8
Chapter Seven
6:10pm
Sitting in the living room, Ann was suddenly aware of someone else. She looked up and saw Jack standing in the hallway. He had shaved, and his eyes were sparkling. Wearing black trousers, a pale yellow shirt and a black suit jacket, he looked extremely handsome. Looking at her, he smiled, as he loved her in that sweater; a terra-cotta colored knit with a v-neck.
"You look great," he said softly.
"Thanks, you certainly don't look like you just got out of your sick bed."
He smiled and escorted her to the door to get their coats. Slipping his keys in his pocket, he opened the door.
"No cell phone?" she asked.
"Not tonight, I just want to have dinner,"
She smiled at him and walked into the hallway. Jack locked the door behind him and followed her down the stairs. It was cold outside and he immediately moved to be on the street side of her, slipping his arm in hers, their hands in their pockets. Ten minutes later, they arrived at The Cub Room. Heading back to the dining room, they checked their coats and sat down, declining drinks until Viv and Tyler showed up. At six-thirty on the dot, Viv walked in and was directed to the dining room. Jack stood when he saw her at the maitre'd's desk. She smiled at him and walked to the table.
"Hi,"
"Hi, yourself," she replied, kissing him chastely on the cheek.
Jack kissed her and then pulled out the chair to his right for her. Viv walked to Ann and kissed her on the cheek before sitting down.
"Well, we know Tyler will be late. Should we order an appetizer and a round of drinks?" Viv suggested.
"Sounds like a plan," Jack replied.
A young man with thick wavy dark hair in a beautifully tailored suit, walked up to the table.
"Jack, it's been a long time," he said, resting a hand on Jack's shoulder.
"I'm sorry Sarid. Sometimes real life gets in the way of fine dining! Viv, Ann, let me introduce Sarid Drory, general manager of The Cub Room."
"Ladies, are you three or four tonight?"
"We're four, but our fourth is notoriously late. We were just looking at the appetizers." Jack remarked.
"I would recommend the Cornmeal Crusted Calamari," Sarid said, looking at the menu over Jack's shoulder.
"Sounds perfect," Ann replied.
"Okay by me," Viv remarked, closing her menu.
"Anything to drink?" Sarid asked.
"A Sauvignon Blanc?" Viv asked.
"Of course, we have a wonderful Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc,"
"That would be great,"
"And you Madame?"
"I'll have the same,"
"Jack, the usual?"
"Yes and seltzer for the table,"
"Great," Sarid said, taking the order to the waiter.
"So, you're a regular?" Viv asked.
"When I moved to this new apartment, I didn't want to be there, let alone cook. So, yeah, I'd come here frequently."
Five minutes later, their drinks came.
"Here's a toast to you, Jack. Happy birthday!"
"Thanks,"
With that, there was a commotion at the door as Tyler practically ran into the restaurant. Jack stood, smiling and Sarid signaled to the staff that, apparently, this was de rigueur. Tyler gave him a bear hug and then went after the girls.
"You started without me," Tyler said, sitting across from Jack.
"Uhm, and so did you if I'm not mistaken," Jack said with a grin.
"Yeah, okay, that's why I'm late. I had to have a round with the boys."
At that point the waiter brought the calamari and placed it in the middle of the table.
"How's Reggie?" Jack asked, holding the plate for Viv to take some calamari onto her salad plate.
"Perfectly fine. I'm behind in laundry, and Marcus has to go grocery shopping, but otherwise we are back to normal."
"I'm happy to hear it." He replied, holding the plate for Ann.
"Thanks,"
"You're looking much better than when I saw you on Wednesday," Tyler remarked when Jack set the calamari plate back down on the table.
"What did you call me? Death warmed over?"
"No, that was your own assessment, I think," Tyler teased.
Viv and Ann laughed as Jack smiled. They looked at the menus and then their waiter came to the table to take their orders.
"Are there any specials tonight?" Jack asked.
"Yes, we have venison in a juniper sauce, the fish is a maple salmon, and the risotto is with shrimp and scallops in a hot sauce."
"Ann?" Jack asked.
"I'll have the venison, please."
"Baked potato or rice?"
"Baked potato, please,"
"Anything else to start?"
"No, thank you."
"Ma'am?"
"I'll have the salmon. What is the vegetable today?" Viv asked.
"Wilted spinach,"
"Great I'd like that, please, and no rice or potato,"
"All right, and you, sir?"
"I'd like the New York Steak, please,"
"How would you like it cooked?"
"Medium well, and I'll have a baked potato and the wilted spinach, please,"
"Great, and you, sir?"
"I'd like Vito's Risotto," Jack said, smiling.
"What?"
"Please, just tell the kitchen, they know,"
"Yes, sir, of course," the waiter said, while collecting the menus.
It was a pleasant dinner. Val and Tyler caught up on old times. Ann tried not to think about Max. Jack tried not to think at all but to focus on the people around him. He ate the risotto and alternated between his drink and the seltzer.
Tyler watched his friend, stealing glances at him. He seemed a little anxious, as if he didn't want to be there, as Ann and Viv chatted.
"Excuse me," Jack said, standing suddenly, placing his napkin on his chair, and walking away from the table.
Tyler looked at Viv and Ann before sighing.
"I'll go," he said, walking after him.
Tyler saw Sarid who pointed to the front door. Through the glass he saw Jack pacing by the street light. Digging his hands deeply into his trouser pockets, he walked outside and leaned against the building, watching Jack.
"That was rude,"
Jack looked up but didn't say anything.
"Come on, Malone, what's going on?"
"I'm sorry, I just needed some silence. I just couldn't listen to them, right now."
"Okay, no problem. But we need to go back inside because you'll just get sick again standing out here in the cold. Wash your face, come back to the table and then we'll go home, okay? I think we're all tired."
Jack nodded and then walked back into the restaurant, heading toward the unisex bathrooms that were by the coat check. Tyler slipped back into his seat at the table.
"He's fine. Just a little overwhelmed. I told him we'll get the check if that's okay with you two?"
"Sure, I'm tired anyway," Viv said, smiling.
A few minutes later, Jack came back into the dining room, his face damp from running cold water over it.
"Sorry,"
"No problem, we were just going to get the check, if that's okay? I still have to do a load of laundry before I go to sleep tonight," Viv pointed out.
"Sounds good," Jack said, motioning to the waiter for the bill.
"Mr. Malone, Sarid took care of your dinner tonight,"
"Thank you," they said individually.
Standing from the table, they walked to coat check and got prepared for walking out into the cold night. Viv led the group out of the restaurant, standing on the corner, tugging her coat around her tightly.
"Thanks for dinner, Jack. I'll see you at work tomorrow. Tyler, always a pleasure. Ann, I'll see you in the building."
Viv hugged Jack, Tyler, and Ann.
"Look, I'll be in touch, but I think I'm going to be up here in the next two weeks, so I'll see you soon,"
Tyler hugged Jack and Viv.
"Take care of him, Annie,"
"I will," she said, kissing Tyler on the cheek.
"Viv, can I drop you somewhere?"
"Tyler, I live in Brooklyn,"
"I have a driver,"
"Well, then, yes." Viv said, taking his offered hand, walking down the block to the Crown Victoria which blinked its headlights.
Ann snaked her hand into the crook of Jack's arm and started to walk towards the apartment. He walked with her, silently. They reached the building and he unlocked the outside door, and then the foyer door. Ann unbuttoned her coat and started to walk up the three flights of stairs, hearing his heavy steps behind her. She waited for him outside the apartment. He was tired, she knew, and he was upset about something. Reaching the top of the stairs, he pulled his keys out again and opened the apartment door, letting her walk in first. He followed and locked the door behind him, setting his keys in the dish. Jack hung up his coat and then took Ann's and did the same thing. Pausing at the answering machine, he saw the number 0 and headed to the bedroom. He took off his jacket, hanging it up carefully. His trousers were clean and went back onto a hanger, as did his shirt. Dropping his shorts and socks, he slipped on his silk pajama bottoms and a t-shirt. Ann stood in the doorway and watched his routine. She knew well the value of normalcy of a routine. Waiting for him to get into bed, she sighed.
Jack rolled over and pulled the covers up to his neck. Ann removed her sweater and folded it on the chair. Taking off her pants, she laid them carefully over the back of the same chair, and then unclasped her bra. Walking to the bureau, she took out a t-shirt and slid it over her head. The only light in the room was the bedside light. It was early yet; nine o'clock, but she set the alarm anyway. Getting into bed, Ann turned out the light, and slowly moved towards him. Jack was lying on his right side. She moved across the bed and touched his back gently. He moved to her and she embraced him. They both started to slow down, listening to each other as they fell asleep.
Monday 2:12am
She rolled over and woke up, looking at the clock. Sighing, she didn't feel tired anymore. These five hours were about the normal amount of sleep for her. Suddenly, she realized the overwhelming quiet. Ann got out of bed and walked to the living room. Jack turned from the window.
"I'm sorry, did I wake you?"
"I don't know, are you okay?"
He didn't answer, choosing instead to walk up to her, pulling her into a soft embrace. Jack's skin was cool to the touch but he was warm under the t-shirt and Ann pulled him to her tightly, trying to steal some of that heat.
"Can you go back to sleep?" she asked.
"I'll try,"
They walked down the hallway to the bedroom and climbed back into bed. He lay on his back and Ann rested her head on his shoulder, anchoring her left hand onto his ribs. He curled his left arm around her and sighed.
6:15am
Ann woke to the alarm and stretched under the soft warm sheets. Getting out of bed, she smelled the coffee and slipped on his bathrobe. Padding down the hallway, she found him sipping coffee in front of the computer.
"Morning," he said, his voice still low and rough.
"Morning, how'd you know I was up?" she asked, getting her own cup of coffee.
"Elementary, I saw you in the reflection of the monitor." He replied, turning to face her.
"Ah, Holmes, how clever of you!"
"Did you sleep all right?"
"I slept very well, and you?" she asked, looking at the circles under his eyes.
"Fine, I slept, just fine," he said standing.
He touched her face, guiding his mouth to hers, and kissed her softly. She looked at him but said nothing.
"Are you hungry?" he asked, thrown a bit by her lack of response.
"No, I'm just going to finish this and head home to change for work."
"Okay," he said, leaning against the back of the sofa.
"Did you eat something?"
"I'm not hungry,"
"Did you take your medicine? I wasn't very diligent yesterday about that,"
"Yes, I took the medicine when I woke up,"
Ann finished her coffee and walked back to the bedroom to get dressed. She emerged several minutes later, noting that Jack hadn't moved.
"I'll see you at the office," she said, before getting her coat out of the closet.
"I hope so. Thanks again, Ann,"
"You're welcome," she said with before walking out of the apartment.
Jack took a slow breath and let it out. Turning back to the computer, he closed his windows and signed off. Topping off his coffee, he walked back to the bedroom to get ready for the day.
7:45am
Jack stepped off the elevator and walked slowly to his office, wanting to have time to get back into office mode. Opening the door, he took off his topcoat and hung it on the coat stand. He paused before going to get his coffee when he saw the shattered mug now reassembled and set in a place of honour on the wood file cabinet behind his desk. He walked to the kitchenette and noticed a new mug with the text "JACK IS BACK!" on it and smiled. Filling that mug from the smart coffee machine, he headed back to his office. He loosened his tie, sat at his desk, booted up his computer and started to go through his IN box.
8:55am
Jack tightened his tie, grabbed his mug and went out into the bull pen to talk to his friends. The four associates were sitting at their desks, chatting when he walked up.
"How are you feeling?" Danny asked.
"Tired, but rallying, we have a case." Jack said, walking to the conference table with the team following.
Updated 3/28/2006/tmp/uploads/656032.doc