BORROWING TROUBLE Author: Eileen Thomson Email: indigotoast@yahoo.com Rating: PG Summary: A July Nicfic Challenge story, using the words bohemian, duchess and leech Author's Notes: As ever this would be barely readable without the assistance of Suzanne and Linda. A big thank you for all their help and encouragement --+-- Melissa is lying in the grass waiting to see if Nick will turn up. She lifts her head and spies him is the distance. So distinctive. Walking with the grace of a catwalk model, he meanders over to her. He is wearing jeans and a dark tan shirt; a dark cream colored sweater thrown over his shoulders. He has on silver toed cowboy boots, and a song by James Taylor runs through her mind. "There was a young cowboy who lived on the range." Smiling she lifts herself up on her elbows and pulls her feet in. "Duchess! Duchy, come to me," Nick calls to the dog. Nick sits down cross legged in front of Melissa and takes her feet on his lap. He kisses her toes and the inside of her foot, then trail his tongue to the inside of her knee. Nick gazes into her eyes. "Why did Judge Stanton buy you the dog?" "Nick. Sometimes you open your mouth and a cluster bomb falls out," she gasps. "That is not an easy question to answer." "Simple question. Simple answer." "I'll try," she speaks hesitantly. I was on cocaine when I joined the club. I am good at my job, but the strain of being good was running me into the ground. Once I joined I became paranoid... remember that feeling? I thought Judge Stanton was following me, I thought he was out to get me in some way, and I just got crazier as time went by. I was in the club one night, when Judge Harnett from Baltimore was here, and he sat me down and quizzed me, till everything was out in the open. Within three days my workload had been cut to a minimum, and I was in a drug programme. Judge Stanton came to the club the following night with Duchess. He told me how valuable I was to them and how he would always be there for me. That I was his responsibility, and he took on that role gladly. He told me that same night, that the club needed me." She pauses and gives the handsome attorney a knowing look. "You know Nick, I can hardly remember having sex with Judge Stanton. Nick leans forward and kisses her gently on the nose. "I promise you when *we* make love you will remember it!" Melissa puts her hand on his head and pushes him gently away. "Fair enough," she says thickly. She looks at Nick and instinctively knows that something is not right. She shimmies forward till she is close to his crossed legs and puts her legs over his till her feet rest at his waist. "Tell me what is worrying you." "How many times does the club meet?" "It's open all the time. We have a room in the Serendipity Club downtown. There is even a scrambled phone to use for getting in touch with other clubs." "I thought that women were discouraged from going there. The last bastion of male dominance." Nick said. "That's how they get round the law. Our room is just off the front foyer, so there are women in the club!" "Will you come to the club with me tonight?" "Yes!" "Melissa, please don't tell anyone I am going, I just want a quiet look round" Melissa mentally raises her eyebrows. Such modesty, she thinks, he doesn't even realize that everywhere he goes people notice him. She feels the now familiar rush of heat through her body and sighs. ------- As they enter the club room, conversation peters out slowly .Nick looks uncomfortable, but visibly straightens himself and walks over to where Judge Tilson is working. She doesn't lift her eyes, she just states, "Here comes Trouble." She stands and comes round the table and hugs Nick, putting her arms round his and pinning his arms to his sides. When she pulls back her eyes are moist. "The only man to make me cry," she says softly. "Sit please, Nick. Melissa, sit… and welcome." Nick sits down next to the judge. After an uncomfortable pause in the conversation, he speaks. "I'm here but there are some things I want to say. One I notice I'm the youngest here, I will not be the stud muffin that brings in more women Two. I am on probation, I will not do anything to jeopardize that. Three… Something funny?" Judge Tilson is shaking with laughter. "Stud muffin! Nick really." Nick looks across the room and asks, "Why is Durkin here?" "He does jobs for us. Protection for our lawyers when they need it. He will be going with you to get Buck Durst. He is up in Meadville." "Buck Durst? Who is that? That name means nothing to me." "It's the Willow case. Nick, it's falling apart. The prosecution has made so many blunders that it's beginning to look like the Willows will be freed. We can't allow that to happen. Buck Durst is the only one who can testily for the prosecution." "Why don't they just go and get him then?" Nick shrugs "Because they don't know he exists. Only the defense knows and they can't tell." "And you found out. How?" "Don't ask. But the defense did not tell us." "My foot's barely back in the door of the club, and I don't think my father will be happy for me to wander off on a trip at this time." "Don't take bets on that," Judge Tilson murmurs quietly. The next morning Judge Tilson is at the office of Fallin & Fallin and can hear Burton and Nick fighting, as is their usual way to start the day. Burton is saying, "This is not the time to be holding back— be forceful, the merger has to go through." They both look up in surprise as the Judge enters un-announced. Pleasantries are exchanged. Then the judge says, "I need to borrow Nick." "What?" "Prometheus! I need to borrow Trouble," Judge Tilson barks Nick paces in front of the desk his eyes focused on something inside himself, then he claps his hands. "Prometheus, Stole fire from the Zeus and gave it to man. He was chained to a rock for eternity and had his liver eaten out by an eagle every sunrise. Dear God, dad. The eternal sufferer. Who stuck you with that?" Nick asks laughing hard. "I did. Judge Tilson looks at the younger lawyer, seeing his mind going into overdrive, responds coldly. "No Nick, I named him, I did not recruit him" Nick has the good grace to blush at his own thoughts. ------ Two hours later and Durkin and Nick are well on their way to Meadville. "Have you got a gun?" asks Nick "Yes." "You never offered me a gun. Knowing he is not allowed one, but trying to get some response from the man." "You are here to talk him to death. If that doesn't work I'll shoot him. Okay?" "You don't like me, do you?" "I don't have to, Hey, you can't charm everybody." Nick nods thoughtfully." Tell me about your gun." Durkin glances at Nick and begins to explain Later Nick leans forward and puts a CD of Nirvana into the player and sits and plays air guitar. Durkin Sits and seethes. ---------------- Nick talks quietly to Buck. He tries to make him understand what they need him to do, but it feels that Buck is just too slow witted to understand what is being asked of him. "What are those," Nick asks. "Pointing to the jar, filled with water and wriggling black worm like creatures." "Leeches, trying to bleed my poor dog better. He is surely sick." "Do you like living way out here?" Nick tries again to engage the man in some kind of conversation. "Got me a real Bo-hem-ian life here," he says. Nick goes to fetch Durkin. "I don't think we should try to take him back to Pittsburg, I think he's too unstable. I've seen that look before." "In the mirror Fallin. That where you saw it? Just get him in the car however you can and let the Judge make the big decisions." Nick goes back and sits across from Buck, deep in thought. Running his hand through his curls, he wonders what they could offer this man to come testify. He rubs his eyes, trying to come to a decision. Peeking through his fingers, he sees the burns on Bucks arms for the first time. "Buck, the people who did that to you are in court and we want you to come and tell the judge what they did. If you come we will get a vet to look at your dog and make it better." "Don't got no money for the vet," he slurs. "We will pay the vet I promise." Nick goes to Durkin and tells him that their witness is coming with them and will take his own car and follow them because his dog likes to be out in his own car. ------------- Back in Pittsburg, Nick make his way to Melissa's house. "Let's go out for dinner, I need to get the country air out of my lungs." After dinner, they sit in the car and talk for a long time. Nick says, "I have to go now," "Come inside Nick," she says invitingly. He looks at her with twinkling eyes. "If I come in, I won't leave." "Come in and I won't let you leave!" Melissa whispers. They walk together to the bedroom. Slowly they undress each other. Touching and kissing, reveling in the feel of soft skin and gentle caresses. Nick holds Melissa to his body and she feels his hardness against her stomach, he kisses her neck, face and lips with tender abandon. Melissa "I..I .. think you are the best thing to ever happen to me, I want to stay in this moment. I don't want anything to change." Melissa feels his moist eyes on her face and leads him gently the bed. "Love me Nick, and keep that moment forever." The sound of the wind and rain, sputtering against the window, will evermore be linked with the desire Nick feels here and now. Nick makes love to her tenderly, slowly, bringing them both to climax. He knows he will never again confuse true love with lust. Afterward, Melissa lies in his arms, feeling so loved, and in love, her body heavy with sated desire. She feels herself drift toward sleep. "Sleep on the wings of angels Nick," she whispers. Nick smiles at the thought. Just as he is falling into the soft darkness of sleep, the icy finger of fear runs down his spine. Nothing is ever this perfect. Something will go wrong. *Why didn't I tell her I loved her, instead of saying the `best thing?* Laden with this troubling notion, Nick falls into a deep sleep. ------------- Nick meets Judge Tilson the next day at court. "How is he doing?" "Not great, but he is holding his own, I think you were right, he is unstable. Just don't let us do the poor man any more damage." When he sees the judge later, he again asks after Buck. "Oh Nick, they are tearing him apart and the jury are in tears. I don't think the Willows will win, but I fear we have done a terrible thing to Buck. He looks like he has lost some part of himself. What a price to pay to get rid of that kind of vermin." When the closing statements have been made the Judge allows the jury to leave for the hotel. Nick is relieved it is all over for Buck, and means to see him before Durkin takes him back to his car. He comes to the stairs of the court and sees Melissa standing waiting. Hands full of her usual paraphernalia, coffee, and a box of files. "Let me take those for you." He leans forward and kisses her softly and passionately on the mouth. "Nick, everyone will see you," she laughs At the sound of the first shot, Nick spins round to face the street. Everything goes into slow motion. One bullet and Durkin is on the ground, and two policemen are running for Buck. Two bullets and Nick feels the pain as the bullet goes through the box into his side, he starts to spin and sees people running to get away from the gunfire. Three bullets and Nick screams. He takes his hand from his side and looks down through his fingers to see the blood dripping from them onto the step, and the coffee beaker bouncing slowly down, spilling its contents onto the stairs. The conversation drifts into his mind with perfect clarity. "Tell me about your gun." Durkin answers, "I always keep two ordinary rounds at the top but hollow points after that. If I have to shoot more than twice I want stopping power. If it hits your knee then you will lose a leg, if it hits your body you're going to die, and if you take a head or heart shot you die between breaths." Nick slowly spins till he is facing Melissa She is propped up on the wall, her chest covered in blood. He falls to his knees beside her, and through his ragged breath and tears, he sobs her name. His torment is infinite and he reaches out to touch her face and leaves a bloody fingerprint on her cheek. "I love you Melissa, I love you." he murmurs over and over The End