Broken Pieces Author: Sarah E. Grauvogl Email: grauvose@muohio.edu Rating: PG Author's Notes: This is (finally) a continuation of the fic, “Daddy Nick and Mommy Lulu” started by Rosiiii and I toward the end of TG Season 2 in May of 2003. Taking into consideration what happened in the show’s season finale “All the Rage”, some events are still included (the parking lot beating, James’ demise, Lulu’s job offer in Berkeley) but the original story thread from “Daddy Nick…” stays the same in regards to the very much unplanned pregnancy and the turbulent nature of the Nick/Lulu relationship. The characters and TG are not mine, but the story as it unfolds from this point on are. The parking lot dialogue is almost entirely taken from “All the Rage.” What I intend to do is spin the story in a different direction, taking TG into an ‘alternate universe’ from what we saw in the arc of episodes preceding “All the Rage” and Season Three. Where we left off: Most of the story is still accessible at the Gillybear site, but the last installment can be found on the Nick & Lulu Yahoo! Page and at A Room for Nick. In summary… After Lulu told Nick she loved him, a speechless Nick left her house. The next morning, she had a meeting with the board to discuss her position at LSP, post board room sex incident with Nick that Alvin reported (hoping to get her shipped out to Berkeley, to open the door for James to step into her job) She left a message for Nick on his phone, but he gets it a bit late. He goes to find her at LSP, only to hear that she has chosen to take the rest of the afternoon off. Alvin tells Nick the board wants her to stay, as James (due to his involvement with Taliek) will be unable to assume her work. Alvin, however, is ambivalent. Undeterred, Nick goes to Lulu's house. There, he runs into Caroline who is waiting there for a realtor and prospective buyer. She makes it clear to Nick that Lulu has already made up her mind, in terms of what she will do about him, Berkeley, and the baby that she is carrying. Caroline also blurts that Lulu is at an appointment, which Nick fears is to end the pregnancy. He waits there for a while, knowing that the center in Berkeley is going to call to get Lulu's decision about the job. Though he doesn't know what he will say, he wants to 'talk' to Lulu. The call from Berkeley comes, and Caroline advises them to try Lulu on her cell or at the office. Believing he has already overstayed his welcome, Nick leaves. Meanwhile, Lulu is at her appointment with Dr. Sutura, who advises her that she should be perfectly capable of delivering a healthy baby at term. Though Dr. Horowitz said the pregnancy could be strenuous so soon after the accident, Dr. Sutura thinks a worst case scenario for her would be being put on bed rest for the duration. However, he tells her if she was considering termination for other reasons, the choice is hers. Even with the "better" news from the doctor, Lulu can't shake Nick's reaction to her the night before, when she told him how she felt about him. This, along with how he reacted to her first mentions of Berkeley (this bit is from the actual show, where Nick was basically mute and did ask her not to leave, or to reconsider, or to try and discuss their own future) have led Lulu to believe that it is really "over" between them, and if she wants this baby, she is on her own. Though she thinks he might be ready for parenthood, she knows that he's not after a serious commitment with her. Late as usual, Nick shows up to his court-appointed psychiatrist appointment, as part of his rage therapy (remember, from the show, he was given these appointments after throwing the cell phone in court). He is as unwilling to speak as ever. Once the doctor finally does get him to at least answer a few questions, Nick surprisingly admits that what he felt for a certain someone must have been love, but its over. When the doctor tries to get more personal, and get Nick to really discuss his hesitations, Nick's mind switches to thoughts of his mother -- and how hard it was to lose her love. Bothered, he leaves his appointment early. On his way out, he sadly relives the final moments with his Mom and how she told him she loved him just before she died. In his mind, Nick associated loving with leaving, and makes himself accept that Lulu will do the same. As she hasn't heard back from Nick, Lulu tries to call him again -- her decision made. Lulu finds herself on the bridge, the one where she often stood with Nick not far from LSP. She leaves a message, making it clear that hurting him was not her intent but she knows that she has. She tells him her apology would be so much easier if she didn't feel like it was goodbye. This picks up about two hours later… ** Archer Residence, 4:48 pm Pulling up her silver Jaguar coupe to the curb, Caroline Novak parked her car behind her daughter’s. While she wasn’t surprised to find her home, she was half-expecting to find someone else there as well. Maybe not. She retrieved a few shopping bags from the backseat and a bouquet of flowers, hoping to brighten the mood inside. After sounding the alarm, Caroline took a deep breath and started walking up to the house, not quite sure what to anticipate. At the door, she didn’t bother to knock. She still had her keys; the realtor had given them back to her that afternoon. The deal was a go. She let herself in. The house was lit, but quiet, except for a few sounds coming from the upstairs. “Dear, I’m back…” Caroline called up the stairway as she took of her jacket, shaking off the last bits of the fresh spring rain. “I thought we might get a bite to eat, to celebrate…” Looking around the living room, she found boxes. Lots of them. Empty boxes waiting to be filled. Part of her was happy for her daughter, to receive such an esteemed position. The other part knew exactly what she was doing, fleeing from a less than agreeable situation instead of trying to make it work. It was a logical decision, one that she herself would’ve probably made in the same predicament. Of course, as the old saying goes, the grass is always greener on the other side. Or in this case, on the other coast. “There’s nothing to celebrate, Mom…” Lulu finally answered, still out of her mother’s view. Sighing deeply as she walked into the living room, she waited a moment to reply. “I beg to differ, Louisa, I think a new job in a new place is rather exciting.” Caroline walked past the boxes toward the cabinet, the one were the liquor was kept. /She won’t be needing this any more, I might as well, /Caroline reasoned as she poured the vodka into the shaker. With a half-filled box in her arms, Lulu came down the stairs, “actually, I need to start packing.” “So you’ve made your decision? You won’t change your mind?” Caroline glanced up from her half-made drink, “Nick didn’t talk to you?” “No, I haven’t heard from him all day,” Lulu bit down on her lower lip, feeling a bit unnerved by her mother’s question. “Why?” With her martini in hand, Caroline made her way toward the couch, “no reason, I just thought you two were supposed to go out tonight, with his father and that, that girl…” “Shannon?” Lulu assumed. Nick hadn’t brought it up again since the day he asked if she’d join them. Maybe it’s because he really didn’t want to go. Between the pregnancy, the board and Berkeley, an awkward night between the Fallin men was the last thing on her mind. “Yes, that’s her – though I’d tell you, a man his age has no business looking after a teenager,” Caroline took a long, comforting sip of her martini, “but you’re not going?” Setting her box down, Lulu sat down in the chair across from her mother, her body feeling as if it was ready to give out. “No, it’s probably for the best…” she stopped herself there, feeling she owed her mother no explanations. “Is that your opinion, or his?” Caroline’s eyes widened, “the way he was talking this afternoon…” “You spoke to him?” Lulu swallowed hard, “when?” “When he dropped by this afternoon, to see you I’d suspect…” Caroline looked toward her daughter, her eyes sympathetic, “I’d just thought he’d try and get a hold of you, seemed like there was something he wanted to say...” A bit suspicious, Lulu turned the tables, “what did you tell him?” “About what?” Caroline asked innocently, “was there something I wasn’t supposed to say?” “Mother, I just want to know…” Lulu took a deep breath, “not that it makes much difference now…” “I told him that your decisions had been made,” she returned bluntly, “I told him you had an appointment… or were trying to get one, at least…” At that moment, Lulu’s heart dropped, “did he ask for what?” “You just said this wouldn’t make a difference,” Caroline took another sip of her martini, her form of liquid confidence, “so why put yourself through this? You made your decision, now see it through…” Stung, Lulu hesitantly wiped her eyes, “right.” Noting her daughter’s reaction, Caroline got up from the couch and went to her. She loosely draped her arm over her shoulders, “maybe I was wrong? Okay? Maybe I put too much into our conversation.” She pulled Lulu a bit closer, “you said what you needed to, now it’s his turn. If he doesn’t… well… you know that the decisions you made were for yourself, and sometimes that’s all you can rely on…” ** Legal Services of Pittsburgh, 5:25 PM Impatient, Nick stared at the doors as he waited for them to open. The elevator seemed to get slower each day. He knew there’d be work waiting, that Alvin would want to talk to him. That James would need those reference numbers for the backed up cases. That Larry would need a consult for a former client. None of that mattered. Not now. As soon as the doors opened, Nick emerged. He quickly scanned the bullpen, hoping to see her there. Instead, what he found, was a busy room without a familiar face in sight. “Nick!” Alvin shouted from his office, “come here a minute!” “Where’s Lulu?” Nick demanded. He glanced toward her office. The lights were off, the door was shut. With a stack of manila files in hand, James quickly passed Nick, “she’s not here, board says she can stay… she and Alvin have to work it out.” “She’s not back yet?” He checked his watch, it had at been a few hours, at least, since she had her appointment. Alvin told him earlier that she had asked for some time. He thought she’d be back. This wasn’t like her. Not at all. ‘Had she really done it?’ he asked himself, ‘why else would she need the time off?’ No. Nick didn’t want to consider something so final. “No, but until she gets back, you can take a couple of these…” James handed Nick two of the files, “whether its her or a replacement, these next few weeks are going to be heavy.” “Right,” Nick took a quick glimpse at the files, and headed toward Alvin’s office. Disregarding the partially closed door, he walked in. “What the hell is going on?” Nick stammered. Chuffing, Alvin looked at the young, blonde boy seated across from him and pointed toward Nick, “Patrick Anderson, this is your lawyer. Mr. Fallin…” “Alvin, I don’t have time to take a case right now…” Nick nervously rubbed the back of his nape, “I’m just here to…” “Court, Mr. Fallin, you have to be there in twenty minutes…” Alvin slid Patrick’s folder across his desk. “Read up on your way in.” ** Archer Residence, 6:05 PM As she came into her daughter’s bedroom, the fabric caught her eye. It wasn’t something she’d have picked out herself, not for Lulu, but then again – she was hardly a fair judge of her daughter’s taste in clothing, much less in men. Knocking lightly on the door, Caroline stepped into the room, her martini finished and her composure regained since their last round. “Mom,” Lulu folded the newspaper and placed it down beside her on the bed, “I thought you were going to head out?” Ignoring her daughter’s question, she picked up the dress from the end of the bed. Black and well cut, Caroline looked it over, “were you planning to wear this tonight?” “I thought about it…” Lulu glanced at her selection, “why? Not appropriate?” She prepared herself for whatever blow her mother might try to deal. It never failed; her mother had a real way with words. She knew how to kick her when she was down. “No, it’s fine… I’m just surprised, that’s all…” Caroline set the dress back down and fingered the tag, “for an event you didn’t want to go to, you seemed rather, well… looking forward to it…” With nothing to hide, Lulu nodded, “maybe I thought it would be a reprieve…” “Is that really what you were looking for?” she took another step into the room, and sat down on the edge of the bed, “or a chance to be seen, to set the record straight?” “You’ve always told me what people perceive doesn’t change how things really are,” Lulu returned quietly, “what difference would it make now?” Hesitating a minute, Caroline cleared her throat, “image is big with the Fallins, this I know…” “So I’ve heard,” Lulu looked to her, unnerved by the emotional direction their conversation threatened to take. “There’s a need to make things right…” “And you’ve taken it upon yourself to do that,” Caroline interrupted, “wanting to do what you think is right, what you think is best, for all of you… I know it may seem that Nick’s proposal was rather convenient, perhaps it was just an offer but…” Something inside told Lulu she didn’t want to know. “But what?” “But,” she started, “there were good intentions behind it. He helped get you into this mess and if Burton taught his son anything besides the ways of the law, it was…” “Do you really think it would work?” Lulu asked flatly. On the spot, Caroline didn’t quite know what to say. For once her own experience didn’t overlap her daughters. This was unfamiliar territory for them both. Her dark eyes glanced toward Lulu, “the mother in me would like to tell you yes, you’d be fine…you might even be happy… but the realist, the nearly thrice divorced woman that I am… I’d… I’d have my doubts…” ** Legal Services of Pittsburgh, 6:35 PM Things had been coming too fast. This much James knew. He wasn’t that lucky. He never was. When he talked to Alvin about the job, about moving up into Lulu’s position, it was just too good to be true. The boards’ decision to keep Lulu at the clinic meant the writing was on the wall for him. Some things just couldn’t be overcome. His past was one of them. Expecting the worst, he knocked on Alvin’s door. “You wanted to see me?” “C’mon in, James, take a seat…” Alvin looked up from the stack of paperwork before him and motioned James inside. By now he knew that the police had all the evidence they needed for the assault on Taliek. This was a talk they needed to have, Alvin felt it was his duty as both a mentor, and a friend. It was only a matter of time. James would be gone. So would Lulu. Nick too, eventually. “So I’m out…” James stammered, before Alvin could begin, “because of what I did…” “Not because of what you did in the past,” Alvin corrected, “but because of Taliek and your involvement with his assault…” Contemplative but not quite remorseful, James looked around the room. “Against prison time, I’ve spent the past few years doing a whole lot of hard work for nothing…” “I wouldn’t say that…” he hesitated, not wanting to abruptly end their conversation if James’ was willing to talk. Alvin started again, “it’s the decisions we make, under duress aren’t always…” “I would say that, because you know it won’t get any better than this,” James returned, the anger clear in his voice, “because of this I won’t ever get ahead.” Sympathetic, Alvin got up from his chair and moved towards him, trying to convince himself not to pry. “It’s the system, James, you know that as well as I do…” “Well, the system didn’t do a damn thing for me and my nephew…” James swallowed hard, his eyes threatening to tear, “I did it for him, for my family…” “I know why you did it, and that’s why you have to stay in the system when you get out, to try and change it, to try and make a difference…” Alvin took a deep breath, “how do you think I’ve lasted so damn long? You think I’m happy with the hand life has dealt me?” “This is your place, Alvin, your work…” he glanced down at the floor, his pride getting the better of him. “I don’t even know why I bother sometimes…” James mumbled. Grabbing his jacket from the back of his chair, Alvin moved back toward the door. Even if it wasn’t clear to James, it was clear to him. The time was now. He had to strike while the iron was hot, while James was willing and vulnerable. If James wouldn’t go alone, he’d go with. Reaching for his keys, Alvin looked back at James, “tell you what, why don’t we take this discussion elsewhere? I think a little air will do us both some good…” “Nah, you go ahead, I gotta get some things done ‘round here…” James got up from his chair, “I gotta go down to the station tomorrow…” “You really want to wait?” Alvin’s heart skipped. It was a big step to come forward, but the decision to wait could mean he was going to back down. Too ashamed to bring others into his situation, James nodded, “don’t worry about me, Alvin…” “Till tomorrow then…” he said with a sincere smile. Alvin put on his hat and walked through the bullpen. “I’ll make sure to show Larry how to lock up…” James called out, remembering that his new colleague was there still as well. Waiting for the elevator, Alvin nodded in response. As the doors opened, he slipped inside. ** Heinz Hall Parking Garage, 7:32 pm While his son was never talkative, he didn’t expect him to be like this. Since he picked him up, Nick was unusually tense and quiet. Nothing could penetrate his dark mood. Burton assumed it had something to do with their plans changing, the fact that Lulu wasn’t along, that things weren’t resolved yet between them. He thought Nick might be relieved that Shannon couldn’t make it. To that, he didn’t even comment. Glancing toward Nick, Burton forced himself to smile,* *“too bad Lulu couldn't make it this evening…” *“*Well, you know, you just missed a spot back there,” Nick replied, agitated. He ignored his father’s comment about Lulu – wanting to put it out of his head. He didn’t know where she was, or what she had decided. All he knew was what Caroline had told him. Maybe it was better that way. Instead of trying to back track, Burton waved it off, “there'll be another one.” “Just back up and take that spot,” Nick stammered, eager to get out of the car. Turning his head slightly, Burton chided him, “there'll be another one, son, just wait…” Tense, Nick stared out the window, “you know, Dad, uh… you know, sometimes maybe we should… we should talk.” “About what?” Burton, needless to say, was caught off guard by his son’s request. “Uh, just… I don't know.” Nick glanced at his father quickly and back out the window. The moment he tried to have, it was gone. “Ah, there we go,” Burton announced, pleased as he watched a late model Mercedes pull out of a nearby spot. Seemingly out of nowhere, a car pulled sped around the corner and took the spot he had been eying. “What the hell? Did you see that?” Burton stammered, his cheeks reddening as he shifted the car into park. Distracted by his own thoughts, Nick hadn’t really been paying attention. “Yeah.” Lowering his window, Burton stuck his head out, yelling, “Excuse me! You took my place.” He waited for the driver to get out of the car, “Hello!” Not in the mood for a scene, Nick unfastened his seatbelt and reached over to his father. He touched his hand to his tense shoulder, “Dad.” “You took my place!” Burton bellowed. “Dad, just let it go…” Nick tentatively grabbed his father’s arm, “let it go.” In spite of his son’s urgings, Burton angrily got out of the car. “Dad.” Nick waited a minute, to see what his Dad would do. Something told him this wasn’t going to be a conversation… at least not a pleasant one. Without hesitation, Burton approached the driver. He held out his index finger and pointed, as if he were accusing a child, “excuse me. Excuse me. You took my place.” Preparing himself for the worst, Nick got out of the car, leaving the passenger door open behind him. “What are you talking about?” the other driver returned, rather snidely. “Dad…” Nick stayed a few steps behind his father. “Well, I was waiting here for this spot…” Burton explained, in a very matter of fact tone. With his hand on his father’s shoulder, Nick tried to talk him down, “just let it go. It's a parking spot.” “It’s not the spot, Nicholas! It’s the principle!” Burton snapped, pulling himself away, his angry eyes pointed toward the man standing before him. “Well, it's gone…” the man returned defiantly as he bluntly shoved Burton. “Hey!” Burton composed himself quickly, shaking it off. “What the hell you think you’re doing?” Stepping forward, Nick put himself in a position to intervene, “hey, man…. listen…” Before the driver could answer, Burton shoved him back. Nick watched in a combination of horror and pride, as his own rage began to set in... ** Pittsburgh Police Department, 7:48 pm The phone rang. Again. ID said the number was from Heinz Hall. There was a symphony there tonight. His wife had wanted to go. “Det. Darger speaking…” he answered, waiting, impatiently for the details. He quickly jotted down notes, and read them back. “Right. Parking lot assault. White male victim, late thirties, is being transported to Allegheny County Hospital for urgent medical care. Two suspects. White males, one early to mid thirties, the other late sixties early seventies. Did you get anything else?” Darger waited, again. “Right. Squads are after that plate already. I’m on my way down.” Taking a sip from his steaming coffee, Det. Darger hung up the phone and looked out of his office, “McPherson, what are you still doing here?” “Paperwork, I wanted to get ahead…” Kim angled herself behind the filing cabinet, still not yet re-accustomed to her awkward condition. Det. Darger got up from his chair and came out into the bullpen, “I hate to ask for any more favors, but can you leave tomorrow’s cases on my desk? I gotta check this scene out, apparently two guys had a little rage therapy over in the parking garage of Heinz Hall…” “At Heinz Hall?” Kim asked, incredulously. Her eyes self-consciously fell over her body, as they tended to do whenever anyone looked at her these days. “Exactly what I was thinking, apparently the symphony wasn’t relaxing enough…too bad all that money can’t by them some class…” Darger chuffed, “security has two of their squads on them already, be bringing ‘em in. They didn’t get far…” Finished, Kim shut the filing cabinet and stepped aside, “how is the victim?” “Not good, kicked him right in the chest – punctured his lung,” Darger grimaced, “there will be plenty of details tomorrow, nothing pretty I’d imagine. Just make sure Doris gets those cases to copy before you leave.” It went without saying that was Darger’s way of telling her to go home. Since she had been taken off the beat, desk duty and the secretarial routine were all she knew. Sometimes she missed the action, but she new it was safer at the station. “Did you get those updates in?” Darger asked, still searching for his keys so he too could leave. “Yeah, those were entered into CrimeTech yesterday,” Kim grabbed her jacket from the back of the chair, and pulled it on. She quickly glanced over the files covering the top of her desk, “should I leave these for Doris or is this something to keep me busy over vacation?” Otherwise distracted, Darger did not answer, “see you in three weeks, McPherson…” ** Heinz Hall, 7:53 PM The closer they got, the louder the siren became. There was no mistake. The squads were after them. Someone saw them. There’d be no getting off this time. Instinct told him to hit the gas and floor it, but Nick knew better. He had trouble enough. “Nicholas, Nicholas…” Burton’s heart raced as Nick pulled the car over to the far right side of the road, the flashing lights behind them. ** To be continued…