Flashpoint AUTHOR: Shirley E-mail: sgoates2607@charter.net RATING: NC-17 (Sexual Content) CONTEXT: This piece does not relate directly to any Guardian episode or any other FanFic I have posted. This is my idea of a possible scenario given certain events. DISCLAIMER: Some of the characters portrayed herein are taken directly from "The Guardian" - CBS TV Series. Others are strictly figments of my imagination. The resemblance to any person(s) living or dead is purely coincidental. This is a work of FICTION. ~~~~~~ As Nick rode the elevator to Legal Services he thought to himself that it had been a couple of months now since the wedding and he had actually come to terms with it. He had been able to get back to work with Lulu almost as if nothing had happened, with the exception of an occasional flare-up of temper from Lulu. He didn't really know where that was coming from. She would just suddenly engage him in an argument for no apparent reason. He just chalked it up to "women". Alvin caught him just as he was getting off the elevator. "Nick, will you come into my office for a minute?" Nick followed him obediently. "Nick, I want you to represent Jason Ames in a custody case." Standing just inside the door, Nick asked, "You wanna tell me about it?" "Yeah, take a seat, Nick," Alvin pointed to the chair. Nick did as he was told. "Jason is the biological father of 4 year old Todd. Jason and Jill, the mother, were 16 when Todd was born. They never married. Todd has been living with his mother since he was born. Social Services is now seeking to terminate the mother's parental rights because of reports of repeated abuse and neglect. Jason wants to win custody of his son. For the last 6 months the child's mother has been living in an abusive relationship with a man by the name of Denny Davis. The mother says that Davis is responsible for the reported abuses of her son. She wants to retain custody and has promised to end the relationship with Davis. Lulu is going to be handling her case." Alvin picked up the file from his desk and handed it to Nick. "The hearing's on Wednesday." "How do I get in touch with the kid?" Nick asked. "It's all in the file." Nick shrugged and left the room. He flipped the file open and was glancing over the information when he noticed Lulu out of the corner of his eye. He walked over to her saying, "Alvin gave me the Jason Ames custody case." She turned to glare at him and said, defensively, "You know, Nick, the child should stay with the mother. She has kicked her boyfriend out and she's the logical choice. A child should be with its mother," she said, her jaw set and her eyes unflinching. Nick raised his eyebrows at her stubborn stand. Quietly and without emotion, he said, "Well, I haven't talked to my client yet. I guess I'll see you in court." ~~~//~~~ Jason was a slight lad, about 20 years old. His clothes were a little worn around the edges but clean. He sat nervously across the table from Nick in the conference room. "So you want to get custody of your son?" Although he was nearly 20, he looked much younger. Nick didn't see any way in hell this kid was going to sway a judge to give him custody of a 4 year old boy. "Yes, sir," he said, emphatically. Nick raised his eyebrows at the kid's resolve. "Do you have a job?" Nick was looking through the file as he questioned his client. "Yes, sir. I'm working on a construction crew. Bates Construction. Building houses." "Oh, how long have you been with them?" "I guess about 6 months." "And before that?" Nick continued to scan the file. "I worked on the loading dock at Tiffin Trucking, about a year I guess." "Where do you live?" Nick asked, watching as the boy fidgeted and squirmed, looking for the right answers. "I got a little apartment just off 2nd Avenue & Oak." Nick knew the neighborhood. It was old and rundown but so far it hadn't been infiltrated by bad elements. "What makes you think you can be the best parent for your son?" "Ah…Mr. Fallin. Well, ah…you see, ah…I know I don't have no fancy education or nothing, but, I love my son and I would do anything to be with him." "How did your son's mother get custody of him to begin with? Wasn't she very young?" Nick knew, in most cases like this where a child's parents were underage, the child was put up for adoption. "Jill was living with her parents when Todd was born, so the courts gave her custody under the supervision of her parents. Jill has always tried to keep him away from me but while she was still living with her parents, they usually arranged to let me see him once in awhile. Since she moved out of their house, I haven't been able to see Todd that much." He nervously ducked his head and continued. "Oh, I'm sure she loves him, but…" He seemed reluctant to talk too negatively about his child's mother. "Well, I just think I'd be better for Todd." The boy sounded sincere. "I'd like to come by and see your place, if that's okay?" "Okay. When?" "How about I drop by, say around 7:00 tonight?" "Okay." The interview was over. Nick stood and offered his hand. Jason shook hands and said, "Thanks, Mr. Fallin." He managed a weak smile. ~~~//~~~ The neighborhood was much like Nick remembered; not the best, but it could be worse. He drove slowly looking for the address. He pulled up in front of an old house which had been converted into four apartment units. Jason lived in the right front unit. A three foot high chain link fence surrounded the property. The house could use a coat of paint but the yard was free of trash and debris. He made his way up the walk and onto the concrete porch. Inside the main entry door he found Jason's apartment immediately to his right. He knocked. Jason opened the door promptly. "Hi, Mr. Fallin. Come in." He stepped back. The apartment was small and, at least outwardly, it appeared clean and neat. In the living room there was a loveseat and an easy chair, each covered with a sheet which had been tucked in for a neat appearance. There was a small coffee table and one end table with a small lamp. A 19" TV sat on a TV stand in the corner. "Here, sit here," Jason motioned to the easy chair. "You want a coke or can I fix some coffee?" "No, I'm fine, Jason." Nick remained standing. You could see the small kitchen from the living room. "Oh, I guess you want to take a look at the place," Jason suddenly remembered the reason for Nick's visit. Nick nodded. Jason led the way to the kitchen. Nick noticed the counters were clean and clutter-free. The refrigerator had several pictures of a small boy stuck to it with magnets. He assumed the boy was Todd. "And, here's the bathroom." It contained a small sink and vanity, a toilet and tub; no shower. Jason continued down a short hallway to the bedrooms. In the smaller bedroom was a small single bed, chest and night stand. Nick also noticed a toy chest sitting at the foot of the bed. The bed was neatly made. There were framed snapshots of Todd around the room. The master bedroom held a double bed, dresser and two night stands. It, too, was neatly made up. Nick was surprised at the total lack of clutter. "It's nice," Nick said, glancing at Jason. Jason smiled. "Okay, Jason," Nick said, as they returned to the living room. "The hearing's on Wednesday at 9:30. I'll meet you outside Courtroom 201." "Do you think I have a chance?" Nick paused a moment then looked at Jason and said, "The courts usually respect the wishes of the mother, in most cases. We'll just have to see what happens." In the car, Nick turned on the dome light and made a few notations in the file about the neighborhood. ~~~//~~~ At the courthouse, the next day, Nick ran into Laurie. "Laurie, wait up." He called. She turned and said, "Oh, hi, Nick." "Is Social Services going to get a chance to check out Jason Ames' apartment before Wednesday's hearing?" "I think it's scheduled for later this afternoon," she said. "Good. Good. I really want this kid to get his son." "Well, you know, Nick, Social Services is going to advocate for foster care until an adoption can be arranged. Jason is a young, single man who knows nothing about raising a child." "Since when do you have to have prior experience to raise your own child? He wants to be with his son and I'm going to do everything I can to help him get his wish." Nick turned and stalked off. ~~~//~~~ It was Wednesday in Judge Damzen's courtroom. Judge Damzen stated, "Mrs. Olsen. You represent Jill Lowder." Lulu stood to address the Judge. "That's right, Your Honor." "And what are your client's wishes, Mrs. Olsen?" "Jill Lowder has corrected the abusive situation at her home and she wants to retain custody of her child." "What was the abusive situation, Mrs. Olsen?" Judge Damzen asked. "Her last boyfriend, Denny Davis, was responsible for the abuses reported to Social Services. He is no longer living with Ms. Lowder." "Mr. Fallin, your client is Jason Ames, the child's biological father?" "Yes, Your Honor. My client has been concerned, for a long time, for the safety of his child. Mr. Ames has a good job and a home which is acceptable to Social Services. He just wants the chance to be a real father to his son." "Ms. Solt, what is Social Services' position?" "Judge Damzen, I know Ms. Lowder has stated she is no longer living with Denny Davis but what is to prevent her from taking in another man with the same results? And, though we appreciate Mr. Ames' desire to be with his son, we don't think a child this young can be properly cared for by a single man. Social Services believes the best thing for this child, at this time, is foster care, pending adoption." Judge Damzen considered each side and finally said, "I'm not prepared at this time to terminate the parental rights of Ms. Lowder. She has rectified the abusive situation at her home and we cannot automatically assume that she will allow it to happen again." Judge Damzen pounded the gavel and said, "Petition denied." Lulu grinned as she cast a sidelong glance at Nick. She rose and hurriedly left the courtroom, followed closely by her client, Jill Lowder. Nick looked at Jason, sitting dejectedly beside him. "I'm sorry," he said. The boy bowed his head. Nick started to leave then glanced back at the boy, still sitting at the table. He thought about going back to comfort him but he really didn't know what he could say. ~~~//~~~ The following Monday, Nick was in the conference room with Lulu discussing a case. Alvin knocked and entered with a glum expression. Both Lulu and Nick waited for him to speak. "Laurie just called. Todd Lowder was taken to Children's Hospital early this morning in serious condition." Nick and Lulu spoke in unison. "What happened?" "It seems he had an "accident" at home." Alvin clearly believed it was more than that. "Which one of you wants to go to the hospital and check on him?" They both chimed in together. "I'll go." "Why don't you both go and let me know what you find out." ~~~//~~~ On the way to the hospital, Nick drove in silence. He was angry that the system, designed to help the most helpless, had failed again. And, he was angry with Lulu, even though he knew she had only done her job, which was to represent her client. Lulu sat quietly wondering if she could have done more. When they arrived at the hospital they found Jill Lowder there with Denny Davis. She was crying. Lulu approached them and asked, "What happened, Jill?" She scowled at Denny Davis and back at Jill. Davis piped up with, "The kid fell. He's always falling." "Is that what really happened?" Lulu directed her question to Jill. It was apparent that Denny Davis was still a part of Jill's life. Nick saw a policeman talking with one of the doctors. He walked over to the officer and introduced himself. "What happened to the boy?" he asked. The officer looked at the doctor and the doctor answered, "He has a broken arm, multiple bruises and severe internal injuries consistent with a beating." The officer added, "This is not the first time this child has been here for injuries related to child abuse. He will be placed in the care of Social Services when he is well enough to leave the hospital. I'll be taking that man into custody," he said, pointing at Denny Davis. Nick and Lulu watched as the officer handcuffed Denny Davis and started escorting him to the door. Jill Lowder was crying hysterically and grasping at Denny. The officer finally said, "Miss, you're gonna have to let me take him in. If you want, you can make arrangements to see him later at the jail." ~~~//~~~ It had been a quiet ride back to Legal Services. As they stepped off the elevator, Lulu turned to Nick and said, "You blame me, don't you? Go ahead and say it. It's all my fault." Lulu's voice was getting louder and louder. Nick scowled as he stopped in his tracks and looked at her. She stalked off towards her office. Over her shoulder she said, derisively, "You….. you, with all the right answers." Nick hurried to catch up with her and instinctively grabbed her arm, spinning her around to face him. "Wait a minute. When did I blame you?" His voice was forceful. His teeth clenched. At this moment, Brian emerged from Alvin's office and saw his wife in a confrontation with Nick. Lulu jerked her arm away from Nick and barked, "Don't you touch me." She turned and stormed off to her office. "Lulu," Nick called after her. He glanced around to see people in the office staring at him. They had witnessed the whole thing. Only then did he see Brian standing nearby. Brian walked up to him and said, threateningly, "Nick, you had better stay away from my wife. I mean it." Nick pursed his lips and bowed his head. Everyone in the office was watching. Alvin had been standing outside his office, a stunned look on his face. He now walked towards them. "Nick," he said. Nick just looked at him and, without a word, turned and started for the elevator. Alvin glanced at Brian. Brian turned and walked to Lulu's office. Nick disappeared into the elevator as Alvin looked on. ~~~//~~~ Nick was glad to be home. It had been another bitch of a day. And that fight today in the office with Lulu; where had that come from? Lulu was becoming more and more irritable and rather unpleasant to be around. It was 8:30. He had a few things he wanted to look over and then he was going to make it an early night. He checked the answering machine for messages, then ran up the stairs two at a time. In his bedroom, he flipped on the desk lamp and laid his briefcase on the desk. He shed his "uniform" and, padding over to his dresser, he pulled out a pair of jeans and slipped them on easily over his narrow hips. He didn't bother to add a belt, letting them ride naturally just below his waist. He found a light-weight blue long-sleeved sweater and pulled it over his head. He ran his fingers through his hair and slipped his feet into a pair of black loafers he found in his closet. Without turning the foyer light on, he started downstairs to the kitchen for something to drink when the doorbell sounded. He peered through the peephole and opened the door. Lulu stood in the darkened doorway. "What are you doing here?" he asked, in surprise, remembering the scene earlier at Legal Services. "Nick, can I come in?" She managed a shy smile. Without a word, Nick walked away from the door leaving it wide open. From the shadows of the living room, illuminated only by the moonlight, he turned to face her just as she closed the door behind her. He put his hands on his hips waiting for an explanation. She remained standing in the foyer. "Nick, I just wanted to apologize for today." "What's wrong with the phone service?" he asked, contemptuously. "You didn't have to come here. You could have called." "Uh, well, I…I, uh, worked late tonight and was on my way home when I got to thinking about what I'd said to you. I was really angry at myself for…well, for letting Jill lie to me like she did about Denny, and …." "Is your husband sitting out front with a gun?" Nick snapped, facetiously. "No," she said, surprised by the audacity and tone of Nick's question. "He's working until 11:00 tonight." Lulu stepped down into the living room and stopped. "I don't think he would approve of your being here tonight. It might be a good idea for you to leave. You've said your apologies." Nick had calmed down a little and these last remarks were less hostile. He put his hands down to his side and walked over to the window. He stared out the window, without seeing; his back to her. Lulu had started to speak again. He turned to face her. She was standing there in the moonlight wearing a slim skirt with a white v- necked sweater. He wanted so desperately to take her in his arms. He wasn't hearing what she was saying. Instead he watched how her head bobbed when she talked; how her hair fell over her eyes and how she kept pushing it back behind her ears. Nick was remembering the kiss they had shared not that many weeks ago before Lulu had eloped with Brian. He was certain, at the time, that she had responded to his kiss but then came the announcement of the elopement. He was brought back to the moment when he heard his name called. "Nick?" She was waiting for a response but he hadn't heard what she said. "What?" he asked, sharply. "I was just saying that you've seemed a little angry with me lately." Nick shrugged his shoulders. "Angry?" he just shook his head. "Surprised maybe. I remember a kiss…" he found it hard to talk about it now. "I thought we made a connection." He couldn't keep the pain from his eyes. He moved away from the window, closing the gap between them. "Nick, I already told you that was a mistake. I thought you understood that." Lulu was getting aggravated. "I made a mistake," she repeated, as though trying to convince herself. "Wait a minute." Nick pointed his finger at her. "You mean, you felt nothing at all?" "I was curious….." she started saying. She looked away. Nick interrupted her, and in exasperation said, "Why do you torment me?" He put his hands on his head. "Torment you? What do you mean, torment you?" Nick covered the distance between them in three long strides. "This is what I mean," he said, grabbing Lulu roughly, kissing her on the mouth, passionately. Lulu struggled to get out of his grasp. He pressed his body against her and felt a shiver go up his spine. Lulu was trying to push him away but he continued to kiss her on the face and neck. "Nick, no, Nick, please." Nick grabbed a handful of her hair and gently pulled her head back and kissed her hard on the mouth. "You must get great pleasure out of teasing me," he said, slightly out of breath from the struggle. He swept her off her feet. He had waited long enough. She was kicking to get free but Nick held her firmly. He carried her up thestairs. In the bedroom, he stood her down by the bed. While he held her tightly with one arm he threw back the covers with the other. He shoved Lulu roughly onto the bed and, kicking his shoes off, he lay down beside her. She continued to struggle to get up. He put a leg over hers to pin her to the bed. His swelling manhood was pressing into her thigh. Lulu began to pummel him. He grabbed her arms and pinned them above her head. He ran his free hand up her thigh and pushed up her skirt, still pinning her arms with the other. He roughly pried her legs apart with his leg and moved in between them. Now he was lying on top of her and she continued to struggle. "You know you want this as much as I do." Nick panted. He tried to kiss her. Lulu moved her head from side to side trying to avoid his kisses. Suddenly she lay completely still, sobbing quietly, with her eyes tightly closed. After she quit struggling, Nick continued to kiss her but, getting no response, he stopped. Finally, he rolled off her and stood beside the bed. He took her hand and pulled her to a standing position. Still breathing heavily, he turned his back to her and said, "Go, just go." He crossed his arms over his chest and bowed his head. Lulu wiped her face, straightened her hair and her clothes and started slowly towards the door. She turned back to look at Nick, standing dejectedly, with his back to her. Softly she said, "Nick…" He raised his hand to stop her. She was being dismissed. Nick listened for the front door. When he heard it close he walked to the window and, from the shadows, he peered out and watched as Lulu drove slowly away. He sat on the edge of the bed with his head in his hands. There was no way he could explain his behavior tonight. To get his mind off the events of the evening, he immersed himself in paperwork. It was after midnight when he finally fell into bed and mercifully to sleep. ~~~//~~~ On the drive home, Lulu couldn't get Nick off her mind. It had been stupid to go to his house. She couldn't rationalize her actions. And then Nick had been so angry with her. At first, she had wanted him to touch her. To feel, again, the way she felt when he had kissed her weeks ago. Well, he had touched her. He had really frightened her. Even so, she had almost given in, but then she thought of Brian. Lulu had already gone to bed when Brian got home. She lay quietly listening, feigning sleep, while he got undressed for bed. As he got into bed, he reached out to touch her. He kissed her on the neck and shoulders and started to remove her gown when she said, "Brian. Not tonight. I'm really tired. I'm sorry." She didn't turn to look at him. It had been several days since Brian had wanted to make love. She held her breath for a moment and he finally turned away. She wrapped her arms around her pillow and closed her eyes tightly, but a single tear escaped. It had become increasingly evident to her that she had feelings for Nick that she had denied far too long. And tonight, she couldn't get him out of her mind. Without a word, Brian rolled over and dozed off to sleep. When she was sure he was fast asleep, Lulu eased out of bed and went to the bedroom window. For a long time, she gazed out at the night sky thinking about what might have been. ~~~//~~~ "Nick, can I see you in my office?" It was Alvin. Nick entered the office and stood next to the door. "Shut the door, Nick, and have a seat." He quietly shut the door and sat down, with head bowed, waiting for Alvin's chastisement for his actions of yesterday. When Alvin didn't speak immediately, Nick blurted out, "I don't know what got into me yesterday, Alvin. I shouldn't have acted the way I did." "You don't have to apologize, Nick. Lulu has already apologized saying it was all her fault. The reason I asked you in here is I wanted to see if you will take up Jason Ames' case again, now that the mother's rights will surely be terminated?" "What?" Nick couldn't believe his ears. Lulu had apologized? She had been really angry at him. He shook his head trying to make sense of it. She ran hot and cold. "The Ames boy. I think Judge Damzen might reconsider the boy's petition in light of what happened yesterday. Will you handle it for him?" He had finally heard Alvin and said, "Sure." He stood up to leave the office, still in somewhat of a daze. As he left Alvin's office, Lulu was getting off the elevator. She noticed Nick and called to him across the office. "Nick, do you have a minute?" Nick's back stiffened. He wasn't relishing this conversation but he nodded and followed her to her office. He had practically raped Lulu last night and he really felt like a heel this morning. He left the door standing open. She seated herself behind the desk. "Nick, can you close the door?" He shut the door and remained standing with his back up against it. "Would you like to sit down, Nick?" "I'll stand," he said curtly. He stood with his brow furrowed. Lulu was looking at her hands, folded in front of her. Finally Nick started to speak. "Lulu, I…" Lulu held up her hand to stop him. "I thought a lot about what you said last night. About my tormenting you." Lulu looked at him nervously. He stood motionless, trying desperately not to betray his emotions. "I didn't have an honorable reason for being at your house last night. And for that I want to apologize. I probably deserved what I got." "Honorable?" Nick asked. Lulu got up and walked to the tiny window. She pretended to look out but was trying to figure out a way to say what she wanted to say. "That's right. I have to admit, Nick," she said as she turned to face him, "that in some ways I'm attracted to you." Nick's gaze locked onto hers. After a moment, he licked his lips and averted his eyes. "No matter what your reasons were for coming, I should never have acted the way I did. And for that I am sorry." He looked back at her wanting vindication for his actions. "I know that's not fair to you or Brian," she said, ignoring his attempt at an apology. "I've mucked up my life and I don't see any way out." She bowed her head and whispered, "I wanted you last night, Nick, but I was afraid." Their eyes met. It was Nick who was the first to look away. He didn't know what to say. His heart was soaring. Could it be that Lulu was having second thoughts about her marriage to Brian? Finally, he said, "Lulu, if you're that unhappy with Brian you should do something about it. You're worried about `fair'. How is keeping up your charade fair to him; or to you, for that matter?" He took a step towards her, pleading his case. "I can't, Nick. Brian has done nothing to deserve this treatment. My marriage is a mistake I'm going to have to live with." Her facial expression clearly showed the difficulty she was having with her decision. "Okay." Nick said, resignedly. He turned to leave. With his hand on the door knob, he turned to look at Lulu. Her eyes were threatening to spill over with tears. For a fleeting moment, he thought of telling her about Brian's arrest for solicitation but decided against it. She didn't speak. He opened the door and left. She stared at the closed door for several minutes then opened the file in front of her and began to work. ~~~//~~~ It was late afternoon when Lulu answered her phone, "Hello." "Lulu, it's Kate. Can you meet me for a drink after work? I've got something I think you should see." "Sure, Kate. Brian's working until 11:00 tonight. What is it?" Lulu was curious but Kate insisted they talk about it at The Incline after work. ~~~//~~~ The after-work crowd was just beginning to gather at The Incline when Lulu walked in. Kate had already secured a booth at the back of the bar. Lulu waved and started towards the table. "Hi, Kate," Lulu said as she settled into the booth. "What's all the mystery?" Kate signaled to the waitress. Lulu ordered a draft beer. "Lulu, I wasn't sure I should say anything about this but it's been bothering me so I decided I would tell you and let you be the judge." Kate fumbled in her briefcase for a document which she handed to Lulu. Lulu took it and examined it carefully. Her expression turned from one of curiosity to one of disbelief. "What is this?" "I know it's hard to believe." Kate was hoping she had made the right decision to tell her. "You didn't know about it?" "No. I see Nick knew but didn't say anything." She put the paper on the table and put her head in her hands. She fought back tears. Raising her head, she gazed off at nothing and said, "Brian is always spending time with his friends. Now I wonder what he's really been doing." She looked at Kate. Kate reached out her hand to comfort her friend. "Lulu, I hope I did the right thing by telling you." "Of course you did. It's time I found out that I'm married to a man who doesn't find me sexually satisfying," she said, angrily. A tear escaped, rolling down her cheek. She quickly wiped it away in frustration. She remembered back to all the times Brian had been late coming home and too tired or drunk to make love. It sickened her to think she might have been exposed to any number of sexual diseases. "What are you gonna do?" Kate asked. "I don't know." The waitress brought their drinks. Lulu took a big swig of her beer. "I've been so stupid. Now I recognize some of the warning signs." She turned a hurtful gaze at Kate. "It hasn't been all sweetness and light. I lied about that. We've had our arguments but I thought that was just part of getting used to one another. I've just been fooling myself." She couldn't stop the tears. She grabbed her napkin and dabbed at her face. "How could I have been so blind?" "I'm so sorry, Lulu," Kate said, at a loss for words to comfort her friend. They had dinner and talked for a long time. Lulu had finally decided she would have to confront Brian. They left The Incline around 10:00. ~~~//~~~ The waiting seemed like forever. Lulu had arrived home a little after 10:30. She expected Brian home by 11:15, unless he found somewhere else to go, that is. She had had a few beers tonight and was readied for battle. She prepared a cup of coffee to keep herself awake and turned the TV on just for the company. It was about 20 minutes past 11:00 when she heard Brian's car pull up. She turned off the TV and waited for him in the living room. It had really hurt when she first got the news but all she felt now was anger. She heard Brian's key in the door. He was surprised to find her waiting up for him. "Hi, Hon. You didn't have to wait up." He came over to her where she sat on the sofa and bent to kiss her on the cheek. She pulled away and glared at him. "What is it?" he asked, in surprise. "We need to talk," she said, emphatically. "Can it wait `til tomorrow? I'm beat." He was in no mood for a fuss after a day like today. "No, it can't wait." Brian noticed an edge in Lulu's voice. "Okay," he said. He sat down in the chair opposite the sofa. "So, talk." She produced the copy of the court record about his arrest for solicitation and handed it to him. "When were you going to tell me about this?" Her eyes were watering which made her angry at herself. She couldn't show weakness now. He looked at the paper and knew immediately what it was. "I don't know what got into me, Lulu. It was a one-time thing. I didn't tell you `cause I didn't want you to worry about something that was just a stupid, impulsive one-time thing." "How can I be certain it was a one-time thing?" She was sobbing now. "You have my word on it." "And how can I trust your `word' after you betrayed me?" Brian moved to the sofa next to Lulu to comfort her. As he touched her he felt her recoil. "I don't want you to touch me right now, Brian." He retreated to the chair. "What can I say?" he asked, weakly. "I guess there's nothing you can say." She got up and started up the stairs to their bedroom. He followed her, dejectedly. She removed a suitcase from the closet and began packing things she would need for the next couple of days. She had to keep wiping her eyes and her nose. She couldn't stop the tears. Brian stood by, helplessly. "Lulu, I wish you'd think about what you're doing." She closed up her suitcase and started for the door. "Where will you go this time of night?" "I don't know. All I know is I'm not staying here in this house with you tonight." Brian stood, motionless; listening, as she descended the stairs and went out the front door. In the car, Lulu sat for a minute trying to decide what to do next. It was almost midnight. Where could she go? She started the car and began driving aimlessly. Before she knew it, it was after 1:00. She had finally quit crying but her face was a swollen mess. She parked the car and realized, to her surprise, she was on Ellsworth Avenue. She rang the bell and waited what seemed like a very long time. Well, it was after 1:00 am. She turned to leave when a light came on and the door opened. "Lulu. What are you doing out at this time of night?" Nick asked, worriedly. "Come in." He noticed a small overnight bag at her feet. She bent to pick up the bag and slowly entered the foyer. He shut and locked the door behind her. "What's going on?" Lulu could no longer hold back the torrent of tears. She began crying uncontrollably. Nick gathered her gently in his arms. She had her head against his chest. He rested his chin on the top of her head. She pulled back slightly to look up into his eyes. "I've left Brian," she sobbed. He took his thumb and gently wiped away the tears as he cradled her head in his hand. For the first time tonight, she felt safe. Nick led her into the living room and settled her on the sofa. He turned on a small lamp and sat down beside her. He gathered her in his arms and hugged her to him. She continued to sniffle as she relaxed in his embrace. Several minutes went by without a word. Finally, Nick said, quietly, "It's late, Lulu. Maybe it would be better to get some sleep tonight and talk in the morning." She nodded. He helped her up and they walked upstairs. He led her to the guestroom and turned on the light beside the bed. Turning the covers back, he said, "I'll put fresh towels in the hall bathroom. Is there anything else you need tonight?" "No," she said, her voice cracking. "Nick. Thanks." As if for the first time, she looked at this beautiful man who had taken her in after all she'd said and done to him; no questions asked. He was standing there in his pajamas and a T-shirt with his hair all mussed, looking so unbelievably sexy. She drew in a deep breath. When she was finally able to speak, she said, "I don't know how I can ever thank you." "Just get some sleep." He slowly pulled the door shut. He paused for a moment just outside the door then walked to his room at the end of the hall. He could hear her getting ready for bed. After about 10 minutes the house got quiet. It was yet another hour before he was able to get back to sleep. ~~~//~~~ Nick was seated at the breakfast table when Lulu came down the next morning. Dressed for work in his dark navy suit, white shirt and red tie, he was looking through the newspaper when he noticed her. He smiled. "Were you able to get some sleep?" He folded the paper and placed it on the table. "Coffee?" He rose to get her a cup as she sat down at the table. "Yeah, thanks. I did get some sleep." She was dressed in a pair of slacks and a white over-blouse. "Good." He poured the coffee and said, as he handed it to her, "It's not the greatest coffee but it'll get you through." He chuckled a little. "I'm afraid Dad didn't pass on his coffee making skills." She took the cup of coffee and held it with both hands. She blew on it to cool it slightly and took a small sip. "It's better than you think." She smiled. "I've got bagels and cream cheese, cereal or eggs, if you want." "No, coffee's fine. I don't usually eat breakfast." He sat down again. He was looking at her with a sweet smile on his face. As she sipped her coffee, she thought how different Nick was; so kind and considerate. There was no sign of the violent behavior she had witnessed a few nights ago. "Don't you want to know what happened?" she asked, taking another sip of her coffee. "I figured you'd tell me when you got ready," he said. His face took on a serious expression. "I found out about Brian's arrest." She looked Nick directly in the eye. He averted his gaze and took a sip of his coffee. She was waiting for him to say something. He glanced quickly back at her and then looked down at the table. "Why didn't you tell me, Nick?" she asked, softly. Nick finally looked her in the eyes. "I thought I was doing the right thing, Lulu. Brian said it was his first time and it wouldn't happen again. I didn't want to hurt you unnecessarily." "So you let me marry him, not knowing this about him." Nick could hear the disappointment in her voice. "I didn't think it was my place to interfere. You seemed bent on marrying him, regardless of my feelings about it." His gaze again returned to the table. Lulu reached out to touch his hand. They looked at each other. After awhile she removed her hand and said, "Nick, you didn't have to take me in last night, but you did. I'm grateful. But I really shouldn't put you in the middle of this mess. It's for me and Brian to sort out." Nick nodded and stood up nervously. "Lulu, I hate to say it but I have an appointment this morning at Fallin & Associates." He looked at his watch. He had decided to jealously guard his feelings. Lulu had to make up her mind about Brian without influence from him. It had to be her decision and hers alone. "Of course, Nick. I need to get to the office myself." "Where will you go?" he asked. "I can probably stay with Kate." "I have an extra key. If you want, you can stay here as long as you need to." Nick began fumbling in his pocket for his keys. "Are you sure?" She was still trying to decide what to do. She knew she couldn't go home until she and Brian had things worked out. Nick handed her the extra key. He glanced at his watch again. He'd have to hurry if he was going to make his appointment on time. "It'll probably be close to 7:00 before I get home tonight. Just make yourself at home. I really gotta go." He turned to leave. "Nick." Lulu called after him. "Yeah," he turned to acknowledge. "Thanks for everything." "Sure," he gave her a quick grin. ~~~//~~~ All through the day, Nick caught himself daydreaming about Lulu. He wasn't sure how he felt about the situation. Lulu was still a married woman. Having her in his house was not going to be easy. It was dark by the time he got home at 7:15. The lights were on in his house. Lulu was obviously home. That sounded good to him. It would be nice to get home to a house full of life and not a dark and silent tomb. The door was unlocked. He opened it and right away smelled the aroma coming from the kitchen. Lulu had apparently heard the front door open. She rounded the corner from the kitchen, into the living room, and saw Nick in the foyer. "Oh, hi, Nick. I hope you don't mind. I've fixed something for dinner. I thought that was the least I could do after you gave me a place to stay." She was standing in his living room, looking every bit the happy homemaker. "Smells good." He walked into the living room and put his briefcase on the chair. He removed his suit jacket and tie, undoing the top two buttons of his shirt, and draped them across the same chair. Hewent into the kitchen to see what was cooking. Lifting the lid of a pot he sniffed and said, "Hmmmm." He noticed the dining table had been set for two. In the center of the table was a vase containing a handful of flowers. "I bought some wine. Would you like to do the honors?" She passed the bottle to him. He found his cork screw in a drawer and opened the wine. She had set the glasses on the table. He poured the wine and set the bottle on the table while she prepared their plates. Through most of the meal, Lulu talked about her day at the office. Finally she told him that she had tried to reach Brian all day; first at home and then, this afternoon, at the hospital. Brian hadn't shown up for work. She didn't know where else to check. "You don't think he's done something crazy, do you?" Nick asked. He really wasn't sure what he meant. It was strange that he was nowhere to be found. "No," she said, confidently. "He didn't put up much of a fight when I left last night. He'll probably surface in a couple of days and want to talk. I'll probably just go home tomorrow. He'll come home eventually and we can get this worked out." "Well, the offer stands. You can stay here as long as you need to." After dinner he helped her clear the table and wash up the few dishes. By this time it was about 8:30. "Lulu, I have about an hour's worth of work I need to do tonight. Do you mind?" Nick never seemed to stop working, she thought. "No, of course not, Nick." She smiled at him. "Thanks for dinner. It was really nice." He scooped up his jacket, tie and briefcase and headed upstairs. He flipped on the desk lamp and pulled out the papers he had to look over. He had been working about 30 minutes when he heard the doorbell ring. He listened to see if Lulu would answer it. He heard voices but he couldn't make out what they were saying. He went to the top of the stairs and saw Brian standing in the doorway. Lulu was trying to keep him out of the house. Nick hurriedly descended the stairs. He was standing behind Lulu when Brian said, "There's the bastard now. Didn't I tell you to leave my wife alone?" He was obviously drunk. "Brian, I'm gonna have to ask you to leave," Nick said calmly. "You'd like that wouldn't you?" Brian had taken a step inside the foyer. Lulu was trying to push him back out the door. "Lulu," Nick said. "Get back." He took her arm and pulled her to one side. Nick placed his hand on the center of Brian's chest. "Don't make me call the police, Brian. You should just go quietly. We can talk about this when you're sober." "I'm not doing any more talking." Brian whipped a small caliber pistol out of his pocket and aimed it at Nick. He was crazed and wild-eyed. Nick stepped back, stunned, and raised his hand as if to ward off an attack. The gun went off. For an awful moment time stood still then Nick slowly sank to the floor, holding his left side. Lulu screamed and rushed to him. Brian, shocked at what he had done, dropped the gun and staggered down the front steps. In disbelief, Lulu stared at the circle of red quickly covering the front of Nick's white shirt; blood oozing between his fingers where he clutched his side and spreading onto the floor of the foyer. Nick could hear a voice but couldn't make out the image. He didn't feel any pain, only a burning sensation in his side. Lulu fell to her knees and, holding his head in her hands, she cried out to him, "Nick. Nick. Hold on, Nick." Someone was saying his name. He tried to speak but nothing came out. The image was fading, fading… His eyes slowly closed as he lost consciousness. Lulu was frantic. She checked his pulse. He was still alive. She ran to the bathroom off the living room and grabbed a hand towel. She ripped open his shirt, buttons flying everywhere, and pressed the towel to the oozing wound in his side to try and stem the flow of blood. She was crying hysterically. She ran to the phone and dialed 9-1-1. As she cradled Nick's head in her lap, she heard the sirens wailing off in the distance, getting ever closer. She found herself saying a little prayer. The front door was still wide open. She saw the ambulance drive up. She stood and stepped back as the medical team took charge, working methodically over Nick. They lifted him onto the stretcher and attached an oxygen mask. They carefully carried the stretcher down the long flight of steps to the street. Grabbing her car keys Lulu pulled the door closed after them. She followed the ambulance to Mercy Hospital. It was ironic, she thought, as they neared the hospital; Brian was a doctor at this very hospital, sworn to save lives, but tonight he had tried to take one. She was crying uncontrollably. She felt so guilty. This was not Nick's fight. She had put him at risk. She parked in the emergency lot and followed the stretcher into the Emergency Room. They rushed Nick into a cubicle where the emergency room medical team took over. Lulu knew many of the doctors and nurses on duty. Ellie, one of the nurses, came rushing up to her. "Lulu, are you all right?" Lulu hadn't realized she was covered with Nick's blood. Her face was stained with tears and blood as she had wiped her tears away with her bloodied hand. She started sobbing again as she looked at the blood on her hands. "I'm okay. It's Nick," she cried. "Where's Brian? He didn't come to work today." Ellie asked. Lulu looked blankly at the nurse, but didn't speak. "Lulu, come with me." Ellie led her to a quiet room. Lulu sat down, her hands in her lap. "Do you want to tell me about it?" Lulu sat in stunned silence, staring at nothing. There was a knock on the door. Another nurse stuck her head in the door. "Ellie, there's a policeman here who wants to talk to Lulu." Ellie patted Lulu on the shoulder and went to the door. The officer introduced himself as Officer Manning. He sat down beside the distraught Lulu. "Do you want to tell me what happened?" She suddenly realized no one had notified Nick's father. She stood abruptly and said, "Excuse me. I have to make a call. I'll be right back." She found a phone and tearfully related the incident to Burton. The officer had listened to the brief description of the shooting. When she hung up she wiped the tears from her face and followed the officer back into the quiet room. She related the story to him, haltingly, between sobs. "Do you know where your husband might go?" the officer asked, kindly. "He might go home. I don't really know. I don't know who his friends are. He's a doctor on staff at this hospital. Maybe someone here would know where he would go." "And, you said he dropped the gun at the house." She nodded, yes. "Do you have access to the house?" She said, "Yes." "Would you mind riding over there with me so I can retrieve the weapon?" She wrinkled her brow and indicated she wanted to wait for news of Nick. "Okay. I want to talk with a few more people here anyway," the officer said. "Just let me know when you're ready." The officer excused himself and left the room. When Burton first saw Lulu in her bloodied condition he was shocked. "Lulu, where's Nick?" he asked, overwrought. She pointed him to the cubicle where they were working on Nick. About this time they wheeled Nick out of the emergency cubicle, taking him to surgery. Burton's blood ran cold when he saw his son, lying seemingly lifeless on the gurney. His emotions threatened to overtake him. He managed to stop one of the doctors to inquire about Nick's condition. He took a deep breath as he listened to what the doctor had to say. "One major concern is the loss of blood. The bullet did not exit. They're taking him to surgery to find out the extent of internal damage. It's really hard to tell at this stage what the prognosis is. We'll know more after surgery. You can wait in the 4th floor Surgical ICU waiting room." Burton almost hated to ask his next question. "You can probably give me a good idea. What are his chances?" "We can't be sure but I think pretty good. He's young and appears to be in pretty good shape. Like I said, we'll know more after surgery." Burton thanked the doctor and turned back to Lulu. She was a pathetic sight, still covered in blood. He stopped one of the nurses and asked if they could help her get cleaned up. The nurse led her away to a washroom. Burton walked outside to smoke a cigarette while he waited for Lulu. She would probably want to wait with him for news about Nick. His mind kept flashing back to Nick, all covered with blood. He pressed his eyes with his fingers to try and quell the image. He took another couple drags on his cigarette and tossed the butt in the driveway, grinding it beneath his foot. When he returned inside Lulu was emerging from the restroom. He walked up to her and took her elbow. "I'm going to the 4th floor to wait. Did you want to come?" "Yes, thank you." She found Officer Manning and explained they would be in the 4th floor waiting room. He was interviewing the other employees for information about Brian's hangouts and any indication of erratic behavior they may have noticed in recent days. Burton and Lulu rode up in the elevator with another man and a woman who got off on the 3rd floor. The woman kept looking at Lulu's blood stained blouse. On the 4th floor they found the waiting room at the end of the hall. Burton checked in at the nurses' station to let them know they were waiting for news about Nick Fallin, currently in surgery. "Lulu, would you like some coffee? There's a vending machine down the hall." "Yes, that would be nice." Lulu found a seat on the couch while Burton went for the coffee. Burton handed her a cup and took a seat across from her. There were several minutes of silence before Burton said, chuckling softly, "The waiting…it reminds me of the night Nick was born. It was like he was fighting to stay in the warm safety of his mother's womb. After 20 hours of labor he finally decided to give up the fight." Burton smiled. "He had a mind of his own early on." His expression turned serious when he said, "Anne had two miscarriages before Nick. We had almost given up hope of ever having a child." Burton remembered he had never experienced so much joy as the momenthe held his infant son in his arms for the first time. His bottom lip began to quiver. Now his son was fighting for his life. He pinched his eyes with his fingers to regain his composure. He looked across at Lulu. She had tears streaming down her cheeks.Burton wondered what the relationship was between Nick and Lulu. Had he come between her and her husband? Well, it wouldn't do any good to talk about that now. Burton made a few more attempts to start a conversation and finally decided Lulu was not in a talking mood. Almost an hour passed before the door to the waiting room opened. "Are you waiting for news about Nick Fallin?" It was the doctor. "Yes," Burton said, standing. "I'm his father." Lulu stood beside him. "This is one of his associates," he said, indicating Lulu. "I'm Dr. Janis. The surgery went well. The bullet actually cracked a rib and ricocheted, lodging next to the spinal cord. There is quite a bit of swelling in this area but there doesn't appear to be any outward signs of permanent damage to the spinal cord. However, we can't rule out some temporary paralysis until the swelling completely subsides. We have stopped the bleeding and there doesn't appear to be any major organ damage. He's in recovery right now and will spend the night in ICU for observation but he should be in a room by tomorrow morning. If you like, you may visit him for a few minutes in recovery. Visitation is limited to immediate family members," he said as he looked at Lulu. "That't fine. I'll wait here." She returned to her seat. "The anesthetic hasn't worn off yet so he will probably sleep through your visit, I'm afraid," the doctor explained. Burton nodded. "Follow me," the doctor said as he led Burton through a pair of swinging doors. He pointed to a bed and said, "Ten minutes. I'll be back for you." Burton cautiously approached the bed where his son lay sleeping peacefully. His breathing appeared normal. He glanced at the monitors. They all seemed to be normal. He sat down beside the bed and reached out to touch the hand of his sleeping son. There was no reaction. He raised Nick's hand to his lips and kissed it tenderly. He watched his son's face for a reaction. There was none. Through quivering lips, he said, quietly, "I love you, son. I know I don't say that nearly enough. You've been the most important person in my life since the day you were born." The doctor was approaching. He released Nick's hand and stood next to the bed, quickly wiping his eyes. The doctor checked the monitors. He noticed the concern, evident on Burton's face, and said, "Everything looks normal. He's doing fine. You should go home and get some sleep. He should be in a room tomorrow morning." He led him into the hall. Burton paused for a moment, to compose himself, and walked to the waiting room. Lulu was sitting curled up on the sofa, still seemingly nursing the second cup of coffee he had given her earlier. She looked up as he approached. "He's still knocked out from the anesthetic but the doctor seems to think he'll be fine. He should be in a room tomorrow." He checked his watch. It was almost 11:30. "Can I walk you to your car?" he offered. She stood and nodded, yes. It had been a little over an hour but the police officer was still in the emergency room. Lulu approached him as she and Burton passed through on their way to the parking lot. "I'm ready now if you want to go to the house," she said. She turned to Burton, who was standing with a curious look on his face, and said. "Brian dropped the gun at Nick's house. The officer wants me to let him in to retrieve it for evidence." Reluctantly, she added, "Did you know that I spent the night at Nick's last night?" Burton raised his eyebrows. "No, I didn't." Burton looked at the officer. "Do you know if they have located Brian yet?" "No. We have his house under surveillance and we're checking some of the spots he frequented, according to his friends here at the hospital." "Lulu. Why don't I follow you to Nick's and you can get your things and come stay with me tonight. Brian might return to Nick's and it might be best if you weren't there." "I don't want to impose," she said, but she was thankful for the offer. She was afraid of being alone tonight. Brian had been so drunk and angry. "I insist." Apparently his son saw something in this girl and would expect him to help out if he could. At the house, Lulu handed the officer the key to open the door. She was reluctant to enter knowing there was still blood on the floor just inside the door. The officer carefully shoved the door open and reached in to flip the foyer light on. Just inside the door you could see the blood stain on the hardwood floor. It was mostly dried now. Not far away lay the small caliber pistol. Lulu stepped gingerly around the stain and headed up the stairs to get her things. Burton remained just outside the door. He had lit up a cigarette. The officer produced a small plastic bag and, using his pen; he placed the gun in the bag and sealed it. Burton addressed the officer. "Will the police need anything else from the house?" "No. We now have the gun and the hospital retrieved the bullet. It looks pretty open and shut." Burton produced one of his business cards and added his home phone number on the back. He handed it to the officer. If you need me or Mrs. Olsen for anything in the next couple of days you can reach us at one of these numbers." Lulu descended the stairs with her overnight bag. She again stepped over the stain and joined Burton on the front stoop. The officer flipped off the foyer light and pulled the door shut. He checked to make sure it was locked and handed the key to Lulu. He said goodnight and headed for his car. Burton finished his cigarette, rubbed out the butt on the railing and tossed it into the shrubbery. ~~~//~~~ Burton established Lulu in the guest room and went downstairs to pour himself a drink. He didn't figure he would be getting much sleep this night. He had removed his suit coat and tie and was sitting in the living room, peering out the window into the black night. He had left one small light on in the kitchen which cast a narrow shaft of light into the living room. As he took a drag on his cigarette, you could see the glow of the red hot ash. He turned as he heard Lulu descend the stairs. He held up his drink. "How `bout a drink?" She could barely make out his image, sitting in front of the bay window. She nodded, yes. He fixed her a drink and replenished his own. He returned to the living room. Lulu had removed her shoes and curled up on the sofa. He noticed she had also changed her blood-stained blouse. Finally, Burton asked, "I hope you don't think I'm prying, but is there something between you and Nick?" "Not what you might think," she said, evasively. Realizing that Burton deserved some kind of explanation, she added, "I left Brian last night and didn't know where else to go. Nick let me stay in his guestroom." The events of the last two days started to wash over her and she began to sob quietly. "I guess Brian thought there was something going on between you two," Burton said, trying to justify Brian's actions in his own mind. When Lulu didn't say anything, Burton added, "Well, it might be a good idea to get some sleep tonight." He drank down the last of his drink and stood to take his glass to the kitchen. Lulu didn't move. Burton waited. She finally said, "I don't think I can sleep right now." "I'll leave the liquor out on the kitchen counter. Just help yourself." A couple more drinks might help her sleep, he thought. Burton made his way slowly up to his bedroom. He was lying in bed, having trouble getting to sleep, when he heard the hall bathroom shower. Thirty minutes later, the house was quiet. Sometime after that, Burton was able to drift off to sleep. ~~~//~~~ He was awakened at 5:30 am by the phone. It rang three times before he finally picked it up. "Hello," he said, still drowsy from sleep. "Mr. Fallin?" asked the voice on the other end of the line. "Yeah, that's right." He sat up on the side of the bed, wide awake. "Sorry for the early hour. This is Detective Andrews. I'm handling the shooting incident involving your son. Officer Manning has brought me up to speed. I thought you might like to know that we have Brian Olsen in custody." "Oh, that's good. Where did you find him?" "He finally headed home and we arrested him there without incident. Is Mrs. Olsen staying with you?" "Yes, she's still sleeping." "Can you let her know?" "Detective? What's next?" "Well, he'll be arraigned tomorrow on aggravated assault charges. We'll need statements from your son and Mrs. Olsen about the events of last night but we can get those later." "Sure. Hey, thanks for letting me know." Burton hung the phone up and headed for the bathroom. He took a shower and dressed for work. He had some business he had to attend to today at the office. He was reading the newspaper when Lulu came down the stairs. He looked up from the paper. She looked as rested as could be expected. He asked, "Did you manage to get some sleep?" "Yes, thank you. I think the alcohol helped." She gave him a feeble grin. "Want some coffee?" He nodded towards the counter. He had set out an extra cup beside the coffeemaker. Lulu walked to the counter and poured herself a cup and then sat down at the kitchen table. "Detective Andrews called this morning. He's taken over the case from Officer Manning. They have Brian in custody." He waited for her reaction. She just gave him a blank stare. "Did you hear any word about Nick?" "No. I would say no news--is good news." "If you think it would be okay, I'd like to run by the hospital and see him this morning." "Sure. I don't see any problem. I have an early partners' meeting this morning so you can sit in for me until I get there. You might want to call ahead to make sure he has been moved to a private room." Lulu thought Burton was taking this all in stride. He had been a rock through it all. She just had to say, "I'm so sorry this happened. I never meant to put Nick at risk." "You couldn't have known Brian was capable of doing something like this." Burton tried to ease her mind. ~~~//~~~ Nick had been moved to a private room according to admissions. On the way to the hospital, Lulu stopped at a florist shop and bought a small bundle of flowers, arranged in a vase with a blue ribbon tied around it. She smiled, remembering the sad bunch of flowers that Nick had tried to present to her once. That now seemed like a lifetime ago. She couldn't believe she had missed the signals he was sending and then there were her own deep-seated feelings she had completely ignored. Standing outside his room she took several deep breaths. She wasn't sure what she was going to say. Finally she steeled herself and entered the room. She slowly approached the bed. Nick appeared to be asleep. He was so pale, she thought. She quietly set the vase of flowers on the tray table and moved furtively to the bedside. For a moment she stood gazing at him; lying there, so helpless. She had never seen him so vulnerable. She leaned over and gave him a gentle kiss on the cheek. There was no reaction. She pulled the chair up next to the bed and sat down. She tenderly lifted his hand to her lips and kissed it. She held it against her cheek and the tears started to flow. She felt slight movement in his hand. She looked up to find he was awake. She released his hand. He took his thumb and gently brushed away the tears from her cheek. "Oh, Nick. I'm so sorry." She put her head down on the bed, ashamed. She knew, if not for her, he would not be here. Nick, still dopey from the anesthetic and pain killers, struggled to find his voice and finally said, "It's okay." He was able to muster a weak smile. Lulu reached for a Kleenex and wiped her tears. "How do you feel?" "It only hurts when I laugh," he said, haltingly, then chuckled, grimacing in pain. Lulu smiled. "Oh, Nick. You're such a good sport about all this." "How are you doing?" he asked, weakly. "Well, while you've been getting a lot of rest, I've been up most of the night," she jested. Pointing to the flowers, she said, "I brought you these." She looked him directly in the eye. "I thought we might spend some time together," repeating the phrase Nick had used when he tried to present her with flowers. He smiled, weakly, remembering how foolish he had felt trying to express his feelings to Lulu and botching it so badly. "Nick. Is there anything I can get you?" she asked. "No." He didn't really feel comfortable around Lulu, right now. He couldn't explain it. "What about Brian?" he asked. "The police have him in custody." She bowed her head, nervously playing with her hands. "What are you going to do?" "Do?" She wasn't sure what he was referring to. "About Brian," Nick added. "I have to go see him. I guess we have to talk about it." She saw Nick frown. She added, "He's being arraigned tomorrow. Aggravated assault." It made her cringe to think about it. "They'll probably release him on bail," Nick said. Lulu looked at him, stunned. "They would do that? After what he did?" "It's possible." "I don't know, Nick." She looked worried. A knock came at the door and Dr. Janis entered. "Well, Nick, how are we doing this morning?" He glanced over at Lulu. "I'd say with visitors like this it shouldn't be long before you're on your feet again." He winked. "If you'll excuse us for a moment, Miss. I want to check your reflexes again, Nick, to see if that last medication is reducing the swelling." Lulu made her way to the doorand stood just outside, listening. The doctor pulled the curtain around the bed. He then pulled back the covers and taking his pen he ran it across the bottom of Nick's feet. He noticed a very slight movement. "Looks like we might be making progress." He pulled up the hospital gown to examine the wound in his side. Nick was completely naked beneath the gown. A catheter tube trailed off to a bag hung on the side of the bed. He winced as the doctor peeled back the tape and felt around the wound. "This is coming along nicely." The doctor had noticed the reaction and asked, "Are you in much pain?" "Just a little," he reluctantly admitted. "You were real lucky here, Nick. Your rib slowed that bullet down enough so that it didn't severe your spinal cord. I think you're gonna be all right." He smoothed the gown back down and pulled the covers back up to Nick's waist. He pulled back the curtain. "You still think a couple more days?" Nick looked anxious. "Maybe not even that, Nick. But once the swelling subsides, you will need a few days of physical therapy. The amount of time needed will be based on your progress. Just take this time to get some rest. Looks like you're gonna need it," he smirked, nodding towards the door. "Is that your girl?" Nick really didn't know how to answer that so he glanced away. "Oh, I see," the doctor said. "One of many," and gave a small chuckle. Nick gave him a forced grin. The doctor nodded at Lulu as he left the room. Lulu returned to Nick's bedside. "The doctor doesn't seem to be worried about permanent paralysis. It sounds like he's confident you'll make a complete recovery. I'm so glad." She took his hand. Nick didn't say anything. She released his hand and reached for her purse. "Nick, I guess I need to check in at the office. Alvin doesn't know anything about what happened and I'm sure he's wondering where I am. Will you be all right?" She stood next to the bed. He reached out and pushed her hair behind her ear and gently touched her face. "Lulu," he said, softly, licking his lips. "You know there can't be anything between us until you have things settled with Brian." "I know." She pressed his hand to her cheek. When Lulu turned to leave, Burton was standing in the doorway; having witnessed the display of affection. He stood there with a quizzical look on his face; a small duffle bag in one hand and his other hand in his pocket. As Lulu was leaving, she said, "Oh, hi, Burton. I really want to thank you again for letting me stay at your place last night." Burton nodded and smiled. She glanced over her shoulder and said, "Bye, Nick," as she left the room. Nick glanced at his father then turned away. Burton walked towards the bed. "How do ya feel, son?" "Fine, Dad. Fine." "Oh, I brought you some things, your shaving gear, some pajamas and T-shirts and a change of clothes." He put the bag in the small closet. "Thanks, Dad. It'll be good to get out of this getup." He said, disparagingly, pulling at the hospital gown. Burton grinned. "Oh, son, I just saw the doctor in the hallway. He says you still have some paralysis." He frowned. Nick nodded and said, "Yeah. But he seems to think there's some progress." An image of him spending the rest of his life in a wheelchair flashed across his mind. He took a deep breath. "Did Lulu tell you they have Brian in custody?" Burton asked, changing the subject. He could tell Nick was worried. "She did." "Son, I don't mean to interfere in your business, but it might be a good idea if you cooled it for awhile." He raised his eyebrows. "Cooled it?" Nick asked, giving his dad a funny look. "Yeah, with Lulu. You know until this Brian thing is settled." Burton was a little embarrassed, telling his son how to handle his business. But, it didn't look good, Nick coming between and man and his wife. "There's nothing to cool," Nick said angrily. "Oh?" Burton looked surprised. "That's right. She's a friend and needed help. That's all," Nick added, impatiently. "Okay," Burton said, but he thought to himself that Nick was either lying to him or lying to himself. Most likely he was lying to himself. You could plainly see there was something between the two of them. The conversation switched to work. They talked about the cases Nick had pending that might need attention before he would be able to return. Nick wanted Burton to bring him some work to do at the hospital. He was sure that lying around would really get to him before long. Before Burton left, he reached over and took Nick's hand and squeezed it affectionately. "Son, you really had me worried." His eyes began to tear-up as he thought about last night in the emergency room. Nick looked away. It was rare for his dad to show affection like this. He had to bite his bottom lip to keep it from quivering. He was finally able to say, "I'm sorry, Dad." ~~~//~~~ Lulu waited in the cubicle while they brought Brian in. He hadn't shaved in a couple of days and looked bleary-eyed and unkempt. They were able to speak through a round hole in the glass. Lulu waited for Brian to speak first. "How's Nick?" he asked. "The doctor seems to think he's gonna be okay." "Lulu, you know that wasn't me, don't you? I don't know what happened." He bowed his head, dejectedly. Lulu's eyes began to water. "First the prostitute and then attempted murder? You're right. That is not the man I used to know." Tears started to stream down her face. She wiped them away with the back of her hand. "What's gonna happen with us?" His eyes were red-rimmed. "There is no `us', Brian. If I had known about the prostitute before we got married I would never have married you. I'm going to file for divorce," she said, matter-of-factly. "You know, Lulu, even before we got married I could tell there was something between you and Nick." He clenched his jaw. "You're wrong, Brian. There was nothing. I told you about the kiss. It was Nick. But that's as far as it went. And it was after the kiss, I married you. Remember?" Well, she wasn't totally lying. She hadn't realized she had feelings for Nick until recently. Although, now, as she remembered the kiss, she had felt something very different with Nick. "You can tell yourself you had no feelings for him but I could tell you didn't want to be with me. Why do you think we quit having sex? It felt like I had to force you all the time." Brian ran his fingers through his hair in frustration. She looked away. She really hadn't minded all that much that he seemed to be working all the time and had little interest in sex. She didn't miss it. It had never really been a big part of their relationship. "I'm sorry, Brian. It was a mistake for us to get married. I'm sorry if I hurt you." Brian put his hand on the glass. "Lulu, I still love you. I don't want a divorce. My lawyer seems to think, if I plead out, I may have to serve less than three years. I don't know how that will affect my medical license though." In an instant of rage, everything he had worked for was gone. "No matter the outcome, Brian, I just don't think it'll work. I'm gonna go ahead with the divorce." Lulu was leaving no room for argument. The guard said, "Time's up." Brian stood and reluctantly followed the guard out of the room. ~~~//~~~ Nick was going stir-crazy just lying around. On the third day he was able to move his legs slightly but it took a lot of effort. He started physical therapy which was a painful process. His side was healing quickly. It still hurt when he twisted a certain way but wasn't bothering him too much. On the fifth day he was able to get up and walk with a walker down the hall. He pleaded with the doctor to release him. His pleas fell on deaf ears. Finally the day came for his release. Lulu had insisted on picking him up. He reluctantly agreed. As he waited for Lulu, he was thinking about Brian. Brian's preliminary hearing was scheduled for next week. The judge had denied bail, stating the violence of Brian's crime and the continued threat to Nick and Lulu. Nick found himself feeling sorry for Brian. He remembered his own arrest and conviction. He had been able to catch a break. Brian had not been that lucky. Lulu knocked lightly on the door before entering to find Nick standing by the window with his back to the door. He was dressed in a pair of jeans and a pull-over sweater. She smiled to see him up around on his own. "So I guess you're ready to get out of this place," she said. He turned when he heard her voice. He looked well and rested. "Yeah." He gave a sheepish grin. His bag was packed; sitting on the bed. A buxom black nurse's aide appeared at the door with a wheelchair. "So you're ready to leave us, huh," she said, with a hurt expression. He smiled at her. "Well, it's not `cause I want to go. I heard they need the bed," he said, playfully. Nick had gotten to know several of the hospital staff on a first name basis but he had a special fondness for Bea. She had kidded and cajoled with him the whole time. When his spirits flagged she lifted him up. He blushed recalling the first time they met; when he got his first sponge bath. She had taken care of his very personal needs until he was able to move around on his own. And, through it all, they had become very good friends. He went over to her and gave her a big bear hug. She laughed. "You're not gonna make me ride that thing, are ya?" He had a hurt look in his eyes. "No. I'm not going to, the hospital is. Now set that cute little butt down in the chair or else." Nick shrugged and glanced at Lulu with a smile. "I guess you're the boss." He took his place in the wheelchair. Lulu grabbed his bag and they left the room, which had been his homefor the past week. As they passed the nurses' station, he got a rousing goodbye from them all. He had become their favorite patient. ~~~//~~~ On the way to Nick's house, Lulu convinced him she should stay a couple of days to make sure he could manage on his own. He considered, briefly, his father's warning; how it could give the appearance there was something between them, which might not play well at the trial. But he put his father's words out of his mind. After all, Lulu had filed for divorce. At home, she helped him maneuver the front steps. Inside the foyer, Lulu noticed the bloodstain had disappeared. Burton had told her he had the floor refinished when the stain would not wash out. He hadn't wanted Nick to come home to that bloody reminder. Nick made it to the living room on his own steam while Lulu took his bag upstairs and unpacked it for him. He settled on the sofa. Back downstairs, she went into the living room. "Nick. Promise you'll sit here while I run home and pack a few things." She handed him the remote control. "Find out what's happening on the soaps," she said, smiling. "I'm still not sure I need someone to look after me. I think I'll be fine." The doctor had warned him about doing too much, too soon. But, he really didn't enjoy being treated like an invalid. "Well, I hope you are fine, but just in case. I feel responsible for what happened, so you would be doing me a favor by letting me take care of you." "Since you put it that way, how can I refuse?" He gave her a quick grin then his mood turned somber. He couldn't take much more of this inactivity. Lulu noticed his mood swing. "Nick, you okay?" "Yeah, just tired of all this lying around." "You'll be as good as new before you know it. I'll be back as soon as I can." "What did Alvin say about your missing work?" "He said to take as much time as I needed. He can be a Teddy bear sometimes." She smiled, showing her dimple. Nick nodded. ~~~//~~~ On her way back to Nick's she stopped at the supermarket and picked up a few things. She found Nick dozing on the sofa when she returned. She quietly put away the groceries and took her overnight bag to the guestroom. She knelt down by the sofa and softly kissed Nick's cheek. He opened his eyes and smiled. She asked, "Are you hungry? I stopped by the store and brought something to fix for dinner. I thought you might be tired of hospital food." "I could eat." "Okay, you just lie right there while I throw something together." Nick heard her rattling around in the kitchen. She was humming. He slowly got up. He was still a little weak in the legs and his side and that rib were still giving him some discomfort. He slowly and quietly walked up behind Lulu in the kitchen and put his arms around her. She was a little startled but relaxed at his touch. He kissed the nape of her neck. She turned in his arms. "Are you sure you should be up and around?" she asked. "I'm fine," he said. It felt so good being next to her. "It's almost ready," she said. "Why don't you sit at the table? I don't want you collapsing on me." He nodded and obeyed. They enjoyed a quiet dinner. She quickly cleared the dishes and they went into the living room. She curled up next to him on the sofa while they watched TV. Lulu noticed Nick was dozing off and on. He was still not used to being up all day. "Nick, let me help you to bed." He realized he had dozed off. "That sounds like a good idea." He held onto the stair railing and with Lulu's help, he was able to manage the stairs okay. "Do you need help getting undressed?" she asked. "I think I can manage," he said, as he sat on the edge of the bed. "You promise to call if you need anything, anything at all during the night?" "I promise," he looked up at her with those soulful eyes. She gave him one last kiss on the cheek and turned to go. At the door to his bedroom, she turned back and smiled at him. ~~~//~~~ Nick had been unable to go to sleep. It had been two hours and he was still wide awake. He heard his bedroom door open slowly. His room was illuminated only by the moonlight coming in through the window. He watched as Lulu came around the bed and stood with her back to the window. She appeared as a silhouette against the moonlit backdrop. He didn't speak. She turned back the covers on that side of the bed. In the moonlight, he saw her remove her robe and let it fall to the floor. The bed moved as she slipped in beside him. For a minute or two, she lay quietly, on her back, looking at the ceiling. Nick raised himself on his left elbow, resting his head in his hand. He made no move towards her. Timidly, she reached out for his right hand and placed it on her naked breast. He squeezed it gently, circling the nipple with his thumb. He felt it harden beneath his touch. He moved his hand slowly down her body, across her stomach and as he neared the pubic area he felt her tense up. He stopped. Instead, he reached his hand up and touched her cheek gently, then leaned over and, ever so gently, he kissed her on the lips. He was so gentle she barely felt his touch. He kissed her again with a little more passion. She kissed him back. He ran his hand down her body to her bare hips, pulling her to him. She felt his growing erection between them. She put her hand beneath his T-shirt and pushed it up, baring his chest, then pulled him close to her so their bodies touched. He slipped his T-shirt over his head and tossed it on the floor. Lulu loosened the tie to his pajamas and slid her hand inside, finding his manhood. She began to methodically stroke it to full erection. With her help, he removed his pajama bottoms. She pressed her naked flesh fully against him. He gently rolled her over onto her back and ran his hands, slowly, up her inner thighs. Her body quivered as she opened her legs to his touch. He put the heel of his hand on the mons pubis area and pushed his fingers inside her. She moaned and pushed her hips against his hand. She was definitely ready for him. He gingerly moved between her legs and carefully entered her, slowly at first. As they got familiar with each other they settled into a rhythm. She was first to reach orgasm and Nick followed with his own incredible climax. For a long moment they clung to each other. He then kissed her and rolled over carefully onto his back, wincing slightly as a pain shot through his side. Lulu had never before felt such pleasure. She had rarely reached a climax with Brian. With Brian their lovemaking had all been so mechanical but with Nick, it was truly making love. She snuggled into the crook of his arm. The sheet barely covered his hips. Lulu could see the small bandage still over the wound in his left side. She placed her hand on his abdomen and felt him tremble under her touch. She ran her hand slowly up his body, stopping at the bandage. "Does it hurt?" she asked. "A little, at times." He put his hand over hers and with his other arm, pulled her close. "Any regrets?" he asked, referring to their earlier intimacy. She craned her neck to see his face; to judge his expression. "No regrets. What about you?" "No," and he kissed her forehead. But, secretly, he did wonder, if their relationship came out during the trial, how it would affect the outcome. Would the jury feel Brian was justified in some warped sense of the word? ~~~//~~~ Nick awoke the next morning to the sound of the shower down the hall. He pulled his body out of bed and stood teetering for a second then headed for the bathroom. It was tricky showering with the bandage but he would have to make do. He regulated the water and stepped in, his back to the water flow. It felt good. He washed quickly and dried off. The bandage would need to be changed but he'd done pretty well. It wasn't soaked. He wrapped a towel around his middle and began rummaging in his bureau for clean underwear. About this time, Lulu walked in. She looked refreshed. She was wearing a blue sweater and a pair of black jeans. She smiled at him. He laid his underwear on the bureau and reached out for her. She took his hand and let him draw her near. His skin was still moist from the shower. She reveled in his smell. He lifted her chin and gave her an affectionate peck on the cheek. She answered with a kiss to his lips. She noticed the bandage was wet. "That needs changing." "Yeah. There's no way to avoid getting it wet in the shower." "Where are the bandages and I can change it for you?" "I think you'll find everything in the hall bathroom vanity, second drawer on the right. I'll put some clothes on," he said, sheepishly; feeling a little underdressed standing there with only a towel wrapped around him. "I guess, if you must," she said, patting him on the butt. He slipped on his boxers and went to the closet to decide what suit to wear. He was going to try and go into the office today. He selected his charcoal gray, 2-button Armani. He matched it with a pale gray shirt and black and gray tie. When Lulu returned with the medical supplies, he had just pulled on his pants. He zipped up and reached for his belt. He ran it through the loops but left it open until he could put his shirt on. "Come and lie down," Lulu ordered, sweetly. She carefully pulled back the tape holding the gauze in place. As she revealed the wound she gasped slightly. It looked like it was healing but it would leave an ugly scar. She carefully dabbed it with disinfectant which elicited a wince from Nick. "Sorry," she said. She neatly re- bandaged the area. "There. That should hold you." She then noticed he was wearing his suit pants. "Are you planning to go into work today?" "That's right." He sat up on the edge of the bed then slowly stood. He pulled on the gray shirt he had picked out and buttoned it all but the top button. He stuffed his shirttail in then buttoned his pants and cinched up his belt. Seated in the chair next to the bed, he put on a pair of argyle gray and black dress socks and slipped his black leather half boots on and zipped them up. Lulu had been watching this ritual, admiringly, sitting on the edge of the bed. "I think it's too soon for you to return to work." Standing, he buttoned the top button of his shirt and flipped up the collar, stringing his tie around his neck. "Well, it can't be any more strenuous than making love to you all day." He gave her a sideways grin, as he finished tying his tie. She walked over to him and gave him a peck on the cheek. She turned his collar down over his tie and reached for his suit jacket. She held it out to help him put it on. He stuck his arms in and she pulled the jacket up onto his shoulders. He turned around to her as he buttoned the top button. Lulu ran her hands down the lapels and said, "Very handsome." He kissed her lightly on the lips. "You can stay here as long as you want to," he said as he went to his desk to get his briefcase. He slipped his cell phone into his jacket inside pocket. "I'll clean up around here and then I'll go on home. I should check on things there. And I'm sure Alvin could use me back at the office so I might go in later on today." Nick was standing at the bedroom door. "Okay," he said, matter-of- factly. "Well, I'll see ya later then." Lulu listened for the front door and then went to the window to watch Nick drive away. ~~~//~~~ It was about 9:30 when Nick walked into the reception area of Fallin & Associates. It was really great to be back. He'd almost gone brain dead languishing in the hospital. He headed for his office. He heard several employees call out to him. He simply nodded and kept on walking. He didn't need a bunch of people glad-handing and welcoming him back. He just wanted to get back to normal as quickly as possible. The minute he sat down in his chair his phone rang. "Hello." "Nicholas. You back already?" It was his father. "Do you think that's wise?" "Yeah. I'm fine. Is there anything I need to know about any of my clients?" "Nicholas. Why don't you come into my office?" "Sure," he said, thinking he'd have to run the gauntlet again through the office. He left his office and headed for his father's. Anyone watching carefully would have noticed that Nick did not walk with his usual brisk pace. Outside Burton's office, Nick was greeted by Sheila. "Nick, so good to have you back again. You can go on in." "Thanks," Nick answered and went in without knocking. His father was standing at the window, gazing out, as he frequently did. Burton turned as he heard the door open. He walked to meet Nick halfway. He put his hand on his shoulder and said, "It's good to have you back, son. How are you feeling?" Almost impatiently, Nick answered, "I'm fine. Really, Dad, I'm fine." He didn't know how many more times he was going to have to answer that question. "Come. Have a seat." Burton walked around the desk and sat down in his chair as Nick took the chair across from him. "You asked about your cases. I think the only thing that couldn't wait was the Bill Josephs' deal. Jake was working on that for you. He can bring you up to speed." "Thanks, Dad." "Oh, Nicholas. A friend of mine in the D.A.'s office says they're gonna throw the book at Brian. They've charged him with aggravated assault and are going for the maximum time. There is a rumor that Brian's lawyer is trying to make a plea agreement in exchange for a reduced sentence, but the D.A.'s pushing for a trial." Burton noticed Nick's reaction to the news. He asked, "What is it, son?" Nick had his elbows on his knees. At the news, he had lowered his head. He now looked up at his dad and said, "A trial. I was hoping there'd be no trial. I don't really want to rehash this nightmare." Burton ran his hands across the top of his head, puzzled by Nick's attitude. Nick added, "Brian did something stupid. I've done that. Haven't you?" He glanced at his dad. "But, Nick. He could have killed you." "I really don't think that was his intent. He had a momentary lapse of judgment." At that moment, all Nick could think about was his own arrest. He had been able to salvage his career because the D.A. had accepted his plea. Of course, there was one difference; Nick had never tried to kill anyone. He had only hurt himself. "Is there something you're not telling me, Nicholas?" He waited for an answer and when there was no response, he continued. "Nick, is there something between you and Lulu? Do you feel Brian was justified in what he did?" Nick looked at his dad, his eyes telling it all. "At the time of the shooting, there was nothing, at least nothing physical, between us. That has changed." "I warned you about that, Nicholas." "I know, Dad." He shook his head; ashamed at his weakness. "Lulu has filed for divorce, but I realize that probably helps Brian's case. Brian's lawyer will have all the ammunition he needs for a `love triangle' defense; the cuckolded husband and all. A scandalous trial would mean messy headlines. I'm sure the firm doesn't need that kind of publicity." "That still doesn't absolve him of the aggravated assault charges. And he forced his way into your house. Clearly he was the aggressor." Burton took in a deep breath and let it escape as a heavy sigh. "What is it you want, Nicholas? You want him to walk?" "I wish the D.A. would quietly accept his plea. Let him do a few years. He probably won't be able to salvage his career, even then. His life is basically over. Do you know how that feels?" He turned to his dad. "Well, I do. I imagined my career slipping away after my arrest. A career I had worked all my adult life for; gone in an instant. Thankfully, the D.A. accepted my plea and I'm here today." Burton looked away. Nick was still not aware of his intervention in his arrest and subsequent plea bargain agreement. And now wasn't the time to tell him. "Well, if that's all, Dad, I should get back to work. It'll take a few days to sort through everything and find out where I am." He stood to leave. "Glad to have you back, son." Burton watched as his son pulled the door closed behind him. Burton picked up the phone and dialed Grant Sellers' number. He was put through directly by Sellers' assistant. "Grant, Burton, here. What can you tell me about the status of the Brian Olsen case? Is Goldfarb considering the plea?" "It's my recollection, Burton, that John's pushing for a full-blown trial. Isn't that what you wanted? A full measure of justice for what he did to your son?" "I just talked with Nick. He's of another mindset. He sees this as a nasty, possibly scandalous, trial which would serve no useful purpose but to create salacious headlines. The publicity would not be good for the firm. Do you think John would be open to a plea bargain? Just let this thing quietly fade into the night?" "I could check with him. The Office has been getting pressure about budget cuts. This case is pretty much open and shut. It wouldn't take long to try but it would still cost more to go that route than it would to negotiate a plea bargain that the defense would be foolish to reject. Are you sure this is what you want?" "It's what Nick wants. Anything you can do, Grant, I would appreciate." Grant was an Assistant D.A. and had more than the usual influence with John Goldfarb, having married John's sister. He was the son of one of Burton's most valued clients. They had known each other since before Grant graduated from law school. Burton had been instrumental in getting him his current job with the D.A.'s office after graduation. "I'll get back with you," Grant said with confidence. Burton was certain he would use discretion in making the suggestion for a plea bargain. Although Burton rarely had need for influence in the D.A.'s office, not having that much to do with criminal cases, his contact did come in handy on occasion. Burton leaned back in his chair, looking out the window, his fingers forming a tent in front of him. He had been completely surprised by Nick's benevolence towards Brian, after all that had happened. But, he had to admit, he had noticed subtle changes in Nick before now. He suspected these changes in Nick's attitude were due, in large part, to his work with Legal Services. His son was becoming a decent, caring human being. Burton let a smile cross his lips. And, that was a good thing. THE END ~~~~~~~~~