Summary: A convoluted tale of sleepless nights, old friends and flannel.
Author's note: Six months ago I started a story. About half way though much to my surprise I realized it was going to be a two parter unfortunately I also realized I had no idea what to do in the second part. There it sat unfinished on my hard drive until I decided to dig it up again. I showed it to Jewel and she grabbed me by the hand and dragged me kicking and screaming through parts 2, 3, 4 and now 5. I think I've retained my sanity during this experience but I'm not really sure. Anyway big thankyou to Jewel because without you this story couldn't have been and to Ally for feedback that always hit's the spot ;-)
Feedback: Love it can't live without it.
Disclaimer: Nope not mine I just stole them for a while but I promise I'll give them back relatively unharmed
Thursday 7 p.m. DYD&F office
Bobby leaves the conference room, where he's been helping Rebecca with a case, and walks into his office. Lindsay's been waiting there for him since she finished work. Walking to his desk he says "I'm finally finished you ready to go?" Getting no response he turns to see Lindsay asleep on the couch. With a smile he sits down next to her and rubs her arm gently to wake her "Hey sleepyhead, c'mon wake up, let's go home."
Lindsay wakes and as she stretches mumbles, "I can't believe I fell asleep."
"I'm not surprised you hardly got any sleep last night." Bobby replies
"How would you know that?" Lindsay asks defensively.
"I'm well aware you had a restless night Lindsay, you were stealing the covers off of me and moaning in my ear all night. Not that I'm complaining, I like it when you do that, but I prefer it when you're awake." She looks at him unbelievingly so he continues "Lindsay you were kicking me all night." He smiles "Do you want to see the bruises?"
She shakes her head. "I'm sorry Bobby, I didn't realize. You should have said..."
"Don't worry about it" he pats her arm "So what's got you so worried anyway?"
"Nothing! Nothing at all! Let's go home I'm starved" Lindsay quickly gets up and puts on her coat in an obvious attempt to put an end to the conversation.
Bobby watches, considers confronting her further on it but decides against it. 'It can wait until we get home' he thinks grabbing his case and following her out of his office. They call "goodbye" to Rebecca as they pass the conference room. Lindsay reaches the office door first and as she pauses before opening it Bobby places his hand on her shoulder giving it a gentle squeeze. She looks back at him hesitantly, afraid he is going to press her into a conversation she isn't ready for but he doesn't; he smiles at her. Relieved she returns the smile and relaxes. They walk to the elevator together with his arm around her shoulders. As they wait for the doors to open she turns to him saying, "Bobby stop worrying it really is nothing."
He smiles and nods.
The doors open and he enters expecting her to as well but when he turns she is still standing in the hallway deep in thought. He doubts she even realizes the doors have opened.
"Lindsay? You coming?"
She gives a little shake of her head to clear her thoughts and joins him in the elevator smiling apologetically.
Bobby leans against the back wall watching her. "Long day huh?" he says.
She looks at him sighs and walks towards him. Wrapping her arms around his waist and burying her face in his chest she whispers "Very!"
Concerned he strokes her hair wondering how he can help when she won't tell him what's wrong. "It's nothing right?" he asks tenderly not wanting to push but not prepared to let it rest either.
Still holding him firm she tilts her head back so her chin is resting on his chest. He looks into her tired eyes and smiles encouragingly. The elevator doors open as she says, "It's nothing." Taking his hand she leads him to their car. He doesn't comment any further knowing she'll tell him when she's ready. He just hopes, for both their sakes, it will be soon.
7.45 p.m. Bobby & Lindsay's apartment
Bobby opens the apartment door. They enter and Lindsay goes straight to the bedroom.
"Lindsay?" He calls out after her. He'd thought she was waiting to get home to talk, he was expecting her to go to the couch and is disappointed she hasn't.
"I just want to get comfortable Bobby. I won't be long" she calls back.
He nods and goes to the kitchen, putting their dinner in the oven to heat before walking to the bedroom to change as well. He's worried and really only wants to check on Lindsay. His concern is only heightened when he arrives. She is sitting on the edge of the bed deep in thought still wearing her coat and still holding her briefcase.
"Lindsay this is ridiculous!" he says frustrated "What's wrong?"
"What? ... Oh ... yeah ... sorry ... nothing..."
"Nothing! I don't want to hear that word again Lindsay. You keep telling me it's nothing, the thing is, I don't believe you." He's trying not to get angry but is failing at keeping it out of his tone.
She looks at him surprised by his display of emotion but doesn't reply. Shaking his head he turns from her, picks up some clothes and passes them to her saying "Here"
"Thanks" she takes them and starts to change.
"So Lindsay this ... this nothing" he says the word with distaste "has it been bothering you for long? Have I been blind ... have I been missing something?" he sighs frustrated "What I mean is ... is it a long term nothing or is it a new ... nothing?" He shakes his head annoyed at not being quite able to get the words right.
Lindsay smiles at his question. Relieved to see her smile he moves back to her taking her in his arms. "Tell me Lindsay please! Maybe I can help. I want to help."
"I will" she promises stretching up to kiss his cheek "and you haven't been blind Bobby it's a new nothing" she grins.
"Well that's something" he laughs kissing her forehead "Now woman change because we have an appointment on the couch in ten minutes where you're going to give me a full and thorough explanation."
"Yes sir" she laughs and they separate to change.
Lindsay finishes first, takes something from her briefcase and leaves the room but not before giving Bobby a teasing grin on her way out. Without the distraction of watching her he quickly finishes and joins her on the couch. Nervously he takes her hand. He's afraid of what it is he's about to hear.
"Bobby relax!" she says with a laugh "How many times do I have to tell you it's nothing before you'll actually believe me?"
"I guess maybe one more time." He holds on tight to her hand wanting to anchor her to the couch and the discussion.
She sighs and turning her hand in his entwines their fingers. "Bobby believe me it 'is' nothing!" He just looks into her eyes begging her to explain. Knowing he won't be convinced until she does she begins. "Ok, first let me say I'm sure I'm totally overreacting..." she pauses and Bobby who has been nodding as she speaks says "But?"
"but ... um ... ok read this." She hands him a letter he hadn't realized she was holding. He notices she has two more in her hand.
"Who's it from?"
"Just read it Bobby," she says impatiently.
He gives her an apologetic smile and begins to read.
Hi Lindsay
Can you believe it's been eight years since we last saw one another? It's hard to believe so much time can go by so quickly and people who were once an integral part of our every day lives can now almost be considered strangers.
I've kept track of your career and am very proud of all you've achieved. I proudly announce to everyone when I see you on television or in the newspaper that that's my Lindsay from college. I've been reasonably successful in my own career but nothing when compared to you. We all knew you'd make it big you were always the best of us all.
Proud to have been your friend,
Alan Hammel
"This is what's bothering you?" Bobby asks confused having read the letter
"No" she replies "I got that one a fortnight ago. This one came last week."
She hands him another letter and he reads that too.
Hi Lindsay
Great news, well I'm excited about it anyway, I've received a promotion. I'll be returning to Boston in a month or so. No more working in the sticks for me I'm finally back in the main office. I'm so looking forward to catching up with all my classmates. We can bore our spouses silly with all the tales of our college exploits.
Will contact you when I get into town and get settled.
Best wishes always
Alan Hammel
Bobby looks at her and says, "I'm assuming it's the letter in your hand that is causing the problem."
"See I knew you were brilliant" she teases "I got this one yesterday. I read it while I was waiting for you to get home."
"If it upset you so much why didn't you tell me about it then?"
"It didn't upset me so much at the time and then I was so pleased to see you I forgot all about it. I didn't think about it again until the middle of the night."
Bobby smiles pleased with her answer, he reaches for the letter and she hands it to him. He takes a deep breath and begins to read it. This time the letter is long. It is ten pages of detailed accounts of things Lindsay and her friends did in college. People she knew, parties she went to, pranks they participated in. He talks of what a good time it was for them and how he can't wait to meet up with her and relive past glories. Bobby finishes reading and is even more confused. He'd expected something sinister in the letter but it appears just a letter from someone who was once a very close friend. Surprisingly he had enjoyed reading it. He'd heard some of the stories before but not all of them. He saw nothing in the letter to be concerned about. The closest he came to a concern was a twinge of jealousy that this man knew a Lindsay he never had the chance to know. He looks at Lindsay.
"I ... I don't get it. Was there a problem with this guy? Is there a reason you don't want to meet up with him again? I don't see the problem Lindsay. He ... he seems harmless enough."
"Yeah that's the problem"
"What, that he's harmless?"
"No that I don't know if he's harmless or not"
"Lindsay you're not making sense."
"Bobby I have no idea if he's as harmless as he seems because I have no idea who he is. I have no recollection of this man whatsoever. I don't know him! The first letter I never paid much attention to. The only reason I still have it is I read it while waiting to be called at the courthouse and when I was called I just stuffed it into my briefcase and I never got around to taking it out again. I didn't give it a second thought until the second letter arrived and when he said he wanted to catch up I thought if he did show up I'd either recognize his face or I'd wing it somehow."
"So these things in the third letter never happened?"
"No that's what's bothering me. Everything he mentioned in that letter happened. Every detail's correct. He knows things about me only my closest friends knew and yet, I don't remember him at all. How can he know so much about me, when I have no idea who he is? It's creepy."
Seeing how distressed she is becoming he pulls her across so she is sitting against him. He wraps both arms around her and rests his chin on her shoulder rubbing his cheek affectionately against hers. She leans back into him accepting the comfort he's trying to offer. "Thankyou" she says rubbing the arms that he has wrapped around her waist. Holding on to his arms she relaxes against him and waits to hear what he has to say.
"Does Helen remember him?" he eventually asks.
"I don't know I haven't spoken to her about it."
She feels him tense behind her and knows he is about to tell her off for not speaking to Helen. She reaches back and puts a finger to his lips "Before you start she's been in court all week but I'm meeting her for lunch tomorrow and I plan on asking her then."
"Ok" he says kissing her cheek "but if she doesn't know him Lindsay then we can't just ignore this I don't want to take any chances. If she doesn't know him we are going to the police, no arguments."
"No arguments" Lindsay agrees.
"Good" They sit there quietly for a while until Bobby says, "I wish you'd told me sooner."
She pulls out of his arms and turning to look at him says, "I'm sorry about that but to be honest it didn't start worrying me until about 3 this morning. I hadn't really given it much thought until then."
"You've made up for it since," he says stroking her cheek.
She nods "I do feel better about it now though. Bobby just having you here helps."
"Well that's my job!" he pulls her back into his embrace.
"Oh that's your job" she laughs "and being an attorney is what, a hobby?"
"Something like that"
10 p.m. Helen and Ellenor's apartment
Having convinced Lindsay to have a long relaxing bath and an early night, Bobby became restless. He's concerned Lindsay may again be under threat and the idea of sitting back doing nothing about it was unthinkable to him. He wanted to sort it out then and there not some time tomorrow afternoon. Having waited only long enough for Lindsay to fall asleep he snuck out of the apartment, leaving a note telling her he needed to get something from the office, in case she woke and was concerned he had gone. He's now knocking on Helen's door hoping against hope she can ease his concern and ensure him Alan Hammel is not someone he need worry about.
"Hi" Ellenor says surprised to see Bobby at the door.
"Hi Ellie is Helen home?"
"Yeah she's in her room working. Is anything wrong?"
"No. Thanks Ell." Bobby pats her arm and walks towards Helen's room. The door is open but when he gets to the doorway he realizes she isn't in the room. Her computer is still on and papers are scattered over the bed so, assuming she has merely taken a bathroom break, he enters the room to wait for her. Sitting down carefully on the edge of the bed so he doesn't disrupt any of Helen's 'organized' mess something on her desk catches his eye. Looking quickly to the door, making sure no one is coming, he stands up to get a closer look. What he finds is; a writing set with the exact same paper and envelopes as Lindsay's letters, a scrap of paper in the wastebasket with practice Alan Hammel signatures on it and a word file on the computer start bar with the name Hammel. Pocketing the scrap from the wastepaper basket and an envelope he maximizes the word file and sees the beginning of another letter to Lindsay. Quickly minimizing it again he hurries from the room. Ellenor is surprised by the look on his face.
"What happened Bobby?"
"Ellie I was never here ok."
"What? Bobby what's going on?"
"There's no time just listen to me Ellenor, do not let Helen know I was here! Ok?"
"Ok"
He leaves. Helen walks into the room just as the door closes.
"Who was that?"
"Um oh just Jimmy he needed to ask me something about a case."
"Haven't you guys heard of phones?" Helen teases.
"It's Jimmy" Ellenor says in explanation and hurries to her room uncomfortable with the situation.
Helen watches Ellenor go amused and then walks into the kitchen to get a drink before going back to her room.
10.45 p.m. Bobby & Lindsay's apartment
"Hey" Lindsay says coming out of the kitchen upon hearing Bobby arrive home.
Surprised to see her up he says, "I thought you were asleep. What's wrong? Were you worried?"
"No" the sheepish look on his face now though concerns her "should I have been?"
"No" he runs his fingers through his hair "in fact Lindsay I'm almost certain there is nothing to worry about, especially where Alan Hammel is concerned."
"Oh God Bobby what have you done?"
"I haven't done anything!" He laughs then quietly adds "Well, not really."
"Bobby?" Lindsay is not at all reassured by Bobby's last statement.
"Come here." He sits on the couch and pats the cushion next to him. Lindsay tentatively sits. He holds her hand and begins to explain. "I was worried and I felt useless sitting around here doing nothing. I'm sorry I know we agreed to wait until you spoke to Helen but I just couldn't. I had to do something now."
"Bobby what did you do?" she says very worried knowing a concerned Bobby would stop at nothing to protect her.
"Relax Lindsay I didn't do anything stupid." He kisses her hand smiling "Ok I went ... somewhere...."
"Somewhere? Where?"
"...and I found this." He pulls the envelope out of his pocket "Does this look familiar?"
"It's the same as the letters. Bobby where did you get it?"
"At the same place I found this I also saw a computer file with the beginnings of another letter addressed to you."
Lindsay has her hand over her mouth and her eyes wide with intrigue "Bobby where? Why aren't you telling me where?"
He takes the scrap of paper out of his pocket and shows her the signatures. She takes a deep breath and looks at him expectantly, she reaches out to take the paper from him but he pulls it away.
"Not yet"
She looks up surprised "What?"
"I just want you to think for a moment. The envelope, the file, these signatures, they all point to the person behind the letters, right?"
She nods staring at him earnestly afraid of what he is going to say next.
"Ok" he says as he slowly turns the scrap of paper over, there is writing on the back "Lindsay do you recognize this writing."
She takes the paper from him looking at it carefully then looks up at him shocked "Helen!"
He nods "I went to ask her about him but she wasn't in her room. I found all this and then I just left."
"She doesn't know you have them?"
"No" Bobby says surprised this is Lindsay's first question. "I didn't see her I just left after I found these. I told Ellenor not to say I was there."
"So she doesn't know you know?"
"I don't see how she could."
"Helen" Lindsay says quietly trying to get her mind around it.
"Do you have any idea what this is about Lindsay?"
She sits and thinks about it for a while then smiles "Yeah I think I do."
"What?"
"Well about a month ago, it was during the Austin trial, Helen and I were arguing."
Bobby laughs and Lindsay looks at him defensively "What?"
"It's just you two fight all the time yet you are so close."
"It seems to work for us too Bobby," she says grinning.
He looks at her thoughtfully for a moment then grins too "Yeah it does doesn't it."
"Anyway I met with her to see if we could work out a deal but she had a bee in her bonnet about something and it just turned into a shoutfest. So we were arguing, and Helen came up with one of her really loose interpretations of the law. I said 'that just proves it' and she asked 'proves what?' I said," she pauses trying to recall the conversation, "something like 'all you left law school with was a thick black book'. She asked me what I meant by that, and I said something about how I'm always surprised she remembers anything about the law, as she was far more interested in who was next in line to date her than what was being taught. She said she remembers what was taught very well thankyou very much and we continued debating her memory for a while. I think that's what this is all about. She's testing my memory. She wanted me to come to her to ask about him. She wanted me relying on her memory."
He nods looking at her seriously.
"What?" she asks feeling a little uncomfortable under his gaze.
"It's just you were pretty harsh"
"I know" she says regretfully "but Helen knows all my buttons and she just loves to push them." Then defensively she says "She said some things to me too Bobby."
He nods.
"But we don't mean anything by it. We don't take it to heart. I mean this thing would have started out as a joke and it's only because I didn't take the bait that it's got out of hand. She wouldn't have meant to scare me." Lindsay laughs "It must be driving her crazy that I haven't asked her about him yet."
"So what are you going to do now?"
"No Bobby what are we going to do."
"We?"
"Well we're both victims of this Bobby. I was worried and you have the bruises to prove it. Although I have yet to see evidence of this bruising."
"Anytime you want." He pretends to undo his belt buckle.
"I think that can wait." Lindsay giggles placing her hand on his. Bobby pouts as if bitterly disappointed. Lindsay laughs and scrambles across the couch until she is kneeling over his lap. She kisses him until she feels him smile against her lips. "As I was saying Bobby," she says, "we are both victims, so you my dear man, are going to help me pay her back big time."
"How?" he asks although he isn't overly concerned with the answer feeling quite content to have a playful Lindsay in his lap.
"I don't know." She pauses as she tries to think but his touch is too distracting. "I haven't worked that part out yet but I will."
The determination on her face amuses him "Remind me not to get on your bad side Lindsay you are one scary woman."
"Yes and don't you ever forget it" she threatens finger pointed sternly at him.
"God I won't!" he grabs her head bringing her mouth firmly back to his and all thoughts of paying Helen back are forgotten.
Continued in part 2
