(Untitled)

[trigger_man]

Ever since Jack got back from visiting Beckett's New York--to find that more time had passed in the bar than in her world, not that that really made much difference to him--he hasn't been spending much time in the bar itself.  New York had been sensory overload everywhere he looked, and while he'd been able to bottle up his reaction to it most of

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[justdidntseeit]

Kate's on the porch, watching the moon rise in the sky.

She looks over when the back door opens and offers a smile.

"If you're taking a walk, watch out for bunnies."

[trigger_man]

Jack turns quickly and spots Kate nearby. Stomping the snow off his shoes, he gives her a slight smile. "Yeah, I've heard about those. Haven't seen any yet and I don't think I want to. How're you?"

[justdidntseeit]

"You definitely don't want to," she says with a light chuckle.

"I'm good -- how about you?"

She glances toward the door.

"Back from New York?"

[trigger_man]

"Yeah. I take it Beckett told you about her invitation?" he says, sidestepping any mention of how he's doing. Not that it wouldn't have been easy to just toss off a "fine" like he usually does.

[justdidntseeit]

"She did."

She leans a hip against the railing, studying Jack as well as she can.

"I told her I thought it was a great idea."

She's hoping she was right -- for Jack and for Beckett's sakes.

[trigger_man]

"A good one, at least. And Beckett didn't seem like she minded having me," he says with a slight shrug.

He's kind of glad that he could be there so Beckett didn't spend most of the holiday by herself, even though it probably means he's getting too attached.

[justdidntseeit]

"Of course she didn't -- and I'm glad neither of you were stuck by yourselves for the holidays."

Kate shakes her head slightly.

"I know how wearing it can get, being Bound."

[trigger_man]

Jack gives a breathy snort. "I've been in worse places. Depending what you have to go back to, I guess it's not so bad."

[justdidntseeit]

She nods in concession.

"And you've got a move waiting for you at home, right? Can't say I'm jealous of that."

[trigger_man]

"Yeah, though it's not really anything big. I don't have that much stuff to move."

He shifts his footing, leaning back against the exterior wall of the bar. "How're you? How were your holidays?"

[justdidntseeit]

"Good. Pretty quiet," she adds with a small smile, "which is never a bad thing, in my book."

She nods toward the back door.

"There's a little girl who comes here, she's about three years old. Her name is Grace, but she goes by Boo. She's taken to staying upstairs with Bill and me while we're here, so it was a fun Christmas."

[trigger_man]

"Her parents don't come in here?" he asks. That sure sounds like every parent's worst nightmare.

[justdidntseeit]

"Not that we know of so far," she says, shaking her head.

"She's got a lot of friends here, though. Everyone tries to look out for her, but it's hard not to worry, with so much that can happen here."

[trigger_man]

"Yeah, especially if she comes in here without anyone noticing. I imagine unless she comes to find you, it's easy to miss seeing a small child in the bar."

[justdidntseeit]

"It is. But Bar and the wait-rats -- and even the Loompas," she adds with a soft chuckle, "are pretty good about keeping an eye out for her, too."

[trigger_man]

"That's good. Probably good her parents have no idea about the bar too, if they can't get in. They'd probably freak out."