The New York Palace Hotel

February 11, 2005

10:15 pm

Mike Logan stood in line near the small bar, surveying the large crowd. As uncomfortable as he was in the rented tux he wore, he was actually kind of glad he was there. The Sweethearts Dance for Breast Cancer Awareness was one of the big fund raising events of the year. Sponsored by the Manhattan Women of Law, it drew people from every facet of the city, dressed in their finest, raising money for a deserving charity during the overly hyped Valentine's Day Weekend.

Logan wasn't there to hobnob with the upper class. He was there for Kate O'Hara. As a member of the Board of Directors, Kate was very involved in the planning and organization of the event. She'd been stressed out over this for the past month, sweating out details from table placement, to lighting, to press coverage, to the weather report for the weekend, which to her dismay, included snow. He'd done his best to appear concerned, offered useless suggestions, and forced her to step away before she totally lost it, more than a few times.

She'd asked him to go as her escort, warning him that wearing a tux would be part of the deal. She also warned him that she wouldn't be able to spend much time with him until later in the evening. He supposed he was okay with that, after all, he was good at lurking around the edges, watching the crowd.

Never one to pay much attention to fashion, Logan quickly decided that black, white, and red were the colors to wear to this thing. He chalked the red up to the whole Valentine's thing. Drinking the last of his Jamison's, he wondered when he started to care about stuff like that.

It was easy for him to spot Kate. Her red hair always caught his attention and tonight was no different. She was standing near the dance floor, speaking to a small group of people and she looked amazing. She'd given in to the pressure of the rest of the board and wore a red gown, but where most of there's were bright red; Kate's was more of a deep ruby red. It was silky and made a rustling noise when she walked.

He watched her as she played the gracious hostess, speaking to many of the guests, encouraging them to bid on the silent auction, sipping occasionally from a flute of champagne, but, he noticed, not eating any of the crab puffs and stuffed mushrooms she and the rest of the board had agonized over.

She'd be hungry once this was over, he decided, then wondered whether one could order pizza delivery to a room at the New York Palace. He laughed at the thought, then ordered another drink from the bartender.

"Mike Logan," began a male voice, from behind him. Logan turned to find Jack McCoy standing there, looking surprised.

"Jack McCoy," Logan nodded, "How are ya?"

"Good," he returned, "I never figured you for a charity Ball fan."

"I could say the same for you," Logan dryly laughed, picking up his drink and tipping the bartender.

McCoy ordered a Jamison's on the rocks, then turned back to Logan, "It's a good cause, but I could do without the bowtie."

"I know the feeling," Logan admitted, checking his watch, "I've got another 45 minutes and it's gone."

"I wish," McCoy returned with a roll of his eyes, "I have to attend an after party."

"Ouch," Logan laughed, "The after party I have planned is a bit more private."

McCoy raised a brow, "Someone's got a romantic evening planned."

Logan nodded, watching as McCoy picked up his drink and tipped the bartender.

"So, how'd you get drafted into this shindig?" McCoy asked

"She asked, I came," Logan admitted, knowing that McCoy was not aware that the "she" he spoke of was Kate O'Hara. "You?"

"The same," he agreed, then shrugged. "Ah, it's a good cause." He waved to someone in the crowd, "I'm being summoned…"

"Don't keep her waiting," Logan said, holding up his drink in a mock toast. "Have fun."

"Yeah, you too," McCoy laughed, walking off.

"You were not just chatting with Jack McCoy," Kate began, walking up and taking his arm.

"Afraid I was giving away your secrets?" he teased.

"You really would have enjoyed telling him about us, wouldn't you?" she laughed.

"Just a little," he dismissed, kissing the side of her neck, "Wouldn't want to mess up your make up," he said, as he pulled back.

"Oh, yes you do," she slyly said, "Give me an hour…then you can take me home and mess it up good and proper…"

"Go on, do what you need to do," he said, "I'll be here."

She pecked his cheek, then wiped off the lipstick she'd left behind, "You're being entirely too nice to me tonight…I'm going to pay for this when I get home, aren't I?"

He gave her an evil grin.

"And on that note, I'll be back in a little bit…" she winked at him, then bustled off into the crowd.

11:30 pm

While Kate wrapped up the banquet with the rest of the Board, Logan checked in with the desk and made sure their room was ready. He returned to the nearly empty ballroom to find her sitting alone at a table, her shoes off, feet up on a chair, sipping from a flute of champagne.

Stepping up behind her, he placed his hands on her shoulders and massaged them gently. She dropped her head, to give him better access. "Are you done for the night?" he asked, bending to kiss the back of her neck.

"Mm hmm…" she returned, "Take me home, Detective Logan."

"I've made other arrangements," he said, holding out his hand.

"Tell me we don't have to go to an after party," she winced, taking his hand and standing up.

"We do," he continued, watching as she picked up her shoes and purse.

"Mikey," she sighed, "I'm not in the mood to schmooze anymore…"

"You don't have to schmooze anyone," he said, leading her into the lobby. "This is a more intimate affair."

She raised a brow, "Oh, really? Where are we going?"

"Room 4907," he held up a key card.

Feburary12, 2005

2:15 am.

"Have I told you what a great idea this was?" Kate asked, stretching out on the queen sized bed.

"Only about 15 times," he laughed, leaning over and kissing her.

"Well it was," she returned, kissing him. "And the pizza was my favorite part."

"The pizza?" he feigned hurt, "The pizza…"

"Okay, the sex was good, too," she allowed, "But the pizza just did me in."

"Well, it ain't over yet…"

"What else do you have up your sleeve?"

"Tomorrow morning, at 10, before we check out, we'll be getting a couples massage in our room," he advised.

"We?" she looked over at him, "We? You're getting a massage too?"

"That's the whole point of a couples massage, isn't it?"

"Well, yeah, but…" she laughed, "You're not a massage kinda guy…"

"I don't know, I mean, I'll be naked, with some incredibly hot chick massaging me…"

"And that's all that's going to happen," she dryly said. "You won't be getting the special happy ending massage in this place."

"Besides," he ignored her comment, "Silvera said it's supposed to be very romantic…"

"Romantic? Since when you care about romantic?" she teased.

"Watch it," he laughed, running his finger along the ticklish spot on her side, causing her to flinch. "I'm tryin' to do the whole Valentine's thing here…"

"And I appreciate it," she said.

"But?" he prompted, knowing there was more.

"All the hearts and flowers and shit, isn't exactly us."

"You don't like it?"

"I'm not saying that," she shook her head.

"Then what are you saying?" he asked, confused by her reaction.

"That you've been really amazing since we started seeing each other again," she carefully said, "You've been taking me out, doing the whole courting thing…"

"But?"

"You don't need to do this," she said, "I may be a fool for saying this, but, as much as I've enjoyed it, you really don't need to keep doing it." She took his hand, "One of the things I missed most about our relationship was the time we spent just hanging out at my place. We'd go get coffee in the morning, knock around the city, go home, make a big dinner…watch movies in bed. We haven't done that yet…"

He laughed, "How'd I end up with the one woman in Manhattan who'd rather stay home in her sweats and make spaghetti than dress up and hit the town?"

"I don't know, but you've ended up with her twice," she winked, "So consider yourself lucky."

"I do," he seriously replied.

"You can say that after I made you put on a monkey suit and stand around in a banquet hall all night?"

"Yeah, cuz I got to stand there and watch you do your thing," he explained. "Do you have any idea how sexy you were tonight?"

"Me?" she laughed. "I was a lunatic all night."

"You looked incredible," he replied, kissing her. "Besides, I got to sit back and be proud of you. You did a great job."

She blushed, "Will you please stop?"

"I will not," he returned, with another kiss.

"You were bored pissless…"

"I was getting off on watching you…" he went on, working his way along her neck.

She laughed. "Spare me."

"I was…" he found the spot on her neck that gave her shivers and kissed it softly. "I was watching you walking around in that dress…and all I could think about was getting you back here and getting you out of it…"

"See, my point exactly, you were so bored…"

"Stiff as a board," he grinned.

"Mikey…" she shook her head, "Are we going to have sex again?"

"Gotta get our money's worth out of the hotel room…"

February 13, 2005

12:15 PM

Kate and Logan walked into the elevator. After pressing the button for the lobby, he turned to find Kate leaning against the back wall, eyes closed. She was wearing her gown from last night, but this morning, she wore no make up and her dark red hair was down. She looked amazing last night, with her hair up and her make up done, but he kinda liked this look better.

Without opening her eyes, she spoke, "You're staring…I can feel it."

"Sorry," he said, kissing her cheek. "So, the massage was a good idea?"

"Amazingly good," she smiled, opening her eyes. She took his hand, "You hit a home run with this one."

"Yeah, I know," he smartly returned, as the elevator reached the lobby and the door opened. "Let me check out."

"Take your time," She returned, sitting on one of the velvet chairs and watching as he walked to the desk.

"Kate?" Jack McCoy's voice began, causing her to turn her head. Jack walked over, dressed in jeans and a pull over sweater.

"Hey Jack," she smiled, standing, "How was the after party?"

He rolled his eyes, "Pompous…boring…" He shrugged, "How are they always?" He took a moment to survey her clothing and with an amused smile, he asked, "Didn't quite make it home last night, Ms. O'Hara?"

"My escort had other plans," she said, and felt herself blushing.

"You never did introduce me to the mystery man," he teased, as she wouldn't tell him who her escort was going to be. "So? Where is he?"

"Checking out," she returned, watching as his gaze went to the main desk.

McCoy studied the back of the man at the desk, there was something vaguely familiar about it, but he couldn't quite place him. The mystery was solved when the man turned around. "Logan?" he asked, turning to look at Kate. "You're seeing Mike Logan?"

Kate nodded, "Yeah."

"How the hell did that happen?"

"The night of Lennie Briscoe's wake," she explained, "I poured him back to this hotel room…"

Logan walked over and slipped his arm around Kate's shoulder, "McCoy," he began, "How are ya?"

"Good," McCoy returned, a surprised smile on his face, "I'd ask how you were, but I can see for myself…"

"Yeah, well," Logan smugly smiled.

"You're a lucky man," McCoy said, smile still in place, but a serious tone creeping in to his words, "Just make sure you take good care of her this time around."

"I intend to," Logan nodded, threat duly noted. He turned to Kate, "You ready to go/"

Kate nodded, then, "Thanks for coming last night, Jack. I really appreciated having you there for moral support."

"It was my pleasure, Kate," he said, as she hugged him. "You can tell the other ladies of the board that you did a wonderful job."

She smiled, "Thank you."

"Go on, get home. Get some rest. I'll see you Monday."

Office of Executive ADA Kate O'Hara

February 14, 2005

5:15 pm

Tiredly, Kate tossed her briefcase on the credenza and sat at her desk. She was more than ready to head home after her long day in court, but had a few odds and ends to complete before heading home. Logan was supposed to be at her place by 7 and she was going to make dinner for him. Of course, she still had no idea what she would make, but he wasn't picky, so she was sure she could whip something up to please him.

As she logged into her computer, there was a knock on the frame of her office door. She looked up to find Jack McCoy standing there.

"You got a minute?" he asked, walking in.

"Yeah, come on in," she nodded. "What's up?"

Jack sat in one of the arm chairs in front of her desk, "Have you heard anything from Shambala Greene?"

She shook her head, "Not a word. I don't think she's going to take our offer…but, I haven't checked my email yet." She typed her password into the email log in and hit the enter key. "Of course, Shambala's not really the email kind…"

"She's less internet savvy than I am…" McCoy laughed, then with a smile, "Nice flowers."

Kate looked over at the lavender roses and smiled. "Yeah, red roses aren't my thing, you know?"

"That's our Kate, always the rebel," he laughed.

"Thanks, Jack," she rolled her eyes, and then looked at her email. "Nope, nothing from Shambala."

"Shit," he tiredly said, "I give up. If she wants us to try the kid, we'll try him. She'll lose."

"She thinks she's got a chance," Kate offered. "And that thought scares me. Wonder what she's got up her sleeve."

"She doesn't know what we've got, either," Jack dismissed. "Besides, you're good at surprises…"

Kate raised a brow, "Oh, I am, am I?"

"Yeah, you are," he returned, "Take Sunday morning for example…"

"I knew you'd get to that sooner or later. Go on…tell me you think I'm making a mistake."

"I wasn't going to say that," was his honest reply. "I was just going to tell you that I was surprised."

"I was too," she admitted, "Never in a million years did I think I'd get back together with him."

"But you have."

"I have," she nodded. Noticing his expectant expression, she continued, "And he's really been very attentive and very sincere."

"This is Mike Logan we're talking about, Kate," he cautioned.

"I know, Jack. Trust me, my eyes are open." She assured, then, "I'm sure it's frustrating the hell out of him, too."

"Ah, he's in for the whole deal, huh?"

She nodded.

"And you?"

She massaged her temples, then looked up at him. "I want to trust him, Jack," she honestly said.

"But?"

"But, I don't exactly trust anybody anymore, ya know?"

McCoy nodded his understanding, knowing he played a part in her distrust.

Kate shrugged, "I don't know, Jack. Things are different this time…we've both changed a hell of a lot…I'm going to give it a shot. Who knows?"

"I have no right to say a word, but," McCoy smiled at her, "You have to do what you feel is right."

"I know," she smiled back at him, "Thanks, Jack."

"No problem," he stood up, "Just make sure he knows that if he screws you over again, I'll kick his ass."

"Don't worry, Jack," she laughed, "He already knows that I'd kick it, so you'd just be adding insult to injury."

"I'm okay with that," he laughed, walking to the door. "Let me know if you hear from Shambala, okay?"

"I will. Go on, get out of here….don't you have to go get Claudia's Valentine's present?"

"Kate! What you must think of me," He shook his head, then, with a wry smile, "I went out at lunch."

"Go back to your office, McCoy!" she laughed.

"Going," he laughed with her, then walked off.

Kate shook her head, looking again at the roses sitting on the corner of her desk. She was surprised when they'd arrived this morning, not so much by the fact that he'd sent flowers, but by the fact that he actually remembered that she liked lavender roses. With a sigh, she signed out of her email. "Who knows?" she said aloud, "It might just work this time."