Going Home Part 1 AUTHOR: Shirley E-mail: sgoates2607@charter.net RATING: NC-17 DATE POSTED: July 22, 2002 CONTEXT: This story tells of Nick’s move back home to Pittsburgh to work for Fallin & Associates. DISCLAIMER: Some of the characters portrayed herein are taken directly from “The Guardian” – CBS TV Series. Others are strictly figments of my imagination. You will recognize recurring characters from other NicFic I have previously posted. 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 writers, is totally unintentional. This is a work of FICTION. ~~~~~~~ “Nick Fallin.” Nick answered his phone as he leaned back in his chair and watched the falling snow turn the canyon of skyscrapers, that was New York, into a winter wonderland. “Nicholas?” “Dad?” Nick straightened up in his chair, surprised to hear his father’s voice on the other end of the phone. “How have you been, son?” Nick was speechless for a second. It had been months since he’d talked with his father. And the last time he saw him was at graduation from law school, over two years ago; and then for only a brief visit. “Is anything wrong?” Nick’s first thought was that something had happened. “No…no. Everything’s fine.” Burton paused. He didn’t know why, but he really felt uncomfortable talking with his son. They had been estranged for so long. “I was just wondering, Nicholas, if you might want to come home for Christmas this year? It’s been awhile since you were home.” Nick really didn’t consider Pittsburgh home. Since his father packed him off to boarding school right after his mother died, he had lived away from ‘home’. “I don’t know, Dad. I really have a lot of work on me right now. I don’t think I can make it.” He really didn’t have holiday plans but he never, for a minute, considered going home. He couldn’t remember the last Christmas he had spent with his father. Cindy, Nick’s paralegal, knocked on the door twice, opened it and peered in. “Excuse me, Nick. Mr. Sanders is here.” “I’ll be right there.” And to his dad, he said, “Dad, I gotta go to a meeting.” “Sure, son. Well, think about it. The invitation is open.” “Right. Okay. I…I’ll talk to you later.” Nick hung the phone up and looked out the window at the falling snow, reflecting. He hadn’t thought about his dad in a very long time. It was a though he had just severed those painful years from his life. He had wanted desperately for his dad to love him. But instead, his dad sent him away; out of his life. Why, now, was he so interested in seeing him again? He shook his head to get his mind back on the business at hand. Grabbing the Sanders file and his legal pad, he headed to the conference room. ~~~//~~~ That evening, Nick walked into the Heartland Brewery, the local watering hole for Swann & Cranston. It was 8:30 and just five days before Christmas. Several lawyers from the Firm were gathered in their usual corner of the bar. They gave him a rousing welcome. He ordered tequila. He noticed some of the guys were already getting obnoxious. They had been drinking for awhile. By 10:30, Nick was feeling no pain. He noticed Minette making her way through the crowd of people standing around the bar. She pulled up a chair and sat down beside him. He leaned over and kissed her. “Hey, baby.” His words were slightly slurred. He never called her baby. He was talking like a drunken sailor. “Nick, how long have you been drinking?” “Who wants to know?” Nick asked, argumentatively. John Chambers came to the rescue. “Minette. How’s your play doing?” Minette was appearing in a small production, off-Broadway. “Not so well. Just got the news tonight that the show’s closing on Thursday. We had hoped to run through January.” She looked disdainfully at Nick, who was obviously inebriated. “Nick, why don’t you let me get you home?” She didn’t wait for an answer. “John, can you help me get him to a cab?” John looked at Nick. “Nick, maybe you should call it a night.” “Whose side are you on?” He laid his head on Minette’s shoulder. John stood and helped Nick to his feet. “Come on, man. Tomorrow’s another day.” With Minette’s help, John managed to get Nick to a cab. With his head on Minette’s shoulder, Nick dozed during the ride to his Upper East Side luxury apartment. At Nick’s apartment building, the doorman was kind enough to help her get him to his apartment. “Thank you, Jennings,” she said, fumbling in her purse for a tip. He waved her off. “It’s on me this time, Ms. Simms. Merry Christmas.” “Merry Christmas to you, too, Jennings.” She closed the door to tend to Nick. Nick was slumped on the sofa with his head in his hands. She knelt down before him. “Nick, can I get you anything? You want me to make you some coffee?” “No. No.” With difficulty, he straightened up. “I’m fine, really. I’m fine.” “Let me help you to bed.” She took his hands and pulled him up. She removed his overcoat and laid it across the sofa. He leaned lightly on her and they made their way to the bedroom. “Here, sit here, Nick.” She led him to the chair next to the bed. She folded back the coverlet on the bed and turned down the sheet. She then stooped and removed his shoes and socks, as he leaned back in the chair with his eyes closed. She removed his suit jacket and began unbuttoning his shirt. “Nick, I don’t believe I’ve ever seen you this drunk before. Is there something wrong?” He didn’t answer. “Nick, help me get your shirt off.” He leaned forward and she managed to remove it. She undid his belt and pants. “Okay. Now you’re gonna have to stand up and let me get your pants off.” He pushed himself, unsteadily, to his feet. Resting one hand on the nearby table and the other on Minette’s shoulder, he stepped carefully out of his trousers. She led him to the bed where he sat down with a thud. “Okay, Nick. Lie back.” She lifted his legs onto the bed, pulled the covers up to his chest and sat down on the bed beside him. Nick took her hand in his. With eyes half-closed he said, drowsily, “Stay with me.” She gently touched his face and leaned over, giving him a gentle kiss on the mouth. Softly, she asked, “What is it, love? Why are you so unhappy?” He turned his face away and pleaded, “Just stay with me. Please.” “Of course, I will. Give me a minute.” She kissed him on the forehead. She rummaged in his bureau for one of his T-shirts. In the bathroom, she undressed and prepared for bed. She kept an extra toothbrush, as well as a few other toiletries and cosmetics, at Nick’s for just such occasions. They had not officially moved in together but they had been talking about it for months. Nick appeared to be asleep when she climbed into bed beside him. She snuggled in the crook of his arm. He stirred and reached out for her. That night he clung to her like he had never done before. The next morning, she awoke before he did. She carefully got up and, after washing her face and brushing her teeth, she made her way to the kitchen to make coffee. She then returned to the bed. She lay on her side, gazing upon his face; at peace and lost in sleep. After a few minutes, he rolled over, facing her, and opened his eyes. She reached out and gently touched his face. “How do you feel?” She smiled. “Well, I’ve felt better.” He licked his dry lips. “Feels like something died in my mouth.” He rolled over and sat up on the edge of the bed. He ran his right hand through his hair and pushed himself to standing; then padded off to the bathroom. Minette heard him relieve himself and then brush his teeth. Before he got back into bed he removed his boxer-shorts. Naked, he lay down beside her. Pulling her to him, he kissed her deeply. He slipped her bikini panties off and slid his hand beneath the T-shirt, caressing her body. Together they removed her T-shirt and their bodies came together as one. She had had other partners but none who could deliver her to another plane like Nick could. God, how she loved this man. It would be perfect, if she knew he felt the same about her. But, she had had to settle for what she could get. Oh, they talked about moving in together. But, there was always one excuse after another. She was beginning to wonder if it would ever happen. She decided to tell him about the apartment she found yesterday. “Nick, I found the cutest apartment overlooking the park, yesterday. Would you have time to look at it today? It won’t be on the market for long.” She raised herself up to look in his eyes for a sign. He looked away. “Can it wait until after the first of the year? I’ve got so many loose ends I have to tie up before year-end.” She moved to her side of the bed and lay gazing at the ceiling. He turned towards her and propped himself up on his elbow. “I wish for once you would be honest with me, Nick. You can tell me it’s never gonna happen. I can take it. I’m a big girl.” She rolled away from him, tears clouding her vision. He kissed her bare back and the nape of her neck. She brushed the tears away. One thing Nick didn’t like was a weepy female. He rolled her over to face him. “Let me get through the end of the year and we’ll see what happens.” He smiled. She let him kiss her. He constantly kept her dangling, but deep down in her heart, she knew it would never happen. They made love again as she set aside her doubts and reveled in the moment. ~~~//~~~ The office closed at 3:00 on Christmas Eve, a Friday afternoon. Most of the day had been spent socializing. A caterer, hired by the Company, had brought in food trays, and an open bar had been set up in the conference room. Everyone was getting in the spirit of the holiday season. “Where are you spending Christmas, Nick?” It was John Chambers asking as they made their way to the elevator. Nick looked at him. He had not made plans. He had had plenty of invitations; Joel had invited him on a ski trip to Vermont, Rick Swann had invited him over for Christmas dinner and, of course, Minette had asked him to go with her to San Francisco, to visit her family. Even John had asked him earlier to go with him and his wife to his in-laws. He had declined them all. “No plans,” he said, shrugging. He didn’t feel much in the Christmas spirit. “Sure you won’t reconsider and join Marianne and me? Like I said, her folks have a huge place Upstate and I’m sure they wouldn’t mind having one more.” “No, but thanks.” They had reached the front door of the building. “Well, Merry Christmas, Nick.” John hailed a cab. “Wanna share a cab?” “No, I think I’ll just take a walk.” It was snowing, lightly. The financial district was clearing out. Many of the offices had shut down at noon. After a couple of blocks, Nick hailed a cab and rode to Madison Avenue. The sidewalks were bustling with last minute shoppers. Most all the stores would be closing at 5:00. Nick turned his overcoat collar up and shoved his hands in his pockets. He walked several blocks and then entered a little coffee shop. He sat at a window table and ordered a coffee. While watching people hustle by the window, he suddenly made a decision. He removed his cell phone from the inside pocket of his overcoat and quick-dialed United Airlines. They had a first-class ticket available: JFK to Pittsburgh leaving at 7:20 PM. He booked the flight and quickly downed his coffee. In an exclusive little shop on Madison Avenue, he purchased a last minute gift, and then hailed a cab. At home he quickly packed his clothes for the weekend trip. He caught a cab to JFK. Traffic was awful. The weather and the crush of holiday travelers combined to make it worse than usual. Luckily he arrived at the airport in time to get his ticket and make it to the gate, just as they were closing the door. Sitting on the tarmac awaiting take-off, Nick thought about what he would say to his dad. He hadn’t even called him to tell him he was coming. What if his dad had made other plans? Well, he would deal with that when and if…. What with the delays in leaving JFK and having to circle Pittsburgh before landing, they didn’t pull up to the gate until after 9:00. It was after 9:30 when the cab pulled into the circular driveway at his father’s house. The porch light was off but you could see the lights of a Christmas tree through the living room window. Nick paid the cabbie, being extra generous with the tip, and stood in the driveway as it pulled away. It was cold; the skies threatening snow. He hesitated and finally climbed the few steps to the front porch. He rang the bell. A minute passed. He rang the bell again. Finally the door opened. His father was wearing khakis, a beige shirt and a v-neck navy blue golf sweater. “Nicholas?” Burton was clearly surprised. “Merry Christmas, Dad.” Nick smiled, sheepishly. Burton opened the door wider and took Nick by the arm. “Come in, son. What a nice surprise. I thought you said you couldn’t make it?” “Well, I switched some things around,” he lied. The Christmas tree stood in the corner. Beneath it was one small package. He stood in the middle of the living room, self-consciously holding his overnight bag. “Oh, let me take that, son.” His father took his bag. “Hang your coat in the coat closet and I’ll take this up to the guestroom.” When Burton returned, Nick was fixing himself a drink. “Can I fix you one, Dad?” He raised his drink glass, indicating. “I’ve got one in here,” he said, making his way to the living room.” Nick followed. After a moment of awkward silence, Burton asked, “Nicholas, do you remember the Christmas when you were five? That was the year you got your bicycle.” “Yeah.” Nick remembered the trouble he had learning to ride. He crashed so many times but his dad had been very patient with him. Finally, almost like magic, he just knew how to ride. “You never gave up trying, ‘til you learned to ride it. There wasn’t a place on you that wasn’t scraped or skinned. But, once you learned to ride, you were all over the neighborhood. Remember that time you rode out into the street in front of that car? You almost scared your mother to death.” He could laugh about it now. Nick nodded as he remembered. It had given his mother a real fright. She had grabbed him off the bike and shook him, crying and yelling at the same time. She wouldn’t let him ride his bike for a couple weeks after that. And then he had to promise he would never ride in the street again. Of course, his mother never knew what he did when he was out of her sight. A faint smile crossed his lips. Nick loosened his tie and undid the top button of his shirt. He settled back comfortably in the chair. “I hope I didn’t spoil any plans.” “You didn’t, son. It’s just so good to have you home. How was your flight?” “A little rough, but fine other than that. It was snowing in New York. Looks like there might be snow here tonight.” “They’re talking maybe 3 to 4 inches by noon tomorrow. When’s your flight back?” “Sunday afternoon.” “Well, you should be able to get out by then. The snow probably won’t stay around for long.” They stayed up until well after midnight talking about old times. His father was in a nostalgic mood. As Nick lay in bed, he decided it had been a good idea to come home for Christmas. He had been in bed for about 30 minutes when he heard his door open. The hall light cast a shaft of light across the room. He was facing away from the door and lay perfectly still. After a minute, the door closed. He remembered his dad used to do that when he was a little boy. Even after his mother had tucked him into bed his dad would peek in to see that he was okay, before he went to bed himself. Nick smiled, remembering fondly. ~~~//~~~ They awoke to a heavy snow fall; already 3 inches on the ground. Nick smelled bacon cooking. He quickly showered and dressed in slacks and a long-sleeved sweater. He checked his luggage and found the gift he had gotten for his dad. He sneaked down the stairs without his dad hearing and slipped it under the tree. In the kitchen, he found his dad reading the paper. He looked up as Nick entered the room. “Good morning, Nicholas. The paperboy, at least, made it through the snow this morning.” Through the breakfast room window you could see the snow accumulating on the shrubs and tree limbs. “Get yourself a cup of coffee.” Burton got up to finish making breakfast. “How do you want your eggs?” “Over-easy is good. Thanks.” Nick poured a cup of coffee and sat down at the table. His dad turned on the toaster oven to toast the bread, then poured two glasses of orange juice and set them on the table. “What kind of jelly do you want, Nick?” “Whatever you have is fine.” Burton set out a couple jars of jelly. “Did you sleep all right?” “Just fine, thanks.” “Good. Good.” He placed a plate of bacon, eggs and toast in front of Nick and sat down with the other plate. Nick asked about the Firm. He knew one or two of the partners but had only visited the Firm on two occasions in his whole life; once when he was about 8 years old and the other when he was home for a visit from college. He half-listened as his dad talked about the office. “Nick, how do you like working for Swann & Cranston? Are they treating you right?” “Yeah. In another couple years I’ll be eligible for a partnership. The money’s good.” “And I guess working in New York has its advantages,” Burton said, pensively. Nick looked at his dad. He had detected a melancholy tone to his voice. Burton was staring out at the snow. “Yeah. New York’s the financial center of the world.” “Yeah.” His dad ran his hand across the top of his head, smoothing the few wisps of hair he still had on top. He stood and began to clear the table. “Nick, I’m just gonna put these dishes in the dishwasher and clean up a bit. Why don’t you go ahead into the front room? I’ll be right behind you.” Nick replenished his coffee and walked into the living room. With one hand in his pocket, he stood in the bay window and sipped his coffee while he watched the snow fall outside. In a few minutes, his dad joined him. “It’s beautiful, isn’t it, son? Snow can make a dump look beautiful.” He took a seat in one of the chairs in the bay window. Nick seated himself in the facing chair. Burton took a few sips from his coffee then went to the Christmas tree. He removed one of the packages from under the tree and handed it to Nick. “Nick, I got you a little something. It isn’t much but I wanted to get you something. I was hoping you’d come home. If you didn’t, I was going to mail it to you.” Nick took the gift and looked up at his father. “I got you something, too, Dad. Under the tree.” Burton was still standing so he went to the tree and removed the other gift. “You shouldn’t have, son.” He returned to his chair. They opened their gifts at the same time. Burton had given Nick a solid brass desk clock with his name engraved on it. Nick had given his dad an Omega wristwatch. “This is nice, Dad. I can use a clock in my office.” “Glad you can use it.” Burton removed the watch from its packaging and, removing his old wristwatch, he put the new one on and admired it. “Very nice, son. But, you shouldn’t have spent so much money.” Burton was getting misty-eyed. The Omega watch had cost over $900 but Nick made tons of money and didn’t really have anything or anyone to spend it on. “It’s nothing,” he said, dismissively. The desk clock, Nick thought, would be a nice daily reminder of this Christmas with his dad. “Nick, are you ready for a refill?” Burton got up and reached for Nick’s coffee cup. “Sure.” In the kitchen, Burton wiped his eyes and then poured fresh coffee. Back in the living room, he handed Nick his cup. “Nicholas, I’ve been thinking.” He sat back down in the chair and took a sip of his coffee. “Yeah?” Nick waited. “Yeah. Well…ah…we’re ready to add another associate to the Firm.” Burton seemed uneasy. He looked out the window. “I was wondering if you might be interested.” He looked at Nick who was noticeably surprised. “Are you making me an offer?” “I guess you could say that,” he chuffed, and looked away. “I know, Nicholas, that we couldn’t match your salary or the opportunities, for that matter, you have with Swann & Cranston. I’ll understand if you feel you have to stay in New York.” Nick looked into his coffee cup, which he gripped with both hands. It was ridiculous to even consider moving back to Pittsburgh and giving up all the perks of a big firm like Swann & Cranston. Did his father think he was crazy? He glanced at his dad, who was watching him intently. His father was serious. “Dad, I…ah…I….” He couldn’t think of anyway to break it to him gently. The answer had to be ‘no’. There was just no way. It would be career suicide to leave what he had in New York. He found himself saying, “I’ll think about it, Dad.” Well, he’d get back to New York and call his father on the phone. It would be easier to break it to him that way. “Okay. That’s fine, son. No hurry. We’re not gonna make a decision until sometime in January.” Nick excused himself to go to the bathroom. When he returned, his father had dug out the old family photo albums and they spent the rest of the morning reliving Nick’s past. He hadn’t seen these photos in years. It brought back fond, if painful, memories of his mother. In the early photos, his mom and dad looked so happy together. For Christmas dinner, his father fixed a small ham, with roasted potatoes and green beans. He had purchased a pumpkin pie from a nearby bakery for dessert. The local news indicated the roads were still somewhat impassable so they spent the remainder of the day quietly talking about current events, the state of the economy and other general subjects. After it quit snowing, Nick took the snow-blower and cleared the sidewalks and driveway for his dad. He didn’t have to do this where he lived in New York. ~~~//~~~ Nick’s flight back to New York wasn’t until 1:30 PM. The major roads had been cleared for traffic and the snow had ceased. The sun had come out brightly on this Sunday morning. After breakfast, Burton made a suggestion. “Nicholas. I thought, if you like, we could run by the office this morning before you have to leave, then I can drop you off at the airport. You haven’t seen the place since you were still in college. Whadda ya say?” Nick considered this just another ploy to rope him into coming to work for him, but he’d really had a good time this weekend with his dad and didn’t want to spoil it so he said, “Sure, Dad.” “Okay.” Burton seemed pleased. “Let’s say we leave here around 9:30. Then I’ll buy your lunch and take you to the airport.” “Sounds good.” Nick helped his father clear the breakfast dishes. After a couple more cups of coffee, Nick excused himself to finish packing. ~~~//~~~ Downtown Pittsburgh. It looked quite different than what he remembered. He recognized the historic old building which housed Fallin & Associates. It hadn’t changed much on the outside. As they entered the Fallin & Associates offices, Nick was impressed. The place had changed drastically since his last visit, six years ago. That was really before he had decided if he was going to pursue the law. He had been impressed with his father’s operation even then. That visit had convinced him that he wanted to be a lawyer, just like his dad. Burton gave him the complete tour. None of the lawyers were in today; the Sunday following Christmas. Nick knew, if this firm was anything like Swann & Cranston, there were usually lawyers working every day of the week, but the day after Christmas was usually an exception. “Nicholas, if you come to work for us, this would be your office.” He showed Nick to a small corner office, just down the corridor from his own. “Whadda ya think, Nicholas?” Burton asked, proudly. “It’s nice, Dad. The place has changed since I was here last.” He thought to himself, it would be neat to work at a firm with your name on the front door. Of course, he realized he would start way down the line as a junior associate. His dad would likely give him no breaks. At lunch, Burton steered clear of talk about the Firm and about Nick coming to work for him. He didn’t want to seem like he was badgering him. This had to be Nick’s decision. He just prayed that he would decide to come. At the airport, they said goodbye at the curb. Security like it was, there was no point in putting his dad through all that. And, his flight would be leaving in about 45 minutes. They shook hands and then his father surprised him when he suddenly embraced him in a big bear hug. Nick’s face flushed with embarrassment but he hugged his father back. “Nicholas, it was great to see you. I’m glad you’re doing so well.” “Thanks, Dad. I’m glad I came.” Nick watched his dad drive away then headed into the terminal. He had time for a cocktail before boarding the plane. Over a Manhattan, he couldn’t stop thinking about his father’s offer to come work for him. He found it unbelievable that he was even giving the offer a second thought. ~~~//~~~ As he entered the office the next morning, he was especially cognizant of his surroundings. Swann & Cranston was a slick, imposing firm; chock-full of impressive, competitive legal talent. It was a dog-fight to get to the top. Rick Swann had promised him a shot at a partnership after five years, but anything could happen. He could be fickle with his loyalty. Nick had seen it happen. Was he looking for excuses to move back home to Pittsburgh? No! He was just being realistic, he told himself. By Friday of that week, Nick had made up his mind. He was going to give Fallin & Associates a try. What could it hurt? If it didn’t work out, he could always come back to New York. There were plenty of high-profile law firms in the City. That night he called his father at home. “Dad. It’s Nick.” “Yeah. Nicholas. How are ya?” “About your offer.” “Yeah?” “When would I need to start?” Burton couldn’t believe it. Nick was actually considering his offer. “Well, the partners would like to have someone onboard by the end of January. But anytime between now and then would be fine.” “Okay. I’ll talk to Rick Swann on Monday.” “Okay. Great. Just let me know what we can do to help with the transition. The Firm will lease you a car when you get here and you can stay at my place until you can line up a place to live. And we’ll pick up your moving expenses.” “Great, Dad. I’ll call you after I talk with Rick.” He hung up the phone. Burton stared at the phone for a moment before returning it to its cradle. He realized Nick was making a great sacrifice to come work for him. But, maybe it would give them a chance to spend some time together. ~~~//~~~ Over the weekend, Nick made several calls regarding his apartment lease and arrangements for a moving van. The apartment lease would be no problem. There were people lined up for these high-end apartments on the Upper East Side. He had to pay a small penalty but he figured Fallin & Associates would cover that expense. The movers could come in two weeks and pack. On the other end, in Pittsburgh, they could store his belongings until he made arrangements for a place to live. Nick figured, if he was going to make this drastic move, he had better do it quickly before he changed his mind. He dreaded the Monday morning meeting with Rick Swann. Rick had been like a second father to him; a mentor. It would be like a slap in the face to him. Nick wasn’t going to enjoy it at all. ~~~//~~~ The moment Nick got to work on Monday, he called Rick’s legal assistant, Rachel, and set up a meeting for 10:30 AM. That would give him a few hours to think about what he was going to say. At 10:30 sharp, Nick appeared outside Rick Swann’s office door. “Rachel.” “You can go on in, Nick. He’s waiting for you.” She smiled. Nick nervously straightened his tie and suit jacket and entered. Rick came around his desk and met him halfway, shaking his hand vigorously. “Mornin’, Nick. Hey, what did you end up doing for Christmas?” He pointed to a chair and returned to his seat behind his desk. Nick unbuttoned his suit jacket and sat down. He glanced nervously out the window. “I…ah…I actually ended up going home, to Pittsburgh.” “Sounds great. It’s always nice to be with family during the holidays.” “Yeah,” Nick answered, absently; squirming in his chair. “What did you need to see me about, Nick?” Rick returned to his business demeanor. “My father made me an offer to come and work for him.” He watched Rick digest the information. Still maintaining his cool exterior, Rick said, “Nick, I know your father’s firm has a good reputation in Pittsburgh, but do you really think you would have the same opportunities there?” “You know my father and I have been estranged for a very long time.” “Yes.” “There’s no question that my career opportunities are better here, but working for my dad would give us a chance to maybe spend some time together, get to know one another again. I don’t know. I guess that sounds kind of sentimental.” He would never admit this to anyone else. But, with Rick, he had always been able to speak candidly. “Nick. I had you pegged as a guy who would get ahead, no matter the cost. Guess I misjudged you.” “I’m grateful for the years I’ve spent here. And I’m thankful to you, personally, for your leadership and guidance. I just think I have to do this now. I can’t explain it.” “Could I entice you with a big raise and a move up the ladder towards a partnership?” Rick grinned. Nick grinned. “Tempting, Rick. Very tempting.” “You’re like a son to me, Nick. I will hate to see you go but, if it’s any consolation, I understand.” “Thanks for making this easy, Rick. I don’t want to leave on bad terms.” “What are we talking about, time-wise?” “I was thinking about a two-week notice.” “Can you get the loose-ends tied up and get your files transferred in that time frame?” “I think I can. If not, I can stay on as long as it takes.” “Okay. Don’t think, just because I seem agreeable, that I like this one damn bit.” His expression was serious. “No, sir.” Nick stood up, feeling very much like a child who had just been scolded. Rick came around the desk and put his arm around Nick’s shoulders. “Tell your father he owes me, big-time, for stealing my best associate.” They shook hands at the door. Outside Rick’s office, Nick paused and took a deep breath. He glanced over at Rachel. She smiled and he smiled back. That evening he called his dad to tell him it was a done deal. The next two weeks were hectic. He spent 12 to 14 hours a day at the office or working at home. Minette was still in San Francisco. She had extended her stay since her play had closed early. Nick wouldn’t have had much time to spend with her anyway. He hadn’t heard from her in a couple of weeks, but then he had been really busy. The movers were scheduled to pack everything on Saturday and would be on the road by Sunday. Nick had scheduled his flight to Pittsburgh late Saturday. On Friday, Rick and a few of Nick’s ‘so-called’ friends had arranged for a going away party, of sorts, at the Heartland Brewery. Nick never once kidded himself. The few people who called themselves his friends were really superficial. Most of them resented his relationship with Rick Swann. He figured they were only his friends to gain favor with the boss. Probably the only real friends he had in the Firm, outside of Rick, were John and Joel. Then there was Janie. They had been an ‘item’ before he met Minette. But all the others could go to hell as far as he was concerned. Pleading an early morning appointment with the movers, he made his excuses early and went home to get a good night’s sleep. The phone rang about 9:15 PM. Nick answered, “Hello.” “Nick. There you are. I’ve been trying to reach you for a couple of weeks. Where have you been?” “You didn’t leave a message on my machine.” “No, because I wasn’t sure when I’d be where so I didn’t have a number to leave you. My sister and I drove down the coast to Monterrey and Carmel, so we were on the move. I was just trying to check in with you. To see how you were.” “I’m fine. You still in California?” “Yeah, but I’m leaving here on Sunday. I thought you might meet me at the airport and we could have dinner or something. We could catch up on the last few weeks.” She sounded bubbly. The time away from New York had been good for her. She had been really disappointed when her play closed early. And Nick was never good at empathizing. “Minette, I…ah…” He didn’t know how to proceed. He had wanted to tell her in person. Now he would be gone when she returned. “What is it, Nick?” Her voice had taken on a concerned tone. “I quit Swann & Cranston and I’m moving back to Pittsburgh.” It was blunt but he didn’t really know how to put it any other way. “What? Why?” She was in disbelief. “It’s a long story, Minette. I really wanted to tell you in person, but…” “But what, Nick?” “I’m leaving tomorrow night.” The other end of the phone was silent. “Minette?” Finally she spoke. “Well, Nick, our relationship was going nowhere anyway. I guess it’s just as well.” Nick couldn’t think of what to say. Everything she said was true. “Goodbye, Nick.” She hung the phone up. He got ready for bed but had a restless night. For the first time since he had made his decision, he was wondering if he was doing the right thing. ~~~//~~~ Burton picked Nick up at the airport and took him home. The next day, Sunday, they looked through the housing ads and marked a few places to inspect. His dad had a lady friend who was a realtor and she had agreed to show them properties on Sunday if they found anything they liked. Nick had settled on a loft apartment in an old building near downtown. It was fairly close to the office and the courthouse where he would be doing most of his work. He signed a year’s lease and notified the movers where to deliver his furnishings. By Wednesday of that first week, he was settled into his new apartment, had leased a BMW and was getting anxious to start work. Burton suggested that he start fresh the following Monday, so Nick decided to re-familiarize himself with his hometown. He drove by the house they had lived in when his mother died, in O’Hara Township. It hadn’t changed much. The trees had grown a lot bigger but the yards were still well maintained. The neighborhood seemed much the way he remembered it. A lot of the pictures he and his dad had looked through, while he was home for Christmas, had been taken in that house. He checked out the shops in the art district and found a few things for his apartment. It would take a little while to get it just like he wanted it. He felt exhilarated. It was really kind of nice to come home, after all. ~~~//~~~ Nick entered the offices of Fallin & Associates for the first time as an employee. He started towards his father’s office. “Sir. Sir.” It was the receptionist. “What?” Nick asked, confused. “May I ask the name of the party you wish to see?” “Burton Fallin.” “Fine, sir. If you’ll just take a seat, I will let him know you’re here. And your name, sir?” “Nick Fallin.” The look on her face was priceless. “Oh, I’m sorry, sir. Please, go on in.” A memo had been circulated last week advising everyone that Burton’s son, Nick, would be starting work on Monday. He nodded at the receptionist and smiled. Outside Burton’s office, his administrative assistant, Sheila, was on the phone. She had been clued in by the receptionist so she wouldn’t make the same mistake. She looked up at Nick, with the receiver still in her hand and said, “You may go on in, Mr. Fallin.” Nick acknowledged and entered the office. His dad looked up and, seeing his son, he came around the desk and patted him on the back. “Well, son. You ready to get started?” He grinned broadly. “Sure.” “Here, have a seat, Nicholas.” His father returned to his chair behind the desk. “Now, the first order of business is to get you licensed to practice in the state.” “Actually, I’m already licensed. Rick Swann insisted his lawyers all have dual licenses so I took the Pennsylvania Bar. I actually handled a couple cases in Philadelphia.” “Well, that’s good, son. It’ll speed things up. I’ve called a meeting for this afternoon at 3:00 to introduce you. In the meantime, I guess we can get you situated in your office. I’m assigning Michelle to be your secretary or assistant, whatever you want to call her. She has some paralegal training but she’s only been here a couple of years. She can bring you up to speed on who’s who and show you where to find things. And she can help you stock your office. Just let her know what else you might need and we can get it ordered for you.” He stood up and came around the desk. Nick stood up and followed him to the door. Burton introduced him to Sheila. He had already informed Sheila that Nick would be coming onboard. She had arranged for the lease of the BMW. “Nick, this is Sheila. She’s my right hand.” He laughed. “She arranged for your car lease and, oh, Sheila, do you have his cell phone?” She handed Nick a box containing his new cell phone and a manila folder which had a list of all the office telephone numbers for every employee, as well as the home phone numbers of the partners and key associates. In addition to those numbers, there were the numbers for the courthouse, D.A.’s office, other governmental offices and agencies he might have dealings with. “I programmed in some of the numbers I was sure you would need. But, since the phone has a limited capacity I thought you might want to add the other numbers yourself.” Nick thanked her and she nodded. “Sheila, can you call Michelle and tell her to meet us in Nick’s new office.” Burton had already advised everyone, by memo, which office would be Nick’s. “Yes, sir.” Nick said, “Nice to meet you,” as he turned to follow his father. “Okay, Nick. Here you are. We’ll get your name put on the door this week sometime. I know it’s probably small compared to what you had in New York. You can decorate it like you want to. Just let me know if there’s anything you need.” Michelle appeared at the door. “Oh, Nicholas, this is Michelle. Come on in.” She came into the office. “Michelle, this is my son, Nicholas. You’ll be working with him like we talked about. Show him the ropes around here. And you can help him get his office set up.” Nick reached out his hand. “Hi.” He gave her a forced grin. “Hi,” she said. She was clearly nervous. This was the boss’ son and she wanted to make a good impression. Burton turned to leave. “Michelle, just make a note of anything Nick needs that we don’t have and we can get that ordered. Okay?” “Yes, sir, Mr. Fallin.” “Nicholas, we’ll have lunch today, if you want?” “Sure.” Burton left the room. Nick asked Michelle to have a seat and they talked about her role as his assistant. He became familiar with her capabilities and she made some suggestions about setting up his office. She spent the morning stocking his desk. While Michelle busied herself with Nick’s office, he reviewed several of Burton’s case files, in the conference room. Several associates stopped by to introduce themselves. He would meet the others at the general office meeting at 3:00. ~~~//~~~ “Nicholas, I’m gonna pair you up with Jake Straka. He’s been here almost three years. He’s bright and about your age. I think you’ll get along fine. He’ll show you how we do things here.” “Do you really think I need a babysitter, Dad?” Nick was getting a little miffed being treated like he didn’t know what he was doing. “I’ve been working in this field for over two years. I think I know what I’m doing.” Burton was a little taken aback by Nick’s peevish behavior. “Now, son. I’m just trying to help you get a good start here. If you don’t want the help, then fine. You’re on your own.” “Good.” “All right.” Burton checked his watch. It was 3 o’clock. “Well, let’s make the introductions.” Nick stood beside his dad, just outside his office door, as Burton spoke to the group gathered around. “As you all know, we have been interviewing for a new associate for a few weeks now. We were looking for someone with character, honesty, the desire and the drive to exceed expectations and the experience to hit the ground running. I believe we have found all those qualities in our newest associate. It gives me great pleasure to introduce my son, Nicholas Fallin.” There was the obligatory applause. Burton continued. “Nick comes to us from the New York Firm of Swann & Cranston. Those of you who are familiar with that firm realize that we are getting someone who has the experience of working in one of the largest corporate law firms in the country. Nicholas got his undergraduate degree at Princeton and graduated Harvard Law. I hope you will make him welcome and learn from him.” Burton laughed at the last remark which was followed by another round of applause. “Nicholas. Would you like to say a few words?” Burton put his hand on his son’s arm and Nick moved forward. “I’m not big on speeches. I’m here to do a job and look forward to working with all of you.” He cast a glance at Burton. “Okay. Well. I’ll let you all introduce yourselves to Nick.” Jake was the first to step up and shake his hand. “Jake Straka. Nice to have you onboard, Nick. If there’s anything I can do to help you, let me know.” Several others stepped forward. Nick was glad when it was finally over. He had a good head for names, but he doubted he would be able to remember each and everyone’s name after today. At a quarter of 6 o’clock, he heard a knock on his door. He had spent the afternoon with his door closed. He had gotten tired of people barging in, wanting to talk. “Yeah,” he called out. Jake stuck his head in the door. “Nick. Would you like to get a drink after work?” That actually sounded good. “Thanks. When?” “Say 6 o’clock?” “Sure.” Jake backed out the door, pulling it shut. The phone rang. It was an interoffice call. “Yeah?” “Nicholas. How did your first day go? Did you get your office situated?” “Yeah. Michelle was a big help.” “Did you want to have dinner or something, tonight?” His dad was trying desperately to make him welcome. “Dad.” “Yeah.” “You don’t have to keep looking after me. I can take care of myself. I’m gonna have a drink with Jake after work.” “You’re right. I guess I’m acting like a mother hen. Sorry. I’ll see ya tomorrow.” “Okay.” He finished reading one of his dad’s case files. His dad was a pretty damn good lawyer. Two knocks on his door and Jake stuck his head back in the door. “You ready?” “Sure.” Nick pulled on his overcoat. On the way out, Jake thought it odd that Nick locked his office door but he didn’t say anything. Maybe that’s the way they did things in New York. As they walked out the door of the main office and towards the elevator, Jake was telling Nick about the local drinking establishment. “Well, you see, it’s nothing special. It has a good selection of beers and they serve decent food. But the fact that it’s nearby is the main selling point.” They walked the half-block to The Incline. The place was beginning to get crowded but they did find a small table for two. Nick ordered a Manhattan and Jake ordered a martini. “So, Nick. Harvard, huh? Swann & Cranston? Pretty impressive. So, what brings you back to Pittsburgh?” Jake didn’t mince words. “Well, Jake. You cut right to the chase.” Jake gave him a quizzical grin. “What?” Nick smiled. “It didn’t work. I’m not gonna discuss my personal life with you or anybody else at the Firm. So you can pass the word. If you were sent out to probe me for information, you will have to report back empty-handed.” Nick raised his eyebrows and flashed a defiant smile. “Whoa. I didn’t mean to pry.” With Nick’s personal life off-limits Jake couldn’t think of much to talk about. He took a couple sips of his martini. He decided he could give Nick some background on the other associates and partners. Forewarned was forearmed. Nick became very interested in the conversation. And Jake was amazed at his ability to recall the names of people he had only just met. A few other lawyers from the Firm showed up after 7:00 but they didn’t try to join them. They ordered a burger around 7:30. By this time, the place was getting noisy and more crowded. They finally left around 8:00. On the walk back to the office, Jake said, “Nick. I think you should know that some of the associates at the firm resent you. They figure you’re a token hire; son of the boss, and all. They figure you will be on the fast-track for a partnership, creating a roadblock for them.” “Is that the way you feel, Jake?” Nick stopped and faced Jake. Jake opened his mouth to speak but decided against it. “So that’s the way it is. I guess I better watch my back.” Nick continued towards the office. “Nick. I actually think you’re up to the job. I admit, at first, I didn’t think so. But you seem pretty savvy to me. And your resume doesn’t hurt.” “So what are your ambitions, Jake?” “Well, naturally, I’d like to make partner some day.” Nick turned an icy glare at him and said, “Well, I guess that puts us in direct competition against each other.” Jake stopped in his tracks. Nick continued walking. After a few steps, he turned and asked, “What? You not up to the task?” He grinned and waited for Jake to catch up. Jake didn’t know quite what to make of this guy. “So, are you trying to elevate the playing field?” “A little competition keeps everyone on their toes.” “I guess, if you put it that way. But I’m not the boss’ son.” Nick stopped and turned to face him. “Well, I guess that means you’ll just have to work harder, doesn’t it.” They walked the rest of the way to the parking deck in silence; Jake contemplating what he had just learned about his main competition. ~~~//~~~ On his way home, Nick mulled over the information Jake had shared with him about the other associates. This had been a productive evening. Maybe he had been a little hard on Jake. It would just toughen him up and make him a better lawyer. Boarding school had taught him that. It was early yet. He decided to drive over to the Panther’s Den; a college hang-out near the University. He had discovered it the last time he was home, six years ago. It was hopping. The parking lot was jammed and cars were parked all along the curb. Someone was leaving so he waited for their spot. He made his way through the crowd and up to the bar where he ordered a shot of tequila. As his eyes acclimated to the darkness he looked around to see if he recognized anyone. A man approached him. Nick didn’t recognize him. The man squeezed in at the bar next to him and ordered a whiskey shot. “Are you new in town?” The man gave him the once over. “Why do you ask?” The man was wearing a funny little beret, turned around backwards and a T-shirt with something printed on it. He couldn’t tell what. Over that he had on a flannel shirt which he wore open like a jacket. “Well, look around you. You’re not dressed like the rest of the crowd.” “Well, I hate to disappoint you. I live here.” This guy kept looking at him. Nick called the bartender over and ordered another shot of tequila. He looked past the guy and noticed a sexy young girl coming his way. She stopped about two feet away from him. “Do you like what you see?” She licked her lips, seductively. Nick reached into his pocket and pulled out his money clip. He placed the money for the two tequila shots on the bar. Turning to the man he had been talking to at the bar, he said, “Excuse me.” He turned to the girl. “Can I buy you a drink?” She took him by the arm and led him to her table. She was sitting with two other guys and another girl. “What’s you’re name?” “Nick.” “Nick. I’m LeAnn. Meet Joe, Bobby and Samantha. This is Nick.” They made room for him at the table. Nick ended up buying a round for the table. The girl was all over him. Nick excused himself to take a leak. Standing at the urinal, he heard someone else come in the bathroom. He looked in the mirror and noticed the man with the funny little hat. He was leaning against the door so no one else could enter. Nick zipped up and went to the basin to wash his hands. “Do you need something?” he asked, glaring directly at the man. “You look like a man who could use a pick-me-up.” Nick’s eyes followed the man’s hand to his pants pocket. Barely visible were tiny little bags filled with a white powder. He instinctively looked under the stall doors to make sure no one else was in the bathroom. He reached in his pocket and peeled off a bill and handed it to the man, who then handed him two of the small bags. They left the bathroom separately. Back at the table, another guy had joined the group. “Nick,” LeAnn said. “This is Ernie.” Nick nodded. He pulled LeAnn over to him and whispered in her ear. She giggled. “Yeah.” She gathered up her coat and they made their way to the parking lot. “Do you live around here?” “I live in the dorm.” When they stopped at the BMW she knew she had caught herself a big fish. He opened the passenger door for her to get in. They couldn’t go to her place and he didn’t want to take her to his. He thought he remembered a motel about three miles up the road. He pulled under the canopy of the Holiday Inn Express and opened the driver’s door to get out. “You stay here.” From the car, she watched him fill out the registration card and pay cash for the room. She wondered what name he had used. Nick drove around the motel to the rear entry door. The room was the standard motel room but with a king-size bed. Nick removed his overcoat and laid it over the back of the chair. He took off his tie and stuffed it in his suit jacket pocket, then removed his jacket. He noticed LeAnn sitting on the bed with her coat pulled snuggly around her. “What’s the matter?” “This all happened so fast. I don’t even know you.” “You wanna go back to the bar?” He picked up his jacket and started to put it on. “No.” She stood up and removed her coat. She had on a tight, stretchy little top and snug-fitting jeans. Nick walked up to her and took her head in his hands. He kissed her gently on the lips. She melted into his arms. “I promise I won’t hurt you.” “Okay,” she said, dreamily. He left her standing in a swoon and went to relieve himself. When he came out of the bathroom, she had already undressed and was lying in bed with the sheet pulled up under her chin. She looked so young. He thought he’d better ask before he’d gone too far. “How old are you, LeAnn?” “I just had a birthday. I’m nineteen,” she said, proudly. She had been drinking illegally at the Den, tonight. Nick unbuttoned his shirt and put it over the back of a chair. Before he removed his pants, he took out his wallet and pulled out a condom, tossing it onto the bedside table. He then removed his pants, shoes and socks and boxer-shorts. The girl lay wide-eyed in bed, embarrassed but unable to take her eyes off him. He pulled back the sheet on his side of the bed and slipped in beside her. “You’re not a virgin, are you?” “No.” She loosened her grip on the sheet which was tucked tightly under her chin. He took her hand and kissed it gently. He pushed back her hair and kissed her on the neck. She started to breath deeply through her mouth. Her eyes were closed and her body was reacting to his touch. Nick pulled the sheet down exposing her firm young body. Taking her hand, he guided her to his penis, which was just now beginning to harden. She gripped him firmly and began to stroke him. He took her firm breast in his hand and kissed it tenderly. Once LeAnn had brought him to a full erection, he removed her hand and reached over to the bedside table for the condom. “Have you ever put one of these on?” he asked. She shook her head. He carefully removed the condom from the packaging and deftly rolled it onto his engorged member. He touched LeAnn on the inside of her thigh and she spread her legs. He shoved his fingers inside her to make sure she was lubricated. She gasped and moaned. He moved in between her legs as she spread them wider apart to accommodate him. With her hand, she guided him as he slowly pushed. She was so tight he was finding it difficult, at first. She raised her hips to push against each thrust and he was finally inside her. Her body was quickly in sync with his and it wasn’t long before it was all over. He quickly withdrew and removed the condom. He lay back on the pillow, his arm behind his head. LeAnn rolled over and put her hand on his chest. “Was it okay?” She asked. He turned her head up to look in her eyes. “It was for me. How ‘bout for you?” “Oh, yes.” She smiled and snuggled close to him. He checked his watch. It was almost 11:30. “What time is curfew?” “Midnight, on weeknights.” “Well, you’d better get dressed. We have 30 minutes to get you home.” Nick dropped her off at the dorm. She asked him, “Am I gonna see you again?” He looked at her and said, “Probably not.” At home, Nick removed the two small bags of cocaine from his overcoat pocket and set them on the dresser, then undressed for bed. From one of the bags, he poured out a narrow line and, rolling a dollar bill, he snorted it. He stashed the remainder in a small tin box which he kept in his sock drawer. He had now found a source for his habit, here in Pittsburgh. He had no trouble getting to sleep. THE END ~~~~~~~