CHAPTER SIXTY-TWO

" About damn time, McCoy, " Rick said. " I'm tired of seeing you flat on your back." Jake grinned, shifting her shoulders higher on the bed. " I'll be lucky if I don't have bed sores."

" You need a haircut." Jake lifted her left arm and raked her fingers through her hair, hair that was in desperate need of a wash. " Ricky, I'll pay you fifty bucks if you'll shampoo my hair."

" And how do you propose I do that? You're not allowed out of the bed."

Jake arched an eyebrow. " Grab an empty bedpan and a pitcher of water. How hard can it be? "

" You're trying to get me kicked out of here, aren't you? "

" You're my only visitor. Why would I want you kicked out? "

" Hardly your only visitor. You're just not awake when she comes by."

" Funny how that is, isn't it? "

" She's got her practice going again, Jake. She's busy."

Jake nodded. " Yeah, I know. I know."

" She's been here every day."

Jake touched her injured right shoulder and rubbed it lightly, eyes closed. She tried to push away the hurt feelings and not dwell on it. The case was over, and Nicole had every right to resume the life she had before Jake became a part of it. And by all accounts, she had resumed it. And, eventually, Jake would resume hers as well.

" How's Cheyenne? " Jake asked, changing the subject.

" She's spoiled rotten, that's how she is. I can't make her go outside when I leave, so I assume she spends her days on the couch. She's there when I leave and there when I get home."

" Do you think she misses me? " Jake asked quietly.

" Yes, she asks about you every night."

Jake laughed, then grabbed her shoulder from the pain. " Damn, Ricky."

" Not my fault." Rick slid his chair closer. " By the way, Steven got a promotion."

" No kidding? "

" Yeah. They moved him over to Internal Affairs."

" Internal Affairs? Good God, you call that a promotion? "

" Apparently, his hacking skills were needed over there. I think they were quite impressed with him."

" He's a good guy, " Jake said.

" Yeah. And what's with this James Bond shit? "

Jake smiled. " It's... private."

" Private? Well, he's got a bad case of hero worship going on."

Jake met his eyes. " I thought I was dead, Ricky. Gregory had his weapon pointed right at me. When I heard the shot, I couldn't figure out why I wasn't hit. Then Gregory fell to the floor, and Steven stood behind him, eyes wide open. He started shaking and the last thing I remember is his gun falling from his hands."

" Yeah. He was pretty shook up. I think he and Nicole have had a couple of talks about it, and that's helped. He was having a pretty hard time with the shooting."

" Yeah, I can imagine. I'm glad she talked with him. She was there, she knew the situation."

Rick cleared his throat. " And when are the two of you going to talk? "

" Not much to talk about, is there? " Jake absently rubbed her injured shoulder again. " The case is over, time to get back to real life."

" I think you should tell her how you feel, Jake."

" What would that accomplish? It would just make her feel uncomfortable. Hell, it'd make me feel uncomfortable." She shook her head. " No, it's over, whatever it was."

" You don't know that."

Jake waved at the empty room. " It's been a week, Ricky. We've yet to see each other."

" You know good and well she's been here."

" So it's a coincidence that she comes when I'm in PT? Or sleeping? "

" Yeah."

Jake lifted an eyebrow. " I don't believe in coincidences."

" Whatever. I swear, you're so stubborn, " he said, grabbing his coat.

" Where are you going? It's Sunday. You don't have to be anywhere."

" It's one hour to kickoff and we have no munchies, not to mention beer. I'm going on a run."

" Ricky, you can't bring beer in here."

He grinned mischievously. " Watch me."

Nicole stuck her head in, actually surprised to find Jake sitting up in the bed. Every time she'd come, the room was either empty, or Jake was asleep. Of course, there had been nothing preventing her waking Jake up, but she'd found it easier to just sit with her for a few moments and slip quietly from the room.

Today, however, Jake was sitting on the edge of her bed, her face etched with pain. Nicole could see perspiration on her forehead.

" What's wrong? " she said, moving into the room.

Jake looked up, surprised.

" Hey, stranger, " she said.

" Are you okay? "

Jake nodded. " Just got back from PT. I swear, the bastard is trying to kill me."

Nicole smiled, then couldn't stop herself from reaching out and lightly grasping Jake's arm. " Every time I've come, you've been asleep or gone."

Jake nodded. " He's had me doing PT twice a day since Friday."

" So when's the jail break? "

Jake smiled. " Tomorrow. I can't wait to see Cheyenne."

Nicole nodded. " I bet."

Jake picked up the towel and wiped her forehead, her eyes moving from Nicole's power suit to her face. " So, everything okay with you? "

Nicole took a step backward, feeling as if they were strangers and never lovers. She felt the pain immediately. " I'm doing... good. Catherine's got the office running at full steam again. Surprisingly, the publicity of the case has brought more inquiries, not less."

Jake gave a humorless smile. " Great. I'm really glad your practice didn't suffer."

Nicole nodded and clutched her hands together. " So, how long will you be off? "

" For awhile."

Their eyes met, and Nicole resisted the urge to go to Jake, to hold her. Apparently, Jake had moved past what they had. So she squared her shoulders, hoping desperately to keep her tears at bay.

" Well, I should run. I've got a... dinner date, " she said.

Jake felt as if her heart would burst in her chest, but she simply nodded, hoping her facial expression didn't give her away. " I understand. Thanks for coming by."

" I'll... I'll see you later."

Jake nodded, but kept quiet as she watched Nicole flee from the room. With a heavy heart, she closed her eyes, falling blindly back onto the bed. A dinner date? Damn, that didn't take long.