Fiction: Taking the Step Ch 7/ ?
Title: Taking the Step Pt 7
author: ymmat09
pairing: L/J ; L/C
fandom: WMC
rating: 15 yrs
summary: The girls have layers of friendship
spoilers: none
disclaimer: I do not own the characters or the show.
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Chapter seven- Friendship
Claire looked up as Lindsay and Cindy entered the morgue. She spied the coffee
cup in Lindsay's hand and grinned expectantly. The inspector smiled and handed it
to her without a word. Cindy sank down in a chair saying nothing. She had picked
up on Lindsay's mood and decided silence was the best course of action. Absently,
she read the text from Chloe and smiled at the invitation. A night of clubbing sounded
like a lot of fun. Cindy didn't send a reply but looked up as Claire asked after Jill. Cindy
frowned. She had an ineasy feeling of foreboding and wanted to take Jill and lock her
away for safekeeping. Chloe had laughed at her when she had confided in her. She had
been right in suggesting Jill Bernhardt could take care of herself. Her girls were nothing
if not resilient.
Claire had gone quiet as Lindsay avoided questions about Jill. Grimly, she took in
Lindsay's troubled expression and knew they had a problem. She took a sip of coffee
and determined to corner Jill before the day was out. There was no way she was letting
Jill slide back into her old habits. Silently, she thought about Jill as she had been when they
first met. Jill had been aloof and self destructive but incredibly vulnerable. She, more than
even Lindsay, knew how easily Jill could break back in the old days. Claire didn't want to
revisit those days. They had been hard on her too when she and Ed had split up. A smile
appeared faintly on her lips. There had been a brief time when she and Jill had weathered
bad times together that nobody knew about and they had kept it that way. Occasionally,
they would catch each other's eye as if remembering and give the other a special smile that
only the other could translate. It would never happen again but it was special to them both.
Claire knew her young friend too well. The past was not where Jill needed to be.
Lindsay smiled as Cindy kissed her and headed out. The redhead had been summoned
back to her office and seemed eager to be busy. Lindsay turned to Claire who eyed her
questioningly.
“ I'm worried about Jill.”
“ Why? “ Claire asked carefully.
“ Well, for starters, she doesn't want you to know anything.”
“Oh ?” Claire frowned. Jill was trying to shut her out. Because she could
almost always get the blonde to talk. Claire frowned, they definitely needed to
worry.
“ She said she was over her head.”
“ About? “
“ I don't know. Claire, you're the doctor, have you noticed her weight loss?
She's jittery.” Lindsay frowned surprising Claire with her observations.
“ You notice a lot for someone living with our redhead.” Claire noted carefully.
“ God - don't.”
“ Lindsay, aren't things working out? “ Claire frowned.
“ We're discussing Jill right now. She's floundering Claire.
~~
Jill rubbed her eyes and collected her papers as Denise left the courtroom.
She had gotten Claire's note and was reluctant to go see her. She also knew
Claire would be at her door if she ignored the message.
“ Jill, it's been a long time. I don't know if you remember me.” a soft voice said
from behind her. Jill turned uneasily then paled as she looked at Susan Peters.
Shit!? I should have expected this!
“ It's me, Susan. It's Susan Logan now. I hope you make him pay. I want you to make him pay.”
“ We'll do our best.” Jill murmured her stomach rolling.
“ You look wonderful- and you're so successful! I knew you would be. You were
always so smart. You were smart enough to run.” Susan gave her a lop sided smile.
Jill wordlessly prayed she would go away. She did not need this.
“ Susan, I'm expected in the morgue- it was nice seeing you again--” Jill said
stammering as she closed her briefcase.
“ Oh of course. We'll talk later. About old times.”
“ Yeah, - sure..” Jill replied.
~~
Jill poked her head into Claire's office and smiled.
“ You wanted to see me? “
“ Sit.”
“ Oh hell- Claire, don't go into mom mode on me.”
“ What's going on and do not say nothing.” Claire frowned.
“ I'm overworked. I'm ok.” Jill said unconvincingly even to her own ears.
Claire raised her eyebrows and crossed her arms. Jill grimaced and looked
at her hands. With a sigh Claire sat down beside her and gently smoothed
back the platinum blonde bang. The comforting gesture was her undoing and
tears welled up. Instinctively she wrapped her arms around Claire and held on
as the floodgates opened. Claire rocked her in her arms crooning comfortingly
like she did when one of her boys was hurting. Jill cried unable to explain her
emotions. She would never tell Claire this secret. Claire listened to the harsh
gulps as they eased into just hitches in the blonde's throat. Jill's breathing evened
out and Claire sighed realizing the blonde had fallen asleep.
“ Baby girl, you're exhausted.” Claire frowned worriedly. Gently she eased the
attorney down on the office sofa and draped her coat over her. Right now it was
more important that Jill sleep than she get her answers. It didn't keep Claire from
imagining all sorts of horrors. Lindsay arrived and took one look at Jill and eyed
Claire anxiously. Claire pulled her out of her office and ordered her to go home.
Lindsay looked lost. Claire promised to fill her in later. Going back in her office,
Claire watched over the blonde as she slept.
~~
Lindsay prowled around her livingroom unable to relax. All she could think about
was Jill. Claire had shielded Jill, even from her, like a mother lion. That scared her
because Claire only got like that if one of them was seriously hurt or in trouble.
Lindsay sighed nervously, Jill was in trouble.
“ Hey, I didn't mean to make you wait up for me. I went clubbing with Chloe.”
Cindy smiled guiltily. Lindsay stared at her blankly.
“ Linds, it's almost midnight.” Cindy smiled, “ I left early.”
“ With Chloe. The photographer? “ Lindsay asked.
“ Yeah, she's really cool.” Cindy grinned.
“ That's nice. “ Lindsay mumbled absently.
“ She wants to go to LA in a couple of weekends. I might go with her,
you know, do some shopping, party.” Cindy ventured. Lindsay nodded.
“ Linds? She's really nice.”
“ You like her huh? “ Lindsay smiled distractedly.
“ You and me- it isn't happening, is it?” Cindy sighed.
“ Has she asked you out? “
“ Yeah, a couple of times. Linds, I said maybe.”
“ Go for it. If you have feelings for her- don't be stupid and let her get
away.” Lindsay said huskily.
“ Are you and me ok? “ Cindy asked softly.
“ We're always going to be ok. You're one of my best friends.”
“ I love you too. Just not - well you know.”
“ I know. Let's keep this to ourself for a few days though, ok?”
“ Sure. Why though? “ Cindy asked.
Lindsay filled her in on Jill's meltdown in Claire's office. Cindy grimly
suggested they all talk to her but Lindsay informed her about Claire's order to
back off. Cindy was with Lindsay though, she didn't think they should be letting
Jill evade them. Lindsay sank down on a chair and closed her eyes. Cindy
hugged her and said,
“ We'll get her through whatever this is.”
“ Cindy, I'm sorry. I wasn't much of a girlfriend- “
“ Me either. We're terrific friends though.” Cindy teased.