True North
By Jaclyn Parker

"Women do not know all their powers of flirtation."
-François de la Rochefoucauld
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"So the results are fine?" Jack asked, just to be on the safe side. They all now sat in Lee's small but comfortable office, staring at the light board that held Carly's CT scans. Carly and Jack sat in the office chairs with Sage situated on Carly's lap, Parker and J.J. had claimed the nearby couch, while Lee hovered on the edge of his desk.

"The scan showed no bruising on the brain or any clots. Other than that wrist and what I'm sure is now a pounding headache, you are just fine." Lee said, directing his answer to Carly. "Your wrist really is a minor sprain, no fracturing at all, so it only needs to be wrapped for a couple of weeks. After that, there are mild therapeutic exercises that you can do at home and you're in the clear."

"Great!" She said and gently slid Sage off her lap to stand up. "Then can I go home now?"

"Free to go!" Lee said and for a very brief, unprofessional moment he wished there was something that she did need to stay for.

"Okay, well, it's freezing out so I'll pull the car around and meet you guys out front." Jack said and Carly nodded, allowing him to help her into her coat. Shaking Lee's hand and thanking him again, Jack left the office.

"Yes, thank you for everything." Carly said, reaching out to shake Lee's hand herself. She blushed when Lee held it a moment longer than necessary and began to busy herself with Sage's coat to hide it.

"Good luck with your Camaro." Parker said and J.J. nodded. The envy on their faces gave Lee an idea.

He looked at Carly and then at Parker and J.J., a twinkle suddenly in his eye. "Well, you know, I could always use some help with fixing her up on the weekends. Sometimes even after school."

"Really?" J.J. said and Lee nodded.

"In fact, why don't you guys come over tomorrow afternoon to take a look at her?" Lee said and despite their outwardly cool teenaged exterior, their eyes lit up. Then he added, "On one condition."

"What's that?" Parker asked, his eyes narrowing.

"That you let me take your mom out to dinner tomorrow night." Lee said and he suppressed a grin at the gasp of disbelief that came from Carly's direction.

"Let me get this straight. To go on a date with me you are bribing with my two teenaged sons with a vintage muscle car?" She asked, in amazement.

"Um, yep, looks like it." Lee said, unapologetically and turned his attention back to Parker and J.J, both of whom were trying to hide grins. They looked at each other and then Parker nodded.

"Deal."

"Excuse me!" Carly cried her hands going to her hips, sprained wrist and all, and her facial expression incredulous.

"Mom, you gotta admit. It's a pretty sweet car." J.J. said and at the sight of their mom's eyes widening both boys started laughing.

"What about me? I don't like building cars!" Sage piped up, her eyes narrowing like her older brother's had a moment ago.

"Well, Luv, I guess I'll just have to let you ride Spanky any time you want. You can start tomorrow too!" Lee said and Sage's frown became a grin especially at the increase of Lee's Australian accent.

"Deal!" Sage said triumphantly.

"Wait, just a minute! Sage, you already have a birthday party to go to tomorrow, remember? Not only that but you can ride whenever you want over at the farm." Carly said, trying to appeal to her daughter.

"Yeah, but he said any time not just tomorrow. And none of the horses at the farm are named Sir Spanky of the North!" Sage said and joined her brothers in their peals of laughter.

"I can't believe this! Sold like a prize at auction for a broken down car and a horse with a gender crisis!" Carly said and began to shoo her brood to the door. "Well, I'm sorry to disappoint you all but I have to work tomorrow after dropping Sage at the party. So I can't be running back and forth all over the place."

"Well, if you just drop Parker and J.J. off before you go to work then I can drive them home when I come pick you up for our date. We'll even stop to pick up something for them to eat dinner, that way you don't have to cook and can just concentrate on getting ready." Lee said, as if it made the most sense in the world. Carly looked at him like he had two heads, biting her lip to keep from smiling.

"You're crazy." Carly retorted and again motioned for them to leave.

"So I'll pick you up at 7?" Lee asked, just before they slipped out the door.

"Oh, I don't think so!" Carly said and before Lee could say anything, they were gone.

His smile faded as he stood staring at his office door and then turned to take Carly's CT scans off of the light board. At the sound of the door opening again, he whirled around to see her poke her head in and look at him.

"Make it 7:30, bring Chinese, and flowers couldn't hurt." Carly said quirking an eyebrow at him. "Oh and Lee?"

He looked at her, waiting.

"You'd better be driving 'Eleanor'."

The smile Lee wore when the door closed again could have lit up an entire city block.