Irreconcilable differences

Happy Holidays! P.S no secretaries were harmed in the making of this fic. Sorry this took so long; but I did a lot of re-writing on this chapter. As they, say, "nothing is written it's re-written". Enjoy!

Chapter Three:

Jack's feet slammed on the brakes as he was stopped at yet another red light. Panic laced through his system making his heartbeat faster, his breaths come quicker. Only a few minutes ago he had received a call from Haley's daycare. Some secretary who could barely have been out of high school had called, saying that there was something wrong with Haley. Of course the first thing he had done was call Annabeth; but she was unreachable, "as always", he muttered bitterly. Something about a Bailey Case, he sighed willing the light to change, probably another high profile case that would put them on another mobs hit list. God, why did Annabeth have to be so good at her job? A car horn behind him indicated that the light had changed. Pushing all thoughts from his mind, he raced to pick up Haley.

Upon arriving, he thrust his car into a parking space, not caring if he was between the lines; and ran into the building. Just as he had suspected Miss. Bresnon, or so her nametag read, could not have been more than eighteen. Summoning more patience then he had, at the moment, he approached the front desk.

"Hello I'm here to pick up Haley Chase," he said forcing a smile. "Oh", the girl looked up with hastily, "you must be her father." 'Of course who else would I be?" Fighting down a sarcastic comeback, he merely looked at her expectantly. "Oh well I'll go and fetch her then shall I", the secretary bubbled with a grin. Wishing he could find the energy to converse with her, he merely nodded. Truth be told he hadn't slept a wink the night before, it hadn't been right to chew Annabeth up like that. He knew that Annabeth loved him, and Haley it was just that, she didn't seem to have the right priorities. For as much as he supported her, he had never fully forgiven her for not dropping, the Riggs case as soon as it had gotten personal.

His musings were interrupted by the return of Miss. Bresnon, and his obviously healthy daughter. Giving a laugh of relief, he scooped his baby up from the incompetent secretary's arms; and pulled Haley close to him. "I thought you said there was something wrong", he murmured, very glad that there wasn't. "Oh well I thought there was, but turns out I was wrong, and by that point it was too late to call you…you can leave her here if you like thought", the girl spoke earnestly. Shaking his head, Jack didn't even bother saying goodbye, as he turned and left. One thing was for sure; Haley was never going back there.

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Feeling better with every block she put between herself, and that horribly disturbing case. Annabeth rushed to pick up Haley, she still didn't know, how she could have gone for one full day without seeing her. With that as her mindset, it did not take her long to pull into the daycare driveway. Hurrying out of the car, she trotted to the door.

"Hi I'm here to pick up Haley", she said cheerfully. The woman behind the counter looked at her as if she had grown another head. Doing her best to keep the pleasant smile on her face, Annabeth tried again. " I'm Annabeth Chase here to pick up Haley Chase", she spoke slowly for clearly the woman in front of her was having difficulty.

The secretary's eyes narrowed at being addressed in such a manner; and she fixed Annabeth with a cold smile. "Well I'm sorry but Haley Chase", she put special emphasis on her last name, "is not here". Annabeth felt her heart leap into her throat; she wanted to scream till her throat bled. 'How can Haley not be here?' 'I saw Jack take her this morning.'

"No your husband came and picked her up a few minutes ago", releasing a breath she hadn't been aware of holding, Annabeth turned to leave. The young girls voice stopped her just before the entrance. "I know it's none of my business but; how can you not know where your daughter is?" "Isn't that your job?" Feeling irrationally hurt Annabeth rounded on her. "Look here…Miss Bresnon, I happen to be top notch prosecutor, I keep the streets safe so kids like you can walk home without being assaulted." The girl behind the counter laughed at that. "Yeah right who are you trying to convince me…or yourself, go home and straighten out your priorities lady." Annabeth stared at he girl before her in disbelief, one thing was for sure Haley was never going to come back to this place.

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Determined to make light of the Miss Bresnon incident Annabeth unlocked her front door. Instantly she was assaulted by the heavenly sound of Haley crying. Grinning She dropped her stuff and went upstairs to surprise Jack. He was as she had predicted, sitting with Haley singing softly to her. There was nothing sexier than her husband singing to her daughter. "Knock knock", she whispered mindful of Haley now that she had quieted down.

Depositing Haley in her crib, Jack came to her. "You're home early", he spoke lightly; but did not meet her eye. "Of course I said I would be", she said pulling him forward to deliver a light peck on the cheek. He received it silently before moving away.

Not liking where the afternoon was headed, Annabeth attempted to lighten the mood. "Did you happen to have a run in with a certain bitch secretary, when you went to pick up Haley". This earned her a snort, "Miss Bresnon, oh yeah."

"Say I had a thought…" she ventured timidly. "What", he queried, "to never send Haley back there". "Something like that", she admitted. She always loved when they were on the same wavelength. Maybe just maybe the evening would be ok. Of course, by even thinking that she had jinxed herself. (Yes, I believe in Jinx)

"Do you even know why I picked up Haley early", Jack asked quietly. Annabeth knew the start of a fight when she heard one. "Well I just assumed it was so we could spend the evening together as a family." He laughed outright at this. "No it was because I got a call saying that Haley was sick." Now she was just confused, "Ok… but she's obviously fine, so the daycare made a mistake, what's the problem".

"THE PROBLEM", he took a minute to calm himself, "is that I couldn't reach you".

"But she's fine", snapped Annabeth.

"Oh sure she's fine now, but the next time she might not be, and what happens then?"

"Hopefully there wouldn't be a next time", she said in a small voice, "I …I trust you to take care of her."

"So that's how it goes huh", he nodded his head as if confirming something, "the famous Ms. Chase to busy to save her own family."

"Is that what this is about", she scoffed not liking the emphasis he had placed on the prefix before her name, "you don't want me working." "I thought we'd discussed this, I thought you supported me?"

"Oh but I do", he flashed her a smarmy smile, "one hundred percent." "By the way is that how you question your clients; because if it is it could use a little work."

"Ok", she raised her hand in resignation, "obviously you just want to pick a fight, and to top it all off you don't even know what you want out of it." Frustrated she ran a hand through her hair, "look do you want me to stay." It was not a simple question it was a turning point, and he knew it, for she could see tears in his eyes as he shook his head. Trembling she went to their room with him in tow.

"No wait Annabeth I didn't mean that". 'Liar', she thought bitterly. I don't want you to go I just need a little time to sort my head out, it freaked me out when the daycare called." Mutely she stood staring at him. 'How did things get like this?' Desperate he pulled her into a tight embrace, "I love you Annabeth I just need some time."

"Time for what", she murmured head buried in his chest. "Time to forgive you." He felt her tense up and pull away. "Oh I thought you'd done that already". Together they locked eyes for a long moment; and Annabeth say something she had never though to see …resentment, but why? She had to get out of there. Away from him, he confused her better than any case ever could.

"Actually Jack there are some details I should probably go over at the office and." She didn't bother to finish seeing as he had left the room. Cautiously she went into Haley's room, and planted a delicate kiss on her fore head. "Mommy loves you", she whispered, "don't ever forget that".

Going downstairs, she opened the file, looking for anywhere she could go to clear her head. Her eyes widened upon spotting one sentence, Mr. Bailey was last seen at Pron's bar and grill. Perhaps if she went there she could get into the perps mindset, maybe he had talked about his plans to the barkeep. Spirits lifting at the thought of doing something productive. Annabeth pulled on her discarded coat and left.

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It had been year since Annabeth had been to a club, especially one this rowdy. Not since before, she had met Jack in fact. Taking one last breath of fresh air she entered, and promptly gagged as smoke came at her from all sides. She heard a few of the patrons snicker; doing her best to ignore them, she strode toward a table. It was a dismal place to say the least blaring country music, rotting walls, and flashing lights over a disco era dance floor. For a few minutes she sat watching the lights change before abruptly remembering why she had come, reaching into her purse, she pulled out the photograph of the defendant, and marched toward the barkeep.

"Excuse me sir", she stopped as he turned toward her. "Are you Pron?" His face was red and bloated from alcohol abuse. "Yeah", he grunted.

"Have you seen this man", she had to speak loudly to be heard over the din.

Behind her, the door opened.

"Oh yeah, I seen him", he took the photo, "yeah he comes in here about once a week last time I seen him thought he was real quiet didn't say a word." He clucked and shook his head.

Annabeth heard someone sit down at the stool beside her.

"So was that unusual for him?" She asked though she already knew the answer.

"Oh yeah he's usually singing like a canary, hey miss you gonna order something". She sighed as she watched her lead die. "Sure why not a glass of red wine", smiling the man moved to get it for her.

"So do you come here often", a voice whispered in her ear. Turning she fixed the defense lawyer with a look of annoyance. "No do you?"

"So I see going home early doesn't improve your mood", he smirked clearly elated about something.

"What do you want Hellman", she didn't need to be looking at him to see him shrug.

"How about the pleasure of your company", at this she turned to face him, trying to gage whether or not he was serious. Quickly she sneaked a glance at her watch only five fifteen, she jumped slightly as the barkeep placed a glass down in front of her. Silently she mulled over her two options, go home and for sure argue with love of life or have a possibly nice drink with a colleague, it wasn't a tough decision.

"Buy my drink then we'll talk", smirking he gestured to the table she had just come from; and together they rose to go talk in private.

A.N Wow that was long, but it was worth please review is it still good? Who do you want her to end up with I take your opinions seriously so review. Will be updated soon.