Summary: Sometimes to find yourself you have to get away, Bobby hopes to strengthen their relationship by taking Lindsay out of Boston.
Setting: February 2000 (ie:- Season 4)
Spoilers: Everything up to, and including Hammerhead Sharks (ie:- the LA episodes from season 4)
Rating: pg13
Feedback: Love it!
Disclaimer: Not mine... unfortunately
*~*~*~*
MONDAY
Lindsay's first sign that her day may be improving is the sight of Ellenor holding the elevator doors open while waiting for her.
"Thanks," Lindsay says, shivering as she enters, thankful to, at last, be out of the biting winter wind. Another month of winter is not a pleasing prospect. Lindsay has already well and truly had enough of the wet, chilly, miserable days.
Allowing the doors to close, Ellenor smirks at her as she asks, "Fun day?"
Lindsay's reply is an exaggerated groan, which only serves to broaden Ellenor's smile. Lindsay has been at traffic court all day, a chore they all greatly despise. Thankfully, now that business is good, they need only do these menial tasks when it's their turn on the court appointed roster. Unfortunately, for Lindsay, this time she drew the straw. She's managed that a lot lately and is starting to suspect Lucy's devised a system, you make one crack about 'packing your bags' and you are her target for life. All things considered, though, today wasn't a complete loss. If Ellenor's laughter, as Lindsay recounts her day, is anything to go by, Lindsay does have enough stories about deadbeat drivers to keep the firm entertained for months. Bad news though, she's now hesitant to venture out onto Boston's streets in case she encounters one of today's lunatics.
Ellenor and Lindsay are still laughing over the antics of a particularly idiotic driver as they step into the office, unintentionally drawing attention to themselves.
Lindsay hasn't even had time to remove her coat before Lucy informs her, "Lindsay, Bobby wants to see you in his office."
"What about?" she asks, looking across at Lucy who shrugs in reply.
"No idea, but he's told me three times already to send you in immediately, so, to get him off my back, get yourself in there."
"What have you done now?" Ellenor teases as she walks towards her desk.
Lucy snickers, thankful that, this time at least, she had been saved from having to ask the question; she's already surpassed her inappropriate questions limit for this month.
Laughing, Lindsay places her briefcase and coat on her desk, all the while wondering the same thing. Trying valiantly to hide her rising concern, she apprehensively approaches Bobby's door. Finding it shut, Lindsay pauses for a fortifying breath before knocking once and walking in.
"Hey!" Bobby says, looking up as she enters.
Seeing his smile, Lindsay immediately relaxes, laughing at herself for her moment of anxiety. Things haven't been the best between them lately but that's no reason to always assume the worst. Realizing Bobby is looking at her strangely, Lindsay snaps out of her abstraction, shuts the door and, with a smile, returns his greeting, "Hey, yourself."
"So how was traffic court?" Bobby asks, laying his pen down and leaning back in his chair, watching her every move.
Groaning, Lindsay walks towards the couch, saying, "Have I thanked you yet for assigning me that, Bobby?" She sits and kicks off her shoes; curling her legs up beside her on the couch, she moans as she massages her aching feet.
"Assigning you?" Bobby laughs, "I never assigned you, you drew the straw."
"Why can't I get out of straw duty, Bobby?" she asks, her manner sincere while her eyes dance with merriment, "I mean, there have to be some perks to sleeping with the boss."
"There are perks," Bobby says insistently.
Raising a skeptical eye, she says, "Oh, yeah, like what?"
He leans forward, giving her his best bedroom eyes and dropping his voice dangerously low, he says, "I'll show you tonight."
"Promises, promises," she sighs as if totally disinterested but neither is fooled by her tone. Their eyes meet as further unvoiced promises are made. Work has been extremely time consuming of late and Lindsay is more than pleased with the prospect of taking a night off. Her only query is: can we go home yet?
Bobby smiles, making Lindsay wonder if he's read her mind. She relaxes into the couch as she waits for him to let her know why it was he'd wanted to see her so urgently. When his attention returns back to his work, she says, "Bobby, you wanted to see me about something?"
He looks up as if ready to deny it, then shakes his head with a stupid-me grin as he remembers his instructions to Lucy. Lindsay watches with intrigue as a cat-that-ate-the-canary look appears on his face. "Good news, bad news?" he asks her.
"Um..." Lindsay considers, then decides to save the good for last, hoping it will soften the blow. "Bad."
"Devon's got appendicitis, hospitalized last night, so the trial's been held over for three weeks."
"Dammit!" Lindsay growls shaking her head in disbelief before leaning it back against the couch as she looks up to the roof in aggravation. Her face scrunches in disgust and Bobby watches as her body fills with tension. Her feet drop to the floor as she sits up and, with a deep sigh, leans forward, resting her elbows on her knees as she closes her eyes and lays her head in her hands.
Dejection, thy name is Lindsay.
The trial had been due to start the following Monday, for months they've been working hard to build their case. Having constantly been met with unnecessary delays, they'd been thrilled to finally be this close to the finish line; to at last be giving their clients their much desired day in court. As unavoidable as this latest delay is, Lindsay's frustrated, nonetheless.
"I've let them know," Bobby quietly says.
Looking up at him, Lindsay somberly asks, "How'd they take it?"
"Better than you," he teases, making Lindsay smile.
She knows how emotional she has been getting about this case. She's desperate to get a good settlement for their clients, and, to be honest, wants it all over... now.
Having not really answered her previous question, Bobby says, "They were philosophical, I guess, it's just a delay, what can you do?"
Lindsay nods, knowing that he's right and that she shouldn't be letting it get to her like this. Sighing, she says, "Thanks for telling them. I don't think that I could have... God! What a letdown."
Bobby nods, he silently watches as she ruminates over the change in their plans. He's eager to tell her the rest of his news but waits for her to be ready to hear it. Eventually, she looks up and asks, "So, what was the good news?"
"Well, as we won't be in court as previously planned, my schedule is currently clear and suddenly I'm looking at a quiet couple of weeks... So, I've decided to take a week off, to just get out of town, leave this whole mess behind and soak up a few rays,."
"Sounds great, Bobby," Lindsay says but her voice doesn't quite convey sincerity.
Disappointed, Bobby says, "You don't like the idea?"
"No, it's great! You're right, you deserve it... you should take some time off. I mean, Bobby, you haven't had a proper holiday in years. In fact, I don't recall you ever taking one... You deserve one, you're right, you definitely should do this... you should." Lindsay smiles now, pushing aside her disappointment at losing him for a week so that she can encourage him to take some much needed time off. "It's a great idea, Bobby, do it."
Realizing, now, her reason for disappointment, Bobby rises from his desk and walks over to sit beside her. His voice can barely contain his amusement as he says, "Lindsay, I meant both of us. ~We~ take a week off, ~we~ go away... together."
"Me? I can't take time off, Bobby. I'd love to, I really would but I can't."
Although her words are telling him 'no,' Bobby can see the delight in her eyes over her inclusion in his plan. He knows that she likes the idea; he just has to convince her that she's allowed to do this, that Lindsay Dole is allowed to have fun.
"Sure you can," he says as if it isn't a big deal.
"Bobby, I've had too much time off already, I can't."
Bobby pauses, surprised by her assertion, he'd expected a number of other argument but not this one. He shakes his head as he says, "Not vacation time..."
"It wouldn't be right, Bobby..."
"Jesus, Lindsay, you'd been in a coma, you were recovering from being stabbed, that doesn't count as time off." His frustration is obvious in his voice. He pauses to take a calming breath, knowing that Lindsay won't be swayed by being ordered to believe what he believes. Velvet glove, he reminds himself, just point out the facts and make her see it for herself. Looking her in the eye, he says, "That was sick leave, no one here begrudges you that. Lindsay, all I'm asking for is a week, and it isn't like you'd be dumping work on anyone, you were scheduled to be out of the office all week anyway. Lindsay, I need this and so do you, c'mon..." he takes hold of her hand and pleads with his eyes, "let's go away together. You and me, the sun and the sea."
Lindsay is torn. Of course she wants to go; she's almost gotten to the point where she'd sell her mother for some sun but a conscience can be a persuasive obstacle and Lindsay's is telling her no. This office is a team, and Lindsay can't help feeling that she still needs to make up for the months in which she hadn't been pulling her own weight. She hates to be beholden to anyone, to feel as though in debt. A holiday would be wonderful but it would only make her further behind. She looks at Bobby, prepared to again insist that she can't but the expression on his face stops her words. Allowing herself to really see him, she finds herself asking, a little in awe, "You're excited about this, aren't you?"
"Yeah, I am," he answers honestly, knowing that's the best way to get through to her, "I've been thinking about it all day. I really want us to do this, please?"
Lindsay can see how much this means to him, as temptation rises, she feels some of his excitement enter her too. The more that she thinks about it, the more she starts to agree that they need it. Lately Bobby has been in a bit of a funk, it's been a tough year for both of them, but, recently, he's seemed to be allowing some of it to get him down. It feels good to see him so enthusiastic about something. It's a long time since she's seen his eyes look so alive and she cannot dispute he needs this. They need it, at times it feels like there are too many parties in their relationship so it will do them good to leave the office behind and be just them. Lindsay's conscience gives up, throwing its arms in the air in surrender, knowing that once Bobby's welfare has been placed on the opposing column, the argument is lost. Lindsay always chooses what she thinks is best for Bobby.
The smile that crosses Lindsay's face tells Bobby that she's relented long before her words do. To his almost blinding smile, she says, "Okay, lets do it."
"Yes!" he cheers, jubilantly wrapping his arms around her; he almost squashes all the breath from her as he holds her body to his.
Laughing, Lindsay wriggles into a more comfortable position beside him, loosening his grip enough so that she can breath freely, she asks, "So, where are we going?"
Patting her knee, Bobby rises from the couch, then looks down at her perturbed face with a wry smile, he's been waiting for this moment all day. "Do you trust me?" he asks.
"Yes," Lindsay answers, apprehensively. She always feels trapped by that question, people only ever ask it when they are about to do something to test that trust. She does trust Bobby, 100%, but, still, she knows that he can be sneaky when he wants to be and she much prefers to know exactly what it is he has up his sleeve.
Bobby knows just how suspicious that question makes Lindsay; it is why he asked it after all. He draws out the intrigue by silently walking to his desk, sitting down and picking up his pen as if to return to work. By all outward appearances he seems to have forgotten they'd been halfway into a conversation.
"Bobby!" Lindsay grumbles.
He smiles, deep, deep down inside where Lindsay cannot see. Continuing with his air of calm disinterest, he mumbles, without looking up from the page before him, "It's all organized... well, not everything, but it will be now that you've agreed. As for the details, you'll find out soon enough."
Lindsay rises and walks to his desk, "Bobby!" she growls, leaning over and taking the pen from his hand. When he looks up, as if surprised by her uncalled for action, she insistently says, "Tell me!"
"Nope," he grins, leaning back in his chair and crossing his arms behind his head. He briefly considers putting his feet on the desk too but decides that's taking it one step too far.
One look at his delighted face and Lindsay knows the secret is locked tight in his vault. And everybody knows that Bobby's vault is completely tamper proof. She wants to scream. As much as she adores this man, there are days when he makes homicide seem an attractive option. It isn't in Lindsay's nature to give up without a fight, so, she tries one more attempt to coerce him, "I won't go then."
"Yeah... you will," he says smugly, knowing that, having now considered it, she's as excited at the prospect of a week away as he is.
With an aggrieved huff, Lindsay turns and leaves the room. Bobby's smile broadens with every outraged step that she takes. The prospect of five days of torturing Lindsay with curiosity, then seven days of uninterrupted fun has him feeling jubilant... life doesn't get any better than this. He isn't surprised when, having watched Lindsay storm out of the room, Lucy's face appears in his doorway to see what's going on with the other member of the dynamic duo. He knows seeing him smiling confuses her no end.
Lucy takes one step into the room, a prying question on the tip of her tongue until Bobby gives her ~the~ look. Mumbling, "Back to work," Lucy turns and leaves the room.
Bobby watches through the window as an animated Lindsay potters around near her desk, shaking her head and muttering to herself. 'God, she's adorable,' he thinks and leans back in his chair, all thoughts of work gone for the day.
*~*~*~*
TUESDAY
Lindsay slowly rolls into consciousness, looking at the clock, she groans when she realizes she still has half an hour to go before the alarm goes off. She'd hoped for a long refreshing sleep after the frustration of getting no where with Bobby last night, in terms of him disclosing details of their holiday anyway, in other areas he was highly receptive, the smug bastard. Mind you, they had been quite busy lately and did have a lot of catching up to do, a lot of frustration to work off. Which just makes being awake so early, when her body had been so depleted, wrong. It's all Bobby's fault too.
Rolling to her side, she looks at him as he sleeps, blissfully unaware of her scrutiny. She loves this infuriating man more than she thinks she should. It sometime scares her how much she loves him. It isn't that she's unaware of his faults: Bobby, well, he's openly flawed. He has a manner about him that says, 'This is me, now deal with it.' Truth be told, it frightens her how different he is from the man she expected to love. She thought she knew herself better than this but obviously she doesn't.
Whereas she had once thought that in order to win her undying devotion, a man would need to, at minimum, score an 87 on Lindsay's Dole's worthiness scale, she now knows that that isn't so at all. No, all a man needs to do is be Bobby Donnell because she's willing to live the rest of her life with this imperfect version of a man. Willing? No, eager, desperate, longing with all her heart too. She knows that she can live with his faults or she can live without him and the thought of the latter is abhorable. There is too much that is wonderful about him to allow his faults to win out. There is too much that she loves about him, he's too far ingrained into her soul for her to want for any other. He is her man, her life, her love. Warts and all, they're in this together and she couldn't be happier. Actually, she could be, if she knew where they were going then life would be perfect.
Looking at Bobby's carefree face, Lindsay can't help but smile. He's so beautiful when he's asleep, he's beautiful when he's awake too but he often ruins that by speaking or not speaking, as the case may be. How can he keep something like this from her? Doesn't he know what the curiosity is doing to her? Of course he knows, the sneaky rat! He knows her weaknesses as surely as she knows his. Lindsay smiles as an idea begins to form; he's attacking her with her weakness, so why can't she do the same in return?
Bobby is not an intelligent sleeper, or she should say he isn't an intelligent waker. It often takes him between five and ten minutes before his mind catches up to his body. If she had a dollar for every time she's had to call him back, after a middle of the night wake up call, to stop him leaving the house with his pajamas on, then she'd have... well, probably enough for a pizza but the point is it has happened. She used to wonder how he'd ever managed without her, until she recalled that before her he'd barely slept, half the time he'd spend the night at the office anyway. She smiles as she wonders: is that a compliment, he sleeps more now that they're together? Putting it down to contentment and not that she bores him into it, she decides that, yes, it is. Contentment? She would have once thought, how boring! It certainly had never been a life goal until she'd achieved it and realized that there were worse things in life than being content. One being that she has no idea where they are going on their vacation; she does have a plan though, so that particular trial is about to dissipate.
Loose lips sinks ships and Bobby's are languidly loose right now, enticingly loose. If she just teases them a little, wakes him without really waking him, then, maybe, in his semi-sleep state, he'll spill the beans. It is amazing what she can get out of him when he's not quite awake. He's so eager to please her, he likes to cuddle in and whisper sweet nothings as he drifts in and out of consciousness. Lindsay sometimes envisages him as a child, cuddling up to his bear as a new day arises that he's not yet ready to start. She knows that if she can just direct the conversation to their holiday, she'll then be able to relax into his arms and have him tell her everything before he even knows that he's said a word. She looks at the clock, sees she only has ten minutes before the alarm, and moves in for the kill.
Starting with a feather-light touch, Lindsay runs her fingers over Bobby's lips; they respond with a sleepy smile before lapsing again as he sighs. Lindsay leans in closer, moves her fingers to trail along his neck as she licks her lips, then plays them softly over his. Morning breath be damned, she lets her tongue peek out and moisten his sleepy mouth. He expels another sigh and Lindsay feels his body shift towards hers. She continues the kiss as she lowers herself until she's draped along his side, then, breaking it, she draws her mouth away, smiling when Bobby's face turns trying to find her again.
"I love you," she whispers, trailing kisses along his jaw, "I love you so much," reaching his ear, she adds, "I can't wait for our holiday, it's going to be so wonderful, I can't wait to get there, wherever it is..."
"Alaska," Bobby slurs.
Lindsay pulls away, a little unsure if she just heard what she thinks she just heard. She's surprised and not exactly pleasantly either. Alaska may well be beautiful but she's had enough of the cold; he'd promised her sun and surf, dammit. In desperation, she wonders if there's a plausible alternative for what she thinks she heard. What else sounds like Alaska though? Nebraska? And is that a better alternative? What's there of interest? The worlds only roller skating museum... Oh, God, did she tell Bobby how she'd longed to go there? If so, did she mention that she outgrew that fantasy when she was NINE! Surely, if he's heard part of the story he's heard the lot, right? It can't be Nebraska, it can't be Alaska. Please, God, not Alaska! But what? Coming up blank, she elbows him a little, moving out of his slumbering grasp and asks, "What?"
Bobby's eyes are still closed, sleepily he draws her to him and nuzzling against her neck, mumbles, "Nature channel... saw a documentary, Alaskan dog sled teams... and you can book in to run with them, thought it would be great," his eyes open, shine at her, fully alert as he grins, "Whattya think?"
'Insufferable man,' is what she thinks as she glares at him. He shows no contrition at all. How the hell did he outwit her this morning? He'd been asleep, she knows that he was asleep; this ploy should have worked. Insufferable man! Damn his impenetrable vault. Watching Bobby's grin grow ever wider only further infuriates her, "I think I hate you," Lindsay says as she pushes away from him and climbs out of bed. She's half way between the bed and bathroom when the alarm goes off, its buzz is met with an accompanying growl from her. She was supposed to know it all by now, dammit.
"That isn't what you were saying a moment ago," Bobby calls to her retreating back.
"Yeah, well, a girl has a right to change her mind," Lindsay retorts as she enters the bathroom.
"It was a good try though, Linds," Bobby laughs.
"Shut up!" she shouts. Thankful that, with a wall between them, he can't see that she's grinning broadly. Damn him, why can't she ever stay angry with him. One laugh from Bobby and she's putty in his hands, desperate to conjure another, willing to jump through any hoop he asks if it will acquire more. Why couldn't he have the decency to snort like a pig or have a high-pitched cackle? At least then she'd be able to stay mad at him. Lindsay leans against the wall, listening to Bobby's soft, delighted laughter and imagines his features as he does so, knows that there is a beautiful sight to be seen in the other room. She hears him suddenly stop and her ears prick in anticipation, waiting for what she knows is to come.
"Hey, I want first shower," he calls out, all seriousness now.
With a smile, Lindsay moves to the doorway. Standing, with her arms braced on either side, she leans into the room as she smirks, "Well, now, we don't always get what we want, do we, Bobby?"
"I do," he replies and jumping out if the bed, hurries towards her.
"Nooooooooo..." Lindsay cries out, she backs quickly towards the shower while shedding her clothes.
"That isn't going to stop me," Bobby laughs, grabbing her and drawing her away from the shower.
"Okay, okay," Lindsay giggles, trying vainly to offer resistance; damn tiled floors and bed-socks. Needing a new tactic she says, "What if I promise not to ask where we are going again for the rest of the day?"
Bobby stops, pauses, then asks, "Seriously?"
"Seriously," she promises.
He doubts she can do it, realizes that when she breaks her promise, she'll owe him one so this is a win-win situation. Grinning, he says, "Okay, I can live with that," and, loosening his hold, turns her around. With his hands on her hips, Bobby walks Lindsay closer to the shower, kissing her neck as they go.
"I know the way, Bobby," she teases, not really complaining, she just can't let him have the last word.
After leaning over and kissing the middle of her back, he rises again and with his lips against her ear orders, "Don't be long."
"I'll try not to," she unconvincingly says and smiles when he groans dramatically as he leaves the room.
"Three times this week I've had a cold shower," she hears him grumble.
"That should help you acclimatize for Alaska," she retorts.
"Ha, ha!" he calls out then says, "I'm making coffee."
Lindsay smiles, considers asking if he wants a medal for it but merely replies, "You do that."
"Hurry!" he growls.
"Okay," she drawls, rolling her eyes as she switches the water on, waiting to see if he's finished playing Mr. Answer-Back yet. Hearing only silence, she smiles, thinking that she's had one little victory at least and climbs into the shower.
Although she briefly, petulantly, considers dawdling there, a new plan arises as she rinses her hair; she can search Bobby's briefcase and pockets while he showers. Ooh, yeah, she'll leave him plenty of hot water today. Just because she had promised not to ask, doesn't mean she isn't allowed to snoop. She can pry to her hearts content as long as she does it silently. Ha, and he thinks he's bested her! She'll show him.
*~*~*~*
WEDNESDAY
Bobby looks up as Lindsay enters his office. He's been expecting a visit from her for quite some time now. Half an hour ago he'd looked up to see her in an animated and obviously aggravating phone conversation. Concerned, he'd risen to walk over and find out what was going on, only to then see a sign that there was no need for concern; Lindsay's good-God-Helen! face. Sure enough, less than thirty seconds later, he read from her luscious lips an exasperated, "Helen!" and, smiling to himself, had returned to his seat. He'd wondered when Lindsay was going to get around to telling Helen about their plans. If there is anyone who hates not knowing what's going on more than Lindsay, it's Helen.
"We're having dinner with Helen tonight," she informs him, "Eight o'clock, Shahada Guchcha, don't be late."
Leaning back in his I-know-something-you-don't-know pose, Bobby asks, "What if I was planning to be busy tonight?"
"Who exactly were you planning to be busy with?" Lindsay asks, her eyes narrowing... shrewishly, he'd say, if he wasn't so in love.
"Not you, obviously," he quips.
Grinning, she says, "You got that right," as she leaves the room.
Watching her go, Bobby can tell by her step that she's suffering from Post Helen Stress disorder. He almost feels sorry for her but is also glad Helen has stuck her nose in, again. Bobby shrugs, his one plan for the night had been to annoy Lindsay to distraction, he can just as easily do that out to dinner with Helen as he can when they're home alone. He suspects that Helen will attempt to devise a foolproof plan and he's quite happy to go along for the ride to find out what it is. She doesn't know him anywhere near as well as Lindsay does and Bobby's prepared to be amused at her efforts to break him. He's sure they'll try to tag-team him into disclosing the destination but he has no intention of falling for any ruse. No, this information is locked away, there's no way he'll tell, not when he knows how much work they'll put in to get it.
He won't ever let on but, had Lindsay shown no interest in wheedling the information from him, he probably would have spilled it long ago. As weird as it seems, considering how frustrated she is with him right now, Bobby feels this tease is drawing them closer. They're smiling more, bantering more and he just feels... happy. It's almost as if, mentally, they've already started their vacation. Stress already seems to have given way to amusement. Right up until Helen's phone call anyway. Yeah, this game is too enjoyable to give up. Lindsay will just have to wait another fifty or so hours to get the information that she desires. She's just making it too amusing for him to give in and tell her.
Even yesterday, during her self-imposed silence on the subject, her face begged and pleaded, her soft sighs and crinkled brow kept him thoroughly entertained. Not to mention the many signs of her intrusions everywhere, his case, his desks, his drawers, even his pockets, she'd gone on a rummaging frenzy every time he wasn't in the room. He's a defense attorney, for God's sake, doesn't she realize that he knows better than to leave incriminating evidence lying around? Nope, no matter what she throws at him, literally and figuratively, he'll never tell. And now, with Helen hounding Lindsay, she'll be too distracted to implement a feasible plan. He knows that she'd had one brewing, it had been written all over her face this morning, but obviously, by the expression there now, that had to be shelved once Helen had invited herself to the party. Poor Lindsay, he grins, wondering how much thought she'd put into the now defunct scheme. He will make it up to her one day, just not today.
~~~~~~~
They've barely been seated for five minutes when Bobby sees Lindsay almost jump out of her chair. He watches, from the camouflage of his menu, as she flashes an irritated look at Helen, who is jerking her head to the side insistently. Lindsay's head shakes and Helen's eyes widen and bore into Lindsay demandingly. When Helen notices Bobby is watching them, she puts on an air of innocence and looks at him as if he is the one that is acting strange. Bobby, determined to stare her down, doesn't avert his gaze. Thankfully the waitress interrupts their standoff when she arrives to take their order.
As Bobby's telling her what he'd like, he sees, out of the corner of his eye, Lindsay flash Helen another cut-it-out look. When Helen leans in and whispers into her ear, Bobby sees the desire to whack her with the menu cross Lindsay's face. He silently cheers for her to do it. Instead, she gently pushes Helen away and, with more composure than he knows she'd be feeling, places her order. Bobby watches in admiration, Lindsay's cool, calm and collected facade, under pressure, always amazes him and he loves that he has the privilege to know the passion that's hidden underneath.
When they've all placed their orders and the waitress has gone, Lindsay pours herself a glass of water and has a small sip. Bobby watches on, intrigued, as she sets her shoulders in resignation, then turning to him and patting his hand says, "I'm just going to the bathroom."
After she's risen and begun walking away, Bobby turns to look at Helen, who's doing an admirable job of appearing disinterested in what's occurring. "You're not going too?" he asks.
"Nah, she's a big girl, I'm sure she can manage on her own." She nonchalantly takes a sip of her wine, then says, "So, a week away, you must be getting excited."
Bobby leans back in his chair and nods. 'Bring it on,' he thinks.
Helen leans forward and, in a conspiratorial whisper, asks, "So, where are you going?"
Bobby laughs, even for Helen, this is blunt. "This was the best you could come up with?" he asks, knowing, without a doubt, there is more to her plan but playing along.
Sitting back, Helen looks at him quizzically as she says, "Bobby, you're making even less sense than usual."
"Divide and conquer, the only thing is, it's like a cardinal sin for one of you to go to the bathroom without the other. I can't believe you didn't think I'd see through that."
"Well, I did, but you know Lindsay." Helen shrugs and finishes the rest of her drink, "Oh, well, I scored a dinner in the plan, so it's a win for me anyway."
"So, that's it? You're giving up?" Bobby asks, not believing it for a second. He knows that Helen is only getting warmed up, that she hopes to have tricked him into believing her fishing expedition is over.
Helen shrugs, "I tried, I failed, case closed."
Bobby nods and looks in the direction that Lindsay went, wondering how long it is before she's allowed to return. He smiles as he pictures her leaning against a wall somewhere, muttering to herself about Helen, about him, and about why she continually allows herself to be talked into these ridiculous situations. She loves it but you'd never get her to admit it.
"You're driving her insane, you realize?" Helen says.
Bobby can't help the laugh that arises as he says, "I know."
"As her friend I shouldn't be applauding you for it," Helen grins.
"But, as mine, you do?"
"No, but as a DA whose most formidable opponent was distracted today, I will." When Bobby flashes suddenly concerned eyes at her, Helen laughs, "You're so gullible! Of course she won the motion, don't you guys ever talk?"
Bobby doesn't bother answering; he learnt a long time ago that the best way to annoy Helen is not to respond. She's a comedian who needs a straight person, without her foil to play with, she's flustered.
"You know I told her to cut you off until you coughed up, figured you'd be squealing pretty soon then."
Bobby smiles as he counts off Helen tactic two, if gentle teasing doesn't get a response, go for the jugular. Helen's favorite form of offense is... well, offense, but Bobby refuses to be offended, she won't rattle him, no matter what. "Lindsay wouldn't do that," he calmly says.
"You're pretty sure of yourself there, Bobby."
"No, no, I mean, she isn't manipulative like that, like some," he grins.
"I'd say 'ouch' if I thought that was directed at me," Helen replies uncertainly.
Bobby laughs and shakes his head, assuring her it wasn't. Helen may be a pest but she's straightforward, that's one of the reasons her actions tonight are so predictable. Out of the courtroom, Helen goes after what she wants openly and honestly, what you see is what you get. Bobby, however, is far more interested in what he can't see... Lindsay. He begins to look around the room again, hoping to spy her somewhere watching on discreetly.
Helen looks at Bobby's distracted, wistful expression and finds herself intrigued by the air he has about him tonight, she doesn't think she's ever seen him this relaxed. If his eyes hadn't lingered so longingly over Lindsay every time they'd drifted her way, Helen would be inclined to believe she was seated beside an impersonator, but she recognizes that look of love, has only ever seen if from Bobby to Lindsay. This week, she's seen a change in Lindsay too. Her eyes are so alive, her smile suddenly appearing for no reason. Helen suspects that currently Lindsay could even take on a drug case without it affecting her mood. They're happy, these two lunatic friends of hers are actually allowing themselves to be happy, will wonders never cease!
Helen finds herself wanting to grab hold of them both and give them a big hug. She feels like a mother duck whose babies are finally ready to learn how to swim, she's not sure what will happen but is proud of them for each step they take towards the water's edge. Caught up in her excitement for them, she's almost forgotten that she's supposed to be ruthlessly grilling Bobby now. When his eyes turn back to their table, she smiles at him as she says, "You're excited about this aren't you?"
He merely nods as he picks at his bread, then, surprising Helen, he looks up and says, "We need this."
Helen is stunned, as much at Bobby for recognizing the fact as for voicing it. He looks away again before she's had the time or regained the ability to respond. She watches him curiously and smiles when he, again, looks in Lindsay's direction, obviously impatient for her return. "You really love her," Helen says in a barely audible whisper, it was almost an unwittingly spoken thought.
Bobby looks across at her and almost rolls his eyes as he exasperatedly says, "Helen!"
"What?" She laughs, amused by his annoyance, "That was supposed to be a big secret too?"
"No," he huffs as he turns away, if Helen's going to sit there laughing at him he'd just as sooner not watch. Besides, she has that thrill-of-the-chase gleam in her eye, what is it with women and talking about your feelings? If he were going to discuss them with anyone, it certainly wouldn't be Helen.
Helen watches Bobby as he pouts, any minute now she expects him to start wriggling in his chair and tugging on his collar; mention 'emotion' and watch Bobby squirm. She hadn't planned on using this tactic but, hey, it's working, he's dropped his guard so why not push ahead now?
"Then, what?" she asks, not bothering to hide her amusement, "What's so wrong with admitting that you love her?"
"Nothing," he sighs, still refusing to look her way.
"It isn't like I haven't heard you say it before, does a certain proposal..."
Bobby turns back now, a little fire entering his eyes as he says, "Can we just change the subject? Please."
"Admit it and we can," Helen demands gleefully, reeling him in.
"Fine, I do, all right! Happy?" he says fractiously, when Helen nods he adds, "Good, so, now, move on."
"Okay, so where are you taking her?"
"Nice try," Bobby laughs, pleased to have survived two fairly pathetic Helen attempts to outwit him. Lindsay is going to be furious when she learns she was kept away for this.
Helen smiles, knowing with each failed attempt she's drawing him closer to falling into her trap, it's Smug Bobby who's likely to let the side down. She pauses a moment, deciding on her next line of attack, opens her mouth to begin only to be interrupted by her pager going off, looking down at its screen she groans, "Dammit, I've got to go." Picking up her bag, she rises and says, "Have a great time, don't do anything I haven't done," and begins to hurry away.
Bobby grabs her arm, "Helen, what about Lindsay? Is she waiting for you to go get her?"
"Yep," Helen grins, "But, seems you're her Knight in Shining Armor, I'll leave that privilege to you."
"Helen!" Bobby hisses as he watches her walk away. Perplexed, he sits at the table wondering what to do. Looking at their waitress delivering a meal to a nearby table, he wonders what would be more embarrassing, being seen hovering at the door to the female bathroom, or calling Sahiti over and asking her to go tell his fiancée that she could come out now? Not knowing how to phrase the request in a way that wouldn't mortify him, he gives up and rises, hoping to God that Lindsay's the only one in there.
Bobby feels each step is leading him closer to damnation as he walks towards the bathrooms but breathes an enormous sigh of relief when he rounds the corner and sees Lindsay pacing the corridor and not another soul in sight.
Hearing someone approach, Lindsay looks up hopefully, only to have her face drop in horror at being caught out by Bobby. Flustered, she begins forming an excuse, "Bobby, I was just... um... I..." He looks at her with his eyebrow raised questioningly, his arms crossed in front of him semi-sternly as he awaits her explanation but the harder he looks at her the less coherent her stuttering becomes, as guilt for having allowed Helen to talk her into this rushes over her. He looks mad, what was she thinking letting Helen lose on him?
As much as Bobby is curious to see how elaborate and implausible Lindsay's explanation will be, he can never stand by and watch her suffer discomfort for long, not even when he's so amused by it. Taking pity on her, he grins and says, "Helen had to leave, and, by the way, her mission failed."
"I told her she was wasting her time," Lindsay sighs, "But she's as stubborn as you."
"I'm not stubborn," Bobby claims as he steps closer to her, leaning in he adds, "And she claimed it was all your idea."
"What? No! I..." she begins coming to her defense but Bobby's grin stops her. She pauses and looks up at him, finding herself smiling for no apparent reason as she giggles, "What?"
Bobby laughs, shaking his head as if he has no idea why he's so happy either. Rubbing his hand along her arm, he says, "I believe you, it smelt like a Helen plan to me from the start." Lindsay looks at him doubtfully so he continues, "Helen's obvious... you, you're much more subtle, more intriguing." When she still looks unconvinced, he adds, "Besides, I watched you arguing on the phone with her this morning, you're pretty cute when you're pissed."
Lindsay gives him a playful shove, it's purpose, really, was to allow her to touch him. Smiling at his exaggerated grunt, she looks up at him and says, "So, it's just us now? That's an awful shame, isn't it?"
"Terrible," he pouts, "My night is totally ruined."
"Well," she moans playfully, "Let's just go eat and get this terrible ordeal over and done with."
"Yeah," he says placing his arm around her shoulder, leading her away. They're almost rounding the corner, when Bobby, without warning, grabs Lindsay's arm and pulls her back into the corridor and away from view.
"Bobby, wha...?" she begins to say, but as her back hits the wall and his body presses into her, the question dies on her lips, no longer needing to be asked as his intent is perfectly clear. Her lips raise to meet his as he leans into her; his eyes hone in on her lips while his finger trails across her face.
Although Bobby's goal had been to kiss her, looking at the succulent depths of her mouth, he knows that once he enters he won't have the will to drag himself away. His palm cups her face as he veers away so that his lips press against her brow instead. He hears her sigh, feels her hands clutching at his sides and her breath warming his neck. God, if he just bent his knees a little then her mouth would be right there, so intoxicatingly, adorably kissable. One tiny movement and he could be lost in her, he wants to be lost in her... now!
Bobby tries hard to regain composure but she's right there, smelling her Lindsay smell, making her little Lindsay noises, so warm against him, so soft in his hands... so Lindsay. Her husky whisper of his name does the trick as he knows that he has to move away before he hears that sound again, because if he does then his brain won't be the organ controlling his traitorous body. He breathes in deep as he pushes away from her, hoping to keep a part of her with him as they part, even if it's only the memory of her fragrance.
As he stands straight, Bobby looks into Lindsay's wide, desirous eyes and says, "Eat." In his head it had been a full sentence, had used all those tricky things like nouns and verbs and punctuation and, quite possibly, correct grammar. Something went amiss in the delivery though but he thinks he still managed to get his point across. Stepping back one stride further, needing the space for self-preservation, he nods his head in the direction that their table is in. When Lindsay nods her assent, he turns and begins to walk away. With each step his body screams at his foolishness, his leaden legs are barely willing to follow his command. His eyes zero in on his chair, he's desperate to get there before his jelly-knees give way.
Lindsay follows him, torn between disappointment and relief. Her hunger is no longer for food but she knows this is not the place to explore that particular craving. She intends ending this meal fast, as there was a promise made in Bobby's eyes that she is eager to cash in on. She briefly wonders if Helen thought to cancel her meal, if not, she and Bobby can share it as she plans on them needing lots of added strength tonight. Or maybe they can have it boxed up and take home for afters, because she's sure that later they'll work up a more than healthy appetite, or maybe...
Realizing she's standing at their table and being stared at by Bobby and their perplexed waitress, Lindsay quickly sits, deciding that thinking is just getting in the way of a good time. Clearing her mind, she watches as Bobby lines up his plate, turning it this way and that, determining where the first strike will come from. Eating, for Bobby, is like everything else that he does, he first has to settle on the best form of attack before he then proceeds. Seeing him come to a decision, she leans back in her chair and waits.
Watching him, she takes a deep breath as his fork raises to his oh-so-delectable mouth. Thankfully, she refrains from crying out, 'Eat me, eat me, eat me instead' but only just barely. This tabletop will have permanent imprints from the pressure her fingers exerted on it as she had fought to muster control. Seeing Bobby's face contort into almost orgasmic pleasure, Lindsay's eyes drop from him in the interest of public decency, she won't be able to hold back any longer once faced with his beauty. Diving into her own meal, she refuses to look up at him again, even when his foot taps against hers requesting her attention. No, nothing but her vindaloo holds her interest now, certainly not Bobby, his heavenly mouth and awe-inspiring body, no, it's only the heat of the curry causing the sheen on her skin.
Bobby's attention has long since swung from his meal to what he plans for his desert. He's pleased to note that the secret he is so determinedly hiding seems to have totally slipped Lindsay's lust-addled mind.
*~*~*~*
To be continued
