The Puppet Show Author: Limonize E-mail: spiral@spinfinder.com Rating: R, Adult Situations Summary: Nick plots revenge --+-- "I have a confession to make." Lulu blinked nervously, as she looked Nick in the eye. She had called him up this Saturday morning after the LSP shootings, to meet where they had once shared breakfast. He had hesitated at first before agreeing. Nick said nothing to her opening remark. He was still wondering why Lulu was not in San Francisco. His forehead was locked into a clearly delineated scowl as he waited for her to continue. Had she changed her mind and decided she was not going to leave the love of her life i.e. him, after all? "I didn't really get that job offer that I was telling you about." she plainly said. A large stone seemed to drop from the top of Nick's stomach to the bottom of it. "You mean it was all a hoax?" He glowered at her. "Most of it." she said guardedly, hoping against hope that he would understand. "And you did this to test my feelings?" he asked, feeling sick to his stomach at the thought. "If I'm honest about it, yeah. Yeah, I did." When she looked up to see his reaction, a motionless, expressionless Nick sat in front of her. He did not move, he did not look at her, and he did not blink. He seemed almost frozen in space. Feeling quite unnerved by his immobility, she continued by way of explanation: "I felt pretty guilty about it afterwards, but I needed some time to think things through." She turned her head sideways, feeling Nick's intense, disapproving stare burn through her, without actually seeing it. "Saying 'I love you' confused you, did it?" sneered Nick. "Yes! Yes, it did confuse me." she said, twisting her head back to face him. She wished it were not so, but she had not been able to trust his words of love, spoken only after her declaration of leaving and said in such a mechanical, cold way. She knew it had been a pretty dehumanizing test to put him through, something that under the circumstances, Lulu had felt nevertheless, was warranted. "And you thought I'd been taking advantage of you the whole time?" he was trying to determine the extent of her unwillingness to acknowledge his feelings for her, of how far she would twist his intentions. Trying even, to bait her. "Well, Nick – c'mon - you weren't being very committal now, were you?" she countered. A measure of self-defensiveness had crept into her tone. Did she expect too much in wanting him to understand her concern? "You were separated from Brian less than month, you invite me to have sex with you, you want me to make love to you in Brian's bed, you won't let me look after you after your accident, you date Dan-the-#$% *!-yoga-man, you screw with me in a washroom that same damn night, and you're talking about "commitment"? To me??" Nick's voice rose by decibel by decibel with his mounting anger. "That's why we're having this conversation. That's why I wanted to meet with you. I wanted to lay my cards on the table and -" "I think you've more than laid them out. Matter of fact, I think you've spread way too much of yourself around already!" Lulu turned red in fury at this degrading remark. "You cheapen everything!" she lashed out accusingly. "You haven't seen anything yet!" growled Nick. He got up and left her, throwing a small wad of dollar bills down so carelessly, that one of them rolled off the table. In a matter of seconds he was gone. Lulu broke down, sobbing. How could everything go so wrong? ~ ~ ~ Nick reached the end of the parking lot where he had parked. His anger sat like cold rocks at the bottom of his stomach and would not leave him. He had been made a fool of, like few times he could ever remember. He burned rubber leaving the lot, determined to never, ever see Lulu again. As he continued to drive, the nagging realisation occurred to him, that he would not even be so lucky. He and Lulu would cross paths in professional circles. People would look at them and see Nick-the- jilted - Mr."Whipped-whipped-whipped" – Lulu's boytoy. And to top it all off, she would take up with some sterling-reputationed idiot who didn't give two figs about her, and maybe even come crawling back to him months or years later. She certainly enjoyed the sex they had shared! It made him so angry, he could hardly concentrate on the road. His face burned with anger and humiliation thinking about all the things she had done, like laughing when he had gotten in trouble with a judge – even enduring psychiatric advice over how to communicate his feelings to her. Immersed deeply in self-pity at that moment, he hated the very thought of her. And he could think of nothing else. Why couldn't she just have moved away and left him be, instead of trying to pull his strings again, like a sadistic puppeteer? It was then, that an idea crossed Nick's mind. . . a rather nasty little revenge plot began to form in his mind. Could he enlist Jake's help, he wondered?… He pulled out his cell phone. "Jake? Nick. Remember that box of puppets you found at your cabin?…" ~ ~ ~ It was time once again for the annual fundraiser event held by LSP, for LSP, and Nick made a point of letting Alvin know that he would be willing to arrange for some entertainment for the guests in the form of a puppet show. "A PUPPET show?" said Alvin. "That's a real surprise coming from you, Nick! – and you're going to coordinate it?" "Yeah. Something a little different this year, for a change. Not as stuffy." "Hey – sounds good to me! Just let me know if you need anything. We have a bit of a budget we could throw into it," offered Alvin enthusiastically. "It's okay. I've got the puppets already. I might need a stage prop and curtains." "What's the show going to be called?" "Dick and MooMoo" "Dick and MooMoo? Never heard of it." "It's a new thing I wrote – should boost the LSP funding a little," replied Nick with a deadpan expression. ~ ~ ~ "Hey, Lulu! How's it going with –" Barb asked Lulu, as she made her way to Barb's desk with a briefcase of notes she'd compiled over the weekend. "It's not." Lulu coldly replied (Suggest: ," Lulu coldly replied.). She did not want to discuss her falling out with Nick with Barb, at least not on a Monday morning. It was not a good way to start her week, after a bad weekend of self-recriminating regrets, and more than a few shed tears. "O –ka-a-a-a-ay!" replied Barb, quickly realising this was not a topic to keep pursuing. "You've got some work stuff to add to my full "In" basket?" inquired Barb. "Yes, I do. I need it by lunch." replied Lulu, uncontrite about adding to Barb's heavy work load and pushing herself forward in the lineup, as Alvin emerged off the elevator. "Oh hey, say Lulu…?" asked Alvin, in his "I want to ask you a favor" tone of voice. "Yes, Alvin?" she answered in a guarded tone. "The LSP fundraiser is coming up and I wondered if you had time to…" "I'm really loaded down, Alvin," interrupted Lulu. "But if you're still going to auction some things off, I could make some donations…" "Donations would be fine." Alvin answered appeasingly, seeing that something was bothering Lulu. Pressuring her for anything more did not seem to be a recommended course of action. But he could not contain his curiosity about Nick's project: "By the way, are you helping Nick with his puppet show, by any chance?' "Puppet show?" Lulu was completely surprised at this news. She could not imagine Nick involving himself in any fundraising activities, as it did not fall into his probation-credited hours, let alone getting involved in a puppet show! "I didn't know about it. Is he doing it with someone?" asked Lulu, also curious. "I was surprised in the first place to hear he was getting involved in a puppet show. I had assumed he would be doing something like that with you." Alvin replied. "Nope." With that she excused herself, and disappeared into her office, closing the door. Feeling already bad that he was doing something like that – something she would have enjoyed being a part of – but of which he had told her nothing and would obviously not be invited to be a part of, Lulu thought to herself, no way am I going to be caught at this fundraiser without a date! And it was going to be someone more credible than Dan-the-yoga-man, if she had to hire a male escort to ensure it! No more of Nick's humiliations of her in public. She would see to it that Nick knew nothing of her attendance plans in advance, either. She even considered telling everyone she would not be attending, offering up some expedient excuse. She would tell no one about her mystery date before the evening of the fundraiser. ~ ~ ~ The three weeks preceding the fundraiser went quickly for Lulu, and she remembered she had yet to arrange a date. She called some of the single male lawyers who had shown her some positive attention in the past, despite her being married to Brian. But each it seemed - although they had gone out of their way to communicate how flattered they felt to be asked – was tied up or spoken for. "Lulu, if I wasn't flying to LA this weekend, I'd take you out for dinner, talk dirty through it, take you to the fundraiser, play footsie with you under the table until everyone got fed up and left. Then I'd take you back to my place and show you what beds are made for until you cried for it," said Steve Zander of Zander Redman, in a lecherous but deep, sexy voice. "But I'm stuck on a plane to LA for a deal-to-kill-for! What can I do? – but when I get back, you're on the top of my rolodex, babe! "Uh, thanks, Steve. Another time, when you've returned from your trip to the moon…" Lulu realised that calling Steve had been a mistake - she must be sounding desperate, calling men she hadn't spoken to in a long time. Why go through all this embarassment? I'll call an escort service, she thought to herself. "What type of an escort would you like, asked the woman on the other end, as if Lulu were making a pizza order?" "What choices do I have?" asked Lulu "Race, nationality, height, certain features." "Educated. Blond…American - do you have that?" Yes ma'am, the operator responded in a bored manner. "Any height restrictions?" asked the operator. "Over 5' 8" – do you have that? "Certainly ma-am. The next one on the list fitting that description is 6'1, blue eyes and he has a college degree in engineering technology. You give us your phone number and we will have someone call you back within twenty minutes. If you and he are satisfied after a couple of minutes of interview, you can make your arrangements, and you call us back and give us credit card number. We verify payment while you wait…we take Discovery, Visa… "And are theydiscreet?" Lulu asked, almost not believing this could be so easy. "Certainly ma'am! We would not be in business long, if they weren't. Apollo Escorts prides itself on repeat customers! ~ ~ ~ "Richard Jones here. You called for an escort?" "Uh yeah" answered Lulu. "Thanks for getting back so quickly." "My pleasure," he coolly.answered "And what we can we do for the lady today?" "I have to attend a fundraiser where there will be some events – dancing - and a bit of mixing among lawyers, professionals, business people and such. "My brother's a lawyer." he stated matter-of-factly. "Really?" Lulu was surprised at this. "Entertainment law." he added. "Well, this group – I'm really needing discretion – you aren't socially connected with any child advocacy or corporate types are you?" she asked with concern. "Any types I would be connected to are not aware of my part-time job. I understand your concerns. Please do not worry about my being discrete. In your job, you protect your client's confidentiality. Let me assure you, I protect mine!" On hearing this, Lulu breathed a big sigh of relief. "Okay, then…" - end of Part 1 – --+-- The Puppet Show – Part 2 "Louisa?" asked an unfamiliar, baritone voice. "Richard?" she replied hesitantly, looking around among the café tables. "How do you do?" He stood up from his chair to shake Lulu's hand lingeringly, smiling at her warmly - almost shyly - she thought. She could not take her eyes off his shoulders which looked as they belonged on the body of a pro football player. It was also less intimidating for her to be looking there, than directly into his electric, blue eyes. "Very well, thank you – please, call me `Lulu'," She tried to avoid stammering and remain calm. "You're...somehow taller than I had imagined." struggling to speak further. "And you are everything that I had imagined!" he graciously replied. He reached out and placed his hand gently under her elbow to escort her from the café. "Why don't you tell me a little more about this event and I will try to make your evening enjoyable?" They moved toward the exit. "My car's over this way..." she answered, as he questioningly searched her face. ~ ~ When Richard had seated himself in the car, he turned and faced Lulu. As she went to twist the key in the ignition, he gently placed his hand on hers. She drew her hand away from the keys in surprise, her senses on high alert. She looked directly this time into his sapphire blue eyes, feeling very unsure about what would follow. "We escorts normally don't discuss personal arrangements through the agency," he evenly explained. "But it is prudent for me to ask now more specifically: what services are you looking for this evening?" applying a suggestive tone. "Services? Ah-m..." Unprepared for such a question, but with his meaning clear, Lulu felt caught completely off guard. She began to blush profusely. She had heard that some of shadier massage parlors offered "services" but had not had any idea that an escort service in the Yellow Pages would lead to such things - else it would this have not been evident when she phoned? "Just, just to go this event - that's..that's okay, isn't it? To just have that? I mean I didn't realize…" she stammered. "Certainly," he assured her soothingly, "A significant amount of our clientele simply want to avail themselves of public escorting services." "But a lot want more?" she inferred, now curious. "Correct." he politely replied. Changing the focus of their discussion he continued: "Now, you were saying that this event..." Lulu felt grateful not to feel any further pressure, but it took awhile for her heartbeat to regain its normal rhythm. She stared more closely at him, wondering how many women he had "serviced". Although she considered him attractive, he did not look "the type". She had noted he was conservatively dressed, with a somewhat formal, shy way about him. Lulu asked herself privately. She smiled fleetingly to herself about her silliness. She thought she had known Brian, until their marriage had brought hidden flaws into glaring focus over a short passage of a few months. Realizing her traffic light had turned "green", she emptied her mind and tried to think of where they were going and how she would present Richard to others. Where had they supposedly met for instance? ~ ~ ~ "Lulu!" She turned to see Steve Zander heading toward her, as she entered the hotel lobby, from the direction of the larger conference room hallway. "They postponed things at the last minute, so I grabbed a bite at the airport, and then drove over here – just in case!" He looked at Richard, sizing up the competition and Lulu noticed his self-confident veneer wilt just a little in the process. "Looks like I got here too late, though!" he said with nervous chagrin. "Uh, hi, Steve - Richard, this is Steve Zander…of Zander Redman. Steve, this is -" Lulu stuttered. Richard extended his hand quickly to the man, shaking his hand firmly, introducing himself: "Richard Jones. How do you do? And I take it, you are senior partner of Zander Redman?" Richard had immediately struck a good note with Steve, since Steve was unlikely to make senior partner in the next decade, unless or until his uncle became ill. "Soon." replied Richard warily. From Lulu's point of view, Richard had passed his first test of mixing very well, leaving her more at ease than she had felt all day. "Well, Steve…Lulu and I will be heading in now – will be you be supporting this needy, underfunded project in some way with us?" Steve looked at them a little askance. "Uh, yes. I'll be joining the group in awhile." Rather uncomfortably, he retreated from them with a slight hand wave. " I'll catch you folks later!" "What a lecherous sleazebag!" commented Richard, as soon as Steve was no longer within earshot, turning to face Lulu. He was greeted by a huge grin that had spread across her face, pinkening her cheeks and leaving her eyes sparkly. "Nailed the target, did I?" quipped Richard with a small smirk. ~ ~ "So Nick?" Jake asked, as they stood in proximity before some tables which had been panel partitioned from the attendees - the banqueter's equivalent of "backstage". Nick fiddled with a tape recorder, ensuring he had a good microphone distance, balancing volume with hiss, near where his puppet stage sat. Although intrigued about what Nick had wanted the puppets for since he had first asked him for them, Nick had volunteered nothing to Jake. And no one else it seemed, knew anything about what the puppet show was supposed to be about, either. Even Barb, who usually knew anything and everything about what was going on if something had even only the remotest chance of becoming public fodder, could not offer Jake anything about Nick's impending puppet performance. "No one has a clue what you're up to. What have you got cooked up - why all the secrecy?" Jake folded his arms, eyebrows raised and braving a smile as he watched him, hoping Nick would give him at least an inkling. "No secrecy," declared Nick, "Just been working out a few things… besides, it's no fun if everyone knows ahead of time, right?" Nick glanced up at Jake, a glint of mischief flashing from his eyes. Jake returned the smile, with deep bafflement still lingering. Nick's look of mischief was a look Jake only saw when Nick was hot on the heels of a "killer" closing deal. He wondered why that shark-like look of Nick's would be there now, since no business deal was imminent that he knew about. "Okay, well, listen man! I'll catch you later – look forward to seeing this thing – never figured you for a puppetmeister!" With that, Jake disappointedly made his way back into the burgeoning throng, returning to his seat at Burton's table where he had been sitting. Burton had decided to attend to show LSP some support for Nick's sake, and because of his growing familiarity with some of the LSPers. He had even gone so far as to donate some antiques which had been taking up some room in an unused basement alcove, for the auction part of the evening. Jake had been curious to see how interestingly his puppets had been put to use. He found it difficult to imagine what possible use Nick had found for them. thought Burton. Pleased to see her, he grinned warmly and waved. Jake dropped his chin and whispered to him: "Wonder who that guy with her is? Never seen him before!" Lowering his head, Burton speculated, "Er, I don't know. Perhaps he's a relation," feeling a little puzzled himself. Lulu glanced in Burton's direction, and noticing him, she tried to hide her surprise at seeing him. She returned his smile warmly, waving, but veered Richard quickly to the other side of the room. Burton and Jake exchanged questioning looks. "Talks your ear off, does he?" Richard speculated. "Not exactly." replied Lulu cryptically. "There are introductions I'd care not to make, and questions I don't want to try to have to answer right now." "No problem. We'll dance on opposite ends - I won't even allow him to cut in –" "Thank you, Richard – you're being very helpful, being here this evening - you really are!" Lulu smiled again, but with a trace of discomfort now evident. Her feelings of inhibition had returned at seeing Burton. It was a reminder that Nick was probably around somewhere and the thought of Nick being close by but unseen, made her even more nervous and uncomfortable than if he had been simply been in plain view. "So tell me, Lulu – such nice names: "Louisa", "Lulu" – do you enjoy ballroom dancing?" She giggled. "I – actually – I've hardly done any since I was a teenager. A couple of slow dances with Nick did not qualify, in her estimation. My ex-husband – " "Ex-husband? What a fool! – do go on…" "He wasn't into it. He figured if..." Richard drew her out, patiently relaxing her with his flattering attentiveness. He found her attractive and sexy – he adored petite, intelligent women with hard bodies – it had been a disappointment to him to learn that she would not be wanting extra services. Perhaps with a bit of extra effort, she could be persuaded to change her mind. he thought. ~ ~ ~ With everything set up according to plan, Nick now took some time out while the emcee initiated the proceedings, to scan through the attendees. He wanted to verify for himself that Lulu was actually there. If she was not, it would spoil a good deal more than half of his fun. he said to himself. But his thoughts went back to that morning when she had barely bat an eye over telling him that she had only pretended to accept a job offer. She had even questioned his integrity on that afternoon that he had told he had loved her! She had said "You're not just saying that because I got the job, are you?" playing the manipulated victim AND accusing him of insincerity. He finally spotted her, dressed in a low-cut, satin yellow – she looked beautiful! And radiant. And happy. Sitting with – !!!? His heart momentarily stopped beating. His mouth dried instantly. Nick wondered in abject shock. His stomach wrenched from an invisible punch. He had expected Lulu to arrive looking a little mousy and a little depressed – she had looked that way to him for the preceding two weeks at LSP, any time he had been obliged to cross paths with her, thereby being forced to take notice of her. A part of him wanted to reconsider continuing along the path he had set himself on. Yet another more frontal part of him boiled and raged in the realization that in less than a month, she had managed to not only start a new relationship with someone - just as he had predicted! Bt she also looked as HAPPY as hell sitting with him and - worse! - listening closely to whatever drivel he was spewing! his pounding throat and tightening temples screamed. ~ ~ ~ As the auction drew to a close, and a musical interlude began, Richard drew closer to Lulu. "Would you care to dance, Lulu?" he asked. To Lulu, he appeared to be very sincere in his enjoyment and interest of her. He seemed as if he would be delighted to dance with even a klutz like her "Um. I'm not…" "Come on, Lulu! We've got to work those lemon pie calories off now, don't we?" he smiled as he teased. He suspected she wanted to put on a show for someone in particular, because she had been glancing over her shoulder a number of times. And because easily, this type of scenario easily accounted for a third of his business. On at least a few occasions, some of the husbands and boyfriends, having been tipped to his presence by his client, had arrived during a situation of *"flagrante in delicto", leaving Richard running for his skin! Lulu got up and walked tentatively to the dance floor with Richard. "Just relax and follow my lead. I'll make you forget he's even in here." Startled, Lulu looked up him, eyes widened. "Who?" "The guy you're trying to make jealous!" "I'm not…I…" she stammered unconvincingly. He swept her up to him and twirled her around in a half circle, almost dizzying her. He then began to sway in an easy rhythm which she was surprised to discover, she had little difficulty following. "You're a very good dancer!" she said appreciatively, with enthusiasm. thought Nick, clenching his teeth angrily, watching them surreptitiously, from between two large panels situated at the back of the daised area If Lulu had known where to look, she would have spotted two eyeballs transfixed on her every move from the moment Nick had first espied her. "There IS someone who I just wanted to show, that I'm getting on with my life." Lulu explained to Richard. "Another fool?" Richard replied. thought Lulu miserably, suddenly overcome by a wave of sadness. She missed Nick's arms and his arousing, woodland-like smell whenever she would draw her face close to his jacket. She missed him so much her eyes moistened, and she almost began to sniffle. "So quiet." commented Richard. "You just hold on to me. Richard will take care of you." She took comfort from his supportive, solid arms and stiff posture. "Ben!" shouted a loud female voice, interrupting their quiet reverie. Richard pretended not to hear the voice of his brother's old babysitter, Barb. "Ben! It's me, Barb! - Lulu!! I didn't know you knew Ben!…" "I'm sorry – I think you must have me confused with someone else." Richard responded flatly, looking a cross between puzzled, and irritated at being interrupted. "Ben – you're not Ben?" asked Barb incredulously. Lulu interjected, sensing the truth, but having no investment in having it revealed if in fact, Barb were right. "Barb, this is Richard Jones – we met fairly recently, and I asked Richard to accompany me this evening. Barb's mind whirled furiously trying to make sense of the scenario. She was ninety-nine percent certain she was looking at Ben Adamson of the engineering firm, Adamson Engineering. But unable to make sense of it, she capitulated, apologising. "Oh, sorry. You looked so much like someone I used to know!" Richard scowled. It was rare that a situation like this occurred, and he knew it did not further his position with Lulu one bit that Barb had recognised him. He wondered if anything about her continued interest in him personally was retrievable, or if it had been lost forever with this close call. He examined Lulu, who in turn was inspecting the room for anyone who seemed to have taken notice. Lulu turned around to face Barb again, smiling weakly. "Think there will be a lot donations, tonight?" She hoped that Barb would take the cue and end their talking quickly. "I don't know – I think people are pretty blasé tonight. But there's still Nick's puppet show, so who knows? Maybe he's got something special in store?" "Nick who?" replied Lulu, feigning ignorance. Barb knew she was being conned this time! However Lulu's stare deflected any urge in Barb to pursue the issue. "You don't waste any time, do you Lu? Barb smiled. "Have fun! See ya later..." Barb finally walked away, to both Lulu and Richard's relief. "So, this fellow has a name: "Nick" - is that like "Nick the Prick"? Richard had sensed his avenues of possibility closing as Lulu had reflexively stiffened at the sound of the puppeteer's name. But unable to resist what his instincts told him was an unwelcome, tacky remark he had chosen to say it anyway. Lulu became silent. This time however, she did not smile at Richard's quipping, confirming to him what he had realised only too well: that he had gone too far. After all, to Lulu he was still an unfamiliar stranger. ~ end of Part 2 ~ --+-- The Puppet Show – Part 3 "Good evening, Lulu!" She heard a familiar voice from behind where she and Richard were seated. She almost dropped her glass, as her heart skipped a beat on hearing it. It was Nick's voice. She turned her head uneasily, to face him. "How's the lovely couple tonight?" Nick asked. There was a subtle tone of aggressiveness and acidity to his voice that left Lulu speechless and surprised. She knew Nick to be an avoider of situations and not a provoker of them. "Aren't you going to introduce me?" Nick persisted, looking into her eyes. She saw the icy steel which lay behind his narrowed, pupil pinpoints and it frightened her. "Blow off." said Richard coldly, lifting his head in Nick's direction. "You're presence isn't wanted here." His voice sounded detached and his demeanor remained calm in the face of Nick's glare. Nick's continued glaring frightened Lulu even more. "We're okay, Nick - thanks." answered Lulu finally, attempting to avert an unpleasant situation from becoming more unpleasant Lulu began to feel panicky as Nick continued to stand close to her. "That's up to Lulu," replied Nick in a voice which conjured up an image of a caged cougar, pacing, waiting, his adrenaline releasing by slow degrees, "not you." "Nick-the-Prick. Small dick? Doesn't know when to quit? – did I get it right?" Richard egged him on mockingly, as he leaned cockily back in his chair, thrusting his chin up in Nick's direction. Glancing at Nick, Lulu felt dumbfounded as she watched Nick's face blanch. Richard began to laugh almost hysterically, tears welling up in his eyes. Although she could not see Richard's face, Lulu heard the undercurrent of tension and pain in Richard's laughter. It left her feeling even dumbfounded. Nick's rage began to uncoil firstly in his feet - a hot, red surge started to rise slowly, inching itself up through his body like mercury rising through a thermometer. The crimson flush continued creeping upward, spreading through his neck, destined for what obviously could only result in a bulbous explosion. Lulu sat transfixed in her chair, too astonished to even breathe as she watched Nick's adrenaline transform him into a tightly sprung fighting machine. Nick himself temporarily seemed rooted, until his adrenaline surge reached his ears. Suddenly, he sprang onto Richard like a wildcat, angrily attempting to choke him, while he fiercely drove his knee into his stomach at the same time, letting out a raucous, male, feline screech. Richard fell backwards onto the floor in his chair from the force of his attack. "Nick! Nick! No!!!" Lulu shrieked. "No! Please!!?" Richard tried to grasp Lulu's dress in a feeble attempt to regain his balance. On seeing this, Nick became even more livid. "You phoney, two-bit con artist!" Nick drew his fisted arm back for more momentum and smashed Richard's chin hard, oblivious to the damage he was inflicting to his own hand. "Nick, stop! He's not a con artist! Leave him alone!" "He's a goddam fake!!" he bellowed. "Barb told me he was using a fictitious name!" He went to shake Richard by the throat for the second time. It was the last thing Nick remembered, as Richard suddenly thrust his body upright and smashed Nick hard on the cheek with his meaty fist, banging him straight backwards where Nick's head hit the floor hard, knocking him unconscious. "Omigod! - Omigod! - OMIGOD!" screamed Lulu, panicking. "Help him!" concluded Richard, still dazed from having landed on the floor after the knee in his stomach, now listening to Lulu's moans about Nick's condition. "I think we'll call it a night, Lulu." said Richard. "Would you like me to walk you to your car?" "Migod, Richard! Call 9-1-1! He's unconscious!" Richard pulled out his cellphone and punched the numbers. "Unconscious male at the Regency Hotel…" He hung up. "Good luck with Nick-the-Prick." He walked away hurriedly before much attention could be directed his way. "Bye, Ben." she called out in small gesture of appreciation of the small part of him that had been genuine in his interest in her. He turned around surprised to hear his real name spoken. "Bye pretty Lulu." He face carried a sad, sunken expression. After brief moments, he was gone. Nick could feel the room around him. He was aware of a slightly nauseating spinning sensation and a white hot burning sensation in his cheek. He brought his hand to it and opened his eyes. Seeing Lulu bent over him, he sighed at the sight of "infinite pain and pleasure" blinking and staring down at him with deeply pooled, onyx-like eyes. She began to stroke his forehead soothingly. It left Nick feeling transported to a place of succor and warmth he had rarely experienced since childhood. He was perspiring and covered in a light sheen of it all over his body. "Don't move. The ambulance is coming to get you." she whispered, her voice calming. He glanced at her dress, noticing drops of blood on it. "How long have I been here?" croaked Nick. "Only a few minutes. Can you see, okay?" She caressed his unhurt cheek, hoping to keep him calm, unsure how badly he had been hit. "Yeah. Where's that guy?" He tried to lift his head a little, to take in his surroundings. The strain on his cheek muscles punished him for the attempt. "Ungh!" he moaned, closing his eyes again. "Forget him." She gently cradled his head, easing him back down into a lying position. She began to stroke his hair. The crowded room had ceased to exist for Lulu. She could see only Nick before her, although a few onlookers glanced in their direction, walking a wide circle around their table, whispering in lowered voices. "Did he leave you here, alone?" Nick asked, opening his eyes again, realising that he and Lulu, despite being in the middle of a crowd, seemed to be almost exclusively in each other's company. "I sent him away." she lied, avoiding a more revealing explanation. "He was no good for you." Nick commented matter-of-factly, closing his eyes again briefly, trying not to place any tension on the right side of his face. His cheek began to throb hotly. "He would have said anything to get into your pants." "What would you know about it, Nick?" she responded, less than happy that Nick presumed to make such a comment to her. "I watched him. I watched his moves." Nick felt he understood Richard's type only too well – a hungry, prowling male with his trigger cocked - not so unlike himself. "Sounds like you're jealous." remarked Lulu, unwilling to concede to Nick that she may only have represented a conquest to Richard. She continued to run her fingers gently across the skin on Nick's forehead, and to stroke his shoulder gently. "Looks like you're so over me, so fucking fast!" he moaned. "How do you that, exactly?" he asked her challengingly, trying to avoid wincing from the pain of the blow. It tended only to exacerbate it "Trying, but not succeeding." answered Lulu dejectedly, sharing that simple truth with him. "No? Wasn't he tall enough for you? What exactly was the problem?" Lulu laughed at the ridiculousness of the question. Nick felt better for having evoked it. He loved to hear and watch her giggly laugh. "You look pretty spectacular in that dress." Nick finally swung himself into an upright position to look at her more directly. "You should lie down." she said, worried that he would aggravate his battered condition. "Call 9-1-1." "Why?" "Because as much as I like to fuck you in public, I think it would be uncomfortable doing it an ambulance." he said deadpan. "Cancel it." Lulu looked at him in utter disbelief. His words seemed to summon all the suppressed hurts, desires, and longing she had felt because of him all at the same moment. Overwhelmed, tears suddenly began to stream down in a torrent. Her chest heaved so painfully as she cried, nothing could have stopped it. Remembering only too well, his debasing remark to her in the restaurant, Nick felt stabbed by a deep pang of guilt. He would have been willing to cut his arm off to rid himself of it at that moment. "Don't cry, Lulu." he said gently. "What the hell are you doing on the floor?" demanded Jake. "The show's about to –"….Then he saw Nick's cheek wound, and looked up at Lulu for an explanation. "War wound." commented Lulu through her haze of tears, mimicking Nick's penchant for brevity. "Is anyone else hurt?' Jake asked, very puzzled. "Nicholas! Nicholas, what happened?" Burton had finally caught up to Jake. "Some asshole told me to `blow off' and other assorted not-nice things, so I decked him and he decked me back." "That temper of yours!" Burton chided, his brows furrowed in concern. "Like father like son." retorted Nick with a wincing smile. Burton bit his lip to stop from smiling. He knew all too well what Nick was getting at, and he did not want to appear to condone it. "Well, let's head out." suggested Burton, extending his hand to help Nicholas to his feet. "Thanks, Dad, but Lulu's going to give me a lift home." He turned to look in Lulu's direction. "Just like that, I'm your taxi service?" griped Lulu, secretly very happy at the idea of leaving with Nick. "We have some unfinished business." said Nick ominously. ~ ~ ~ Nick did not speak as Lulu drove. But he eyed her furtively from time to time. "You're awfully quiet." said Lulu nervously, wondering what was going through his mind. Wondering what it meant if anything, that he was entrusting himself to her care. "Don't want to distract your driving." Nick wisecracked. "I guess I deserve that one!" replied Lulu. . "Are you going to drive me to your place?" asked Nick, noticing Lulu seemed lost in thought. "You want me to?" she asked, hoping her longing for this was not too obvious.. "Yeah. You can look after me better, there." Lulu said nothing. Her stomach was tight with the tension of not knowing what Nick was thinking, and wondering what the unfinished business was, that he had referred to so ominously. Nick let out a small groan from the unrelenting pounding pain in his cheek. "I should drive you to the hospital, Nick." Her concern for his well-being now overshadowed her hope to have him with her, at her place. "Yeah, well I don't need to be down there getting X-rayed and examined by a sleepy doctor at 2:00 am. I can go there in the morning, after a good night's sleep. You've got some painkillers at your place? "Yeah, lots. I lived with a doctor, remember? Our bathroom is like a pharmacy," she replied sheepishly, "so you're planning to crash, then?" wanting to know if he would find it acceptable to stay with her the night, in her home. They exchanged nervous glances, barely suppressing the urge to grin at each other. The excitement of being together again was almost too intense for either of them. ~ ~ ~ "Ow, Lulu – that HURTS – didn't Brian teach you a little bedside technique?" Nick yelped, as she applied antiseptic to his cheek lightly - but apparently not lightly enough. The silk folds of her dress brushed against his sore-knuckled hand. He reached up and braced it gently, palming it against her waist in self-protection - the only place he could think of where she could not accidentally bump him . "You'd like to dance now?" she asked him teasingly, glancing down at where he held his hand. "It's more important that it gets all in there, than you feeling comfortable, Fallin." Nick really would have preferred to be able to embrace her and dance with her at that moment, but his soreness was a serious deterrent. "'Comfortable' - and `uncomfortable," Nick echoed, "Those are those euphemistic words nurses and doctors use in place of `hurts like a bitch' vs. `climbing the frigging walls-type pain', right?" Lulu giggled. "Yes, they are. But they're not the only people to use euphemisms, are they?" Nick looked up at her questioningly. "You're intimating that I am not straightforward?" "You use words like "phoney" when you mean "motherfucking, overgrown asshole, septic tank!" She looked to see Nick's reaction. Nick was surprised at the intrusion of such nasty language into their conversation, especially from her. "Let's stick to euphemisms…" She brought him some pillows and propped him up, so that he would be unlikely to experience breathing difficulties or fall asleep too quickly. Sleeping was also not recommended where a concussion was possible. "Nick, um, because you passed out, you really shouldn't sleep for awhile…" "T'sokay. I'm not tired. Come here." He tapped his palmed hand in the place he wished her sit, beside his hip, where he lay outstretched on the couch. "Okay. There's something we still have to settle here. Something that's been bothering me…" "What's that?" remembering his words "we have some unfinished business". She began to tremble, not knowing what to expect. He lifted her hand and placed it gently on his crotch, in turn resting his hand atop hers. Gazing at her, he remained silent. His erection began to swell slowly under her hand. She studied his face closely, while he continued to hold her hand firmly, so she could not move it away, except forcibly. His eyes began to mist over. As she continued to watch him raptly, her libido beginning to stir. He said nothing to her, however. As a heated flush crept across his face, she began to breathe more heavily. His erection swelled even more. Very slowly, he began to draw her hand along the outline of his shaft. She moaned reflexively. Speaking in a low, seductive whisper he said: "So, I have to ask you something Lulu…" She could barely hear him, but looked at him questioningly, breathing ever more heavily. She was feeling reluctant now to pay much attention to anything, but his and her state of arousal. She wanted him badly. "I need to know something…" he repeated. "What?" she answered weakly, hoping he would not ask her something too complicated, too emotional - her waves of desire were overpowering her, becoming more intense with each passing few seconds. "Is is true…" Nick started again. "Is what true?" she asked dreamily, not understanding. "Is it true what he said -?" His intent was to tease. Her reaction to his arousal was becoming much powerful than she could ever have anticipated. She was losing control of her senses. As her urgency to merge with him began to consume her, even asking "Wha-t?" became very difficult. "That I have a SMALL dick?" he asked in a plaintive, high, boyish voice. She tried with immense difficulty to calm herself. "No. No, Nick." Catching her breath, she leant her face into his shoulder toward his ear, moving her lips in a circular direction. She did this to ensure that her hot breath was felt to come from a number of different directions, making Nick shudder violently. "I promise you –" she murmured softly, interrupting herself briefly to wiggle the tip of her tongue in his ear fleetingly, "you are without a doubt…the BIGGEST prick around!" Satisfied, he hissed back: "And don't you forget it, baby!" With that, he unzipped himself quickly, and lifted her dress folds onto his stomach. He then brought her hand to his mouth, nuzzling its underside gently with his lips. She began to whimper while he did this. She gasped as he lapped his wet tongue gently along the inside of her hot palm. "You can ride home with ME now." he smiled at her quixotically, watching her from the corners of his eyes. She looked at him, puzzled. "Hop on." he hinted wickedly. ~ ~ ~