Jude hadn't slept in days, Cynthia's demand weighing him down. Jamie had been off work, down with the flu and Michaela had steadfastly refused to let anyone in to see him. He was back at work today, though, and Jude was determined to see him. He went to Jamie's office and entered without knocking. Jamie looked up, giving him a cursory glance, before going back to the computer screen he had been staring at before Jude's appearance.

"I need to speak to you," Jude said without preamble. He didn't bother to sit but stood in front of Jamie, his arms folded over his chest.

"Okay, what is it? Something wrong?" Jamie asked. Jude could hear the remnants of the cold in his voice.  

"I spoke to Cynthia." Jamie's head jerked up at that. "Got your attention now, I guess. Jamie, she's out for blood."

"Who, Cynthia or Kerri?"

"Both. Kerri wants Chris and Cynthia...she wants me." Jamie blinked owlishly, leaning back in his chair.

"What do you mean by that?"

"I mean, she offered to drop Kerri as a client if I agreed to...this is so high school. If I agreed to get back together with her."

"Oh my god. What did you tell her?"  

Jude stared at him in disbelief. Was that eagerness and hope he heard in Jamie's voice? How wrong was that? And yet, how wrong was it for him to actually consider it for Jamie's sake? He had most likely lost Maura now because he had considered it and she could see that on his face. He had chosen not to contact her after the other night, knowing he would only get a frosty reception.

"I haven't told her a thing yet," he replied. "I was waiting to hear what you would say."

"It's your decision, Jude. But is she serious? Do you think she would really drop Kerri if you did?"

"I don't believe you," Jude muttered. "I have no idea, but I'm not going to do it. Not for you, not for anyone. I put Cynthia behind me a long time ago. As it is, I may have lost a woman I really cared for because of this nonsense."

"I'm not asking you to do it," Jamie retorted, getting out of his chair to stand near Jude. "But if she's that ready to make a bargain, maybe her heart really isn't in this case. That alone gives me some hope." He turned a sympathetic gaze on Jude. "Is it Maura Conlan? Do you want me to talk to her?"

"No...I'll do it," he answered, relief flooding his features. "She may not want to listen to me, but I have to try. Thank you for not asking me to ..."

"I'm not crazy," Jamie cut in. "I can see how you feel about Maura. I bet she's in the middle of the lunch rush. Why don't I buy you lunch at Connie's? I could use some soup."

"If you're buying, I'm there," Jude answered with a grin.



Scene 2:

Dinah knocked on Maura's office door, hesitating for a heartbeat before opening it. "Maura?" She called into the darkness of the room. "Are you in here?"

"Yes...sorry, I was just resting," Maura's muffled voice came from the other end of the cramped room. A lamp on the desk flipped on, lighting the room softly. "What do you need Dinah?"

"Um...Joanie said she needed to talk to you about scheduling a private party...are you okay?" Maura looked as if someone had hit her hard with news that she didn't really want or need, Dinah thought. Well everyone thought that, but no one had bothered to ask Maura if she was okay before she disappeared into her office.

"Not really, Dinah. What kind of party is this that Joanie needs me for?" Maura replied straightening her hair.

"I don't know. And if you'll excuse me Maura, but you look like shit. Everyone thinks so," Dinah added catching the death look from her.  

"Oh? It's nice to know I can count on my staff for a critique of my appearance," Maura returned bitterly. Dinah flinched at her tone but stood her ground.  

Taking a deep breath, she lifted her chin and asked, "Do you want to talk about it?" Maura lifted her eyes to Dinah's, a puzzled look on her face. She could almost hear Maura's thoughts,   "So you think you can give me an answer to my problems, Dinah? Yeah right." Dinah stood her ground and didn't back away from the door. She'd known Maura her whole life...or at least since she was five and just because everyone but Noah was afraid of her, Dinah wasn't. She thought Maura was hopelessly uptight but she was okay she supposed.  
"I'm a good listener," Dinah added when Maura said nothing.

"I know you are. You're very nice to offer....all right, but do you promise not to spread it around to the other staff?" Maura asked sharply. Dinah crossed her heart and stuck her finger in the air. God, she hadn't done that since she and Piper were twelve. Maura recognized the gesture and smiled. "Thank you. There's this man..."

"Oh good. I am really good at guy problems," Dinah breathed pulling up a chair. "Go on."

"Okay...as I was saying, there's this man I am seeing. Or was."

"Jude Fontaine, yeah go on. He's a doll by the way."

"Are you going to let me tell you or are you just going to keep up this running commentary?" Maura asked, narrowing her eyes at Dinah.  

"I'm sorry, I'll be quiet."

"As I was saying, Jude and I were dating...for lack of something better to call it. But he has this ex-something. I'm not sure what I would call her. But she's here. And she's making it very obvious that she wants him back. She's even going so far as to try to bargain with him. That sounds weird, but she's a lawyer and she's involved in a case that also involves his cousin. And Jude would do anything for his cousin."

"I get it. She'll drop the case if Jude drops you?"

"Something like that, yes. The worst thing is, he didn't say no right away."  

"Ooooh." Dinah leaned back in the chair and thought about that. The answer seemed obvious to her. But she wondered if Maura would do the same thing she would. Maura certainly didn't seem like the fight for what you want type. "Well, do you like him? If you do, than you shouldn't let the ex get in your way."

"Do you think?" Before Dinah could reply or expound on her advice, a light knock disrupted their conversation. "I'm sorry," Maura apologized to Dinah, calling "come in" at the door. As if on cue, Jude Fontaine's head poked around the door, a hopeful but uneasy look on his face.

"I'm sorry to interrupt but I was hoping I could speak to Maura privately?" He said softly. Dinah stood quickly, almost knocking the chair over in the process.

"I was just leaving." She turned to Maura and raised her eyebrows. "Don't let her get in the way," she whispered before making a hasty retreat.



Scene 3:

Maura was holding her breath. She shouldn't be glad to see him, she scolded herself. She should be upset and angry and hurt, not breathless at the sight of Jude Fontaine. She was not a school girl, she reminded herself. There was no need for this ridiculous flushing or the butterflies that turned her stomach. Lowering her eyes, she shuffled a few papers around on her desk, trying to play it cool.

"What do you need Jude? I'm very busy," she said quietly.  

"I only need a few minutes of your time," Jude answered, taking the chair Dinah had just vacated. He leaned back and crossed his arms over his chest, staring at her. She could feel his gaze on the top of her head but she didn't dare look up. Her face was warm and she was positive she had turned a bright crimson upon his arrival.

"A few minutes is all I have anyway, you'll have to hurry." Hurry, she added mentally, because I think I may be sick...

"Oh? Maura, I'm sorry. I don't know what possessed me to think of accepting Cynthia's bargain. I thought..."

Maura snapped her head up, surprise on her face. "You don't know? Jude you're not stupid. In fact," she added grudgingly, "I think it's almost honorable how much you value your cousin. If I were in your shoes, I might have considered it too."

"Really? So that means?"

"Oh no, you don't get off that easy, mister. Jude you hurt my feelings! Let alone my pride! I thought we were going to have a...well you know a nice night together."  

Jude dropped his head nodding in agreement. "I did ruin it and I didn't respect you enough to realize what I was doing. I'm sorry."

"And you should be! You should be miserable like I've been for the last three days. Were you miserable?"

"I was, Maura," he said softly reaching across her desk to touch her hand. "I promise I will never do anything like that again. Please forgive me?"

The imploring look he gave her, did it. How could she turn that away? She was about to say, "yes, Jude, I forgive you. Yes, yes, and yes. I'm miserable and I'm tired of being this way!" About to at any rate. The door opened as she opened her mouth to say the words. They both turned to the doorway and stared.

"I'm sorry, am I interrupting something?" Rick asked eyeing them both briefly. "I should have knocked but no one knew where you were." Maura's mouth went dry at the sight of Rick. She stood quickly and went to him at the door.

"Jude and I were just...talking," she said quickly, uncertainty lacing her voice. "What do you need?" Her past and her present and quite possibly her future flashed before her eyes making her just a little dizzy. She swayed on her feet, reaching for something to hold. Rick's hand reached out and steadied her, pulling her back to an upright position. Looking up into his bright blue eyes, she gulped a lungful of air.  

"Are you all right?" He asked, taking her by the elbows to steady her. Her head bobbed once. Yes, she was all right, just...what? Scared to death of what she was getting herself into? Yes, that was it. She was about to become involved with a good man and was pleased with the idea. At least she had thought she was until Rick had opened the door. It was an omen, it had to be! Rick was here to... To what? Sweep her off her feet? Not bloody likely, but he was holding her up, keeping her from falling. Didn't he always do that? Confusion filled her head as she looked from Rick to Jude. God, yes she was scared. But was that what was making the room spin as it did? From the corner of her eye, she saw Jude stand and reach out a hand to touch her. Her eyes fluttered briefly as she fought a fainting spell. Oh god, she wasn't really going to faint was she? "Maura?" Rick said her name gazing at her with an alarmed expression.  

"Rick...help me...," she managed to get out before slumping forward into his arms.  



Scene 4:

Piper ran a hand through her springy curls of hair.

"Piper, don't do that!" someone snapped. She frowned and stopped and a single curl dropped down in her face with an exasperated sigh she attempted to blow it from her face. If anyone ever told Piper acting was an easy profession she would jump down their throat. It was the last dress rehearsal, Piper was exhausted, and her insides kept twisting with anxiety. 

"Wake up, kiddo," someone said, brushing the curl from her face. Piper opened her eyes to see Jonathan, the guy who played Demetrius, giving her a bemused expression.

Piper glanced in Frank's direction as she heard him address her, "Piper, again, projection, bring it up a couple more volumes and you'll be perfect."

"Frank actually likes you. He tears us apart, but he treats you like his daughter."

Piper grinned, leaning over her Indian style legs to stretch her back. She let out a yawn which caused Jon to yawn, which then caused several other people to as well. Everyone laughed, tired, but exhilarated at the anticipation for opening night. 

"Alright, I'll see everyone tomorrow, get here as soon as possible, but five at the latest."

Everyone nodded, climbing to their feet. Jonathan got up and offered Piper his hand. Piper took it and Jon had to drag her to her feet. 

"Jon, did I ever tell you how sexy you look with powder, rouge, and lip liner?" Piper teased.
Jonathan rolled his eyes, "it's what I do for my art."

Alison, who played Hermia, bounced up to the couple. "I have a test tomorrow so I'm going to go to the bookstore, get myself a frappe, and pull an all-nighter, then try and make it through tomorrow, but anyone care to join me?"

"No, I need some R and R, big time," Piper said. Jonathan nodded.

"Oh, well you two suck," Alison teased. She wrapped her arms around Piper, resting her head on the taller girl's shoulder. "I've never been this excited about a play before, but at the rate I'm going I'll collapse in the middle of a line."

"Oh, please don't do that because then we will have to improve. Whatist has happenedith to Hermia, art thou deadeth?" Piper said with a laugh.

"It would no longer be a comedy, but a Shakespearean tragedy," Jonathan said.

"It would be a modern day one when after the play Frank would kill every single one of us," Alison chimed in, releasing Piper. "And what's this?" she demanded, glancing down at Piper's back, the tattoo visible from Piper's low rise jeans.

Piper looked at her strangely at first, "oh! I got a tattoo in honor of the play!"

"Really?" Jonathan asked, turning Piper around to look at it. 

"I want one!" Alison said, examining the tattoo as well. "That's so cool!"

Piper grinned proudly, "hurt like hell, but it was worth it."

"I have one on my shoulder, for the sake of my masculinity I won't admit how much it hurt," Jonathan said. 

Alison grinned, "I think I might go get one after the play's over! We can have a tattoo cast party!"

"That'll look great, do to the tattoo parlor in full makeup and costume," Piper chimed in. 

Alison laughed, "yeah! Well, anyway, I'm off to drown in caffeine and text books, see y'all tomorrow!" Piper waved at Alison's retreating form, hopping off the stage after 
Jonathan.

"I'm going to have to tape my eyelids open on the drive home."

Jonathan gave her a concerned look, "do you need a ride?"

"Oh, nah, I can make it, I was just teasing," Piper said with a dismal wave of her hand.

"You nervous?" Jonathan asked, getting his stuff together in the dressing room.

"Yeah, so if I throw up on you tomorrow, I'm sorry now," Piper said, slinging her backpack over her shoulder.

"That'll be attractive."

"Then, you'll really want to do the kissing scene, huh?" Piper laughed at their disgusting conversation.    

Jonathan nodded, "no matter what, I'm looking forward to it," he teased, draping his arm over her shoulder as they exited the building. He glanced up, noting the BMW that belonged to that obnoxious boyfriend of hers. Was Piper the only person in the world who liked the guy? He dropped his arm off of Piper's shoulder, "just relax, Pip, the play will go fine. See you tomorrow," he said, walking over to his own poor actor automobile.

Piper grinned and waved, walking over to Chase. "What are you doing here?" she asked lightly.

"Got off work early, just seeing how you were doing for opening night."

"Nervous...very nervous, but I think I'll be okay."

Chase gave Piper a once over. She was glowing with delight, her posture confident. It was amazing how much the play was benefiting her, but sometimes it made Chase wonder. She nodded towards her car for Chase to follow her. 

"Well, you look amazing," he said.

Piper laughed, but a blush that couldn't be seen in the dimly lit parking lot crept into her face, "with these Shirley Temple curls and garish make-up, right."

"No, really," Chase slipping his arm around her small waist, before she could open the door to the car.

Piper almost jumped at Chase's movement and his bare hand brushing across her bare waist made her uneasy. She looked down at the ground, letting out a nervous laugh. 

"I need to be getting home, I'm exhausted," Piper said, pulling away from Chase to open the door and toss her bag in the back-seat. Chase cocked an eyebrow at her, his eyes roaming over her body and they fell on the spot on her back.

"What's this?" he demanded.

"What's what?" Piper asked turning around to face him. Chase spun her back around, looking down at the spot on her back.

"A tattoo?" he said in bewilderment.

"Oh yeah," Piper said, trying to play it nonchalantly, the anger in Chase's eyes scaring her. 

"When the hell did you get this?" he demanded.

"About a week ago."

"Why did you get this?"

"Because I wanted to!"

"Did that weird girl convince you?"

"No, dammit, Jewel went with me, but I decided to get it without Jewel, okay. I can make my own decisions, amazing huh?"

"Don't get smart, Piper," Chase snapped, "I can't believe you got a tattoo, that's trashy."

"It is not! It's small and tasteful. It's not like I got a fucking snake!"

He stepped back in shock at Piper's choice of words. "I don't think you need to be hanging out with that Jewel girl"

"Jewel happens to be one of the only friends I have and I like Jewel, she and I have the same interests. She's the only other person I hang out with besides you."

"Well, I don't like her," Chase snapped, stepping menacingly forward. Piper instinctively stepped back.

"Well, tough shit, because I do," she said, her own look a warning to Chase. Chase's eyes flashed threateningly and slammed his hand down on the car roof, pinning Piper between his arms.

Piper jumped, her eyes falling to his muscular arms and the power they possessed over her. An animal like fear rose within her.

"Don't talk to me like that," Chase growled, looming over Piper.

Piper swallowed hard and nodded, "I'm sorry," she said, she wasn't, but she was scared. Scared of Chase's strong arms, the way he loomed over her, the tone in his voice, and the gleam in his eye.

At her apology, all the threat faded like magic.  "Good," he said and Piper had to bite her lip from screaming at him and his arrogance. He brushed a kiss over Piper's lips which wasn't returned, but he didn't notice. "I'll see you tomorrow, beautiful."

"Yeah," Piper said, dropping down into her car as Chase sauntered off. What had just happened?

On the next Episode of Secret Horizons...

Episode 65