A/N: Posting faster than my usual but I'm sure it's okay. Thanlk you for the feedback after the last chapter, it was greatly appreciated. My thanks as always to Mariel who found the time to beta in her busy RL schedule!

Disclaimer: Thought it was about time I needed to point out that the characters are owned by CBS and Warners. Hmph.

Chapter Seven

Xx—

A few days later, Jack found himself alone in the car heading back to the Bureau but with time to spare, and coincidentally near Prince's Bail Bonds. He found a parking space, went in, and found Lorraine Prince alone at the counter. A smile on her face appeared as she recognized him.

"Well, well, Jack Malone, it's been awhile, come on through!"

"Thanks," he said, going around the counter. "I hope I haven't disturbed you."

"Oh no, definitely not. I was just thinking now it's getting colder it's about time I looked at the boiler in the basement, but I always have time for you," she said magnanimously, sitting herself behind her desk and gesturing for Jack to sit down also. "So what brings you to my part of the world?"

"I just thought I'd drop by…" Jack said, taking in the surroundings –the place hadn't changed much over the years.

"Yeah right -since when did the FBI ever just 'drop by'?" she grinned. "Is it something I can help you with -a case or someone with a problem?"

"No, not at all," he said lightly.

Lorraine's face suddenly fell. "Oh God –is it something with Jessie? I know I haven't heard from her since she left for work this morn-"

Jack held up a placating hand. "Nothing like that; I know she's fine."

Lorraine looked confused.

"Because… you know…" he filled in.

"Uh, 'know what'…? I'm sorry, still drawing a blank here."

Jack frowned inwardly. This can't be right. "Jessie and I have been going out."

"You have?" That look on her face was the real thing.

"For about two months now."

"You have?" she repeated.

He shifted uncomfortably in his chair. "Ye-es… I thought Jessie would have mentioned something…"

"Ah… No, she hasn't. I didn't know she was actually seeing anyone…" Lorraine leaned across her desk, a more studied look on her face, as if she were looking at him in a whole new light. "So she's been seeing you? And here I thought she was working the nights she wasn't here helping me. The little sneak…" She shook her head in an amused, impressed way.

"I'm sorry; I didn't know I was meant to be a secret." It also explained why he'd never been to Jessie and her mother's place.

Lorraine waved it off. "It's not your fault Jack. That daughter of mine is such a dark horse…" she laughed gently. "So, this was a friendly almost-family visit all along?"

Jack smiled, putting on a brave face, not knowing what to think of Jessie's reticence with her mother on the subject of him. "You could put it like that."

"Then that was very kind of you…" She looked thoughtful as she leafed through her appointment book. "I suppose I'll have to ask you one thing, though."

"Anything."

Raising her eyebrows in enquiry, Lorraine had a definite twinkle in her eyes. "Should I set you a place for Thanksgiving?"

Xx—

Jack went straight for his cell phone when he left Lorraine. Striding to his car, he barely gave Jessie the chance to say 'hello' before cutting to the chase. "I just visited your mom."

"She must have liked that," Jessie said tentatively. "What a nice thought."

"I've been invited over for Thanksgiving," he stated, realizing how ridiculous it sounded.

"Really? You're in luck -Mom cooks an excellent turkey-"

"It would have been easier if she'd known about us." He was still smarting at feeling such a fool; there was no way Lorraine could have faked that confused face.

"I see… Yes, I may have forgotten to tell her that..."

"Oh, come on-" he said, his words punctuated by heavily closing the car door. "We're not kids."

"I was going to tell her, but never got around to it. I just like to keep us… you know… between us," she said, by way of explanation.

He rubbed his eyes with his free hand, feeling too old for this game. "Okay, fine… Can we go out for dinner tonight?"

"Tomorrow is better."

"Okay," mumbled Jack, aware he really was on the back foot, yet again.

Xx-

Back at the office, Samantha put down the household budget she'd been working on and looked at the appointment she had written in her day planner. Picking up her pencil she underlined it again. It was hard to plan ahead when you could be called out at any moment, but she needed to make sure she could keep this meeting. Swiveling in her chair, she looked over at Martin, the only other team member there. "Martin," she called out. When he dutifully turned around she asked, "Can I ask you a favor?"

Smiling warily, as he knew what she could be like, he said, "Maybe."

She couldn't blame him for that. "I have to meet with Brian in two days, when I do -would you mind coming with me?"

Martin rolled his chair closer to her. "Sure, but are you positive you want me there with you? What about Jack, or Danny?"

She'd thought long and hard about it. Going by herself wasn't an option at all –Brian would just try and manipulate or guilt her; she knew she could be tough but she needed back-up, so to speak. As for asking Danny, he'd be too hot headed and perhaps fly off the handle, like the protective brother role he sometimes assumed with her. Jack –well, Jack had his own priorities and it wouldn't be the right thing; she doubted he could be even-tempered when Brian was there and it wouldn't be particularly fair on Jack considering their past. She'd worked with Vivian for years but she felt needed a masculine presence. No, it would be best if it were Martin –safe, dependable, nice Martin was a good bet, plus it had been over so long between them both she knew he wouldn't see it as anything but a friend asking.

She explained where they were going to meet to discuss arrangements about Finn and that Brian might be bringing along someone as support also. While he'd been reasonably civil on the phone she wasn't placing any bets. As she'd previously said to Brian, if they couldn't come to a mutual agreement, they'd have to start involving lawyers. It was in both their interests -and their pockets- to work out it between them.

Nodding, Martin smiled. "Okay, I'd be happy to come along –but it would sort of help me to know why you two broke up."

"Fair enough," Samantha agreed. She'd only spoken so far to Danny and Elena over a deep glass of wine; if Martin was coming along to help her, then he should know the facts –except the fact about the dull sex-life she'd recently endured would be edited out. "Grab a coffee with me and I'll tell you."

Xx—

Not that Jack was planning to accost Samantha and Martin by the elevator –it just so happened he was walking past. "Catching lunch?"

Carrying Brian's precious Play Station and games in a plastic bag to give him as requested, Samantha still managed to look and feel serious. "No, today's the meeting with Brian to discuss Finn."

Taking in Samantha's swept-back severe pony tail, Jack then automatically shot an enquiring look at Martin, wondering about his presence. "And I'm going along, as back-up," Martin filled in, shouldering himself into his coat.

"Do you think Brian will need it?" Jack joked. Not one of his best, but he saw a slight smile on Samantha's lips as the elevator doors opened.

"If Brian carries on being the idiot he's been, he'll need it." She looked gravely at Martin, "Maybe we should take our guns, what do you think?"

"Oh, just get in there…" Martin laughed, practically pushing her in before the doors closed.

"Have fun!" Jack called out sarcastically, not at all concerned that Martin was going with her.

He was quite relieved he hadn't been asked to do it.

Xx—

Having Martin there had worked very well; Brian had some random guy waiting with him at the café they were meeting in. Samantha had given the man a stern stare when they'd been introduced -trying to catch a hint of Russian mob, but luckily none of her warning hackles had been raised.

Brian was now past any surliness and while not happy at being apart from Finn, he was now accepting that things were well and truly over between him and Samantha, and this was the way it was going to be.

Samantha also knew that he knew that if he ever tried to run off with her son, she'd use all the resources of the FBI to hunt him down.

A schedule of visits was made up, money was discussed like adults –not that Samantha was expecting, or wanting, great things in that regard from him- and things were worked out for the short term.

As they left, Martin smiled at Samantha. "I think that went well for everyone."

Wrapping her scarf around her neck she breathed out, relieved. "You know something? I should have done that months ago," she said, earning a surprised look from him.

Also there was more hindsight, she realized.

I should never, never have let Brian recover at my place after the accident.

It was all straight down hill from there on.

Now, things can only get better.

Much, much better.

Her next biggest decision would be about Finn's Halloween costume for a party he was invited to next week, by a new playgroup friend; a pirate was currently top of her list.

A bit of fun in their life was just what she needed.

Xx—

The team survived Halloween without any of the bat-shit crazy cases –a Danny term- that they sometimes got around that time of year, and November brought more cooler weather with it.

"So, can anyone swap with me for Thanksgiving?" Vivian asked pointedly, looking at the team seated around the bull pen table for the morning briefing. This was greeted by a wall of silence. "That wasn't rhetorical, guys."

"Way to go on the short notice Viv, and I did it last year," Samantha informed. "Besides, we'll be at Emily's, and Mom's flying in." That particular planning phone call hadn't included the information that Brian wasn't around anymore; Patricia had adored Brian, of course, and Samantha had managed to avoid it in any conversation with her mother so far. She still needed to tell her mom over the phone before seeing her in person; at least on the phone she could pretend to be busy if Patricia got too angry or upset.

"Elena's got something planned for us with her mother," said Danny. "She's getting all nesting-like and I'm not brave enough to disturb any of her plans."

Martin couldn't help either. "I'm at some big shindig my parents are planning in DC, turning them down was -and is- not an option."

Notching up the pleading in her eyes, Vivian looked at Jack. "Am I going to be in luck with you?"

He shook his head, knowing his plans were made well in advance. "Sorry -I'll be around, but I'll be at Jessie's. You know, it really is your turn to cover."

"And now I remember it, didn't I swap for you two years ago?" Martin pointed out.

Vivian's shoulders sagged. "Okay, okay, I get the idea. It's just that Marcus' parents definitely want us at their place this year, but it's a long drive and it's no good if I'm on-call… Actually, I think they'd probably just like Marcus and Reggie to themselves."

"So why not have your own Thanksgiving the weekend before? I don't think it's illegal," Danny piped up. "Is it illegal?" he asked, looking around.

Now looking less pained and more thoughtful, Vivian pointed a finger in the air at the epiphany. "That's not a bad idea. You, Danny Taylor, do have a use after all. Reggie's usually doing CUNY things on Saturdays, so Sunday would be best…" She came to a quick decision. "Well, I'm not cooking just for the three of us as the in-laws won't drive down -and if I invite you all -how about pot luck?"

Danny grinned. "I know we'd love to come, and Sophia can practice her playing-with-a-baby skills with Finn," he said to Samantha. "They'll have fun."

"You can definitely count Jessie and me to come along," Jack said, hoping there wouldn't be any excuses from Jessie, although she had been good in the past couple of weeks, after his visit with Lorraine. Good as Jessie could be which meant he'd seen her maybe three times a week instead of two.

"And I think I can dig someone up," Martin said, wondering how you could possibly have Thanksgiving without football.

Danny could not resist. "Figuratively or literally?"

"It could be literal -would you mind?" Martin threw back, jokingly.

"What –someone left over from Halloween?"

Vivian decided to interrupt Martin's comeback. "So it's a date?" she asked, looking around as everyone nodded. "Great! I'll email suggestions of what you can bring."

The team looked at each other, wondering what they had just gotten themselves into.

Xx—

The following week comprised of busy cases and food ideas from Vivian bombarding everyone's inboxes. Around 7pm, Jack was just putting on his coat to leave when his office phone rang. Never one to ignore what could be another case, he picked it up.

"Jack Malone speaking."

"Hello, this is Gail, I work with Jessie at Kew –Gail Bernheim."

"Nice to hear from you," Jack said politely. He'd never met Jessie's team but he knew the names and had plenty heard about them from Jessie. "How can I help?"

"I won't hold you up. Jessie left about twenty minutes ago and I just found her phone on my desk. She said she was seeing you tonight -can you tell her I've got it?"

This was news to him; they hadn't made any plans for tonight at all as Jessie said she would be working. "Okay," he said cautiously, "I'll pass that on."

"Thanks, she's not usually so forgetful… I keep asking her when we're all going to meet you."

"Hopefully, sometime soon."

Gail laughed. "That's if we can tear you two away from each other; it sounds like she's practically moved in with you -she's there nearly every night!"

Knowing it wasn't the situation at all, he forced a laugh and played along. "Oh, it doesn't seem like that at all…" he said truthfully.

After that, Gail said goodbye and Jack hung up the phone, deep in thought.

He'd seen Jessie yesterday and they had made plans for her to come over tomorrow, since she had plans tonight with her colleagues -so she said. The best thing to do was just wait, he guessed.

Another night wouldn't matter.

Xx—

Next evening, although later than planned, Jessie arrived at Jack's apartment with a grin and a bottle of tequila.

"We're celebrating?" Jack ushered her in after a kiss.

"We sure are," Jessie said on her way to the kitchen. "We finally solved a bitch of a tough case, Gail's husband got a promotion and Benny is finally moving in with his girlfriend. You got shot glasses?"

"Somewhere in the cupboard, back in 1987 I think…" Jack muttered to himself as he got them. Sitting at the table and pouring themselves a glass each, they toasted Jessie's news and downed the hit.

Watching as Jack poured them each another, Jessie had a gleam in her eye as she drank. "Hey, Benny went to a bistro with a cheese cave in it on Park Ave –how about we check it out this week? He said there are loads of different cheeses to try and believe me, I am so there."

"Sounds nice…" Jack wanted to change the subject as much as he liked the idea. "I was thinking, how about we go away together on vacation in January?" he asked after drinking his shot.

"That seedy hotel again for a weekend? I'm in."

"No, I meant for a couple of weeks. I'd like to swing by Chicago for a few days to see my girls and you said you'd never been there, then we could head off wherever you'd like, maybe some place warmer."

She took another shot of tequila. "Ah… I'd have to think about it."

"January's no good? Name a time that's better for you and I'll work it in," Jack pressed.

"It's just that… I'm not quite ready…"

"'Ready'?"

"If it were, say, a couple of weeks here in New York, then that would be fine, but…"

"Why couldn't we go away?"

"Just not yet… okay?"

He wasn't feeling good about the way he was approaching this but he deserved some clarification.

"You forgot your phone yesterday I hear," he said, smoothly changing topics, for a reason.

"What…? Oh yes. Gail found it on her desk."

"She phoned and told me."

"Yes, she mentioned that... She's nice, you'd like her." She poured them both another glass and drank hers, but Jack didn't touch his.

"She said you told her you were on your way to see me."

"Well, no…"

"And you told me you'd be at work."

"I did? I must have meant I'd be at home with Mom."

Jack hadn't checked but he knew she hadn't. "It seems Gail and your team believe that we're seeing a lot more of each other than we actually are."

Jessie was now quiet, staring into her small glass. "They may have formed that impression."

"Not from me."

"No..." She rubbed her temple, as if willing the subject away.

But Jack wasn't going to let it. "And you don't want to get away for a vacation…" He seated himself across from her. "Jessie, just talk to me, please. What's got you tied here? What do you do with your evenings and nights? After you leave here, or when you're actually telling people you're here with me when you're not. I'd like to know."

She stared long and hard at him, a frown on her brow. He held her eyes as she began to speak. "You want to know what I do, Jack? I come here to be with you because I like to be with you, I enjoy having you as a secret from my Mom, and yes, I do like the late night stuff at work. I also like to help Mom with the bail bond paperwork and accounts, as well as keep her company." She drank another shot.

"And…" Jack prodded.

She blinked a couple of times as she focused on the tabletop, knowing it was time to come clean. "Okay. All right… Sometimes –okay, a lot of the time- I go and see Mark…" she trailed off, looking away.

There it was.

Of all fucking people…

"You've been seeing Mark Casey?"

She winced, now scrutinizing her boots. "Sort of."

"Sort of?" asked Jack, wondering why he wasn't more surprised, wondering why he hadn't defaulted to yelling. Perhaps it was just a relief to have it out in the open, as much as he didn't like the sound of it.

All the pieces had fallen into place.

Giving up on the glass, Jessie took a swig from the bottle. "Since he's been out I've been getting him back on his feet by helping him do up the place I found for him, make meals, help him look for a job –that kind of stuff," she explained.

They stared at each other.

"And what else?" Jack asked, a male note of suspicion creeping into his voice.

She was aghast. "Oh, for God's sake! I'm not sleeping with him if that's your problem."

It always was, with guys. Jack said nothing.

Feeling the need to fill the gaps, Jessie took another belt of tequila; her capacity for it was quite impressive. "He got out several months back and he's under house detention."

"I know that he'd cut a deal for the trial and then I suppose he racked up some good behavior."

"Yeah, it was about a month before I came to see you. He had a very bad time during his years in prison."

"Well, bad cops usually do, funny that," Jack said waspishly -even though they both knew it was a major point.

"Look, he'd been beaten, raped more times than he could ever remember and totally crushed; now he's just a hollow shell of a man, he used to be this big guy and now… there's nothing of him, nothing to him. You should see him…"

Like hell he would. "And despite what he did to you -the way he treated you, and the fact you even testified against him –you've given him all this time, all this care and attention?"

Time, care and attention she hadn't given him.

Jessie's eyes didn't budge from his. "Yes," she stated simply, "and I'm sorry."

"Is there still something between you both?"

The words came tumbling out. "We've had quite a history, but that's what it is, in the past. He started to write to me from prison. I didn't want to know him, but after a lot of letters and time passing I started to visit him there. Now he's out I go see him a few times a week, on the quiet and nobody else knew, until now… I know he depends on me and I know I need to pull away, and I have been trying –with you…" She put a hand across the table, covering one of Jack's. "Honestly, before you and me, I used to go and sit in my car, just to be by myself –away from Mom and her paperwork, away from the FBI, away from him… Then one day I saw your name in a Bureau newsletter. I just wanted to see you, catch up and I'd almost forgotten what you were like and as for being with you… Jack, when I said I was falling for you I meant every word, I really am crazy about you and I like where this is going."

"You have a funny way of showing it… and we're still going somewhere?" Jack added for clarification.

"I like to think so -probably."

"Wow, that's some answer," he said numbly, removing his hand from under hers and folding his arms. He felt his face becoming still as a mask, closing down.

"Don't be like that," she said softly.

"Jess…" he said tiredly. Amazing how many of their conversations had him saying that.

"Just see where it all goes, okay? Who knows?"

"Yeah, yeah…" he muttered, thinking that it had been months already.

"I'd love to get away with you for a few weeks, I really would -I just can't while he needs me."

"Uh-huh." As if Jack didn't need her.

"Come to bed?"

Jack recognized a diversion when he heard one. "Soon."

Nodding as she stood up, she headed to his bedroom, leaving him alone.

He'd had only two shots of tequila and wanted something more his style; he got up and poured himself a measure of whisky in a fresh glass with ice, deciding to wait until Jessie was asleep –however long that took, even after all her tequila. Sex would not be used to ease his hurt tonight or as an apology, and he doubted she'd even try.

Sitting back down again with the whisky bottle, he mentally re-examined their conversation and the Mark Casey revelation.

He should have seen that coming.

It had been so laughably obvious.

Of all the damn people, it had to be him.

Jessie wasn't a bad person, Jack knew this, but she couldn't have kept up the charade forever. She'd meant it when she said about not sleeping with Mark, he was sure of it. But he knew there was a strong connection between them, which was also evident, and he just still didn't feel he had that with her. She hadn't asked him how he felt about it all, but then his reaction was pretty self-evident.

Still, decisions could wait.

Being lonely again was not a fun option, he didn't want that, but he didn't want something false with Jessie.

Xx—

The next morning in the FBI parking garage, Jack slammed his car door and marched to the elevator, hands clenched.

His sleep had not been restful at all, and then Jessie had crept out early while he'd pretended to be asleep.

Why was he always second fucking best?

Maria chose her job and Chicago over him; Samantha chose that younger sperm donor over him; he didn't know what the hell Anne chose, but it ultimately wasn't him; Hanna chose her boyfriend and Chicago -and now he had to play runner-up to that asshole, Mark Dirty Cop Casey.

It was like Brian turning up out of the blue just as he and Samantha were getting along all over again, and look how that had turned out.

Jack Malone –perpetual runner-up.

Life sucked.

As he punched the elevator button, he fervently hoped they had a case coming in; Jack could really do with some suspect interrogation.

Xx—

TBC