*****Chapter 1~eleanor
Karen walked up to the entrance of the Outback, pausing a moment before she opened the door. She knew Grace and Joe were in there, and she didn't know if she wanted to face what was happening.
Boardman had really layed it on her and Joe earlier. It didn't help Karen's mood any when Grace came bouncing in to asak Joe out for drinks. Why did she have to be there? Joe was falling for her. I mean, who wouldn't? She was nice, fun, pretty, and, most importantly, available. That was something Joe didn't know about Karen.
Damn it! Why did Jagger have to do this to her?! Have an affair, and not even call! If he would call, they could work it out, or at least decide on a divorce.
Karen walked in the door and her heart fluttered when she saw Joe. He was so gorgeous. And that smile! She sat down in a corner table and studied Joe. If only Jagger wasn't in the picture...But wait! If he's been having an affair with Fran, he really isn't in the picture, is he!
"But," thought Karen, as she watched Grace and Joe talk, "Grace is."
*****Chapter 2~eleanor
Joe glanced around the Outback and saw Karen sitting in the corner. *There* she was! He had been a little annoyed when, earlier, Grace had come in the on-call room when Karen and him were cleaning up. He had been hoping to ask Karen out for drinks. But when Grace came in and asked Joe out first, he realized he couldn't very well say no to Grace and then turn around and invite Karen somewhere. He had promised Karen he would only be her friend, nothing more. It was so hard, though, to see her, so beautiful and talented, and then see her wedding ring. How he wished he could just go up to her, run his hands through her hair, and kiss her like Jagger never could. But he couldn't! He had to stop dreaming like that! It just wasn't going to happen.
"Hello?? Earth to Joe!"
Joe turned to Grace and rubbed his eyes. "Sorry. I'm, uh, I'm really tired."
"I can tell! Boardman must've really been tough on you today!"
"Yeah. I'm not the only one, though."
Grace followed his gaze over to Karen.
"Hey, I need to be getting home," Grace said. "I have some little things that need doing. Want a ride?"
"No, that's okay, thanks."
Grace knew that no was coming, but she had to ask, just to be nice. She might as well give up on him now. There was obviously no way he would ever get over Karen. Oh, well. His loss. With that last thought she waved bye and walked out the door.
*****Chapter 3~Amy
"You got any plans tonight Karen?"
"Does sleeping count?" Oh, but I wish he could come home with me tonight...
"Nope." Why doesn't she ask me to come home with her? Joe, stop it. You're going to ruin the friendship.
"I want to be with you..." she said under her breath.
"What?"
"I said, 'I can't find my shoe.' " Wow...that was close...too close. It also sounded really stupid.
"Oh." I could swear she said 'I want to be with you'. Maybe it was my
imagination. But it sounded so real!
Why don't I just tell him what happened in San Francisco? No, I can't.
No one else needs to know about that. It's something just between me
and Jagger...no one else.
"Karen, you are *holding* you shoe."
"Oops! I guess I just wasn't thinking straight." Dumb, Karen, dumb...one more slip like that, and you're gone.
"Boardman has really been laying it on you."
"Yeah..." There was an awkward silence.
"Well....uh, goodnight Joe! See ya tomorrow."
With that she got up and started for the door.
"Ok...see you tomorrow." She sure is acting strange.
"Bye." All I want is to be with him, she thought, and left
for the Recovery Room.
"Night Karen." All I want is to be with her, he thought. Man, do I
need a drink!
*****Chapter 4~Amy
"Mike, I need a drink."
"One drink, coming up Karen."
"I need Joe so much! Why, oh why can't I make myself tell him that?
But, it's too late! He already has his eyes set on Grace. I really
hate her. Why couldn't she just leave Joe alone?
"Another drink Mike."
Jagger, why did you do this to me? Karen...why did you do this to
yourself? Why do I always have to screw up my life? No!!! It's not
me. It's Grace. It she weren't in the picture, Joe would be mine. I
just know it.
"Another Mike."
Why doesn't Karen just tell me what really happened in San Francisco?
If everything was alright, Jagger would be here, with her. He walked
into the Recovery Room.
"Mike, I need a drink."
"Funny...that's exactly what she said," he replied, pointing at Karen.
"Karen?"
"Hello....J-J-Joe," she stumbled.
"Karen, did you have a little too much to drink?"
"I...don't know...maybe..."
"I'm taking you home Karen."
"That's so sweet of you Joe." She turned to Mike, "Isn't my Joey the
sweetest guy?"
*****Chapter 5~eleanor
Joe parked his car in front of Karen's apartment. He looked over at her and took a deep breath. She looked so beautiful, asleep in the seat beside him. She had really been drinking a lot at Mike's! What had prompted that? Oh, well. She's fine now. She'll just have a hell of a hangover tomorrow morning.
He got out of the car and came around to her side. Carefully opening her door (she had been leaning on it), he caught her as she limply fell into his arms. He had such an overwhelming urge to kiss her. What was he thinking?! She was asleep, drunk, and married! Why did feelings always do this to him?
She stirred slightly as he brushed the hair out of her face.
"Joe," she whispered.
What? Did she just...no, she couldn't have...she did! His heart started beating even faster.
Calm down, Joe. You don't know, it might not mean anything.
He picked her up in his arms and shut the car door with his foot. Coming to the front door, he set Karen down in a chair out front. He turned around to get the keys and saw Karen had opened her eyes up.
"I have the keys," she said, dangling them in front of her. With a giggle, she dropped them down her shirt. "Oops!"
"Karen..." Joe walked over and untucked the bottom of her shirt, letting the keys fall into his hand.
"Oh, you're no fun," she said as he unlocked the door. He took her hand and lead her into her living room, closing the door behind them.
Karen walked over and collapsed on the sofa. "I wanna sleep," she said.
He stood and watched as she curled up and closed her eyes. Just to be safe, I better stay. We don't work tomorrow, anyways.
He locked the front door, then came over to Karen. "Sweet dreams," he said, and gently kissed her forehead. Then he walked back to her bedroom to try and get some sleep.
*****Chapter 6~eleanor
Man! My head hurts like crap! What did I do? Oh, yeah...Mike's last night. But why am I on the couch?
Karen got up and drowsily looked around.
Well, I better get out of these clothes. Maybe it'll make me feel a little better.
She walked to her bedroom door and opened it. Her heart skipped about twenty beats when she saw Joe lying in her bed, covers down to his waist. He was slowly waking up. When he opened his eyes and saw her standing there, he sat up, pulling the covers a little farther up.
"Oh, I..."
"Um, Joe..."
"well, uh..."
Karen came over and sat down on the end of the bed. "What...what happened last night?"
"No, no...it isn't, well....okay, here's what happened. I came into Mike's to get a drink and you were there, *very* drunk, and I decided I better take you home. So I brought you here and you fell asleep on the couch, and I wanted to make sure nothing happened to you, so I came back here to sleep. I wouldn't be worried about last night, though. Nothing happened really... Hey, I didn't know you were up, I would've made you breakfast or something."
Karen took a deep breath. Whew. For a moment there she thought something had happened last night between her and Joe that she didn't know about. God, he is gorgeous.
"No, Joe, you've done enough. Thank you...for everything."
"No problem. Just one friend helping another, right?"
I wish it was more than friends, they both thought silently.
Joe said, "Well, hey, you wanna change? I''ll get out of here so you can."
"Oh, thanks. Yeah, that's what I was coming in here for."
Joe got up and grabbed his clothes from the chair.
Karen giggled. "Colorful boxers."
"Oh, yeah," Joe laughed at the plain black ones he had on. "Well, I'm leaving," he said as he left the room, closing the door behind him.
Karen laid down on her bed and sighed.
*****Chapter 7~Amy
An hour later, she still lay on her bed, thinking about Joe. He looked so cute, just lying there in my bed! I still can't believe he took the time to make sure I got home safely! He is such a sweet guy. I should do something in return.
I have got to tell Karen that I want to be more than just friends. I sense that she does, too, but she wants to make it work out with that jerk, Jagger, because he's her husband. He sure isn't treating her like a wife should be treated.
This is such a great idea. Boy, am I smart, even *with* a killer headache! I hope this is the right way to show Joe how much I appreciate his friendship, and that I want our friendship to grow into something more *meaningful*. Lets see...do I have everything? Basket, blanket, plates, pasta salad, zukini bread, butter, forks, knives, cake, and of course, glasses and champange. Yep...I think that's all. Wait! I forgot my special surprise for him!
Time to show Joe what he *really* means to me...
*****
"Joe!"
"What da'ya want Frank?"
"Ma wants to know what she should make for lunch."
"Tell her we don't need her stinking food, we're old enough to buy and make our own lunches."
"Ma-"
"Yes Frank?" she interrupted. "Joe, what did you say about my cooking?"
"Nothing..."
"He's a little tired Ma...he just got home...from Karen's."
"No, nothing happened Ma...I've been a good boy. She had a little too much to drink last night, and I wanted to make sure she got home safely."
*Knock knock*
"Wonder who that could be?"
"Hello Joe. Get ready for the ride of your life."
*****Chapter 8~Amy
"Well, aren' you coming?"
"Uh, yeah. Just let me change."
"What you're wearing is fine...so com'on!"
"This doesn't seem like the Karen I know," Frank whispered.
"Ok...Karen," he replied, then she grabbed his arm, and pulled him out the door.
*****
"So, what is this all about Karen?"
"You'll see soon enough."
"Gimme a hint...please? It's not fair to ask, I mean insist and force, a person to come with you somewhere, and not even tell the, why they're here! I could have you charged with kidnapping."
"Yeah right...your mom and Frank would testify that you came on your own will. Being a cops wife for many years, *has* to be worth something. It sure isn't worth much now."
"Why not?"
"I am divorcing Jagger."
"Say *what*?"
"You heard me right. I want you in my life. I want to be more than *just friends*. What do you think?"
"Uh..well..."
"I'll give you time to think...meanwhile, I have a picnic planned for just the two of us. Look in the picnic basket."
"Well, uh, okay...let's see you have pasta... bread... butter... utensils... a blanket... champange... and... woah Karen!"
*****Chapter 9~eleanor
Karen grabbed the thing he was holding and stuck it under her while she parked the car. Joe looked at her, eyes wide.
"Um, Karen, uh..." He took a deep breath and then suddenly looked around. "Hey, uh, where are we anyways?"
Karen answered him while getting everything together and getting out of the car. "This is a little secluded pond where I come sometimes to think. It's really nice."
They started down a small hill covered in trees. It was a fairly big pond with a few swans swimming by. Everything was calm, quiet, and gorgeous.
"Wow...it's beautiful. I never knew this place existed."
"Yeah, I don't think anyone does. It's owned by the Quartermaines, but it's the last place any of them would think of to go. Alan told me about it a while back. He's probably forgotten where it even is."
Karen set the basket down and spread the blanket out beneath a giant oak tree. They both sat down.
After an awkward silence, Joe spoke up. "Karen, about what you were saying earlier..."
"Joe, I know what you're thinking. No, I'm not drunk. I proved that by driving just now."
"Well---"
"Oh! Wait! I had another blanket, and I don't see it anywhere. Let me go get it really quick."
She got up and was just past the tree when he said, "Wait! Is this it?" He had gotten up and was holding the exact blanket she was looking for. "I was sitting on it."
"Oh! Good."
He dropped the blanket on the ground and was about to sit when she tripped coming back down and fell right into his arms. She looked up at him and their eyes locked. She slowly straightened herself out and ran her hand through his hair. They both leaned in and kissed each other lightly on the lips. The kiss quickly turned more passionate.
Joe stopped for a minute to ask her, "Are you sure about this?"
With a smile she said, "Definitely," and pulled away. He watched as she dissappeared behind the oak tree with the thing that he had seen in the lunch basket earlier.
Joe cleared off the blanket and took off everything but his boxers.
They both took a deep breath and thought to themselves, Wow. I can't believe this is finally happening.
Karen had completely stripped other than a plain black pair of underwear. She put on the thing in her hand, a simple but sexy black, short, button-up nightshirt. She came around the side of the tree and looked at Joe, who was gazing back at her.
She walked over in front of him and lowered herself down to sit beside him. Joe leaned in and deeply kissed her. He ran his hands through her hair and down to her shirt. As he started down her neck, he slowly unbuttoned her shirt. She leaned back on her arms and let him lead a trail of kisses down her chest and slowly push the shirt off her shoulders. She lay all the way down, as the passion took all the strength from her body. He continued kissing her and his fingertips pulled her underwear down and off. His lips found every part of her, then came back up to her mouth. As their lips met again, Karen rolled him over onto his back and started kissing his stomach. Her hands went down his boxers and pulled them off. She placed her body on top of his and they made passionate love throughout the day.
*****Chapter 10~eleanor
The sky was a muted shade of pink when Karen felt Joe's hands roaming her body. She let out a soft moan. They were lying under the second blanket, and she turned over to face him.
"Am I dreaming?" he asked.
"No. I am." With a smile, she kissed him sweetly on the lips, which slowly became deeper and deeper of a kiss.
"Wow," he said with a grin. "Can we dream together more often?" He wrapped his arms around her.
"No problem. So I take it that little preposition of mine worked?"
"Karen...you have no idea how long I've wished for this to happen."
"Thanks for waiting for my mind to catch up with my heart. Joe, I've fallen in love with you, and I'm not going to try to work against that anymore. I just want you to want me, and us to be happy together."
"That will most definitely *not* be a problem here. I love you so much, Karen."
"I love you, too."
Both contentedly sighed and cuddled up, not wanting to leave, ever.
*****Chapter 11~Amy
*Later on that evening*
"Karen, we should really get going, we have to be up early for rounds tomorrow."
"But why? Why can't we stay out here, under the stars, gazing into each other's eyes for the rest of the night?"
"Because..."
"Because why?"
"Because...because...because I need to get home...Frank will be worried about me!"
"I'm sure he'll understand, Joe! I mean, gosh, Julie lives in your basement!"
"Sure *he* will, but not Ma..."
"Okay, okay Joe...we'll go home..."
NOTE: Sorry all!!! I have to get going...I will finish this and the next chapter soon!
~Amy
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