The Invitation

Title: "Scared Straight: The Invitation."

Author: A.M. Glass

Rating: PG

Revised: Jan. 5^th, 2003

Secondary Revision: Jan. 8^th, 2003

Final Edition: Jan. 14^th, 2003

Spoilers: For "Scared Straight and Don't Look Back."

Disclaimer: Jordan Cavanaugh, Lisa Fromer, et al belong to Tim Kring, Tailwind Productions and NBC Studios. No copyright infringement is intended or inferred. The story along with any/all original characters are the sole property of the author and cannot be used without expressed permission first.

Pairing: Jordan Cavanaugh and Dr. Lisa Fromer.

Notes: This is the fifth story in the series, the first being "Easy", followed by "The Call", "All Yours" and "A Good Reason".

Additional Note: The story you're about to read has been beta'd by six people. And this story is a compilation of all the help they've given me. I've taken the best advice/suggestions/corrections, etc. and merged it into this final product. I am to blame for any mistakes, they won't know what I used until they actually read this along with everyone else.

Thanks To The Following: Gatekeeper, Claire, Bri, Joei, Myra and Diana for going over the story and each of them in their own way making sure I never strayed to far from Jordan' character.

Feedback: Would be nice, as I'd like to know if I should continue with this series.

Jordan gasped as she woke up suddenly, her heart racing. Blinking, she sat up and looked at her surroundings.

She wasn't at home, of that she was certain.

Great, she'd dropped off at the office again.

'Damn that dream,' she thought to herself as she began to calm down. Rubbing her eyes, she glanced at the clock. Three a.m. She hadn't meant to sleep that long, she mused as she slowly pushed off the couch, dragging her hands through her hair.

She walked down the darkened halls and went to the lab hoping that the toxicology report she had been waiting on had finally come in. She knew as soon as she had made the initial cut into the body of Steven Orsini and had smelled burnt almonds that he had been poisoned with arsenic.

It wasn't very original, but it still got the job done.

"I was right," she said to herself as she read over the report. 'I wonder if Lisa's up?' Jordan thought suddenly. "You are not going to call her... you're not. I can wait to speak to her tonight, so what if I miss her. I'm not going to call," she muttered as she went back to her office.

* * * * * *

"Hell... hello?"

"Did I wake you?"

"Jordan... it's four o'clock in the morning. Is something wrong?"

"No. I just thought you'd like to know that Orsini was poisoned with arsenic."

"You couldn't wait until later?"

"Come on Woody... justice waits for no man."

"Or woman," he muttered as his eyes began closing.

"Woody..."

"Right on it."

He would wake up later to find the telephone receiver in his hand and wonder if he had dreamt his conversation with Jordan.

* * * * * *

"Hi."

"Good morning," Lisa said into the phone smiling as she heard Jordan's voice on the other end."You seem chipper today..."

Jordan looked at the receiver in disbelief, "Did you say... 'Chipper?'"

"Yes, chipper."

"Chipper and I don't mix."

"You're mixing this morning."

"Must be the company."

"Jordan... that's the sweetest thing."

"Yeah... well."

"Are you blushing?"

"No. No blushing here, none," Jordan replied wondering why she denied it. She could feel the heat on her cheeks. "Lisa..."

"Yes?"

"Is your invitation still open?"

Lisa had asked her to go to Palm Springs. "Just two friends getting to know each other a little better," she'd said.

Ever since the kiss they shared, they had grown closer, 'It was more than one, if I want to get technical about it,' she thought as she waited for Lisa's answer.

She could vividly recall how soft Lisa's lips felt against hers. How she wanted more. How they had looked at each other for a moment, trying to figure out what would happen next. Then how she backed away- suddenly unsure of herself.

She had to give Lisa a great deal of credit. The other woman was giving her all the time she needed, which was working out.

A month had passed before the invitation.

They were having dinner; Jordan at first had expected some fancy set-up until Lisa had told her to dress casually, "It's just a pizza and some beer."

She could barely conceal her surprise when Lisa had opened the door wearing faded blue jeans and a sweatshirt. Although they'd gone out on more than one occasion Lisa had always dressed semi-formally. She had never seen the other woman so dressed ... down before.

And she had to admit she liked it.

Jordan placed a tentative kiss on Lisa's cheek and was pleased to see a smile appear on the other woman's face.

They had spoken about their respective days and Lisa had offered some insight to a case Jordan had been working on at the time. She had just finished her drink when Lisa asked, "Would you go to Palm Springs with me?"

"Excuse me?" she said looking at her as she slowly put the bottle down. She'd heard what Lisa had asked, but for some reason she needed to hear it again.

Lisa tried to keep her voice light. "I'm inviting you to Palm Springs... for a weekend. Just two friends getting to know each other better."

"I'm ... I'm not sure."

Lisa had reached out and had taken Jordan's hand in hers. "There are no strings attached. None."

"Can I think about it?"

She smiled slightly "Of course you can."

The rest of the dinner, the evening was a blur... until the goodnight kiss.

"I should be going," Jordan said as she glanced at the clock.

"It is getting late."

"Thanks for dinner..."

"My pleasure."

"I had a great time," Jordan told her as she gazed into Lisa's eyes.

They were sitting down next to each other on the couch. Lisa had her feet curled underneath her legs. Her face was resting in the palm on her left hand as her right hand rested lightly on Jordan's knee, tracing a subtle pattern as if completely unaware of what she was doing. Jordan, of course, felt every tiny movement.

"So did I," Lisa answered, her tongue moistening her lips.

"Lisa," Jordan whispered as her gaze settled upon those lips.

"Yes."

The tension in the air was palpable.

They both knew something was going to happen, that something would have to give.

"I'd really like to kiss you now."

"I really wish you would." Lisa answered softly.

Jordan found herself moving forward, her eyes remaining open 'til the last possible moment...

"Jordan?"

"Yes?" she replied hastily, as she pulled herself out of the memory that had sent a shiver down her back.

"Are you all right?"

"Fine. Just thinking, that's all."

"Okay. To answer your question, yes, the invitation still stands."

"When would we leave?" she asked, her mouth suddenly dry.

"The first weekend of next month is the soonest..." There was a pause, and Lisa's voice suddenly got softer. "Are you sure about this Jordan?"

Was she?

Although Lisa had said that she wasn't going to pressure her in any way she wondered about the pressure she had placed upon herself. Would she do something foolish and end up pushing Lisa away -- something she didn't want to do? Would it help them move forward together? Jordan knew that she truly enjoyed Lisa's companny. She had begun, slowly, to let down her guard. To allow Lisa inside, past the formidable walls she had put up for Woody - she wanted to knock it down, every last brick for Lisa.

"Yes. I'm sure," she replied, feeling lighter somehow.

"Great. I'll get the information to you by tomorrow," Lisa said smiling into the telephone receiver.

Jordan found herself smiling in return. She was making the right decision. "Lisa... would you like to come over later?"

"I'd love to Jordan."

"Great. I'll see you around seven?"

"I'll be there."

"Bye Lisa."

"See you soon."

"Next stop Palm Springs," Jordan said out loud after hanging up.

The End