LOVERS: PAST, PRESENT & FUTURE
Summary: Jack has always had a thing for Will, but are the feelings mutual? Meanwhile, Grace bumps into an old flame
Disclaimer: I do NOT own anything to do with Will Grace
Chapter details: Chapter 1, NOT TONIGHT JACK
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GRACE ADLER DESIGNS (Wednesday)
Karen was sitting at her desk, concentrating hard on her latest project. Of course, this didn't actually involve work, but calculating how many days left before she needed to call her pharmacist! A top priority in the World of Karen! Grace was at her workstation, watching her, intrigued. Karen flinched as she looked up and caught Grace's gaze.
"What?".
"Karen, do you have anywhere else you could be?" Grace asked.
"No honey".
No sooner had Grace and Karen resumed their business, the phone started to ring. They both lifted their heads and looked at each other, neither of them choosing to put a stop to the ringing. Grace became increasingly annoyed and sighed.
"Karen, answer the phone!" she shouted.
Karen jumped and made a grab for the phone.
"Grace Adler Designs…" she said in a quick and flustered voice. "…no."
Having put the phone down, Karen pulled a "time wasters" expression at Grace.
"Who was it?" Grace asked, making conversation.
"Someone looking for a Grace Adler" Karen replied laughing. "…cruel name".
Grace stopped working and rolled her eyes. She looked over at Karen who had suddenly stopped what she was doing and was staring intently right at her.
"Y-es?" she said cautiously.
"I was wondering… what are you these days? Married? Single? Gay? Bi?" Karen asked.
Grace picked up a pencil from her desk and tapped it against her wedding ring.
"You know, Leo?" she said.
"Leo… Leo…" Karen mused uncertainly.
"My husband… he's a doctor… and he's Jewish".
"Oh Leon…" Karen said, suddenly remembering. "… I haven't seen him around lately".
"He's in Cambodia".
"Cambodia? What, is that some kind of Jewish cult?".
"It's a third wor…" Grace trailed off in response to the confused look upon Karen's face, choosing to humour her instead. "…yeah, it's a cult".
"Oh honey, is that why you've been eating so much?" Karen asked.
"I hardly eat at all. Why do you say that? Do you think I'm getting fat?".
"Aaaah. Yes".
"Karen!"
The phone started to ring, although this time, Karen picked it up straight away, receiving a very shocked look from Grace.
"Grace Adler Designs… You wanna what?… I can do what?… Oh yeah?… You're disgusting".
With that Karen slammed the phone down, shaking her head. She then stood up and proceeded to put her coat on.
"Grace, I gotta go" she said.
"Hey, where are you going?" Grace responded.
"What? No. That was Lyle, oh and make sure you lock up cos I won't be back".
"Karen, I always lock up. I'm lucky if you come back from lunch, let alone still be here at closing… wait, I'm lucky when you don't come back from lunch".
"Oh honey, that's sweet" Karen said, unconvincingly.
Karen turned around and walked out of the office. Grace stayed still for a few moments, she then bent down and pulled a pizza box out from under her table and began to eat happily.
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WILL'S OFFICE
Will was sitting at his desk writing up a report. All of a sudden, Jack rushed into his office and jumped up onto his desk. Will looked up and smiled at Jack, awaiting some sort of elaborate request.
"Will, let's go to lunch. Karen's bailed on me; she's busy doing unnatural hetro things with Lorraine's German father".
Jack began pretending to be sick with violent heaving motions.
He's British" Will said impatiently, whilst attempting to get back to his work.
"You say potato…".
"Well, I'm busy. You may have forgotten but this is where I work. Jack, welcome to my office".
Just then, a colleague of Will's walked into his office.
"Will, I'm off now, see you tomorrow" said James.
"Sure" Will replied.
As James turned to leave, Jack shot up from Will's desk and extended his hand towards him.
"Hi, I don't believe we've met. I'm Jack, a girlfriend of Will's" said Jack.
"Um…" James shook Jacks hand with caution and threw Will a confused look. "…nice to meet you Jack".
James let go of Jacks hand and left the office. Jack slumped into the chair opposite Will and gave him a wink.
"Jack, this is a place of business. I have to work with these people".
"Who was that? He's hot!" replied Jack.
"That was James; he's new, and married!" Will informed Jack.
"Ugh, women get all the best ones… bitches!" replied Jack.
"Huh, that's funny; they say the exact same thing about you." Will playfully teased.
"Come on Will, I'm bored… Please… pleeeeeease? I hardly get to see you anymore, I miss… us" Jack said genuinely, a little embarrassed at admitting his feelings to Will.
Will stopped fumbling with papers in order to give Jack his full attention. He gave Jacks arm an affectionate rub.
"I know" Will said.
"What, no sarcastic comeback?".
"Jack, I'm sorry, but I really am very busy. So can we wrap this up? I've got plans with Grace on the weekend… how about Friday night? We could go to a club, look at cute guys, just the two of us…?".
"Well, I'm supposed to be working Friday night but I can probably rearrange something".
"Great".
Will returned to his work. Bored, Jack picked up some stray paper clips from Will's desk and started making a chain. Will looked up.
"Jack?".
"What?" Jack responded, not taking his eyes off the paper clip chain he was creating.
Will watched Jack for a few moments, until he shifted his gaze from the paper clips to Will. Will then pointed to the door and his watch, encouraging Jack to go.
"Oh right, sorry" Jack said.
Jack went back to absently creating his paper clip chain. Will sighed and gave him a loving smile.
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WILL & GRACE'S APARTMENT (Friday)
Will emerged from his bedroom with several shirts in his arms. He threw them all down onto his sofa and cursed under his breath.
"Why am I so bothered about what I wear tonight, it's only Jack" Will thought to himself.
"Problem?" Grace called out from the TV area.
Will jumped and walked over to her.
"Grace, what are you doing here?" Will asked.
"It's nice to see you too, sweetie".
"Sorry, it's just I thought you were going out with Karen tonight".
"I was, but I'm not really up to it".
Will settled himself down next to Grace and pulled her towards him.
"What's up sweetie?" Will asked in a soothing voice.
"What make's you think there's something wr-".
"Grace" Will warned, interrupting.
"Ok. It's Leo. We had this big fight on the phone and the line went dead" responded Grace.
"You'll make up next time you talk, it'll be fine" Will said, trying to reassure her.
"Will, it won't be fine".
"Why?".
"He wants to stay in Cambodia for another 4 months, to help the clinic get on its feet".
"Oh" said Will, shocked.
"Maybe he just doesn't wanna come home to me" Grace said, miserably.
"Oh Grace, of course he does. This is just something he has to do. If he came home without seeing the project through to the end, he might get itchy feet again. This way, perhaps he'll feel this doctor without borders stuff is complete".
"I guess so. But I don't know how much longer I can wait for him" Grace said, looking close to tears.
Will pushed Grace's hair away from her face and kissed her forehead.
"If you love him as much as I think you do, then isn't he worth the wait? Nobody will blame you if you decide you've had enough though".
"Thanks Will, I'm so glad you're here. Do you have to go out tonight?" Grace asked, hoping the answer would be no.
"…of course not" Will said, finally.
"Good…" Grace said excitedly, jumping up from the sofa. "…I'll get us some snacks".
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JACK'S APARTMENT
Will let himself into Jack's apartment and closed the door behind him. On hearing the door close, Jack walked to the door of his bedroom, from where he was getting dressed. He smiled at Will as he folded his arms and lent against the doorframe.
"Hi" he said.
Will stood in silence for a few seconds, looking at Jack in his unbuttoned open white shirt and blue jeans.
"Wow, Jack looks really hot tonight..." Will thought to himself. "…shit, where did that come from? Say something Will, anything".
"Um, Jack… look, there's been a change of plan".
"Ooooh I like-".
"Not in a good way" Will said, interrupting.
"Oh?".
"Grace is in a bit of a mess; she had a fight with Leo and I said I'd stay in tonight. Sorry".
"Oh, I see" replied Jack, disappointed.
"How about we reschedule for next weekend?" Will suggested, trying to make up for cancelling.
Jack slumped down onto his sofa and picked up a magazine. He began to flick through it, although not taking in any of its contents. Will nervously played with his hands, awaiting Jacks response.
"Whatever Will. You better go; your wife will be wondering where you are" Jack said in an abrupt tone.
Will turned around and slowly departed from Jack's apartment, wondering why his friend reacted in such an offish manner.
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I hope you liked the first chapter!
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