After FYI Pt 2: Murphy in Purple and Gold

by Ms.M

UPDATED AND CORRECTED: Part 2 of After FYI: With all the FYIer's moving on with their lives will Murphy live in the past or take steps toward the future.

3. CHAPTER THREE: Re acquaintance

Chapter Three: Re-acquaintance...a.k.a. "Livin' for the city."

Something old, something borrowed, and something blue.

---

See the way he walks down the street
Watch the way he shuffles his feet
My, he holds his head up high
When he goes walking by
He's my guy

When he holds my hand I'm so proud
'Cause he's not just one of the crowd
My baby, oh he's the one
To try the things they've never done
Just because of that they say

He's a rebel and he'll never ever be any good
He's a rebel and he'll never ever be understood
And just because he doesn't do what everybody else does
That's no reason why I can't give him all my love
He is always good to me, always treats me tenderly
'Cause he's not a rebel, no, no, no
He's not a rebel, no, no, no, to me

He's Rebel ~ The Crystals

---

MONDAY

The elevator dinged and Jerry walked off with a cocky stride. He walked off onto the tenth floor, his own floor, the headquarters, and the liar of the newfound "Jerry Gold Empire". It not only housed his office and staff of his radio and television show; it was where each day Jerry recorded his radio show, live onto the world. It was only on Sundays that he ventured one level down, at the GE building at thirty Rockefeller Plaza, where he broadcast his television show to the nation. Although both of these ventures had only been in progress for four weeks and it seemed hard to tell if either show was actually a hit yet, by word of mouth they both seemed to be strong. Only time would tell.

All of this made Jerry ecstatic, nervous, uncertain and perplexed. He wanted so badly for the show to be a success. Making it big in Europe was amazing, but being back on top again, back home, meant so much more. Not to mention, as Jerry had told Murphy, it was his chance to be taken serious, on his own terms of course. There wasn't anything Jerry liked more than pushing the envelope, busting it all apart and watching the bureaucratic known–it-all's squirm, and sizzle, in their own juices. It was one of the few things that brought him a thrill and a chill up his spine.

Still, Jerry was unsure what the success or failure of his radio and television venture meant in the whole scheme of his relationship with Murphy. Either way success or failure could mean the rise or fall of his love life. It was so ambiguous that one wasn't sure which side of the coin one would be rutting for. Besides, Jerry hadn't been exactly forthcoming with Murphy. He had insinuated that the move to Washington was a done deal. He had insinuated more then he should have. But Murphy was a smart woman, she knew the game, and she knew it wasn't all certain.

Jerry made his way past the shiny broadcast booth towards his office. As he rounded the corner, his secretary Donna emerged from his left and began talking to him, as if this was an ever day occurrence. Donna was a tall beautiful woman with caramel skin and short dark hair. She wore short skirts, which Jerry liked, and spoke her mind when it was called for, which Jerry enjoyed, but didn't always like.

"Her plane came in about an hour ago," Donna informed him.

"Did you try her cell?"

"Yes, but there was no answer."

"Keep trying, and when you get her patch it through to the conference room. And you said you tried her at home?"

"Yes, Jerry!"

"Is Ira here?"

"Yes, he's waiting for you." They turned another corner.

"Damn traffic in this city. What's on tap?"

Donna handed Jerry a folder, as they reached the door to the conference room. He put the folder under his arm and turned to Donna, who then handed him a mug of coffee she had been holding in her hand the entire time. Jerry burst opened the door with his back and entered his morning meeting.

The conference room where Jerry held his morning meetings was a semi large rectangle room with an equally large window on the left side. The room was completely brown wood with a large narrow table, in the same motif, engulfing the room at its core. Jerry threw down the folder next to the phone on his side of the conference table.

Ira sat at the other end. "What happen, you fall in a ditch?"

"Traffic." Jerry took a gulp of his coffee and set it down. He picked up the folder and opened it, reading the contents inside. "What's this crap I'm reading?"

"Bullshit on Carvile. You need the info for the interview."

"I thought I read this?" Jerry looked up.

"This is new."

"So, has he agreed to come on with me live on Sunday?"

"Not yet. We're still working on it."

"You know I hate phone interviews." The intercom buzzed and Jerry hit it. It was his line so he knew it was Donna. "Yeah?"

"I can't get through anymore. The phone is out either out of service or out of the calling area." Jerry got a strange look on his face. "Have you tried the apartment?"

"No answer. And the doorman said he hasn't seen her yet."

"Yeah." Jerry hit the intercom and Donna was gone.

Jerry distractedly looked down at the phone in deep through. He snatched up the phone, in what could only be described as a jump of the hand and with his free fingers, which held the receiver, dialed the phone. He held it to his ear and listened. He took a swig of his coffee and waited impatiently. After a moment of nothing but disappointment he slammed the phone down.

"Jerry? What's going on? What's wrong?" Ira watched Jerry get up from his chair.

Jerry paced for a moment and landed next to the window, looking out as if he really wasn't looking out for the view. "Nothing," he snarled in defense.

Ira looked uncomfortable because he knew what it was, but he wouldn't say anything.

"Where the hell is Carol?" Jerry looked at his watch. Ira without a flinch, use to Jerry's outburst, hit the intercom on his phone. "And it's hot in here."

"It's June in New York City, Jerry!" Ira spoke into the phone. "Donna, where's Carol? We're waiting in here for her!"

"She just called - she's on her way. She's running late"

Jerry started to pace again, but then broke away from it and looked out the window. He looked as if he was going to break out of his skin, but broke out with his voice instead.

"This is ridiculous! Are we having a morning meeting or what?" Jerry paused for a moment. "You know what, scratch this. I'll be back. I got to go home and... Get something." He went for the door.

"Jerry! You can't leave!"

"Don't worry I'll be back before the broadcast." Jerry reassured him with a shrug and walked out the door. Ira took a pencil and threw it onto his notepad and the table before grunting uncomfortably.

---

LATER

The sounds of New York hit the pavement like the concrete it was made of. The sounds of car horns honking, wind rustling through the trees in uneven beats, not to mention the rapid pace of pedestrians on the street walking, and running, and pounding their limbs into the pavement on their way to "important" things.

Murphy stepped out of her yellow cab, putting her hand to her forehead to block the glare of the sun. It was beautiful June day, which if not for the occasionally light breeze would have made the yellow dipped day unbearable. A light breeze hit Murphy's face as she looked up at the large building in front of her. It was Jerry's Park Avenue apartment, Central Park West to be exact, and Murphy and Avery's new home for the next two and a half months. Murphy looked at it in dread. She never thought she would live, if only for three months, in a Park Avenue apartment. She always saw them as gaudy and extravagant. Murphy was more the upscale townhouse type, like her home in Georgetown, a nice area that was in the thick of it all, but still quiet and out of the way. But that was many of the things that she and Jerry had different ideas about.

"Oh, god," she said to herself.

As she spoke, Eldin emerged from the cab behind her. He looked up towards what Murphy was looking at and then back at Murphy. Eldin gave her that look in which he could always tell what she was thinking. He paused for a moment before speaking. "You know you don't have to stay here? We could rent a nice brownstone in the West Village..."

"No, Eldin! Getting my own place signifies permanency! I'm only staying here for the summer. There is no reason for me to get my own place. No reason at all." Murphy stepped away from the car and onto the curb. Eldin turned around and helped Avery out of the car.

"Well, hello, Ms. Brown." Murphy turned to see the doorman walking towards her, his voice very joyful.

That was the other thing Murphy didn't like about big fancy apartment buildings, they had doormen. Murphy never could get use to the concept. Don't get her wrong, she loved the idea of someone getting her cabs, and picking up her dry cleaning. But with doormen also came tipping, and small talk, and those where two things Murphy hated. And if you didn't do those things you were pegged as rude, and the next thing you know everyone in the building hates you and your garbage mysteriously piles up outside your door. Murphy didn't want that.

"We were expecting you," said the sweet-faced, pale skinned, young man with round features. Murphy looked at him strangely and wary, as Eldin walked to the back of the cab to get the suitcases. Avery followed to help him. "Yes, Mr. Gold told me to look out for you."

"Oh." Murphy made an "O" shape with her mouth as she said it.

"My name's Danny, I'm the doorman most of the day. There's also Tony. We trade off." Eldin walked onto the curb with two suitcases and one case slung over his shoulder. Danny crossed directly to him. "Let me help you with that, Sir?"

"That's ok." Eldin looked at him with an odd look. More of a look to the fact that the situation was odd and not the look Eldin gave itself. "I got it."

"No, really..." Danny tried to grab the bags and Eldin leaned away with another strange look on his face.

"Hey!" Eldin began to circle Danny, pointing his finger at him. "You stay away. Back. Back."

Danny watched him walk away. He looked back at Murphy and took a pair of keys out of his pocket. Holding them by their single gold colored key chain he displayed them in front of her. "Here are your keys." They clanged together as he released them from his hands to hers. "Let me show you up."

---

UPSTAIRS

Eldin opened the door and dumped down the suitcases near the doorframe. He looked over the large apartment, his face agog. Murphy walked in, behind him, and when she saw the lavish space she stopped short.

"Oh my god?"

"I know." Eldin slowly walked forward. "What I could do with this ceiling." Eldin began to walk around surveying the room like the painter he was. "White walls? Who has white walls?"

Behind Eldin came Avery. He stood next to his mother. "Cool." He looked over the space and its high ceilings, as the headphones he wore blared music so loud that even Murphy could hear it. He looked over at his mother. "Can I go see where my room is?"

"Yeah. Sure." Murphy didn't even look at her son as she said it and he disappeared into the adjoining hallway.

"Who needs this much space." Murphy dumped her purse next to the bags in the foyer and made her way into the large living, which like Murphy's own townhouse connected the foyer without much of an adjoining wall. She peered into the entrance to a large hallway, as she made her way pass the archway to the living room. Eldin walked in front of her with a quicker stride, looking up and around, as if in his head he had already envisioned a mural. He looked over the room for only moments and then walked towards the kitchen door to the left, next to the living room, and looked in.

"Whoa!" And Eldin disappeared

Murphy took her time surveying the apartment. The living room was set in an offset octagon shape and looked twice the size of Murphy's own living room, filled with black and grey furniture, all in Jerry's style. At the center of the room, its core, were three large black leather sofas made into a "u" shape and a small glass coffee table in front of the center couch. All of this lay upon a small oriental type rug, which sat on wall to wall carpeting the color of dust. It was the only real color in the room. It was the one thing that didn't give away the fact that a decorator had created every "livable" space in the apartment.

Murphy walked into the living room and passed a small desk to her left that was flush up against the wall. As she did this she noticed a large brick fireplace, with a huge mantel and a small mirror set on its backside, against the wall it stood behind. Murphy passed the couch, and looked at the large window behind it, leading out to the equally large terrace. Then she walked past the couch to the fireplace to its left. Not really investigating everything she saw, just digesting it all to get a feel of the place.

As Murphy got closer to the fireplace not only did she start to notice her own reflected in the mirror, but the reflection of the spare mantel back at her, spare except for a small picture Murphy noticed in the corner. It was so small that it's brown frame blending into the mantel itself. Murphy moved in closer, almost squinting towards the picture and picked it up. It was small black and white picture of Murphy. She was surprised and touched to see it. The picture looked about ten years old, which was part of the surprise of it all. It was a lovely close up picture of Murphy. The light hit her face in just the right way, hitting her blonde hair. Her head was titled to the left, away from the camera, as if she was in mid laugh. Murphy had never seen the picture before. She tried to remember when it had been taken. It looked like it was outside, perhaps the park. Murphy was also surprised to find the picture because it seemed not to be a Jerry thing to do. Then again, when the two of them where together they never seemed to be the type to take pictures of each other. Murphy in fact could not think of any other document of their times together as a couple. This seemed to be the only record, because she now remembered Jerry had taken it, but it wasn't much of a record since he wasn't even in it with her.

Murphy put the picture down and made her way behind the couch and noticed the terrace again, deciding to check out the view, but stopped when she noticed the dining room to the left, in an out cove type extension to the living room. She stepped up a small step and peered into the dining room, which looked so immaculate one only though that it couldn't have possibly been used. She looked around for a moment, as if she heard something, and then walked over to the sliding door and onto the large terrace.

"Oh, it gets worse!" she said, walking past a table, chairs and some shrubbery, to gaze at the picturesque view of the park.

Just then Jerry burst through the door. He flung his keys on the table next to the door. "Murphy?" Jerry yelled Murphy's name as he made his way into the hallway.

Murphy thought she heard something and spun her head around and then her body, as she made her way off the terrace. Murphy looked around, her head leading the way, and made her way around the couch, as Jerry appeared opposite her, out of the other entrance to the hallway next to the terrace. He stopped short when he saw her so not to show her his anxious state.

"Jerry, what are you doing here?"

"You're here?" he said astonished.

"Yeah, Jerry, why aren't you at work?"

"I forgot something…" Jerry walked over to her and planted a short kiss on her lips. "I tried you on your cell? There was no answer?"

"I'm having trouble with it again."

"What now?"

"I slammed it against the doorframe about seventeen times. Why were you calling me on my cell, is something wrong?" she said speeding through her explanation to get at the real question that plagued her.

"No." He shook it off.

"Did you want to tell me something?"

"No."

Murphy looked at Jerry for a moment before speaking "Jerry, did you think I wasn't going to show up?"

"Noo. No. Of course not."

"Jerry...?"

"No!"

He took her hands and was about to lean in closer for a deeper kiss when he stopped at the sound of Eldin entering the living room eating a leg of chicken.

"Do you know there's actually food in this place?"

"Oh, no! Don't tell me he's staying here!"

"And a pleasure it is as always to see you again too." Eldin went back to his eating.

"Don't worry, Jerry, Eldin is staying with friends in town. He's only helping me with my bags. Jeez!" Murphy eyeballed the heavens.

"I'll get the rest of your stuff; I have to get over to Steve's before noon. He refuses to answer the door during the Young and the Restless. And once the Bold and the Beautiful kicks in, well, there's no way reachin' him." Eldin made his way to the door.

"Eldin, wait! Where's my..." Murphy broke away from Jerry and ran after Eldin

"Oh, please, you now where it is! You never let it out of your site." Murphy gave Eldin a look. "You know I'm surprised the people on the plane didn't think you had a bomb."

"I mean where did you put it, Eldin?"

"By the door!" Eldin by this time had made his way into the foyer and then with his final remark was out the door.

Murphy dug into a pile of bags and pulled out a small carry on. From the bag emerged her golden Emmy, looking shinny and feminine in Murphy's grasp. Murphy looked at it with awe.

"You brought your Emmy with you?" Jerry watched as Murphy walked into the living room with it. "The way you treat that thing, I'm surprised you don't list it as a dependent on your taxes." Murphy shot him a look, holding the Emmy beside her. "I think you're a little too attached to that thing, Brown?"

"You'll understand more if you had one," she said slyly. Murphy turned around and peered at the mantel, as if she was looking for the perfect spot. "Of course that's a privilege that only happens to special people."

"Brown, I came home one day and found you sleeping with it!" Jerry put his hands in his pockets and walked closer to her. "Not that I mind being in bed with two women..."

Murphy gave Jerry a look, her lips perched together. "She's my good-luck charm, Jer. There's only been three separation occasions where I've been without her for so long. Once on a vacation where I was snowed into a cabin resort with Andy Rooney, Dan Qualye, and Newt Gingrich, which in its self is self-explanatory. The second, while I was at Betty Ford, although a fruitful experience, not exactly the most pleasant, and the third! While, I was in London during a year-end sale at Harrods. Let's just say thanks to the absence of this baby my wardrobe is minus the perfect silk blouse."

"I'd say it was more good-luck for whoever got it and you didn't. If you did they could be dead."

"Yes, but I'd have a very nice, inexpensive, Donna Karen blouse."

Murphy turned around and placed her treasure on the mantel.

"Not that I wouldn't encourage homicide for the sake of you looking good…"

Murphy set down the Emmy carefully and then looked back at it. "I even tried to get them to ship it to me at Betty Ford." Murphy moved the Emmy a fragment of an inch. "But for some stupid reason they wouldn't let me." Murphy looked back at her.

"Gee, I don't know, maybe because it doubles as a deadly weapon!" Murphy gave the Emmy one more look, adjusted it, and pretty happy with herself walked away from it. "I called you on your cell? There was no answer?" Murphy made her way towards the door as Eldin entered the apartment again.

"Yeah, you said that."

"Here." Eldin handed Murphy the box from his arms. "I have to get going."

"Thanks, Eldin. I'll call you tonight about picking up Avery tomorrow."

"Alright, see ya." And Eldin was gone

"Well, was the service down?" Jerry demanded, as he was still waiting for an answer.

"Nooo," she said, giving him a horrible look. "I told you, it broke."

"Then what happened this time?" Murphy picked up a second box and looked at Jerry.

"I was talking to Stan this morning and I accidentally slammed it against the doorframe seventeen times." Murphy smiled. "Books? Where can I put them?" She was referring to the box in her hand.

"The bedroom or the study."

"Bedroom sounds good." Murphy eyes lit up and she walked into the hallway.

Jerry followed her. "Second door on the left."

Murphy walked into the bedroom and stopped for a moment, as she looked it over. Like the living room it too was in black and grey.

"Jeez, Gold, is there any color in this place? It's like a Turkish prison in here! Men? " Murphy spotted the bookshelf on the other side of the room, next to the walk-in closet, and set the box in front of it. Murphy left the box where it was and turned to Jerry.

"So, what do you think of this place? Huh? Huh?" Jerry spread out his arms.

"It's nice." Murphy shook her head up and down with little enthusiasm.

"Nice, Brown, it's the penthouse! Park Ave!"

"To be honest, Jerry." She paused for a moment. "It's a bit big. I mean, look at all this space and that view..."

"Brown, it's as big as you place in DC!"

"No, it can't be? It just can't be! It's just a ...bit too… gaudy for me. There I said it."

"Gaudy?"

"Big, extravagant, that's all. Not my style."

"Not your style? You know, Brown, if you don't like it no one's forcing you to stay here! You are more than welcome to get your own place. Get a nice brownstone in the village or in the west eighties. I don't care!"

"Oh no, we've had this discussion. This is only temporary Jerry. TEM-POR-ARY. So, there is no reason for me to get my own place. No reason what –so-ever!"

"I see!" Jerry sat down on the edge of the bed.

Murphy could see he looked upset. Murphy sat down next to him. "Jerry, this has nothing to do with us, with you. Washington is where my life is."

"I know, I know." He looked at Murphy. "I just wish you could be a little more excited about it! I mean I wasn't even sure if you'd show up today."

"Me too. I kept making ever excuse this morning so we'd miss our flight. I forgot something, the oven wasn't turned off. I needed to fill the jar of nuts in den. But you have to realize this has nothing to do with you, Jerry. As crazy as it is I...well I care a lot about you...ohh, hell I love you. Are you happy now!" Jerry smiled. "This is just a lot for me to get used to, ok. Just remember it has nothing to do with you." Murphy kissed him and Jerry kissed back. There was a pause while they looked into each other's eyes.

"How can you not like this place is?"

"Jeez, Gold, you'd think I was insulting your manhood! It's just an apartment!"

"I spent a lot of money on this place, so you and Avery..."

"Ahh, what do I have to do to shut you up!" Murphy grabbed Jerry's face and planted a large passionate kiss on him. This shut Jerry up. He began to push Murphy backward onto the bed.

"Mom, Mom!" Avery's voice and person came racing down the hall.

Jerry and Murphy looked at each other. This meant they would have to get up.

"And this is why his room is on the other side of the apartment!" Jerry grinned and Murphy hit him. He leaned in closer for one last kiss.

"Mom?" Avery entered the room, causing Jerry to cough and sit up on to the bed. "Which one is my room?"

"I'll show him." Jerry took Avery out of the room. Murphy sat up on the bed smiling and then pushed herself off to move back into the living room.

As she has just passed the hallway and started to enter the living room she heard the familiar enthusiastic voice of Miles Sliverberg.

"Murphy?" Miles knocked on the door and peered his head in, before letting his body enter.

"Miles?" The two caught site of each other, as they each entered the living room. "What are you doing here?"

"What? I can't come welcome my favorite ex-co-worker on her first day in my town."

"Your town, Miles? What is this East Side story? Will the Jets be joining us later... or can they not rumble after sun down?" she said sarcastically

"Come, give me a hug." The two met each other, between one of the black couches and the door, and gave each other a big hug

"I thought you'd be at work?"

"I just told them I was welcoming the networks top reporter…" Miles fake punched Murphy in the arm. She didn't find it amusing.

"Miles, what's wrong with you, you're too energetic. I think maybe you should consider Lithium."

"I'm sorry; it's just that it's so great to see you! And well, I have some news…" Miles smiled in his child like way, as Murphy face began to light up.

"Miles, you old dog you…" Murphy started to inch towards Miles slyly.

"How'd you find out? I wanted it to be a surprise," he said pretty proud of himself.

"You know I didn't believe me when Frank told me you might be..."

"Frank! How does he know? I just..."

"You're getting married, Miles! Congratulations!"

"What?" Miles face changed.

"After that whole debacle with Corky, I wasn't sure you'd do it again. Hell, before Corky we never through anyone one would be crazy enough to marry you..."

"No, no, Murphy, I'm not getting married."

"You're not?"

"No. I'm not even seeing anyone seriously"

"What about that girl you brought to Frank's wedding? He said you too were real serious."

"Well, I was serious about her. We broke up. I was on one date with Vivian from legal. Why? What have you heard?"

"Then what's your news, Miles!"

"The network has agreed, since you're in New York and all." Miles got his serious face and brought his hands tip to tip towards his mouth and then took them away to announce his news. "To let you anchor the Evening News while Dan is on assignment for the week!"

"NO!"

"Yes! You, me, working together again! National News. 30 share! My idea! Thank you, very much!

"Miles, that's fantastic! It's been my dream to host the nightly news. It's the only thing I always dreamed about that I never got, well that and marrying Fabian, and of course the abolishment of culottes, but this is soo much better!"

"I know," Miles smiled seriously.

"So, when do I start?"

"Next week."

"Great, then I have this first week to get my special in order."

"How's that going?"

"Ok. Could be better. I finally have an executive producer, so it's only uphill and more Emmy's from here!" Murphy laughed and smiled.

"Murphy, why don't you say I take you and Avery out to dinner tonight to celebrate, sort of a welcome to New York. I mean, once you start your research for your special I'm sure I'll never see you while you're here. Outside of work for that one week."

"Oh, that's nice, Miles," Murphy walked over to the door and grabbed another box from the door. "But we'll probably be busy. How about another night? I just need to..." She made her way to the mantle, as Miles interrupted her.

"Oh, come on, Murphy, you shouldn't spend your first day in New York unpacking. That can wait. Let's have some fun. Let me treat you." Murphy set the box down next to the fireplace and looked at Miles.

"It's not that. It's just since it's our first night in New York we have plans."

"Already with who?"

"Brown!" Jerry's booming voice announced his presence with perfect timing, as he entered the hallway on way to the living room. Miles face began to go from sane to insane. "I cleared out the left side of the walk in closet for you. I hope that's enough room. Unless of course you were planning on making a shrine to your Emmy in there."

"What's he doing here?" Miles yelled in a devilish gurgle, as Jerry entered the room.

"Hello, Sliverberg, a pleasure as always. Collecting for Unisef again are we?"

"He lives here, Miles."

"Lives here? Lives here?" he yelled at Murphy and then looked at Jerry. "You're supposed to be in Germany. And Married. And DEAD!"

"Miles, you're the executive producer of the Evening news - you can't tell me you didn't hear he was alive!" Miles looked at Murphy

"I was hoping it was a rumor!" Miles voice was still reaching his lower register, which he reserved for overreacting.

"I love to stay and remissness about the good old times, Sliverberg, but I have to get back to work." Jerry began to feel his pockets. "Oh, my cell phone." And he disappeared back into the hall.

"You're living with Jerry Gold? How did this happen?" Miles began to act as if it was hard for him to breathe, his body bent over, as he sucked in air every few moments. "What is this some kind of menopausal insanity!" The last re-mark didn't bode well with Murphy.

"Why is this always everyone's response? You'd think after ten years you'd all get use to us being together!"

"Like one can ever get use to a sickness like that, Murphy! Why didn't you tell me?" Miles began to sit down. His voice was still a groggy like sound, although his breathing seemed to get easier.

"Gee, Miles, I don't know. I thought maybe if I did you'd insist on registering us at Burgdoffs! What do you think! And anyway, I thought you knew? Frank was supposed to tell you!"

"Well, he… Didn't!"

"Well, hello there!" Corky burst through the door like a ray of sunshine holding a casserole.

Murphy frowned. "Mental note! Close door. Corky, what are you doing here, shouldn't you be at work?"

"But I had to come welcome you to the city! I made you and Avery some food. I figured you'd be too busy unpacking to... well… order in." She handed Murphy her tray.

"Thank you Corky that's very sweet..." Murphy took the tray not knowing what to do with it. Corky looked over at a distressed Miles.

"Oh, hi, Miles, I didn't see you there."

Miles looked up at her with an evil look on his face. "She's dating Jerry Gold!" he snorted.

"Yes, Miles! Old news! Where have you been!" Corky sank down on the couch next to Miles. "I was trying to forget it. Thank you, very much!" Corky began to cry a bit and rummaged through her purse for a tissue. Murphy rolled her eyes while Corky looked around the apartment holding onto her purse for dear life. "It's a nice place, Murphy." Corky had a look on her face that could only tell she didn't mean it. "It's very...grey...and black. It's black and grey."

"I didn't pick it all out Jerry did." She rolled her eyes and head to the side.

"Why did you let him to that?" Corky said with no real idea what was going on.

"Because it's his apartment."

"She's living with him!" Miles sprayed at Corky in his distressed voice and then receded back into his own world of pity.

"What?" Corky looked at Murphy flabbergasted.

Murphy was having enough with the situation. "Yes. It's true! Deal with it! I am living with Jerry Gold!"

"You're what?" Frank Fontona's voice sailed through the room.

Murphy whipped her head around to find him at the entrance to the living room. "Frank, what are you doing here? I thought you were in the Hamptons?"

"I had to come into the city on business. I thought I'd stop by! I thought you said you were staying in New York on work related business."

"I am! And because Jerry asked me!"

"Oh, god! This can't be happening!" Frank stood at the edge of the couch near the door and the coffee table, while Murphy stood at the edge of the center couch near Miles.

"Frank, I thought we were handling this!" Murphy gritted through her teeth.

Frank composed himself. "I'm sorry. You're right. I'm sorry." He gestured with his hands.

"But she still could have found her own place!" Miles scoffed "Even David Koresh let his followers live in separate quarters."

"Yeah, hell would be better than living here! With him!" Corky stood up and grabbed her tray of food from Murphy. "Well, I'm taking back my food, Murphy! I don't want him eating it. I made it for you and Avery only and I don't want him eating it! It's mine!" She sat back down on the couch with her food.

"I'm not getting my own place! I'm only staying here for a few months! So I don't see the point! Are you done now or do Jim and Tammy Faye have anything nice to say!"

"NO!" Corky and Miles mumbled at Murphy.

"Now, come on guys." Frank tried to calm them down. "Murphy has officiously made a decision in her life. We may not like it. But we should at least respect it."

"Ahh, Frank!" Corky and Miles whined.

"Thank you, Frank." Murphy was touched.

"Frank, what's come over you?" Corky looked at him flabbergasted.

"I made Murphy a promise that as her friend I would respect her decision and be happy for her." Frank and Murphy looked at each other and smiled.

"Well, I don't have to!" Corky bent her body towards Murphy.

"I've said it before and I'll say it again, I don't see why we can't all get together and talk about other things besides me and Jerry .You should all take a lesson from Frank here."

"Oh, yeah, denial - that's really healthy for my colon, Murphy!"

"Ok, stop it! There has to be other things going on in each other's lives that we can talk about then this! Things that can put us all in a happier mood!" Murphy looked at Corky. "Corky why don't you start! What happy and lovely things are going on with you?

"Well, ever since Lester got his promotion at work I never see him. It's like I'm still single, only worse. I can't get a descent story going at work, after Diane Sawyer and Barbara Walters I seem to get the pick of the litter...And I think Mr. Puffy may be dying."

"Ok, good. Miles?" Murphy turned to him.

"Well, let's see, the woman I love only wants to be friends, my blood pressure is way up, and I think Dan Rather may be switching my skim milk with whole milk. I'm sure of it. His eyes are so shifty whenever I bring it up."

"I can't complain!" Frank said joyously. "My life is great!"

"Oh, just rub it in, Frank!" Miles yelled while Corky grumbled.

"No, really. The twins are out of the woods, Lesley's doing great. We're thinking of getting a dog. A real collie, dusty brown, but with bite! A man's dog! Yeah!" He laughed and made a clenched fist downward.

"See!" Corky sprouted up off the couch. "There has to be something wrong with the universe when finally after decades of aloneness they're both happy just when where not." She jetted out her arm.

"Ok, that's It, everyone out! The Prozac train is leaving the station!" Murphy pushed forward with her hands and crossed past Corky and Miles to the other side of the couch. "Corky, get a job - Frank, get a...dog, and Miles, get a life!"

"I still don't care what you say; we don't have to like this!" Miles grunted.

"And I'm still taken my casserole with me!" Corky sped past the foyer and out the door.

Miles began to follow her as he spoke. "Just remember you're to blame if your child is scarred for life." He paused for a moment in the foyer before exiting. "And you tell him he's not allowed on my set. No footsteps! No leering. He can't even breathe fifty yards from that anchor desk! It's mine! To you hear me MINE!"

Murphy took a moment to react horribly to Miles and Corky's exits and then gave her attention to Frank. "Frank."

Murphy and Frank eyed each other for hugs.

"Murph" They hugged each other.

"My best pal!"

"Yup." Frank looked down in a usual Frank way, but not usual for the situation.

"Listen, I can't stay long, I just...I just wanted see that you got here alright." Frank backed up and looked around. "Nice place." He looked at Murphy. "I was hoping we could have lunch..."

"Sure. I'm probably still be here unpacking. Why don't you come pick me up?"

"I'm not sure if I can make it today. I'll call you in a..." Frank almost tripped over the edge of one of the couches as she walked closer to the door. "If not, I'll see ya soon." Frank shot his hand towards Murphy and then looked like he wanted to say something. He shook his head, laughed, and walked out the door. Murphy took it in, but wasn't sure what to make of it all.

Murphy collapsed herself onto the center couch. Jerry emerged out of the hallway and walked around the left side of the couch, by the mantel, watching Murphy, as she needed her neck and shoulder with her fingers.

"What's wrong, Brown?"

"My back is killing me."

"Hey, let me, that's what I'm here for." Jerry sat down next to Murphy who had a huge smile on her face at the thought of a free massage. Murphy turned catty corner towards the door as Jerry began to massage her neck. Murphy lowered her head forward and enjoyed herself.

Suddenly, Frank burst into the room again. "Murph, I forgot to tell you..." And he stooped his sentence and his footing as he caught site of Jerry. "Hi, Jerry," Frank's voice was unenthusiastic.

Murphy lifted her head. "Frank?" Murphy looked up at him.

"Fontana." Jerry just smiled and raised his eyebrows, knowing what he was doing would annoy Frank more than any words he could come up with.

"You know what, I can tell you later…" Frank started to walk backwards for the door.

"No, Frank, you seem distressed what's wrong?" Suddenly, Jerry hit the knot in Murphy's back. "Oh yeah, that's it!" she groaned.

Frank looked visibly uncomfortable. "Well, I..."

And Murphy groaned in pleasure again, this time leaning her head towards Jerry.

"Yes, Frank?" Murphy looked at him, waiting for his replay. Frank had an uncomfortable look as he was searched for the words. "Well..."

Murphy made another sound in reaction to Jerry. "Your know you're really good at this… Maybe tonight..."

"Ok, I'm out of here!" Frank went for the exit and Murphy ran after him catching him at the door.

"Frank, what's wrong?"

"Nothing. I just can't stand there while he does that to you!"

"Frank, it's only a massage! I don't know how many times I was stuck in a room with you and some girl doing god knows what with your..."

"Murphy, I'm sorry…"

"Frank..."

"I'll talk to you soon." He leaned in and kissed her on the check.

"Frank, wait." She grabbed his arm as he began to exit the door.

"What did you want to tell me?"

"I...I don't remember." He smiled and walked out the door.

Murphy was left feeling confused and sad. She stood there for a moment trying to shake off her funny feeling about the whole passing of events.

---

LATER

That night Jerry and Murphy got reacquainted with each other. It was at night that everything seemed perfect. It was when they were alone that everything seemed to work. It was once they left their cozy, isolated, environment that all hell seemed to break loose. Until then, Murphy was happy in Jerry's arms, but subconsciously she felt they were on thin ice. Not only were they in new territory in their relationship, ground they had never stepped upon, they were out in the elements, the air, uncovered, in the real world.

Murphy slept soundly, her body sprawled out on the bed in an unfaltering position. Jerry laid next to her just on the bed's edge. Murphy, being the flair-er she was, while she slept, twisted her body towards Jerry, kicking him off the bed and causing him to hit the floor with a thud. This woke Jerry up instantly. He grunted and grabbed the comforter from his side of the bed and climbed back into bed. He looked over at Murphy who had rolled back to her side of the bed, hugging her pillow in comfort. Thinking that it was over Jerry laid himself back to sleep. But not for long, for not two second later Murphy turned again, throwing Jerry back down to the ground, talking the comforter with him. He landed backwards with another loud crash.

"Ok! That's it!" he yelled. Murphy woke up, although groggily and turned on the light.

"What?" Murphy voice sounded like Bea Arthur early in the morning.

"You have to stop doing this, Brown!" Jerry stood up with the comforter still wrapped around him.

"What? Jerry, it's..." Murphy looked over at her clock radio. "Four-thirty... it's four-thirty, Jerry! What the hell could be this important?"

"You keep kicking me out of bed, Brown..."

"I'm sorry Jerry, but we haven't been in the same bed for weeks. I've been use to sleeping on my own!"

"Brown, you've been doing this ever since I got back in Washington! Hell, if memory serves me here, you've been doing this ever since we've been together!"

"Will you stop doing that? You always do that! If memory serves me. You always say that and you know that's not true! You always think you remembered it right, so why don't you say that!"

"Well, I'm right!"

"No, you're not!"

"Murphy!"

"Can we not fight about this now? I'm too tired to think."

"No, we can't! Not until we deal with this!" Jerry tried to walk, but realized he was so wrapped around the comforter, so it was impossible. He unwrapped himself and threw the converter onto the bed. "You're going to have to get used to having me around, Brown. I think that's the real problem here. I can't see how I'm supposed to think it's not me when..."

"I think your reading too much into this!"

"I don't think I am! I mean, if you can't get used to me being in bed with you then..."

"I'll get used to it, I will. I've spent so much of my life sleeping alone. It's going to be very hard for me to get used to you being around. But I will. I've done it before... I think? I must have? I will! I promise!" There was a pause. "Now, will you come back to bed?"

"Well, I don't know now." Jerry took a puppy dog look on his face. He was faking. Murphy got a cross look, which only meant one thing to Jerry. "Alright, alright." Jerry crawled into bed and Murphy laid her head on his chest, felling the fabric of his cotton pajamas. After she had made herself comfortable Jerry began to lightly stroke Murphy's hair. "You know what could solve this whole thing completely…" Jerry broke the silence.

"What?"

"One of us could just sleep on the couch."

"No, Jerry, that's not fair… and well... I'd miss you... Being in this big bed alone..."

"Oh, no I wasn't talking about me moving to the couch. I was talking about you." Jerry smiled and Murphy made a face and hit Jerry in the chest. He groaned in pain.

---

TUESDAY

The elevator dinged and Rachel dashed off the elevator. Her brown eyes still a little glazed over from just walking up. She wore a purple tank top and jeans, not the appropriate outfit for work. Behind her she dragged a dry cleaning bag with seemed to fly with the same wind that propelled her forward. Rachel was late for work, but not as usual. She caught site of her boss, Russell McCoy, coming towards her, as she made her way to her cubicle. Being a tall skinny man about Rachel's age with flaming red hair and matching goatee it was hard not to notice him.

"Russell, I am so sorry," she said to him, as he met her halfway between her cubicle and the elevator doors.

"You're late…"

"I'm sorry…"

"You were supposed to meet your camera crew an hour ago…"

"I know," she pleaded with him. "I over slept..."

"Again. This is the third time in the last few weeks. This is not like you, Rachel." Rachel hit her cubicle and hung her cleaning on a tall lamp next to her desk.

"I know, I know. I haven't been able to get a lot sleep lately, I don't know what... I. I… I will fix this." She turned to face Russell. "Did you get someone else to cover the story? We didn't lose it? I called as soon as I got up."

"No, Nadine was in the area, we called her in."

"Good, good." Rachel ripped open her dry cleaning bag and took out a blue jacket.

"Rachel this is isn't like you so I've been good about it before, but you missed a story this time. We all can't suffer just because you can't handle the pressure..."

"The pressure?" Rachel threw her jacket on over her tank top. "Let me tell you something, Russell. If anyone can handle the pressure around here it's me!" Rachel contained herself for a moment and whispered to Russell. "I going through something right now, I'm sorry, but I'll be fine. Nothing like this will ever happen again. I promise. I'm a professional." Russell didn't seem to know what to make of it. "Besides, I have a feeling this whole mess is about to leave town."

"It's not a female thing?" He whispered.

"No!" Rachel rolled her eyes.

"OK." Russell regained what he felt was boss like behavior. "But you've been warned." Russell walked away, as Rachel shook her head.

Rachel took the matching shirt to her jacket out of the dry cleaning bag and stepped into it. She pulled down her jeans underneath and threw them in a drawer before zipping up the back of the skirt and buttoning it. Rachel smoothed down the front of her shirt and then pulled open another drawer and snatched out a pair of thigh high nylons and a black pair of Mary Jane heels. She took a look around and quickly threw on her nylons and heels before grabbing a black cassette tape off her desk and taking a power walk to editing.

---

LATER

The day after Murphy moved into Jerry's apartment she was on her way over to the CBS building with a "smile" in her step. Before Murphy had left Washington she had made plans for CBS to supply her with an office in which she could work, as well as a studio for her to film the live portions of her broadcast, etc. Since Murphy was the cornerstone of their network, CBS bent over backwards to accommodate Murphy for her stay in New York City. Murphy would have nothing interfere with her work, even if that meant transplanting everything, including her new executive producer to New York. Since Murphy was only doing an hour special every three months, all her work in New York would be towards one show, and then she could be back in Washington for the rest of the run. And now that in the interim she would be hosting the Evening News she would have even more things to fill her time. Maybe moving to New York wasn't such a bad idea?

Murphy arrived at the CBS building at around ten-thirty, was shown her office, which was still being painted and was assured that the secretarial pool was impeccable. Since the office was being painted there was no way Murphy could unpack her things and putter around. But then what could she do?

She could try and find Eldin and Avery on their tours of the Museums of the city, but she couldn't remember which one they had decided to go to that day. Jerry had told her he would be busy for lunch so that was out. There had to be something she could do except go home and re-read the same research over and over again. There was nothing more for her to do on her story until her interview the next day. Murphy felt like a college student on the day after finals.

So, for the few moments she had before the painters started their second coat Murphy sat back in her new leather chair, so new she could smell the freshness of the leather, and looked around her office. "Oh," she thought to herself, it was "good to be back." Even though it had only been a few days since Murphy was in an office she still missed being in one. Murphy was one of the only people she knew who would dream of work while at home, instead of the other way around. Murphy missed everything about being at an office and being hard at work on a story. She loved the first bite she would make to a brand new number two pencil. Sure, she could get that anywhere, but there was nothing like the taste of a number two soft straight from the supply closet. And that great sound that penetrated through her brain as she started its first point into electronic sharpener. "Oh," Murphy loved that sound. But then Murphy got a sinking feeling in her stomach. There was that other thing that Murphy loved the most at an office and that was the people. Murphy's eyes sank.

---

ACROSS TOWN

Rachel walked out of her boss's office and made a beeline for her cubicle. She was not happy. Russell had taken her off the waterline story and told her just to work on her piece for the eleven o'clock news. The title was "Food Gone Bad" and as one could guess Rachel didn't like the story. Usually, that was the type of stories she got. It was only one out of every ten that Rachel got something she considered juicy; like the waterline story.

As she made her way to her desk she tried to avoid getting her eyes tangled with Russell's Secretary Mabel. Mabel was sweet and all, but very nosey. She seemed to feel that since the two of them had desks near each other and where women, that that meant they were the best of friends. Once Rachel caught Mabel's attention she was sure to start small talk on a wide variety of subjects Rachel had no notion or care to talk about. But this time, as usual, Mabel and her curly red curls caught Rachel and dashed right to her side. She smiled at Rachel with her short red curls clinging to her head like a twenty something Shirley Temple.

"Hey there, Rachel!" Mabel bobbed, on her perky little heels over to Rachel, while Rachel continued to cross to her desk.

"Hello, Mabel." Rachel tried to fend some enthusiasm and a smile.

"You got another bouquet!" she said with a light insinuation in her voice.

"What?" By this time Rachel had reached her cubical area she noticed a vase of spring cut flowers on her desk. She stopped and stared at them as if they scared her.

"This makes the third one this week!" Mabel grinned and leaned on the edge of the cubicle. "Can't be from, Miles? You too broke up, right?" Rachel looked up at her with a surprised look. "It's all over the office." Rachel gave her a cross look. "There's a card?" Her eyebrows raised up, as Rachel reached around the vase, until she found the card and opened it, knowing full well what it would say. She closed it quickly and threw it on her desk. "So, who's Jerry?"

"What!" Rachel looked up at Mabel with a scared look on her face.

"Sorry, I took a look." She leaned her chin on her arms.

"I wish you wouldn't do that..."

"Is he a secret admirer...?"

"Mabel!"

"Why won't you see him? Any man who sends flowers three times in one week deserves at least dinner." Mabel played with the flowers for a moment. "I mean they're so lovely…"

"You know what, Mabel." Rachel picked up the vase and handed them to her. "Why don't you take them?"

"But they're yours…" Mabel took the vase.

"No, really, I think you should have them. In fact…"

Suddenly, Rachel's attention was taken to behind Mabel near the entrance to the newsroom. It was Jerry. Rachel's heart skipped a beat and her eyes felt like they would fall out of her head. She saw him talking to someone and then it looked as if he was walking in her direction. Rachel turned her body so her back faced the door and Jerry. She looked around trying to catch her breath. Mabel could see something was wrong, but before she could say anything Rachel spoke.

"I have to get to editing." She grabbed a black tape case from her desk. She looked towards the door again and moved Mabel's so she was blocking Rachel's view of the door. "If anyone..." Rachel looked towards the door and then back at Mabel. "Asks for me tell them you have no idea where…." She could see Jerry was getting closer, her heart quickened. "… I am or when I'll be back." Rachel took another look at the door. "Oh, god!" And then made her quick exit in any direction opposite away from Jerry Gold.

She walked quickly and with determination, even at times leaning her head with her hand over her forehead, as if it would hide her face from Jerry's view. She didn't really know where she was going. The editing bays where in the whole other direction, so she was out of luck there. Suddenly, she spotted the elevators at the end of the newsroom. Somehow she had made her way in a circle, as she diverted from Jerry at every step, checking behind her, at intermitted times, to check the progress of her cloak and dagger game.

On her last look she didn't see any sight of him, but one couldn't be too careful. She jumped for the elevator button, nervously checking out both doors for a sign of escape. She looked at the elevator numbers above the doors and then towards the newsroom, impatiently waiting for her exit or perhaps a cigarette when she got to the bottom.

"Rachel?" Rachel heard a familiar female voice behind her. She turned around to discover it was Corky Sherwood.

"Corky!" Rachel looked towards the newsroom and then back at Corky. "What are you doing here?" Corky looked very pleased to see the girl.

"My boyfriend works in the building." Corky peered into the newsroom. "I thought you'd be over at the main building with Miles office?"

"No, we're here." She nodded her head and then pushed the button again in a rapid set of threes.

"Why is that?"

"Well, ever since the local news added that window on the world idea they had to move the broadcast over here for...for… you know… sake of room." Rachel looked towards Corky's direction again." And I guess for a better view. That whole window thing and all. So we moved with them." Rachel turned away from Corky and pushed the elevator button ferociously again. She looked up at the numbers. "Come, on! Come, on..." She looked towards the newsroom again just in time to catch the far away figure of Jerry coming towards her. Rachel wasn't sure if he had spotted her, but she wasn't going to hang around to find out.

"Why in such a hurry, Rachel? Are you late for something?"

"Late? Late yes… I… I… have to meet my camera crew downstairs.." She looked at her watch. "In wow! Five seconds… So, I better get going."

"Oh, well, you know we really should get together sometime..."

"Sure, Sure." Rachel looked towards the newsroom and saw that Jerry was gaining in her.

"I was thinking Saturday? You, me, Miles? How does that sound?" The elevator dinged and opened like a life raft

"Saturday?" Rachel looked towards Jerry again and he was getting closer. "Sure, fine." Rachel threw herself into the elevator.

"Rachel? This elevator is going up."

"I don't care!" Rachel turned around just as the elevators started to close.

"I'll get you both dates!" Corky smiled.

"Dates?" Rachel looked scared as the elevator closed completely.

Corky smiled to herself as she thought about the good deed she felt she was about to do. She started to walk away, leaving her back to the elevator, as Jerry Gold flew into the elevator area to find nothing he was looking for. Thinking he had just seen the elevator close he pushed the button as ferociously as Rachel had just done, but nothing came of it. He slowed his pace and looked down, rubbed his thumb and forefinger against his forehead, cursing himself and the situation. As he did this he turned around and caught site of Corky walking away.

"Well, hey there, Sherwood-Sliverberg!" he said with the usual enthusiasm that he had when he was about to have a good time at someone else's expens.

Corky tried to run, but Jerry circled her blocking her quick exit. "Jerry Gold, Jerry Gold, Jerry Gold." She frowned deeply at him.

"Sherwood, what is with this constant repetition of my name every time we meet? If you're having so much trouble remembering my name maybe you should try writing it on your hand." He smiled at her wickedly.

Corky walked backwards towards the elevators "Why are you here? Please, don't tell me you film your show here?" Corky had a disgusted look on her face.

"Sorry to disappoint you puddin' pop, but I'm here on other business." Jerry pointed towards the newsroom, as he walked closer to Corky. "The local news is doing a report on the hot men of talk radio." Jerry leered towards Corky and leaned in." If you're good I'll let you sit on my lap during the interview."

"Ugh!" Corky shook off the idea physically and was so disgusted she pushed her way past Jerry and down the hallway. Jerry's sparing match with Corky was over leaving the two in their usual tempers; elated and appalled.

Jerry watched her leave and then pretty satisfied with himself turned around, his face directly up against the elevator door, just in time for the elevator door to open, revealing Rachel in the sliver cabinet. She had not expected the doors to open and the two equally had not expected to see each other. Jerry's smile turned into the look of a frighten boy and the two were caught in each other's presence, like two dear in the headlights. It only lasted a brief moment, although it felt like an eternity. Rachel dashed for the elevator button.

"Wait! Wait!" Jerry saw her going for it and pushed his hand in-between the doors. Rachel still tried to make the elevator close. She looked at Jerry. "Please! Let me just talk with you?"

"What is there to say?" she said coldly.

"OK, I deserve that. I just I just…" The elevator door began to open aggravating Jerry. He pushed it back closed which aggravated Rachel. She rolled her eyes. "If you'd just get to know me…"

"Oh, I know you." Rachel let go of the elevator button and folded her arms. "I've seen you on TV. You're Jerry Gold. You're King of Trash TV, oh… I know you." She looked Jerry dead in the eye. "And I don't associate with trash!" Her eyes were a blasé and it scared Jerry in a way that made him back away from the elevator, causing Rachel to hit the close button and send the elevator down.

What it really did more than scare Jerry was hurt him on many levels. It was his own fault that his daughter knew him only through the television screen and Jerry knew it. It was just painful to have her throw it back in his face. All Jerry wanted was a chance, a second chance. A chance to make-up the past with a new present, but Rachel seemed to be attached to the past more than Jerry had thought. He knew it would be hard, he just thought it wouldn't be this hard. In so many accepts it was going to be difficult for Jerry to out-fox his past actions. Just like he did with Murphy he would have to find a way for his daughter to know him for him and not his persona.

Inside the elevator, Rachel's body slightly shook with anxiety. She leaned up against the back of the sliver box and took a breath, gripping the bars on the wall with her hands. Her body began to shake, as she looked down feeling horrible for what she had just done.

Outside the elevator, Jerry was livid. He stepped back in anger and walked to the elevators at the other end of the hall. He found an open elevator and angrily walked into it. His face flaring as he rode the elevator down with only one thought - to get out of the building as fast as he could.

As Jerry hit the ground floor he took his pack of Marlboros out of his pocket, thumbing one from its home into his mouth. Once he hit the revolving doors to the sunlight he lit the cigarette's edge with a gold lighter from the same pocket he had replaced the pack from. He took a lustful puff in and then out into the summer air before reaching back into his pocket and popping open his cell phone.

Whenever Jerry was around Murphy he would begin smoke less and less. He was started to act that way again, but this moment he was in need of a cigarette. On the other side of the building Rachel was doing the same.

---

DOWNTOWN

Murphy made her way out of the CBS building with determination. There had to be something she could sink her teeth into today. In the elevator she had a sudden inkling to call her father. It had been something that had been on her mine, since Jerry and his daughter had crossed it. She took out her cell phone and was even about to dial when she thought of a million reasons why she shouldn't call him. Murphy felt all the emotions she felt as a child, anger, betrayal, and fear and so she dropped the phone back in her purse and tried not to think about it.

As Murphy exited the elevator on to the floor level her phone rang. Murphy pushed her purse forward, from behind her, and slid the strap half way down her arm and dug around for her phone. She found the phone and brought it to her ear, just as she began to exit through the doors to the street. Across town Jerry was doing the same thing, as he waited for Murphy to answer to the phone.

"Hello?" Murphy walked down Fifty-Second Street, as she talked.

"Wow! I'm in shock here? You actually answered your phone? How long have you had this one? A DAY!? I think it's a new record?"

"Jerry, what do you want?" Murphy smiled, but of course she knew Jerry couldn't see it. Just then a man on the street bumped into Murphy. She yelled at him to watch where he was going in a more colorful tone.

Jerry pulled the phone away from his ear and then back to speak again. "Lunch. What ya doin'?"

"Walking up Fifth Ave over at Fiftieth." Murphy said with the action behind it of "I wish I was doing something else", as she turned the corner of the street on to Fifty-Second towards CBS.

"Great! I'm walking on Fifth over at Fifty-Seventh."

"Where do you want to go?" Murphy stopped on the corner of Fiftieth, jetting her foot out and putting her hand on her hip.

"Any ideas?"

"No." Murphy looked around.

"Well," Jerry thought for a moment. "Why don't we walk towards each other and see what we come up with?" Murphy looked around for the way she came and began walking uptown. Jerry did the same walking downtown.

"Alright." Murphy adjusted the phone on her ear. "So, did you go?"

"Yeah."

"And..." There was a pause while Murphy waited for Jerry to speak.

"Brown, she doesn't even want to talk to me!"

"Oh." Murphy didn't know what to say. "She will," she finally said to assure him.

"I don't know, Brown?"

"Oh, come on, Gold, all you have to do is what you do best. Nag at her ' till she gives in, just like you did with me. Like you do with everyone."

"You weren't there, she was so cold."

"Sounds like your first encounters with all women, Jer."

"No. That's just you," Jerry smiled

Murphy and Jerry walked at a quickening pace. They were almost near each other. Murphy crossed against the light at Fifty-Fourth and Jerry waited for a car to pass at Fifty-Fifth. They were just about to run into each other. Half way between one expensive shop and another Jerry and Murphy caught site of each other among the crowd. They still spoke on the phone until they were face to face with each other. They smiled and closed their phones. Jerry leaned in and kissed Murphy quickly on the lips.

"How about a bar I know on sixth?" Murphy asked.

"No, we can go to a bar anytime. It's going to be a long time 'till we will have the time to have lunch together. Let's go someplace nice. Quiet."

"Ok?" Murphy thought for a moment.

"How about Twenty-One?" Jerry sprung in with an idea. "It's close… it's nice and we're shore to be pushed past everyone to get a table."

"Ohh, I love that." Murphy eyes glowed. "Come on, let's go." Murphy started to walk towards the direction Jerry had come from.

"Brown, where you going? Twenty-One is this way." Jerry pointed his body toward the direction Murphy had come from.

"No, it's this way."

"What are your talking about, Brown, you just past it? Twenty-One is across from the CBS Building on..."

"No, it's across from The Plaza..."

"It's across from CBS!"

"I think I know where Twenty-One is, Jerry. I have been in this county longer then you in the last eight years."

"And I think I know where Twenty-One is! You know, Brown. I did live here for over twenty years..."

"Yes, while I have been coming here for the last thirty. So, it's best to go with what I say. And I say the restaurant is this way!"

"You know..."

And so it started, Jerry and Murphy got into one of their heated fighting matching – tempers, nostrils, heads and hands flaring. It came to the point, at usual, that neither of them where really listing to what the other was saying just trying to prove their point. They made a complete spectacle of each other. People walked past noticing the couple in a way they wouldn't have before. A woman stopped and leaned in towards the couple seeming to recognizing one of them.

"Hey, aren't you..?"

"Stay outta this!" Murphy and Jerry said in unison, turning their heads towards the woman like animals protecting their pray, and then back to their fight complete with a few hundred "you always," "that is so wrong", and "don't even start!" This scared the woman to no end and she scurried away.

"Fine!" Jerry concluded, directly in Murphy's face like a bulldog.

"Fine!" Murphy continued, with the same gesture, and the two walked off in a huff in opposite directions.

---

FRIDAY

Rachel Margolis fixed her hair as she waited impatiently for her camera crew. It had been a stressful couple of weeks. She was feeling the pressure at work, which caused her aggressive tendencies to come out more than usual. This in turn caused the obvious tension for her boss which intern put more pressure on her. She hated when that happened.

Sometimes she felt great for asserting herself, but other times it seemed to be out of hand, like she couldn't control it, as if it was a part of her chemical make-up. Not to mention, lately she had been feeling a lot more insecure than usual, but as usual she did everything not to show it. That was one of the great things, unknown to Rachel that she got from her father, the ability to put on a façade in order to stay in control.

It all seemed to start a few months ago. She had just broken up with Miles, she seemed to feel fine about it, but it still made her sad. At least that's what she told herself. And then out of the blue, out of nowhere she receives a note from her father, wanting to see her. She hadn't seen him in over ten years and thought she would never see him again. Not since he left her in the care of her grandparents and never returned, not since her mother died. Not that she saw him too often before that. And then two months ago, when she read on the AP wire that he was presumed dead, she seemed to feel nothing. At least that's what she told herself.

But there was a part of her that always wanted to know him, and then there was the part of her who didn't want to be hurt anymore. The part of her who was sick of giving the men in her life, the people in her life, fifth and sixth changes, only to have them do what they always did and that was leave.

She hadn't meant to be so cruel to him that day, it just came out and she didn't want to back down. The one thing Rachel had learned over time was when you back down from something you look weak, and she didn't want to be weak. She always had to be the one in control of the situation. Rachel just had to keep telling herself that old dogs can't learn new tricks. Therefore, the whole event, like many others in this emotional turbulent time of her life, had left her frazzled. Rachel could feel she was at a crossroads in her life and therefore it made her more tentative then she would usually. Rachel felt warn down and she didn't know why; she was still so young. Maybe Miles was right, make she was running herself into the ground. All she had to do was get through this day and the weekend would be upon her, and with it relaxation.

Suddenly, Rachel spotted Keith coming towards her, he was one of the segment producers, and alongside him was Bob one of the local CBS camera guys. She hated Bob. Bob was a horse's ass, a pompous chauvinist jackass, who at every turn harassed Rachel to no end. It all started when she refused to go out with him, not that he wasn't crude before, but after that he seemed to have some sort of vendetta against her. And it only got worse when she started dating Miles. With every crude and ruthless remark he seemed to revel in the mischief of his words. He taunted her with accusations of sleeping with Miles to get to the top and went so far as to tell everyone in the office what he thought of her, and so she wasn't the best loved person at work. Rachel never really cared what others thought of her personally, but when they thought something bad about her as a professional, that was what irritated her the most. And she always felt that Bob knew that. She had complained about him to Russell, but it was only her word against the best camera guy they had. She would have taken it even further except she felt it wasn't worth all the trouble. Unfortunately, that's how a lot of women felt.

"Well, hello there, beautiful." Bob set up his camera on its tripod.

"Hello, Bob." She had to be good she told herself.

"I'm sorry, Rachel." Keith leaned in and whispered to her. "He was the only one available. But don't worry I'll be in the van if you need me."

"I'll be fine." Rachel had no expression on her face either way. She was playing it tough. Keith smiled and crossed the street to the news van.

"So, you and Sliverberg broke up?" Bob picked up a small piece of white cardboard and handed it to Rachel.

"Yes." Rachel tried not to look uncomfortable as Bob began to circle her, leering at him, to make his way back to the camera. Doing so in a way he knew would rustle her feathers.

"Do you have to do this?" she said referring to the white piece of cardboard.

"I have to white balance the camera, Honey." He smiled.

"You know you don't have it…"

"Don't tell me what I have to do and do not have to do." He looked into the lens. "Ok. Hold it in front of you." Rachel did what she was told with much direst. "Now lower." Again, Rachel did what she told. "So, find out sleeping with the head-guy gets you nowhere, huh? I mean, I know why he was dating you, but..."

"Are you done?"

"Just about, Sweetie."

Bob lifted his head from behind the camera and walked over to Rachel's left to hand her the microphone. He was so close to her he was almost brushing up against her. Rachel filched, and when it looked as if he would try to attach it to her lapel himself, Rachel snatched it from him and clipped it on her blouse. Rachel was really holding it in by now, when Bob did the unthinkable. The unthinkable if anyone knew the state she was in. It was like he felt he could do anything now, because he knew Rachel wouldn't or couldn't get him in trouble. He leaned into her, whispering something in her ear. Something so soft he knew it wouldn't be heard by Rachel's microphone. A comment so vulgar, so, elicit, one wouldn't even think of putting it in print. Rachel's brown eyes blazed with anger and intensity. Bob lifted his head back with a smile and blew air into Rachel's ear. And as an added nail in his coffin he slapped her on the ass.

And then it happened. It was just a national reaction at first. All that pent up hostility, but then it turned into more. Rachel couldn't take it anymore and all her aggression and anxiety, from the last couple of weeks, came out with a hard punch thrust right across Bob's jaw. All that was heard in the van was a loud thud, as Rachel took out her aggressions on "poor defenseless" Bob. (Spelled backwards is Bob)

---

LOCAL CBS NEWS OFFICES

"That's it, Rachel!" Rachel's boss screamed at her, as she sat embarrassed, in his office.

"Russell…" Rachel adjusted the ice pack on her hand,as she tried to interrupt Russell with no avail

"I don't want to hear it, Rachel! This is it! I've had it with you! What were you thinking..."

"He went too far this time, Russ!"

"You went too far! Bob will be out for weeks. What am I support to do in the meantime, huh? Not to mention the equipment you broke, the dead air we had when David threw it out to you. The embarrassment you've brought the office, to CBS news!" Russell started to pace the office.

"It wasn't that bad..."

Russell stopped pacing and looked at Rachel. "They needed three people to pry you off him!"

"Russell, I don't think I embarrassed the network - who will know about it..."

"Rachel, it went live on the five o'clock news! You don't think this will be all over the eleven O'clock tonight? Hell, if it turns out to the slow news day I think it will be it'll be national by tomorrow. No, No you're not going to talk yourself out of this one. I have no choice, Rachel" He looked her dead in the eye." Rachel tried to interrupt him, but couldn't "NO, no. You're fired Rachel!"

---

Rachel stood in front of her cubicle with a large cardboard box full of her belongings. She had changed into her jeans, still in the drawer from Monday, and thrown her suit into the box. She then picked up a picture of her mother from her desk and placed it in the box. It was dark except for a few lights illuminating off a few of the other desks. The room was empty except for Rachel and Mabel who stood next to her.

"Are you sure you don't want to come to the party?" She pointed to her left and the light noise coming from the hall.

"No, I don't feel like celebrating right now." Rachel leaned over the edge of the cubicle and fumbled around her desk for something as Mabel spoke.

"I know it's a good-bye party for Ralph, but I'm sure we could...

"No, Mabel, thank you. I just… I just want to go home, thank you."

"Alright." She smiled and walked away.

Rachel found the stapler she was looking for and threw it in her box.

Rachel looked around at her office. She was going to miss it. Not only that but she felt sad and embarrassed about the day's events. She thought about them for a moment and groaned with the thought. She shook her head and buried her hands in her face, before leaning her arms and hands against the edge of her cubicle.

As Rachel was doing this, her father entered the newsroom. He looked in the direction of the noise from the party and then at the empty newsroom. He spotted Rachel, he wasn't sure it was her, but it looked like it was. He took off his coat and slung it over his arm.

"Hi?" Jerry titled his head to the side to get Rachel's attention.

Rachel looked up and caught site of Jerry. There was a short pause. He sure had perfect timing – the end of a perfect day, she thought sarcastically. "Hi?" There was another short pause. "What are you doing here?" her voice wasn't as harsh as before.

"I just want to talk, that's all." He put his hands up in a defensive motion.

"You sure don't take a hint, do you?"

"All I want is the change to talk to you. You can at least give me that." Rachel turned her head and wiped some tears that began to fall on her cheeks. "Are you alright?" Jerry took a step closer.

"I'm fine." She turned her head and wiped the edge of her nose. She picked up her box and tried to walk away.

Jerry blocked her. "I know I haven't been there in the past and you have every reason to hate me. I'd hate me." There was a pause while Jerry watched Rachel look like she was grappling with something.

"You left."

"I know…"

"How was that supposed to make me feel? Never a card or a phone call!"

"I know, but… Look, things are different' now, if you'd just let me explain…"

"Different? How? How is today different from ten years ago."

"I'd like to think we're both different people now. I know I am... "

"Were both different people? I'm your daughter not your girlfriend!"

"I'm sorry! I'm not good at this! What I'm trying to say is… I didn't know at the time how to be a father... I thought I couldn't." Jerry paused, as a dreadful thought crossed his mind. "I always loved you. You have to believe that. But I was young. I was scared. I wasn't ready to be father. But I am now. I'm not asking for much. Just the chance to get to know you, for you to get to know me..."

Rachel walked back towards the cubical and rested the edge of the box on its edge. "Part of me really wants that." Jerry smiled. "But I still hear the same question in my head. What makes it different this time?' She looked at Jerry. "What happens after I get to know you, after I became attached and you leave again…"

"I won't."

"And I'm supposed to take your word for that."

"Yes."

"And I'm supposed to trust the man who Michael Jackson tried to chock on national television. The man who…"

"Hey, there's more to me then that!"

"You could have fooled me!" Rachel grabbed her box off the edge of her cubicle with both her hands. "What about the man who left his fourteen-year old daughter and never looked back. Is that not you either?"

"Ok. I did that! I'm not denying that... But can't we put the past behind us and start over? All I'm asking for is a chance. I'm ready to be a father now..."

"Well, that great! That's all fine and dandy. But things are different with me too. And I'm just sick and tired of giving everyone in my life second changes, and have them all throw me to the wayside." Rachel paused for a moment to regain her control." And I'm very happy for you that I fit into your little life now. But you don't fit into mine. Because, the truth is from past experience and past knowledge...I just don't trust you. And until someone shows me otherwise I don't see any point in continuing this conversation." Rachel began to walk past Jerry and paused. "You may be ready to have me as a daughter, but I'm not ready to have you as a father." She looked down and began to walk away. "So, good-bye. And a… best of luck to ya." And Rachel left the newsroom; leaving Jerry alone in the darkness and lights.

Rachel walked into the elevator as she had done every night, only this time she wouldn't return. She walked in carefully and watched the numbers slowly light up in descending order. She spread her fingers through her long dark hair and then held on to her box for dear life, her face expressionless unless one looked closer. If one looked closer they could see she was upset. She was holding so much in her body was in shock. And slowly but surely she started to cry. By the time she reached the lower level she had once again, like usual, held it back in. She walked past the security guard and out the door in a daze, unaware of the people who walked around her.

Across town, Corky sat at her desk in her large and spacious New York City office. Her legs were crossed over the edge of her desk, as she stared out the window looking deep in thought. She shifted her head to the left, looking over the Manhattan skyline, but although her eyes peered towards the picturesque images she did not see them. Her mind was someplace else. She took in a deep breath and began to tap her manicured nails against the glass of the topside of her desk.

Corky Sherwood seemed to be in the big time. She had one of many large offices at ABC news deep in the heart of mid-town. She had never seen an office as big as her new one. Corky had figured it was three times the size of her previous office at FYI. Even at FYI she had a window, even when she moved to the eighteenth floor for the last four years of the show, and compared to her new window they couldn't compare. The window in her new office wrapped all the way around the office and with one touch of a button she could make it disappear with blinders. If only everything in life were that easy. Corky had only been there a month, and still she hadn't gotten used to it. But still, that was not what was racking her mind

At the same time, Rachel walked down the cold nearly light street. It was only six-thirty and being June in the city it still looked like day was upon the world. People walked past her in droves and she felt more alone then if she the streets were empty. She spotted her local hangout, Morty's, and decided to go in just one last time. She walked through the poorly lit brown musty bar into a small leather bound booth at the back. She set her box next to her and ordered a soda. Rachel didn't drink, but since all her friends and collogues did it was the usual place they all hung out after work.

She sat in silence for a moment, one hand on her box of belongings and the other limp beside her. Then like clockwork, whenever she was alone, or even with a group of friends, the waiter brought over a drink sent by a young or older man sitting at the bar, or another booth, or even a table in the center of the room. This time it came from a tall man at the other end of the bar. Usually, Rachel would give the drink to a friend or send it back, but she stopped for a moment. She looked at the drink. What was the big deal she thought? One has to try everything at least once. She hated how scared she was feeling lately, why not take a chance. And so she picked up the pink drink, feeling like it was happening in slow motion, having no idea what the drink was, and within several minutes had finished the entire contents. Soon Rachel discovered why it was people drank after work.

---

LATER ON: At the Metropolitan Museum of Art

(In front of the painting:(Jackson Pollack) Autumn Rhythm 1950

Rachel sat on small bench in the center of one the permeate galleries at the Metropolitan Museum of art. It was her favorite place to go to reflect, and so forth, when she was upset. She looked up at the Jackson Pollack painting as if she was engrossed only in the painting and nothing else around it. Not that it mattered because at nearly closing time the gallery was nearly empty.

"Rachel?" Miles sweet voice called her, as he stood above her looking concerned.

"Miles?" She looked up at him.

"Can I sit?'

"Of course," she said softly.

Miles sat down next to her. "I thought you might be here." He looked towards the painting with Rachel. "I heard what happened." He pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose.

"Yeah, I 'm sure everyone knows by now."

"Are you alright, Rachel?"

"I'll be fine," her voice was tired and grainy.

"I know you, Rachel. You only come here when you're really upset. You can tell me?"

"You know I always thought I was like a Jackson Pollack painting?"

"What?"

"I said I thought my life would be a like a Jackson Pollack painting." She didn't look at him, just at the painting.

"I heard that, but how?"

"When Jackson Pollock painted he just threw the paint on to the canvass, but he didn't just throw it randomly. He surveyed the area and then when he found the perfect spot he splattered the paint, but still no matter how much he thought about it and found the perfect spot, it would still be random. He knew up to a certain point what would happen, but after that it was random. Precise randomness. I always thought if I knew what I wanted to do. If I just threw myself on to the world, it would all happen. I thought I'd be art. I'm starting to think I was wrong."

"You're not wrong, Rachel..."

"I think I am."

"Rach. You're a talented, smart girl. You just need to maybe slow things down... " Miles was looking for something to say without offending her. "You know what? They're almost closing. Let's get out of here. '

"Alright."

"Come on." Miles motioned with his body and began to get up. "I'll take you home."

"I can't," Rachel whispered and pulled Miles back down on the bench.

"Why?"

"Oh, nothing." She laughed. "Just a small problem. I don't think I can walk."

"What!" Rachel pulled on Miles tie and pulled him closer to her.

"There's a small chance… Well… That I'm drunk," she whispered, blowing the smell of alcohol in Miles' face.

Miles flinched. "Rachel!" He was agog. "How could this happen! You don't drink! You don't!"

"Ok, you're, right," she laughed. "I must not be drunk then." Rachel began to have the giggles and fall towards Miles, as he looked around to see if anyone could see them.

Miles was in panic mode. "Why were you drinking, Rachel?"

"Ok, if we could just focus on one problem at a time. Twenty-five years of sobriety out the window a bit later. Now. Finding the ability to use my lower limbs. "

"Ok, ok." He grabbed Rachel by the arms and propped her up. "Lean against me and I'll help you out of here." He pulled Rachel up onto her two feet and coaxed her along until she was sturdy enough to walk out of the museum without much attention - Miles afraid at every turn that a security guard would stop them.

When they reached the street Miles hailed a cab and helped Rachel and himself into it.

"Sixth and Minetta," Miles told the driver.

Rachel lowered her head onto Miles shoulder. "Wow, that's where I live."

"Yes, I know."

"You know my father came to see me today?"

"Your father!"

"Yeah. He just showed up."

"He just showed up, out of nowhere. Where has he been for the last ten years? Wait? Is that what this is all about?"

"He's been trying to contact me for the last three weeks. He sent flowers. Can you believe that? Why do men think begonias can solve the world's ills?" She snuggled into Miles shoulder.

"That's what's been bothering you lately? Oh, Rachel, why didn't you tell me?"

"I thought I could handle it myself. I just..." Rachel stopped in mid-sentence and looked like she wasn't going to even finish her thought.

"Rachel, what happened?"

"I told him I didn't trust him."

"You have every reason to..."

"I wish I did, Miles. I wish I trusted him."

"Well, maybe you should see what he has to say? You always said you were curious about him. I mean he did come to see you."

---

RACHEL'S APARTMENT

Miles helped Rachel to her apartment and helped her into bed.

"Miles?" Rachel asked, as Miles put the covers over her.

"Yes."

"You always complain about your parents, but you still love them, right?"

"Yes, of course I do."

"Have they ever let you down?"

"Sure, but not on purpose…"

"I'm always scared, Miles? Do you realize that?" She pulled up the covers and leaned on her side.

"What? You're one of the bravest people I know. Now stop talking and go to bed." Miles began to leave.

Rachel grabbed his hand and pulled him closer. "Don't leave, Miles…" He looked into her eyes she looked frightened.

"Ok, I'll stay."

"I was so afraid you were going to leave..." She hugged her pillow.

"I won't leave you..." Miles leaned in and whispered to Rachel.

She looked up at him. "Just like he did…"

"No. Rachel. I love you. I won't leave."

"That's what you say now. But you will. That's why I have to break up with you, Miles." Her vocal levels were mismatched.

"What?" This was the first time Miles had heard such a thing from Rachel. It was like she was so drunk she was confusing time frames. Like her own version of time travel. The Rachel of a two month ago had somehow leaped into her body. "What do you mean, that's why you have to break up with me?" Rachel started to close her eyes, but Miles was determined to wake her. "You said it was because I spent too much time at work? Rachel? Rachel?" He grabbed her by her arms to rouse her. "Because, you never saw me?" Miles stopped because it looked like she was waking up. Miles still held her by her arms. "So, I assumed you meant you didn't love me…"

Rachel put her finger to Miles lips. "Miles, of course I love you…" She leaned back. "I think I'll always love you." She looked at him and started to fall asleep.

"Rachel! Rachel! When you say you're always love me did you mean always love me in a brother and sister type way or...Rachel? Rachel?"

"I still do," she whispered. Miles again tried to wake her, but with no avail - she was suction cupped to her pillow. Miles sat down in the chair across from Rachel's bed not knowing what to make of it all.