Title: Double Vision
Author: TheDreamyOne
Rating: R (one or two sexual situations)
Summary: Confusion ensues when Frank is mistaken for his identical cousin.
Type: UC:Undercover/Presidio Med crossover. Fluff...Just going for a bit of fun here. No real plot...just fun.
Disclaimer: UC:Undercover is the property of NBC, Shane Salerno, etc. Presidio Med is the property of CBS, John/Linda Wells, etc. No infringements intended... just felt like using and abusing their characters a tiny bit. *G* Don't sue...just read with having fun in mind.
A/N: This is alternate PM universe where Rae and Nick are NOT together. Please keep that in mind. For further information on Michelle Chambers' background, please read "Moving On" http://www.fanfiction.net/read.php?storyid=1018432
***
Seated at a back table of the elegant restaurant in the Ritz-Carlton of Chicago, Doctors Rae Brennan and Jules Keating watched the room fill to capacity as the couples and groups settled themselves at their tables for an evening of fine dining and dancing.
"It's too bad Sean couldn't make it this weekend," Jules commented absently as she watched a lone woman being seated a few tables away from them at a cozy and secluded table near the dance floor. The woman was blonde and fairly tall, even without the heels she wore. Her skintight, dusk blue evening dress barely touched the middle of her thigh and its demi neckline scooped low, exposing her cleavage. Jules watched curiously as the blonde fiddled with her napkin while she scanned the room; every few seconds her attention would dart back to the restaurant's entrance. The blonde was waiting for someone and Jules wondered if she was waiting on a blind date to show.
Rae nodded and reached for her glass of Chardonnay. Her husband often had to cancel plans that had been made well in advance. "Something came up at the last minute and he had to back out on me. I really appreciate you coming along with very little notice."
Jules' attention drew away from the blonde and back to her friend. "Not a problem. Most of my appointments were rescheduled and the rest are being covered. Besides, who could possibly turn you down when you begged so desperately?" Jules smiled serenely, but both knew why she was really there. It was to try to keep Rae away from Nick. Although Rae was trying to work things out in her marriage, it was not going well. Things were mighty shaky in the Brennan household.
Dr. Nicholas Kokoris was also attending the medical conference being held at the Ritz-Carlton. There were lectures about new surgical procedures for bone marrow transplants as well as vascular procedures. Both subjects interested Nick, although the marrow transplant was what drew Rae to the conference.
"And, speaking of that which you are trying to avoid...did Nick give a reason why he wasn't joining us for dinner?" Jules asked curiously, although she had a pretty good idea. Nick and Michelle Chambers had been hot and heavy for several months and since she had come along, there was little doubt what had him occupied.
Rae smiled thinly. "He said he had an errand to run and then he and Michelle were meeting some old acquaintances later for dinner." Rae noted that, not for the first time since they had sat down, Jules' attention was elsewhere. "And just what has caught your attention, Dr. Keating?"
Jules laughed quietly. "I'm just trying to figure out why that woman is here alone." She was beginning to feel sorry for the blonde, waiting there all alone. Who hadn't been in the scenario of waiting for their date to show up? It could be frustrating as well as humiliating and Jules had been there a time or two. She did not envy the pretty blonde one bit. "It looks like she's waiting for someone."
Rae turned her head to follow the direction Jules indicated. "I think you're right; she searches the room and then her attention returns to the door."
"Yeah," Jules responded sympathetically. "Damn, it sucks to be single."
"It sucks to be married, too," Rae admitted. "The grass isn't always greener. Sometimes you drift apart and lose sight of the love that was once there."
"It's a shame." Jules frowned as she took a sip from her glass. "But look at her, she's alone and she's waiting. How heartbreaking for her if her date doesn't show up. Hell, I've been there; it's no fun."
"Oh, for heaven's sake! You're reading way too much into this and you're bringing me down," Rae admonished softly.
"Hey, it's my scenario here. Look, she's fidgeting now. She won't wait much longer," Jules explained assuredly.
"You're hopeless. Can we order now?" Rae questioned hoping to change the subject. Married, single, or divorced, relationships were difficult to keep healthy. With her marriage in the state it was in, she would rather not think about men or marriage while away from San Fran.
"Possibly, but I like to imagine situations people are in. It passes the time," she joked.
--
Shay glanced around the busy, elegant restaurant for what felt like the millionth time. She was feeling lonely and more than a little patronized by the condescending waiter who would gaze at her sympathetically when he filled her water glass. Thanking him politely, she inwardly seethed at his assumption that she had been stood up. Sure, she had been waiting for almost an hour, but that did not mean her husband was not going to show. After all, he had made her a promise.
Earlier in the day, she had taken L.J., Ariel, and Zack to the park for a little fresh air and sunshine. When they had returned home, the answering machine's annoying red light flashed a signal that a new message had been stored. While balancing Zack on one hip and trying to keep an eye on the other two, she pushed the play button and instantly melted when she heard the voice on the machine. Ashling? Pick up, baby. Guess you're not home. Ash, I'm in-flight. I caught an earlier flight on standby. As soon as I arrive, I need to meet with Dierdre for debriefing. After that...just meet me at the Ritz at 8p.m., okay? Love you. Oh, and Ashling...happy anniversary.
She sighed heavily as she glanced at the doorway again, hoping he would walk in at just that moment. Sweet Jesus, Shay! You're so pathetic, she thought. It's only been three weeks, for God's sake. It used to be that she depended only on herself for anything and now she could not bear to be without one certain person for any length of time. She sighed again as her attention turned toward the dance floor and the couples dancing slowly, cheek to cheek. She missed Frank and the feel of his arms around her.
If he was not such a stubborn man, she and the kids would have gone to Florida with him, but Frank insisted he would not subject her to the stress of seeing his cousin, Tony Jarret, again. *** Tony had requested his trial be held in Florida, where the first murder had taken place. Shay frowned as the memories of that horrid time in their lives surfaced. Tony had killed those poor women, whose only crime had been knowing Frank, for no other reason than to make Frank suffer. Shay had nearly been one of his victims, but that was not the reason behind her anger toward him. That emotion came from the knowledge that Tony had hurt her husband, more than he would ever admit. Shay felt Tony wanted to die for his crimes, and had chosen Florida for the venue of his trial because they still supported the death penalty. If he were found guilty and sentenced to death, he would not have to work up the courage to do it himself.
When the trial dragged on for weeks, she had begun to worry that Frank would not make it home for their anniversary. As the 'big day' neared, she knew he would miss it, so when she heard his message, she had nearly jumped out of her skin with anticipation. She glanced down at her watch and noted the time. Five past Nine. She would give him a few more minutes before she threw in the towel and headed home. In her mind, she pictured Frank sitting impatiently while he went over the happenings of his group during his absence. She smiled a little, thinking about those weeks without Frank. Jake had taken the helm, but no cases had ventured their way. The team took the time to clean house, so to speak, with Cody being the one who barked orders as to what could be touched and what had to be left alone. Basically, Frank was being debriefed to the fact that nothing had happened in his absence. So, where was he?
Another sigh escaped her as she lifted her water glass to her lips. A look of disbelief formed on her face and she lowered her glass slowly to the table. "Tiger," she whispered and stood, slowly moving toward the restaurant's entrance.
***See Cruel Misunderstandings http://fanfiction.net/read.php?storyid=839286
--
"Hey, what do you suppose this is all about?" Jules asked as she motioned toward the blonde leaving her table and heading, as if in a trance, toward the entrance. "Do you think she's finally given up waiting for her date?"
"I don't..." Rae trailed off as her eyes followed the path the blonde was taking. "Nick?" Dressed in a manner she was unaccustomed to seeing, he wore black slacks, a dress jacket with a black turtleneck sweater. He looked very classy and out-of-this-world sexy. She nearly rose from her chair to meet him, but when he moved toward the blonde and swept her into his arms, her limbs lost their ability to move. She remained where she was, not wanting to see them together, and yet, unable to look away.
Jules heard Rae's sharp intake of breath when Nick embraced the stranger fiercely. The couple was close enough to their table that she and Rae received an up-close view of the two and could hear every word.
"Tiger," the blonde sighed contentedly within his arms as she cupped the back of his neck with her right hand when he lowered his head to kiss her.
Jules couldn't remember a time that she had been kissed with such passion and intensity. That the couple had lost themselves within each other was quite evident. "God, I think he's performing a tonsillectomy with his tongue," she uttered, forgetting for a moment Rae's unseemly attachment to the handsome doctor.
"Shut up," Rae whispered harshly. She stared in disbelief as the man who had, at one time, sworn he wanted nothing more than to be with her, held and caressed another woman just yards away from her. The incredulity of the situation only increased when she thought about his professed love for Michelle. Had he always been this cavalier about his relationships?
"I've missed you, mon cadeau," he stated upon breaking the heated kiss. "I've been too long without you in my arms."
"I wish that you never had to leave me, mon amour," she replied, a dazzling smile lighting her face when he ushered her back to her table, his arm held her securely about her waist.
"He's so romantic," Jules whispered as they passed the table where she and Rae were seated. With one glance at Rae, she could see that Rae was devastated. "Oh, I'm sorry, Rae. Wow, I can't believe he didn't even notice us."
"Pretty heartless," Rae muttered before gulping her wine.
"Well, you have to admit, you've told him it's over. And Michelle? I can't believe he's cheating on her!" Jules stared for a moment, her eyes opening wide in shock. "My God! She's married!"
"Who? Michelle?" When Jules shook her head, Rae turned her attention back to the couple and noted the woman's left hand as it rested at the small of Nick's back. Her wedding ring was quite evident. "The bastard," she spat.
--
To be continued...