Fandom: The Practice

Series: Photomosaic

Title: Acid Etchings

Author: Carla

Email: cmfloresfd@yahoo.com

Rating: PG-13

Disclaimers: Still not David E. Kelley and the doctors assure me that as long as the meds keep working that's how things shall remain. No harm intended, no profit made from this work of original fiction. 

Spoilers: Yes mild for a S2 episode whose title I can't recall.  If you watch the series you'll recognize it.

Archive: Okay to the Realm all others please ask. All my flights of fancy may be found at http://www.realmoftheshadow.com/carla.htm

A/N: It just came to me what can I say.  In terms of this series it takes place shortly after Hidden Pictures.  Also its un-beta'd so any and all mistakes are mine and mine alone.  Feedback should you deign to give it to me can be sent either onlist or directly to me at cmfloresfd@yahoo.com

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"What’s the worst thing that’s ever happened to you?" They were sitting by the Charles River watching the sunset over the water, Lucy leaning into Roberta for extra warmth.

"Last year right after my 19^th birthday I got my own apartment. It was nice, one bedroom with a fireplace and built-in bookshelves in the living room. Anyway about a month or so after I started living there…so you remember when you found out that there were pictures of you and Jimmy…"

"On the Internet. On the Boston Court Buffs website I remember yes. It wasn’t my finest hour."

"Yeah well my super he…he taped me in the shower. In my bedroom, my living room, even in my kitchen. Dozens of tapes of me," Lucy sighed raggedly, tears welled in her eyes and she fought to keep them in. "Jimmy found them one night online."

"I remember a case…"

"It was one of yours. You had the guy drop his pants in open court."

"Right. That was you?"

"Yeah."

"How horrible. You went back to live with your father after that?"

"Yeah. It was supposed to be temporary but then he had his heart attack and well," the petite girl gave a small shrug. "What about you?"

"Hugh was a twin, did I ever tell you that?"

"No"

"My daughter’s name was Kari Elizabeth. I put them down to take a nap and when I came in to check on them about an hour later she was dead. Hugh was right there in the crib next to her happy as could be." Lucy covered Roberta’s hand with her own and gave a gentle squeeze. "They weren’t even two weeks old. I was devastated but what truly made it horrible were the stupid things people said. As if the fact that I had Hugh made up for not having her… "Well you still have Hugh," they’d say or they’d imply that I hadn’t had enough time to become truly attached to her, as if I hadn’t carried her inside of me and had an emotional bond to her already."

"Oh Bobbi," Lucy felt herself start to tear up, her heart ached for the older woman whose voice still held the pain of her loss so many years ago.

"Every year on their birthday I take her picture out and I imagine what she would look like, what her life might have been like. When Hugh got married…" a tear slid down Roberta’s face to hang for the briefest of moments from her chin before falling onto the back of Lucy’ hand.

"I know" Lucy hugged the older woman awkwardly, quickly pulling away in case she’d gone to far with Roberta. They’d only recently begun spending time together and sometimes the older woman seemed so self-contained that Lucy feared crossing the line and making her uncomfortable. "I’m sorry for your loss. I can’t imagine what that must have been like."

"Thank you"

They sat in silence for several minutes until finally Roberta spoke "I’ll show you a picture of her one day. When you come to the house sometime."

"I’d like that."

"Come next weekend, we can grill in my backyard. Do you like roasted corn?"

"No not at all. Actually it would be fair to say that I detest whole corn. It’s a mouth feel thing, I like corn products and I love popcorn but corn on the cob," Lucy made a face, "whole corn I just can’t. But I tell you what I’ll make griddle corn cakes like my grandmother makes with sweet corn meal and fresh mozzarella."

"Like the one’s they have at the street fairs?"

"Uh-huh" Lucy unconsciously licked her lips and Roberta found herself staring, imagining the feel of Lucy’ lips under her own. She shook her head clear and took a deep breath thinking; This has to stop she’s…not a child but still so young. Too young. "God those are like the best part of going to the street fairs."

Roberta laughed, "I’ve never met anyone so tiny who likes food so much."

"God blessed me with a great metabolism," Lucy crossed herself reverently and Roberta rolled her eyes.

"Enjoy it while it lasts. Have you ever been to the Feast of San Genaro in New York?"

"I’ve never been out of Boston really. Except once when I went skiing with my cousins in Vermont."

"You’re kidding?"

"What’s so amazing about that lots of people have never been out of the greater Boston area. You need money to do that sort of thing you know and well even in a good year Pop never made a ton of money. I love my father I never lacked for the basics but that was about it. The basics food, clothing and shelter, travel was a luxury the only reason I went on the ski trip in the first place was because my Aunt Margie got sick at the last minute and had to stay home, she couldn’t get a refund."

"Well then we should go in September, we could make a long trip of it." What the hell am I thinking? Oh God, what an old fool I am.

"When?"

"Huh? Oh when um uh mid-September I think. Are you serious?"

"Weren’t you? I think it’s a great idea but I’ll need to let the office know soon about what days. We could fly down Thursday come back Sunday. Hey maybe we could catch a show too?" Lucy stopped talking abruptly, cocking her head to the side to peer at Roberta.

"What?"

Lucy smiled somewhat ruefully, "I was just thinking about money."

"I can pay…"

"No I can pay for myself, that is if you’re really serious about going."

"I’m serious Lucy. I’d love to explore New York with you. I haven’t been in years. Perhaps Julia would like…"

Lucy interrupted, "I thought it was just going to be the two of us. I thought maybe we could…" her voice drifted off and she silently admonished herself, God I sound like a jealous girlfriend. Did I just…girlfriend where the hell did that come from?

"We could share a room", Roberta said softly, if the younger woman wanted it to be just the two of them then she wouldn’t argue the point, not at all.

Lucy’ smile blinded her.

Carla

It's a one time thing...it just happens a lot. (Suzanne Vega)