Chapter 4: Rules and Regulations

Hatti surveyed herself in front of the tall mirror that hung on the outside of her bathroom door. Placing one hand on her ample hip she stuck out her left leg through the slit in her simple pale green dress. A golden curl fell over her shoulder and she twisted it around the finger of her free hand. "Gorgeous" she decided with a wry, private smile. Walking through her living room to the front door, and her shoes, she slipped on her favorite black flats. She'd never been one for high heels.
5:59 read the clock resting on the fireplace mantel, Dan would be there soon. Hatti sucked in a calming breath through her nose and released it slowly through the mouth. It had been months since she'd last had a date, and even then Ryan had only lasted a few weeks. Hatti plucked her dark jacket off the arm of her sofa, lifting it over the side table (complete with phone) and into her arms.

As if by magic there came a zealous knock. Fluffing her hair with one hand the Bailiff rushed to the door and pulled it open. The first thing she was greeted with was not Dan Fielding, rather a bouquet of flowers which were pushed towards her nose. Hatti staggered back a step, looking upwards to meet the smiling Attorney's gaze. "I brought you these," he said simply, stepping into the room without being invited. Hatti rolled her eyes, "Yes I can see that," she closed the door behind her guest. The smell of roses seemed to fill the entire room immediately, overwhelming and unwanted. Hatti of course remained silent in her discomfort and accepted the gift from her date, "Thank you," she said kindly, before heading towards the kitchen.

Dan looked around the cozy living room with unbridled curiosity, his hands coming together behind his back as he not-so-casually observed her dappled grey carpet (the scratchiest one her Landlord could find) and her tasteful (or tasteless, depending) collection of Van Gogh prints which she'd scattered about the place with reckless abandon, all hanging on her light blue walls. Hatti observed the man over the counter separating her kitchen and her living room as she filled a dusty and chipped vase (a gift from her mother) with water, then slid the roses carefully into it. Her home was the pinnacle of tidiness, it always was. Dan ran a hand across the back of her cream colored couch as he walked past, showing off long pale fingers with well trimmed nails. Hatti placed the vase to the right of the sink.

"This is a nice place," Dan said. Hatti smiled faintly,"Thank you," she repeated, "I dislike the color of the walls but I did my best."
"I uh, take it you like old One-ear," added the ADA as he pointed at the fabled"Shoe" painting that Bull had mentioned, "I bet you have Starry Night over your bed," he smirked. Hatti couldn't help but internally bristle at the way he seemed to brush off the famous artist. She walked over to him, setting the vase on the side table next to her couch. She hated to admit that he was right about the Starry Night print.
Either noticing her distress, or realizing he was getting nowhere the way he was going, Dan shrugged and turned to her. He scrutinized her like the painting, long tongue poking against the inside of his cheek as he did so. As if the thought only just then struck him he took her hand with gentle fingers and kissed the back, "You look...stunning," he purred, his eyes narrowing as he grinned pleasurably at her. Hatti finally allowed herself to smile, "I know," she fluffed her hair for effect. She wanted to tell him that he looked quite fetching himself in his black suit with blue patterned tie, handkerchief folded to have three points in his breast pocket. Unfortunately she couldn't seem to voice it. "Shall we?" Dan gestured to the front door in one grand sweeping motion.

"But of course."

The restaurant was not quite as "high end" as Hatti had been expecting- not to say that she was disappointed. She admired the cozy atmosphere that enveloped her. The tables were round with lit candles flickering in the middle of each one, walls a dark wood and floors carpeted red. Waiters rushed back and forth, not acknowledging the new arrivals and probably wouldn't until they were seated. Dan pulled Hatti's chair out for her, pushing her unceremoniously back to the table with a grunt. She snorted in the most ladylike fashion possible, putting her elbows on the table and tucking her folded hands beneath her chin. Dan sat across from her, taking up a tall menu. They remained silent until a waiter came to them and took their drink orders, once that had occurred the tension seemed to melt. Hatti briefly perused her menu before turning her gaze to her date, "Have you ever been in love before?"

Dan stared.

It took a moment for the Bailiff to realize what she'd just said and she yelped, "Jesus, hardly a first date question," she chuckled weakly without smiling. One hand went up to cradle her forehead. She was far too out of practice for this! Dan waved it off in one casual motion, "Don't worry about it. I'm not… there was one person but clearly it didn't work out," he coughed into his hand. Hatti looked up and tilted her head, "What happened?"

"You wouldn't believe me if I told you," he dismissed just as easily. It was clear he wasn't going to elaborate so Hatti allowed the topic to slide.

The drinks were dropped off and their food orders taken. Dan's eyes sparkled in the candlelight, thin lips pressed together. Hatti tucked a lock of hair behind her ear only for it to pop out again and tickle her cheek. Her date's expression became more amused and without warning he extended a hand to brush back that same blonde curl. Hatti visibly tensed but allowed him to finish the motion, her heart seeming to lurch in her chest. He settled back down.

"So... you like art huh?" Hatti rolled her eyes, "Yes. Imagine that," she sipped her wine, the color matching the current shade of her lips. Dan tapped a finger several times on the tabletop, "So...when did you figure that out?"
Hatti leaned back in her chair, pleased to have been asked that question even if it was a half hearted attempt at a conversation starter. "I was nine," she spoke softly as she recalled, "My father was and still is a professor at a nearby college and my mother a beautician. We were too poor for either of them to leave their employment and my mother never trusted babysitters or nannies." She traced a finger around the rim of her glass, deep in thought, "For two hours after I returned from school I was left alone in our apartment. In that time I would look through my father's library. One day I came to find a book titled 'Famous Artists through the Ages' or something of that sort. When I opened it… there was a self portrait by Van Gogh." She remembered staring at the picture, her thumb flicking the corner of the page but never fully turning it. That painting had looked almost three dimensional, with deep eyes and a serious expression. It was as though he was looking into her soul."Further perusal of the pages proved art, mostly paintings, to be my passion."

She looked up from her glass and found Dan staring thoughtfully at her, something unreadable in his expression. He swallowed thickly, "So- so why did you become a Bailiff?"

Hatti blinked, "Why did you become a lawyer?" she shot back with a superior smile, the look frustratingly remaining on Dan's face. Even worse, it deepened. "Because… I never wanted to be anything else. I don't think I could ever have been anything else."

Hatti found it frustratingly hard to breathe. The timbre of his voice was low enough only for her to hear, his eyes dark and filled with meaning. Despite herself Hatti's lips formed a comforting smile. Dan looked uncomfortable with the admission he'd just made, sliding thumb and forefinger across the dark blue fabric of his tie and stretching out his neck. "Actually that's a lie," he said with a forced chuckle, "When I was two I wanted to be a pig, and I've been tossing around the idea of becoming a Judge for years now."
Hatti's eyebrows rose towards her hairline, "I see," she hummed, allowing another sip of her beverage, cooling her nerves.

A waiter arrived with their dinner orders. Plate before her Hatti picked at a broccoli floret with her fork. She found herself idly fixed on the candle's shifting flame, her thoughts following a similar pattern. She wondered about Bull and whether he would be upset that she'd turned him down- citing that she wasn't looking for romantic involvement (which she really hadn't been)- and then had gone on a date with Dan Fielding of all people. Bull was by all means forgiving, but easy to upset in the first place. She wondered who would know, and how many lectures she would receive. At least one from Harry, she assumed, and maybe Christine. Not that it was any of their business, which she would gladly tell them.

Reality settled in and Hatti realized that Dan had been talking in one of his more seductive tones, "-and a bottle of Chatuea-Labido?"

Chateau what? Hatti curled her fingers beneath her palm, "Pardon?" she exhaled, feeling guilty. Now was not the time to think about her other co-workers. Dan hesitated, "I was just wondering if you'd like to come home with me, maybe curl up in front of the fireplace," his gaze searched her form hungrily. Oh. Hatti let her fork rest against the edge of her plate and shook her head, curls bouncing, "Dan, there is something I should probably discuss with you." His expression became apprehensive, "Um, ok." His fingers found his napkin which he idly played with. Hatti's resolve hardened and she straightened her posture. "I have two rules in regards to dating that I feel I must uphold." she explained calmly. Her date hummed, "I can understand that. Alright, shoot."
"Are you sure you want that?" joked the Bailiff, raising a thick eyebrow. "Depends on what your demands are," he returned just as easily, crossing one leg lazily over the other. Hatti crossed her arms atop the table, the cloth soft against her skin. The smell of melted wax, good food, and cheap cologne mingled with her shampoo and conditioner to make an altogether nauseating odor. For a moment she thought she heard the low lilt of classical music in the background, not caring for it she returned her attention to Dan. "My first rule is...exclusivity."

Dan shrugged, "Fair enough," he agreed, picking up his glass and taking his first drink of the night. Hatti tapped an uneven rhythm on her wrist, "And the second is that, for personal reasons, I don't have sex with the person I am dating until three months into the relationship."

In hindsight she probably should have waited until he'd finished drinking.

Dan spat wine across the table, speckling the pale cloth with pink. Hatti was grateful it didn't quite reach her and left her nicest dress unstained. Her eyes widened at the disbelief and, dare she say it, anger that seemed to take over Dan's person. "What?!" he said, his voice rising. Hatti cast a glance at the surrounding tables to ensure no one had heard his outburst. "I'm sorry if this upsets you-"
"Upset isn't the right word," he replied stiffly, brushing the wet spots on the tablecloth with the back of his fingers. "I would understand if that is too much to ask of you, I just thought you should know," Hatti tried to hide the concern behind her words. Dan stood up, palms pressed against the edge of the table, "Who do you think I am? You could have told me this before I took you out on a date," Dan continued, waving an arm in a wide arc, "I should have gone out with Kitty Hopkins, at least she knows what she's doing!"

"I refuse to be talked down to," Hatti rose to her feet, for the first time annoyed at the height difference, "Don't you dare act as though going out with you is an honor you've afforded to me!" Her face burned as several of their fellow restaurant goers began looking at the two. They must have been a confusing sight, standing and glaring daggers at each other over the table. Dan silently fumed, jaw muscles shifting beneath his skin. Thoroughly in a lather the Bailiff frowned at her "date", "I did not think this would be such a problem." Why hadn't she?
"Yeah, well, it is. How fun it must have been to drag me down here only to drop this bombshell. See you later Haddy," looking very much like a petulant child the Lawyer pulled at the jacket of his suit then turned and stormed off. Hatti looked on, dumbfounded. If ever there was an overreaction that had to be it. He... was overreacting wasn't he? Hatti slumped into her chair, pulling a face at her plate. Then it struck her.

"Dan Fielding don't you dare leave me to pay for this!"

He was already gone.

"Can you believe the nerve of that woman? Luring me out on a date, acting all charming and witty and then WHAM! She punches a hole right into my plans!"

Dan paced agitatedly back and forth in Harry's office, the Judge leaning back in his comfortable chair and watching his friend with a mixture of amusement and disgust, neither trumping the other. In his hands he played with the buttons of his concertina accordion, having been trying for the past half hour play "La Cucaracha" to little success. "Y'know, I don't really understand what the problem is," Harry said as soon as the Lawyer had stopped to take a breath, "Are we talking about Miss Digger?"
The Lawyer stopped his pacing to look at Harry, "Yes, haven't you been listening?" he flopped onto the green couch, crossing one long leg over the other and folding his hands atop his lap. He looked at his right shoe, as if it could solve his problems for him. Harry set aside the accordion to look at his subordinate, torn between feeling sorry for the man and glad that he was getting what he normally deserved. "She seems like a nice person," Harry said with a cute little smile. The sigh that followed ended in a rumble, "She is."
"So?" Harry prodded, leaning forward, "What happened?" he searched the other man's face for an answer but found none. It was always a pain to go back and forth between Dan's explosive behaviour and the toned down sombre feelings he could express in equal measure. The ADA leaned his head back to look at the dingy ceiling, "So... like I told you, she decided to ruin the evening. Three months Harry, three months! Now, you know me, do you think I could possibly get through three months without sex?"
Harry hated those kind of questions. "Well uh-"
"The answer is no," Dan cut him off, slicing a pale hand through the air like a knife while still staring at what must have been a fabulous constellation of dead bugs on the ceiling, "I barely made it two weeks! I couldn't possibly do that for her." His voice had gone oddly gentle and Harry found within it the crux of the matter.

Standing up the Judge approached his friend, plopping himself down on the arm of his slick green cough and bringing his hands together between his knees. Normally he didn't like to butt into such matters, but since Dan had come to him first he decided it was acceptable to offer the man some friendly advice. "I don't think you're giving yourself enough credit here. I think if Miss Digger really means that much to you, you could do anything."
Dan turned his head slowly, "Yeah maybe," he huffed, "But what if it isn't worth it?" Harry tutted, "You'll just have to find that out. You like her right?"
"Right."
"Then do something about it," Harry patted the other man's knee then stood up again, "If you don't you might regret it."

Harry's words ran through Dan's head in seemingly eternal repeat throughout the rest of the day. "If you don't you might regret it" Regretting wasn't so bad was it? He'd done many a thing he later wished he hadn't and it hadn't killed him… well, there were a few close calls but that was beside the point. Going through session was mind numbing whereas normally he delighted in the challenge. Christine had even put up more of a fight than usual, or maybe his beleaguered mind made it out to be that way. Out of the corner of his eye he saw Hatti standing tall(-ish), shoulders squared and jaw set. She looked important, even more so standing beside Bull whose eyes looked vacant and whose mouth hung open. Idiot.
Dan didn't get to eat with Hatti, instead distracted by a tall blonde in tall stiletto heels and no panties. Some unneeded flirtation later he had her in the closet, at the brink. The first buttons had just come undone on his shirt and Petunia's lips were on his neck when something inside Dan snapped. It was almost as though he'd heard it, like a twig breaking in his mind - or perhaps he'd accidentally sat on a piece of equipment. Either way he pushed the woman off of him, muttering apologies that he didn't really mean as he pulled on his pants, redid the buttons, and slipped on his shoes (over the years he'd become just as quick at putting his clothes on as he was taking them off). Dan felt ill, tightening his tie and rushing back to the courtroom hoping no one would know what had just transpired. He prayed to God that Petunia would say nothing of it.

Lunch over (more limp sandwiches) and session underway Dan used mostly instinct to get him to the end, unaware that he'd gone through several cases without saying anything lude or obnoxious. Good Lord, what was happening to him? "If you don't you might regret it" Oh… right. Dan waited for Harry's obligatory goodbye, glared at Mac because the other man's obvious mirth at his expense was not appreciated, and watched Christine's head of blonde walk off whereas he normally would have watched somewhere further south. In the end there was only Hatti Digger, her pale hands working a scrunchy around her thick hair and getting hopelessly tangled. He watched her, a few quiet curses passing her lips before she gave up and left her concerns for when she arrived home. Dan's mouth went inexplicably dry. He wanted to keep watching her, to see Hatti Digger when she thought no one was there.

Suddenly aware of his presence she looked up at him, a crease forming between her eyebrows. For a moment he feared for his life, the way one hand clenched into a fist at her side, but then again, knowing Hatti she would have found the idea "most unsavory in a public setting" or however the heck she normally talked. Dan, bolstering his courage, walked over to her with briefcase in hand. He smiled jauntily, innocently, and otherwise obliviously to her clear disgust. It didn't do much to calm her.

"Hi," Dan waved his free hand. Hatti hummed, "Hello Mr. Fielding." She looked over her right shoulder at the doorway. If he wanted to win her over he needed to strike before made to leave! "I uh… I wanted to apologize for my behaviour two days ago," he scratched the bridge of his nose with one finger, "I was a complete-" he stopped, waiting for her to fill in the blank as most everyone else did. Much to his surprise Hatti said nothing, and he let the silence stand. Dan had never been one to insult himself, he couldn't pretend that he didn't mean it.
"Apology accepted," Hatti nodded. The ADA hesitated, confusion bubbling up, "What?" he asked stupidly. Hatti offered a fake smile, "I forgive you, is that a difficult concept to understand?" she raised an eyebrow at him. Unsure if she was being cruel on purpose or not Dan let it slide, "No...well, yes. But thank you," he cleared his throat awkwardly, turning his gaze to the floor. It really was a very nice floor…

There was silence, uncomfortable. Dan more often than not, hated silence. Back in Louisiana there had always been the squeal of the pigs, the call of his parents, the ever present hum of cicadas, and the shouts from the guys at school that he'd used to follow around like a puppy, desperate for attention (that is until he found Chip). Silence meant he was left to his thoughts, and his thoughts weren't very nice to anyone else much less himself. Sucking in a calming breath and hoping that his distress didn't show on his face, Dan addressed Hatti Digger, "So I was wondering-"
"I wait three months before starting a physical relationship because I want it to mean something. I want to be in love first," Hatti supplied, tugging at her sleeve, a nervous habit he hadn't noticed before. The ADA blinked, "Ah… I see. Actually that- that wasn't what I was going to ask. Though that's good information. Thank you."
Hatti looked mildly surprised, "Then… what was it you want to know?" her blue irises searched his. Ah, eye contact, he hated that too.

"I was wondering how you felt about Christmas… and Thanksgiving, and all the Holidays really. Do you celebrate that sort of thing?"

Again she looked surprised, not that he could blame her it was an odd question. Hatti took his words in and looked thoughtfully at the dingy far wall. A few seconds leaning towards a minute that felt like hours later she turned her gaze back to him, "My family never paid much attention to the Holidays. At Christmas we had a tree and presents but no ceremony... and now that I've moved out I spend them alone.," she said it all softly but to the point, much as she had about her art obsession. Dan's heart felt squeezed, "So what you're saying is that you'd like to spend the Holidays with someone but there's no one?"

Hatti shrugged, "I suppose that is my point, yes." she looked almost sad, but that would be too much emotion for one day so it dropped. It was in that moment, or that answer, that Dan knew what he wanted to do. Silently he leaned forward, bending down just enough to be level with the Bailiff. Hatti didn't pull away, but looked tense and bewildered. "Hatti, I would very much like to take you out again on a proper date and make you my girlfriend. That is, if you'll still have me. I promise I'll follow both rules to the letter," Dan hummed, the scent of green apples overtaking his senses. Normally the offer wouldn't need to be spoken, becoming a couple would just...happen, but he thought with Hatti Digger he needed a little more ceremony.

Hatti ran a hand across her ponytail, eyebrows drawing together. Dan felt more than a little bit stupid standing so close to her while she had this internal battle, but thought it would probably be worse if he moved. All he really hoped was that no one else would walk in and see the display. Finally the Bailiff seemed to have come to a conclusion and she nodded once, a sharp movement followed by her thrusting her face towards his. Dan's mouth met Hatti's and he allowed himself to melt into the kiss. Unlike with Katherine Hopkins he let it be soft and simple, his right hand getting lost in her hair and the other finding purchase on her hip. Hatti gripped the loose fabric of his jacket, bunching it up in her fists as if to keep him level with her. The Bailiff let out a soft, satisfied moan before pulling back and full on grinning which was a sight to see. Dan straightened his posture and returned the gesture, "You're quite good at that."
"Why thank you," she replied smoothly, letting her hands fall to the short jury box barrier, "And you aren't as terrible as I thought you would be."

Dan's mouth dropped open in mock indignation, "Oho, you dare insult the great Dan Fielding? You haven't seen anything yet!" He crossed his arms in front of his chest, looking and feeling smug. Hatti rolled her eyes, "We'll see." With that she started to walk off at a slow pace, adding a little sway to her hips that couldn't possibly be accidental. She halted her progress and turned to look over her shoulder at the the ADA, "Oh, and I feel I should mention- if it is any consolation to our relationship going forwards: The last boyfriend I dated for longer than three months broke up with me because I was too... much, for him," Her face went a blotchy red with undisguised sheepishness that was undermined by the following saucy wink, and then she continued to the door.

Dan waited until she was out of sight to do another happy dance.

Thanks for reading! :D