Work Text:
It was a long day at the Cambridge courthouse, and it stretched on for what felt like forever. Nora needed a break, so she opted to go to the rooftop back at the police station to get a view of the city. The bright blues of the afternoon sky faded into a soft orange, and the white clouds turned pink as the sun lowered beneath the horizon. While normally Nora had no problem going about her job from day to day, and even enjoyed her work as a defense attorney, today had been particularly difficult.
As a defense attorney, it was her job to defend her clients in court, even those who didn’t deserve it; and the client she had today was one of those. 37-year-old Hershel Beckett was charged with murdering his wife in cold blood. Police were alerted to the crime by a neighbor who called the authorities after hearing strange, loud noises coming from their home. From there, the officers managed to catch him in the act. His hands were covered in blood, and the knife he used to cut up the body had his fingerprints on it - all irrefutable evidence for his conviction.
Since there was no proof that he didn’t do the crime, Nora had been limited to verbal arguments only.
“Your honor, my client likely has an alibi!”
Or,
“Your honor, there’s no way my client is a communist spy! He clearly has U.S. citizenship!”
She leaned over the railing with her elbows and let out a sigh, before running her hand through her hair; pushing it out of her face after the evening breeze had tousled it.
There was a certain point where everyone questioned their life choices, and that point was hitting her now. Sometimes, Nora wondered what it would be like if she had gone into something simple like accounting instead. If she had done that, then she wouldn’t have to worry about trying to free criminals who she knew deserved to be locked away for life.
It wasn’t the end of the world though, as there was only one court date left for him. Then, maybe she would finally get to work a case for someone who was actually innocent.
Suddenly, a familiar, teasing voice broke her out of her thoughts. “Well, you look worse than I feel.”
Despite her sour mood, she felt the corners of her mouth upturn in a smile. In an equally teasing tone, she replied. “Maybe you would feel better if you got more sleep, Nick. Taking less naps at your desk and more in your bed would probably help.”
He chuckled at that, before joining her by the railing. He leaned his elbows on it just like her, mimicking her body language without even realizing it, and his eyes fixated on the city that was bathed in the orange light of the sunset before them.
Throughout both of their law careers, Nora and Nick became close. Nick was the detective who led the investigations for the majority of Nora’s cases. He would investigate the accused and provide her with the evidence she needed to defend them in court. They had become so close, in fact, that people in the precinct began joking about them being just like the Nick and Nora from the detective TV show.
“Yeah well, sleep isn’t for law smiths like us. This case with Mr. Beckett is one of the more grim cases I’ve seen in a while…” he trailed off, his demeanor becoming more solemn than it had been moments prior.
Nora sighed and looked away from him, returning her gaze to the horizon. “I hear you. That guy… there’s no way he’s escaping a guilty verdict.” A pang of concern suddenly flitted through her, and she looked at him again. “Hey, are you alright? I mean, you’re the one who had to interrogate him. I’m worried about you, Nick.”
Nick let out a puff of air and turned to meet her gaze. “Oh please, I’m more worried about you. You’re the one who had to defend him in court. I can’t imagine that being easy.”
She nodded. “You’re right, it’s not. I do what I can for my clients, but sometimes it just isn’t enough. And in Mr. Beckett’s case, I’m forced to stand up for people who, frankly, I don’t want to defend.”
Nick’s gaze became sympathetic, and he offered her a reassuring squeeze on the shoulder. “Hey, chin up. On the bright side, the work we do contributes to people like him getting put behind bars where they can’t hurt anyone else.”
Nora let out a small chuckle, a smile stretching on her face, and she subconsciously leaned into his touch. “You and your bright sides.”
“I have my moments.” He said, returning her smile, before removing his hand and looking away from her in favor of rummaging around in his trench coat pocket for something.
Nora felt a pang of disappointment at the loss of contact, before Nick found what he was looking for. He held a box of cigarettes in his hand, and took one stick out before putting it between his lips and lighting it. The orange glow from the flame illuminated his face, and Nora couldn’t help but stare. The green pools of his eyes looked yellow under the light, before he blew out a puff of smoke.
Then, he held the box out to her in a silent offering. Nora stared at it for a moment, before jerking away and holding up her hand. “Tempting, but no. I really shouldn’t…”
Nick quirked an auburn brow at her, before closing the box and putting it back in his pocket, his lighter soon following it. “Huh, you usually never turn down a cigarette. Is something the matter?”
“Well, uh…” she started, but it was difficult to finish her sentence. Nora tapped her fingers on the railing absentmindedly, preparing to finally say the words out loud. “… I’m pregnant, Nick.”
His brows flew up practically to his hairline at the news, and he had to fight to keep his mouth closed so his cigarette wouldn’t meet the floor. “Well, uh, that’s great news! Um… does Nate…?”
She shook her head. “No, he doesn’t know yet… you’re the first person I’ve told. I only found out two days ago, and I would’ve told him, but he was already deployed in Alaska. Telling him the news over a letter just seems so… impersonal. I’d rather it be in person.”
Nick’s eyes took a sympathetic look once again. “I’m sorry. I… can’t imagine how difficult that must be. But, as unfair as it is, it seems telling him by letter is your only choice…”
Nora sighed. “I know… it just sucks, is all.” Then, wanting to change the subject, she spoke again. “But hey, enough about me. What about Jennifer? How’s she doing?”
Nick took another drag of his cigarette, before the corners of his lips upturned in a smile at the question. “She’s good. She just finished an art piece and set up a contract to have it displayed at a museum. She’s really happy about it.”
Nora lit up at the news. “Woah, really? That’s wonderful!”
“Yeah, she’s been wanting her art to get accepted for a while now. Her sculptures are beautiful. I’m surprised her work wasn’t picked up sooner.”
Nora had an idea, and a teasing grin spread on her face. She nudged him in the side with her elbow playfully. “Selling art to a museum has to be pretty lucrative. With all that extra cash, you two could probably afford to have a kid of your own.”
Nick let out a startled laugh that made his shoulders jolt, and he had to catch his cigarette before it slipped. “Ah, no - no kids. Having children just isn’t in the cards for Jennifer and me.”
Still smiling, Nora replied. “Aw, that’s too bad. You’d make a great dad, Nick.”
Nick’s demeanor became solemn. “Would I? With how wrapped up in my work I get, I imagine I’d be pretty absent…”
Nora felt her smile drop, and she suddenly wondered if she had taken the joke a bit too far. “I suppose that’s true. Hey… you know I’m just messing around, right?”
He nodded. “Yeah, I know. I just didn’t expect you to ask me that, is all.”
“Well, I don’t wanna make you uncomfortable. How about we change the subject?” She asked.
“That’d be great.” Nick said, before letting his cigarette hit the floor and stomping it out.
At that, Nora’s smile returned, and she began bringing up every miscellaneous topic she could think of. They talked about everything from the upcoming baseball game, to what movies they were excited for, and even what public figures they suspected of being communists in disguise. Their conversation continued leisurely; so much so, that they didn’t realize the sun had set until they heard an automated voice play over the many sirens in the streets.
“Attention all law-abiding citizens. Curfew will be in effect in 30 minutes. Return to your homes immediately. Anyone caught roaming after the set time will be shot.”
Nora felt her brows raise in shock. “Oh shit, I didn’t realize it was this late. We should probably get out of here, huh?”
Nick nodded. “Oh, Definitely. I don’t favor the idea of my body looking like swiss cheese. We’ll finish this conversation tomorrow, yeah?”
Nora grinned. “You know it! I’d never pass up the opportunity to hear your cheesy one-liners.”
He chuckled at that, before offering to walk together to the police station’s parking lot, where both their cars remained idle. She’d accepted, and from there they shared as many words as they could before they were forced to say their goodbyes.
“Goodnight Nick, see you tomorrow.” She said, her hand resting on her car’s door handle.
Nick nodded. “Goodnight Nora, you too… and hey, if you ever need anything, I’m here for you, alright?”
“I know you are, Nick. Thank you.” She said.
At that, he smiled and waved goodbye, before turning around and making his way to his own car.
Her eyes stayed on his back as he walked away, and a sigh escaped her as a wave of loneliness washed over her. Now that he’s gone, she had no choice but to go back to her empty home in Sanctuary Hills. The only solution she could think of to make her house less lonely was writing that letter she talked about with Nick; telling Nate that she was pregnant so he would come home sooner. But, even then it wasn’t guaranteed that his superiors would grant him time off away from the battlefield…
Nora shook her head, before finally entering her car and sitting in the driver’s seat. She rested her forehead on the steering wheel as the wave of loneliness continued to consume her. It was always like this whenever Nick left. It was as if there was something left unsaid between them; a strange yearning that she didn’t know how to put her finger on. Maybe she was finally going mad…
When the steering wheel began feeling uncomfortable, she lifted her head and started her engine with her car key. She needed to hurry home before the assaultrons began waking up. With one final exhale through her nose, she pulled out of the parking lot, and began making the long drive home.