***DOINK!DOINK!***

Chapter Nine: Closed Cases and Chemistry

The Manhattan District Attorney's Office

One Hogan Place Centre Street

Manhattan, New York

Monday February 1

Connie entered Jack's office.

"Good morning!" she said kindly.

"Good morning!" Jack returned good-naturedly. "How are the appeals going?"

"Well, we're trying to get through them as efficiently as possible," Connie replied. "And I have to say—the interns have been very helpful to us."

"Oh good!" said Jack.

"Well, it may be tedious, but I could care less," Connie replied. "We're doing the right thing calling into question all of Woll's convictions. Who knows how many of them he obtained because he had someone killed?"

"You're damn right," Jack approved. "That's the spirit I want to see around here. You are absolutely right, Connie."

"Thanks, Jack," Connie said with an appreciative smile.

She then sighed.

"I still can't believe that son-of-a-bitch," she then said of Marcus Woll. "I wonder how he got through law school? Cheating? Probably. He probably cheated his way through the Bar exam, as well. He's a fake. He's a complete fake. Everything about him is either tainted or a lie. I worked as hard as I could to get where I am. I never cheated, and I certainly never killed anyone."

She shook her head.

"Mike would never do any of that," she said softly.

After a pause, she looked up at Jack, who had one eyebrow raised.

He was fighting the temptation to smile.

"And neither would you," Connie added quickly. "You definitely wouldn't do that…"

There came another pause.

Then—

"Well—on that note, I'd better get to work," Connie said awkwardly.

"How's the Carlisle case been going?" Jack then asked her, still looking like he wanted to smile.

Connie then told Jack all about her and Mike's meeting with Fletcher and Chapman at Rikers.

"So you're still waiting to hear back from Fletcher's attorney?" said Jack.

"Right," said Connie.

"Bonnie Chapman," Jack said.

"Is a piece of work?" offered a male voice Connie knew by heart.

She turned to see Mike standing in Jack's doorway. She smiled at him, and when he smiled at her, she really hoped she wasn't blushing.

"Actually, yes," said Jack. "But according to Connie, the two of you handled her well."

"I'd like to think we did," said Mike. "Anyway, I didn't mean to interrupt if you two were having a conversation," he added to Connie.

"No, it's all right," Connie said kindly. "Jack now knows we're waiting to hear from Chapman."

"Okay, great!" said Mike.

"We'll keep you posted," Connie said to Jack.

"Great," Jack said, no longer able to keep from smiling.

Connie couldn't look at him as she and Mike left his office for Mike's.

Once they were there—

"By the way—good morning," Mike said sweetly.

"Good morning," Connie returned warmly.

"I, um—I went and got us coffee," Mike said, going over to his desk where two drinks from Starbucks rested in a drink carrier.

"I got my favorite," he said, "and—" he added, removing from the carrier the drink labeled 'grande, nonfat, raspberry mocha' and handing it to her, "your favorite."

Connie gave him the smile she saved just for him as she took her drink.

"Thank you, Mike," she said warmly.

"You're welcome," Mike said sweetly, his heart pounding as she smiled at him.

They looked at each other for a moment.

Then—

Connie did something she'd never done before and reached up and rested her free hand against his face.

Mike then gently rested his hands on the sides of her face and leaned in closer to her so that his forehead touched hers.

Connie closed her eyes, relishing his close proximity.

Mike really wanted to kiss her.

He was just making the move, when suddenly, his Blackberry started ringing.

Son-of-a-bitch, he thought, as the two of them were forced to end their moment.

Connie had opened her eyes and drawn back from him.

"I'd better get that," Mike said quietly.

"Yeah," Connie said softly, just as disappointed as he was.

Mike went over to his desk and took the call.

"Michael Cutter…All right, good. We'll get the paperwork to you before the end of the workday, and we'll be in touch about the allocution…Goodbye," he said.

"What's up?" Connie said.

"That was Chapman. Fletcher's taking our deal," Mike said, sounding pleased.

"Oh good!" Connie said.

"Yeah!"

"So…I was thinking more trial prep for the Roderick case," said Connie, "and then some work on the appeals. How about you? That sound good or…?"

"Yeah, I agree," Mike said. "But I was also thinking something else…"

"What's that?" Connie asked.

"I—I was wondering, if you aren't busy this Saturday, maybe you'd like to have coffee with me. We could just talk—and not about work, just…whatever you want…if you want to…" Mike said, his blue eyes alight with hope.

Connie melted. The way he spoke, his expression, and the look in his eyes were so endearing to her.

She smiled.

"I would love to, Mike," she said.

Mike couldn't believe what he was hearing.

"Really?" he asked.

"Yeah!" Connie said, her smile broadening.

Mike smiled, his dimples on full display.

"We'll talk more about it after work, okay?" Connie said.

"Okay, yeah," said Mike.

They looked at each other for a moment.

"Well—guess we'd better go update Jack, then," Connie said, trying without luck to keep from smiling.

"Yeah," Mike agreed, also unable to suppress a smile.

They exchanged glances one more time, and then walked to Jack's office together.