Title: Back to You- chapter 11
Disclaimer: If I owned Third Watch, I would be so rich. But I don't. And
I'm not.
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Kim had taken Joey to the park after their morning adventure and they'd spent the day running around and having fun. Kim had been in a really good mood lately and she knew if she examined it too closely, she would find out it had something to do with Jimmy. So, she was happy to live in her little land of denial where everything was the same and she just happened to think about her drop-dead gorgeous ex-husband a little more in her spare time. That was when they weren't flirting with one another.
It was getting late and she and Joey were getting hungry, so she decided to take him home and actually cook a meal for her son and Jimmy. Maybe she'd make lasagna. It was Jimmy's favorite.
She chased Joey up the stairs and they burst into the apartment. "Hey, is that you guys?" Jimmy hollered from the bathroom.
"No. It's your other son and ex wife," Kim hollered back, teasing him. He poked his head out of the bathroom and gave her a look.
Kim walked to stand in the bathroom door. Jimmy was wearing a pair of black dress pants, and was in the middle of buttoning up a white silk shirt. He looked beautiful. "What are you getting all dolled up for? Got a hot date," she smirked.
"Actually, yeah," he smirked back and turned to face her. "So. How do I look?"
Kim almost didn't hear the question. She had teased him about the date thing because she didn't know he really had one. She had been thinking while she had been in the park with Joey. Things had been going really great between them. She even admitted that she still was hugely attracted to her ex. It almost felt like they were a family again. Almost. Except he was going on a date. "Kim, you alright?" he asked with concern.
Kim broke out of her thoughts and plastered a smile on her face. "Uh, yeah. I guess I just zoned there for a minute."
"Well, I do have quite a powerful effect on women," he winked.
Kim turned away, forcing a laugh from herself, " Be careful, your head might explode."
Jimmy followed her out to the living room. "So you never answered me. How do I look."
"I think your ego is big enough without me telling you how good you look," Kim laughed and put some distance between herself and Jimmy. She went into the kitchen to see if she had the supplies for lasagna. What she was really doing was hiding behind the counter so he couldn't get close to her.
Jimmy noticed she was acting a little strange. She was acting like he had cooties or something, trying to get as far away from him as possible. "Hey. Are you alright?"
Kim smiled brightly. A little too brightly. "Yeah, I'm good. I was just checking to see if we have the stuff for lasagna."
Just then, Joey burst into the kitchen, "Lasagna?! Are we having lasagna, Mom?" he asked excitedly.
Kim laughed weakly, "Yeah, baby. If we have all the stuff for it."
"Mom's making your favorite, Dad! Do you think we could watch a movie tonight, after dinner," he jumped around.
Jimmy laughed, "I think those doughnuts went right to your head kiddo. I wish I could stay, but I'm going somewhere tonight."
Joey calmed down considerably. If Jimmy or Kim didn't have to work lately, they would stay home together and watch movies or play games. "But Dad, it's your favorite."
"Joey, it's alright. It'll just be you and me tonight okay? We'll watch whatever you want. Well, maybe not whatever, but I promise, we'll have fun," she tried to cheer him up.
Jimmy grabbed a chair and sat down, bringing Joey towards himself, "We'll watch movies together tomorrow night, okay?"
"But mom has to work tomorrow night," Joey said in a small voice.
Jimmy looked to Kim for some help, but she had her back to him. "Okay, well, we'll do it the night after that."
"Whatever," Joey groused and stalked away.
Jimmy watched as his disappointed son walked away. Kim sighed and turned to look at him. "He'll be okay, Jimmy. He's just a little upset. Go finish getting ready for your date. I'll take him down to the movie store."
Jimmy watched her get Joey into his coat and boots. He hated the thought of his son upset with him, but he needed his life back. "I shouldn't be too late tonight. I'll come and say goodnight to you when I get home."
"Okay," Joey said sadly. It was almost enough to make him call of the date, but he watched them walk out the door and slumped on the couch, waiting for his date.
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It had been a week since Jimmy's date with Tina. Things had been different in the house. Joey had eventually forgiven him, but wasn't thrilled with the idea of meeting dad's new chick. Kim had been distant all week. Jimmy couldn't figure out why. She hardly talked to him, and when she did, she couldn't seem to look him in the eye.
It wasn't even that he really liked Tina all that much. I mean, she was beautiful and..well, he couldn't think of much else to say about her. She was your stereotypical dumb blonde. Very into her looks and mainly herself. She had tried to get Jimmy to come home with her, but he made the excuse that he had to go home to his son. She found that all the more endearing and begged to see him again. He even went as far as to explain his delicate living situation, but that seemed to make him look all the more sensitive and attractive to her. Usually he would never mention that he had ever been married or had a kid. At least not on the first date. With a girl like her, he'd go out with for one purpose, and one purpose only. To get laid. Disturbingly, he hadn't even tried to get her to sleep with him, not that it would have taken any work. He had met her while cooling down at Haggerty's with the boys. She had come up to him and started flirting. He asked her out and she said yes.
The only reason he was going out with her was to get his life back. It wasn't that Joey and Kim cramped his lifestyle. On the contrary. He loved having his son with him everyday. And waking up knowing Kim was there, sometimes right there next to him, was amazing. He was getting so used to having her back in his life like that and he knew it wasn't going to last. He was starting to have strong feelings for her again, and he could absolutely not have that happen. She would hate him and never talk to him again.
So, here he was, listening to Tina ramble on about god knows what, waiting for Kim to come home so she could watch Joey
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Kim was deep in thought on her way home. Things had gotten decidedly weird with her still living with Jimmy while he dated other girls. He had every right to, it wasn't like they were together. Kim didn't want to acknowledge the fact that seeing Jimmy with another woman ate her up inside. She knew she was getting too confused about what was going on between them and that something needed to change. Worse yet, was Joey was getting confused. He was getting too comfortable seeing both of his parents together every night. She needed to make a change before he really got hurt. She knew what she had to do. God give her the strength to do it.
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Kim walked in to the apartment and was met by her son who grabbed her around the waist and hung on for dear life. Kim laughed and kissed his head, "I guess you really missed me today."
Joey looked up and gave her a tortured look, "Dad's new girlfriend is here," he said and made a face.
Kim peeked into the living room, but couldn't see anything. "I take it you don't like her?" Kim smiled at her sons' look of disgust.
"She talks to much and treats me like a baby. Mom, I'm almost ten! I hate her!"
Kim knelt down and looked into his eyes, "Baby, you shouldn't say that. You don't even know her."
"She's annoying, Mom. I can't help it!"
Kim chuckled at her sons' distress, "Maybe she's just nervous about meeting you. I'm sure she's a very nice person, otherwise your dad wouldn't like her, right?"
"I guess," Joey pouted.
"Why don't you come with me and we'll watch some t.v. in the bedroom?"
"Okay!" Joey brightened.
Just when she thought she was safe, a high pitched voice caught her off guard. "Oh! You must be Jimmy's ex-wife, Kim! It's so great to meet you! I'm Tina!"
Kim was overwhelmed by this woman's perkiness. "Uh. yeah. Sorry to bother you. I was just taking my son in the bedroom to watch cartoons."
"Oh, god! That's no bother! Ever since Jimmy told me about you, I've been wanting to meet you. Joey is the sweetest little thing!" she nearly squealed.
"Yeah, he's a pretty great kid," Kim smiled politely. Maybe Joey was right. This woman was really annoying. Kim looked around for some excuse to leave, but Jimmy walked in right then.
Jimmy entered the kitchen to find his new (cringe) girlfriend chatting up his majorly uncomfortable looking ex-wife. This was way too weird. Aside from Brooke, Kim had never really met any of the girls he went out with. "Oh, I see you two have already met."
"Oh yeah, we're old friends," Tina giggled and playfully smacked Kim on the arm.
Kim smiled and looked at Jimmy, "You guys can head out if you want," she hopefully suggested.
Just then Joey darted into the room, "You're leaving, Dad?"
"Yeah, bud. Tina and I are going out to dinner."
Joey pouted, "But I thought once Mom got here, we could watch a movie."
Before either Kim or Jimmy could say anything, Tina piped up, "Hey, that sounds like fun. You know Jimmy, we can just stay in tonight if you want. I'd like to get to know Kim and this cutie-pie," she smiled, ruffling Joey's hair.
Kim was trying to conceal her look of horror. "Tina, I already made reservations," Jimmy protested, trying to spare Kim and Joey the agony.
"Nonsense. Come on, Joey. Let's go pick out a movie to watch," she smiled and drug Joey into the living room.
The night was dragging on forever. Joey had excused himself from the table and went to play in his room. Tina was yammering on and on about everything under the sun. She finally came around to the dreaded subject: Kim and Jimmy.
"So, how long were you guys married,?" she asked.
Kim nervously fidgeted with her flannel shirt while Jimmy rubbed the back of his neck, looking around for some diversion, "Um.. four years," he answered uncomfortably.
"Wow! That's a pretty long time. Did he snag you or did you snag him," Tina chuckled and asked Kim.
"Oh god, I don't even remember," she lied. "We just worked together and it kind of happened." Kim stood and started clearing the table. "Why don't I start the dishes."
"Well, as we both know, he can be very charming," Tina giggled and kissed him.
Kim made some sort of noncommittal sound and rushed into the kitchen. She could hear Jimmy's low voice and Tina's annoying high-pitched giggle. 'God, someone please shoot me!'
Kim returned to the table to gather more dishes when Joey made a reappearance. Joey pulled Tina's arms off of Jimmy. "Hey, champ. Can you say excuse me?"
"Can we watch the movie now, Dad?" he asked, completely ignoring what his father had said.
"Joey, that was rude. You not a little kid anymore. You know better than to treat people like that," Jimmy stated.
"I don't have to say sorry to her! She's not my mom!" he burst out. "She's just your dumb new girlfriend!"
"Joey!" Kim and Jimmy yelled, both in shock. Joey's eyes filled with tears and he ran off to his room. Kim turned and looked at Tina, "I'm really sorry about that."
Tina looked a little shocked, "That's alright. It'll just take some time for him to get used to me."
Kim wasn't so sure that was the case though. She looked at Jimmy, "I'll go talk to him and get out of your way. I'll just do the dishes later."
Jimmy nodded but grabbed Kim's wrist gently when she walked by, "Are you sure you don't want me to talk to him now?"
"No. He's probably just tired and you have company," she smiled at Tina. "It'll be fine. You can talk to him later."
Jimmy watched as Kim walked into the bedroom and before he knew it, Tina was at it again, talking her mouth off. Jimmy wondered if it was such a good idea for him to have her around if it upset Joey so much. It wasn't like he needed Joey to like her, he didn't really like her much himself. And the only thing he could think about the whole night is how much he still wanted Kim.
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Kim had taken Joey to the park after their morning adventure and they'd spent the day running around and having fun. Kim had been in a really good mood lately and she knew if she examined it too closely, she would find out it had something to do with Jimmy. So, she was happy to live in her little land of denial where everything was the same and she just happened to think about her drop-dead gorgeous ex-husband a little more in her spare time. That was when they weren't flirting with one another.
It was getting late and she and Joey were getting hungry, so she decided to take him home and actually cook a meal for her son and Jimmy. Maybe she'd make lasagna. It was Jimmy's favorite.
She chased Joey up the stairs and they burst into the apartment. "Hey, is that you guys?" Jimmy hollered from the bathroom.
"No. It's your other son and ex wife," Kim hollered back, teasing him. He poked his head out of the bathroom and gave her a look.
Kim walked to stand in the bathroom door. Jimmy was wearing a pair of black dress pants, and was in the middle of buttoning up a white silk shirt. He looked beautiful. "What are you getting all dolled up for? Got a hot date," she smirked.
"Actually, yeah," he smirked back and turned to face her. "So. How do I look?"
Kim almost didn't hear the question. She had teased him about the date thing because she didn't know he really had one. She had been thinking while she had been in the park with Joey. Things had been going really great between them. She even admitted that she still was hugely attracted to her ex. It almost felt like they were a family again. Almost. Except he was going on a date. "Kim, you alright?" he asked with concern.
Kim broke out of her thoughts and plastered a smile on her face. "Uh, yeah. I guess I just zoned there for a minute."
"Well, I do have quite a powerful effect on women," he winked.
Kim turned away, forcing a laugh from herself, " Be careful, your head might explode."
Jimmy followed her out to the living room. "So you never answered me. How do I look."
"I think your ego is big enough without me telling you how good you look," Kim laughed and put some distance between herself and Jimmy. She went into the kitchen to see if she had the supplies for lasagna. What she was really doing was hiding behind the counter so he couldn't get close to her.
Jimmy noticed she was acting a little strange. She was acting like he had cooties or something, trying to get as far away from him as possible. "Hey. Are you alright?"
Kim smiled brightly. A little too brightly. "Yeah, I'm good. I was just checking to see if we have the stuff for lasagna."
Just then, Joey burst into the kitchen, "Lasagna?! Are we having lasagna, Mom?" he asked excitedly.
Kim laughed weakly, "Yeah, baby. If we have all the stuff for it."
"Mom's making your favorite, Dad! Do you think we could watch a movie tonight, after dinner," he jumped around.
Jimmy laughed, "I think those doughnuts went right to your head kiddo. I wish I could stay, but I'm going somewhere tonight."
Joey calmed down considerably. If Jimmy or Kim didn't have to work lately, they would stay home together and watch movies or play games. "But Dad, it's your favorite."
"Joey, it's alright. It'll just be you and me tonight okay? We'll watch whatever you want. Well, maybe not whatever, but I promise, we'll have fun," she tried to cheer him up.
Jimmy grabbed a chair and sat down, bringing Joey towards himself, "We'll watch movies together tomorrow night, okay?"
"But mom has to work tomorrow night," Joey said in a small voice.
Jimmy looked to Kim for some help, but she had her back to him. "Okay, well, we'll do it the night after that."
"Whatever," Joey groused and stalked away.
Jimmy watched as his disappointed son walked away. Kim sighed and turned to look at him. "He'll be okay, Jimmy. He's just a little upset. Go finish getting ready for your date. I'll take him down to the movie store."
Jimmy watched her get Joey into his coat and boots. He hated the thought of his son upset with him, but he needed his life back. "I shouldn't be too late tonight. I'll come and say goodnight to you when I get home."
"Okay," Joey said sadly. It was almost enough to make him call of the date, but he watched them walk out the door and slumped on the couch, waiting for his date.
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It had been a week since Jimmy's date with Tina. Things had been different in the house. Joey had eventually forgiven him, but wasn't thrilled with the idea of meeting dad's new chick. Kim had been distant all week. Jimmy couldn't figure out why. She hardly talked to him, and when she did, she couldn't seem to look him in the eye.
It wasn't even that he really liked Tina all that much. I mean, she was beautiful and..well, he couldn't think of much else to say about her. She was your stereotypical dumb blonde. Very into her looks and mainly herself. She had tried to get Jimmy to come home with her, but he made the excuse that he had to go home to his son. She found that all the more endearing and begged to see him again. He even went as far as to explain his delicate living situation, but that seemed to make him look all the more sensitive and attractive to her. Usually he would never mention that he had ever been married or had a kid. At least not on the first date. With a girl like her, he'd go out with for one purpose, and one purpose only. To get laid. Disturbingly, he hadn't even tried to get her to sleep with him, not that it would have taken any work. He had met her while cooling down at Haggerty's with the boys. She had come up to him and started flirting. He asked her out and she said yes.
The only reason he was going out with her was to get his life back. It wasn't that Joey and Kim cramped his lifestyle. On the contrary. He loved having his son with him everyday. And waking up knowing Kim was there, sometimes right there next to him, was amazing. He was getting so used to having her back in his life like that and he knew it wasn't going to last. He was starting to have strong feelings for her again, and he could absolutely not have that happen. She would hate him and never talk to him again.
So, here he was, listening to Tina ramble on about god knows what, waiting for Kim to come home so she could watch Joey
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Kim was deep in thought on her way home. Things had gotten decidedly weird with her still living with Jimmy while he dated other girls. He had every right to, it wasn't like they were together. Kim didn't want to acknowledge the fact that seeing Jimmy with another woman ate her up inside. She knew she was getting too confused about what was going on between them and that something needed to change. Worse yet, was Joey was getting confused. He was getting too comfortable seeing both of his parents together every night. She needed to make a change before he really got hurt. She knew what she had to do. God give her the strength to do it.
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Kim walked in to the apartment and was met by her son who grabbed her around the waist and hung on for dear life. Kim laughed and kissed his head, "I guess you really missed me today."
Joey looked up and gave her a tortured look, "Dad's new girlfriend is here," he said and made a face.
Kim peeked into the living room, but couldn't see anything. "I take it you don't like her?" Kim smiled at her sons' look of disgust.
"She talks to much and treats me like a baby. Mom, I'm almost ten! I hate her!"
Kim knelt down and looked into his eyes, "Baby, you shouldn't say that. You don't even know her."
"She's annoying, Mom. I can't help it!"
Kim chuckled at her sons' distress, "Maybe she's just nervous about meeting you. I'm sure she's a very nice person, otherwise your dad wouldn't like her, right?"
"I guess," Joey pouted.
"Why don't you come with me and we'll watch some t.v. in the bedroom?"
"Okay!" Joey brightened.
Just when she thought she was safe, a high pitched voice caught her off guard. "Oh! You must be Jimmy's ex-wife, Kim! It's so great to meet you! I'm Tina!"
Kim was overwhelmed by this woman's perkiness. "Uh. yeah. Sorry to bother you. I was just taking my son in the bedroom to watch cartoons."
"Oh, god! That's no bother! Ever since Jimmy told me about you, I've been wanting to meet you. Joey is the sweetest little thing!" she nearly squealed.
"Yeah, he's a pretty great kid," Kim smiled politely. Maybe Joey was right. This woman was really annoying. Kim looked around for some excuse to leave, but Jimmy walked in right then.
Jimmy entered the kitchen to find his new (cringe) girlfriend chatting up his majorly uncomfortable looking ex-wife. This was way too weird. Aside from Brooke, Kim had never really met any of the girls he went out with. "Oh, I see you two have already met."
"Oh yeah, we're old friends," Tina giggled and playfully smacked Kim on the arm.
Kim smiled and looked at Jimmy, "You guys can head out if you want," she hopefully suggested.
Just then Joey darted into the room, "You're leaving, Dad?"
"Yeah, bud. Tina and I are going out to dinner."
Joey pouted, "But I thought once Mom got here, we could watch a movie."
Before either Kim or Jimmy could say anything, Tina piped up, "Hey, that sounds like fun. You know Jimmy, we can just stay in tonight if you want. I'd like to get to know Kim and this cutie-pie," she smiled, ruffling Joey's hair.
Kim was trying to conceal her look of horror. "Tina, I already made reservations," Jimmy protested, trying to spare Kim and Joey the agony.
"Nonsense. Come on, Joey. Let's go pick out a movie to watch," she smiled and drug Joey into the living room.
The night was dragging on forever. Joey had excused himself from the table and went to play in his room. Tina was yammering on and on about everything under the sun. She finally came around to the dreaded subject: Kim and Jimmy.
"So, how long were you guys married,?" she asked.
Kim nervously fidgeted with her flannel shirt while Jimmy rubbed the back of his neck, looking around for some diversion, "Um.. four years," he answered uncomfortably.
"Wow! That's a pretty long time. Did he snag you or did you snag him," Tina chuckled and asked Kim.
"Oh god, I don't even remember," she lied. "We just worked together and it kind of happened." Kim stood and started clearing the table. "Why don't I start the dishes."
"Well, as we both know, he can be very charming," Tina giggled and kissed him.
Kim made some sort of noncommittal sound and rushed into the kitchen. She could hear Jimmy's low voice and Tina's annoying high-pitched giggle. 'God, someone please shoot me!'
Kim returned to the table to gather more dishes when Joey made a reappearance. Joey pulled Tina's arms off of Jimmy. "Hey, champ. Can you say excuse me?"
"Can we watch the movie now, Dad?" he asked, completely ignoring what his father had said.
"Joey, that was rude. You not a little kid anymore. You know better than to treat people like that," Jimmy stated.
"I don't have to say sorry to her! She's not my mom!" he burst out. "She's just your dumb new girlfriend!"
"Joey!" Kim and Jimmy yelled, both in shock. Joey's eyes filled with tears and he ran off to his room. Kim turned and looked at Tina, "I'm really sorry about that."
Tina looked a little shocked, "That's alright. It'll just take some time for him to get used to me."
Kim wasn't so sure that was the case though. She looked at Jimmy, "I'll go talk to him and get out of your way. I'll just do the dishes later."
Jimmy nodded but grabbed Kim's wrist gently when she walked by, "Are you sure you don't want me to talk to him now?"
"No. He's probably just tired and you have company," she smiled at Tina. "It'll be fine. You can talk to him later."
Jimmy watched as Kim walked into the bedroom and before he knew it, Tina was at it again, talking her mouth off. Jimmy wondered if it was such a good idea for him to have her around if it upset Joey so much. It wasn't like he needed Joey to like her, he didn't really like her much himself. And the only thing he could think about the whole night is how much he still wanted Kim.