Bart and the Girl Author Eileen Thomson E-mail: indigotoast@yahoo.com Rating: PG Summary: A July Nicfic Challenge story using the words bohemian, duchess and leech Author's Notes: Yikes! Thank you to Suzanne and now Linda who have to suffer the stress of reading and re-writing my `work' Bless you --+-- "Nick: What are you doing here? He's gone, Bart. He's gone. He's not coming back. He's not…he's not coming back. (Turns to leave—Bart whines—he turns back and motions with his head—Bart follows)" --+-- The morning after Judge Richard Stanton dies, Nick comes down the stairs in a foul mood. The day is just starting and already his father has been on the phone complaining about some papers he can't find. Does that man ever sleep? Bart's whine pulls him from his depressing thoughts. "Hell, I forgot all about you. I suppose I'll have to take you to the park. You will have to go, dog." Nick laughs, realizing that he is talking to a dog. "Morning conversation with canine companion nothing to beat it because you're not going to answer are you?" Bart puts his head to one side and whimpers. "Come on then." Nick pulls on his jacket and picks up some papers to look at while the dog runs. The day is warm and as he walks to the park he feels the weight lifting off his shoulders. "Maybe I should think about keeping you Bart, you make me feel good. Well, maybe it is just the exercise." Nick just sits down on the bench, he is aware that someone is standing in his light. He squints up at the figure and speaks. "Help you?" "Is that Judge Stanton's dog?" "Yes." "Where is Judge Stanton? He would never allow anyone bring to Bart out. Has something happened to him?" Nick stands up. He can feel that the young woman is on the verge of panic. "I'm sorry, but Judge Stanton died last night." Tears spring to the woman's eyes and she bows her head. Nick offers her his handkerchief. He reaches out and touches her shoulder gently. "I'm so sorry, that was insensitive." "I'm Melissa. Judge Stanton was my friend. He gave me Duchess, my dog," Nick becomes aware that there are now two dogs running round each other. He can't tell them apart. Melissa calls the dogs to come to her and Nick takes the time to study the woman. Not conventionally pretty, but attractive in the way she holds herself. He is still staring at her when he notices she is waiting for him to say something. Confused at being caught, he asks, "I know you, don't I?" "Paralegal at Compton and McGee." She pauses and then checks her watch. "I have to go. Maybe I'll see you tonight?"" "Where?" "Here. Dogs need walked at night as well," she answers giggling at him. "Why are you blushing?" "Ah… the dogs are… "Nick puts his head down scratches, and then points. Melissa looks over her shoulder and laughs aloud at his discomfort. "How do we separate them?" "Leave them alone," Melissa splutters tears running down her face "Oh Nick Fallin you are priceless, and you have a kind soul Nick, everyone says so." "Everyone?" "At the Club. I'm `Hydrangea'. Come on, Nick I know you are `Trouble'. Don't look like that--- it's an honour to be part of the Club." Nick says nothing and Melissa starts to walk away. "Who gave you such a stupid name?" "Judge Stanton! Why did Judge Tilson call you Trouble?" Nick grins wickedly, "Stick around." Nick watches her walk away. He pulls his eyebrow then picks at his lips, his head tilted to one side. This girl is special, she gives off warm fuzzy feelings... not sex… just goodness. Nick gives himself a shake and looks down at Bart sitting at his feet with his tongue hanging out. `Well, thank you for one of the more embarrassing moments I have had in recent times. I hope you enjoyed yourself, because I'm seriously thinking about having you doctored!" He shook his head. "I'm talking to a dog again! This is getting bad." He smiles a happy smile and heads for home. Suddenly the day is better than before, and all sits well with his world. At the court house, he is talking to Bart again when Lulu touches him on the shoulder. "Nick, you're… talking to a dog." Nick glances at Lulu and answers with a serious tone of voice "He asked a question, it seemed rude not to answer him." Lulu stares open mouthed at him. "Have you lost your mind?" "Joke, Lulu! I have found myself talking to him all day, but then he never argues with me and he kisses me all over just for the asking. Will you look after him while I'm in court? It won't take long." "Sorry, Nick I have to go now, I can't help." He has to take Bart with him. He can't find anyone to look after him. He puts him at his feet in the court room and hopes the canine will stay put "Speak to me gentlemen, where are we with this? Mr Fallin?" intones the judge. "Your honour, I feel I need more time to best... " Alarms sound and the guard rushes in. "I'm. Sorry You Honour!" Bomb scare! We will have to clear the building." Bart is howling and the Judge looks over at him. "Remind me to have a word about animals in my court, Mr Fallin," She pauses. Is that Judge Stanton's dog?" "Yes." She nods. "Forgiven." `Well, Bart, we are not going to get back in there this afternoon, so I think we will head over to the office now. Do you ever get tired of not being able to tell people to shut up?" Bart jumps up and licks his face. Burton Fallin calls him to his office as soon as he arrives. He gives no greeting, but starts to complain about the missing papers. "I need you to do better, Nicholas, this firm will be yours someday and I need to see some dedication from you. Nick goes round his desk and pulls the papers from under a pile. "Don't do this to me! I'm not my Mother," he says ominously. "You can't intimidate me the way you did her." Burton reels back in shock. "Where did that come from Nicholas? I don't understand." "I'm going home. I've put posters up about Bart." Burton looks at him in total bewilderment. "Bart?" Nick points at his feet. "Bart." At home, Nick sits on the floor and takes Bart's big head in his hands. `Why did I do that Bart? Why can't I just tell him I love him and be done with it? What keeps us pulling each other apart like this?" Nick is crying now and pulls Bart to him. Bart turns his face and licks Nick. "You know apart from the habit you have of putting your tongue up my nose, you are quite cute. Bart, when my Mother died I felt the world falling away from me and I wanted to fall with it. I felt that a hole had opened up, and I teetered on the edge but I was not able to throw myself in. I hated Dad then, but I found things were not the way I remembered them. When you have puppies," Nick says, wagging his finger at him, "you tell them the truth, because when they find out things are not what they thought, it's like giving them a sweater made of barbed wire. It doesn't quite fit but where it fits and touches, it hurts. You know Bart, when Mum died, I remember what one of the older boys at boarding school said. "If the world didn't suck, we would all fall off." He stops petting Bart for a moment and ponders the meaning of that saying. "It kept me sane at the time. . Come on, let's go to the park Maybe I'll meet Melissa then I can feel good for the rest of the day. Nick changes into a pair of colour leeched jeans and t- shirt. "Come on Bart, let's go unwind. No sex this time, please!' Melissa is in the park already, tapping her feet to the music of a group of bohemian- type hippies making music with drums and a penny whistle. "I was beginning to think you weren't coming." "I've been looking forward to seeing you all day. I want to talk to you about the club." Nick puts his arm round Melissa's waist and they walk off. "You know, Bart and I have had a good day!" He pauses, unsure of himself now. "Melissa, I would like you to tell me your reasons for the club's existence. Give me it from your angle. I can't think of you and Judge Stanton… and sex." "Nick, that's your problem. Take the sex out of the equation. It's meaningless! Let me explain. Last night I went to the club. When I went in, a Judge was deep in conversation with a paralegal. Now what they were discussing is immaterial, it's the fact that they were discussing something that matters. You're getting hung upon the entrance requirements, but that is the thing that enabled the two of them to have a meeting of minds." They stop walking and faced each other. The dogs play in the meadow beyond as Melissa continues. "See, we all had sex to get there, no one is different. No one is above the other. When a problem comes up and has to be fixed my opinion is just as valid as the Judge who is being tapped to go to the Supreme Court. Nick, I'm a recovering cocaine user as well. I went to the Club members when it was too much for me to handle and they arranged to get my workload lessened, to get me into a programme and to get me straightened out. Two years now and I still go to meetings--- but I'm getting better. If you had had faith in your fellow lawyers you would not be going through as much now. Judge Tilson still has the highest of hopes for you and when it is time for you to step up in your career, well, we will all be there for you "With a quick fix!!" "No, with love and support!" "Nick nuzzled her neck. "My life just took a sweet upturn." The End