Farewell, My Lovely

Author: Janet E. Dillon 
 
Email: jdillon@mail.win.org
 
Rating: G

Summary: None (I don't want to ruin the surprise). ;-)

Author's Notes: 1) I wrote this one just for fun. 2) With apologies to
Raymond Chandler for the use of the title.

Author's Disclaimer: This is a work of fiction. Any resemblance of a
character in this story to any person living or dead is purely
coincidental. Likewise, any resemblance between an organization depicted
in this story and any such actual organization is purely coincidental.



 

A Wednesday in May or June of 2003

Nick Fallin and Lulu Archer had been examining a case file in Lulu's office
at LSP. As Nick turned to go, Lulu spoke. "Nick?"

"Hmm?"

With a mild note of complaint in her voice, she asked, "Are we going to see
each other tonight?"

Nick exhaled a breath, and frowned slightly. "I don't think so, Lulu.
I've got a lot of work to catch up on."

But, Nick," she said, moving closer and placing a hand on his lapel, "we
haven't seen each other outside work in almost a week."

"I know."

"Well," she said hesitantly, "is something wrong? I mean do you--"

"Nothing's wrong. I've just got a lot on my mind right now. I need some
time to myself."

Lulu's face took on a quizzical look of concern, "'A lot on your mind'? Is
it, is it something to do with us?"

Nick shook his head abruptly, "No, no, it's not that."

"What is it then?"

"It's...it's personal, Lulu, nothing that need concern you."

Nick moved to get around Lulu and exit the office, but she stopped him with
a hand on his arm.

"But, Nick, we're in a relationship now. If something's bothering you, I
want to help."

Nick stared at her for a moment, then shook his head, and said simply, "You
can't." Realizing that there was nothing else to say, Lulu dropped his
arm, and Nick left the room.

As Nick walked back to the offices of Fallin and Fallin his mind turned
over the question of what to do about Lulu. He really did care for her,
and the sex had been great, but already he was getting that familiar
feeling of wanting to move on. The problem was that she wanted more from
him than he could give, and he was starting to feel smothered. Lulu wanted
to spend all their free time together, and worse than that, she wanted him
to "share his feelings", to let her into what was going on inside his head.
And that was something he just couldn't do. It wasn't in his makeup. He
couldn't be one of those men that shared his innermost thoughts and
feelings with his significant other. When you got right down to it, he was
a loner, had always been a loner. It wasn't for nothing that his friends
in college had called him "love 'em and leave 'em Fallin" .

But Nick had hoped that with Lulu it would be different. He really did
have deep feelings for her. He had wanted her like crazy even before she'd
married Brian. When she did marry him, Nick had decided he had to just
move on. And he had. He'd started seeing Kim, and they had been having a
good time together, but then Lulu had let him know that she didn't really
love Brian--had never loved him. That was more than enough for Nick to get
his hopes up all over again. Maybe, just maybe, she could still be his.
Then had come Lulu's separation from Brian and her booking of a "place" for
her and Nick to go after Barbara's wedding. Unfortunately, that tryst had
ended before it ever began. Fate--and the car accident--had intervened.
Nick felt a shiver run up his spine. He had come so close to losing Lulu
then. When he considered how he had felt facing that prospect, a part of
him couldn't understand how he could even be contemplating breaking up with
her now. But the fantasy of loving Lulu was not the same as the reality.
In reality, she made demands upon him that he just couldn't meet.

Nick sighed heavily and unconsciously slowed his pace. The problem was
that he just couldn't walk away from Lulu as he had so many other girls in
his past. He would still have to see her everyday at LSP. He knew she
would be hurt by his breaking off the relationship, and he would face a
cold shoulder from her--if not worse--for some time to come. But
eventually she would get over it. Women always did.

Then again, Nick thought, maybe there was another way. Maybe he could just
tell Lulu that he wanted to scale back the relationship, make it more of a
casual thing. Nick considered that for a moment, or two, and then
dismissed it. No, Lulu wasn't the kind of girl to go in for a casual
affair. She was all hearts and flowers. She wanted a husband and a home
and some kids. There was nothing for it. He'd just have to make it a
clean break, put up with whatever grief rained down on his head as a
result. With the decision made at last, Nick quickened his step, his mind
already turning to the work that awaited him at F & F.

The End