Heavy Lies the Crown 7/9
Jan. 5th, 2012 06:05 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
whedonistTitle: Heavy Lies the Crown
Fandom: Nikki & Nora
Rating: All over R – some parts more racy than others & some parts way less.
Ch. 7 – Eveready
“Harney,” Dan barks as the fourth ring ends.
I grin around the coffee cup pressed to my lips before setting it on the counter. “Well, don’t you just sound like a chipper little worker bee this fine morning,” I razz him.
“Nikki,” he warns while I grab my coffee cup and move to the living room.
The house is quiet this Tuesday morning, with Ann and Jill at her parents’ house and Nora still passed out, I feel okay giving Dan the heads up he needs.
“Why, lieu, I just wanted to say good morning to you and check-in.” Settling on to the living room couch, I continue, “I assume you got the paperwork Dir. Roeffy sent over to you?”
“I did. Should I even ask why you’re on this?” A smile tugs at my lips over his natural curiosity. Thank God Ann and John came up with a plausible cover story.
I would usually be adverse to the level of deceit that they’ve managed with this whole charade, but…
I can’t be mad. Too much has gone on and it’s where I need to be. They’re doing us a kindness by protecting me with this cover.
“I’ll fill you in when I get back. I did want to let you know that I talked to Nora and it looks like that she should be back Monday.” Licking my lips, I sip my coffee and wait on a response.
“Sweet Jesus. I think that prayer I remembered last night actually worked. How’s things her way? I left her a voicemail, but I figured that with everything, I may get a call back in two days.” My ear quirks as I hear chatter in the background.
My guess is that he’s moving through the pen and into his office.
“She’s doing okay. With any luck, I’ll be back in town on Saturday. Do you want me to come in or just stick to the schedule?” I ask hoping that he tells me to stick to the schedule. A weekend at home with Nora wouldn’t be a bad thing.
We’ll turn our phones off. Stock up the fridge and hide the cars somewhere so no one can tell we’re home…
If she attempts to put on clothes, I’ll just cuff her to the bed.
“Uh, I think we’re okay. Dom and Benny busted up the assault/murder that we pulled from the Fourth. The other four cases aren’t going anywhere and I think the four of them are okay to handle it. I’ve invoked an emergency shut off of the rotation until you two get back. Georgia and Jesse are right where they like it as are Dom and Benny.”
“Really?” I sweetly ask. I mean he can say what he wants and deny it until he’s blue in the face, but I know for a fact that that ridiculous rotating schedule was done more for Nora and me than for anything the Brass had cooked up…
Which reminds me, “Actually, there’s something else that I need to talk to you about.”
“What?” he asks as I hear a door shut.
“We’ll be getting a visit by a fishing team in the next month or so. Dveris is spearheading a taskforce that will be going from department to department and doing, for lack of a better word, audits on personnel and procedure.”
“Fuck me,” he gripes and I wince.
Licking my lips, I pluck up enough courage to say the rest, “Look, we’ve kept it pretty tight, but my aunt kicked a hornet’s nest at the function on Saturday night. She’s been more than a challenge over the past two years or so and Nora’s about fed up with it.” I set my cup on the coffee table. “Nora’s been talking about coming out at work.”
“She what?” The surprise in his voice matches my own when she first brought it up a few months back.
“She’s been talking about it for a while now, Dan. As happy as it makes me that she’s…ready, I’ve been putting her off. I’m not sure she’s thought through what this could mean for the department…for you,” I say honestly.
“What are they gonna do, Nikki? Fire me? Move me?” He groans.
“Dan, think about this. We’ve been together six years. Are you going to tell me they won’t question your abilities when you, in the past six years playing part and parcel to our cover up, feign ignorance?”
“I…well, shit, Nikki,” he grumps and I can picture him slumped back in his office chair looking like a pouty teenager.
“Look, I just wanted to give you a heads up. I’m working on something that may make this mess we’ve buried ourselves in a bit easier to get out of,” I inform him in the vaguest of possible ways.
“Do I bother asking?” he wonders.
“Not yet,” I cut him off before he even has a chance to get that thought rolling. “I’ll fill you in more when I have a better time frame. Until then, sit tight, boss.”
“You know it’s never a good sign when you call me ‘boss’ right?”
I shrug. He’s right.
But there isn’t anything I can do. I need to protect him. I need to protect Nora when all this comes out and I can’t do a damn thing until Jen and the union rep I’ve sworn to secrecy get back to me.
“I’ll let this go for now, Nikki, but when you get back…” he concedes.
“I promise, we’ll have a heart to heart when I get back,” I vow, knowing that barring me getting killed he’ll make sure it will happen.
“With or without our girl?” he wonders.
Sometimes, some days, he’s way too annoying to be my boss.
“Without…”
“You think that’s smart? You know how she can be?” Dan does make a good point.
“Look here,” I huff, “regardless of how she may or may not be, I have my priorities. Right now, until I can be sure, you say diddly and squat and we leave our green eyed beauty out of it.”
“I…”
“Dan, I don’t want her to get hurt here.” I shut my eyes and rest my head back on the couch. “Please, just let me make sure she’s safe and until then, you continue to do what you’ve done for the past eight or so years and watch your partners back.”
“Well, you know I was just keeping it warm for you,” he teases me, effectively breaking the tension.
I laugh, “Yeah, you did a fine job and it’s quite a back to watch.”
“You mean backside, don’t you?” A snicker punctuates the statement.
I give in, “It is indeed. Why you should have seen her last night, kneeling on the bed…”
“You saw her last night?” he asks.
OH…
Son of a…
Me and my big mouth.
“A girl needs a fantasy or two to keep warm when she’s away from her personal heater,” I try to cover up.
“Uh huh,” he sounds less than convinced. “I’ll make sure we continue this later, but right now, I have four detectives that need some guidance or a swift quick. Call me later.”
The line goes dead and I groan.
Fuck me.
“Luuuucccccyyyyy! We’re home!” Jill shouts as she and Ann enter their home.
Nora doesn’t even stir from her spot on top of me. The only thing I manage to do is lift my head from the back of the couch and wave.
Jill is all smiles…that’s good.
I’ll just assume they worked most of it out and Ann is in the dog house for the foreseeable future. Of course, if Nora had done what Ann had, Mister’s spot in the bed next to me would not be threatened for at least a week.
“Pipe down,” Nora greets, “I’m relaxing.”
Duel snickers are their reply as the girls come around the couch and plop themselves on the love seat to our right.
“Linda kicked us out,” Ann finally speaks, “She was all, ‘You weren’t nearly quiet enough last night. Go home so I can still think you two are as pure as the driven snow.’” She wraps her arms around her wife’s waist and gently rests her head on Jill’s chest.
“Oh boy,” Nora mumbles.
“I told you, you should have used the pillow to muffle your moans,” Jill teases her wife and pecks the top of her head.
“Hmm, and the ‘Yes, God!’s repeatedly shouted by you didn’t have anything to do with it?” Ann gives it right back to her.
“You think we should just let them work this out on their own,” I whisper down to Nora, “and take you back to bed?”
“Oh, no you don’t,” Ann interrupts Nora’s attempt at responding to my question. “We’ve got plans, Delaney.”
“Totally, the fucking yard’s a mess and obviously you two haven’t showered yet or you’d have noticed that the most our water heater can manage is tepid.” Jill shivers and declares, “That’s fucked up and I’m not having it anymore. Since mom kicked us out and told us that she didn’t want to see us for at least twenty-four hours, we’ve got plans.”
“What do you mean ‘we’ve got plans?’” Nora picks her head up from my chest finally and eyes the two across from us.
“Nora, honey, did you even see the yard when you pulled up yesterday?” Ann asks hooking her thumb towards the area in question. “I could start charging admission for safari excursions right now and no one could tell the difference.”
“I’d demand a refund. I didn’t see any giraffes.” I smile at Ann and get an eye roll.
“Despite the lack of wild life, it’s horrible. I’m going to need some help. So guess what that means?” Ann tries for a grin but stops before it fully forms and winces.
Sighing, I know what’s going to happen and as Nora relaxes against me, I know she does too.
“Hire a gardener?” she responds hopefully.
“Lo siento, muchacha. It means that you,” she points at Nora and then at herself, “and me are going to be one with the lawn mower, weed whacker and the hedger.”
Nora’s brow furrows and she balks, “Why can’t Nikki help you?”
“Yeah, no,” I try to get in but Jill interrupts.
“’Cause the bodacious Beaumont will be joining me at the best spot in town to spot a lesbian.” Jill wiggles her eyebrows at me.
I cock my head to the side and ask, “Babes? The Empress?”
Jill giggles and shakes her head. “No silly, Home Depot.”
I giggle along with her, but inform her, “I’ve never been to one.”
“What?” Nora’s head lifts up and she looks at me surprised.
“How?” Jill demands.
“Yeah, isn’t that a violation of the rules?” Ann’s eyes go large as large as her injuries will allow and she mock-panics, “Quick, Nora, check her wallet and make sure her gay card is legit. I can’t have an imposter sleeping with my best friend. They’ll kick me out of the club!”
Jill swats her arm and rolls her eyes.
“Just why,” I look down at Nora and remind her, “would I need to go to Home Depot? Neither of us should wield any type of power tool…ever.”
“Hey,” she pouts, “I can on work cars.”
“I’ll give you that sugga, but I ain’t seen you pick up a hammer in six years,” I remind her and she nods.
“Good point,” she agrees and goes back to using my chest as a pillow.
“Well, this will be a good experience.” Jill’s eyes take on a certain gleam and she pumps her fist into the air, “I get to pop Nikki’s cherry. Sweet!”
“Oh dear Lord.” I bury my face in Nora’s hair as my lover snickers.
“Remember to use lube,” Ann joins and pecks her wife on the cheek. “Oh, and ladies, Lee’s going to come by tonight for dinner and then tomorrow, we’re taking you to Quantico. John’s okay’d us to send you back on the Bureau’s jet.”
“Are you sure?” Nora and I ask at the same time.
While going home isn’t a bad thing, I’d rather stick around for a few days and help where I can.
“We’re sure,” Ann says, “My team has the next ten days off. John’s doing better and he’s home.”
I nod and Nora looks unconvinced.
“Really,” Jill urges, “You two have been a God send. You should go home and relax for a day or two before you have to go back to work.” She grins and squeezes Ann. “Besides, I can’t have you two around when I bury Ann’s body.”
“Fine,” I say and motion for Nora to get up, “but ya’ll are feeding us before the slave labor.”
“Yes!” Jill pulls Ann up and insists, “To Paradise.”
Of course she chooses her favorite diner for food.
“Come on, sug, let’s go get ready.” I pull Nora along to our room.
“Keep it clean! I’m hungry!” Jill shouts from behind us.
“I’m declaring an end to your out-of-town excursions,” Lee proclaims the moment he sees Ann’s face. He bustles into the kitchen, arms heavy with the take out he picked up for dinner and turns to me, “Nikki, as always, it’s a pleasure to see you.”
I lean towards him and accept the hug he offers. “It’s good to see you to, Lee. How’s life?”
He shrugs and helps Ann unpack our dinner. “Not too shabby. The kids are going to be interesting this year. Teaching middle school, it’s…interesting.”
Jill snickers behind her tumbler of rum and coke, “Lee, honey, don’t lie.”
“What?” I ask clearly missing something. Of course that’s not new. They have been friends for so long that Ann, Lee and Jill bicker worse than an old married couple.
“Come on,” Ann says waving Nora and Jill to the table, “Let’s discuss Lee’s career choice and it’s dismal future over my favorite khua kling and coconut curry.”
“Baby, down, no one’s going to touch your order,” Jill takes the seat next to her wife and quickly steals the carton of whatever it is that she just put on her plate.
“Hey, hands off my fried curry woman!” Ann tries to get the carton back, but Jill puts it over her shoulder and steals a kiss instead.
“You love me, you love when I steal your food, now hush.” Jill waves Ann away and winks at me.
I stick to the pad thai noodles and red curry chicken, making a plate for Nora and myself. “So why is your job a ‘dismal career choice’?”
Lee laughs and jabs a fork in Ann’s direction. “’Cause teaching junior high is the equivalent of being a warden in an eight hour prison where the inmates are all hyped on hormones and too self absorbed to notice anything else.”
“Pfft, they’re crazy,” Nora agrees and I give her a look. “You weren’t there when we went and picked up last week.”
Jill bursts out laughing and grabs Ann’s arm. “Oh, jeez, you missed it, babe. Nate asked a question about recidivism and the kids just like fucking attacked him. The poor kid.”
Seeing my look, Lee fills in, “I introduce this one,” he points to Nora, “to my class and one of my students who has a thing for our Jilly decides to try and impress by asking some over the top question.”
“Yeah, Missy gently reminded him that, ‘she’s gay, dude,’” Jill quotes and I smile.
“I think I may have paid to see that,” I say around a bite of chicken.
Nora just shakes her head and sighs.
“So, Annie,” Lee drawls, “What exactly happened to your schnozzoli?”
Ann opens her mouth to speak, but is cut off by Robert Palmer’s Simply Irresistible. “Excuse me,” I say getting up from the table and snatching my phone off the kitchen counter, “I’m pretty sure that’s Jen, and I’m going to kill her for changing my ring tone.” I smile and saunter out of the kitchen answering the phone as I go, “Beaumont.”
“Oh, Nikki, put the claws away,” she laughs in response to my tone, “You love my little surprise.”
I look over my shoulder and see through the entryway that my group went back to talking, but decide to err on the side of caution and step out on to the front porch, taking another moment to admire the work Ann and Nora put in on the lawn. “Yes, I did. Smart Aleck.”
She giggles. “You love me anyhow.”
“Even under oath, I will not admit such a thing,” I reply back and take a seat on one of the chairs they have out.
“Hmm, well, really you admitting your undying devotion to me isn’t the true nature of my call. I wanted to let you know that I’m heading to that dinner you had set up.”
“I’m still not sold on the whole idea, Jen…”
“Nikki,” she stops me, “Peggy Beaumont is out for blood. The more you refuse to play her game, the more I’ve seen that woman dig in. She won’t stop.”
I shut my eyes and lean back against the headrest. A headache that’s been threatening since moving the old water heater decides to start thumping against my left temple. I rub at the spot willing it away. “Has anything else been said?” I grit out.
“Nothing overt. I’ve got my ears to the track though. Tonight will get us a little closer.” She sighs into my ear and picks up, “Nikki, we know women like her. We, I’ve made a living out of dealing with women like her. Let me do this. She needs to be put in her place and this will, God willing, give us the leverage that we need to do that.”
“The risk…” I try to reason.
“Risk my ass,” she grunts.
I wince in response and brace for the lawyer in her to take hold.
“Now, Nikki, I’ve played go-between, peacemaker, deflector and everything in between, but you have refused to draw a line in the proverbial sand. Darlin’ there’s little I wouldn’t do for you, but it’s high time for you to shit or get off the pot.”
“And drive a bigger wedge between my daddy and the only family he has left?” I snap. I love her to death, but doesn’t she see? And if this blows up…?
Nora may talk a big game…after six years, I admit sourly, but the real concern is what if the worst case becomes the actual case and we’re left without jobs. I’ve got options; the foundation could do better with a full time leader at the helm than the three part-time ones currently managing everything.
Nora…she’s a cop, born and bred.
I have to think about what she would do after because she’d become a ‘kept’ woman just as soon as I’d marry Darius.
“Honey,” Jen’s soft tone breaks the stalemate, “don’t think I can’t or don’t appreciate the position you or your partner are in. I do.” She pauses and I know she’s choosing her words carefully. “While I also understand that you are trying your damndest to protect all parties involved, for which I hope those that you are trying to protect understand and appreciate the lengths you are going, I’m sorry to say that we’ve seen similar situations play out in this little circle, Nicollette.”
The sound of scraping comes through as she pauses causing me to assume that she’s switched from ear to ear. “The most we can hope for is minimization of collateral damage. If you would allow me to do the job for which you pay me – I’m over paid, I might add – than you will see that I’m on your side and doing the best with what you’ve given me. So,” she breathes, “please understand I say this with as much love and respect for you that I hold, Nicollette Joyelle Beaumont, sit back, shut up and let me do my damn job.”
Well, hell.
I wave my hand in the air and concede, “Proceed as you must.”
Next>>>
Fandom: Nikki & Nora
Rating: All over R – some parts more racy than others & some parts way less.
Disclaimer: Nikki & Nora along with all the other character’s from the pilot do not belong to me. They belong to Nancylee Myatt and others that I don’t know, but if in the off chance they want to get together for a chat I’m here. Then we can discuss why the excs at the T.V. station didn’t pick up the series and perhaps whap them about the face with a dead carp. It’s a just punishment for the crime. =0)
Author’s Note: Another week’s gone by and I swear I don’t remember what happened. I do know that it has and last week I missed ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif){kind=small}
sinjenkai’s birthday. So help me wish her belated birthday wishes and also, nemodoryismyido’s b-day is on the 7th, so…happy early birthday wishes to her as well. Other than that, read, enjoy, I’m gonna be late for work if I don’t get a move on.
“Harney,” Dan barks as the fourth ring ends.
I grin around the coffee cup pressed to my lips before setting it on the counter. “Well, don’t you just sound like a chipper little worker bee this fine morning,” I razz him.
“Nikki,” he warns while I grab my coffee cup and move to the living room.
The house is quiet this Tuesday morning, with Ann and Jill at her parents’ house and Nora still passed out, I feel okay giving Dan the heads up he needs.
“Why, lieu, I just wanted to say good morning to you and check-in.” Settling on to the living room couch, I continue, “I assume you got the paperwork Dir. Roeffy sent over to you?”
“I did. Should I even ask why you’re on this?” A smile tugs at my lips over his natural curiosity. Thank God Ann and John came up with a plausible cover story.
I would usually be adverse to the level of deceit that they’ve managed with this whole charade, but…
I can’t be mad. Too much has gone on and it’s where I need to be. They’re doing us a kindness by protecting me with this cover.
“I’ll fill you in when I get back. I did want to let you know that I talked to Nora and it looks like that she should be back Monday.” Licking my lips, I sip my coffee and wait on a response.
“Sweet Jesus. I think that prayer I remembered last night actually worked. How’s things her way? I left her a voicemail, but I figured that with everything, I may get a call back in two days.” My ear quirks as I hear chatter in the background.
My guess is that he’s moving through the pen and into his office.
“She’s doing okay. With any luck, I’ll be back in town on Saturday. Do you want me to come in or just stick to the schedule?” I ask hoping that he tells me to stick to the schedule. A weekend at home with Nora wouldn’t be a bad thing.
We’ll turn our phones off. Stock up the fridge and hide the cars somewhere so no one can tell we’re home…
If she attempts to put on clothes, I’ll just cuff her to the bed.
“Uh, I think we’re okay. Dom and Benny busted up the assault/murder that we pulled from the Fourth. The other four cases aren’t going anywhere and I think the four of them are okay to handle it. I’ve invoked an emergency shut off of the rotation until you two get back. Georgia and Jesse are right where they like it as are Dom and Benny.”
“Really?” I sweetly ask. I mean he can say what he wants and deny it until he’s blue in the face, but I know for a fact that that ridiculous rotating schedule was done more for Nora and me than for anything the Brass had cooked up…
Which reminds me, “Actually, there’s something else that I need to talk to you about.”
“What?” he asks as I hear a door shut.
“We’ll be getting a visit by a fishing team in the next month or so. Dveris is spearheading a taskforce that will be going from department to department and doing, for lack of a better word, audits on personnel and procedure.”
“Fuck me,” he gripes and I wince.
Licking my lips, I pluck up enough courage to say the rest, “Look, we’ve kept it pretty tight, but my aunt kicked a hornet’s nest at the function on Saturday night. She’s been more than a challenge over the past two years or so and Nora’s about fed up with it.” I set my cup on the coffee table. “Nora’s been talking about coming out at work.”
“She what?” The surprise in his voice matches my own when she first brought it up a few months back.
“She’s been talking about it for a while now, Dan. As happy as it makes me that she’s…ready, I’ve been putting her off. I’m not sure she’s thought through what this could mean for the department…for you,” I say honestly.
“What are they gonna do, Nikki? Fire me? Move me?” He groans.
“Dan, think about this. We’ve been together six years. Are you going to tell me they won’t question your abilities when you, in the past six years playing part and parcel to our cover up, feign ignorance?”
“I…well, shit, Nikki,” he grumps and I can picture him slumped back in his office chair looking like a pouty teenager.
“Look, I just wanted to give you a heads up. I’m working on something that may make this mess we’ve buried ourselves in a bit easier to get out of,” I inform him in the vaguest of possible ways.
“Do I bother asking?” he wonders.
“Not yet,” I cut him off before he even has a chance to get that thought rolling. “I’ll fill you in more when I have a better time frame. Until then, sit tight, boss.”
“You know it’s never a good sign when you call me ‘boss’ right?”
I shrug. He’s right.
But there isn’t anything I can do. I need to protect him. I need to protect Nora when all this comes out and I can’t do a damn thing until Jen and the union rep I’ve sworn to secrecy get back to me.
“I’ll let this go for now, Nikki, but when you get back…” he concedes.
“I promise, we’ll have a heart to heart when I get back,” I vow, knowing that barring me getting killed he’ll make sure it will happen.
“With or without our girl?” he wonders.
Sometimes, some days, he’s way too annoying to be my boss.
“Without…”
“You think that’s smart? You know how she can be?” Dan does make a good point.
“Look here,” I huff, “regardless of how she may or may not be, I have my priorities. Right now, until I can be sure, you say diddly and squat and we leave our green eyed beauty out of it.”
“I…”
“Dan, I don’t want her to get hurt here.” I shut my eyes and rest my head back on the couch. “Please, just let me make sure she’s safe and until then, you continue to do what you’ve done for the past eight or so years and watch your partners back.”
“Well, you know I was just keeping it warm for you,” he teases me, effectively breaking the tension.
I laugh, “Yeah, you did a fine job and it’s quite a back to watch.”
“You mean backside, don’t you?” A snicker punctuates the statement.
I give in, “It is indeed. Why you should have seen her last night, kneeling on the bed…”
“You saw her last night?” he asks.
OH…
Son of a…
Me and my big mouth.
“A girl needs a fantasy or two to keep warm when she’s away from her personal heater,” I try to cover up.
“Uh huh,” he sounds less than convinced. “I’ll make sure we continue this later, but right now, I have four detectives that need some guidance or a swift quick. Call me later.”
The line goes dead and I groan.
Fuck me.
“Luuuucccccyyyyy! We’re home!” Jill shouts as she and Ann enter their home.
Nora doesn’t even stir from her spot on top of me. The only thing I manage to do is lift my head from the back of the couch and wave.
Jill is all smiles…that’s good.
I’ll just assume they worked most of it out and Ann is in the dog house for the foreseeable future. Of course, if Nora had done what Ann had, Mister’s spot in the bed next to me would not be threatened for at least a week.
“Pipe down,” Nora greets, “I’m relaxing.”
Duel snickers are their reply as the girls come around the couch and plop themselves on the love seat to our right.
“Linda kicked us out,” Ann finally speaks, “She was all, ‘You weren’t nearly quiet enough last night. Go home so I can still think you two are as pure as the driven snow.’” She wraps her arms around her wife’s waist and gently rests her head on Jill’s chest.
“Oh boy,” Nora mumbles.
“I told you, you should have used the pillow to muffle your moans,” Jill teases her wife and pecks the top of her head.
“Hmm, and the ‘Yes, God!’s repeatedly shouted by you didn’t have anything to do with it?” Ann gives it right back to her.
“You think we should just let them work this out on their own,” I whisper down to Nora, “and take you back to bed?”
“Oh, no you don’t,” Ann interrupts Nora’s attempt at responding to my question. “We’ve got plans, Delaney.”
“Totally, the fucking yard’s a mess and obviously you two haven’t showered yet or you’d have noticed that the most our water heater can manage is tepid.” Jill shivers and declares, “That’s fucked up and I’m not having it anymore. Since mom kicked us out and told us that she didn’t want to see us for at least twenty-four hours, we’ve got plans.”
“What do you mean ‘we’ve got plans?’” Nora picks her head up from my chest finally and eyes the two across from us.
“Nora, honey, did you even see the yard when you pulled up yesterday?” Ann asks hooking her thumb towards the area in question. “I could start charging admission for safari excursions right now and no one could tell the difference.”
“I’d demand a refund. I didn’t see any giraffes.” I smile at Ann and get an eye roll.
“Despite the lack of wild life, it’s horrible. I’m going to need some help. So guess what that means?” Ann tries for a grin but stops before it fully forms and winces.
Sighing, I know what’s going to happen and as Nora relaxes against me, I know she does too.
“Hire a gardener?” she responds hopefully.
“Lo siento, muchacha. It means that you,” she points at Nora and then at herself, “and me are going to be one with the lawn mower, weed whacker and the hedger.”
Nora’s brow furrows and she balks, “Why can’t Nikki help you?”
“Yeah, no,” I try to get in but Jill interrupts.
“’Cause the bodacious Beaumont will be joining me at the best spot in town to spot a lesbian.” Jill wiggles her eyebrows at me.
I cock my head to the side and ask, “Babes? The Empress?”
Jill giggles and shakes her head. “No silly, Home Depot.”
I giggle along with her, but inform her, “I’ve never been to one.”
“What?” Nora’s head lifts up and she looks at me surprised.
“How?” Jill demands.
“Yeah, isn’t that a violation of the rules?” Ann’s eyes go large as large as her injuries will allow and she mock-panics, “Quick, Nora, check her wallet and make sure her gay card is legit. I can’t have an imposter sleeping with my best friend. They’ll kick me out of the club!”
Jill swats her arm and rolls her eyes.
“Just why,” I look down at Nora and remind her, “would I need to go to Home Depot? Neither of us should wield any type of power tool…ever.”
“Hey,” she pouts, “I can on work cars.”
“I’ll give you that sugga, but I ain’t seen you pick up a hammer in six years,” I remind her and she nods.
“Good point,” she agrees and goes back to using my chest as a pillow.
“Well, this will be a good experience.” Jill’s eyes take on a certain gleam and she pumps her fist into the air, “I get to pop Nikki’s cherry. Sweet!”
“Oh dear Lord.” I bury my face in Nora’s hair as my lover snickers.
“Remember to use lube,” Ann joins and pecks her wife on the cheek. “Oh, and ladies, Lee’s going to come by tonight for dinner and then tomorrow, we’re taking you to Quantico. John’s okay’d us to send you back on the Bureau’s jet.”
“Are you sure?” Nora and I ask at the same time.
While going home isn’t a bad thing, I’d rather stick around for a few days and help where I can.
“We’re sure,” Ann says, “My team has the next ten days off. John’s doing better and he’s home.”
I nod and Nora looks unconvinced.
“Really,” Jill urges, “You two have been a God send. You should go home and relax for a day or two before you have to go back to work.” She grins and squeezes Ann. “Besides, I can’t have you two around when I bury Ann’s body.”
“Fine,” I say and motion for Nora to get up, “but ya’ll are feeding us before the slave labor.”
“Yes!” Jill pulls Ann up and insists, “To Paradise.”
Of course she chooses her favorite diner for food.
“Come on, sug, let’s go get ready.” I pull Nora along to our room.
“Keep it clean! I’m hungry!” Jill shouts from behind us.
“I’m declaring an end to your out-of-town excursions,” Lee proclaims the moment he sees Ann’s face. He bustles into the kitchen, arms heavy with the take out he picked up for dinner and turns to me, “Nikki, as always, it’s a pleasure to see you.”
I lean towards him and accept the hug he offers. “It’s good to see you to, Lee. How’s life?”
He shrugs and helps Ann unpack our dinner. “Not too shabby. The kids are going to be interesting this year. Teaching middle school, it’s…interesting.”
Jill snickers behind her tumbler of rum and coke, “Lee, honey, don’t lie.”
“What?” I ask clearly missing something. Of course that’s not new. They have been friends for so long that Ann, Lee and Jill bicker worse than an old married couple.
“Come on,” Ann says waving Nora and Jill to the table, “Let’s discuss Lee’s career choice and it’s dismal future over my favorite khua kling and coconut curry.”
“Baby, down, no one’s going to touch your order,” Jill takes the seat next to her wife and quickly steals the carton of whatever it is that she just put on her plate.
“Hey, hands off my fried curry woman!” Ann tries to get the carton back, but Jill puts it over her shoulder and steals a kiss instead.
“You love me, you love when I steal your food, now hush.” Jill waves Ann away and winks at me.
I stick to the pad thai noodles and red curry chicken, making a plate for Nora and myself. “So why is your job a ‘dismal career choice’?”
Lee laughs and jabs a fork in Ann’s direction. “’Cause teaching junior high is the equivalent of being a warden in an eight hour prison where the inmates are all hyped on hormones and too self absorbed to notice anything else.”
“Pfft, they’re crazy,” Nora agrees and I give her a look. “You weren’t there when we went and picked up last week.”
Jill bursts out laughing and grabs Ann’s arm. “Oh, jeez, you missed it, babe. Nate asked a question about recidivism and the kids just like fucking attacked him. The poor kid.”
Seeing my look, Lee fills in, “I introduce this one,” he points to Nora, “to my class and one of my students who has a thing for our Jilly decides to try and impress by asking some over the top question.”
“Yeah, Missy gently reminded him that, ‘she’s gay, dude,’” Jill quotes and I smile.
“I think I may have paid to see that,” I say around a bite of chicken.
Nora just shakes her head and sighs.
“So, Annie,” Lee drawls, “What exactly happened to your schnozzoli?”
Ann opens her mouth to speak, but is cut off by Robert Palmer’s Simply Irresistible. “Excuse me,” I say getting up from the table and snatching my phone off the kitchen counter, “I’m pretty sure that’s Jen, and I’m going to kill her for changing my ring tone.” I smile and saunter out of the kitchen answering the phone as I go, “Beaumont.”
“Oh, Nikki, put the claws away,” she laughs in response to my tone, “You love my little surprise.”
I look over my shoulder and see through the entryway that my group went back to talking, but decide to err on the side of caution and step out on to the front porch, taking another moment to admire the work Ann and Nora put in on the lawn. “Yes, I did. Smart Aleck.”
She giggles. “You love me anyhow.”
“Even under oath, I will not admit such a thing,” I reply back and take a seat on one of the chairs they have out.
“Hmm, well, really you admitting your undying devotion to me isn’t the true nature of my call. I wanted to let you know that I’m heading to that dinner you had set up.”
“I’m still not sold on the whole idea, Jen…”
“Nikki,” she stops me, “Peggy Beaumont is out for blood. The more you refuse to play her game, the more I’ve seen that woman dig in. She won’t stop.”
I shut my eyes and lean back against the headrest. A headache that’s been threatening since moving the old water heater decides to start thumping against my left temple. I rub at the spot willing it away. “Has anything else been said?” I grit out.
“Nothing overt. I’ve got my ears to the track though. Tonight will get us a little closer.” She sighs into my ear and picks up, “Nikki, we know women like her. We, I’ve made a living out of dealing with women like her. Let me do this. She needs to be put in her place and this will, God willing, give us the leverage that we need to do that.”
“The risk…” I try to reason.
“Risk my ass,” she grunts.
I wince in response and brace for the lawyer in her to take hold.
“Now, Nikki, I’ve played go-between, peacemaker, deflector and everything in between, but you have refused to draw a line in the proverbial sand. Darlin’ there’s little I wouldn’t do for you, but it’s high time for you to shit or get off the pot.”
“And drive a bigger wedge between my daddy and the only family he has left?” I snap. I love her to death, but doesn’t she see? And if this blows up…?
Nora may talk a big game…after six years, I admit sourly, but the real concern is what if the worst case becomes the actual case and we’re left without jobs. I’ve got options; the foundation could do better with a full time leader at the helm than the three part-time ones currently managing everything.
Nora…she’s a cop, born and bred.
I have to think about what she would do after because she’d become a ‘kept’ woman just as soon as I’d marry Darius.
“Honey,” Jen’s soft tone breaks the stalemate, “don’t think I can’t or don’t appreciate the position you or your partner are in. I do.” She pauses and I know she’s choosing her words carefully. “While I also understand that you are trying your damndest to protect all parties involved, for which I hope those that you are trying to protect understand and appreciate the lengths you are going, I’m sorry to say that we’ve seen similar situations play out in this little circle, Nicollette.”
The sound of scraping comes through as she pauses causing me to assume that she’s switched from ear to ear. “The most we can hope for is minimization of collateral damage. If you would allow me to do the job for which you pay me – I’m over paid, I might add – than you will see that I’m on your side and doing the best with what you’ve given me. So,” she breathes, “please understand I say this with as much love and respect for you that I hold, Nicollette Joyelle Beaumont, sit back, shut up and let me do my damn job.”
Well, hell.
I wave my hand in the air and concede, “Proceed as you must.”
Next>>>
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Date: 2012-01-06 04:02 am (UTC)Loving this story more every time I read it and I am trying to make the time between updates be shorter so that I can get my Nikki and Nora fix sooner! :)
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Date: 2012-01-09 07:38 am (UTC)And thank you! I'm glad it helps curb the urge. =0)
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Date: 2012-01-06 07:05 am (UTC)Jill is sooo crazy!! :) Gotta love her.
Waiting for more! :)
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Date: 2012-01-09 07:38 am (UTC)thank you!
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Date: 2012-01-06 11:36 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-01-09 07:39 am (UTC)Thanks and more soon, promise.