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[poison_lipstick]

Many months ago, Saffron had taken an unopened bottle of Cristal, one of the last few left, and set it aside in a safe place to be used for her and Warrick's New Year's Eve celebration. But by the time that particular day rolled around her boyfriend was long gone, and so the champagne remained hidden away

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[captainjack]

On days he didn't have ITF, Jack still worked out. Logan thought he was insane with all the running and swimming, but Jack didn't let the bitching stop him. Detain him, maybe, but not stop him.

He surfaced near the dock and smiled as soon as he saw Helen. The smile fell, though. Between the ITF and the club, Jack knew Cuthbert and his hawk. He also knew Helen didn't just sit alone and drink and cry. When it came to the people he knew the best and cared for most, Jack was pretty smart.

He didn't bother apologizing for dripping on the dock and he didn't apologize for plopping down next to her and draping a wet arm around her shoulders.

"Bert's gone," he said softly, simply. He figured that if he was wrong, she'd correct him.

[poison_lipstick]

Saffron didn't give a damn that Jack was dripping wet and getting her all wet too with his arm around her. She was just glad he was there, and she turned her head to look up at him with a small nod of confirmation. "Lloyd and Alain and Sandor too," she said, her voice breaking a little, and tears burned her eyes as she leaned into him and rested her head on his shoulder.

David, for his part, simply gave a little squawk. Saffron supposed it was his way of saying hello to Jack.

[captainjack]

"Damn it," he sighed heavily, gathering her closer. "All at once? Oh, bao bei..."

There weren't any words. They'd both been here long enough to understand that it happened and they'd both been here long enough to know that it hurt like hell. And Jack was certain that for a blow this big? That champagne was probably the best idea. It'd dull the pain for a moment- just long enough for people like them to square their shoulders and keep on going.

[poison_lipstick]

She let the tears roll down her face as Jack held her closer, knowing he would understand her need for a moment of weakness at a time like this. "All at once," she confirmed, a little shakily. "Lloyd told me they were all getting together last night, so they probably all disappeared together then."

[captainjack]

He held her a little tighter to his bare skin, reaching up to stroke her hair slowly.

"This place really knows how to stick it in and break it off," he said quietly. There weren't really any words that could make it better. They both knew that so there was no reason to pretend there were. You got angry, you got sad, sometimes you got drunk...and then you just kept going.

"I liked Bert. He was a good guy. Lloyd, too."

[poison_lipstick]

"They were," she agreed. Saffron's relationship with Cuthbert had been definitely complicated, but she'd cared about him a hell of a lot, and knew he'd cared about her too. And Lloyd, well, she'd just plain adored him to pieces.

"Reckon I need to start looking for a couple of new bartenders," she said wryly, wanting to swing the conversation away from its current path even though replacing the two men at the club was the last thing on her mind.

[captainjack]

"Probably so. I can cover until you find someone more qualified," he offered. He knew how she was feeling, distracting herself from the pain of it by focusing on the practical.

"And I bet if you ask, Roger and Abby and everyone will step up. It's nothing you need to worry about, bao bei."

[poison_lipstick]

"I appreciate that, sugar," Saffron said. "And I know the folks'll help out. I've got a good bunch." Even as she said that, she realized how strange it was - the fact that she was even considering people to be dependable - but it was true, far as she could tell.

She sat up a little, enough to look at Jack but not enough to dislodge his arm from where it was wrapped around her. "I think that's enough doom and gloom for one conversation," she said with false cheerfulnees that she knew he would see was false but she needed to have anyway. "Tell me what all you've been up to lately."

[captainjack]

"Oh, you know me," he said with a casual air. He turned and looked out over the water, pursed his lips for a moment, then shrugged. He was a master at avoiding topics that were close and painful. He wasn't going to deny her the familiar comfort of dodging.

"Task force, bath house,the club, and Logan...I've become a man of simple pursuits," he said. "and the scary part is...I can't complain."