I do not own Eureka. They are gone, but my life is much better for having know them.
The Law of Attraction
Chapter 4: Three's a Crowd
The next week proved an exhausting one for Allison, Jack and Nathan. Along with the routine mayhem that went, usually the result of some mishap at Global Dynamics, the three of them had to deal with the awkwardness of working, playing and essentially living with each other on a twenty-four hour basis. Well, twenty-four hours was a bit of an exaggeration, but not by much. Normally when coworkers go home after the end of a long hard day, they are not subject to deal with each other until the next business day. But, then again, Global Dynamics wasn't your typical place of employment and Eureka undeniably wasn't your typical town. Geographically the town Eureka was massive with most of the land taken up by labs, test sights and several top secret sites where research and experiments went on, of which only a handful of people in town knew about. The population itself was relatively small, not so much so that you knew everyone's name, but small enough that you recognized the faces and where familiar with those whose held important roles. The town was tightly protected, for the benefit of the work done there and it's citizens along with keeping those who were uninvited out. There wasn't any where you couldn't get in town in thirty minutes or less, hell Domino's had nothing on them and because of that reason, when you were trying your best to avoid certain people, it just wasn't going to happen. For Jack in-particular, it had been an excruciating seven days.
After his talk with Allison, he had gone through a wide range of emotions rather quickly. Of course he had been angry, confused and genuinely hurt. Jack had been smitten with Dr. Allison Blake from the first day he'd met her. The resulting time living and working together only caused his feelings for her to grow stronger. Whenever he saw her his heart skipped a beat, he developed a lump in his throat, it was for lack of a better word, torture. What man couldn't help but fall in love with her? She was brilliant, witty, compassionate, gorgeous and not to mention, sexy as hell. Jack wasn't normally shy when it came to letting a woman know his intentions, but for some reason when it came to Allison, he felt just like a prepubescent teen asking a girl out on a first date. Now, that didn't mean he was a blubbering idiot when he was around her. For example, when it came to performing his job, he was, proficient, knowledgable and if he said so himself, a valuable asset. But put him in an intimate situation with her, and he became tongue tied. So when the two of them at last took the steps and embarked on a new relationship, he was over the moon. And just when he thought they'd be making that all important next step, it all disintegrate in front of his eyes.
So, the day after Allison dropped the bomb on him about Stark emphatically letting his intentions be known, Jack was ticked to say the least. Sure, Allison didn't say she was going back to him, but she didn't say she wasn't either. Where did he stand in all of this? Did his opinion or feelings even matter? How could he possibly go back to working alongside her as if nothing romantic happened between them? Pretending that he wasn't in love with her? He thought it cruel of her to toy with his heart. There was no way she didn't know how he felt, because it sure seemed every other person in town did. One thing he wasn't going to do was give her or Stark the satisfaction of knowing just how much he had been affected, of which would be a true test of his willpower.
Being it was Eurkea, of course there was an emergency which required his assistance. Upon laying eyes on her for the first time, post the most horrible breakfast meeting he'd ever had, he was sure she could feel the daggers from his eyes rip her to shreds. One thing he couldn't conceal was his expressive eyes; they always betrayed him and told the real truth. He attempted to keep his outside demeanor under control, but Stark wasn't going to make it easy for him. With each opportunity, he would take cheap shots at Jack, trying his best to taunt him and break his resolve. Jack wanted to kick him right in what he was sure were his surgically altered, perfect, pearly white teeth. That's what he wanted to do, but he was going to be the bigger man. He wasn't going to sulk, nor treat Allison any differently than he had before. He wouldn't give her or Stark the satisfaction.
Nathan on the other hand appeared to not have been affected by the events. Now if that was because he was an arrogant as ass, or this was just his way of guarding his emotions, he never broke character. If anything, he felt Allison's change in attitude had given him the upper hand. If she had been so sure that they were through, she never would have given it a second thought. What he had to do now was insure that she believed he was the right pick. He had to remind her of all the good times they'd had, how compatible they were and how a reforging of their union could bring about success unmatched, not only in their personal lives, but in their careers as well. There was just one problem with his plan; Sheriff Jack Carter. From the moment he had made his present know in Eureka, the affable Sheriff had managed to charm the pants off of nearly every citizen of this town, including the hard-nosed, emotionally detached Deputy Lupo. Something that he himself had never been able to do. Oh, it wasn't that he was jealous, matter of fact, he thought that he and Carter could have been on friendlier terms if the scenario had been a bit different. No, they didn't have much in common, well, that wasn't exactly true. They had both loved one woman in-particular. It's not that Nathan didn't believe that Carter was useless, and he couldn't deny the fact that were it not for him or his "Everyman" knowledge, Eureka may not be in existence as it were today and if there was one truth he could not refute, it was that Sheriff Carter was needed in Eureka.
For Allison, she found herself at wits end. She had debated ad nauseam in her mind as to whom she desired more. She had made a list of pros and cons about each man, considered the perks of dating Jack versus Nathan and the possible backlash her choice would cause. Still with all of her deliberating, the answer failed to come to her. One thing was for sure, she couldn't string them along indefinitely. Truth was, she found something indelible about each man. That's what made her task so difficult. The one thing she was afraid of most was the thought that if and when she made a decision, would there always be and awkwardness between the three of them? She had been on the receiving end of Nathan's wrath when they separated before and knew how to navigate that territory. Jack would be a mystery. She had come to rely on him, care what he thought of her, and yes, trust him. This was a delicate situation, so she had to maneuver cautiously, and that's when it came to her.
Five hours later, Allison paced fervently between the family room and front door. As she rung her hands nervously, she wondered if her proposal was a huge mistake. What if they thought she had snapped? For a woman who a genius, her solution wasn't really a solution at all, but more like a stall tactic. She wasn't thrilled about what she was about to do, but it seemed the only option. Lost in thought, she jumped at the sound of the doorbell, silently cursing the position she'd found herself in. Well, there was no backing out...it was now or never.
Her hand grasped firmly around the handle, she briefly closed her eyes and braced herself before opening the door to what was sure to be a long and difficult conversation.
Looking dapper as usual, she welcomed her first guest. "Nathan, come in."
As he stepped over the threshold, he leaned down and kissed her cheek.
"Well, I must say, this was certainly a surprise. I was sure that you'd only speak with me if absolutely necessary. I'm hoping that your invitation in an indication that you have made your choice, or is that a poor assumption on my part?"
"Nathan, it's not exactly what you think. I..." and before she could finish her sentence, the bell rang again.
Ignoring the perplexed look on his face, she turned to usher in her next guest.
A welcoming smile perched on lips, she greeted him. "Hi Carter."
Jack stood in the doorway, appearing somewhat bewildered and rightfully so. Lowering his voice, asked, "I'm sorry. Did I misinterpret our conversation?"
Evidently he had not been prepared to find Stark's vehicle outside her home at the same time he had been invited to come over.
"No" she assured him, "you're right on time."
Entering, he was immediately confronted with the last person he wanted to be in a room with at this moment.
"Hey Carter."
Though the smile on his face meant to convey openness, to Jack it showed only proved to show the condescending nature and smugness as only Nathan Stark could emote.
Trying hard to not acknowledge his existence, Jack answered unenthusiastically, "Stark."
Allison could feel the tension in the room as the two men cautiously eyed each other, almost as if lions on the prowl. She knew she had to take command quickly before it all spiraled out of control. She glanced between the two, took a deep breathe and dove in.
She motioned for them both to sit and as predicted they chose stations on opposite ends of the couch; this wasn't going to be easy. Allison saw she wasn't the only one with a furrowed brow. It was highly unusual for her to have them both in her home at the same time and under the circumstances, she didn't blame them for their confused looks.
She continued to stand so that she could address them both, but more likely because she didn't want to be between them literally as she was figuratively.
"I don't know where to start, so I'll just tell you why I've asked you here."
Neither reacted outwardly to her statement, allowing her to get out the words she needed.
"This has been a difficult time for me as I am sure it has been for the two of you. I just ask that you listen to the entirety of what I have to say before you make your statements."
Allison realized she sounded as if she were speaking to a jury, but both heads nodded in agreement, so she forged on.
"First, I want you both to know how much I care for you. I consider you my dearest friends whom I've come to rely on and this...whatever this is, is causing a rift. I don't want what the three of us have managed to accomplish so far to interfere in whats become a unique partnership. My resolution is one I'm sure you won't agree with initially, but I feel it's the best option for all involved."
When nothing was said she continued, her voice cracking slightly as she blurted it out.
"I think that the two of you should date other women."
If Allison hadn't known better, she'd have sworn they'd synchronized their movements before hand as both mouths dropped open and two pairs of eyes stared at her in bewilderment.
She paused, ready for what she was sure would be an onslaught of questions and a lively debate. What happened next took her by complete surprise.
"No!"
Allison jerked her head toward the emphatic retort. "No?"
Nathan stood erect, stressing his height and consequently what he felt was his importance.
"You heard me. No! Allison I know you and this is your sad attempt to mend fences and force peace between the three of us and you know what I say...bullshit. This is you copping out so that you don't have to contend with making a choice. I don't know about rent-a-cop here, but I for one won't be a party to this inane ruse."
Nathan relocated himself so that he towered over her, the fervor in his eyes unmistakable.
"Allie, you're not getting off that easily. When I told you I wanted you, I meant it. I am willing to do whatever it takes to get you back and I won't allow you to trivialize this. Whatever time or space you need to do to get your head together, do it."
She opened her mouth to object only to have him place a finger over her lips. A move that took her by surprise.
As he turned to leave, he met Jack head-on, an indelible smirk on his face. He simulated a tipping of the hat, almost as if saying that the game was afoot; Allison was the prey and he was closing in, and Jack had just been warned.
Mouth still agape, she focused her attention back on Jack as he sat there, head shaking in disbelief. Before she could apologize for how the evening had turned out, he started in.
"Allison, what kind of game are you playing?"
"Game? Jack...this isn't a game. I honestly thought this would be the best option for all parties involved."
"All parties involved? Do you hear yourself? You sound like a divorce lawyer mediating the terms of a separation. You think I'm that I'm that shallow that I could forget you and start dating someone else just like that." Snapping his fingers for emphasis. "Allison you know how I feel about you and that's not something I can just shut off."
"I know, and I'm sorry. I don't want to hurt either of you."
"I don't want you to be sorry. I want you to be honest with yourself...and with me."
Jack moved forward and took hold of her forearms. Allison felt an instantaneous blush creep over her and it was a feeling she knew well. But did that mean it was infatuation, lust or love?
"Allison, I want you, and frankly, I'm wiling to take the blame regarding my behavior. I've sat on the sidelines for too long and I won't let this opportunity pass me by again. Whatever I need to do, whatever I need to say, I will."
And unlike Stark, who stated his peace, then exited, Jack showed her exactly how he felt. His hands gliding over the small of her back, he slowly lowered his mouth until it covered hers. His kiss was gentle and sweet, effectively conveying of all his emotions. The pervious sensation which caused her to go flush, now caused started a fire that churned deep in the pit of her stomach. If he hadn't of released her, she could have easily forgotten herself and ended the evening with him in her bed.
Wrapping her in a tight embrace, he leaned down and whispered in her ear the most beautiful words she'd ever heard.
"Allison, I am deeply, madly in love with you and I have been since the day we met. Whatever decision you make, it won't change that fact. I need for you to know that you will always have a special place in my heart."
Allison closed her eyes and sighed softly as he brushed her cheek with the pad of his thumb and walked out the door.
She stood there for quite some time, unsure of her next move. Both men appeared adamant that they were not going to allow her to take the easy way out. Outwardly and intellectually, she knew that what she was feeling was wrong, but secretly, she was flattered that they wanted her and neither had intentions of backing down.
As she ambled upstairs, she stopped to check in on Kevin. He had already fallen asleep, his covers tucked neatly under his chin. Allison sat on the edge of his bed and stared lovingly at him. Her beautiful baby boy, well, not much of a baby now, but he would always be a baby in her eyes. Kevin, the one male she would not hesitate to give her life for, was also a factor. Allison did not entrust her heart nor shared her bed at random. She wanted someone who would be a good influence for Kevin, someone who understood him, someone who loved her son as much as they loved her, and in this case, she had it twofold. Exhausted by the evenings events, she kissed Kevin's forehead before heading up to bed herself.
Her thoughts still a jumble, she drew herself a warm bath and allowed the soothing jets to take her on a journey. She tried hard to force the images of Jack and Nathan out of her head and had at last found success. Her currently relaxed mood should have been the end of her internal struggle for the evening and would have held true if had she not drifted off.
There seemed to be no beginning to the dream, but picked up in the middle of a scene. They were all at Global Dynamics when a crisis manifested. All around her chaos, people running in all directions, their screams commingled with the sounds of emergency alarms were deafening. She didn't recognize any of the faces surrounding her, blurred likenesses of friends and coworkers. Above the fray she could hear a voice call her name. She spun aimlessly, but could not distinguish it's location, and as if standing on the precipice, the seas parted before her. Ahead, she discerned a distorted male form, hauntingly beckoning her forward. The closer she came, their distance narrowing, the clearer the figure became. At first she thought it was Nathan; tall, brooding, only to have the image morph. The newly developed likeness was lean, it's commanding, and at once she knew it was Jack. Allison froze in her spot, afraid to move forward or go back. Then suddenly, without notice, it changed. Those previous indistinct faces were now at a complete standstill, surrounding her in a tight circle, their eyes staring blankly at her. Then, without warning, she couldn't breath. She felt as if she were underwater, desperately clawing to get back to the surface when suddenly, she awoke with a start. Somehow she had managed to slip down into the tub, the water's edge just beneath her nose.
She couldn't go on like this. The stress was taking a toll on her not only emotionally, but physically and mentally, and that's when it came to her. She was smart, Jack and Nathan were reasonable, so she would present the ultimate resolution. Hopping out of the tub, still dripping wet, she wrapped a towel around her and sat on the edge of the bed. Twenty minutes later, her task was complete. She was surprised that both men had agreed to her terms. She reckoned they thought this was the easiest option. Besides, Allison would have it no other way and once she set her mind to something, it was as good as done.
Consequently, the weekend was going to be a busy one for her...but at what cost had she made this deal?
Next: Chapter 5 - Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow?