Disclaimer: NBC, MCA/Universal and Wolf Films own them.
Rating: PG-13
Summary: McCoy/Green. Episode-Addition flashfiction. 1500 words, give or take 5-6.
Author's Note: An addition to the episode, Couples, from the start of Season 14 (2003), in which Ed had a terrible, horrible, very bad day. Aside from the awful videography which made everything as dark as possible, I actually liked this epi, and there was this one line...
Author's Note II: Thank you, jessebee, for the kick in the ass.
Copyright October 2004, Cassatt
Ed unlocked the door to his apartment. It was nearly ten-thirty at night, and he was bone-tired, soul-tired, too. The jumper, who'd kept him and Lennie from their much-needed drink, had eventually culminated his own apparent day-from-hell with a trip to Bellevue. Accompanied by bells and whistles. Whoopee.
Ed closed the door behind him and tossed his keys on the hall table. Without breaking stride, he went right to the refrigerator and took out a bottle of beer, unscrewed the cap, and downed a quarter of it. He flicked off the kitchen light and, following the sound of a comforting voice, headed to the bedroom.
"....he just came in," Jack said into the phone, meeting Ed's eyes, giving him a smile. He was propped against the headboard, wearing sweats, a tee shirt and damp hair. "He had a rough day." Jack picked up the remote and clicked off the television, adding some 'hmmms' and 'uh huhs' to his conversation.
After putting down his beer, holster, and badge on the dresser, Ed went to the closet and stripped off his suit, dropping it on the floor for the cleaners. Running through the car wash after that stupid perp had certainly done it in. And he'd planned to wear it at least twice more this week, damn it.
"I think that sounds nice, Yvette," Jack said.
Ed groaned to himself as he took off more clothing. His mother. He should have known. She must have seen something on television, undoubtedly about the woman who ran over her husband with the car. Little did his mother know that he'd almost been run down by the crazy woman, too. He was now in his boxer briefs, so he turned around, and sure enough, Jack was waving him over. He detoured to his beer before plopping down on the edge of the bed, taking the phone from the man whose crinkling eyes never failed to make Ed's pulse stutter. He mouthed a 'thanks' and said hello to his mother, then downed a long swig of beer.
"Edward," his mother said, "I was just telling Jack that there's an engagement party for your cousin Dijuana next month on the fifteenth. You're both invited, of course."
"Of course," he answered, knowing that no invitation would be forthcoming from either his cousin or his aunt. "What did you do to bribe them?"
She tsk'ed in his ear. "Don't be obtuse, dear, please, just say what you mean." The edge of dry sarcasm wasn't lost on him.
"We weren't originally invited, were we?"
"Of course you were. She got your address wrong and the invitation was returned. She could have sent it to the precinct, or the DA's office, but I thought that wouldn't be the best idea," his mother said, and Ed could almost see the small smile on her face.
Now, whether or not any envelope was actually addressed incorrectly, ultimately he didn't care. "I don't do engagement parties. You know that. And," he added to forestall the argument that was coming, "if Jack wants to attend, he's more than welcome to," which earned him a gentle kick in the hip. He ignored the man.
There was silence on the other end for a long moment. "Why are you being so stubborn? It won't rub off on you -- it's not contagious, though the Lord knows I would give your great-grandmother's bible for it be exactly that--"
"Mother. I have had a day from--" he stopped himself, and took another swig. "It's been a bad day. So don't start the marriage stuff with me. Especially not tonight."
"I'm not going to start the 'marriage stuff' as you so nicely put it, but just because you won't take advantage of our proximity to Canada, or even Vermont, to have an official ceremony with Jack, doesn't mean that you need to come down so hard on anyone else who does want to get married." She sighed loudly. "For goodness sakes, Edward. Marriage is a fine thing."
Ed pulled the phone away from his ear and swore silently. Jack rubbed a foot along the side of his thigh; Ed looked at him. He had a book on his knee, but he winked. Ed smiled for the first time since he had said good-bye to Jack early that morning. He brought the phone back to his ear. "Whatever you say," he conceded, with more equanimity than he'd felt two minutes before.
"So, I'll tell Aunt Bernice that you and Jack will come, then. There's no need to bring presents, but there will be a list of places where the couple is registered, at the party. You can pick it up there." There was a clicking sound, which might have been a pen. "I'm sorry you had a bad day. Was there anything besides the woman who ran over her husband?"
Four bodies, a baby delivered, a jumper, a punch in the stomach from a woman boxer, and a wacked-out gay man ranting about marriage laws? "No, not really," he said. "Learned a little more about German philosophy."
"That's a day well spent, isn't it?"
Ed smiled again. "Yeah, Mom, it is."
He said his good-byes with a promise to call her on the weekend, and stretched to his right to put the phone back on its base. Jack snapped his book shut. Ed swung his legs up, set down his beer on the nightstand, and rolled over to face him.
Jack scooted down until he was also lying on his side, and rested his hand on Ed's waist. "Serena said something about the German philosopher -- I can't wait to read your report." He smiled.
Ed shook his head. "I'm not talkin' about it -- the day sucked; it's over."
"How's the stomach?"
"Better, and the pain pills are even wearing off by now." He shifted closer, and draped one leg over Jack's thigh.
"So. Your mom's on the marriage kick again."
Ed sighed. "She just wants a trip to Canada, paid for by us."
Jack chuckled. "She does not. She wants to see her son standing up and pledging his troth before she dies, and she doesn't care to whom or under what circumstances it happens."
"She sure as hell does care to whom," Ed stated.
Jack's eyebrows lifted; he bit his bottom lip.
"You think," Ed said, "that she'd been after me before you came along? At least, once I came out?" Ed shook his head. "No, uh uh. Nobody's been good enough up till now."
"It wasn't legal in Canada before now." Jack nodded once. "That's why. She wants it legal."
"Legal somewhere, anyway. That guy who killed his lover was going on about how he got ripped off, cause he couldn't inherit his lover's property since his Hawaiian marriage wasn't legal in New York. I was ready to pop him one. The poster boy for gay marriage rights. Just what we need." Ed closed his eyes.
"So you do want marriage rights."
Ed opened his eyes and studied the other man. He knew Jack didn't want to get married again, and wouldn't marry Ed for sure, given his position, and yet there was something behind those deep hazel eyes. "I can't believe I'm saying this after what I saw today, but yeah, I want marriage to be a right for everyone. If Gina wants to legally marry Tanaya, why the fuck should anyone stop that? But I don't think we need that. Do you?"
Jack smiled. "No, I don't. But--"
Ed waited; nothing else was said. "But what?"
"There is a purpose to divorce," Jack said. "It makes dissolving the union -- difficult."
"And--"
Jack placed his palm on Ed's chest. "So, if the time comes when we're thinking of breaking up, let's not make it easy on each other. Nothing nasty, but -- we should fight about it."
Ed mirrored Jack's action. Jack's heart was pounding. "Okay. We'll fight. Make it tough for either of us to leave." He smiled. "We'll fight for us."
Jack smiled, too. "Agreed." He caressed Ed's skin. "And one more thing. You should stop giving your mom so much grief. Tell her you believe in marriage."
Ed chuckled. "Even for hets? 'Cause shit, they make a mess of it...."
"Even for hets."
Ed nodded, and laughed, and it felt damn sweet. He wrapped his arm around Jack's waist and pulled, rolling onto his back, and Jack followed easily, draping across Ed's chest. Ed said, "I'll make her day tomorrow."
Jack kissed him, dipping smoothly into Ed's mouth, moving his hips to align with Ed's. Ed was sinking into the mattress and pillow, needing this organically, soul-deeply. The stresses of his day dissipated. Those people... fucked up idiots, that's what they all were. They didn't know good when they had it right under their noses. In their beds. In their lives. Ed knew good, and this was it. Jack thrust against him. Oh, yeah.... fuckin'.... good.
End.
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