The Rift

 

AUTHOR:  Shirley

 

E-mail:  sbell_1944@yahoo.com 
 

RATING:  PG-13

 

CONTEXT: This storyline explores the fall-out which might occur 'if'
Mary Gressler does have the HOTS for Young Mr. Fallin-as the promos for
"Understand Your Man" might suggest. 

 

DISCLAIMER:  The characters portrayed herein have been shamelessly taken
directly from "The Guardian" - a CBS TV Series.  The scenarios and
storyline are strictly figments of my imagination; except where loosely
based on the "You Belong to Me" episode.  A scene excerpt has been
included from that episode.  The resemblance to any person(s) living or
dead is purely coincidental. Any similarity of events, dates, or
characters or the portrayal of events, dates or characters depicted in
any FanFic previously posted by other authors is totally unintentional. 
This is a work of FICTION.

 

 

~~~~~~

 

 

Nick pulled up in front of his father's house.  He was excited about
showing him the proposal for the Stickley deal.  He rang the bell and
was noticeably surprised when the door was opened by Mary Gressler.  For
a moment he was speechless but was finally able to squeak out the
question, "Where's my father?"

 

"He called and said he'd be late.  Come in, Nick.  Please." 

 

Nick was still getting used to the idea that Mary and Shannon were
living at his father's house.  He hadn't liked the idea when his dad had
told him but he knew better than to express his opinion. 

 

"Why don't you come into the library and wait.  It shouldn't be too much
longer."  Mary led the way. 

 

She was dressed in some kind of lounging outfit which made him feel
uncomfortable.  A little too casually dressed, if you asked him. 
"Where's Shannon?" 

 

"Oh, she went to the movies with some friends from school.  Can I get
you a drink?" 

 

He was a little surprised at the question since she was aware of his
substance abuse problem.  He just shook his head and said, "No." 

 

She took a sip of her own drink which she'd obviously been sipping on
for awhile.  "Nick.  Don't you wanna sit?" 

 

"Ah..."  He looked around.  A fire was crackling in the fireplace and the
lights were dimmed.  It was just a little too... well... "No.  I'll just see
him at the office tomorrow."  He started to leave.

 

Mary placed her hand on his arm to keep him from going.  "Nick.  You
know this arrangement that I have with your father... Well... we're just
friends, that's all."  She put her hands on his lapels and stepped closer. 

 

He gently grasped her wrists to try and keep her at a distance.  "I
should really be going." 

 

"I'm afraid he thinks it might be more... but, I don't wanna hurt him." 

 

At that moment, his father opened the door to the library and was
stunned to find Mary and Nick together.  No one moved for an awful
second then Burton backed out of the room, quietly pulling the door
closed. 

 

Mary stepped back.  "Nick, maybe you should go and talk to him." 

 

"Talk to him about what?"

 

"You know... about this."  She waved her hand around the room. 

 

Nick furrowed his brow.  "What are you talking about?"

 

"You and me." 

 

"Are your crazy?"  He turned to leave. 

 

"But, at the office..."

 

He turned around to face her and with disgust said, "I was just being
nice to you because you were my father's friend."  He scoffed and
grabbed the library door, yanking it open.

 

He found his father standing in the darkened living room, drink in hand,
staring out the bay window. 

 

"Dad..."

 

"You should just leave, Nicholas," Burton said, quietly but
matter-of-factly, without turning from the window. 

 

"But, Dad... it's not..."

 

"Just leave!" Burton repeated, more forcefully, still facing the window. 

 

After a moment to regain his composure, Nick removed an envelope from
his inside coat pocket and placed it on the coffee table.  "Here's the
Stickley deal."  He waited another second for a response and, getting
none, he made his leave through the front door. 

 

Burton watched his son drive away.

 

"Burton..."  Mary had quietly entered the living room.  "Burton, it's not
what you think." 

 

He took another long sip of his drink then walked deliberately to the
front door and turned the deadbolt lock.  He flipped off the front porch
light and turned to leave the room.  "I'm going to bed."  After setting
his empty drink glass on the kitchen counter, he made his way slowly up
the stairs and to his room. 

 

~/~/~/~

 

Nick didn't arrive at Fallin & Fallin until close to 10:00 due to an LSP
case hearing at the courthouse.  As he passed his dad's office he
noticed it was dark.  He continued to his own office and after removing
his overcoat, he returned to his father's office to find out what was
going on. 

 

"Gretchen.  Where's my father?"

 

"He called in earlier.  He won't be in today."

 

"Why not?"

 

"He didn't say."  She returned to the work on her desk. 

 

He stood for a moment, then returned to his office. 

 

It had continued to bother him throughout the morning that his father
was not at work and hadn't left a message for him.  He finally dialed
his phone. 

 

"Hello," his father answered, on the first ring. 

 

"Dad..."  The line suddenly went dead.  Nick looked at the receiver then
slowly returned it to its cradle. 

 

His phone buzzed.  He touched the intercom button.  "Yes?"

 

"Your 11:30 appointment is here, Mr. Fallin.  I've set them up in the
conference room."

 

"Thank you."  Nick grabbed the file on the corner of his desk and headed
for the conference room.

 

~/~/~/~

 

Burton poured himself another cup of coffee and took a drag on his
cigarette.  He turned as he heard Mary enter the kitchen.  She had on
her coat and at her feet were two suitcases. 

 

Burton leaned against the kitchen counter and took a sip of coffee.

 

"I guess I have everything."  She half smiled.  "Burton... I'm sorry I
hurt you.  I never meant to do that." 

 

He took a long drag on his cigarette. His expression-indiscernible. 

 

"Aren't you gonna say anything, Burton?"

 

"What's there to say?" 

 

"Right.  Well... I guess I'll be going."  She picked up the suitcases.  He
did not offer to help.  She set the suitcases down in order to open the
back door then struggled with them and the door until she was finally on
the back patio. "I'll pick Shannon up from school today."  Still no
response from Burton.  "Bye." 

 

Burton stood at the back door and watched as she loaded the cases in the
back of her fifteen year old Taurus. She could have had anything she
wanted. 

 

Just before getting into the car she called out to him.  "Burton. 
Thanks for everything."  He slowly closed the back door and walked to
the coffee pot to pour a fresh cup.  He grabbed the rolled-up newspaper
and carried it to the library.

 

On his day off, the first he'd taken in years, he planned to catch up on
some of the reading he'd neglected lately.

 

~/~/~/~

 

Nick had been busy at LSP all morning.  When he got to Fallin & Fallin
around 1:00, he noticed his father was in his office.  That was good. 
Now he might get a chance to talk with him about the Stickley proposal. 
He hurriedly dispensed with his overcoat and briefcase and headed to his
father's office. 

 

With his hand on the door handle, he started to make his entry,
formulating in his mind what he was going to say, when Gretchen
interrupted his thoughts. 

 

"Nick."

 

He glanced her way as he started to open the door. 

 

"Your father does not want to be disturbed."

 

"But, there's something important..."

 

"He gave strict instructions that he didn't want to be disturbed for any
reason," she said, authoritatively.

 

"Right.  Okay."  Nick returned to his office. 

 

Back in his office, Nick paced back and forth.  His dad was being an ass
about this.  He rubbed his hand down the back of his head. 

 

The buzzer sounded on his phone.  He pressed the button.  "Yes?" 

 

"Mr. Fallin, there's a delivery for you at the front desk."

 

"Fine.  Fine.  I'll be right there." 

 

On his way to the front desk, he glanced into his father's office and
for a moment their gazes met... until his father turned away. 

 

~/~/~/~

 

Nick spent the afternoon going over the documents he'd received
earlier.  Time had quickly slipped away and before he realized it, it
was nightfall.  He sensed that the office was deserted.  He straightened
his desk and wearily pulled on his overcoat.  After locking his office
door, he started down the hallway.  As he passed his father's office, he
was surprised to see him sitting at his desk.  He was leaned back in his
chair, gazing out the window. 

 

Nick went to his door and, for a brief moment, thought about just
leaving without saying anything.  But... finally, gathering up the nerve,
he walked in without knocking. 

 

Burton slowly looked his way then turned back to the window. 

 

"Dad..."  He waited for Burton to acknowledge him.  When he didn't, he
continued.  "I'm sorry.  But... it... it wasn't what you think."  Still no
response from Burton.  Nick walked to the window, one hand on his hip
and the other rubbing the back of his head and neck.  "Listen... I... well,
I care about someone else."  He didn't know where he was going with this
but...

 

"Lulu."  Nick turned to face his father.  "It's Lulu.  Am I right, son?" 

 

Stunned at Burton's intuitiveness, Nick simply nodded, sheepishly. 

 

Burton started to chuckle.  He got up from his desk and began to pull on
his overcoat.  The chuckle became a laugh. 

 

"Dad.  What...?"  Nick grimaced.  He didn't find anything funny about it. 

 

Burton looked his way and raised his eyebrows with a grin across his
face.  "Pretty pathetic, don't you think, son?  We're pretty pathetic." 

 

Burton was now in front of his desk.  He walked over to his son and put
his arm around his shoulder.  "Nicholas, my boy... let me buy you dinner." 

 

Nick, still puzzled at his father's sudden change of mood, fell into
step with him as he steered him out the door and through the glass entry
doors of Fallin & Fallin.  He waited as Burton locked the doors and then
they continued toward the elevator. 

 

"We can talk about something we know about."

 

"And what would that be, Dad?"

 

"Work, son.  Work."  He laughed.  "Oh, by the way, I've been meaning to
tell you... you did a great job on the Stickley proposal.  I want you to
pitch that to Rick Stickley in tomorrow's meeting.  Very innovative,
son.  Very innovative."  He clapped his hand on Nick's shoulder, giving
him a loving squeeze. 

 

THE END