the time too…we're just trying to get them to talk to each other about it."

Johanna eyed him. "Jeff, shouldn't you be in the car like a good little chauffer?"

"And miss meeting your family, Sassy? No way."

"Sassy?" Naomi questioned.

"We named her that," Jim answered. "She's sassy."

"And we like that about her," Jeff added.

Her mother nodded. "Well, she is a bit sassy at times so I suppose its fitting."

Greg squawked, wanting to be a part of the conversation. Jim turned his attention to the little boy in Valerie's arms. "How are you doing, Greg?" he asked him, reaching out and brushing a finger against his hand.

"No byes," Greg stated.

"No byes?"

"He doesn't want me to go," Johanna replied as her nephew held his arms out to her. "Come here, little man; one last cuddle and then I have to go."

Jim smiled as she cuddled the boy to her and Valerie watched with interest. "You and Johanna will have to come over for dinner one night," she remarked as Jim's gaze shifted toward her.

"Val," Johanna warned lightly.

"What?" she said with a shrug. "You can bring your friend over to my house for a meal; he's met Frankie and he knows Greg. We can all be better acquainted."

"Name the time and date and he'll be there," Jeff remarked. "I'll drive them myself."

Johanna caught Jim's eye. "I'm so sorry that they made this a family affair."

"It's alright," he smiled. "Don't worry about it. We should get going though."

"Just a minute," Naomi remarked. "I want you to promise me something, young man."

"Name it," he told her.

"I want you to promise that you'll give my daughter a nice birthday. I don't want her to be buried under files and paperwork all day. You make sure she has a nice meal and sees a show or something."

"You have my word," Jim promised. "I already planned on it."

"You did?" Johanna asked.

Jim grinned. "Did you think I forgot that you have a birthday coming?"

"Honestly I hadn't thought much about it."

"Well I didn't forget," he affirmed. "I promise you, Naomi; I will make sure Johanna has a nice birthday, complete with a nice meal and a piece of cake."

"And that she'll call me," the woman added.

"I'll make sure she calls you too."

"Alright then; I'm putting my trust in you. Don't let me down."

"I wouldn't dream of it."

"Did you buy her a present?" Jeff stage whispered.

"Of course I bought her a present!"

"Good," Naomi remarked even though the comment hadn't been addressed to her. "That's one less thing for me to worry about."

"None of you need to worry about it," Johanna remarked before turning her attention Greg. "Give me a kiss," she told him. The little boy puckered up his small lips for her to kiss and then she hugged him before giving him back to Valerie. "I'll see you when I get back."

"No byes!" Greg exclaimed.

"Johanna will be back soon," Valerie told her son as Naomi pulled her daughter in for another hug.

"Don't forget to call and let me know you arrived safely," Naomi reminded her.

"I won't."

"Be careful; don't go wandering off on your own."

"Mom, I'm not six."

"It's still a dangerous world; you stay with Jim."

"I promise," she said in appeasement.

"Good luck with your case," Naomi said, pressing a kiss to her cheek. "I love you."

"I love you too," Johanna replied before brushing a kiss against her mother's cheek.

She turned to her sister-in-law and said goodbye, Greg managing to snag hold of her coat. "No byes!"

"Sweetie, I have to go," she told him. "I'll come see you when I come back. I'll bring you a present and some cookies."

"No!" he cried.

"Go on," Valerie told her. "He'll be fine."

Johanna turned to move to the car where Jim had opened the back door for her when Greg McKenzie sent up one final protest. "Anna!" he exclaimed, making her stop in her tracks and turn back to him.

"You did it!" Johanna exclaimed. "You finally said my name!"

"It sounded more like half your name to me," Jeff commented.

She shot him a glare. "It's close enough."

"Get in the car before you get hurt, Jeff," Jim quipped as she fussed over her nephew, pressing kisses to his cheeks as he had managed to get back into her arms.

"That is the nicest birthday present you could've given me," Johanna told Greg. "I've been waiting months for you to say my name."

Valerie carefully pried him from her grasp. "You two can celebrate when you come back; you better get going if you don't want to miss your train."

She said her goodbyes and hurried back to the car, Greg's little voice calling out to her. "Anna! No byes."

She slid into the backseat but her throat was tight, hating to leave her nephew behind. "He'll be alright," Jim told her before shutting the door and climbing in the passenger side after saying goodbye to Naomi and Valerie.

Johanna glanced out the back window and saw Valerie carrying a crying Greg back to house but her mother stood on the sidewalk, watching as they drove away. She smiled and waved to her but for some reason, emotion welled up within her. She had always hated to see her mother watching her leave...it somehow always made her feel like she was abandoning her.

"Are you okay, Jo?" Jim asked when her silence went unbroken.

"Yeah, don't mind me…I'm just sentimental or something."

After Johanna had unpacked and changed her clothes for the night, she called her mother and told her that she had arrived in Albany safely. With those tasks completed, she knocked on the door that adjoined her room to Jim's.

"Come in, Jo; it's not locked," he answered.

She entered the room and found him lounging against the pillows on his bed, his gaze on the television. She moved across the room and settled into the vacant place next to him. "Is there anything else I need to know about the case?"

"No, you're up to speed. Did you call your mom?"

"Yes, she's been informed of my arrival."

"Good, I wouldn't want us to be in anymore trouble with her than we already are."

She laughed. "I'm sorry she ambushed you with that birthday business. I really didn't expect her to do that."

"That's okay, I didn't mind," he said sincerely. "But I really did remember your birthday and I do intend to take you out to celebrate it."

"I'll be looking forward to that," she smiled, wrapping her hand around his.

"Your sister-in-law seems nice," he commented.

Johanna nodded. "She probably could've done better than my brother but I'm glad she didn't. She's a good sister and a good friend."

"I'm glad you have her…it probably balances things out when it comes to having Colleen for a sister."

"That's true," she laughed.

"Greg seems to have added to his vocabulary."

"He has," she said with a smile. "He's a smart boy…he gets that from me."

Jim laughed. "You won't get any argument out of me about that, sweetheart. He sure does love you."

"Mom said she had to give him a cookie to get him to stop crying. I always feel bad when he cries."

"I know what you mean, I always feel bad when you cry."

"I'll have my mother bring you a cookie next time," she replied as she gave in to the urge to snuggle up against him.

"Why don't you make some cookies?" Jim asked while wrapping his arm around her, settling her more securely against his side. "I'm sure you know how to make some."

"I do make cookies sometimes."

"You haven't given me any," he stated, a light accusation in his tone as he rubbed her arm.

"What kind do you want? I'll make you some when we get back to the city."

"How about peanut butter cookies? Do you know how to make them?"

Johanna nodded. "I can make those; is that what you want?"

"Yeah, those will do for a start."

Her brow rose. "A start?"

He nodded. "If the peanut butter goes well, we'll see how you do with chocolate chip."

She laughed. "Alright, we'll just go down the cookie list one by one."

"I like the sound of that," he grinned.

"Did you call your mother?" Johanna asked.

"What for?"

"To tell her that you got here safely."

"No."

"Why not? She does know that you're out of town for work, doesn't she?"

"Yes, but I never call when I'm out of town."

"Jim," she chastened.

"What?"

"You should call her and let her know you're fine."

"We didn't call our parents when we were on vacation."

"That was different, we were rebelling."

"I haven't stopped yet," he quipped.

"You should call her; she probably worries. Maybe that's why she's so cranky."

"My mother knows I can take care of myself. If she doesn't see my picture on the news she knows I'm fine."

"That's a nice thought," she said sarcastically.

Jim laughed. "Why are you worried about my mother?"

"I'm not; I just thought that since my mother worries when I travel then maybe yours does too."

Jim was quiet for a long moment and Johanna decided not to say anything more about it. It wasn't any of her business anyway, she thought to herself. She was about to strike up a different vein of conversation when Jim shifted a bit and picked the phone up from the nightstand and sat it beside him on the bed. "What are you doing?" she asked as he picked up the receiver.

"I'm calling my mother," he answered.

Johanna began to slide away from him but he reached out and grasped her arm. "Where are you going?"

"Back to my room so you can talk to your mom."

"Stay put," he told her. "There's no reason for you to go."

Despite her better judgment, she settled back in her place beside him as he dialed the number. "Hello?" Elizabeth Beckett said after four rings.

"Hello, Mother," Jim said, amusement in his tone.

"Jimmy, I thought you were out of town."

"I am," he told her. "I was calling to let you know I got to Albany safely."

"Since when do you do that? I don't expect you to call and report your whereabouts."

Jim grinned as he glanced at Johanna. "Well my colleague insisted that I call and tell you that I'm here."

"What colleague is that?" Elizabeth asked.

"Johanna."

"Johanna! Why is she there!"

Johanna shot him a look as she overheard the remark. She should've known that he was setting her up.

He laughed. "She is my colleague, Mom. We're working on this case together."

Elizabeth scoffed. "What else is she working on with you?"

Johanna's jaw dropped but she stayed quiet. "Just the case," he assured; "Unless of course she wants to work on something else..."

She smacked his shoulder, making him laugh in the process. "She's there with you now, isn't she?" Elizabeth demanded to know. "She's in your bed isn't she?"

"No; she's not in my bed...she's sitting on it but she's not in it."

"What's the difference?" his mother spat.

"The difference is that she's sitting, not laying down...and she's fully clothed...pajama pants, long sleeved pajama top, hell she even has socks on. All I'm seeing are her hands, face and a little bit of her neck...it's really quite disappointing to be honest."

"Jim!" Johanna exclaimed.

"Oh tell her not to act outraged," Elizabeth stated. "She's not fooling anyone. That's probably why she wanted you to call. She wants me to know that she's got her hooks into you!"

"That's not true!" Johanna yelled.

"Oh sure it is," the older woman yelled in Jim's ear; "And you, Jimmy, thought it would be funny to play along."

"No, that's not it at all. She really did think that you might be worried about me."

"Why?"

"I don't know, I guess because her mother worries about her and makes her report in when she travels."

"Her mother probably has reason to worry," Elizabeth said snidely.

"I resent that," Johanna remarked.

"And I resent her getting into my business and leading my son astray! Are you sharing a room with her, Jimmy?"

"No, she has her own room and she isn't leading me anywhere I don't want to go. She was just trying to be nice to you by convincing me to call and tell you that I had arrived safely."

"Well I don't need her doing me any favors," she said tartly. "You're a grown man; I assume you're capable of getting to where you're going without having to report back to me."

"I tried to tell her that you weren't the kind of mother who worries like hers does...she didn't seem to believe me," he replied lightly.

"Oh I am worried now that I know she's there!"

"Good!" Johanna called out. "You just sit there and worry all night about what I might do to your son...that he'll enjoy immensely."

"Well I never!" Elizabeth exclaimed.

"Maybe that's the problem," Johanna stated.

"Jimmy, I just can't believe that you see anything in that girl," his mother huffed. "I thought I had raised you to have better taste."

"I have excellent taste," he replied; "But I think I'll go now that you know I'm safe. I didn't want Johanna sitting up all night worrying about you possibly worrying about me."

"It's nice to know that you do what she wants and asks of you...unlike when your mother asks you to do something!"

"Now, Mother, don't be jealous," Jim told her. "You know I love you."

"Uh huh, sometimes I wonder about that," Elizabeth remarked.

"Well you shouldn't. I'll call you when I get home."

"No, when you get home, you just bring your ass over here and sit down at the table. You and I are going to have a talk about this, young man."

He laughed. "I can hardly wait."

"Get that girl out of your room, James Robert; and you tell her not to worry about me. I don't need nor do I want her concern. My children and I communicate just fine without any help from her!"

"It will never happen again," Johanna said, leaning close to the phone to make sure her words were heard clearly.

"Good!"

"Goodnight, Mom," Jim said.

"I'd say the same to you but I'm not sure I want you to have a good night with that woman there...God only knows what you'll get into with her."

"Mom, I assure you that Johanna doesn't have to worry about me attacking her tonight...unless of course she'd want me to, and even then I'd be a gentleman about it."

"I'm slapping you when you get home, James," Elizabeth retorted. "Now hang up and go to bed...alone. Good night."

Jim laughed as the dial tone sounded in his ear. "See, I told you she wasn't worried," he told Johanna as she glared at him.

"She should be, I might kill you for dragging me into that conversation."

"Oh come on, it was fun to call my mother, wasn't it?"

"Not for me!"

"I'm sorry," he laughed.

"No you're not," she said as picked up the pillow and whacked him with it.

"Play nice, Jo; or I'll call her back and tell on you."

"You just do that," she remarked as she slid off of his bed and headed toward the door to her room.

"Where are you going?"

"I'm taking your mother's advice, I'm going to bed… alone."

"But I thought maybe you were going to stay here with me," Jim said, eyeing her as if he had just lost his best friend.

"I never said that."

"But you came in...and I thought we were comfortable and settled in for the night."

Johanna laughed. "I guess you were wrong, funny man."

"So you're punishing me?" he asked. "All because I took your advice and called my mom."

"Don't act like it was an innocent call; you were just trying to be funny...and if you're feeling punished, then you must have a guilty conscience."

"I do not."

She smiled. "Sweet dreams, honey."

"What if you get cold over there by yourself?" he asked.

"I guess I'll get another blanket."

"I could keep you warmer," he told her, patting the spot next to him. "Come on, sweetheart; come back over here and I'll keep you nice and cozy."

"Nope."

"I might get lonely," he commented.

Johanna grinned. "Then call your mom back, she'll keep you company."

Jim laughed and threw a pillow at her but she dodged it. She picked it up from where it landed on the floor and threw it back at him. "Goodnight," she laughed.

"Goodnight... but if you change your mind, you're welcome to come back."

"I'll keep that in mind," she told him before slipping through the doorway of her room.

He smiled at the closed door that concealed her from view; he was glad that Zach hadn't been able to make the trip. It was going to be so much better with Johanna there.

The days settled into a comfortable routine in Jim's opinion. Each morning they had breakfast together in the hotel dining room and then they headed to the courthouse for the rest of the day. He enjoyed working with Johanna; it was never the hardship that it was with some his colleagues. He and Johanna easily tag teamed; using each other's strengths in the places where they were needed most, especially when it came to cross examining witnesses. They each did their share without any big debate over what needed done. They were a team, she didn't push to do things solely her way and he didn't push to do things solely his way. They were always able to find common ground while planning the next day's strategy over an early dinner at the end of their work day.

As much as he loved working with her, he also loved that after they had planned their strategy for the following day, she would be ready to turn off the work part of herself and apparently expected him to do the same…and he had to admit, that it was nice to have someone make him do that. He had a habit of staying tightly wound on big cases like this, but Johanna made him relax…and he was less stressed than he thought he'd be.

Putting work away after dinner made for cozy evenings between them. They went out for a drink once or twice, but mainly they stayed at the hotel, settling down in either his room or hers to watch TV or to play cards. They spent the weekend being tourists in the state capital; and Jim couldn't resist the urge to tease her about how she had to shop everywhere she went. In retaliation for the remark, Johanna bought a trivia game and spent the evening beating him at it…three times in a row. He didn't mind losing to her…somehow that sassy gleam in her eyes and that kissable smile made it worth it. His bigger concern was giving her a nice birthday.

On the morning of Johanna's birthday, Jim got up earlier than usual and left the hotel long enough to buy a small bouquet of pink roses and a card. He had planned ahead and made dinner reservations before they had even left the city and he had her gifts tucked away for later on. He wasn't sure what they'd do after dinner but he tried not to let it worry him too much; after all, it was her birthday and she should get some say in what they did to celebrate. They'd work out those details. He wished he could do more though; it was important for him to make her day nice, not only because he loved her and she deserved it, but because he had also promised her mother that he'd take care of it.

His promise to Naomi weighed heavier on him than he had thought it would. For some reason he didn't want to let her down anymore than he wanted to let down Johanna; which brought about the terrifying thought that it suddenly mattered what her mother thought of him. Jim shook that thought away and paused in his trek back to the hotel as his gaze caught sight of the restaurant across the street. He and Johanna had eaten dinner there over the weekend. The food was excellent and the atmosphere was a nice and a welcome change from the hotel dining room. They apparently served breakfast as they were open for business and he hurried across the street to ask if he could place their breakfast orders in advance. Upon finding out that he could, he placed the two breakfast orders and told the waiter when to expect them. When he finished, Jim hurried back to the hotel.

He went into his room and quickly signed the card and nestled it between the roses in the bouquet before he quietly cracked open the door to Johanna's room. He could hear the sound of her hair dryer running in the bathroom and he hurriedly moved into the room and laid the flowers on her bed before making a quick retreat to wait on her in his own room.

When Johanna came out of the bathroom, she reached for the dress she had laid out on the chair but the sight of something pink caught her eye and she turned towards the bed and saw the bouquet of roses lying there. She smiled as she moved toward them, picking them up and inhaling their fragrance before she fished out the card. The card was decorated with flowers and butterflies and in lavender colored script were the words 'For Someone Special'. The smile clung to her lips as she opened it and saw Jim's familiar handwriting. "Happy Birthday, Sweetheart" he had written, making her heart flutter wildly. He had signed his name without any affectionate terms such as 'Love' but she wasn't surprised. After all, she had taken the cowards way out and painted a heart on a seashell for him instead of writing out 'love' and she knew better than to think that Jim would draw a heart on anything...even if she was the only one who would see it. She didn't mind though; it meant just as much to her that he had remembered her birthday and was making the effort to make it special for her.

Johanna found a glass to use as a makeshift vase for her flowers and then she quickly finished getting ready for work. When she was ready, she knocked on the door between their rooms. "It's open," he called out.

She stepped inside and put down her purse and briefcase so that she could properly embrace him once she reached him. "What's this for?" he asked with a quiet laugh as she wrapped herself around him.

"The flowers and the card," she answered. "Thank you; that was very sweet of you."

"You're welcome," he told her before pulling back enough to press a kiss to her lips. "Happy Birthday."

"Thank you."

"I don't want to rush you but I made a reservation for us for breakfast at the restaurant across the street. I already put in our orders, they'll have it ready for us when we get there," Jim said as he forced himself to release her from his arms.

Johanna smiled at him. "You've been busy this morning."

"I wanted to get your day started off right."

"You've done a wonderful job," she replied as she picked up her belongings once more.

"I'm gifted like that," he quipped, taking her hand and leading her out of the room. "We'll continue the celebration tonight."

"I can't wait; I hope the day goes quickly."

"Me too...but since we want it to go quickly, you know it won't."

"That's probably true," she laughed; "But at least I'll still be with you."

He paused in the middle of the hallway, unable to squash the urge to kiss her again at that comment. The kiss lingered and turned passionate, lighting a spark of desire within him as he pulled her closer.

Johanna broke their kiss, her fingertips grazing his chin. "We better go get that breakfast or we'll be late," she said breathlessly.

Jim nodded. "You're right, we should go." He retook her hand and forced himself to push his wayward thoughts to the back of his mind. He had two jobs to do today, one in the courtroom, and the other the mission of her birthday... he couldn't afford to be distracted by thoughts of things he couldn't have right now...no matter how badly he wanted them.

The day was dragging, Jim thought to himself as he sat in the courtroom; and the woman on the witness stand was lying through her teeth. Lucky for them, they had proof of it. Johanna shifted in her seat at his side and he glanced at her, biting back a smile as he saw her roll her eyes at an answer the witness was giving to the opposing counsel.

Sensing that Jim's attention was upon her, Johanna jotted a quick note on her tablet and slid it toward him. "Please let me have her," she had written. Jim smiled and picked up his pen and wrote a response. "She's all yours."

She smiled at him, her eyes lighting up with amusement and determination. He couldn't wait to watch her in action; it was something he never got tired of. Johanna wasn't a theatrical lawyer; she didn't waste time trying to lull someone into a false sense of security. She went after the facts right out of the starting gate, and she wouldn't let up until she had them. Maybe now the day would be a little more interesting, he thought.

Finally the opposing attorney finished his questioning and it was their turn. Johanna rose from her chair and walked across the room gracefully, pausing in front of the witness stand. "Miss Canfield, when was your last day of employment with Mr. Walker's company."

"I've already answered that," the woman replied tartly.

Johanna eyed her. "Is there a problem with answering the question again so everyone can be certain?"

"May first," Alyssa Canfield stated.

Johanna nodded. "And up until May first, did you have any complaints about your work environment?"

"Mr. Walker isn't the easiest man to get along with," she answered.

"Was he unfair toward you? Did he harass you in any way? Did he deny you time off, keep you from having the amount of breaks that the law requires?"

"No; but that doesn't mean he was easy to get along with. I found him highly unlikable."

"I see, and how long were you employed with this company?"

"I already answered that as well," the woman said sharply.

"Well answer it again," Johanna retorted. "There might be someone in the back who didn't hear you."

"Five years."

"So you didn't dislike Mr. Walker and his business enough in those five years to seek employment elsewhere?"

Alyssa shifted in her seat. "It didn't seem worth the hassle."

"Miss Canfield, did Mr. Walker have any reason to have any grievances with you that he might have spoken to you about?"

"Of course not."

"What about the number of times when you came to work late? Those things are logged by the company every time you clock in. According to the records, you're somewhat notorious with your lateness; over 100 times in five years…and yet Mr. Walker didn't dismiss you from your job."

"Everyone is late sometimes."

"I believe being late over 100 times is a little more than sometimes, Miss Canfield. What about the times when you'd call in sick and then brag to colleagues about how you had actually been away on day trips?"

"Your Honor, that's hearsay," the opposing counsel objected.

"I have a witness who is willing to testify to the fact," Johanna remarked before the judge could say another word.

"Proceed," the judge replied.

"Now, Miss Canfield, you claim that you were wrongfully terminated from your job. What was the reason you were given?"

"They claimed downsizing."

"You have reason to doubt that?" Johanna asked.

Alyssa scoffed. "Why would some departments be downsizing when others are being expanded? I'm not stupid."

"Was the subject of downsizing explained to you in your letter of termination?"

"Yes; they said that my department was no longer in high demand and therefore they were letting several people go. I shouldn't have been one of them, I was there longer than two of the people they kept."

"Do you think your behavior in the workplace might have played a roll in that? Your lateness, your phony sick days?"

"They just wanted to get rid of me."

Johanna paced the floor in front of the judge's bench and witness stand. "Isn't it true that when you were notified about the downsizing that you were offered the chance to be relocated to a different, larger department?"

Alyssa pursed her lips. "For less money."

"But you were offered another position in the company?"

"Yes," she spat.

"Sounds to me like they weren't trying to get rid of you after all if they offered you another job. You chose not to take that job, right?"

"Yes, but that doesn't give them the right to cheat me!"

"You claim that you didn't receive your last paycheck nor your severance check that you were promised; is that right?" Johanna asked.

"Yes, I haven't seen a dime of either one."

"You received absolutely no money from Mr. Walker's business after May first?"

"That's right. I was told I'd have my last paycheck by May fifth but I didn't; they gave me some run around about a bank issue. I was supposed to have my severance check by the end of May and I never saw it either."

Johanna smiled slightly and moved back to the table, accepting the papers that Jim had ready for her. She then turned back to the witness stand, one of those papers held up in her hand for the witness to see. "Miss Canfield, this is a copy of your final paycheck," she stated, laying it down on the edge of the witness box as she held up another document. "And this is the letter that was sent with it, apologizing for the delay due to a system problem at the bank which was beyond their control. This check and letter were sent by registered mail, this," she said, holding up a yellow slip of paper, "Is the receipt that you signed for the post office, acknowledging that they delivered this piece of mail to you and it's dated May ninth. Do you recognize these items?"

Alyssa barely glanced at them. "I never saw them before."

"Then how did your signature get on this receipt and on the back of that check? The same person signed both items."

"It's not my signature," she remarked.

"I see, and what about these?" Johanna asked, shuffling through her remaining papers. "This is a copy of your severance check, which was yet again, sent by registered mail. Your signature is on this receipt as well and it's dated May twenty-fourth, the check was also signed."

"It's not my signature!"

"So someone forged your name on all four of these documents?"

"It looks that way."

Johanna looked at the next paper in her hand. "Do you recognize account number 37068972?"

"That's my old bank account," Alyssa remarked.

"According to this statement from the bank, it's also the account that these checks were deposited into, the first check on May tenth, the second on May twenty-fifth."

"I never got those checks," she said through clenched teeth.

"When were you first approached by Mr. Grabenstein about joining this lawsuit?"

"I don't remember the exact date."

"You don't have to give me an exact date, a round about time will do."

"I think it was in early June."

Johanna walked away long enough to grab her pen and a scrap of paper from the table. "Miss Canfield, will you sign your name for me?"

"I will not!" the witness exclaimed.

"Your honor," counsel objected but Johanna beat him to the punch.

"Your Honor, Miss Canfield is claiming to be a victim of forgery; I'm offering her a chance to prove that. Surely counsel has no objects to their own witness proving her claims."

"I'll allow it," the judge remarked. "Miss Canfield, please sign your name."

Alyssa glared at Johanna as she jerked the pen out of her hand and signed her name on the paper Johanna had laid down. When she finished, Johanna compared it to the other signatures and then showed it to opposing counsel and the jury. "Your signature matches the one on all of these documents," she stated, handing the pages to the judge. "Are you aware of the penalty for perjury?"

Alyssa said nothing as she gripped the arms of her chair. "According to Mr. Grabenstein, you were one of the first people he contacted about joining his lawsuit. He said that he spoke to you on June fourth, and isn't it funny that you withdrew your money and closed account number 37068972 on June fifth? How do you explain that?"

"I plead the fifth," Alyssa stated through clenched teeth.

Johanna smiled. "No further questions."

Jim gave her a grin as she made her way back to her seat as the other attorney asked for a recess which was granted. "You wiped the smile right off of her face," he whispered.

"I enjoyed it too," she replied. "I guess she didn't think we could trace those checks."

"It shows shoddy work on the behalf of the opposing counsel by not looking into things further."

She nodded in agreement and fell silent as she shuffled the papers back into order on the table.

"You know," Jim said quietly; "Since you're the birthday girl and I promised your mother that you'd have a good time, I just might let you run this show for the rest of the afternoon."

Johanna grinned. "That would suit me just fine; I do love catching people in lies on the witness stand."

"It's all yours, Sassy; go get em. I'll just sit back and enjoy the show."

Late that afternoon, Jim and Johanna were feeling very confident about their case and its outcome.

"I think we got them," Johanna declared as they entered his hotel room.

"I know we've got them," Jim replied with a grin. "We've been disproving their claims left to right, especially with that Alyssa Canfield. It's just a bunch of disgruntled employees who didn't want to take the new positions offered to them. They're out to get their former boss."

She nodded. "This lawsuit probably never would've come about if that Grabenstein guy hadn't thought it up and talked the rest of them into it with promises of a big payday if they won. He's a troublemaker."

Jim laughed. "I loved watching you take him apart on the stand today. You get a special glow about you when the judge lets you treat someone as a hostile witness."

Johanna grinned. "I do love a hostile witness. It just makes my day when I get to rip into them."

"Maybe the judge knew it was your birthday."

"Maybe he did," she laughed, moving to her door and pushing it open.

"I love that sassy walk of yours too," Jim remarked without thought as he watched her.

"I'm glad I could make your day then," she quipped as she stepped into her room and dropped her purse and briefcase on the bed before kicking off her shoes.

"We have dinner reservations at seven," he called out to her.

"I'll be ready," Johanna said as she moved back into his room. "You're lucky I brought a dress for going out, since you didn't enlighten me before we left the city."

He gave her a grin. "I wasn't worried; I knew you'd come prepared."

"What if I hadn't?"

"Then I would've taken you out and bought you a dress to make up for it," he replied as he moved to his suitcase. "Since we have a little bit of time, I'm going to go ahead and give you one of your presents."

"How many are there?" she asked as he pulled the box from his suitcase.

"Just two; but I'll save the other one for later. I'd rather give you this one here so we don't have to carry it around."

Johanna sat down on the bed and accepted the box, smiling as she took in the pink paper and bow. "It's a pretty package."

"I give full credit for that to Natalie," he answered. "Speaking of which, I should tell you that this gift isn't only from me, it's from Angie too."

"Oh?" she said, her brow rising in question.

"I had her out for ice cream last week and she saw this in a store window and it made her think of you, we decided that you should have it."

Johanna smiled and began to peel away the wrapping paper, uncovering the box it had concealed. She opened the flap of the box and pulled out something that was wrapped in tissue paper and bubble wrap. Her brow furrowed as she worked on extracting the object and when the last of the paper fell away, she found that she was holding a glass ballerina that stood on a wooden base. Her eyes flicked to Jim's, recognition flowing through her.

He smiled. "Angie remembered that story you told her about Frankie accidentally breaking your ballerina when you were a little girl. She wondered if that one was like it so we went in the shop and looked at it; its musical like yours was, and Angie said we should get it for you so you'd have a new one…like she has a new Barbie car now. I agreed, obviously. I hope it's like the one you had…"

A soft smile touched her lips, a glimmer of tears filling her eyes as her fingertip ran along the porcelain lines of the ballerina. "It's almost exactly the same. My ballerina's outfit was painted white, this one is pink but she's posed the same way…the face and hair are the same," she said and then she tilted it to look at the bottom and grasped the small silver key and wound it up. A piece of classical music began to play as the melody and her smile widened her eyes still damp. "It's the same song," she murmured.

"Really?" Jim asked; wondering if he could really be so lucky.

"Exactly the same…thank you," she whispered, leaning toward him and capturing his lips in a kiss as the ballerina continued to play her tune.

"So I guess you like it?" he murmured when her lips parted from his.

"I love it. I'll have to write Angie a note for you to give her."

"Mail it," he replied; "That will make it special for her; she likes getting mail. We all mail her birthday cards to her."

"I'll do that then," she said as she carefully wrapped the ballerina back up and placed her back in her box. "I better start getting ready so I won't have to keep you waiting."

"Call your mother first," Jim reminded her. "I don't want to face her wrath for letting you forget…she does know where I work."

"Don't worry," she laughed; "I'm going to do that first and then I'll get ready. You'll be saved from my mother's wrath."

Awhile later, Jim knocked on her door. "Are you ready?" he called out to her.

"I'm ready," she said as she opened the door and stood before him in her simple dark blue cocktail dress. "Is this dress okay for where we're going?"

His eyes scanned her figure; the dress complimented her and showed her off without being too much. There was no flashy ornamentation to detract from her natural beauty, the neckline was low enough to tease and tempt him but still modest as she usually preferred. "I think it's great," he answered when he found his voice. "You look beautiful as always."

She smiled and smoothed her hand over his black suit jacket. "You clean up very nicely as well."

"I always make an effort for special occasions," he quipped.

"Lucky me."

"I know, right?" he teased. "You really won the lottery by getting me as part of your birthday celebration."

Johanna smirked at him. "I hope the thrill isn't too much for me to handle."

His hands slipped around her waist and pulled her close. "Don't you worry about that, I'll dole myself out to you in small increments so you won't have any problems."

"Why did that sound like it wasn't an innocent statement?" she laughed.

"Because apparently you're having illicit thoughts."

"I am not," she retorted as she grabbed her coat.

He took it from her hands and held it out for her to slip into. "Don't get upset, I don't have a problem with you having illicit thoughts…as long as you share them with me…in detail…and maybe throw in a demonstration."

She swatted his chest. "Keep dreaming; and put your coat on. I'm not going to have you being sick again."

"Why, would that get in the way of your plans for me?"

"No!" she laughed.

'So you're admitting that you do have plans for me?" he asked, his eyes shining with amusement as he put his coat on to appease her. "Jo, you have to tell me these things so I can be prepared…do you want to skip dinner?"

"No; you promised to feed me and now you're going to do it; and as for plans for you…I'm not confirming nor denying…you can just torture yourself by thinking about that."

"Birthday girls aren't supposed to be cruel," he replied, taking her hand as they moved toward the door of his room after she grabbed her purse.

"Birthday girls are allowed to do what they want," she quipped; "Especially when it comes to tormenting a man."

"Do I get to torment you on my birthday?"

"I don't know," she smiled. "We'll just have to wait and see."

Later on at the restaurant, Jim smiled as he glanced across the table at Johanna as she ate. "Is it good?" he asked, pointing his fork at her fettuccini that came in a light butter sauce.

"It's fantastic," she replied, scooping up another bite. "I never thought anyone would be able to surpass my mother's but this does…but don't ever tell her that I said that."

"Your secret is safe with me," he laughed. "I'm glad you're enjoying it."

"Don't you like yours?"

"It's great," he replied. "I hadn't really expected to be able to get a steak here."

She smiled in amusement. "Italian's eat more than just pasta, you know."

"I'm not Italian so I didn't know."

"But you know someone who is half Italian; you could've asked," she teased.

"I'll keep that in mind," he remarked playfully. "Are you going to speak Italian for me this year like you did last year?"

Her eyes gleamed. "I don't know…guess we'll have to play it by ear."

Jim laughed. "I think you're just a little too smug today, Miss McKenzie."

She shrugged a shoulder, her foot rubbing against his leg under the table. "But you like it."

"Yeah, I do," he admitted without thought. He was entranced by her sparkling green eyes and her flirtatious smile to pay much mind to his words.

Johanna picked up a slice of her bread and broke it in half before taking a bite. "This tastes like the bread Nona used to make," she said in reference to her great grandmother.

"Do you know how to make it?" Jim asked after he took a bite of his bread.

"I made it with her when I stayed with her that one summer. I have the recipe but I've never been able to make it."

"Why not?"

"I don't know, I keep doing something wrong but I don't know what it is. I can't get it to rise as much as Nona and Grandma do."

"So why don't you ask your grandmother?" Jim asked.

"Honestly, because I keep forgetting," she laughed.

"You're a little young to be forgetful, Jo," Jim teased.

She gave his leg a soft nudge. "You're forgetting that I just got another year older today. I'm sliding closer to thirty…it's a scary thought."

"Hey, I'm going to be there before you," he laughed. "But we both still have a few years to go."

"Thank God," she remarked, raising her glass in salute.

"And you don't look a day over eighteen," he added.

Johanna smiled. "I love how you can say that with a straight face."

"It's true, you're beautiful."

She dipped her head shyly. "And you're very handsome."

His hand covered hers and squeezed gently. "That's sweet of you to say, sweetheart."

"It's true."

He gave her a smile before changing the subject. "Did you get a hold of your mother?"

"Yes, and after the standard 'happy birthday' and the annual retelling of my birth and how it was no picnic but she loves me anyway, was the slight hint of guilt with the 'I've never been away from you on your birthday' statement."

He grinned. "Mothers, they make guilt a way of life."

"So true," she laughed. "She wanted to know our plans for the evening. I told her we were going to dinner but I could tell that she was disappointed not to know more details."

"Tell her to blame me for that; I thought I'd let you choose what to do after dinner…speaking of which, what do you want to do?"

She thought about it for a moment. "You're going to think I'm crazy but I'd like to find somewhere with ice cream…I always have to have ice cream on my birthday."

"I don't think you're crazy. We'll find some ice cream somewhere…I don't want you giving a bad report to your mother about your birthday. She'll think I lied to her."

"No, you wouldn't want that," she agreed. "It wouldn't be pretty."

"Then we shall make it our mission to find ice cream," he declared. "What about after that?"

She shrugged. "Maybe we can find a nice club and hear some music; if not, I'll be just as happy with a movie."

"If we're lucky, we can do it all."

"I don't know about that; we do have to be at work in the morning."

"Way to kill a mood, Jo," he said in amusement. "You just had to have your birthday on a weeknight, didn't you?"

Johanna nodded. "I felt like inconveniencing everyone this year as a gift to myself."

"It must be working out well for you."

"It is," she remarked with a teasing grin. "My mother is annoyed and I dashed your hopes for celebrating all night long."

Jim laughed. "You better watch it, I still have a gift to give you, you know."

"When are you going to give it to me?"

"When we have ice cream," he answered. "I think I'll torment you a little by making you wait."

Johanna grinned. "How dare you be cruel to the birthday girl; you just wait until your birthday, I might get even with you."

He laughed. "You go ahead and try, sweetheart; I'll be looking forward to it."

"You say that like my punishments are enjoyable."

"How could they not be?" he asked suggestively.

She smirked at him. "I assure you that if I wanted to make you suffer I could…I could make you beg for mercy."

"You see, that's why I think your punishments are enjoyable; you make them sound so enticing."

"You just have to twist everything around so you come out on top, don't you?"

He grinned. "I don't have to twist anything, you're the one who makes statements that can be read a certain way…like the one you just made."

"You just stop that," she chastened, her cheeks warming as she bumped his leg with her foot. "You know you turn everything around on me."

"Only because you want me to."

She laughed. "Now that isn't true at all."

"Sure it is; you know you like the implications…and if that's the kind of birthday you want, then I'm more than happy to give it to you."

Johanna narrowed her eyes at him playfully. "I don't think that's what my mother had in mind when she made you promise to give me a nice birthday."

"We won't tell her."

"Mhmm, you just better behave yourself or I'm going to tell on you."

He smirked at her in amusement. "I had a feeling you were a tattle tale."

"Only when I have to be," she laughed before changing the subject. "I really do like this place though, thank you for bringing me here."

Jim smiled and covered her hand with his. "You're welcome; I'm glad you like it…I've never been here so I was a little worried despite having a friend recommend it."

"There's nothing to worry about," she remarked. "The food is great, the wine is good and I'm here with you; what more could I ask for?"

He squeezed her hand in response. "That feeling is mutual, sweetheart."

Their cab driver was surprisingly helpful when Jim told him that they were looking for a place to get dessert. The driver said he knew just the place and took to them to a small café type bakery. Most of the small tables were occupied as Jim and Johanna got in line, but the amount of patrons assured him that the place must be good.

"They have ice cream," Johanna announced, her eyes spying the ice cream freezer.

"I'm glad; I didn't want you to be disappointed," he quipped. "What kind are you going to get?"

"I don't know…I love vanilla but I love strawberry too."

"Have both," he told her. "It's your birthday, you're allowed."

She laughed softly as they moved up in line. "I don't know if they'll let me have a bowl with both."

"I guess we'll find out," he said as they stepped up to the counter. "Can she have a bowl with vanilla and strawberry in it?" he asked.

"Of course," the woman smiled. "That isn't a problem."

"What kind are you getting, Jim?" Johanna asked.

"I'll have the chocolate," he replied and then looking back at Johanna he said, "Pick out a piece of cake."

"We're getting cake too?"

"Yes, I promised your mother that you'd have cake for your birthday."

"Is it your birthday?" the cashier asked.

"Yes," Johanna smiled.

"Then you go ahead and pick out what you want, we don't charge for cake when it's for a birthday."

"You can't beat that," Jim remarked.

"No you can't," she replied, her gaze scanning the slices that were in the display case. "I'll take that one," she said, pointing to a slice of yellow cake that had white icing and a large rose made of pink icing on top of it.

"That suits you," Jim said lightly. "It screams birthday cake."

"That's just how I wanted it," she laughed. "Now pick out yours."

Jim pointed to a piece of chocolate cake and she laughed once more. "I knew you'd pick that one."

"I'm a simple man," he teased, wrapping an arm around her waist for a quick squeeze as their order was totaled.

"You seem more like a man who has part of his mind on pleasing my mother," Johanna teased.

"Well how can I not take it into consideration? She's already unhappy with me for having you out of town and she made me promise that you'd have a good birthday. I don't want you telling her that I let the two of you down."

"You're afraid she'll hunt you down."

He nodded. "I don't want a vengeful mother after me…I've got my own mother for that."

"He's just being a good son-in-law," the cashier said as she placed the plates of cake on a tray.

"We're not married," he said as the woman turned to dish up the ice cream.

"Well then a good son-in-law to be."

"He is, isn't he," Johanna said, patting his arm in a silent 'play along' manner.

"You're a lucky girl," the older woman said as she placed their dishes of ice cream on the tray.

"Yes I am," she agreed as Jim shot her an amused grin.

"You have a nice birthday," the cashier told her; "And if you need anything else, you let me know."

They thanked her and took their tray to a small booth in the back of the room. After they were settled in, Jim waited until Johanna took a bite of her cake. "How is it?" he asked.

"Wonderful," she smiled. "Try yours."

He stabbed his fork into his cake and took a bite, nodding as he swallowed. "You're right, it is wonderful."

"I'm glad we got a good cab driver," she remarked as she tasted her ice cream.

"If I had known it would be this good, I would've tipped him."

Johanna savored her cake and ice cream and when she finished, Jim pulled a small flat package the size of an envelope from the inside pocket of his suit jacket. "Happy Birthday," he said as he slid it across the table to her.

"More of Natalie's work?" she teased, peeling away the paper.

He nodded. "She has to make herself useful once in awhile."

"You're spoiling me," she commented as she found that an envelope did indeed rest beneath the paper.

"I like spoiling you…I just hope you'll like what's in there."

Johanna slid her nail beneath the flap of the envelope and opened it, extracting two small slips of paper. Her brow furrowed in puzzlement until she turned them over and saw that they were concert tickets to see The Eagles during their stop in the city on their tour kicking off in June. "Oh my God," she exclaimed.

Jim smiled as she met his eye. "You like it?"

"Oh my God," she repeated. "Of course I like it! They're my favorite! I didn't know the tickets were on sale yet."

"I didn't either," he replied. "But when I saw the article in the paper about their tour coming here in June, I called a friend who has a brother who sells tickets. I had to wait a few weeks, but he went ahead and reserved them for me."

"I can't believe you did this," she said in awe as she glanced down at the tickets again, the seats were great, third row center. She couldn't believe that she would get to be that close to her favorite band.

"I know how much you love their music so when I knew they were coming New York, I just had to take you to see them…it's just lucky that I could get the tickets in time for your birthday. I picked them up the same day I had Angie out for ice cream."

"This is so great," she murmured; "I can't wait for us to go."

"I'm glad I could make you happy."

"You always make me happy," Johanna murmured; tucking the tickets back into the envelope and placing it in her purse before she got up and rounded the small table, sliding into the booth beside him. She touched his chin with the tips of her fingers, making him turn his face towards hers and then she kissed him, trying to pour everything she couldn't say into the action.

"Thank you," she said softly once there kiss was over. "This has been a wonderful birthday."

He drew her back for another kiss. "Only the best for you, sweetheart," he murmured.

She slipped her arms around him in an embrace. "I'm going to be looking forward to this concert every day…and I hope they play our song."

Jim smiled. "I hope they do too…if they don't, then we'll just have to catch them again the next time they come back."

"You really are spoiling me," she laughed softly as she pulled out of his arms.

"Enjoy it," he said as he gently caught her hand and pressed a soft kiss against it. "You deserve to be spoiled as often as possible."

After dessert, Johanna decided against seeking out a club or bar, reminding Jim that they'd had wine with their dinner and that she didn't think it was a good idea for them to go somewhere where they'd be liable to have a few drinks. They had to be back in court the next morning and she wanted her head to be clear. Jim agreed that was best and they went with plan B and saw a late movie.

Things were cozy between them as they made their way back to the hotel, her hand remaining snugly in his even as they walked through the lobby. Jim caught sight of a man he'd been keeping an eye on the last few days. He'd seen this man loitering in the lobby and in the hallway where their rooms were. He always seemed to be watching Johanna and he had a feeling that this man was just waiting for a chance to catch her alone but he wasn't about to let that happen. Jim noted that the mystery man headed for the elevator as soon as he caught sight of them, no doubt to await their arrival upstairs.

"Are you okay?" Johanna asked as they headed for the elevators.

"I'm fine."

"You seem tense all of a sudden."

Jim waited until they were on the elevator and the doors had slid shut before answering her. "There's a man who's been watching us just about the whole time we've been here," he told her. "More specifically, he's been watching you, probably in hopes of getting you alone."

"Why didn't you tell me before?"

"Because at first I thought maybe it was just a coincidence and that I was overly suspicious but I don't think that's the case anymore. I didn't want to worry you, I'm always with you and we always leave my room together so I figured you were safe. I didn't really want to draw your attention to him…it might've encouraged him."

Johanna shifted closer to him without notice and his hand tightened around hers. "Don't worry, I'll take care of you," he told her.

She smiled softly. "I know you will."

The doors of the elevator slid open and they stepped into the hallway. Jim's eyes scanned the corridor but he didn't see one anyone at first. He could feel nervous tension in Johanna's body language and he wished that he hadn't told her but he hadn't any choice…and maybe it was best that she was aware. They were halfway to his room when he saw movement in the shadowy area further up the hallway. This was going to stop, he thought to himself, a plan taking shape as he pushed Johanna back against the wall and kissed her.

He knew that he had caught her off guard and when he broke their kiss, he pressed quick kisses against her jaw. "Play along," he whispered in her ear. "Pretend like I'm telling you what's in store for you."

She nodded, bringing a smile to her lips as her arms slipped around him. Jim kissed her once again, and then whispered as he trailed kisses along her neck. "I want him to see us like this…and then once I have you locked in the room, I'm going to have a word with him."

Her arms tightened around him. "Is that wise?"

He nodded. "It has to be done…and he better hope he gets the hint."

There was worry in her eyes so he kissed her again before pulling her away from the wall and wrapping his arm around her waist. He swiftly guided her to his room as the man stepped out of the shadows. Jim acted as though he didn't see him as he ushered Johanna inside.

"I don't think you should go out there," she said, catching hold of his coat once they were inside.

"Don't worry about me, sweetheart," he replied, brushing a kiss against her lips. "You just lock this door behind me; I'll be back in a couple minutes."

She saw that his mind was made up but she didn't like it…but she knew how stubborn he could be and that fighting him wouldn't do her any good. "Don't be long," she murmured.

"I won't be," he said as he opened the door and stepped back into the hallway. He heard Johanna turn the lock and he didn't have to look far to find the mystery man, he had apparently been moving closer to their door. When he saw Jim, he turned to hurry away.

"Hey," Jim said, following behind him. "Wait a minute."

"What?" the man asked, trying too hard to act innocent.

"I want to know why you've been watching us the last several days."

"I don't know what you're talking about. I haven't been watching you."

Jim reached out with lightning speed and grabbed the lapels of the man's jacket. "Alright, then why have you been watching my fiancée?"

"If she's your fiancée why does she have her own room?"

"We have two rooms because we don't like having neighbors for one thing, and second, her mother is a very proper woman; we appease her by purporting to observe proprieties; not that it's any of your business, now why have you been watching her…and digging into our business?"

"That's my business."

Jim's hands closed more tightly on the man's jacket and he slammed him into the wall. "Anything that concerns her is my business and whatever you have in mind, you better just forget it because I'd kill you if you even breathed on her. Now you better quit following us and watching us or you're in for a world of trouble. Do I make myself clear?"

He said nothing, merely glaring at Jim. "Do I make myself clear?" he asked once again, slamming him against the wall once more; "Or do I go call the police now?"

His eyes widened. "No, don't do that!"

"Then don't you ever let me see you hanging around again, because I will call the police…to pick up what's left of you. Now get out of my sight and stay out of it," Jim said as he let go of him.

The other man hurried away and Jim returned to his door and knocked. "Jo, let me in."

She had been standing at the door, straining to hear and she hurried released the lock and allowed him inside. "Is everything okay?" she asked.

"Everything's fine," he told her, shrugging out of his coat. "But if anyone asks, you're my fiancée."

Johanna laughed softly. "Seems like I can't go anywhere without getting engaged or married to you for the duration."

He grinned at her as he tweaked her side. "Act like you don't like it. That's why you wanted to come to Albany with me; you were hoping to renew our pretend marriage."

"Mhmm," she replied, side eyeing him as she picked up her coat and shoes that she had discarded and carried them to her room before returning to his. "I'm starting to think maybe you're the one who had ulterior motives for wanting me along. Maybe you were the one hoping to reconcile."

Jim laughed as he clicked on the TV and settled back on one side of the bed, patting the empty spot next to him in invitation. "Are you accusing me of mixing business with pleasure?"

"Maybe I am," she remarked as she joined him.

"There's no law against that, is there?" he asked, flicking a lock of hair off of her shoulder.

"None that I'm aware of…although some might ask if it's professional."

"I can be very professional," Jim stated.

"Is that right?"

He nodded. "You should know that by now. Haven't I always meant business with you, sweetheart?"

"I don't know," she said, dropping her tone an octave. "Have you?"

The air between them became charged and he claimed her lips in a searing kiss that left her breathless.

"I'd say so," he murmured.

A smile tugged at the corners of her mouth. "We got off topic, you know."

He shook his head. "I don't know that at all; I like this topic just fine."

"I know…but is our issue resolved? You know, that one out in the hallway?"

"I believe so," Jim remarked. "I told him I'd kill him if he so much as breathed on you. He seemed to get the hint."

"My hero," Johanna said softly, caressing his face before stealing a kiss.

It seemed like all of their playfulness and that left over charge in the atmosphere combined and before she realized it, they were locked in a heated exchange of kisses and touches that only made her crave more as the minutes passed, fading into each other as those sparks of desire were whipped into a searing flame. She felt his hand gliding up her leg, and then his fingertips slipped beneath the hem of her dress and lazily glided higher, making her want so much…and yet slamming her back to reality as well. She could let it go on…she wanted to…but he hadn't said the words that would make it okay to do so and she just wasn't sure that she could overlook that fact tonight; no matter how badly they both wanted it.

"Jim," she whispered, but his only response was a kiss that she couldn't resist until she felt the hand beneath her dress beginning to move again. "We can't," she said breathlessly as she pushed at him.

His hand slid back down her leg and out from under her dress. "We'll slow down," he murmured; need driving him and begging him to keep her from changing her mind. He softened his next kiss and forced his hands not to roam too far.

She shook her head and pushed against him once more. "No…we can't," she stated, managing to move away from him.

"Don't go," he said as she scrambled off the bed.

"You know I can't stay," she replied as she hurried to the door of her room that she had left ajar.

"Jo…come back," Jim pleaded before he could stop himself. "It'll be alright."

"No, I can't,' she said regretfully as she stepped across the threshold. "I just…I can't. I'm sorry."

Jim raked a hand through his hair as her door slammed shut. Seduction hadn't been part of his plans for her…which he was grateful for, seeing as how he'd be disappointed at the moment if they had been. Not that he wasn't still disappointed, he was…disappointed and frustrated that every time it came to this point that she pulled back. Why did she keep running from him? Why couldn't they just have tonight? He blew out a breath and forced himself to stop thinking like he was some crazed teenager that couldn't control himself. They couldn't have tonight because she didn't want to go there, despite all the evidence that she did want to go there, but still…that was the answer and he'd have to accept it…along with a cold shower.

Johanna's heart was pounding as she leaned against the door. She had been far too tempted to cross that line and apparently Jim hadn't been having any qualms about it either, at least not yet. She sighed and moved away from the door, a part of her wishing that she wasn't such a coward about this whole thing. She reached for the zipper of her dress while she was in the middle of mentally berating herself but she found that the zipper wouldn't budge no matter how much she tugged on it.

"Why do you hate me?" she asked as she rolled her eyes heavenward.

Johanna sighed in disgust, was this her punishment for letting things get out of hand again? Or was it punishment for not allowing it to go far enough. She squeezed her eyes shut in irritation, what was she going to do now? She didn't relish the idea of cutting the dress off, she liked it and it hadn't been cheap. She also didn't like the idea of sleeping in it. There was only one option left, she thought to herself as she stared at the door that joined her room to Jim's. She moved toward it with hesitation and then raised her hand and knocked.

Jim had just roughly thrown his shirt on the chair in anticipation of taking a shower when the knock sounded at the door. His heart leapt; maybe she had changed her mind. He hurried across the room, hoping that was the case. He pulled the door open, his gaze meeting hers in silent askance about her return.

Johanna swallowed hard, her eyes betraying her by darting away from his face and down to his bare chest. She curled her hands, itching to reach out and touch.

"Jo," he murmured.

She licked her lips nervously as she forced her eyes to meet his once again. "The zipper's stuck on my dress," she stammered.

That wasn't exactly the answer he had been hoping for…unless of course it was code. Maybe she was too shy to say she had changed her mind. He reached for her, pulling her into the room and then turning her so that her back was facing him. He swept her dark hair over her shoulder, his fingers grazing her neck and sending jolts of fire through her.

He couldn't resist the urge to brush a kiss against the back of her neck before he grasped the zipper and tugged. It didn't budge. He tried again, using more force and it finally gave. In most cases, he would've only lowered it to the middle of her back and allowed her to take over from there…but this time he just couldn't. He lowered it all the way, taking in the view of her creamy skin and the lacy band of her strapless bra.

Jim reached out, his fingertips moving of their own accord as they trailed along her spine, making her shiver in response. Johanna closed her eyes as he became bolder, his hand moving over her back, his lips against her the base of her neck. His hand remained between the parted material of her dress, caressing her skin as he moved to her side, his fingertips drawing lazy circles that were slowly driving her crazy. He pressed fiery kisses against her back, his hand moving further, gliding across her flat stomach. She sucked in a breath and sank back against him. The strap of her dress had fallen off of her shoulder and down her arm and Jim took the opportunity to drag his lips across the exposed area as his hand roamed upwards, leaving a scorching tail along her rib cage.

Johanna turned then, desperate to kiss and touch, forcing his hand to slip out of her dress. Jim pulled her against him and her hands splayed against his chest to steady herself as his lips crashed against hers. Her hands were greedy, moving across his skin, drinking him in and yet moving slowly enough to bestow upon him the same torture that he had given her. She managed to brush her lips against his chest before he recaptured them in his heated onslaught. She wasn't aware that he had pressed her back against the wall until he abandoned her lips, his mouth falling against her neck in a fiery assault. She dug her nails into his shoulder in response, her breathing ragged as her unoccupied fingers sank into his hair.

His hands seemed to be everywhere at once but her mind focused on the sensation of one of those hands gliding over her hip and down her thigh, pausing there for a moment before moving down to where her leg was hooked around his. Before she could form a semblance of thought, he had lifted her off of her feet and her legs wrapped around him of their own accord. Somewhere in her mind, a little voice whispered stop but she ignored it as his mouth touched hers again.

Jim peeled her away from the wall and carried her back to his bed, laying her down with a sense of urgency. Her hands moved over the heated skin of his back as he began to pull at her dress, tugging the other strap off of her shoulder. Her brain finally caught up with her when she felt his hand slip under the hem of her dress again, his fingertips grazing the inside of her thigh and slowly inching higher. She slipped her hand between them and pushed against his chest.

"No," she said breathlessly. "I can't do this."

"Are you sure about that?" Jim asked, brushing kisses against her collarbone.

"No," she breathed, his fingers moving against her thigh once again.

"That's what I thought," he replied before reclaiming her lips.

He wasn't making this decision easy, Johanna thought to herself. She wanted him…badly…but this wasn't the way she wanted it and the way she wanted it only presented a host of complicated thoughts. Why did she have to have a conscience?

"I can't," she murmured, pushing him away and moving out from beneath him. Her legs were unsteady as she stood and she stumbled against the bed before she managed to get them to cooperate.

"Johanna," he breathed, scrubbing a hand over his face.

"I'm sorry," she said softly.

The rational side of his brain understood and readily accepted that she wasn't ready yet and that it was probably for the best. The side of him that wasn't rational and wanted her so badly that he could barely think straight still wasn't appeased with that logic. "Why?"

"Why?" she repeated.

Jim shook his head, trying to get himself under control. "Forget I asked."

She shifted on her feet, her dress unzipped, its straps hanging off of her shoulders and yet she debated if she should push that question instead of running. "Why am I sorry?" she asked. "Or why did I stop."

He scrubbed a hand over his face. "I don't know."

She felt like they were on dangerous ground as that question hung between them and she moved to the door. "Jo," he called out.

"What?"

"Not that you can't trust me, but…lock the door on your side," he told her gruffly.

She nodded and fled into her own room and shut the door, snapping the lock into place. Tomorrow was going to be awkward.

Johanna stifled a small groan as the phone on the nightstand rang. It had been a mostly sleepless night and she shoved a hand through her tousled hair before she reached for the offending device. "Hello," she said tiredly.

"Good morning," Sharon's overly perky voice answered.

She sighed. "Sharon, do you have any idea what time it is?"

"It's a little after seven; what's wrong, did I interrupt something?"

"No!" she exclaimed with a little more zeal than she should have.

"Johanna McKenzie," Sharon stated with amusement as she picked up on something in her friend's voice. "Is Jim Beckett in that bed with you?"

"No!" she exclaimed again.

"Are you sure? Because you sound very guilty."

"I assure you that I'm alone," Johanna answered.

"Then why do you sound like something is going on?"

"Nothing's going on."

Sharon was quiet for a moment. "Something happened, didn't it."

"Sharon," she sighed.

"Oh my God, something did happen!" her secretary squealed. "Tell me everything."

"Nothing happened," Johanna insisted.

The other woman scoffed. "We've known each other since we were seventeen, you can't lie to me. Now come on, out with it. Did you and Jim take advantage of that out of town hotel room?"

She felt warmth flooding her cheeks. "Almost."

"Almost!" Sharon repeated; causing Johanna to flinch at the pitch of her tone. "You know you have to tell me now, right? Because I won't let you alone until you do."

"There's not much to tell...it started to happen...and then it didn't."

"Why didn't it happen?"

"Because I'm a coward," Johanna said as she fell back against her pillow.

Sharon sighed. "Hold on, I have to smack my head off the table."

"Ha ha," Johanna replied; "You're so funny."

"Just how far was it before you put on the breaks?"

"It was almost getting to the point of no return."

"You should've gone to the point of no return," Sharon remarked. "You'd like it there."

She smirked. "It isn't like I've never been there before."

"Yeah, but you've never been there with Jim."

"Don't remind me," she muttered.

"Having a change of heart?" the secretary asked.

"Every five minutes," she reluctantly admitted, keeping her voice low so that Jim couldn't overhear her in the next room.

"So go to his room and tell him you changed your mind and you want to pick up where you left off."

"Oh yeah right, Sharon!" Johanna retorted; "Like I'm really going to do that."

She laughed. "I'm sure he won't mind; especially if things were getting as out of hand as you seem to be alluding to...in fact if it was almost the point of no return, he'd probably love for you to come pick up from where you left off."

"That's not going to happen."

"Oh why not? You know you want to and he wants to and quite frankly, the majority of the office thinks you both need to, so just go do it."

"Wow, Sharon; really? Just go knock on the door and tell him that everybody thinks we need sleep together so lets just do it? That's not cheap and classless or anything."

Sharon chuckled. "I probably wouldn't be that blunt about it. Just go say that you want to kiss him good morning...if you do it right, that should last until lunch time."

Johanna was certain that her cheeks were as red as her nail polish. "I can't do that...I don't even know how I'm going to look him in the eye when I see him."

"Christ, Jo; what the hell did you do to make you feel that way? I mean you've told me that things have gotten a little heated between you before; this couldn't have been much different."

"I acted like a teenager," she exclaimed in a hushed voice.

"How?"

"By running away...twice."

"Twice?"

Johanna sighed heavily. "I don't think I want to talk about this anymore."

"You ran away twice?"

"Sharon, please," she pleaded. "Can't we talk about this when I get home...that is if we absolutely must talk about it."

"Fine," her friend relented. "I was calling to see when you're leaving."

"I think things should finish up in court this morning, speaking of which I guess I better get up and get moving around, we have to be there at nine. Hopefully we'll be leaving this evening. If we do, I'll probably be home late."

"Don't worry; I'll let you rest before I pry the rest of the story out of you."

"That has to be the mark of true friendship," Johanna said sarcastically.

Sharon laughed. "I still say you should go finish it...you have plenty of time before you have to be in court."

"Goodbye, Sharon," she stated; hanging up the phone while her friend was still saying goodbye.

She sighed with disgust and snuggled back into her pillow, she needed to go back to sleep…and she needed this day to magically fast forward itself so she could go through the humiliation without the pain.

Jim felt restless as he got ready for work, of course technically speaking he was restless in the sense that he hadn't gotten much rest the night before, he thought to himself. He rubbed the back of his neck and then finished shoving files into his briefcase. He hoped they could get home tonight, if they did, he might think about taking tomorrow off. His gaze darted toward the door of Johanna's room and he hesitated. She'd been right to stop them…but he wished that she hadn't. He also wished that he didn't feel so frustrated with her; he had been the one to start it, not her…although she had gone along with it willingly enough. He blew out a breath, it didn't matter. Maybe she had thought she was ready to cross that line and then realized that she wasn't. A woman was entitled to change her mind, and she had every right to say no. He respected that, he'd never make her do something that she wasn't 100 percent sure that she wanted to do. It was fine…she was killing him…but it was fine. He could take it…for now.

Figuring that there was no point in dragging his feet, Jim pushed away those thoughts and that lingering sense of disappointment and went to the door and knocked. They had to get breakfast and then get to court; last night was over and done with, they'd just have to push it to the back of their minds and move on as always. She didn't answer the first knock so he knocked again, wondering if she was still in the shower, and then he hurriedly decided that that wasn't a notion he should be thinking of. He knocked again; surely she didn't leave without him…did she?

"Jo," he called out. "Are you ready?"

"Almost," she called back, her voice distant as if she was standing in the doorway of the bathroom. He smirked; she must still be fussing with her hair.

"Come on, Jo; we need to get a move on if you want to eat breakfast."

"Go on ahead if you want," she answered and he was sure he heard the undertone of annoyance in her voice.

"I'm not going anywhere without you; now quit playing with your hair and let's go."

"I'm not playing with my hair. I'm putting my makeup on."

"Should that really take so long?" he asked. "It isn't like you have anything that you need to work so hard to hide."

Johanna smirked at the door; that's what he thought. She had dark circles under her eyes and she'd had to scan her body for any visible marks courtesy of him. "I'll be ready in a minute and if that doesn't suit you, you can go without me. I can find my way to work."

Jim reigned in his temper; there was no reason for them to be bickering. "I'll wait," he said, softening his tone. She didn't respond and he moved away from the door and sat down on the bed. It felt like this day could go wrong at any given second…maybe it already had.

Five minutes later, which was four minutes past her proclaimed minute, Jim thought to himself although he knew better than to say so, he heard the lock releasing on her side of the door. She stepped inside his room, her coat on, briefcase and purse in hand. "I'm ready," she said but she didn't look at him and that concerned him a little.

"Let's go," he said as he rose from the foot of the bed and picked up his briefcase. She was out the door and in the hallway before he even crossed the room and he couldn't help thinking that it wasn't a good sign.

They went down to the hotel dining room and ate breakfast, the air between them mostly filled with silence as if they were strangers. It didn't make either one of them feel good but Johanna didn't know what to say and it was hard to act as though nothing had happened. She pushed her eggs around her plate, she had barely eaten half but she always found it difficult to eat when she felt off kilter.

"Are you ready to go?" Jim asked, breaking into her thoughts.

"I'm ready," she said, pushing her chair back from the table and picking up her briefcase and purse.

As they stood together outside the hotel waiting for a cab, Jim decided that something needed to be done. He wasn't really sure what to say but he thought that maybe anything was better than nothing. He reached out curled his hand around hers. The action caused her to look at him for what might've been the first time that morning.

"It's alright," he said quietly as he gave her a smile.

"What is?" she asked.

"Last night," he replied and her gaze darted away. He squeezed her hand in response. "It's nothing to be ashamed of…is it?"

Johanna shrugged. "I don't really know anymore."

He released a heavy breath. "I can't lie to you and say that I'm sorry that things were going the way they were."

A small smile tugged at her lips. "Do you really think I'd believe for a moment that you were?"

He gave a quiet laugh. "Probably not…but listen, if you think I'm mad because you wanted to stop, you're wrong. I'm not mad at you. I'd never want you to do something you didn't want to do."

"I know," she replied, her voice almost a whisper. "But it wasn't that I didn't want to…it was just that I couldn't. It just didn't feel like the right time…as silly as that sounds."

Jim shook his head. "No; that's not silly, and I get it, Jo. I'd never hold it against you for saying no."

She didn't want him to get the wrong idea, although she was sure that he knew what she meant…but just the same, maybe she should say it anyway. "I'm not saying that I'm always going to say no…I just…"

"You just want it to be right," he finished.

She nodded. "Yeah…because I don't want there to be any regrets."

He pulled her close, slipping his arm around her waist. "I get it, and I agree. You only killed me a little, but apparently I'm twisted enough to enjoy the torture," he teased, hoping to lighten the mood.

Johanna laughed. "I'm sorry, I let it go too far…but you weren't making it easy."

"I should hope not; if it was easy for you to say no than I would've been doing something wrong."

She swatted him playfully. "Don't go getting full of yourself; you need your mind focused on your job today."

"Don't worry, sweetheart; my mind will be on the job…but I wanted to make sure we were okay, because if we weren't, then I don't think either one of us would be at our best today."

"We're okay," she smiled, knowing that he was right.

"Good, let's keep it that way."

"There's nothing I want more," she replied as the cab pulled up.

By late afternoon, Jim and Johanna walked out of the courtroom with a victory in their case. "Should we head home or celebrate first?" Jim asked as they stood outside the courthouse.

"Let's celebrate first," she answered.

"Drinks?"

"Cake."

"Cake?" he repeated.

Johanna nodded. "Nothing makes a victory sweeter than a celebratory piece of cake…especially if you can get some ice cream to go with it."

"You just want to go back to that bakery," he laughed.

"It's all your fault," she remarked. "You're the one who took me there."

"Alright, we'll celebrate your way with cake and ice cream and then we'll celebrate my way with a drink."

"Sounds good to me," Johanna replied; "Then we can see about getting home tonight."

"We'll make it back late tonight. I think I'm going to take tomorrow off though since my schedule is clear."

Johanna considered that idea. "I should do the same; tomorrow's Friday anyway. Why go in to the office when I can do paperwork at home?"

He hailed them a cab and then took her hand. "I give you permission to stay home tomorrow."

She laughed lightly. "Is that on par with having a note from my mother?"

He nodded. "It's almost as good as a note from your mother…and it has the added bonus of being able to call each other if we're bored."

"Who can turn down an option like that?" she teased.

"Definitely not a woman as smart as you," Jim commented as they climbed into the back of the cab.

"I see victory makes you extra charming."

He grinned. "What does it do for you, sweetheart?"

A sassy smile spread across her lips. "There are some things a man should find out for himself."

"I believe you've told me that before," he answered.

"I always mean it," she replied, the smile still clinging to her lips.

Jim smiled back at her but refrained from commenting further. One day he'd find out all of those things she hinted at…one day…hopefully soon.

Their celebration of cake and drinks went on to include plans for dinner as well. By the time they made it back to the hotel to pack, snow was falling somewhat heavily.

"I hope we're not going to get snowed in," Johanna said once she had checked her room over one last time to make sure that she hadn't forgotten anything.

"We'll be fine," Jim answered. "It's just a little snow shower."

"Maybe we should stay here for another night and head home tomorrow."

He shook his head. "We'd run more risk of being snowed in if we stayed another night. We'll make it back to the city just fine."

"I know we'll be fine but I'm thinking about the train being delayed or canceled. It doesn't seem to take much for snow to accumulate up here."

"I'm sure we're not going to have any problems with the train. I think it'd take more than what's out there to delay us."

"You're forgetting that we still have an hour and a half to wait for that train, a lot could happen between now and then."

He sighed. "If you want to stay, stay; but I'm going home. Now are you coming or not?"

Her eyes narrowed at him. "I'm going with you, I just expect there to be a delay of some sorts."

"Fine, you expect it all you want; maybe that will keep it from happening. Are you ready? We better go ahead and leave, it might be hard to get a cab."

"I'm ready," she said as she slipped into her coat and buttoned it up before pulling her gloves from her pocket and slipping them on as well.

Jim picked up some of her luggage with his and she followed behind him out the door, all the while thinking that they were probably being foolish in giving up their rooms for the night.

Three hours later, Jim blew out a frustrated breath and glanced at Johanna. "Don't even say it," he told her.

"Say what?"

"You know what."

"You mean, I told you so?" she asked. "Because I did, you know. I told you this was going to happen…I told you snow accumulates quickly here. My Uncle lives here, I know all about how fast snow becomes a problem in this part of the state."

"Well since we have plenty of time, do you want to go pay him a visit?"

She glared at him. "Hell would have to freeze over first. I prayed the whole time we were here that I wouldn't run into him anywhere."

"It's too bad you didn't pray for a clear forecast."

"Don't put this on me; I told you it would be like this."

"You didn't have to come with me; you could've stayed at the hotel for the night."

"I'm not staying here by myself! You just wish I had stayed at the hotel so you wouldn't have to hear me say I told you so, well I did tell you!"

"I know, you told me," he retorted. "We could've taken an earlier train but you're the one who wanted cake."

"You wanted to celebrate too; it was your idea to have drinks after the cake."

"Yeah, but you're the one who said 'we may as well have dinner before we leave'," he reminded her.

"You didn't seem to have any qualms about that; I mean it wasn't like I had to ask twice and shove the burger down your throat."

Jim rubbed a hand over his face and leaned his head back against the wall. "Why are we bickering?"

Johanna shrugged. "Because there's nothing else to do in a train station this time of night."

"We could try sleeping."

She turned her head toward him, looking at him as if he was crazy. "If you think for one minute that I'm closing my eyes here, you're sadly mistaken."

"Why not? A lot of people have gone to sleep here."

She shook her head. "Not me; you don't know who's lurking around. No way; my eyes stay open."

"I'll protect you," he said with a grin.

"How are you going to do that if you're asleep?"

"I'd sense if danger was coming."

"Uh huh."

"Okay, fine; I'll sleep and you protect me."

"I'll think about it," she quipped.

Jim smiled but didn't respond as he closed his eyes. A few minutes later, he felt Johanna swatting his chest. "You are not going to sleep and let me sit here by myself," she proclaimed.

"How are you by yourself when I'm sitting here beside you?" he laughed.

"I feel alone if you're asleep…and these places give me the creeps at night."

"Why?"

"I don't know; they just do."

"Is this another one of those 'my brother told me a story' things?" Jim asked with amusement.

"Not that I recall," Johanna replied. "I just don't like these places at night. We should've gone back to the hotel; maybe we could've gotten our rooms back."

"I doubt it and besides, what if we did that and missed the train."

She looked at him. "Jim, we both know that train isn't leaving until early morning at best."

"That may be, but why drag us and our luggage back to the hotel, where we probably wouldn't get our room back and then have to lug it to some other hotel until we did find a place, sleep for a few hours and then head back here again? That's ridiculous, we'll just stay here."

"Why are you the boss of this?"

"Because I'm older," he quipped. "I have seniority."

Johanna rolled her eyes. "Well the next time we go on a trip, I'm the boss."

"Fine; my mother did teach me to take turns."

She sighed. "It's going to be a long night."

Jim smiled and wrapped an arm around her, pulling her against his side. "True, but you're spending it with me, so it can't be all that bad now, can it?"

"That remains to be seen," she laughed as she made herself comfortable in the circle of his arm.

It was nearly noon the next day when Jim helped Johanna carry her luggage into her apartment.

"I am so tired," she commented, dropping her keys onto the stand along with her purse and briefcase.

"So am I," he answered. "Do you have everything?"

She looked around at the small collection of bags. "Yeah; that's everything."

"You do have your gifts, right?"

Johanna smiled. "The concert tickets are in my purse, I'm going to put them in my jewelry box for safekeeping. My ballerina is in the suitcase; I checked three times before we left to make sure I had both gifts."

"Just making sure."

She stepped forward and hugged him tightly. "Thank you for my birthday, it was wonderful."

"You're welcome, sweetheart," Jim replied; pulling back enough to brush a kiss against her lips. "You get some sleep and I'll talk to you later."

"You get some rest too," she told him. "I'm sorry I wouldn't let you sleep at the train station."

He laughed lightly. "That's okay; I would've felt bad about it if you had."

"In that case, I won't feel as badly as I did for keeping you awake."

"You can keep me awake anytime you want, Jo," he said with a grin.

She gave him a soft smack against his shoulder. "Go home and dream about it."

"If that's all I can get, so be it," he teased before brushing a knuckle against her chin. "By the way, you did a good job on this case. I'm proud of you."

Johanna smiled shyly under his praise; "You did good work too; I'm just as proud of you…we're a good team."

"The best," he stated.

She nodded in agreement and followed him back to the door. "I'll talk to you later," she told him.

Jim pressed another kiss against her lips. "That's something you can count on. Sweet dreams, sweetheart."

Johanna smiled as she said goodbye and closed the door behind him. She always had sweet dreams when it came to him.