Disclaimer: I do not own JA or any of the characters. I also do not own any songs used in any of the chapters, nor do I own the singers/song writers.
Chapter 29: Surprises
Bruce sat on his bed, with a pillow over his face. Trying to hold in the emotions, shutting out the outside world. He felt like there was little left to live for. There was Rebecca of course, but he had always hoped that Amy would be his. Eventually... he had promised himself he would wait an eternity for her, but she hadn't made that promise, she hadn't known, he had been a fool.
He faintly registered a knocking on his door, but as he tried to ignore it, it only got louder. He sighed, slowly sitting up and stumbled to the door in the dark. Opening the door, he glanced out and on seeingwho it waswent to close it again, but a foot was in the way.
"Bruce, I know you don't particularly like me, but I am here to check you are ok? Open up for me so I can see that you are ok." David moved his hand to the door to help his foot in holding the door open.
"Nothing happened, you know. She loves you too much. She loves you."
"I'm not here about that... well I suppose I am, but not to attack you. I'm here for you, not for Amy."
"Just go away." Bruce leant his head against the door, still trying to reign in his emotions.
"Bruce, I need to see that you are ok. I need to see that you are not... unwell."
"I haven't been drinking if that is what you are worried about."
"Open the door Bruce, I'm not going, so you might as well open the door. I'm tired and I don't particularly want to be here all night, and I am sure you are too, so just open the door and I can leave knowing that you are ok."
"Did Amy send you?"
"No, I offered, she knows but she didn't send me. She was worried about you."
"How did you... what do you know?"
"I was waiting for her when you dropped her off. She was upset you know."
"I waited too long. But she was so upset when they questioned her... when they said she couldn't do her job properly I never told her exactly how I felt. I was a coward, I left it too late. I know that now. I tried to take her away from you. Why would you want to help me, with the knowledge that I did that? Why would you want to help me at all? You don't know me."
"I know Amy, and you are a dear friend of hers, she loves you. And she did have feelings for you. But as you say, things went unsaid and you both moved on. Maybe Amy did a little better, but I put that down to all the jerks that hurt her before. Not that I am calling you a jerk, because I can tell you honestly love her, but because she learnt to move on and to forget."
"I know... that's why I never wanted to give her false hopes, when we could never be together properly."
"Bruce, let me see you are ok. Don't you feel stupid talking through a door like this?"
"A little." Bruce stepped back from the door and let David in. "Thank you for coming."
"Hey, what are friends for?"
"You consider me a friend, after..."
"Those who are Amy's friends are my friends. As long as they don't hurt her that is."
"I'm sorry."
"You can make it up to me by always being there when I can't be. You've known her longer than me and she still needs you. She will probably always need you. I respect that."
"But..."
"And I trust you." David held out his hand. "Friends?"
"Friends." They shook hands and David stood back.
"And if you need to talk... as a friend, I will be there for you, but I know it will be weird for you, when you hated me for so long."
"Who says I still don't hate you?" David laughed.
"It was a hopeful guess."
"I don't hate you. Unless you hurt Amy that is. Then you will have hell to pay."
"I won't hurt her." David laughed again. "I may actually need your help figuring things out if I ever do anything wrong. She's complex."
"I will do anything for her happiness."
"As would I." David stepped back through the door. "Guess this must be weird for you, half an hour ago, standing with Amy, telling her how you feel, and now, talking like this with me."
"Yeah, just don't expect me to tell you I love you." Bruce chuckled as David stepped further through the door.
"I can see why Amy likes you, you have the same sense of humour." David shook his head as he smiled.
"Yeah, we sure do, it helps to be crazy when dealing with Judge Gray."
"Don't let her hear you say that."
"Oh I won't. She hurts when she hits." Bruce chuckled.
"Thanks for the heads up."
"You're just lucky you haven't experienced it yet." David smiled.
"I'll be off then."
"Bye McClaren."
Bruce watched as David got back into his car and drove away. He had never expected something like that to happen, with anyone. And yet it happened with McClaren... David.
He shook his head and closed and relocked the door. He felt lighter from that conversation, somehow happier and he knew that everything would be ok. He would learn just like Amy had, he would learn to move on.