EVERY BREATH YOU TAKE:
By Indigo Butterflyz
February 2002
Disclaimer: I don't them and (unfortunately or fortunately, depending how you look at it ^_^;;) never will =(
Spoilers: Mainly Season 4… however, be warned that some chapters may refer to episodes from other seasons…
Author's Note: Well, well, well… another part of EBYT ^_^… I've had a couple of questions asking why I've kept some of the season four characters in the story. Firstly, I've only seen up to season four so I'm not at all familiar with the characters or storylines introduced in season five. Secondly, for characters, like Mark (well actually especially Mark), they weren't really given a lot to do during the season. Possibly hence the reason why they mysteriously 'disappeared' in season five. So basically this is my outlet to give these characters a storyline. Isn't fan fiction great? Okay, enough rambling…
CHAPTER TWO: EVERY MOVE YOU MAKE:
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There are some times moments in a person's life when they have no control of what is going on around them. Things appear to be happening in slow motion, but they aren't fast enough to even respond or react. For some people, they may experience this feeling when witnessing a serious accident, for others it maybe triggered by some other life-altering event. For me, right then, it was Larry Paul walking through those courtroom doors and back into my life…
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Whispers filled the courtroom, as everyone began discussing the unexpected entrance of the stranger.
"Larry," Ally heard Corretta mutter in surprise upon seeing her former boss.
It might have been a statement that Corretta had intended for Ally to react to, but she didn't. Ally still hadn't turned around, and was instead gripping the sides of her chair in total disbelief that she was in the same room as this man.
"Silence," the judge bellowed, banging his gavel. The noise subsided, as he eyed the dark haired man standing at the back of the courtroom. "I do not like interruptions in my court room Mr.… Mr.…"
"Paul," Larry friendly introduced himself, briskly walking up to join his client, standing behind the defense's table. Although Ally did not turn her head to look at him, she could smell his aftershave as he passed by her table. "Larry Paul your Honour, here to represent Mr. Henderson."
"Ah, Mr. Paul," Judge Phillips exclaimed, unhappy with the lawyer's tardiness, "How nice of you to finally join us."
"Again I sorry your Honour," Larry put his briefcase on the table and opened it as he spoke, "as you probably already know, I only took over this case yesterday and a part from not being fully prepared, I only arrived in Boston from Detroit just over an hour ago because my flight was delayed. I am sure your Honour can sympathize with what the state traffic in this city from the airport to here was like."
"Yes. Yes, very well," the judge casually replied. "Let's just continue with case. What do you have to say Mr. Paul?"
"Right away your Honour," Larry raised his index finger, signaling his start. "First of all I would like to ask for today's assembly be adjourned…"
"What?" Corretta stood up in incredulity, as more murmurs formed within the crowd. "Your Honour, the case has not even started yet and Mr. Paul wants it to be delayed?" The young lawyer pointed to Larry, who in return playfully waved and mouthed back the word 'hello.'
"Mr. Paul," Judge Phillips firmly spoke, "is this some sort of joke?"
"No your Honour," Larry turned his attention back to the judge, his hands behind his back.
"Your Honour," Corretta exclaimed, "Mr. Paul already admitted to being less than prepared. Can't you see this is one of his tactics to buy himself more time?"
Larry raised his eyebrows at Corretta, "I said I was 'not fully prepared.' There is a difference." He picked up one of the files from inside his briefcase and opened it, scanning over the notes inside. "According to the records that Mr. Henderson's previous attorney left, there has been no deposition held between the two parties in order to communicate prior to this trial." His rhythmic tone of voice accentuated his confidence and smooth articulation… just like Ally remembered. "All I ask your Honour," Larry explained with a compassionate expression, "is to be able to hold council with the other party in order to attempt a reconciliation… an agreement before coming here and wasting the court and your Honour's precious time."
Corretta glanced briefly at Ally before retorting towards Larry, "And what makes YOU think that YOU would be any more successful at reaching an agreement when the lawyer before you didn't think it was possible?"
"Be--CAUSE," Larry proudly stated, straightening the glasses on his nose and giving a teasing grin, "Ms Lipp, Mr. Henderson didn't have Larry Paul representing him before."
Before Corretta could reply, Judge Phillips cautioned the two lawyers, "That's enough." He surveyed the room, paying close attention to the defendants' and plaintiffs' faces. "Very well, Mr. Paul, you shall have your wish. It is not the court's inclination to waste its time deciding cases that have not yet tried to be resolved outside of court. I am giving you until next Wednesday to set up a meeting with each other, and if no settlement can be reached, then this case shall be rescheduled for Wednesday morning. Whether you are prepared or not Mr. Paul," he warned Larry, before banging his gavel and addressing the rest of the room, "Court is adjourned."
"Thanks a lot," Corretta sarcastically said to Ally as she sat down. "I could have really used your help just then," she continued, referring to her deliberation with Larry.
Ally shook her head, realizing it wasn't all just a dream. Larry Paul was in the same city she was in… the same room even. She was about look sideways across the aisle to see him, when Mrs. Henderson grabbed Ally's arm and asked in confusion, "What just happened?"
"I have no idea," Ally inattentively replied, mistaking her question for one about the sudden entrance of Larry. Corretta elbowed her co-counselor, causing Ally to yell, "Ow! Huh? Oh… I… uhhh… I mean it looks like the defence wants to meet with me -- I mean us," Ally mentally scolded herself, "for a deposition."
"Is that a bad thing?" Mrs. Henderson asked in worry.
Ally slowly shook her head from side to side, "Mm, not really. It is perfectly normal for both sides to meet before a trial starts."
"Like I said Mrs. Henderson," Corretta reassuringly added, "it's probably one of the defence's devices to gain more time to prepare."
"Should we be worried?" Mrs. Henderson fervently asked, still not convinced. "That Mr. Paul sounded pretty convincing just then."
Ally and Corretta gave each other a knowing look. "Don't worry," Ally confidently said, standing up, as she glanced around the room, "I can handle Larry Paul."
*****
"Hey Nelle," Mark greeted as he slowly walked into her office, "are you busy?"
The blonde looked up from work, looking at the piles of paperwork stacked up on her desk. "What do you think?" she coolly asked, returning her attention back to her work.
"Ah, right," he understandingly replied, walking towards the door, "gotcha." He was halfway there, when he spun around and asked, "You wouldn't have to have any, I don't know, any extra clients that you haven't got time to deal with, do you?"
Nelle looked up again, giving Mark an ice-cold stare in suspicion. "Why?"
"No reason," he innocently answered, walking over and sitting on her desk, "it's just that I thought as a fellow lawyer and your co-worker I might offer to take some of them off your hands."
In truth, upon learning from Jackson at the bar that he had already managed to find a major company to represent, Mark had been frantically searching for new clients. A week had almost passed and Mark still had not had any success. His last resort was to approach Nelle, for he had discovered Richard had initially hired her under the assumption that she had connections to wealthy clientele.
"Why?" Nelle repeated, still not completely convinced by the lawyer's conviction.
"Well," he stood up, walking around the room in hope that a believable excuse would come to him, "you know how Richard talked about cutting back all of our salaries if we didn't reap in the money. I just thought I would try and do my part to try and ensure that we," he pointed to the two of them, "aren't any worse off this year." He tried his best to smile sincerely in order to appear genuine in his cause.
Nelle leaned back in her chair, removing the glasses from her eyes and placing them on her desk. She stared at Mark, contemplating his suggestion. After a moment, she sat up straight again and said, "Okay."
"Really?" Mark asked, shocked that his poor excuse had swayed her.
"Yes." She coolly smiled, "You're right to suggest such a thing. However," she opened her desk drawer and pulled out a file, "I am already tied up in the middle of all my cases, except this one." She handed Mark the file. "Goldstein versus Miller," she began to explain, "but it's a pretty tough case Mark. I was planning on getting a co-councilor to help me, if you want I could ask Ally--"
"--NO!" Mark shouted, remembering the conditions of the bet.
"Well, if you're sure," Nelle replied, putting her glasses back on.
"I'm sure." With both hands holding on to the unopened file he stared at it, as if the Gods themselves had handed him something blessed and made of pure solid gold. "Thanks Nelle," he said, walking away.
"Good luck," she shouted as he left the room, closing the door behind him. "You're going to need it," she muttered, returning to her work.
*****
"Ally, Ally!!" Elaine cried out as her employer entered Cage & Fish. Ally ignored her personal assistant and headed straight for her office, not caring who or what she bumped into in the process. "Is it true? Is Larry really back?"
"WHO," Ally spun around in anger, "told you?"
"So it's true then." Elaine slyly smiled. "Nelle said she saw him running into court this morning."
Ally dumped her briefcase on the side of desk, as she sat down in her chair in frustration. "Great. Just GREAT!" she exclaimed, thinking it was all a joke that everyone had known about beforehand, "So did EVERYONE know that he is back in town except me?"
"Of course not," Elaine earnestly replied as she put her hand against her chest, "I was just as shocked to find out that Larry Paul was back." Ally sighed upon hearing his name being used again. "After all he did to you. Waltzing into town, sweeping you off your feet, kissing his ex-girlfriend, leaving to spend time with his son in Detroit, coming back, moving in with you, getting 'friendly' with his ex-wife and then leaving you with a note."
"Thank you, Elaine," Ally replied, now feeling worse having her whole relationship with Larry condensed into a thirty second anecdote, "I feel so much better having you here." She forced a smile, revealing her clinched teeth.
"Your welcome," Elaine cheerfully replied, as she left, almost unaware of Ally's real feelings.
"AAHHH!" Ally yelled, reclining back in her chair, covering her eyes with her hands.
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In times like this… there is only one thing to do… or, should I say, only one person to call…
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Ally picked up the phone and begun dialing the number of her therapist. Although, since she had started dating Vincent she had discontinued going to therapy, she still memorized the number -- just in case of urgent situations.
"GGRRaaH!" Ally shouted again, upon hearing an engaged signal, indicating someone on other line was already talking to another person. Angrily she hung up the phone, grumbling, "Why are people always on the phone when it's an emergency?"
Breathing deeply, she stared at the phone.
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Okay, maybe make that two people…
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Reluctantly, Ally picked up the telephone again and dialed. "He's back," she stated simply when the call was answered.
"Who's back, Ally?" Renee replied, recognizing her voice. "John?"
"Larry," Ally sighed, leaning on her desk. "Larry's back."
"OOH," her ex-roommate exclaimed, as Ally recounted their encounter in court.
By time Ally had finished, her head was lying flat on the table, forlorn. Her hair was covering her face as she spoke into the receiver. "…And then he left without saying a word… just like he always does…" she bitterly explained.
"Well," Renee tried to sound cheerful for the benefit of her friend, "maybe he'll call."
"You think?" Ally excitedly sat up, grabbing the receiver with both hands. "Do you think he will?"
"Ally," Renee spoke in a stern motherly tone, "Don't go getting yourself all fixated on something that might not even happen."
"I know, I know," she replied, brushing away the hair from her eyes. "But do you think he will?" she eagerly asked again.
"Ally! That's not the point," Renee explained. "Listen to me, I don't want you acting like a naive and foolish teenage girl waiting for her object of affection to call just because he said he would."
"Well of course not," she stated, slightly annoyed with Renee comparing her to a teenager. "I -- I mean his not even my -- my object of affection… not… anymore…" Ally stuttered trying to convince her roommate what she was saying was true. "And besides," she added, "he didn't even SAY he was going to phone me… so why would I even bother wait and expect a call from him?"
"Good to hear," Renee remarked, although doubt was still evident in her tone of voice. Sighing, she apologized, "I'm sorry, but I have to go now…Take care girl…"
"Right… right." Ally nodded her head, a look of sadness flashing across her face. "Well, bye."
"Did Larry call?" Elaine nosily asked, as she walked into the room, seeing Ally put down the receiver.
"Why does EVERYONE think I want Larry to call?" Ally yelled throwing her hands in the air as she paced about the room. "I AM OVER HIM OKAY? I have BETTER things to do, than just SIT and WAIT for the PHONE to RING… let ALONE expect him to CALL ME!!" Ally looked across her office and saw Vincent standing in the doorway, a more than perplexed expression on his face.
"I was coming in to tell you that Vincent was here," Elaine wickedly smiled before leaving.
Ally's slowly dropped her hands from the air and placed them by her side. "Vincent, hi…" she said, feeling completely embarrassed.
"I just came to pick you up for---" Vincent timidly explained, stepping into the office.
"--Dinner." Ally slapped her forehead as she remembered their date. She leaned against her desk. "I'm sorry Vincent. Do you mind if we cancel tonight." A look of disappointment met her eyes. "It's just as you can see," Ally motioned to all the paperwork behind her, "this case is kinda getting to me."
"No problem," Vincent sympathetically replied. He walked over and kissed her, though it was noticeable that she was halfhearted to reciprocate. "Are you sure?" he asked, pulling back. "I mean, it can't be good to keep yourself cooped up in here working on a case if it is so stressful."
"I'll, I'll be fine," Ally reassured, standing up and walking behind her desk. She casually let her fingers trail across the files piled on the table. "It's just that it doesn't look like the Henderson case is going to be as straight forward as I thought it was going to be." He gave her another look causing Ally to firmly repeat, "I'll be fine."
"Okay," he replied, hesitantly, going to kiss her again, "I'll call you?"
Ally nodded, smiling softly. She slumped into her chair once Vincent had left. Her eyes stared at the phone in front on her. Remembering Renee's comment, Ally scrunched up her nose in defiance.
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I am *not* waiting for NOR expecting *him* to phone…I am NOT!
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*****
And she didn't.
She didn't wait for or expect him to phone the rest of the evening as she distractedly worked late into the night in her office.
She didn't wait for or expect him to phone during the weekend either. Not even when she turned down Vincent's lunch proposal, claiming she wasn't feeling well.
And, she wasn't waiting for or expecting him to call when she constantly kept walking past the phone, making sure there was a dial tone.
And even though she ended up spending her entire weekend sitting on her couch, staring at the phone, she kept telling herself, it wasn't because she was waiting for or expecting him to phone.
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Who am I kidding? I am a total nut!
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*****
It wasn't until Monday night that she heard from Larry again. It looked to be another late night at the office for Ally. However, it wasn't a case that she was working on which detained her from going home. Lost in her thoughts, watching the night sky from her window, Ally stood unconsciously fidgeting with her necklace chain while reflecting on the week that had past.
"Ally?" She spun around, upon hearing her name. There was Larry, aloofly leaning against the doorframe. "Can I come in?"
"Um," she hesitated. She didn't know how to react. Professionally she knew it was not an appropriate time to be holding grudges and bringing in personal feelings to interfere with the case. But the emotional part of her wanted to run up to him and start hitting him for all that he had done to her. Or even better, she wanted for him to leave, to not be there, standing in her office, looking at her with expectant eyes. Yet, for whatever reason, she found herself coolly replying, "Sure."
"Thanks," he briefly smiled as he walked in; his hands shoved deeply in his trench coat pockets.
For a moment there was an awkward silence in the air, as if neither knew what to say. Ally simply quietly stared at Larry, for this was the first time she had been able to obtain a proper look at him since he had unexpectedly arrived back in Boston. He was wearing a navy blue suit and shirt, accompanied by a red tie, suggesting he had just finished work. His hair was spiked slightly around the tip of his forehead, but a part from that it looked exactly the same as it always was. His characteristic black coke bottle framed glasses were upon his nose, causing Ally to half inwardly smile for some unexplainable reason.
"You cut your hair…" Larry finally said, breaking the silence.
Automatically, Ally reached for her hair, remembering that she had cut it shorter since he had been gone. It was now in a similar style to that which she had had when she first joined Cage & Fish. Unwillingly, she felt herself blush under his eyes, causing her to look at her feet in hope that he hadn't noticed. She mentally admonished herself for letting him make her feel this way.
"…I like it," he honestly stated.
Ally's head snapped up, her eyebrows furrowing in anger. "Well," she bitterly replied, "I didn't do it so you would like it." Larry's expression changed for a moment before returning to his usual unreadable appearance. Whether it was sadness that fleetingly crossed his face, Ally could not be entirely sure. "What are you doing here, Larry?"
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Why are you back in my life?
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Larry cleared his throat, flattening his tie against his chest as he walked towards the desk. "Uh, the deposition tomorrow. I came to ask you if we could bring it forward from the afternoon to the morning. I tried ringing you," he pointed to the phone on her desk, which had its receiver off the hook, "but it was engaged."
"Ah, yeah," Ally uneasily acknowledged, "I--um… took the phone off the hook because I didn't want to be disturbed while I was working."
"Right," Larry nodded his head. "Staring into space forlornly must really keep you occupied," he teasingly asserted.
Ally looked at him in disgust, wondering where he got the nerve to walk out and then walk back into her life, compliment her, cause her to blush and finally mock her. And yet at the same time, she felt her anger fade away as looked at him again, seeing him smile that his lopsided grin of his.
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Damn you Larry Paul! Damn you…
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"H-how's Sam?" Ally asked, looking but not really paying attention to the open file in front of her.
"Good," he replied earnestly. "Really good."
"An--And Jamie?" Ally quietly asked, trying to concentrate on the notes on her desk.
"Married," he shrugged his shoulders as he answered.
Ally looked Larry straight in the eye. "--To you?" she blurted in a frantic voice before she covered her mouth with her hands. "I mean," removing her hands, she tried to hide her outburst. "To you?" she repeated in a restrained tone.
But it was too late, Larry had heard her the first time and already a large smile was on his lips.
"No," he smoothly replied. "To a therapist would you believe?"
Ally's mouth opened and then shut in surprise. "Oh," she simply said smiling back, not knowing what else to say.
"Yeah," Larry affirmed, shrugging his shoulders as another period of silence formed between them. "Well, I better be going," he announced, causing a look of disappointment to fall upon Ally's face. "I'll let you get back to your stargazing. I'll see you tomorrow morning then."
"Yeah, tomorrow morning," Ally nodded her head in agreement.
Watching him close her office door behind him, Ally sat back down in her chair and looked at her paperwork. Picking up a pen, she started reviewing her notes. However, try as she might, she was unable to concentrate on what was in front of her. Instead, to her annoyance, her thoughts kept turning back to Larry and how he had commented on her hair.
*****
"Richard! Richard!" Elaine called out as she tried to catch the attention of Cage & Fish's co-owner, as he walked through the main office area.
"What is it Elaine?" he asked, stopping just outside of the lift.
"It's about this year's Christmas party…" It was the next day, and as far as the young assistant was concerned, one day closer to her big night.
"Christmas is weeks away," Richard apathetically replied.
"I know that," Elaine responded, refusing to let his indifference deter her, "which is why I am approaching you now. I need time to prepare for my act." She giggled. "So, I thought I should inform you to keep a slot for my performance just in case you started asking other people volunteer." Richard stared at her in question, causing Elaine to firmly add, "I'm not going to be showed up by anyone this year."
"Ah," the lawyer replied, still not understanding why Elaine was telling him this. Before he could ask, the lift doors opened behind them, causing the two of them to turn around. Out stepped Larry Paul and his client. "Larry!" Richard greeted, an open smile on his face. "Long time no see. Still leaving people notes? Bygones!" he quipped.
"Richard," Larry replied, not exactly pleased to see the man again. "Nice to see you too," he lied. He turned his attention to the Elaine, who had been eyeing him since he entered the office. "Hi, Elaine." Larry quickly smiled, "Can you tell Ally that Mr. Henderson and I are here."
Elaine gave a sexy smirk, as she continued to ogle the attorney. Larry held an indifferent expression, hiding his discomfort. "Ally and Corretta are already in the conference room waiting for you." She licked her lips. "You remember where it is don't you?" she asked, playfully flipping her hair. "I can show you if you like."
"It's okay," Larry replied, quickly raising his hand. "This way Mr. Henderson," he motioned towards his client.
"MMm HMm," Elaine growled, watching Larry walk away. "I almost forgot how gorgeous that man was."
"Was that Larry I just saw?" Nelle asked, walking over to them.
"Uh huh," Elaine replied, her eyes still staring in the direction that Larry had departed.
"I guess he couldn't stay away from me," the tall blonde conceitedly jested.
"Yeah… right…" Elaine meanly retorted, crossing her arms. "You had like, what, one date? And you think after he actually CHOSE Ally over you and dated her, that he would suddenly come back, after she DUMPED him, from Detroit just to see you TWO years later?"
"Sh-she has a point," Richard added, a large smile on his face. He was leaning against a nearby desk, enjoying being between the two women arguing. Seeing the unimpressed expression forming on Nelle's attractive, yet chilling, features he quickly ducked away. Uttering the word "Bygones," as he disappeared, he promptly left, much to Elaine's disappointment.
"Whatever," Nelle coolly replied. Ignoring those she passed, she proudly headed for the unisex, her head held high, desperately trying to stop the tears from flowing.
*****
To be continued…