For the Trust challenge
Title: The Watcher
Author: clearbell
Words: 657
Flavor: Mothership
Characters: Ben Stone, Claire Kincaid, Jack McCoy
Rating: PG
Notes: This is actually something that I posted in my journal yesterday - before the challenge was posted - but it happens to fit perfectly.
One Hogan Place was a hotbed of activity during the daytime, but at night, it was quiet and dark. Almost everyone had gone home for the evening. Voices spoke in hushed tones; a few dim lights shone from offices where attorneys still worked. Off in the distance, a vacuum cleaner whirred softly.
Ben walked towards Jack McCoy’s office as quietly as he could, his heart pounding as he caught quick breaths. The sights, sounds, and smells of the building at night intoxicated him, making him homesick. He longed for the days when he made his living here, before Russian gangsters and Anne Madsen changed everything.
But he wasn’t here for nostalgia’s sake.
It was a dangerous mission, and he had to lay low. The tenth floor was virtually abandoned, but there was still the chance that someone might see and recognize him.
Even at a distance, he could see them clearly through the plate-glass window. He knew that McCoy was putting on the charm; that was no surprise at all, given his track record with his female assistants. But Claire was the picture of seriousness, her nose buried in a law book. Every so often, she’d look up with a slight smile. It made Ben nervous.
It’s all in your head, Stone. There’s nothing going on between them.
He repeated the thought like a mantra, praying that the idea of extracurricular activities between his girlfriend and McCoy would no longer torment him. It was ridiculous, really; Claire loved him. She told him so every morning before leaving for work, and again before going to sleep at night.
Why, then, weren’t those assurances enough? Why was he sneaking around his former workplace like a spy?
Because McCoy takes whatever he wants; you know that. There was that woman he was married to, and Sally Bell, and Diana what’s-her-name. Every female assistant he’s ever had. Claire might be precious to you, but that won’t mean a damned thing if the bastard decides that he wants her.
McCoy said something, and Claire laughed in response; Ben’s stomach felt like it had taken on a lead weight. Then McCoy reached for his motorcycle helmet, and began stuffing files into his briefcase. Ben gasped, dashing for the elevator, pushing the button frantically.
Please, oh, please…
He could hear footsteps behind him.
“Ben? Ben Stone?”
Ben had no choice. He turned around to greet McCoy.
“Oh, hi Jack,” he said, trying to sound calm and disguise his contempt.
“What are you doing here?”
Before he could answer, Claire also appeared in the hallway, her face turning to anger and disappointment. Ben smiled at her sheepishly; the arguments they had about McCoy since she’d been assigned to him made it impossible for him to explain this visit as anything but paranoid jealousy.
The elevator opened and McCoy stepped inside.
“Nice seeing you again, Ben. See you in the morning, Claire - remember what I said about that conversation not being exculpatory.”
Then McCoy was gone.
“I can’t believe you,” Claire seethed. “There’s nothing going on between Jack and myself. I told him on the first day that I wasn’t interested, and yet you feel the need to spy on me?”
“This isn’t what it looks like, Claire -”
“The hell it is!” Claire pushed the button. “It’s obvious that you don’t trust me. What, you think I sleep with all my bosses?”
“That’s not true, darling. But McCoy is -”
“Don’t you ‘darling’ me. Jack is my boss, and nothing more. And until you get that through your brain, I’m sleeping in my own apartment.”
Propelled by fury, Claire marched into the elevator. “I think you’d better take the next one,” she said as the doors closed.
Ben shook his head, amazed at his own stupidity.
Now, do you get it? You’ll be lucky if you spend only a few nights in the doghouse.
And he swore he’d never set foot in this place again.
finis
Author: clearbell
Words: 657
Flavor: Mothership
Characters: Ben Stone, Claire Kincaid, Jack McCoy
Rating: PG
Notes: This is actually something that I posted in my journal yesterday - before the challenge was posted - but it happens to fit perfectly.
One Hogan Place was a hotbed of activity during the daytime, but at night, it was quiet and dark. Almost everyone had gone home for the evening. Voices spoke in hushed tones; a few dim lights shone from offices where attorneys still worked. Off in the distance, a vacuum cleaner whirred softly.
Ben walked towards Jack McCoy’s office as quietly as he could, his heart pounding as he caught quick breaths. The sights, sounds, and smells of the building at night intoxicated him, making him homesick. He longed for the days when he made his living here, before Russian gangsters and Anne Madsen changed everything.
But he wasn’t here for nostalgia’s sake.
It was a dangerous mission, and he had to lay low. The tenth floor was virtually abandoned, but there was still the chance that someone might see and recognize him.
Even at a distance, he could see them clearly through the plate-glass window. He knew that McCoy was putting on the charm; that was no surprise at all, given his track record with his female assistants. But Claire was the picture of seriousness, her nose buried in a law book. Every so often, she’d look up with a slight smile. It made Ben nervous.
It’s all in your head, Stone. There’s nothing going on between them.
He repeated the thought like a mantra, praying that the idea of extracurricular activities between his girlfriend and McCoy would no longer torment him. It was ridiculous, really; Claire loved him. She told him so every morning before leaving for work, and again before going to sleep at night.
Why, then, weren’t those assurances enough? Why was he sneaking around his former workplace like a spy?
Because McCoy takes whatever he wants; you know that. There was that woman he was married to, and Sally Bell, and Diana what’s-her-name. Every female assistant he’s ever had. Claire might be precious to you, but that won’t mean a damned thing if the bastard decides that he wants her.
McCoy said something, and Claire laughed in response; Ben’s stomach felt like it had taken on a lead weight. Then McCoy reached for his motorcycle helmet, and began stuffing files into his briefcase. Ben gasped, dashing for the elevator, pushing the button frantically.
Please, oh, please…
He could hear footsteps behind him.
“Ben? Ben Stone?”
Ben had no choice. He turned around to greet McCoy.
“Oh, hi Jack,” he said, trying to sound calm and disguise his contempt.
“What are you doing here?”
Before he could answer, Claire also appeared in the hallway, her face turning to anger and disappointment. Ben smiled at her sheepishly; the arguments they had about McCoy since she’d been assigned to him made it impossible for him to explain this visit as anything but paranoid jealousy.
The elevator opened and McCoy stepped inside.
“Nice seeing you again, Ben. See you in the morning, Claire - remember what I said about that conversation not being exculpatory.”
Then McCoy was gone.
“I can’t believe you,” Claire seethed. “There’s nothing going on between Jack and myself. I told him on the first day that I wasn’t interested, and yet you feel the need to spy on me?”
“This isn’t what it looks like, Claire -”
“The hell it is!” Claire pushed the button. “It’s obvious that you don’t trust me. What, you think I sleep with all my bosses?”
“That’s not true, darling. But McCoy is -”
“Don’t you ‘darling’ me. Jack is my boss, and nothing more. And until you get that through your brain, I’m sleeping in my own apartment.”
Propelled by fury, Claire marched into the elevator. “I think you’d better take the next one,” she said as the doors closed.
Ben shook his head, amazed at his own stupidity.
Now, do you get it? You’ll be lucky if you spend only a few nights in the doghouse.
And he swore he’d never set foot in this place again.
finis