A/N: Wow, I'm impressed. I'm glad you guys are interested. Sorry it's been awhile since an update, but life has been INSANE! If I could have seen the future, I wouldn't have started these yet. Oh well. Life goes on. I hope you guys are still interested and hopefully it won't be so long til the next update
Chapter 2
Jude didn't know how long she walked but it felt like an eternity. Her legs were beginning to become numb to the soreness growing in her legs and her feet were hurting and she suspected she'd have a few blisters. She stopped before her destination, a smile of relief coming to her face.
She walked briskly to the brick building and was stopped by the doorman.
"Sorry Miss, I can't let you in." He said, his eyes sympathetic.
"But..I need…" She took a deep breath and steadied her nerves. Her muscles in her legs were shaking from exhaustion and she was on the verge of collapse. "Tom Quincy. I work with him."
"Sorry Ma'am, but Mr. Quincy isn't in." The doorman said and Jude stared at the man in disbelief and defeat sagged her shoulders.
"Jude?" A concerned voice came. Jude turned to see her producer turned best friend standing not even three feet away. Relief flooded through her as she saw him.
"Tommy," She said, and it took everything she had to remain standing. He always seemed to have that effect on her; that intoxicating presence that made her want to swoon and melt into a poodle of goo.
"You know this woman Mr. Quincy?" The doorman asked.
"Yeah, Keith, I work with her." Tommy said, moving closer to Jude.
"My apologies miss." Keith said, and opened the door and Jude glanced at Tommy questioningly. He motioned for her to enter and Jude walked inside and he followed her in. Jude paused just inside the door, not sure where to go. Tommy's eyes studied her and he noted nothing but exhaustion on the young girls features. He sighed and walked over to the elevator and Jude followed. They remained silent until they stepped into the elevator when Tommy turned his full attention to Jude.
"Are you ok?" He asked her, sensing something wasn't right but he couldn't remember anything being said that would clue him in. Jude looked down at the elevator floor.
"No." She said honestly, feeling tears fill her eyes. She felt his hand on her arm and she looked at where their bodies connected. She felt a jolt in her arm and wondered briefly if he felt the electricity of their connection as well.
"It'll be ok." He assured her.
"No, it won't." Jude said, matter-of-factly. Before anything else could be said, the elevator dinged and the doors slid open. Tommy and Jude both pulled their gazes from each other and exited the elevator. Jude followed Tommy down the hall to his apartment. He pulled his keys out of his jacket pocket before sticking a small silver key into the lock and opening the door. Tommy gestured for Jude to enter and she stepped into his spacious apartment. Tommy entered behind her and hit the light switch on the wall and close the door behind him. Jude toed off her shoes and crossed the small foyer and sat down on the plush couch that looked so inviting.
Jude sat down and rubbed the soles of her feet, taking a moment to relax. Tommy watched her a moment before setting his keys on a table by the door and shrugging out of his jacket and tossing it on a chair. He walked over to the couch and sat down next to her, his eyes questioning.
"Jude, what are you doing here?" Tommy asked, slowly and carefully, as if he were trying not to offend the girl before him. Jude took a shuddering breath before speaking rapidly.
"Wally brought me home and it wasn't my home anymore, my mom's gone with Don and Dad's out of town and I'm broke, homeless, and I couldn't think of anyone to come to but you." She said and let her shoulders sag and she let out a long breath she didn't know she was holding.
"I'm going to pretend I understood a word you just said, and you can explain how you're broke and homeless…slowly." Tommy said, looking concerned and confused at the same time.
"Mom stared to date her divorce lawyer-"
"yeah, Sadie had told me about it." Tommy said and winced after he said it. Jude just nodded, knowing Sadie was a sore subject to him and vice versa.
"Anyway, I had signed my trust account over to my mom so I could get extra money to pay for the rehearsal space and now my mom decided to sell the house and leave town, with my money. I didn't know about it until…" Jude glanced at the clock on the wall. "5 hours ago." She explained, tears filling her eyes again. Tommy winced at Jude's story and he felt anger ebb at his thoughts.
What the hell was her mother thinking? He wondered. Not knowing what else to say, he sighed and rubbed his hand on her back comfortingly.
"I'm sorry Jude." He said.
"It's not your fault." Jude sniffed. "Can I…I was wondering…if maybe…"
"You could stay here?" Tommy finished. Jude looked into his blue eyes and Tommy could see the pain in her eyes, the confussion, the loss, and the heartbreak and it left him wanting to shelter her, to take away her pain and make everything better.
"Only for a couple of weeks," Jude said hurriedly. "My dad should be home near the end of the month, and I don't want to live with his mistress." Jude said with a shudder.
"I don't…I don't know if that's a good idea Jude." Tommy said honestly. Jude stared at Tommy in shock. He was the one person she thought she could count on. The one person she thought would help her and possibly love her as well.
"Right. No one wants Jude Harrison. What was I thinking?" She said, laughing bitterly, but tears streamed down her face as she said it.
"It's not that Jude." Tommy said, his voice strained, as if he were conflicted.
"Then what Tommy!" Jude asked on the verge of a breakdown. Tommy sighed.
"This, Jude." Tommy said, his eyes soft and honest. "Jude, we fight all the time. How do I know you won't kill me in my sleep." He said, half joking.
"How about I agree not to kill you in your sleep and you agree to let me stay?" Jude offered, giving Tommy puppy eyes. Tommy stared at her a long moment and shook his head, a smile coming to his face and Jude felt relief wash over her.
"Fine. You can stay." He said, sounding tense and Jude grinned happily at him and threw her arms around him. She kissed his cheek and looked back into his eyes. "Don't make me regret this." He said, staring into her eyes. Jude smiled at him.
"Of course not." She said, and kissed him on the cheek again. "Thanks." She said, releasing her grip and laying her head against his chest. Tommy's eyes darkened slightly as he watched her. This was going to be an interesting couple of weeks. He thought as Jude grabbed the remote from the coffee table across from them and clicked on the tv
