"No Place Like It"
------------------------
Disclaimer: None of these characters belong to me; I'm just borrowing
them for a short period of time.
Show: Once and Again
Pairing: Jessie/Katie
Rating: R eventually
Author: Janine
Synopsis: Sequel to "About a Girl"
Email: jbslayer27@yahoo.com
===========================================================================
Part 11
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"Late as always," Dillon greeted grasping Katie's hand and pulling her unceremoniously into the apartment. "Luckily for you, you manage to make it fashionable."
"Luck has nothing to do with it," Katie replied flinging her coat at the other woman with a wink. The apartment was filled with the sounds of voices, laughter and music. It sounded like a good party, she was almost sorry she had been late.
"Please," Dillon said rolling her eyes. "You still haven't figured out how to set your watch properly," she said motioning for Katie to follow her into the other room.
"What is properly?" Katie asked in a faux philosophical tone, smiling as Dillon batted her on the arm. "What's the party for anyway, I know it's good to have me back in Chicago but…"
"Shut up. It's not for you," Dillon replied. "It's for me. It's all about me, me, me," she continued whisking two glasses off of a nearby waiter's tray and handing one to Katie. "Paid for by … not me," she went on cheerily. "Mr. Falk is now a very rich man thanks to me, it's the least he could do."
"Any reason to throw a good party, right?" Katie asked laughing. Back in Spain Dillon had been the only person able to keep up with her, it amazed her that the other woman had seemingly been able to keep it up and hold on to her original liver.
"Ah, sarcasm, so nice to see you too, K," Dillon said leading her over to the kitchen where a congregation of people had gathered. "I'm bored of talking to you know, bug your lawyer," she finished dropping Katie off by Jessie's side and fluttering away into the crowd.
"I've never been to one of her parties before," Jessie commented watching Dillon flutter off. "It doesn't bring out the best side of her personality."
"Her personality has a best side?" Katie asked looking over at Jessie, thinking that there were no words in the English language to describe how utterly delectable the blonde looked. Dressed up, dressed down, barely dressed, whatever the occasion Jessie always looked great.
"Vicious," the man beside Jessie commented, drawing Katie's attention over to him. "I like that in a woman," he continued extending his hand.
"Bryan Winters, Kathryn Singer," Jessie introduced as Katie grasped the man's hand shaking firmly.
"Singer," he repeated before smiling. "Ah, the creator of Dillon's fetish for mangos," he said causing Katie to look over at Jessie questioningly. The blonde merely shrugged, but before Katie could ask Bryan what he meant by that he continued talking. "It's a pleasure to finally meet you."
Katie was about to delve into her grab bag of small talk, when a voice coming from somewhere in the apartment started calling the Bryan and he gracefully excused himself.
"So, you made it," Jessie commented popping a cherry into her mouth as she watched Bryan scurry off. She really wasn't that sad to see him go, she'd had about all the small talk she could handle for the evening.
"As if I would turn down an opportunity to spend time with you," Katie replied looking over at Jessie to see her raise her eyebrow, no doubt because of her tardiness. "I haven't figured out how to program my watch properly," she finally admitted shoving the offending object in front of Jessie.
"That's so sad," Jessie said softly looking up at her clearly meaning it. Katie glared at her. "Let me see it," Jessie continued starting to feel bad for mocking her.
"Could I borrow her for a minute?" Dillon asked sidling up beside Katie, but looking at Jessie. "We need to retire to my bedroom to make mad, passionate love."
"Dillon!" said an older, slightly graying man as she rose from where he had been crouched behind the counter, a fresh bottle of wine in his hand.
"Heh," Dillon replied blushing uncomfortably. "Hey dad. I was joking of course…cause the coats are in my room," she continued with a smile, having recovered from the initial shock of seeing her father there.
"You really not to stop saying things like that before it gets back to Bart," he responded shaking his head at her before making his way back into the crowd. He loved the girl he really did, she was the apple of his eye and all of that, but she had a couple screws loose she did.
"Who's Bart?" Katie asked smiling.
"Nobody," Dillon replied looking after her father.
"Bart Jenkins?" Jessie asked surprised. "Why would anything get back to Bart Jenkins?"
"Who's Bart Jenkins?" Katie asked again.
"Nobody," Dillon replied again picking up Katie's drink and downing it.
"He takes care of the firms investments," Jessie said looking over at Katie, knowing that the woman would keep asking the same question until she got an answer.
"Why do we care about Bart?" Katie asked looking back over at Dillon.
"Because he's my fucking finance alright," Dillon responded testily, glaring at both of them.
"Bart?!?" Jessie asked incredulously. "Bart Jenkins?"
"Yes, Bart, Bart Jenkins," Dillon replied leaning against the counter. "He's not as dull as he looks," she muttered feeling the need to defend her soon to be husband. It was one thing for her to make fun of him, but another thing entire for two women she'd once hit on to do it. Bart was a great guy, you just had to get to know him.
"Which one is he?" Katie asked surveying the room. She had to get a look at his guy.
"Over there," Jessie said pointing over by the window. "With the bow tie."
"Oh my god," Katie exclaimed upon spotting the man in question. He was tall, which was good, and she had to admit rather good looking, but never in a million years would she have picked him out as the man to make Dillon settle down.
"I like the bow tie," Dillon grumbled good-naturedly smiling slightly a moment later.
"And here I thought you were saving yourself for me," Jessie replied resting her hand on Dillon's shoulder and squeezing slightly.
Katie's head whipped around at that as she eyed the quaint little scene before her. "You two dated?" she squeaked.
"We dated often," Dillon replied relaxed once more, and playful now that she was sure her father wasn't anywhere around. "Sometimes multiple times on the same night … if you know what I mean, and I think that you do," she continued winking suggestively.
Katie looked aghast upon hearing this her attention flickering between Jessie who was biting her lip and Dillon who was looking lecherously thoughtful.
"Was that some kind of joke?" Katie asked looking back over at Jessie whose body had started to shake as she continued to bite her lip.
"Of course it was," Dillon replied looking over at Katie keenly. "Jessie knows I'm a scoundrel," she continued softly still eyeing Katie while thinking that the other woman used to have a sense of humour. "Hmmm," she exhaled a moment later. "Interesting."
"What is?" Jessie asked finally having gotten herself under control. Katie was adorable when she got agitated or upset.
"Nothing," Dillon said absently, her attention focused across the room. "I've gotta go rescue Bart, Bryan's talking to him again," she and with that she fluttered off into the crowd again.
"So," Katie continued leaning against the counter. "You two never dated then?" she went on in what she hoped was a casual tone. She knew it had probably just been one of Dillon's stupid jokes, but since the words had come out of the other woman's mouth she'd felt panicky and slightly nauseous. She could safely say that she was not enjoying the feeling. Jealousy clearly didn't suit her at all.
"I don't know," Jessie replied honestly, watching Katie closely. She could tell that the other woman was trying to appear blasé but she was failing miserably, and Jessie wondered what could have been bothering her, if what she had said about never having been with Dillon was true. Lord knew that Katie had a past, so she surely shouldn't have been getting uptight about hers – not that there was anything to get uptight about in this case.
"What do you mean you don't know?" Katie asked looking over at her incredulously. "How can you not know?"
"We've been out," Jessie replied her back straightening slightly. "Whether they were dates, or friendly outings I'm not sure. She's not the easiest person to read, you know, I mean she flirts with inanimate objects," she continued. "Not that it's really your business," she added picking up her glass.
Katie looked over at her and sighed. "You're right," she said softly, her gaze wandering around the kitchen restlessly as she tired to rein in her completely inappropriate feelings of resentment about the fact that Jessie and Dillon may have gone out. "It's just…" she started to say, and then stopped knowing that what she was about to say would have stepped over all sorts of lines. Jessie was right, it was none of her business, they'd been broken up for years, and they weren't even really together now. She had absolutely no right to be quizzing Jessie or to be laying her jealously on her, especially considering the fact that Jessie had been more than generous with not questioning her about her past. "You're right," she repeated leaving them in an uncomfortable silence.
"I fixed your watch," Jessie said a moment later pushing the object back over to Katie.
"Thanks," the dirty blonde said, looking over at Jessie and smiling softly before fixing the watch back to her wrist.
"You're welcome," Jessie responded smiling back before lowering her gaze once more.
"You look nice," Katie continued glancing at Jessie nervously though she already knew she'd been forgiven for her early transgression.
"So do you," Jessie returned.
"You wanna go riffle through Dillon's underwear drawer and raffle some off?" Katie asked her eyes focused on the countertop, looking up only when she heard Jessie started to laugh. "I was serious," she continued when Jessie continued to chuckle, shaking her head at her.
"I know," Jessie said sobering enough to speak, but still smiling. "That's why it's funny."
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Part 12
2003 – Jessie's Attic
-------------------------------
Jessie heard a loud obnoxious banging at her door, then heard some feet stomping up the stairs before she saw Zoë's head pop up over the banister and saw the girl begin to march towards her phone in hand. She really hadn't missed people bursting into her room when they were in Australia.
"I didn't say you could come in," Jessie said glaring at the kid.
"Yeah, well I wouldn't have if you'd just have picked up the phone like a normal person," Zoë said handing the offending object over the Jessie. "Some of us have work to do."
"Who is it?" Jessie asked already knowing the answer.
"It's Wednesday night, who do you think it is?" Zoë asked rolling her eyes at Jessie and heading out of the attic.
"Hello," Jessie said into the receiver her tone bored. Zoë was right, whenever the phone rang in pulses on Wednesday night they all knew who it was. Katie. Only this Wednesday night, Katie's call had come about three hours late and Jessie had decided not to pick up when her girlfriend apparently remembered her, however Zoë had other ideas.
"Try to contain your excitement, you don't want to rupture anything," Katie replied sarcastically. "I'm not interrupting anything am I?" she asked surprised at Jessie's lackluster response to her call.
"Just reading," Jessie replied in the same dull tone. She knew she was being unreasonable, and the truth was the moment she heard Katie's voice her heart skipped a beat, but she couldn't help feeling hurt that on one of the few opportunities they got to talk, Katie had put her off for whatever it was she had been doing with her new friends, in her new country, in her new best life ever.
"Must be a very good book," Katie replied slowly. "Listen I'm sorry I'm calling a bit late," she continued figuring that's what must have been getting Jessie all riled up.
"Did you forget?" Jessie asked softly unable to help herself. This was the first time it had happened and Katie had apologized and she should've been happy to leave it at that, but she just couldn't.
"No, never," Katie responded adamantly. "These calls, talking to you … it means as much to me as it means to you," she continued sighing.
"It's just that you've got this whole new, exciting life that I'm not a part of, and…"
"I was at the library doing propositional calculus," Katie interjected. "New, but not particularly exciting," she continued sighing again. "I feel like I'm missing things with you too you know. The play, the camping trip …"
"I wasn't trying to…" Jessie started to say. It hadn't been her intention to make Katie feel bad for having a life that was the last thing she'd wanted to do.
"I know. I know that. It's just … I don't know what to say when you say stuff like that," Katie said dejectedly. "I love you, I think about you all the time, I mean they've started calling me J.Lo for Jessie lover," she continued shaking her head. "I just … you know," she went on sighing. "I don't know."
"Yeah," Jessie said in a similar tone. "So what's propositional calculus?"
"It's this really retarded logic shit, where if Peter was in the shed or in the garden, P would equal S or something," Katie replied glad for the change of topic. When she talked to Jessie she hated it when they got into talking about how much it sucked to be separated because there was just nothing they could do about it. All she wanted to do was just hear about Jessie's voice, and listening to her complain about Zoë, and find out what Karen was up to. She just wanted to hear her voice, just wanted to talk to her and concentrate on what they could do, what they did have, not what they'd lost. "I don't get it. This guy Keith from the class was trying to help me out, but I'm officially a dumbass."
"I think your ass is cute," Jessie replied smiling.
"Really?" Katie asked playfully. "In that case, what're you wearing?"
"Nothing," Jessie said.
"Really?" Katie asked her voice rising as her eyes popped open. She was suddenly glad she was alone in the room.
"Shorts and a tank top," Jessie replied smiling.
"Tease," Katie accused though when it was teasing like that she didn't really mind.
"I'll make it up to you," Jessie promised, referring to Katie's impending return for Christmas.
"Can you write that down, laminate it and mail it to me?" Katie asked. "I'm going to hold you to that."
=======================================================================
TBC…
Comments always welcome! jbslayer27@yahoo.com
------------------------
Disclaimer: None of these characters belong to me; I'm just borrowing
them for a short period of time.
Show: Once and Again
Pairing: Jessie/Katie
Rating: R eventually
Author: Janine
Synopsis: Sequel to "About a Girl"
Email: jbslayer27@yahoo.com
===========================================================================
Part 11
-----------
"Late as always," Dillon greeted grasping Katie's hand and pulling her unceremoniously into the apartment. "Luckily for you, you manage to make it fashionable."
"Luck has nothing to do with it," Katie replied flinging her coat at the other woman with a wink. The apartment was filled with the sounds of voices, laughter and music. It sounded like a good party, she was almost sorry she had been late.
"Please," Dillon said rolling her eyes. "You still haven't figured out how to set your watch properly," she said motioning for Katie to follow her into the other room.
"What is properly?" Katie asked in a faux philosophical tone, smiling as Dillon batted her on the arm. "What's the party for anyway, I know it's good to have me back in Chicago but…"
"Shut up. It's not for you," Dillon replied. "It's for me. It's all about me, me, me," she continued whisking two glasses off of a nearby waiter's tray and handing one to Katie. "Paid for by … not me," she went on cheerily. "Mr. Falk is now a very rich man thanks to me, it's the least he could do."
"Any reason to throw a good party, right?" Katie asked laughing. Back in Spain Dillon had been the only person able to keep up with her, it amazed her that the other woman had seemingly been able to keep it up and hold on to her original liver.
"Ah, sarcasm, so nice to see you too, K," Dillon said leading her over to the kitchen where a congregation of people had gathered. "I'm bored of talking to you know, bug your lawyer," she finished dropping Katie off by Jessie's side and fluttering away into the crowd.
"I've never been to one of her parties before," Jessie commented watching Dillon flutter off. "It doesn't bring out the best side of her personality."
"Her personality has a best side?" Katie asked looking over at Jessie, thinking that there were no words in the English language to describe how utterly delectable the blonde looked. Dressed up, dressed down, barely dressed, whatever the occasion Jessie always looked great.
"Vicious," the man beside Jessie commented, drawing Katie's attention over to him. "I like that in a woman," he continued extending his hand.
"Bryan Winters, Kathryn Singer," Jessie introduced as Katie grasped the man's hand shaking firmly.
"Singer," he repeated before smiling. "Ah, the creator of Dillon's fetish for mangos," he said causing Katie to look over at Jessie questioningly. The blonde merely shrugged, but before Katie could ask Bryan what he meant by that he continued talking. "It's a pleasure to finally meet you."
Katie was about to delve into her grab bag of small talk, when a voice coming from somewhere in the apartment started calling the Bryan and he gracefully excused himself.
"So, you made it," Jessie commented popping a cherry into her mouth as she watched Bryan scurry off. She really wasn't that sad to see him go, she'd had about all the small talk she could handle for the evening.
"As if I would turn down an opportunity to spend time with you," Katie replied looking over at Jessie to see her raise her eyebrow, no doubt because of her tardiness. "I haven't figured out how to program my watch properly," she finally admitted shoving the offending object in front of Jessie.
"That's so sad," Jessie said softly looking up at her clearly meaning it. Katie glared at her. "Let me see it," Jessie continued starting to feel bad for mocking her.
"Could I borrow her for a minute?" Dillon asked sidling up beside Katie, but looking at Jessie. "We need to retire to my bedroom to make mad, passionate love."
"Dillon!" said an older, slightly graying man as she rose from where he had been crouched behind the counter, a fresh bottle of wine in his hand.
"Heh," Dillon replied blushing uncomfortably. "Hey dad. I was joking of course…cause the coats are in my room," she continued with a smile, having recovered from the initial shock of seeing her father there.
"You really not to stop saying things like that before it gets back to Bart," he responded shaking his head at her before making his way back into the crowd. He loved the girl he really did, she was the apple of his eye and all of that, but she had a couple screws loose she did.
"Who's Bart?" Katie asked smiling.
"Nobody," Dillon replied looking after her father.
"Bart Jenkins?" Jessie asked surprised. "Why would anything get back to Bart Jenkins?"
"Who's Bart Jenkins?" Katie asked again.
"Nobody," Dillon replied again picking up Katie's drink and downing it.
"He takes care of the firms investments," Jessie said looking over at Katie, knowing that the woman would keep asking the same question until she got an answer.
"Why do we care about Bart?" Katie asked looking back over at Dillon.
"Because he's my fucking finance alright," Dillon responded testily, glaring at both of them.
"Bart?!?" Jessie asked incredulously. "Bart Jenkins?"
"Yes, Bart, Bart Jenkins," Dillon replied leaning against the counter. "He's not as dull as he looks," she muttered feeling the need to defend her soon to be husband. It was one thing for her to make fun of him, but another thing entire for two women she'd once hit on to do it. Bart was a great guy, you just had to get to know him.
"Which one is he?" Katie asked surveying the room. She had to get a look at his guy.
"Over there," Jessie said pointing over by the window. "With the bow tie."
"Oh my god," Katie exclaimed upon spotting the man in question. He was tall, which was good, and she had to admit rather good looking, but never in a million years would she have picked him out as the man to make Dillon settle down.
"I like the bow tie," Dillon grumbled good-naturedly smiling slightly a moment later.
"And here I thought you were saving yourself for me," Jessie replied resting her hand on Dillon's shoulder and squeezing slightly.
Katie's head whipped around at that as she eyed the quaint little scene before her. "You two dated?" she squeaked.
"We dated often," Dillon replied relaxed once more, and playful now that she was sure her father wasn't anywhere around. "Sometimes multiple times on the same night … if you know what I mean, and I think that you do," she continued winking suggestively.
Katie looked aghast upon hearing this her attention flickering between Jessie who was biting her lip and Dillon who was looking lecherously thoughtful.
"Was that some kind of joke?" Katie asked looking back over at Jessie whose body had started to shake as she continued to bite her lip.
"Of course it was," Dillon replied looking over at Katie keenly. "Jessie knows I'm a scoundrel," she continued softly still eyeing Katie while thinking that the other woman used to have a sense of humour. "Hmmm," she exhaled a moment later. "Interesting."
"What is?" Jessie asked finally having gotten herself under control. Katie was adorable when she got agitated or upset.
"Nothing," Dillon said absently, her attention focused across the room. "I've gotta go rescue Bart, Bryan's talking to him again," she and with that she fluttered off into the crowd again.
"So," Katie continued leaning against the counter. "You two never dated then?" she went on in what she hoped was a casual tone. She knew it had probably just been one of Dillon's stupid jokes, but since the words had come out of the other woman's mouth she'd felt panicky and slightly nauseous. She could safely say that she was not enjoying the feeling. Jealousy clearly didn't suit her at all.
"I don't know," Jessie replied honestly, watching Katie closely. She could tell that the other woman was trying to appear blasé but she was failing miserably, and Jessie wondered what could have been bothering her, if what she had said about never having been with Dillon was true. Lord knew that Katie had a past, so she surely shouldn't have been getting uptight about hers – not that there was anything to get uptight about in this case.
"What do you mean you don't know?" Katie asked looking over at her incredulously. "How can you not know?"
"We've been out," Jessie replied her back straightening slightly. "Whether they were dates, or friendly outings I'm not sure. She's not the easiest person to read, you know, I mean she flirts with inanimate objects," she continued. "Not that it's really your business," she added picking up her glass.
Katie looked over at her and sighed. "You're right," she said softly, her gaze wandering around the kitchen restlessly as she tired to rein in her completely inappropriate feelings of resentment about the fact that Jessie and Dillon may have gone out. "It's just…" she started to say, and then stopped knowing that what she was about to say would have stepped over all sorts of lines. Jessie was right, it was none of her business, they'd been broken up for years, and they weren't even really together now. She had absolutely no right to be quizzing Jessie or to be laying her jealously on her, especially considering the fact that Jessie had been more than generous with not questioning her about her past. "You're right," she repeated leaving them in an uncomfortable silence.
"I fixed your watch," Jessie said a moment later pushing the object back over to Katie.
"Thanks," the dirty blonde said, looking over at Jessie and smiling softly before fixing the watch back to her wrist.
"You're welcome," Jessie responded smiling back before lowering her gaze once more.
"You look nice," Katie continued glancing at Jessie nervously though she already knew she'd been forgiven for her early transgression.
"So do you," Jessie returned.
"You wanna go riffle through Dillon's underwear drawer and raffle some off?" Katie asked her eyes focused on the countertop, looking up only when she heard Jessie started to laugh. "I was serious," she continued when Jessie continued to chuckle, shaking her head at her.
"I know," Jessie said sobering enough to speak, but still smiling. "That's why it's funny."
===========================================================================
Part 12
2003 – Jessie's Attic
-------------------------------
Jessie heard a loud obnoxious banging at her door, then heard some feet stomping up the stairs before she saw Zoë's head pop up over the banister and saw the girl begin to march towards her phone in hand. She really hadn't missed people bursting into her room when they were in Australia.
"I didn't say you could come in," Jessie said glaring at the kid.
"Yeah, well I wouldn't have if you'd just have picked up the phone like a normal person," Zoë said handing the offending object over the Jessie. "Some of us have work to do."
"Who is it?" Jessie asked already knowing the answer.
"It's Wednesday night, who do you think it is?" Zoë asked rolling her eyes at Jessie and heading out of the attic.
"Hello," Jessie said into the receiver her tone bored. Zoë was right, whenever the phone rang in pulses on Wednesday night they all knew who it was. Katie. Only this Wednesday night, Katie's call had come about three hours late and Jessie had decided not to pick up when her girlfriend apparently remembered her, however Zoë had other ideas.
"Try to contain your excitement, you don't want to rupture anything," Katie replied sarcastically. "I'm not interrupting anything am I?" she asked surprised at Jessie's lackluster response to her call.
"Just reading," Jessie replied in the same dull tone. She knew she was being unreasonable, and the truth was the moment she heard Katie's voice her heart skipped a beat, but she couldn't help feeling hurt that on one of the few opportunities they got to talk, Katie had put her off for whatever it was she had been doing with her new friends, in her new country, in her new best life ever.
"Must be a very good book," Katie replied slowly. "Listen I'm sorry I'm calling a bit late," she continued figuring that's what must have been getting Jessie all riled up.
"Did you forget?" Jessie asked softly unable to help herself. This was the first time it had happened and Katie had apologized and she should've been happy to leave it at that, but she just couldn't.
"No, never," Katie responded adamantly. "These calls, talking to you … it means as much to me as it means to you," she continued sighing.
"It's just that you've got this whole new, exciting life that I'm not a part of, and…"
"I was at the library doing propositional calculus," Katie interjected. "New, but not particularly exciting," she continued sighing again. "I feel like I'm missing things with you too you know. The play, the camping trip …"
"I wasn't trying to…" Jessie started to say. It hadn't been her intention to make Katie feel bad for having a life that was the last thing she'd wanted to do.
"I know. I know that. It's just … I don't know what to say when you say stuff like that," Katie said dejectedly. "I love you, I think about you all the time, I mean they've started calling me J.Lo for Jessie lover," she continued shaking her head. "I just … you know," she went on sighing. "I don't know."
"Yeah," Jessie said in a similar tone. "So what's propositional calculus?"
"It's this really retarded logic shit, where if Peter was in the shed or in the garden, P would equal S or something," Katie replied glad for the change of topic. When she talked to Jessie she hated it when they got into talking about how much it sucked to be separated because there was just nothing they could do about it. All she wanted to do was just hear about Jessie's voice, and listening to her complain about Zoë, and find out what Karen was up to. She just wanted to hear her voice, just wanted to talk to her and concentrate on what they could do, what they did have, not what they'd lost. "I don't get it. This guy Keith from the class was trying to help me out, but I'm officially a dumbass."
"I think your ass is cute," Jessie replied smiling.
"Really?" Katie asked playfully. "In that case, what're you wearing?"
"Nothing," Jessie said.
"Really?" Katie asked her voice rising as her eyes popped open. She was suddenly glad she was alone in the room.
"Shorts and a tank top," Jessie replied smiling.
"Tease," Katie accused though when it was teasing like that she didn't really mind.
"I'll make it up to you," Jessie promised, referring to Katie's impending return for Christmas.
"Can you write that down, laminate it and mail it to me?" Katie asked. "I'm going to hold you to that."
=======================================================================
TBC…
Comments always welcome! jbslayer27@yahoo.com