Deadly Assets

Version 1/?

A/N: Thanks to Helen for her kind reviews and for this prompt. What might have happened after Jessica throws Seth a surprise party?

Jessica hung up the phone, a thoughtful frown on her face. Nothing had been the same since Seth's surprise birthday party. She knew he'd been hurt, had known it that night. She'd given him a few days to collect himself, but he was staying away. At least from her. And then she'd had to go to New York.

Had to? thought Jessica wryly. It had been a welcome diversion from the chilly atmosphere in Cabot Cove. Even Loretta's ladies weren't as friendly as before, and Beverly was positively frosty. It wasn't like Jessica to make such a careless mistake.

She'd tried to apologize, tried to convey the meaning behind her gift, but she only ended up making things worse. She sighed and hugged herself. She'd have to make things right, but how?

Seth tossed and turned in his bed until he finally glanced at the clock. 3 AM. He sat up and tossed his sheets to the side, then reached for his robe. He could at least go downstairs and get a little work done. He stood, pulled on his robe, then desultorily straightened his bed covers. What did it matter how neat or tidy he was? Who was ever up here to see it?

He ambled downstairs and flipped on the light switch in his office, then busied himself brewing a pot of coffee. He glanced at the painting. Paintings, he thought bitterly. "And a lighthouse, to boot." No imagination, no thoughtfulness, no caring. He had to face the facts, the sooner the better. "She doesn't love you, man. She never will. Get your head out of the clouds!" Walking to his desk, he picked up his mug and carried it to the sink, furiously scrubbing yesterday's coffee stains out of it. "You're a fool, Seth Hazlitt. A plain fool. After 70 years on this earth, too." He sighed bitterly as he dried the cup and waited for the coffee to finish brewing.

He'd had a stilted, unpleasant conversation with Jessica last night. He wished she would just leave him alone. She had a new life now, even more glamorous and exciting than when he'd first known her, grown close to her. What could tempt her about Cabot Cove? About him? "Nothing," he said. "Nothing at all." It had been ten years that they'd known each other, and eight of those they'd been close. Not as close as he wanted, no sir, but he knew she cared for him. Loved him, even, in her way. In her way, he thought. That had been his excuse, all this time. He'd let himself stay tethered to her, missing any opportunities for a fuller life, a life with a partner. A romantic partner. "You're making me sick, Hazlitt." Well, said that silky inner voice. That's what you want, isn't it? With Jessica? Romance? Intimacy?

"It's what I want," said Seth softly as he reached for the coffee pot and poured himself a cup. It's like that song Margie used to play over and over and over till he thought it would drive him mad. You can't always get what you want.

He shuffled over to his desk and sat heavily, putting down his coffee cup and pulling today's files toward him. Another long day loomed ahead of him. Best get started.

"Jessica, you haven't been listening to a word I've said."

Jessica looked up, surprised and rueful. She put her hands out to the younger woman. "Olga, I'm sorry. You're right. I'm…I've been preoccupied."

"Well, that's obvious, Jessica. What's got you so out of sorts?"

"I'm not out of sorts," said Jessica automatically. Olga simply leaned back into the chair and stared cooly at Jessica. She was, Jessica had to admit, very good at that sort of thing. "It's Seth."

Olga leaned forward quickly. "Seth? What's wrong?" Seth was a particular favorite of hers.

"I…I made a mistake."

"A mistake? That's not like you," said Olga, puzzled.

"It was his birthday."

Olga smiled. "Yes, I know. Vaughn and I sent him a copy of Gray's Anatomy. A first edition," she added needlessly.

"That's a handsome gift," said Jessica, feeling worse by the minute.

Olga shrugged. "We like him. What did you get him?" She looked eagerly at Jessica. Jessica was thoughtful, intuitive. Her gifts were almost legendary.

"A painting," said Jess.

"That sounds nice. Of what?"

"A lighthouse."

"A lighthouse?" Olga was perplexed. She knew Jessica cared for Seth, and she suspected she loved him. It had been many years, though, and nothing had changed between them. Pity, she thought. The doctor was so intelligent, so kind under that irascible exterior. His heart was strong and good. Jessica, she thought, had been very foolish.

"A lighthouse," said Jessica sadly. "And what's worse…" She trailed off.

"Yes?"

"Mort gave him the same painting. Almost," she corrected at the look Olga was giving her.

"Oh, Jessica," said Olga.

"I know," agreed Jessica miserably.

"What are you going to do?"

"I don't know. He won't talk to me."

I imagine so! thought Olga. "You must do something."

"Why?" asked Jessica, a note of alarm creeping into her voice.

"Because you love him," said Olga calmly. "He loves you, too."

"Olga, we're very dear friends—"

"Dear friends my eye," scoffed Olga. "I've seen the way you two look at each other. For heaven's sake, you're not getting any younger!" She laughed at the miffed look on Jessica's face, then sobered. "What are you afraid of?" she asked quietly.

"I'm not afraid!"

"Then what's stopping you?"

"I like my life!"

"And you wouldn't like Seth to be a part of it?"

"He is a part of it?"

"A more intimate part?"

"Olga, please."

"What? We're friends, Jessica. Good friends, yes?" Jessica nodded. "And good friends tell each other the truth, even when it hurts. Even when your friend might get mad and tell you to….to…stuff it!"

Jessica laughed in spite of herself, then she sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose. "I don't know what to do, Olga," she said softly.

"I do! Invite him here for the weekend."

"I can't do that!"

"Why not? You've done it a million times!"

"But this is…it would be…"

"Different? By God, I hope so!" said Olga fervently.

"What if I…what if he…"

"Jessica," said Olga firmly. "That man loves you. He loves you," she said fervently, leaning forward. "He loves you, and you love him." Olga waited until Jessica raised her eyes to hers. "You do," she said. "I've known that for the longest time. And so, I suspect, have you." Jessica hugged herself, and Olga almost felt sorry at having pushed her so far. Almost. Olga rose suddenly and marched to the cordless phone, taking it from its base and marching it back to Jessica. She thrust it in Jessica's face. "Call him."

"What? I can't?"

"You can, Jessica." Olga waited for a moment. "You can call him, or I will. The choice is yours."

Jessica gave her an evil look, then reluctantly took the phone. She glared as she used the speed dial to connect to Seth.

Speed dial, mouthed Olga.

Jessica stuck out her tongue, then spoke hastily. "Seth? It's Jessica."

Olga tapped her toes as she listened to their conversation, smiling when it became clear that Seth had accepted Jessica's invitation to visit her in New York the following weekend. She smiled serenely at Jessica as she disconnected the call.

"Happy?" asked Jessica acidly.

"Supremely," said Olga. "Need help planning your activities?"

"I'll let you know," said Jessica drily.

"That's all I ask," said Olga in a poor attempt to mask her excitement.

Seth called later that week to let Jessica know the details of his arrival. Friday at 4, Jessica repeated to herself, as if she could forget. Olga had her flustered and no mistake. What would happen between them? What could happen?

She checked the guest room. Everything was in order, of course. Seth had been the last guest she'd entertained. She felt herself flush. "Oh for heaven's sake," she said and gave the pillows on the spare bed a vigorous plumping. Good thing she'd turned over the final galleys to the editors. She hadn't the concentration for anything but this weekend, and Seth.

Seth smiled at Jessica across the table that was now littered with Chinese take-out boxes. "Thanks, Jess. You know how much I love that Chinese restaurant." She flushed, and Seth was completely charmed.

"You're welcome, Seth. I wanted to do something special for you." She paused for a long moment, then she looked up at him. "I wanted to make up for…"

"Wait, Jess." Jessica looked at him expectantly. "I wanted to apologize. I appreciated your gift."

"And Mort's?" asked Jessica drily.

"Your gift," said Seth firmly. "You don't have anything to make up for."

"But that's not true," said Jessica. Seth raised his eyebrows and Jessica sat back in her chair, flustered. "That's not true," she said quietly and reached across the table for his hand. Seth stilled, moving only to turn his hand up in hers. "I've treated you abominably, Seth." He began to protest, but Jessica shook her head. "Please. Let me finish. I've taken everything you gave me, and I gave you nothing in return. Maybe not nothing," she added hastily. "But not what you wanted. Correct?" Seth nodded. "Not what I wanted, either." She couldn't help the laughter that bubbled out of her as she saw Seth's eyebrows disappear into his hairline. She smiled as she felt his hand tighten around hers.

"Are you serious, Jess?"

Jesica nodded. "I am."

"Is that why you invited me down this weekend?" Jessica nodded. "What did you want to happen?"

"I'm not sure, exactly."

"Are you saying what I think you're saying?"

"What do you think I'm saying?"

"Jessica, please."

She squeezed his hand in hers. "I'm saying I love you. I'm in love with you. And I've kept you close, but not too close, all these years. I'm saying I'm sorry. And I love you."

Seth felt tears spring to his eyes. He watched as Jessica got up, still holding tight to his hand, and came to stand beside him. She nudged his knee, and he scooted his chair back. She sat in his lap, dropping his hand so she could put her arms around his neck. He stared into her eyes, so deep and blue, and held his breath as she leaned closer to him.

"Seth? I'm going to kiss you now." She looked deeply into his eyes, then leaned in to brush his lips lightly with hers. She tried to draw back, but Seth gathered her more closely in his arms and kissed her as passionately as she'd been kissed in many a year. His hands smoothed across her back and hips, and she felt herself warming at his touch.

Seth broke their kiss and touched his forehead to hers. "This is what I've dreamt of for so long, Jess. Are you sure? Are you sure this is what you want?"

"I'm sure," she whispered. "I'm sure, my darling. I love you."

"I love you, Jessica," he said brokenly.

They sat together, trading soft kisses and caressing one another in the waning light. "Seth?"

"Hmm?" He was busy placing warm kisses along her neck and jaw.

"I don't want to be apart from you any longer."

Seth stopped kissing her and looked into her eyes. "What do you mean, Jess?"

She put her lips against his ear. "I want to be as close as two people can be. I want to make love with you, Seth. I want to make love with you tonight, and I don't ever want to be separated again."

"You want to be together?" Jessica nodded. "Married?"

"If you like. It really doesn't matter to me, Seth. I couldn't love you more if we were married. And Seth," she said, gently catching his jaw with her hand. "I've wasted enough time with you. I don't want to waste a minute more."

Seth stared at her for a moment, cataloging her lovely features. He never wanted to forget this moment. Here he'd been thinking she thought of him in terms of that painting: solitary, aloof. He'd been wrong. So had she, to be fair, but that mattered less to him. Not at all, if he were being honest. After a long moment, he kissed her as thoroughly and lovingly as all of his imaginings. "Whatever you wish, Jessica," he said when he drew apart from her. "I'm yours, completely."

She smiled, kissed him once more on the lips, then rose, gracefully, and extended a hand to him. He took it silently, and they made their way to her bedroom. Their bedroom, thought Seth. They'd never be apart again. Not if he could help it.

A/N: I hope you enjoy reading this as much as I enjoyed writing it. Thank you.