L&O fic: Day and Night
Title: Day and Night
Fandom: Law & Order
Characters: Mike Cutter/Connie Rubirosa
Rating: PG
Word Count: 1,300
Summary: Post-ep for 20x09 "For the Defense." That is explanation enough!
Author's notes: Huge thanks to neojess for the beta. Also, thank you to sundancekid74 and scarletumbrella for letting me bounce ideas off of you both and for giving me ideas to work with!! ♥
It was easier to work than to deal with the thoughts floating around in her head. Connie was good at being efficient, doing what was asked of her. Jack told her to work with Mike on the motions that had piled up as a result of Marcus Woll’s conviction, so that’s what she was doing. There hadn’t been enough time to dwell on the events, the part she had played, her past with Woll, her present…with Mike?
“C’mon, Connie. Just a drink.” Marcus flashed her a disarming smile. She knew it was a bad idea, but everything about being an ADA was new and exciting…he was exciting. One drink led to several, and before she knew it, they were back at his apartment…
As she highlighted a passage of case law, Connie felt her stomach sink. He was a serial killer, cold and calculating, even then, using whoever was necessary to carry out a plan. It seemed so obvious now.
“Connie?” Mike repeated her name for the third time. She was completely lost in thought, which was unsurprising, given the week’s events. Outside of their work, she’d barely said two words to him. It was his own fault, he knew, for bringing up her relationship with Woll, calling her actions dumb. He knew how idiotic he must have sounded, rambling on like he had the right. Her face had been evidence enough of what she thought of his opinion.
“Huh?” Connie glanced up, not realizing her eyes were watery.
“We’re going to be buried in this for weeks,” Mike motioned to the pile of paperwork. “Do you want to go grab a drink around the corner? I know I could use one…”
His voice was so normal, like Woll didn’t exist, like the paperwork they were filling out was run-of-the-mill, like there was no tension between the two of them. She needed normal. She wanted to go get a drink with her friend, Mike, and pretend just for awhile that everything was okay.
“Sure,” Connie said, adding a small smile.
Mike was slightly surprised, but glad that she agreed.
At the bar, Mike quickly ordered a scotch on the rocks. As Connie sipped a cocktail, she watched him down his drink rather quickly. Normally, she might have told him to take it easy or asked what was going on, but things weren’t normal and she couldn’t pretend otherwise, even though she wanted to. Instead, she watched as he ordered another. She finished her own first drink not long after.
“More?” he asked, motioning to her glass.
Connie was about to say yes, and then abruptly shook her head. “I’m good for now.”
“How about one more?” she remembered Marcus asking.
That wasn’t what was going on here. Even as Connie told herself that, she balled a fist, knuckles turning white as she gripped her cocktail napkin. Like she’d testified in court, Marcus was a one-off, barely memorable save for the fact that he reappeared years later, making trouble. A mistake. If she and Mike-she didn’t want it to be a mistake. And yet, that’s what he seemed to think office romances were, despite giving off signals that said otherwise.
At first, when they started working together, Connie only thought he was being friendly, that the bashful smiles were a sign that Mike Cutter wasn’t as comfortable in the office as he was in court. When the compliments started…she knew there was something more, that maybe he had a crush on her. Initially, she thought it was cute…and then began to realize that he was on her mind more than he should be. But he never made a move, so she was continually left wondering.
Now, with Woll’s words running through her head, she was still wondering, still wanting a real answer, wanting Mike to say something. She could handle her decisions being called dumb and even the fact that she’d once slept with a guy who turned out to be a cold-blooded killer. She could get over the past, eventually. Connie didn’t want Mike Cutter to be someone she ‘got over’ and as she watched him drink his second scotch just as steadily as the first, she realized she didn’t want him out of her life any time soon, either. If anything, she wanted more of him in her life, maybe in a different way.
“Will you just tell me-what you really think?” she suddenly felt herself saying.
“About what?” Mike asked. “About this scotch? It’s not that great.”
He was buzzed. She didn’t know whether to laugh or slap him upside the head.
“About me. And you. About us,” Connie said hurriedly.
“…what?” Mike gulped down the rest of his scotch, taken completely off-guard.
“You know what,” she said, all the frustration that had been slowly building the last couple of years coming to a head. “Woll said…” And then just as quickly, she couldn’t get the words out.
“Woll said what? Do-do you really believe anything that-slimeball said?” Mike asked. Inwardly, he thought, Shit. What did Woll say?
“That you wanted to ask me out,” Connie’s voice was quiet. “That you didn’t think you should.” Of course, those weren’t the words Woll used.
“…oh.” Mike’s voice practically squeaked.
Connie nodded.
“I-it doesn’t matter what I feel, Connie,” Mike said, “It wouldn’t be right, or fair to you. Office romances never are to women.” He tried to ignore Jack’s response to that argument, but in his head, he could see the D.A.’s amused look.
“What about what I want?” her tone was still soft.
He looked at her questioningly, not realizing until now that the decision wasn’t only his.
“It could change everything. It would change everything.”
Connie tilted her head. “Not all office romances are tawdry, Mike. I’m a grown-up woman who can make fully informed decisions. You’re right-it could change everything-but do you really want to sacrifice-what you feel-on the chance that-something goes wrong?”
“I don’t know any more,” Mike admitted.
“You’re not Marcus Woll,” she said, touching his hand. “You’re not callous or a sleaze. You’re…thoughtful and kind and…” She stopped, cheeks reddening slightly.
“You’re perfect,” he said, still feeling the effects of the booze.
Connie couldn’t help a laugh. “You of all people know that’s not true.”
“It is,” he insisted. “You’re smart and funny and beautiful, way more empathetic than Jack or I tend to be. You’re the heart of our office.” Mike put his hand over hers. “I want you. I really do. Not because I think I deserve you or anything like that, or because Jack thinks it’s okay.”
“You talked to Jack about this?” Connie tried hard not to laugh.
“It came up,” Mike looked like an errant schoolboy.
Unable to hold it in, Connie’s shoulders shook with laughter, the first time she’d truly let loose since the Woll mess had begun.
“Did I say the wrong thing?” Mike was worried.
Connie shook her head and leaned in. “I want you, too.”
“That’s a relief,” Mike said. “This could’ve made for a really awkward Monday morning.” He paused. “I mean-” Shut up, Mike, he told himself. Before he could stop himself, he leaned in and kissed her.
Connie returned the kiss, holding his hand tighter.
“Wow,” Mike said after a moment.
“Worth breaking your morals clause?” she couldn’t help tease.
“Definitely yes,” he managed. After a moment, he wondered aloud, “What now?”
“Well, McCoy said we’re to be working with each other day and night…we should probably get back on that,” Connie said.
“Probably,” Mike said, kissing her cheek this time, his arm going around her shoulders.
Connie smiled, wrapping an arm around his waist. There would be a proper time to deal with the past. For now, she was quite content in the present.
Fandom: Law & Order
Characters: Mike Cutter/Connie Rubirosa
Rating: PG
Word Count: 1,300
Summary: Post-ep for 20x09 "For the Defense." That is explanation enough!
Author's notes: Huge thanks to neojess for the beta. Also, thank you to sundancekid74 and scarletumbrella for letting me bounce ideas off of you both and for giving me ideas to work with!! ♥
It was easier to work than to deal with the thoughts floating around in her head. Connie was good at being efficient, doing what was asked of her. Jack told her to work with Mike on the motions that had piled up as a result of Marcus Woll’s conviction, so that’s what she was doing. There hadn’t been enough time to dwell on the events, the part she had played, her past with Woll, her present…with Mike?
“C’mon, Connie. Just a drink.” Marcus flashed her a disarming smile. She knew it was a bad idea, but everything about being an ADA was new and exciting…he was exciting. One drink led to several, and before she knew it, they were back at his apartment…
As she highlighted a passage of case law, Connie felt her stomach sink. He was a serial killer, cold and calculating, even then, using whoever was necessary to carry out a plan. It seemed so obvious now.
“Connie?” Mike repeated her name for the third time. She was completely lost in thought, which was unsurprising, given the week’s events. Outside of their work, she’d barely said two words to him. It was his own fault, he knew, for bringing up her relationship with Woll, calling her actions dumb. He knew how idiotic he must have sounded, rambling on like he had the right. Her face had been evidence enough of what she thought of his opinion.
“Huh?” Connie glanced up, not realizing her eyes were watery.
“We’re going to be buried in this for weeks,” Mike motioned to the pile of paperwork. “Do you want to go grab a drink around the corner? I know I could use one…”
His voice was so normal, like Woll didn’t exist, like the paperwork they were filling out was run-of-the-mill, like there was no tension between the two of them. She needed normal. She wanted to go get a drink with her friend, Mike, and pretend just for awhile that everything was okay.
“Sure,” Connie said, adding a small smile.
Mike was slightly surprised, but glad that she agreed.
At the bar, Mike quickly ordered a scotch on the rocks. As Connie sipped a cocktail, she watched him down his drink rather quickly. Normally, she might have told him to take it easy or asked what was going on, but things weren’t normal and she couldn’t pretend otherwise, even though she wanted to. Instead, she watched as he ordered another. She finished her own first drink not long after.
“More?” he asked, motioning to her glass.
Connie was about to say yes, and then abruptly shook her head. “I’m good for now.”
“How about one more?” she remembered Marcus asking.
That wasn’t what was going on here. Even as Connie told herself that, she balled a fist, knuckles turning white as she gripped her cocktail napkin. Like she’d testified in court, Marcus was a one-off, barely memorable save for the fact that he reappeared years later, making trouble. A mistake. If she and Mike-she didn’t want it to be a mistake. And yet, that’s what he seemed to think office romances were, despite giving off signals that said otherwise.
At first, when they started working together, Connie only thought he was being friendly, that the bashful smiles were a sign that Mike Cutter wasn’t as comfortable in the office as he was in court. When the compliments started…she knew there was something more, that maybe he had a crush on her. Initially, she thought it was cute…and then began to realize that he was on her mind more than he should be. But he never made a move, so she was continually left wondering.
Now, with Woll’s words running through her head, she was still wondering, still wanting a real answer, wanting Mike to say something. She could handle her decisions being called dumb and even the fact that she’d once slept with a guy who turned out to be a cold-blooded killer. She could get over the past, eventually. Connie didn’t want Mike Cutter to be someone she ‘got over’ and as she watched him drink his second scotch just as steadily as the first, she realized she didn’t want him out of her life any time soon, either. If anything, she wanted more of him in her life, maybe in a different way.
“Will you just tell me-what you really think?” she suddenly felt herself saying.
“About what?” Mike asked. “About this scotch? It’s not that great.”
He was buzzed. She didn’t know whether to laugh or slap him upside the head.
“About me. And you. About us,” Connie said hurriedly.
“…what?” Mike gulped down the rest of his scotch, taken completely off-guard.
“You know what,” she said, all the frustration that had been slowly building the last couple of years coming to a head. “Woll said…” And then just as quickly, she couldn’t get the words out.
“Woll said what? Do-do you really believe anything that-slimeball said?” Mike asked. Inwardly, he thought, Shit. What did Woll say?
“That you wanted to ask me out,” Connie’s voice was quiet. “That you didn’t think you should.” Of course, those weren’t the words Woll used.
“…oh.” Mike’s voice practically squeaked.
Connie nodded.
“I-it doesn’t matter what I feel, Connie,” Mike said, “It wouldn’t be right, or fair to you. Office romances never are to women.” He tried to ignore Jack’s response to that argument, but in his head, he could see the D.A.’s amused look.
“What about what I want?” her tone was still soft.
He looked at her questioningly, not realizing until now that the decision wasn’t only his.
“It could change everything. It would change everything.”
Connie tilted her head. “Not all office romances are tawdry, Mike. I’m a grown-up woman who can make fully informed decisions. You’re right-it could change everything-but do you really want to sacrifice-what you feel-on the chance that-something goes wrong?”
“I don’t know any more,” Mike admitted.
“You’re not Marcus Woll,” she said, touching his hand. “You’re not callous or a sleaze. You’re…thoughtful and kind and…” She stopped, cheeks reddening slightly.
“You’re perfect,” he said, still feeling the effects of the booze.
Connie couldn’t help a laugh. “You of all people know that’s not true.”
“It is,” he insisted. “You’re smart and funny and beautiful, way more empathetic than Jack or I tend to be. You’re the heart of our office.” Mike put his hand over hers. “I want you. I really do. Not because I think I deserve you or anything like that, or because Jack thinks it’s okay.”
“You talked to Jack about this?” Connie tried hard not to laugh.
“It came up,” Mike looked like an errant schoolboy.
Unable to hold it in, Connie’s shoulders shook with laughter, the first time she’d truly let loose since the Woll mess had begun.
“Did I say the wrong thing?” Mike was worried.
Connie shook her head and leaned in. “I want you, too.”
“That’s a relief,” Mike said. “This could’ve made for a really awkward Monday morning.” He paused. “I mean-” Shut up, Mike, he told himself. Before he could stop himself, he leaned in and kissed her.
Connie returned the kiss, holding his hand tighter.
“Wow,” Mike said after a moment.
“Worth breaking your morals clause?” she couldn’t help tease.
“Definitely yes,” he managed. After a moment, he wondered aloud, “What now?”
“Well, McCoy said we’re to be working with each other day and night…we should probably get back on that,” Connie said.
“Probably,” Mike said, kissing her cheek this time, his arm going around her shoulders.
Connie smiled, wrapping an arm around his waist. There would be a proper time to deal with the past. For now, she was quite content in the present.