Title: Lawyers in Love

Author: Carla

Email: cmfloresfd@yahoo.com

Fandom: The Practice

Pairing: HG/EF

Disclaimers: David E. Kelley is the lucky man who owns 'em.  I own nothing whatsoever and while much fun has been had while playing in Mr. Kelley's sandbox no profit was made.

Archiving: Don't hesitate to ask and I won't hesitate to say yes.  All of my stuff can be found at http://www.realmoftheshadow.com/carla.htm

A/N: Thanks to perpetualblyss who encouraged me to continue exploring this fandom and pairing and for planting the idea for this fic in my head.

Feedback: Feedback is needed, heeded and appreciated.  On list or off I'd love to know what you think.  cmfloresfd@yahooo.com

Lawyers in Love

Lindsay Dole rapped sharply on the door to Helen Gamble's office and entered without waiting for an answer from her former roommate and best friend. "Hele." her voice faded at the scene before her.  Helen was in her office but so was Eleanor Frutt and they were kissing or rather they were quickly breaking apart from, what had obviously been, a rather impassioned make out session.

"Gee Linds you might want to wait for an answer before you come in next time."

"Gee Helen you might not want to be doing.whatever it was you were doing in your office with.her,'' Lindsay sneered.  "Next time lock the door," with that Lindsay whirled around and left slamming the door behind her.

"Lindsay wait!" Helen yanked the door open calling out to Lindsay who ignored her, "Linds come back." The statuesque brunette looked at Eleanor as if seeking permission to chase her former roommate down the hall.

Shit!"  Helen closed the door. Slumping against the doorjamb dejectedly she banged her head. "Shit."

"Go."

"Ellie"

"Go.  I'll see you at home tonight." Eleanor picked up her briefcase and made to leave.  She stopped in front of Helen reaching out to wipe the small smear of lipstick at the corner of Helen's mouth.  "We knew she might have an issue."

"Still"

"I know.  History." She kissed Helen's cheek and reached for the doorknob. "You going to let me out?" she teased.

"Not yet." Helen pressed her lips to Eleanor's reveling in the softness of the other woman's lips.  She felt the tip of Eleanor's tongue trace the outline of her bottom lip and eagerly opened her mouth to her. The kiss deepened as Helen slid her arms around the heavyset attorney's neck to bury her hands in Eleanor's hair.  She was dimly aware of Eleanor's briefcase hitting the floor with a thud and then Eleanor's hands were on her waist sliding over the swell of Helen's hips to her ass.   They finally broke for air and Helen straightened Eleanor's collar, "You working late tonight?"

"No.  I'll call my mother and see if she can't take Zoë tonight, okay?"

"I'd like that."

"Are you going to talk to her?"

"Yeah"

"Happy, happy joy, joy."

"It'll work out....eventually."

"Don't forget there's your history and our history, mine and Lindsay's you know.  And remember I love you", with that Eleanor opened the door and left.

Helen tried reaching Lindsay on her cell phone and left a message on voice mail, left a message for her with Lucy and another one on Lindsay's voice mail at home.   Then she put on her jacket, pocketed her car keys and went in search of Lindsay.  She had a fairly strong idea of where the other woman might be. Sure enough she found her sitting on a bench, by the Charles River, outside the Harvard Boat House.

"Remember when we used to come here and watch the crew teams practice?  And that guy you used to go out with what was his name...you know that little guy who used to call cadence for the 8-man shell. "

"John Cage", Lindsay supplied dryly.

"John Cage right."

"And then there was that guy you dated, Malcolm, first year of law school. Ooh let's not forget my ex, Devon and last but not least; Bobby", Lindsay turned on the bench so that she was facing Helen. "That night, sophomore year, I wasn't drunk."

"I knew that"

"How come we never talked about what happened that night?"

"Because the next morning when I rolled over to tell you just how much the night meant to mean you rolled over and told me how drunk you were.  What else was I supposed to think; obviously you didn't want to talk about it. It wasn't the same for you."

"I didn't know...about how you felt about how I felt, even.  I was just a little freaked out."

"Just a tad", Helen teased.  "At any rate that's the past and here we are now.  You're happily married with child and."

"And you're involved with Eleanor of all people.  She is soooo not your type."

"What's not my type funny, smart, employed."

"Oh c'mon Helen you know what I mean."

"She's beautiful Lindsay and I don't ever want to hear you say otherwise again. Understand?" Lindsay nodded a smirk on her face.

"I was going to say opinionated headstrong and kind of pushy, actually.  Though she is a departure from your usual blonde haired blue-eyed size six wearing playthings." Lindsay barked out a short laugh at the expression on Helen's face. "Surprised that I knew, of course I knew. You never were the quiet type and we've been on vacation together. Spring Break Senior year need I say more?"

"Oh yeah", Helen got a far away look in her eye. "I remember...that was a good trip."

"Ahem! Earth to Helen, come in Helen." Helen smiled and winked.

"That was a great trip actually but yeah you're right; she is different and she's right for me.  I love her Lindsay.  It just gets better and better, you know."

"How long have you two been...together?"

"A couple of months. Since Zoë was a few weeks old."

"You could have told me sooner."

"Could I have really?  I mean I know you don't hate her but you're not exactly a great fan either."

"Helen she attacked me.  She jumped across a conference table and wrapped her fat little hands around my throat.  She's always been in some sort of competition with me...salary, cases, clients."

"And what Linds now me.  Is that what you're saying?  Christ how self-centered is that, what was I supposed to do sit around and wait for you to stop freaking out.  I'm done waiting.  I waited through every one of my boyfriends you slept with and every one of yours' I slept with. I'm moving on why can't you be happy for me?  You found Bobby, you fell in love you got married and all along I've been supportive of that no matter how much it hurt me to see it.  Now I need you to be supportive of me, of the turn my life is taking...I need you to be my best friend."

"I am your best friend."

"Then act it."

"You're happy really happy?" Helen nodded the smile on her face speaking volumes to Lindsay.  "Its just. Eleanor, I mean."

"Lindsay" Helen growled.

"Okay, okay" Lindsay held her hands up in mock surrender. "Eleanor it is."

They sat quietly watching the crew teams practice and the occasional jogger pass.

"Latte?"

"You treating...its the least you could do."

"What do you think I'm made out of, money?"

"Oh please I'm in Silly Service Miss I-made-over-two-hundred-thousand-last -year.  You can afford it."

"How about dinner?"

"Another time maybe, Ellie was going to ask her mom to take Zo for the night."

"Ah yes, adult time.  I miss it.  Bobby and I never seem to have time for the just the two of us you know between work and the baby."

"I know what you mean."

"God Helen you...settled...and with a kid.  I never, in a million years would have, thought I'd see the day."

"Me either."

"Eleanor", Lindsay's head bobbed up and down slowly, her voice held a note of wonder.

"Yep", Helen stood and held her hand out for Lindsay, "So latte?"

"Latte" Taking the proffered hand Lindsay stood and hugged her best friend, "My treat."

/ / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / /

Helen closed the door, dropping her keys on the table in the entry way and her briefcase on the floor before calling out for Eleanor.

"Shhh.  She's finally sleeping", Eleanor whispered from the entryway to the baby's room. "She had a fever and I didn't want to send her to my mom's."

"You called the doctor?"

"Yeah they said if it doesn't break by the morning she needs to come in."

"I don't have anything on the calendar scheduled until 2:00 o'clock I can take her."

"Oh good I have a deposition scheduled for 10:00 and I really didn't want to cancel." Eleanor crossed the room to stand in front of her lover "I picked up some fresh pasta from Paselli's for dinner and some wine.  Why don't you get changed I'll put some water on to boil."

"Can I have a kiss first?"

"Of course." The telephone ringing interrupted them and Eleanor answered it while Helen went to change out of her work clothes.

"Hello"

** Eleanor? **

"Hi Lindsay.  Hold on a sec I'll get Helen for you."

** Actually I wanted to talk to you **

"Sure what's up?"

**About the Finnerman deposition tomorrow **

"Uh-huh. Give me a minute to get my briefcase.  Is there a problem?"

** No, no problem I just wanted to go over some things with you.  I really appreciate you covering this for me. **

"Don't worry about it." She sat down at the dining table to open the Finnerman file. "Got it right here so shoot."

"Who's on the phone?" Eleanor covered the phone's mouthpiece, "It's work."

"Oh," Helen padded into the kitchen to start water boiling for dinner, she uncorked a bottle of wine and poured herself a glass.  Then began gathering the ingredients for a salad and the pasta sauce.  Once the salad had been assembled and the marinara sauce was simmering Helen moved into the living room and plopped down onto the sofa.  Setting her wineglass down on a coaster she reached for the remote control and began channel surfing finally stopping to watch the Power Puff Girls, a guilty pleasure.

"Okay got it...yeah sure I could do that.  Okay see you then...sure hold on," Eleanor called over her shoulder to Helen.  "Lindsay wants to talk to you," turning she lobbed the phone to Helen who caught it easily.

"What missed me already?"

 ** No...yes...oh never mind I just...I just wanted to say that I've been thinking and I guess...well I guess the reason I reacted the way I did had more to do with...it just hit me really hit me how much I missed you.  Missed my friend, my God Helen you fell in love with Eleanor and I didn't even notice. There was a time when I would have known just to look at you that you were in love...I miss that closeness. **

"There was a time when I would have rushed to tell you.  I miss that too."

** I asked Eleanor to have lunch with me tomorrow. **

"Thanks Linds"

** Yeah I figured I'd do the best friend thing you know warn her about breaking your heart, tell her embarrassing stories bury the hatchet that sort of thing. **

"Love ya"

** I love you too. **

Helen returned the phone to its cradle, "So I hear you're going to lunch with Lindsay tomorrow?"

"Yeah, I take it that means you guys had a good talk."

"That we did," Helen leaned into Eleanor who had come to sit next to her. "So umm keep in mind that you should take anything she tells you about me with a huge grain of salt okay."

The heavyset attorney snorted, took a sip of Helen's wine, "I'll do that."