--It All Began With A Broken Heart...

Nora walked into Bo's office after she received his muffled "come in."  He doesn't look up, and as she enters the room she takes a minute to appraise him, sporting a 5 o'clock shadow and dark circles under his eyes. She glances at his waste basket full of half eaten take-out meals, and wishes she could find a way to help him heal. 

He heard her heels clicking against the tile floor as she entered, but what caught his attention was her scent, not just the expensive perfume that haunts his dreams, but the scent of his ‘Red’, the lavender shampoo and body lotion seeping from her pores and straight to his nostrils. He looked up slowly, appraising her from the legs, that still caused men to turn and stare, following those legs, to mid-thigh, where her professional, yet sexy black leather skirt began.  He continued his gaze slowly up her torso until they were looking in each other's eyes. "Hey, Nora." 

"Bo," she nodded to the files, "any luck." 

He releases a deep sigh, "No, well not anything substantial. How was court?" 

She shook her ahead, "I'd rather not talk about it." 

A wry smile on his face as he looks at his watch, "Wow, I didn't realize how late it was, it's time to pick up Matthew for pizza."  He stands and goes to pick up his coat, she watches him, noticing he's lost weight in the last few weeks, knowing the toll this case has taken on him since Gabrielle's death.  He turns to her, "Why don't you join us?  I'm sure Matthew won't mind, and if I recall, pizza and a good movie is a great way to take your mind off a long day in court." 

Nervous suddenly, she looks at her feet, "I have plans." 

"Oh?" He raises his eyebrows, "with Renee?"  

She looks at him, "No, actually with Dr. Havers."

His face drops into a grimace and he swallows deeply, "Um, where?"

Anger starts to creep up in her at his question, as if she was asking permission, “Excuse me? Last time I checked I did NOT need to check in with YOU when I decide to go on a date." 

Her anger and his lack of sleep caused his temper to flare as well, "Damn it Nora, I was asking so that I could put a cop on you, that's all!"  

Gritting her teeth and preparing to leave, "I'll be at the house by 9."

Her hand on the doorknob, he places his hand on her shoulder. His touch ignited a spark within her causing her to jump; he pulled back as he whispered, "Wait."  She caught the pleading in his voice; something was going on that she didn't know about. She turned to face him, searching his face, his eyes, for what she was missing.  Trying to stop the knot in her stomach from twisting and turning, the knot caused by his contact, wondering if it affected him at all.  "Havers just became our prime suspect Nora," he hesitated and looked up at her, "I didn't realize you two were so close."  

Not focusing on all he was saying, she simply mumbled, "What?"  

"We have nothing more than circumstantial evidence, but I don't want you alone with him," again a pause as he looked at her, "I couldn't bear it if I lost you, too."  

She looked at him then, her eyes bright with unshed tears, from anger or confusion she wasn't sure, all she felt was months, no years of pain overwhelming her, and she caught her face in her hands as the dam of her emotions was released and a strangled cry broke free, "Why...why me?" 

Shocked by her outburst, he was unable to move; then immediately he went to her, gripping her trembling body in his strong hands, "Nora, Nora," not getting a response, panic seized his heart, "Red, look at me."

 His tone was desperate, it broke through the hundreds of memories that were swirling through her mind, Havers and his smile, telling her none of this was her fault, Sam's letter, admitting his betrayal about Matthew, Troy holding a glass to her throat, wanting to kill her, Colin, a crazed look in his eyes as he tried to make her his. Dazed, she looked up at him through tear filled eyes, "Why?"

The look on her face wrenched his heart, surprised that her pain could cause him to feel such anguish, even now. He only knew he had to comfort her, this was his best friend, the mother of his son, and if the terror coursing through his mind and heart was any indication, she was the woman who owned his heart and soul, "Nora, honey, why what?"   

She wrenched herself from his grip, a flush creeping over her chest, up her neck and into her cheeks. Rage seized her, she once again felt like a helpless victim, and she was tired of that feeling. When she released the breath she had been holding, it held a slew of vulgarities, words he's rarely heard pass through those lips, lips that continued to hold his attention. She held her hand out, hitting finger by finger on her hand, "Havers, Troy, Colin, Sam....manipulating, taking, lying. Dumb Nora, she won't get it, she'll be happy to stay home and take care of all my needs...easy Nora..." she rambled, her ramble laced with obscenities.

He was unsure whether to approach her or let her finish her tirade, but then he saw the tremble return, and with it, the self destructive thoughts spewing from her mouth, the blame, the self-recrimination, and he realized as he tentatively walked over to her, she needed him, not to hold her or to tell her it would be all right, but to take responsibility for his share of her pain, "Me, Nora you forgot me."

It was barely a whisper, but the sound of his voice stopped her, causing her to stop her eyes from darting around the room, and focus on the man, who for so long was her sanity, "What?"

He swallowed, after five long years; he realized he never took his share. He held his hands at his side, clenching them so tight they were white; knowing now was not the time to reach out and comfort her, even though every nerve ending in his body wanted to touch her, feel her, pull her close and tell her it would be all right, 'but would it?' he wondered.  "Nora, you mentioned every man who has been a part of your life the past 5 years, every man but me." 

She shook her head, confusion and pain clouding her normally quick mind, "Bo I'm talking about the men who took advantage of the mistakes I made, my poor judgment," her tone and face softening, "you were never my poor judgment."

He shook his head, "Nora, I caused you more pain then any one of those men," he hesitated his eyes boring into her soul, unable to break his stare, "because of my pride, obstinacy, cold hearted, pigheaded attitude, I walked away and broke every promise I ever made you, and even when all you wanted was the right to move on I couldn't even give you that. I'm the selfish bastard, it's me you should hate, it’s me that wrath of yours should be aimed at." 

They stood there for what seemed like an eternity, locked in a gaze they were both unable to break, finally she broke the silence with what sounded like a prayer on her lips, "Bo…"

It was all he needed, he slowly raised his arms towards her, and tentatively she stumbled towards him until he was able to pull her into his body. Wrapped in his cologne, she closed her eyes and breathed deep, wondering what the next step was, reveling in the comfort of the current moment.

He closed his eyes, and he felt a dam lift inside his heart, all of a sudden he felt freer than he had in years, 5 years to be exact, there was a lot to discuss, but maybe, just maybe they could begin to heal. 

She was about to say something when the silence was interrupted by Havers’ voice, "Nora, Marcie said..." He stopped when he saw the intimate embrace between the Commissioner and the ADA, and anger surged through his veins. He quickly covered it, "I'm sorry I didn't mean to interrupt."

Bo recovered first; he did not want Nora to be an object of this man's anger, "No, no you didn't..." 

Nora felt the comforting squeeze he gave her before releasing her, and could see the fear in his eyes. Warmth overtook her heart as she realized it was for her, "I'm sorry Steven, I was just on my way out the door when I received a phone call. My daughter called to tell me she was pregnant, and silly me, I got all emotional." She laughed as she picked her purse up off Bo's desk, "You'd think I was the one who was hormonally challenged." 

Bo smiled, wondering if Rachel was pregnant and he didn't know. He would need to find out; he missed his 'daughter.'  Then remembering the current situation, "So, where are you two headed?"

Nora glanced at Bo, then looking at Steven, "Where are we headed?" 

Havers smiled, "It's a surprise." 

Nora felt a tremor travel down her spine as he said the words, covering it, "Well it will be awfully hard to meet you there if you don't tell me where there is." 

He placed his hand in the small of her back, it doesn't fit there was her first thought, "I thought we would ride together."

"Oh,” was all she could say as he led her outside. She paused for a moment, “I forgot to tell Bo one thing,” she noticed him straighten his shoulders, obviously annoyed that she was making him wait, “It’s about our son. I’ll only be a minute.”

“Sure,” he looks at his watch, “we do have to hurry though if we’re going to make it in time for our reservation.”

Nora just nodded and walked back into Bo’s office. He walked up to her and positioned them both behind the door, where Havers couldn’t see them through the closed blinds, “Listen, Red, if you don’t want to do this, I know you can come up with a plausible excuse.”

She shook her head, “No, no I don’t want him to become suspicious. I’ll go with him this once.”

“Please, just promise me one thing.” He reached out and took her hand, “Don’t be alone with him.”

“But he’s insisting on driving.”

He sighed, running his hands over his face in frustration, “Fine, let him drive, and I’m putting an officer on you.” walking over towards his desk. He unlocks the bottom drawer and walks back over to her, “Here, I want you to take this.” She opens her mouth to protest, “Nora, please.”

She nods and takes the small gun, placing it in her purse. She looks back up at him and smiles, “I’ll be home by nine.” She leans in and kisses his cheek, before turning to leave.

‘Home’, he thinks to himself before taking out his cell phone.  

Steven walked her to his car, and as he opened the door, Nora saw something shiny lying on the pavement.  She bent to pick it up, and a smile crept over her lips as she took the small flag pin, and placed it in her pocket. Bo was with her, and she knew she was going to be okay.

Back at the station Bo was on his cell phone spouting his instructions to the undercover cop he had put on Havers and Nora, “Don’t let them out of your sight, Johnson. We’re keeping this low key for now, but Dr. Havers is now our number one suspect in the Music Box murders and he has one of our own with him…No room for mistakes, Johnson…” Bo slammed his phone shut and grabbed his jacket. He had to keep his pizza/movie night with Matthew, he’d cancelled too many times, and he trusted the man he had tailing Havers.

Havers pulled his car up along side the entrance to the Waterside Inn. He climbed out of the car and handed his keys to the valet. He once again placed his hand on the small of her back, once again giving her cause to feel awkward, no ones hand has ever fit quite like Bo’s. She smiled an awkward smile as he held the door for her.

Back at Nora’s house Bo and Matthew walk through the door, Bo carries the pizza, Matthew juggling the bottles of root beer and the movies. Bo sets the pizza down and grabs the bottles just as one is about to slip from Matthew’s hand. Matthew looked up at his dad and smiled. Bo set the bottles down on the table and tousles Matthew’s hair, “So champ, which one do you want to watch first?”

Matthew looks through the movies, taking his task very seriously. Bo tried to stifle his laughter as he watched their son trying to decide on a movie, ‘Just like his mother,’ Bo thought to himself, “How about this one?”

Bo smiled, “You like that one don’t you?”

“Yeah, John Wayne reminds me of Granpa.”

Bo laughed, pulling Matthew against him, “Me too, champ, me too.” His voice trailing off as his mind drifted to Nora.

Nora pushed the food around on her plate, trying to calm her nerves as she sat across the table from him. She was trying to pretend there was nothing wrong. She glanced at her watch and sighed, only eight o’clock. She looked back up at Steven and smiled, laying her trembling hands in her lap. Steven sets his fork down and leaned across the table, “Food not up to your liking?”

“I guess I’m just not as hungry as I thought I was.”

“A late lunch with the Commissioner,” he asked not hiding his annoyance.

Nora shook her head, trying to keep the fear brought on because of the jealous tone in his voice from playing across her face. She had to get away from him for a moment, “If you’ll excuse me, I’m going to go to the ladies room.”

Steven stood and watched her leave the table, also noticing the young man sitting at a table in the corner, get up and follow her out of the dining room, “Bad move, Commissioner, really bad move.”

Bo looked down at Matthew, sound asleep on his lap. He ran his hand over his head as he watched him sleep. He turned his attention back to the movie, trying desperately not to let himself worry about Nora. He looked at the clock on the mantle, ‘One more hour,’ he thought to himself.

Nora walked back to the table and sat down, looking at her watch, “I told Bo I would be home by nine…”

“Home?”, cutting her off, once again not masking his annoyance and jealousy.

“Bo’s at my house with our son.  It’s father and son pizza and movie night.”

Steven smiled, pretending to be interested, “Well then let’s get you home.” Nora walked out of the dining room, clutching her purse tight against her chest.

At five minutes to nine she was slipping her key in the lock. She quietly closed the door behind her, glancing once out the window at the officer’s unmarked car parked across the street. She turned off the porch light and walked into the living room, stopping dead in her tracks at the sight before her. Bo was lying on the couch fast asleep; Matthew sprawled out beside him, his arm draped across Bo’s face. The TV screen illuminating the room as the screen jumped, the movie obviously having ended long ago. Nora smiled and sat down on the coffee table across from them. She reached out and brushed a few strands of hair out of Matthew’s eyes. She stared at Bo, taking in how much they resembled each other, her heart aching at the realization that the truth had always been staring her right in the face all these years. She sighed as she stood up, leaning in to place a soft kiss on Matthew’s forehead. She hesitated for a moment and then softly kissed Bo’s cheek. She walked over to the chair and picked up the blanket draped across its back. She brought the blanket over to where they slept, carefully and lovingly covering them up. She turned out the light and walked upstairs, pausing once to look back down at the two most important people in her life.

Across town he sat in front of the piano playing a few bars as he stared at her picture. He looked over at another picture crumpling it up into a ball and tossing it into the wastebasket beside his desk, “You can have all the cops in the world watching her, Commissioner. You haven’t stopped me yet, and now that you know who I am, she’ll have to die.”

TBC…