Chapter 6

Jack strode down the hallway towards the 10th floor elevators. The task at hand was an unenviable one. However, he was certain the news of Bobby Amato's arrest was one Rita Shalvoy should hear from him. He'd known Rita for a number of years and despite the current political climate felt he owed her as much. On his way he spotted Tracy and Harper in Kibre's office both had files opened in front of them. While Tracy coolly studied the one before her Harper seemed distracted as she stared into space and tapped her pen against her bottom lip.

He rapped on the door lightly as he poked his head in. "Still waiting on a verdict?" His smile was casual and knowing. He stepped into the office, his hands buried deep in his pockets.

Tracy closed her file and discarded her glasses. "Nearing the end of day two and counting… I think Harper's getting antsy."

"Two days is a long time," Harper's defensive tone was marred with concern. She checked her Blackberry for the sixth time in the last half hour and shook her head. "They should've been back by now."

"Don't borrow trouble. They'll be back soon." His warm eyes settled her frazzled nerves. "You gave them a lot to think about. The case was strong, very little wiggle room for the defense to plant any reasonable doubt. They'll come back when they come back." Jack turned and head for the door to resume his task.

"That's awfully Zen of you, Jack." A smirk spread across Tracy's face. "Are you getting pragmatic on us in your old age?"

Jack paused in the doorway, "You know me better than that, don't you Tracy?" He shot Harper a quick wink before closing the door and leaving them to their anticipation.

As Jack exited the Shalvoy's home he felt his head begin to throb. He hoped what his gut was telling him was wrong. Rita was someone he considered above reproach, even if she did have awful taste in men. Before marrying Shalvoy she'd been a passionate advocate for victims of violence and done so much good. Still something wasn't setting right with him after their conversation. And unfortunately, his gut was usually right.

He pulled out his Blackberry to check his messages. He still couldn't believe he was using this thing. Worse yet, were the looks of encouragement he got from many of his colleagues when he used it. The looks made him feel like a child who'd just learned to tie his own shoes. Five texts in the last 20 minutes; one from Mike, three from Martin, and one from Harper. He sighed, missing the days when one could actually be unreachable for a few minutes. He went directly to Harper's.

Jury back. Guilty, both counts! Going for a drink at Shaunessy's. Victory dinner afterwards? My place? XO

He smiled as he got in to the car and gave his driver instructions. This was a big win for her. She'd be on Cloud 9 all night long. He quickly pecked out a reply.

Congrats! Have a few things to finish up. Take your time at Shaunessy's… Meet you at your's. I'll bring the champagne.

He hit send.

Maybe they'd do something special this weekend, to celebrate. They hadn't been out of the city since the first month they were together. The campaign was beginning to wind down. Of course, Martin said the last weeks were the worst. He sighed and rubbed his tired eyes. How Adam Schiff did this for so long was beyond him.

Jack sat in the silence of Harper's small apartment. He went over paperwork as he waited for Harper and dinner. He put down his pen and leaned back against the couch. He inhaled and her scent filled his senses despite her absence. Her place was a second home to him now, he wondered how he could have once felt so out of place here.

The silence, however, seemed very out of place. He blamed that on Harper. He had never been one that minded silence. In fact he'd spent many nights alone, working in his apartment with nothing but the sound of pen on paper to comfort him. And he enjoyed it. It was a refuge from the bustle of the day. On the contrary Harper was never without 'background noise' as she called it. Sometimes it was the television, but generally it was music in one form or another. Now it seemed silence was deafening to him.

Harper's keys rattled in the lock. A thin smile spread across Jack's lips. He could hear her jovial humming through the thick door. The door slid open and she sauntered into the room, kicking it closed with her high-heeled foot.

Harper held up the sacks of take-out and exhaled with a smile. "Dinner is served."

"Finally!" He scowled at her with false exasperation.

She continued to hum as she danced over to him and set the food on the coffee table. "I am in a good mood tonight," she took him by the hand and pulled him to his feet, "and there is nothing you can do to sabotage that, McCoy." Holding his hand she stepped away and twirled under his outstretched arm. He smiled her favorite smile and pulled her to him. They began to sway to her humming.

Harper's head rested on his chest as her warmth and scent over took him. Her hums vibrated through his chest kick starting his heart. He loved her carefree nature. She looked up at him. Her eyes were full of light-hearted folly as her fingers lightly played at his neck and jaw line.

"Show me, show me, show me how you do that trick," she sang. "The one that makes me scream she said, the one that makes me laugh she said, and threw her arms around my neck."

Jack couldn't do anything but hold her close and watch her in delight.

"Show me how you do it and I promise you," her finger trailed across his cheek and traced his smiling lips, "I promise that I'll run away with you…. I'll run away with you….."

Jack lightly kissed her fingertip and forced a scowl. "Have I introduced you to The Clash?"

Harper giggled. "Yeah, we tried that. Remember? Didn't work out so well," she shrugged.

He smiled down at her. "And how much did you have to drink?"

She slapped him playfully on the chest, "I am not drunk, Jack McCoy! I'm high on victory." She poked his arm, "And don't be dogging on The Cure."

"The Cure, huh?" She nodded. "Well, I wish every win affected you this way." He bent and kissed her fully on her lips. She groaned consentingly into him. He pulled back to look her in the eyes, his thumb caressed her flushed cheek. "Congratulations."

"Thank you. Are you hungry?" Her eyes grew big, "I'm starving…"

"Famished."

They settled into the couch and discussed their days over baked ziti, garlic bread, and stuffed mushrooms. Jack conveniently omitted any hint of his visit to the Shalvoy's. Sometime ago Harper expressed her dislike for both the Governor and First Lady. She felt very protective of Jack and took Shalvoy's attacks against him personally. He didn't know what her aversion to Rita was, guilt by association maybe, although that seemed out of character for her. But of course, his defense of Rita hadn't helped the situation.

"Truly virtuous people don't marry slim balls, Jack." She had said.
"So she has bad taste in men. That's not a condemnable offense, Harper." He had countered. "I worked with Rita when she was a victim's advocate. She's a good person."
"I concede, bad men happen to good women. But you can't sleep next to someone like Donald Shalvoy for 10-plus years without getting some dirt on you."

She'd retreated from the room immediately thereafter. He was glad, he didn't want to argue with her, especially not over the Shalvoy's of all things. So he left out his visit and hoped Connie hadn't mentioned it to her either.

"You're mail's on the counter." Jack shouted to her has she took care of the dinner dishes.

She finished them up and sorted through the pile as she joined Jack in the bedroom. When she got to the oversized ivory envelope she tossed the others to the dresser.

"Well I've never smiled like that at a bill." Jack chuckled as he undressed for bed.

She rolled her eyes at him and focused her attention on the envelope. She broke the gold seal embossed with two entwined hearts. The satin pink lined envelope cradled another ivory one. This one was addressed to 'Harper and Jack' in a lacy calligraphy.

Jack watched with amusement as Harper delicately extracted the envelopes from one another. He didn't know what the item was, though experience told him it was some sort of an invitation, to what he didn't know. The gleam in her brown eyes made his heart skip a beat. She looked over the contents before holding it out to Jack.

"A wedding invitation…" he said less than enthused. The ivory paper was covered with a white velum black and white photo of a young couple. A handsome dark haired man satting on a dock surrounded by a lake, or pond maybe. A pretty young blonde was draped over his shoulders, their hands clasped together at his chest. They both smiled revealing dimples on their cheeks. They looked so happy that he couldn't help but smile himself. The script under the velum said their names were Brandon Webster and Kelli Ann Peters.

"Kelli Ann?" Jack looked up at Harper, "This is your friend? From home?"

Harper nodded and picked up a photo from her dresser. She handed it to Jack as she joined him on the bed. The photo, taken at a football game, was of a much younger Harper and two other girls. On one end was Kelli Ann with her long, blonde curls. She wore an oversized purple letterman's jacket that had a varsity football patch and a gold armadillo on the chest. On the other end was a Mexican girl who's name Jack couldn't remember. She also wore a letterman's jacket, but unlike Kelli Ann's hers was a proper fit, lending credence the thought that Kelli Ann's was some boy's. Sandwiched in between the two girls was Harper. Her light brown hair was in a ponytail high atop her head with gold and purple ribbons tied around it. She had a football painted on her right cheek and held up her index finger. She smiled the smile of carefree youth.

"We've been best friends our whole lives." She grinned fondly. "We were practically inseparable until I went away to college."

Jack pointed at the mystery girl. "I'm sorry, what's her name again?"

"Miranda."

Jack nodded. "And she's your sister-in-law now. She's married… Bobby?"

She chuckled, "Very good."

"And they own the pecan ranch," Jack glanced back down at the invitation. "Which, coincidentally, the reception is being held at."

Harper smiled and petted Jack's arm condescendingly, "You were paying attention when I told you about my family…."

"Ha-ha."

"So… the wedding's not for another month or so." She sat up, spying him cautiously. He looked over the invitation again and nodded with a grunt. To Harper's irritation he gave no hint to his mindset. "The election will be over."

Jack's posture stiffened. He wanted to meet her family. She spoke of them with such high regard, how could he not? It was just bound to complicate things. Families always do. Things were so good with them right now. Simple. Uncomplicated. He studied the framed photo of Harper and her friends and smiled. "What were you like back then?"

"Silly." Jack eyed her bluntly. Harper sighed and fell forward onto her elbows. "Headstrong. Opinionated. Cute to a fault." She smirked up at him, "Not much different than I am now."

His eyes smiled through his glare as he reached over and tugged on her earlobe playfully.

"Just think about." She slid the invitation's envelope onto the frame he was still holding. "They did, after all, invite you."

Jack examined the ivory envelope embossed with their names. It'd been awhile since his name was coupled with woman's. Surprisingly, he liked it. After his last divorce he'd given up on the idea of a lasting relationship. And now he couldn't imagine his life with out Harper in it. He rose and planted a light kiss on her temple. "We'll see," he said as he headed towards the bathroom.

'We'll see.' a placating answer. Not a yes, not a no. She turned onto her side to follow him with her eyes. "Well don't put yourself out, McCoy." She mumbled so Jack wouldn't hear her. She didn't want to start a fight, not tonight. She wanted to hold onto what was left of her diminishing good mood.

Harper sat in the bed reading when Jack returned to the other room. He approached the situation cautiously knowing his non-committal might have angered her. He quietly slid under the white sheets and multi-colored quilt. "So I was thinking," he stared up at her from his pillow, "how about we celebrate your win this weekend?"

She looked down at him fully prepared to rebuff any suggestion. His dark eyes twinkled up at her and any resolve she had melted. "And how do you suggest we do that?"

"Well, I happen to have a very neglected ketch in Oyster Bay. We could leave Friday night come back Sunday. It's still pretty cool out there this time of year, but that can be nice…" He stealthily slid his hand onto her thigh and squeezed.

"You have a sailboat?"

He nodded. He studied her face as is hand slowly traveled in between her warm legs. "I think you'd like it."

Harper pursed her lips together and pretended indecision. She took off her glasses, put away her book, and slipped deeper under the sheets, closer to Jack's warm body. She kissed him, savoring his taste and scent. She pulled away, smiled impishly, and retreated to her side of the bed. With her back to him she laid in wait.

Jack instinctively followed. Delighted in the game, he moved her hair aside and began feathering the back of her neck with light kisses. Harper quickly turned onto her back to allow him more access. Her breath caught in her throat as his fingertips slid across her stomach under her tank top.

"Will you teach me sail?" she said trying hard to sound in control.

His kisses stopped on her collarbone and nuzzled her jaw line. "Is that a yes?"

She pulled her head away causing him to look up at her. She smiled devilishly and ran her leg in between his. "We'll see."

A/N: Just Like Heaven by Robert Smith, Simon Gallup, Laurence Tolhurst, Boris Bransby-Williams, and PorlThompson.