A/N ok so after my last H&A fic went down like a lead balloon i decided to give writing another go. contains some spoilers (i think) and the Bit where Martha goes to Talk to Jack about the believers in one of the episodes never happened coz it just doesan't work for me. anyway hope you like it and Please, Please review!

Ice cold and soothing, a beer's just what he needs after a day at work.

Unruly suspects, snide comments from the new recruits; all he wants to do now is forget about work, and relax in the oddly quiet Noah's Bar. Sadly, that quietness is soon broken by the loud incessant chatter of several teenage girls, one of them craning her neck to check Jack out.

Jack groans and, feeling a headache approaching, downs the rest of his beer in one swig.

Standing up, he hastily exits Noah's and almost crashes into Scott Hunter. Pleasantries are exchanged after a moment of silence between the two; Scott invites him to Hayley and his going away party next week. Jack upon accepting the invite and leaves Noah's with one thought on his mind;

Would she be there?


Next week arrives and sees him standing in front of the mirror un-successfully trying to do up his tie.

One try

Two tries

Three tries sees his patience steadily decreasing. It's not that he can't tie a tie, it just that his mind is somewhat…distracted.

He hasn't spoken to her since that day. That day when she hugged him and he felt like everything was almost…normal; as if it was the way they were before.

Again, he wonders if she will be there.

If the tension between them will have cleared.

If she's going to bring someone with her. A male someone that is.

Jealously, he pushes that thought away and looks at attempt number three. Hopeless.

Luckily, Tony en-route to the bathroom ducks in to give him hand. Innocently, Tony asks Jack if Martha will be coming.

Jack's neck grows hot at the mention of the name but tells him calmly he doesn't know. Seeing the smirk on his father's face, he decides two can play at this game. Just as innocently, he questions his father as to whether…Beth will be at the Party.

His father turns red, mumbles something along the lines of "Of course she'll be there Scott's her son!" and hastily exits the room.


The walk to Irene's place is uneventful for Jack and Tony and before they know it they have arrived. Before entering the house, Tony pulls Jack aside and gives him some Fatherly advice about not waiting to long to tell someone how they feel.

Jack nods, getting the message and together, they step into the house where it appears the party has already started.


Through out the Party, he chats with various people including Robbie and Tasha before he finally sees her.

Sitting on the lounge, she looks gorgeous to him.

Her long dark hair is out for once and the dressy top and dark pants she's wearing tastefully accentuate her every curve. Her eyes light up at what the guy sitting next to her is saying and when she laughs, he pushes away the jealousy threatening boil over.

Much to his relief, the guy stands up and waves to Martha walking away.

With his father's earlier words about not wasting time ringing in his head, Jack makes his way to the lounge his mind made up.

He will talk to her tonight