"Prelude to a Kiss"

Here Today, Gone Tomorrow Series

by Chelsie

PG-13 (some further scenes/chapters might border on "R")
Author: Chelsie
Email: guitarchic884@aol.com
Disclaimer: I do not know or own any character or actors who portray those in my story. This is just fanfiction and while I am sad to say I cannot be in "Tarzan", I can certainly dream about it.

*Scene 2*

Aside from her 'little episode' that morning, Jane was actually in good spirits. There was something about New York in the fall that just made her want to smile constantly. Most people would wonder how the affects of fall could be seen in a city, but not Jane. It was the little things she noticed, like how the wind blew slightly harder off the harbor, or how the sky was just a little bit bluer. Everything was more alive, not smothered by the humid air of months before.

She had arrived at work early, diving into a new case that was left in her possession. Sitting behind her desk, a cup of slightly cold coffee pushed to the side, Jane had the oddest sensation that someone was watching her. At first, she ignored the feeling, but as the seconds turned into minutes, she could no longer ignore the tiny hairs that stood on the back of her neck. Putting down her report, she looked around at her coworkers, hoping to catch the lingering gaze of someone's eyes directed at her own. However, as she slowly swung her chair from side to side, she saw that everyone was engrossed in their own work, not a person paying her any attention.

The corners of her mouth turned slightly upwards as she realized how childish she was being. Chuckling to herself, Jane picked up the report once again and scanning the words quickly, found the spot where she had left off. Settling in, she crossed her legs underneath the desk and allowed her mind to focus on the task at hand. The case was very interesting to say the least. Involving the suspicious homicide of a man not older than herself, Jane found the inconclusive evidence and testimony's from witnesses to be somewhat of a challenge. Unfortunately, Jane only got through a few more sentences before the prickling on her neck returned.

Just then, a cloud moved away from the sun, casting a warm beam of light on her auburn hair. Jane's eyes followed the path of the ray, and there, twenty-some feet above, perched on the overhang of a building opposite of her own, was John. For a brief moment, she sat entranced. There was no denying his beauty. His hair seemed to glow like strands of golden wheat and although she couldn't see his eyes, she knew that he stared back at her ten times harder. He was innocent in his game, an infantile banter between boy and man. Unlike Jane and so many others, he felt and reacted with his heart. There was no second guessing in his adoration for her, merely because such an adult emotion had been denied him. Yes, he knew what he wanted, and what he wanted, was Jane.

There was still a wall between them, something that might always be there, but regardless, she saw him differently now. Ever since John had saved her sister's life, she could no longer ignore the importance of him in her world. They were connected and if anything, she owed him. She owed him more than he could possibly imagine. While that was never good grounds for a relationship, the fact that she owed him was nothing compared to how she felt about him. Everyday, she saw more and more of the person he was, and everyday, more and more of the wall between them was starting to crumble.

A hard tap on the shoulder brought Jane out of her daze, sending her foot to collide with the metal underside of the desk. The sound echoed like a thousand bullets in the hollowed out police station, and everyone's attention was suddenly fixed on her. Somewhat upset that the spell had been broken, Jane quickly scanned the horizon for any signs of John, but just like every other time, he seemed to disappear with the greatest of ease.

The weight of the world seemed to crash on her shoulders as she finally looked up at the person who disturbed her seconds before. The sight of her partner, Sam Sullivan, who at the moment had his eyebrow cocked in her direction, was standing before her looking slightly amused.

"You ok there, Jane?" Sam asked mockingly.

Instead of answering, she lowered her head as the heat rose to her cheeks, embarrassed at being caught in such an intimate moment. Jane closed her eyes and tried to pull the image of John from her mind. It took a little bit before she was able to erase his memory, for the time being, and finally found the strength to give Sam her full attention.

"Yes, I'm fine. So, uhh..... what's that you have there?" she said, nodding towards the manilla folder in his hand, still refusing to meet his eyes head on. Sam didn't answer her at first, narrowing his gaze at her face because she was acting strange. Eventually, he realized it was a worthless cause and pulled up a chair beside her.

"New case, hot off the wire," he said, handing her the report. "White female, who appears to be in her mid-twenties. So far, it looks like a suicide. The chief wants us to head over there now." Sam said, before standing back up and waiting for Jane to finish reading the limited amount of information gathered so far.

Jane closed the folder and for the first time that day looked him straight in the eyes.

"Well, I guess we better get going then," Jane said while standing up. She grabbed her coat and started out. "I'm driving." she added over her shoulder with a cheshire grin. Sam just shook his head and laughed, following her lead.

***

High above the masses, a pair of eyes followed the slim figure of a woman down below. It smiled in spite of itself and watched until she was safely inside her vehicle. As the car drove away, the figure stayed, watching the world around it and wondering if maybe, there was a place for itself somewhere in this city they called New York.

***