AN: I love reviews! Of course, I'm not really even waiting for them to slowly roll in this time. Time slipped away from me, I missed the deadline for the December challenge. Oh well! Anyways, another chapter is done--and it's really long, once more. Happy reading!

Chapter Eight:

Jack was standing in the middle of the street, hands in his pockets. As a girl passes, he turned and watched her for a moment. Laura has better legs than her, he thought, then sighed, shaking his head. He was obviously undecided as to what he wanted to do with himself, his mind muddled beyond belief with thoughts of the girl he couldn't have.

Across the street, the lights were turned out at a small medical clinic. Judy, now Dr. Barnett, psychologist-at-large, stepped out of the door, neatly dressed in a pants suit, a briefcase in her hand. As Judy was locking up for the night, a couple of men crowded around her, each one bent on taking her out. There is laughter, kidding and pawing. She looked up and saw Jack standing on the other side of the street.

Excuse me... she said, nodding at the group of men.

Now, wait a minute, one man protested.

I think I've got a date, she said, her eyes following Jack. But stick around, guys, just in case, huh? she teased.

We'll wait for you, baby, another man smiled.

Judy smoothed her pants, and crossed the street slowly, unbuttoning the top buttons of her shirt as she walked towards Jack, who was standing on the sidewalk, watching her closely.

Hello, Mr. Bristow, Judy said, breathily.

Hi, Jude, he said, using his nickname for her.

Jack raised his eyes, and looked her up and down, much to his disgust. Despite the fact that he wasn't particularly enamored with the woman, he couldn't deny that he found her quite attractive.

Judy watched him, amused at his subtle glances, followed by his all-out stare, focusing upon the area that had been previously covered by the top buttons of her shirt. Clearly Jack was far from immune to her charms. She linked her arm in his and continued on down the street, strolling along with him.

What gives? Judy asked.

he muttered.

Where are you going? she probed.

Jack paused, I'll probably end up down at the library. Thinking to himself, he added, So I can watch Laura from behind the bookshelves.

They stopped walking and faced one another.

Jack, don't you ever get tired of just reading about things and waiting for something that might never happen? she asked, looking up at him, her eyes seductive and guileful.

Jack was silent for a moment, his mind going in circles, then blurted out, Yes...what are you doing tonight?

Not a thing, Judy said, feigning surprise.

Are you game, Jude? Let's make a night of it.

Judy smiled, having finally gotten what she wanted; a date with Jack Bristow. She looked him in the eyes, and answered, Oh, I'd love it, Jack. What'll we do?

Let's go out to the Lincoln Memorial and take off our shoes and wade through the Reflecting Pool.

her eyebrows raised in confusion.

Then we can go to the Jefferson Memorial. It's beautiful up there in the moonlight, and there's a nice spread of water that reflects the moonbeams, and we can sit reading Walt Whitman. Then we can camp out on the steps of the Capitol, and watch the sunrise against the Washington Monument, and...we'll stay there the whole night, and everybody'll be talking and there'll be a terrific scandal... he trailed off, thinking of a certain brown-haired beauty he'd like to have at his side.

Judy interrupted his thoughts, Jack, have you gone crazy? Wade in the Reflecting Pool in my bare feet? And, you know what, I don't even think you're allowed to spend the night on the steps of the Capitol.

he whispered urgently, putting his index finger to his mouth.

You think just because you... she started, fury in her voice.

By this time, a small crowd collected to watch the developing scene. Judy was furious and spoke in a loud voice, while Jack tried to quiet her.

Okay, just forget about the whole thing, he finally said, angrily, shoving his hands in his pockets, and stalked off.

The crowd laughed at the irritated man until he turned around and shot them a dark look, and silence reigned once more on the street.

Moments later, Milo and Joseph watched as Jack walked slowly past Laura's house. He stared meditatively at the simple dwelling, then he started walking ahead, but after a few steps he turned around and started back. He walked past the house a few yards, turned, and started back again.

Laura had her head poked out the window, watching Jack walk back and forth.

What are you doing, picketing? she finally called down to him.
Jack stopped, startled, and looked up.

Hello, Laura. I just happened to be passing by, he explained.

Yeah, so I noticed. Have you made up your mind? Laura asked.

How's that?

Have you made up your mind? she repeated.

About what?

About coming in. Your mother just phoned and said you were on your way over to pay me a visit, Laura said.

Jack looked surprised at this, My mother just called you? Well, how did she know?

Didn't you tell her?

I didn't tell anybody. I just went for a walk and happened to be passing by on my way home from the library... he trailed off, noticing Laura was no longer watching him from her window.

What do you...went for a walk, that's all, he said to himself. Don't be stupid, Jack; you know that when you saw she wasn't in the library you walked over to her apartment, he reprimanded himself.

Inside the house, Laura ran down the stairs, calling into the kitchen, I'm going to be in the living room, Katie, don't come in, to her roommate, Katherine MacMahon.

All right, Laura, Katie answered.

Laura looked in a mirror at the bottom of the stairs and fixed her hair, smoothing it behind her ears. Her facial expression plainly showing her unconscious excitement at Jack's visit. She ran into the living room and put a sketch on the coffee table.

The picture was a caricature of Jack throwing a lasso around the moon, that had the caption, Jack Lassos The Moon. Laura had drawn it herself one day as she sat in the university's library, bored with her study of Chinese literature of the hundredth dynasty she'd read about.

Laura ran back into the hall, opened the record player and put on a record of I'll Be Home for Christmas. Then she opened the front door and stood there waiting for Jack.

Jack heard the front door open and looked over to see Laura standing in the doorway, her outline glowed, giving her a halo. Her hair flowed down over her shoulders, and her deep brown eyes gazed contentedly at him. Jack swallowed. My goddess, he thought. Jack struggled with the gate, finally kicking it open and started slowly up the path toward Laura.

Well, are you coming in or aren't you? Laura smiled encouragingly.

Well, I'll come in for a minute, but I didn't tell anybody I was coming over here, Jack said, walking up the stairs and into the house. When did you get back? he questioned her.



Where'd you get that dress? he asked, without thinking.

Do you like it? she twirled around.

Good god man! Get a hold of yourself! he mentally smacked himself. Can you be any more obvious that you think she's the most gorgeous creature you've ever laid eyes on?

It's all right, Jack covered, tensing up, his back rigid. I thought you'd go back to New York City to be with Bob.

Oh, I worked there for a couple of vacations, but I don't know...I guess I was homesick.

Homesick? For school? Studying? Jack looked at her, shocked.

Yes, and my friends and... Laura stopped, fearing she'd said too much. Oh, everything, I suppose. Would you like to sit down?

They went through the doorway into the living room.

All right, for a minute. I still can't understand it though. You know I didn't tell anybody I was coming here.

Would you rather leave? she asked, her eyebrows knitting together.

No, I don't want to be rude, Jack answered, mentally berating himself for lying.

Well, then, sit down, she waved towards the couch.

Jack saw the cartoon on the table and bent down to take a close look at it.

Some joke, huh? he said, looking at the picture. He sighed, and took a seat on the love seat.

Laura squeezed in next to him, making Jack painfully aware of her presence, as her body pressed up against the side of his. He took off his hat and sat it on his lap as discreetly as he could, hoping she wouldn't notice that his breathing had quickened. Jack was clearly uncomfortable and continued to fidget, while Laura tried desperately to keep the conversation alive.

Well, I see you still keep thousands of old books, Jack commented.

Thank you, she said, halfheartedly.

There was silence for a moment, then Laura joined in singing with the record which had been playing all through the conversation, I'm dreaming tonight... she started.

What's the matter? Jack asked, distractedly. He thought for a moment, Oh, yeah...yeah... He looked at his watch, as though about to leave, Well, I...

It was nice about your friend Arvin, and Emily, wasn't it? she interrupted, frantically casting around for a topic that would make him talk.

Oh...yeah, yeah. That's all right, Jack grumbled, remembering what Emily had told him about Bob Lindsay.

Don't you like her? she asked, shocked that someone might not like her friend Emily.

Well, of course I like her. She's a great.

Oh, it's just marriage in general you're not enthusiastic about, huh? Laura pressed him.

No, marriage is all right for Arvin, and Ben, and Bob and you, he responded, again seeing his Laura in the arms of Lindsay.

Katie, in an apron, and with her hand in oven mitts, leaned over the kitchen counter, calling, Laura! Laura! She slipped the mitts off, continuing, Who's down there with you?

It's Jack Bristow, Katie, Laura answered.

Jack Bristow? The famous coffee shop man'? What's he want? Katie asked, starting to walk into the other room, eager to finally meet the man who had her friend twisted like a pretzel.

Laura blushed at the reminder of coffee shop man,' also referred to as the knight in wet clothes,' Laura's sugar daddy,' but officially known as Jonathan D. Bristow. I don't know, she shouted to the other woman. Turning to Jack, she asked, What do you want?

Me? Not a thing. I just came in to get warm, Jack said, somewhat indignantly.

He's making violent love to me, Katie, she yelled to her friend.
Jack was aghast.

How did she know what I wanted to do? he wondered, his eyes as wide as saucers.

You tell him to go right back home, and don't you leave the house, either, Katie lectured. Bob Lindsay promised to call you from New York tonight.

But your friend needn't...you know I didn't come here to...to...to... Jack stuttered, attempting to cover up his thoughts.

Laura stood, and looked at him sharply, Then what did you come here for?

I don't know. You tell me. You're supposed to be the one that has all the answers. You tell me he said.

Good comeback, Jack old boy, a little voice in his mind taunted him. You're so mature. You definitely stumped her with that one.

Shut up! he thought.

Oh, why don't you go home? Laura said, feeling terribly hurt, but not understanding why.

That's where I'm going. I don't know why I came here in the first place! Good night! Jack shouted.

And the score is Bristow-zero, the world-one, the voice said. And you call yourself a game theorist?

As Jack left the room, the telephone in the hall started to ring.

Good night! Laura shouted back at his retreating figure, her fists clenched at her sides, angry tears spilling from her eyes.

Laura! Laura! The telephone! It's Bob! called her friend, Katie.

I'll get it, Laura whispered, tear stains marking her face as she walked into the hallway where the phone was sitting.

As Laura came into the hall, she stopped by the record player, which was still playing I'll be Home for Christmas, took off the record with a jerk, and smashed it against the wall. The phone still ringing in the background.

Laura, he's waiting! Katie yelled from upstairs, where she had retreated to after turning her gingerbread men in the oven.

Laura picked up the phone, noticing Jack creep back up the front steps, and into the house.

I forgot my hat, he said, sheepishly.

Why, hello dear! Laura said, overly enthusiastic even to her own ears. Bob, darling, how are you?

Aw, great. God, it's good to hear your voice again, Laura, he said over the phone.

Jack stopped, hat in hand, to hear the first greetings.

Oh, well, that's awfully sweet of you, Bob, she said, glancing towards the door and noticing that Jack was still there, hovering in the doorway. There's an old friend of yours here. Jack Bristow.

You mean old iceman' Jack?

Yes, old iceman' Jack, she affirmed, watching Jack attempt to slip away out of the corner of her eye.

Put him on, Bob asked.

Wait a minute. I'll call him, Laura said, covering the mouthpiece of the phone. she called.

He doesn't want to speak to Jack, you idiot! Katie said irritably.

He does so. He asked for him, Laura shouted at her roommate. Go tend to your gingerbread, Katie! I think they're burning. She turned to the door and again started to call, but lowered her voice once she realized he was standing right in front of her. Jack, Bob wants to speak to you.

She hands the instrument to George.

Hello, Bob, Jack said, cautiously.

A quick shot showed Bob Lindsay's office in New York City to the two angels who were observing this interaction. Bob was seated at his desk, a blonde-haired woman perched on his lap. He stroked her hair, smiling at her as she wrapped her arms around his neck.

Well, well, well. Who'd have thought, Jonathan Bristow! Bob said into the phone. A fine man you are. what're you trying to do? Steal my girl? he asked, teasing the other man.

What do you mean? Jack frowned, missing the fact that Bob wasn't being serious. Nobody's trying to steal your girl. Here...here's Laura.

No, wait a minute. Wait a minute. I want to talk to you, Bob said.

Jack started, disconcerted by the fact that he was having a relatively civil conversation with the son of the man who plagued his life.

Tell Laura to get on the extension, Bob added.

Here. You take it. You tell him, Jack said, turning to leave.

Katie's on the extension, she said, loudly, catching her roommate's attention.

As Katie heard this, she hastily hung up the extension phone on which she had been listening, ducking back into her room.

We can both hear, Laura said. Come here, she added, looking at Jack, waving him over with her hand.

Laura took the telephone from Jack and held it so that of necessity Jack's cheek was almost against hers. Jack tried to control his breathing, very aware of her proximity.

We're listening, Bob, Laura said.

I have a big deal coming up that's going to make us all rich, Bob started. Jack, you remember that project you've been working on? Project 048512?

Huh? Yeah-yeah-yeah...that op. Yeah, Jack mumbled.

Well, Dad's snapped up the idea. He's going to fully fund the op. How do you like that?

Laura watched Jack interestedly, who, in turn, was quite conscious of her, close to him.

Your father? Well, why? Jack wondered aloud.

Well, why not? Can you think of anything better? he asked.

Oh, I don't know...it's just that...well, your father has never really liked me very much. He didn't like my father either, for that matter, Jack said, carefully.

That so? Well, I never knew that. I'll have to talk to him about that. Now listen. Have you got any problems with this?

Problems? Yeah...well, a little...I mean, I'll have to talk this over with Ben, Jack stalled.

Well, now listen. I want you to talk it over with Ben tomorrow, you hear? And Jack, I may have a job for you over here with the NSC; that is, unless you're still married to that broken-down Research and Development department at the State Department.' The stuff going on up here in New York...well, it's the biggest thing this country will have seen since Tonkin Gulf, and I'm letting you in on the ground floor. Oh, Laura...Laura... Bob said, calling to his

I'm here, she responded, nervously.

Would you tell that guy I'm giving him the chance of a lifetime, you hear? The chance of a lifetime, said Bob's voice.

As Laura listened, she turned to look at Jack, her lips almost on his lips.
He says it's the chance of a lifetime.

Jack couldn't stand it any longer. He dropped the phone with a crash, grabbed Laura by the shoulders and shook her.

Now you listen to me! I don't want any deal with your boyfriend! I don't want any part of it, and I don't want to get married--ever--to anyone! You understand that? I want to do what I want to do. And you're...and you're... he stumbled, seeing her start to sob silently.

Jack looked down at her, watching the tears drip slowly down her face. Instantly, he felt as though he was overflowing with guilt. Irritably, he thought, To hell with it! I'm going to tell her the truth and show her how much she means to me. F*** Lindsay!

He lifted his hand to her face, and gently wiped away her tears. he whispered.

She continued to look down at her feet, trying to regain her calm, smoothing a strand of hair behind her ear.

Jack lifted her chin, forcing her to look at him. He peered into her cloudy brown eyes. Even now, she's still the most beautiful woman I've ever seen, Jack thought to himself, as he absently stroked her cheek with his thumb.

He swallowed, and started again, Laura...I didn't mean it. Jack stopped, mulling over his words before saying anything else. The fact is, that I don't want to ever get married to anyone, he said softly, not breaking eye contact.

Laura tried to break loose from his arms, when she heard Jack continue, speaking so quietly that it seemed as though he were speaking to himself.

But you, he said.

Laura froze, turning slowly to look back at the man who had her completely entranced. She studied him, slowly, then moved closer, her breath hot against Jack's face.

she asked, shyly.

You had to ask? Jack teased, pulling his arms closer around her. Laura, you've had me hooked since you ordered coffee that day in the café, he smiled, hiding the raw anxiety that lay hidden, desperately afraid that she would turn him away and leave.

My superiors aren't going to like this, Laura thought, biting down on her lower lip, pausing as she made her decision. The slight movement she felt made her look up, noticing Jack flinch, and start to back away from her. What's wrong? she asked, worried that he was going to take it back, leaving her with Bob. Laura swallowed, Bob was not exactly her favourite person; but one doesn't get to chose whom one is to seduce for the KGB. And her superiors wanted her to get close to a source of classified information. To hell with it! F*** the KGB! she said to herself, echoing Jack's previous thoughts. They'll just get used to the fact that Lindsay's out of the picture. They'll just have to get used to Jack.

Jack watched as she had a mental conversation with herself, and started to move away, since he feared that once she thought about it rationally, she'd send him packing. At her question, he stopped, and looked at his toes, You're going to turn me down...and, I...I just wanted to spare you the trouble of having to tell me.

She looked at him, puzzled for a moment, then smiled. You seriously think I'm going to turn you down? she asked, stepping closer to him.

Well, yes, started Jack. he frowned, his forehead wrinkling, you mean, you're not?

Shut up and kiss me, Jack.

Jack didn't need to be told twice. He bridged the gap between them and swept her up in his arms, holding her tightly as though he was afraid she'd pass through his fingers if he let go. Tilting his head, he kissed her slowly, tenderly. Tentative kisses became passionate and fierce, as a young man and a young woman who were meant for one another found themselves in complete ecstasy.

Oh, Laura... he whispered against his neck, pausing to nibble at her ear.

Laura groaned, ever-so-slightly. Jack...oh Jack...I love you...

he murmured into her hair, You're my world.

Katie crept over to the top of the stairs, and looked down at the couple below her. At the sight of her friend in the arms of another man, kissing him frantically, she practically fell over in a dead faint.

TBC