Esq. (closed)

[heartofcourage]

Megan slept soundly in the extra bedroom. She woke briefly for a peanut butter and jelly sandwich and some potato chips for lunch before she went back to sleep. The stress of the evening before had caught up to her. She was not a woman that partied or drank very often. It had all brought her to a screeching halt.

She heard someone enter the apartment around 3. Knowing that Jerry was back, she slept for a while longer and then got up. Brushing out her hair, she made herself presentable before she stepped into the living room to find him.

"Why did you kiss me earlier?" She asked with a curious voice as she sat down in a chair across from him, no malice in her voice as she tried to figure out just what Jerry still felt for her.

 

[BeachBum25]

Gallo looked up at her. "Well, hello there sleepy head. I am glad you didn't have much to do today." He smiled at her and listened to her question. "Megan, I gave you a kiss on the forehead because I wanted you to relax. It has been a stressful stretch for you, and I was just trying to help put you at ease. There was nothing else to it.......no ulterior motive to a little peck on your forehead."

Jerry was wondering whether or not she was upset with him. All he had done since the previous night was try to help her out. The kiss was really just a sign that he wanted what was best for her...and maybe that he cared about her despite the long stretch of time since they had last communicated civilly.

He stood up and walked over to her. "Was I wrong to let you know that I was concerned about you and cared about what happened to you? If so, I apologize. I know it has been a long time, but I still like you as a person even though we are enemies on the job."

 

[heartofcourage]

Megan glanced up as Jerry made his way towards her, the look in his eyes telling her that he was a little apprehensive of the situation. She wondered just how much she had wounded him when they had been together. He was like a puppy that wanted to enjoy her company but was so scared of being kicked again.

"Jerry, I'm not upset with you." Megan said softly. "About anything that has happened in the past few days. In fact, I'm in your debt for the way that you've helped me when you didn't have to. I don't want things to be awkward between us."

 

[BeachBum25]

"It was not my intention to make you feel awkward by kissing your forehead Meg. That was not what I was trying to do. I was just trying to reassure you that I was on your side and I would help you in any way that I could."

Gallo was a little pissed off at Meg for her awkward comment. No, he was actually very pissed off at her. It wasn't like he grabbed her and kissed her on the lips. It was a little peck on the forehead. Damn, she could be so frustrating.

"Meg, sit down for a second." He pointed to the leather sofa. Once she sat down, Gallo sat next to her. "Meg, I have always cared about you. I know it didn't work out between us, but that didn't mean I didn't stop caring. I respected your decision for us to break up. You have taken out interactions in the courtroom personal. It was never that. I will do whatever I have to do for my clients, but I do not mean anything by it. I did not come over to you last night to make things awkward. I did not come over to you to get you back. I said hello. You needed help and I was happy to give it. I was trying to be friendly. Not a friend. I was trying to be friendly, because I knew you wouldn't want to be friends."

 

[heartofcourage]

Megan knew the moment that Jerry got angry. He had little things about him that told her that he was incredibly upset about something. She sat down as he told her to, pointing to the leather sofa. The leather creaked under her as he sat next to her, pouring out his heart. He wanted to be friendly with her. She had long ago ruined any chance that they might have had together. Her stubborn pride had sent her running the moment that she sensed that he might have wanted something more with her.

"Jerry..." Megan said, knowing that she owed him some kind of explanation for why things ended the way that they had. "None of this is your fault. It's all because of me."

She had a lot of demons from her past that she struggled with every single day. She needed him to understand that the reason they had ended was because of her and the reason that they had not kept a friendship was because of her as well.

"I never meant to hurt you." She murmured. "I know that seems silly to say now, but I really never wanted to hurt you. I wished that you had found someone that could have made you very happy. I didn't think that I was the woman that could do that for you."

 

[BeachBum25]

"Meg, I am not looking to lay blame anywhere. None of this is about saying anyone is at fault. Although I was upset when you ended it back then, I never held any ill will toward you. I know what you have been through. I know how hard you worked to get where you were then, and how hard you have worked to get where you are now. I am very happy for you. I wish that what happened yesterday had never happened to you. You deserve better."

He sat there for a while waiting for Meg's response. What was bugging him right now was that his old feelings for Meg were creeping in. It wasn't like he was going to act on them, but he definitely was feeling something that drew him into Meg. It was the first time in the last day that he realized it, but it was undeniable.

 

[heartofcourage]

Even thought she was a lawyer, confrontation was not something that she enjoyed. Dealing with her emotions was second behind that feeling. She had always felt raw, wounded, bruised, and never good enough. Megan had run from Jerry because she felt like he actually might have been the person that could make all of those horrible feelings go away. He cared about her and he would have seen her happy no matter what. It was easier to break his heart than it was to deal with her own demons.

"How about I buy you that dinner?" She asked, feeling bad for avoiding the issue, but needing to find a way out for her own sake. "You pick the restaurant. I've got my credit card all squared away."

 

[BeachBum25]

there it was. Meg's defense mechanism had kicked in. When in doubt, change the subject. It did not surprise him that she was trying to avoid further discussion of the topic. He was fine with it. Meg had a tough upbringing and had developed a repertoire of techniques to shield her from things she wanted to avoid.

"Well, I have heard that McDonalds takes credit cards now, so, I guess we could go there since you have your card squared away. Of course, they don't serve rum and coke," he joked with Meg. He figured he would put her at ease, or at least try to.

Gallo picked up the phone and called down to the front desk and asked for a cab. He told the girl they would be down in five minutes. After hanging up, he turned to Meg. "Never mind. McDonalds is out. I have a better place." He followed her out the door and into the elevator. When they got to the lobby there was a cab waiting. They got in and Jerry gave the address for his favorite Hibachi restaurant. He figured it would be a fun night for them.

 

[heartofcourage]

"Last night was definitely rare for me." Megan said as he teased her about McDonalds and rum and Coke. "A glass of wine every now and then, sure. Shots of tequila and rum...well, I see what happened when I indulged."

As he called a cab for them and they went down to the lobby, she assessed the situation. Jerry was trying his hardest to make her feel at ease. He was a good man, one that deserved good things to happen to him. She still hated him in the court of law, but she could see that perhaps they might be friends when everything was said and done.

When she slipped into the cab, she heard Jerry give the address of a place. She had been there once before. Hibachi sounded delicious, actually. A perfect compliment to a night of drinking. She might as well be indulging in other things besides booze.

"So...do you ever talk to anyone we went to school with?" She asked, glancing over at him as the cab pulled away from the curb. "I'm not good at small talk."

 

[BeachBum25]

He sat back in the cab and relaxed a little as they headed to the restaurant. He really enjoyed the hibachi restaurant because they put on a show. It was, in his opinion, the perfect place for them to eat. It would give them an opportunity to just chill.

"No, I don't talk to lawyers except in the courtroom. I spend too much time with lawyers. The people I associate with are friends from high school and a couple of people from undergrad. Most of the people we went to law school feel the same about me as you do."

When they pulled up to the restaurant, he got out of the cab. He gave Meg his hand to help her out, and then followed her inside. It was fairly crowded, but there was a space for 2. They were seated, and a short time later the chef approached and the show began.

 

[heartofcourage]

As Megan got seated at the hibachi, she ordered a green tea and was tempted by sake. She knew she didn't need to be drinking again, but she decided to let things loose for once. A cup was soon placed in front of her and she watched as the chef approached them to begin cooking. She ordered the steak and shrimp, watching as he got the ingredients to start.

"I don't talk to any of their either." Meg said as she looked over at Jerry. "I never really talked to any of them to begin with, I guess. Just you."

She had gone to school on a full scholarship. While other students were their on their parent's money, she had scraped out a living by using her brain. She tutored other students to make money and worked in a laundromat in town every single hour that she could to make some spending money. She was the unintentional outcast of the group and Jerry was really the only one nice enough to give her the time of day.

 

[BeachBum25]

Jerry thought back to law school and the time that he had spent with Meg. It was almost like she had been mad at him for being nice to her. She had shared the story of her upbringing and how she never got close to anyone. When they started to get close, she started to push him away until she finally broke things off.

Gallo enjoyed the antics of the chef. There was something about the hibachi that made dining out more of an experience than just going out to dinner. It was that reason that they were there tonight. He was afraid that if they were in a booth alone that Megan would clam up and be uncomfortable.

"I was never close with anyone but you. Yes I was in study groups with some of them, but most of my time was spent alone. I preferred studying on my own...at least when I wasn't able to study with you." He smiled at her as he drank some saki.

 

[heartofcourage]

"I honestly didn't realize just how much you liked me." Megan murmured as she looked over at Jerry. "You didn't seem all that upset when I broke things off...but I guess you wouldn't have showed me that, would you?"

She watched the chef work in front of them for another moment before she took a drink of her saki and looked back at Jerry. "For what it's worth...you were one of the best things that happened to me back then. I really do mean that, Jer. You might infuriate me today in the court of law, but you made me believe that things could and would get better."

She could still remember the day she had broken things off. The way he looked at her as if to see if she were serious. She had been so scared that he might say something to convince her otherwise. He had that gift about him that could change her mind. That was something she didn't want to change her mind about. If he got too close to her, she might be the one to end up with a broken heart instead.

 

[BeachBum25]

"Meg, why would I try to convince you to stay with me if you didnt want to be with me? that makes no sense. All that would happen if i tried to change your mind is that I would be delaying the inevitable. That is why I really didn't say anything. I was upset, but i respected what you wanted."

Gallo took another drink of saki to collect his thoughts. He really wasn't one to think about things in the past. Gallo was always looking ahead. Megan had him thinking about the past and it had him feeling a little uncofortable. He watched as the chef banged on the grill and prepared the food.

"Meg the reason you felt that way about me was because you let your guard down and you let me get close. Then you got scared. I am not a psychiatrist, but I will bet that what did us in was that it scared you that someone was interested in you and you thought maybe I had an ulterior motive. Nothing could have been further from the truth. All I was interested in back then was you."

 

[heartofcourage]

Megan's attention was drawn to the grill as the chef set the onion on fire, creating a mini volcano. It was a welcome distraction from the very serious conversation that they were having right then. He cared about her, deeply. She had pushed him away because she was scared.

"I was scared. If I'm honest, I'm still scared. I don't want to lose myself in a relationship. I guess I push too hard sometimes." She murmured as she glanced towards Jerry. "But we can't change what has happened in the past."

She picked up her cup of saki and held it out towards him. "However, maybe we can have a friendship again."

 

[BeachBum25]

Gallo was thinking that maybe he had pushed it a little too far. He should have just let this be a free and easy dinner. Yes, he truly believed she pushed him away because she had never had anyone truly show that they cared for her prior to him, but that was in the past and should be left there.

"Yes Meg we can be friends." He picked up his saki and tapped hers and then drank it. He wasn't sure whether he really believed that though. He was pretty certain that she would push back if their friendship became too close, and he wasn't even thinking about them becoming romantically involved again.

"If you need anything just ask. I am not going to push myself on you. I don't want to scare you off or make you think that I am tring something. You just need to ask and I will help you with anything you want. Even if it is just someone to sit and talk with."

 

[heartofcourage]

"You're not going to scare me off, Jer." Megan said softly as the chef got to cooking the meats that they had ordered on the flat top. "You might piss me off from time to time, but I'm a big girl. You won't scare me."

She gave him a slight smile, laughing softly. "You've gotten pretty good at getting under my skin, even if you say you don't mean it. I guess that's what a defense attorney does though...makes things harder for us lowly prosecutors."

This was the most that Megan had talked to anyone...including her ex-boyfriend. It had been a long time since she had felt comfortable enough to open up to someone like she was with Jerry. He had a way about him that made her relax. He had always been like that as long as she could remember being around him.

 

[BeachBum25]

"My job in the courtroom is to do whatever I can to get my client off.....within the rules of course. I don't have to like my clients, I just have to provide them with the best defense possible. Sometimes the best defense is to get the prosecutor off balance. It is never personal, especially when directed at you."

He knew that Megan took everything personally. He knew that she took it more personally when it came from him. Gallo never wanted to do anything to hurt Megan, but he knew he could gain an advantage by taking advantage of her thinking he was directing personal shots at her.

"Meg, I am glad you invited me to dinner. I am happy we can bury the hatchet and that you can understand that I am not trying to personally attack you. I could never do that. I have to much respect for you for what you have overcome, and I have to much respect for what you have become."

 

[heartofcourage]

"Don't get sappy on me, Gallo." Megan said as she looked at him with a slight smile on her face. "You know I don't deal well with all those emotions you like to use on me."

She was teasing, trying to lighten the mood, but it was also the truth. She had never dealt well with people that were in sync with their emotions. She had always found it best to push them down and away where she would deal with them later. Unfortunately, later never came. She would never face her emotions if she had a say in it.

 

[BeachBum25]

"Sappy? You know it is the truth. You just don't like to deal with it." He stopped. Gallo didn't want to push his luck and have Megan go into her she'll. he was only teasing, but he was afraid that Megan wouldn't take it that way. He leaned out and picked up his saki and took another drink.

The food was delicious and they talked throughout the meal. The show put on by the chef had helped to relax Megan, it appeared. Their conversation was about a variety of topics that put them both at ease. When they were finished the meal, they finished their saki. Gallo asked Megan if she wanted to do anything, or if she just wanted to go home. "You are going to stay at my place one more night, right? Just to make sure he is out of your place."

 

[heartofcourage]

"If I went home and he was still there, I might have to hire you for more than an eviction." She murmured, glancing towards Jerry with a small sigh. "I'd like to say another night. Just to be safe."

There had to be more out there to do than sitting around his house and having a pity party for her failed relationship. A bar was out of the question. She didn't want a repeat of the night before when she had drank herself into oblivion.

"We could go for a walk. Thompson Park is just down the street from here." She said with a shrug of her shoulders.

 

[BeachBum25]

He nodded at her when she mentioned staying with him for one more night. "I could probably get you off no matter what happened." He smiled at her as he made the comment. He hoped that Megan knew that he was joking with her, but he wasn't sure.

Going for a walk would be a good thing. The fresh air would be good for both of them. He wasn't sure what to expect from Megan. As far as he knew, once she moved back to her place tomorrow the only time he would see her would be in the courtroom. That wouldn't surprise him, but, deep down inside, he hoped there would be more between them in the future. "Sure, a walk in the park would be very nice."

 

[heartofcourage]

Megan paid their bill as promised, not blinking an eye at the total. It was her treat for Jerry taking care of her the night before. He had been out with his friends, but he had dropped everything to make sure that she was alright. That had to mean something, didn't it? He still had feelings for her, that much she was certain about. Where those feelings would take them still remained to be seen.

"Shall we go?" She asked as she found him standing just outside the front door. "Fresh air will do me some good. I don't get a lot of time to simply take a walk lately. Too many cases on my plate to really enjoy my free time."

 

[BeachBum25]

"As you wish," Gallo said as Megan walked out of the restaurant. He walked next to her and listened as she talked about having so little time to herself and so many cases on her plate. he knew that it was different in the prosecutor's office than it was for him. He could take just the cases he wanted to take. On the other hand, Megan had to prosecute every case that was sent her way by her boss. She could not be selective about which cases she did or did not work.

"Meg, you have to leave the work at the office. You cannot take it home with you, and I mean both figuratively as well as literally. You have to block it out of your mind. You work to hard at the office to take it home with you. You have to flush it as you walk out the door. It will still be there the next day....dont worry."

They walked slowly through the park. He was oblivious to their surroundings. He was focused on Megan, and was trying to help her. something told him that she would not listen to what he had to say, but he was thick-headed and was going to try to help her anyway.

 

[heartofcourage]

"You act as if you speak from experience." Megan said as she glanced towards Jerry as he gave her advice on how to balance being a lawyer and having a personal life.

It had been difficult to see things both ways. She had worked very hard for her place in life, but she knew that if she kept burning the candle at both ends she would lose her mind before she was much older than she was that moment. Perhaps it was time to start thinking about slowing down. There might even be a chance for a family on the horizon.

"You might have a point there." She said softly as she glanced up at Jerry. "I've worked very hard to get to where I am, but I guess it's time to start looking towards the future."