Chapter 16 - Back in the office

Julia didn't even remember going to bed. Last thing she could recall was sitting on the couch with Jack.

She got up feeling better than the day before. The headache and dizziness were finally gone. The ribs were still killing her though.

She walked into the bathroom to take a shower, but froze as a vivid memory flooded her mind. Did I kiss Jack Deschanel last night? Or was it a dream? Julia subconsciously touched her lips.

It was light and quick. His lips were warm, soft and wanting more.

Oh my god, Stiles, you really did kiss him! She walked into the shower shaking her head in disbelief.

No matter how hard she tried to push the memories away, Julia couldn't help but to recall his closeness, his touch, the sparkle in his eyes.

As she walked down the stairs to Zoey's and Jess' kitchen another memory attacked her senses; Jack Deschanel carrying her up these stairs. Julia suddenly remembered the warmth his body had emitted and how causey it had made her feel even in her sleepy state.

Julia forced herself to continue walking and then to make coffee. Her mind kept going back to the previous evening though and she started doubting again. Why would I kiss Jack? Maybe my shaken brain has made it all up...?

With the big mug of coffee Julia sat herself in Zoey's armchair with the beautiful view of Manhattan. Deep in thought she didn't notice time fly by.

That's how Zoey found her when she returned early in the afternoon.

"Someone's in a pensive mood!" she exclaimed.

Julia didn't hear her walk in, so hearing her friend's voice, she almost spilled the rest of the coffee that she still had in her mug.

"How's my mom?" Julia asked, again feeling guilty for not being there for her mother.

"She's great! She was really happy to see me." Zoey threw her purse on the couch and sat down in an armchair opposite Julia's. "We visited your grandpa's grave, we had dinner in a fancy restaurant and then spent the evening drinking wine and going through some embarrassing photos from your childhood."

"Thank you, Zoey." Julia grabbed her friend's hand. "You're doing so much for me. This really means the world..."

"Jules, don't mention it..." Zoey interrupted her. "You are my best friend, who else would I be doing this for!"

Julia just smiled and squeezed Zoey's hand harder.

"Where's Jess?"

"I think she came back from the hospital very late..., so I assume she's still asleep," Julia explained.

Hearing the words Zoey sent Julia a suspicious look.

"If she came back late, then I hope you ordered some take away?"

By now both Jess and Zoey knew that Julia would not think of food when in stress. That's why they both had made it their priority to feed her.

"I've eaten. If that's what you're asking," Julia said, hoping this would be enough for Zoey. She knew the moment she mentioned Jack had brought the food, there would be questions.

"You have?"

"Yes..."

Zoey must have noticed some hesitance on Julia's face, as she clapped her hands.

"Did the handsome mountain of muscles, or in other words your bodyguard, bring you food?"

"What? No!" Julia got up from her armchair and walked to the kitchen, hoping she would not blush. "Your brother brought some food... In fact, there is still a lot left in the fridge, so we can eat a late lunch if you're hungry." Julia hoped this would be a distraction enough and Zoey would not ask about Jack's visit. But she thought wrong.

"Jack brought the food?"

"Yes."

"I hope you guys didn't jump at each other's throats with forks and spoons?"

"We did not," Julia answered shortly. "Now, stop all that questioning and let's eat some Chinese."

By Sunday evening Julia was almost sure she must have dreamt of kissing Jack Deschanel. Otherwise wouldn't he show up at least for a moment during the day? He lived just upstairs after all!

He didn't show up the whole week for that matter. The reasonable part of Julia's brain was scolding her. Why would he even come here? But then that more vulnerable part of Julia would kick in and say: because he's been showing up in the last days so often...

Julia tried forcing herself to recall all the negative feelings she'd had for Jack when he'd moved back to New York. She had to be honest with herself though; he hadn't given her a reason lately to dislike him. But maybe she was reading too much into it? Maybe he'd been nice just because she'd been beaten in front of his office. Maybe he would have acted the same in case of any other employee of Brand Today.

Jeez, Stiles, you definitely have too much free time on your hands! You need to get back to work.

After yet another of such thinking sessions, Julia practically forced Zoey to bring her laptop from the office.

Also, when Lizzy called her the next day and started talking about what was going on in the office, Julia knew the lazy days were over. Lizzy and Josh were doing great, but there was simply so much work, they needed her to step in.

Initially she'd read her e-mails and call suppliers and vendors, but when her bruises started to fade she decided it was time to go back to the office.

"Don't you think it's too early, Jules?" Zoey asked hesitantly when Julia informed her and Jess about her intentions. Jess kept suspiciously quiet.

"I'll take it easy, Zoey, I promise. I just can't stay idle any longer!" she exclaimed.

"On two conditions," Zoey said.

Julia wanted to say that Zoey had no right to give her conditions, but she bit her tongue.

"And what would they be?"

"One, you will let me or that bodyguard of yours drive you to work. Two, you will not work longer than eight hours per day."

"I'm fine with the first one..." Julia sent Zoey a cheeky smile. "And let's agree that I will try my best on that second one."

"Oh, I will make sure you do your best indeed!"

Zoey stood up from the couch they'd been sitting on and kissed Julia on the forehead.

"I'm glad you're feeling better, Jules. Now, let me call Tom and see about that driver for you."

When Zoey was out of the room, Julia looked at Jess. She was sitting in an armchair opposite Julia, watching her closely.

"You are awfully non verbal today..." Julia ventured.

"I mean..." Jess sighed. "I see you are much better... physically."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"You know very well, Julia, what I mean." Jess looked her point in the eyes and did not blink.

Julia had a feeling what the doc was getting at, but she was sure as hell that she wasn't going to start the topic herself. She'd been bored like hell in the last days, but she'd also been scared. Scared of being left alone with her thoughts and memories. Jack Deschanel wasn't the only thing on her mind. When Zoey and Jess would leave for work or when the evening was coming, the quietest rustle, knock or any sound for that matter would startle Julia and her imagination would run wild. How many times had she imagined that Nicholas' men would knock out the bodyguard by the door and barge into Zoey's apartment? Or that they magically found a way to get inside without anyone noticing?

Jess seemed to understand Julia's motives for going back to work.

"You are healing physically, Julia, but going back to the office will not let you heal mentally. It will just push the horrible memories into the corner of your mind, it will busy your thoughts with all the work related stuff, but it will not make the trauma go away."

Julia kept quiet. She didn't feel like discussing the matter with Jess right now.

"Making the trauma go away takes work, Julia. And I don't mean the kind of work you'll be doing in the office..."

"Jess, I really appreciate your concern, but forgive me if I don't feel like going to therapy to say 'My name is Julia and I'm fucking terrified that each breath I take might be my last!' Julia knew she was too harsh on Jess, but this was not a topic she felt like discussing right now. She got up and moved towards the stairs. "Thank you, doc, for all that you do" she added in a softer tone. "Goodnight."

They both knew the discussion was over.

***

Jack was fuming. He just learnt from Tom that Julia would be coming to the office today. Neither herself nor his sister deemed it necessary to inform him of that.

"I want one of your men to be driving her to the office and then back home and I want another one by her office door at all times," he tried talking to Tom in a calm voice. Afterall, Tom was just the messenger. "And how are we about that tightened security in the lobby?"

After the attack on Julia he and Tom had brainstormed possible options of improving the security in the office. Additional guard and security cameras being one of them.

"The second security guard already started yesterday..."

"Good. No one gets through to the office without an ID card or an appointment."

"That's clear, Jack. Also, a driver for Julia is not a problem..."

"But...?" Jack asked, sensing a clear but coming from his friend.

"But you want me to place a bodyguard in front of her office? Come on, man! Everyone thinks Julia was in an accident. A bodyguard by her door will raise questions."

"I don't fucking care, Tom!"

"Fine," Tom raised his hands in a defensive gesture. "Just know that she's going to eat me alive!"

"If she tries, send her my way," Jack concluded with a grin. He dropped the smile a second later, remembering the other thing he wanted to ask Tom. "Have you found anything on the two guys that attacked Julia?"

The security camera footage from the day of the attack had not been of much help. It did capture how brutally Julia had been attacked, but the faces of the men were unclear. Besides, they must have known where the cameras had been and had stood with their back or side to them.

After that Tom and his men were using all their contacts to get a hold of the security footage from all the buildings in the area. That had helped them track the two men to an old delivery track that they'd parked a block away on that day. Again, unfortunately, the footage hadn't provided a clear view of the car plates. Another dead end.

Jack refused to leave it at that. He felt that whatever the two men had planned, it was not over. Besides that, the words one of them had spoken to Julia as she had been lying on the ground beaten would not leave Jack alone... "I'll see you soon, beautiful Julia..."

That's why he made Tom continue the investigation.

"We got some new camera footage and we are working on tracking their way after they left Manhattan. No details yet though."

"Keep looking."

Jack didn't have to wait long for a pissed off Julia to barg into his office. He knew Tom was behind that.

For a bystander she would look quite normal, but Jack knew better. Besides the obvious cast on her hand, he noticed that Julia replaced the usually high heels with flats. With all those bruises and broken ribs she wouldn't manage to walk the whole day in stilettos. He also noticed that she wore a much longer skirt than usually; probably trying to hide that huge abrasion on her thigh. Similarly Julia applied more makeup then usually; clearly to cover the fading bruises on her face.

He wanted to be angry at her for leaving the safety of Zoey's apartment, but seeing how much effort she'd put into showing in the office, he felt all the anger fading away.

"Call that bodyguard off!" Julia exclaimed, shutting the door behind her.

"Well, hello to you too, Stiles. I'm glad you're feeling well enough to join us."

"I mean it, Jack. I already have a driver for heaven's sake!" Julia walked over to his desk throwing her hands in the air. "What will people think?"

Jack stood up, walked around his desk and leaned against it just inches from Julia. They were so close he could smell her perfume.

"I don't care what people think, Julia," he said in a low voice. "If it makes you feel better, you can say he's my bodyguard."

"Yeah, right!" she snorted.

"I'm the CEO of this company and I will not allow that..." a shadow crossed his face for a moment, but he covered it quickly with the look of indifference. "That my assets are damaged. You are one of the biggest assets of Brand Today, hence you require protection."

Julia looked at him clearly shocked. He could see she was considering whether to yell at him for referring to her like to an object or whether to feel pleased with his words.

They continued to stare at each other in silence. Jack could feel tension rising in the air. Then he realised his breathing was getting quicker. Julia looked flushed too.

His eyes went down to her lips; the memory of that night when she'd kissed him still vivid in his mind. He'd been wondering if she remembered that kiss. Judging by the crimson that flooded her cheeks and her eyes growing to the size of sources, she must have remembered the kiss at that very moment.

"I gotta go," she whispered and almost ran for the door.

Jack grinned, satisfied. It looked like he found something better than pissing off Julia Stiles; making her blush was even more fun.

***

Julia passed her bodyguard, not even sparing him a glance, and quickly closed the door to her office. She then leaned against it.

So I did kiss Jack... she thought, unsure how realizing that fact made her feel.

Being so close to him just a minute ago in his office had brought back the memory of that evening. In one moment she'd known that they had kissed, and not in her dream, but in reality.

Well, at least Jack didn't seem offended by the kiss or anything, she thought relieved. But then again why would he be. We are the same age, both good looking, workaholics, good at what we do... Shame to admit we have quite many things in common. Chemistry between us should not be anything surprising. Julia pondered.

But it is surprising, Stiles! The more realistic side of her exclaimed. You've always hated the guy.

Yeah, about that, it seems this is in the past. Julia continued her mental discussion. I mean, he still manages to piss me off at least once a day, but in the last weeks he'd shown a side of him I didn't know. Maybe Jack Deschanel is not such an asshole after all...

Her reverie was interrupted by a quiet knock on the door. Julia stepped away from it and quickly walked to her desk.

"Come in."

"Julia?" Lizzie's smiling face peeked out from behind the door. "So good to see you, Julia!"

"Hi, Lizzie." Julia smiled at the girl, remembering that they were supposed to meet to discuss the ongoing preparations for two parties Brand Today was organizing. Seems her mind was too busy with thinking about Jack, to remember about the appointment.

"We were so worried when we heard about your accident!" Lizzie walked over to Julia and gave her a tight hug. Julia felt her ribs protesting, but kept smiling. "How are you?"

"I'm fine. Really," Julia hoped she sounded convincing and tried freeing herself from Lizzie's embrace.

"What's up with the bodyguard by your door?" Josh asked, walking in.

"No idea," Julia lied. "Jack decided to tighten his security I guess." She waved her last words off, hoping her coworkers would not dwell on the subject any longer. "Let's start, shall we?"

"Oh, yes!" Lizzie clapped excitedly. "We have a lot to talk about." She grabbed the huge binder Josh was holding and put it on Julia's desk with a bang.

It was good to be back in the office. Julia again felt the safety of the glass walls of the office building and started regaining the mental balance she'd missed since the attack. Well, if she had to be honest with herself that mental balance only existed during the day, where she kept her thoughts busy with Brand Today's matters and occasionally with Jack Deschanel. At night though her dreams continued being invaded by Nicholas and his men.

Realizing that her thoughts are running in the wrong direction, Julia focused her attention on the coffee she was pouring to her mug. It was past six pm and the office was deserted.

Julia took a sip of the coffee and started thinking about Lizzie and Josh and how well they'd handled the matters while she was gone. Actually, they handled the matters the same way she would have or even better.

Am I still needed here? She thought. Maybe Lizzie should head the Event department that Jack is planning to create? She's proven to be more than capable of taking on that position...

The idea seemed so good to her, that when Jack entered the kitchen a moment later she asked him about that directly.

"What would you say of the idea to make Lizzie the head of your new event department?" Julia asked excitedly. "She's really done a great job when I was gone and has proven..."

"What are you still doing here, Julia?" Jack interrupted her harshly.

"What do you mean?"

"You've been brutally attacked two weeks ago for heaven's sake! Your hand is still broken, your bruises haven't fully healed. Stop pretending that everything is alright!"

Julia looked at him taken aback. She did not expect such an outburst, nor did she want to argue with him.

"Jack, I'm fine."

He did not answer. Instead he walked over to the coffee machine and poured himself the coffee she'd just made.

"Besides, I have my bodyguard twenty four seven with me. I'm perfectly safe here."

"That's not the point, Julia," Jack sighed.

"Then what is your point, Deschanel?" Julia crossed her arms. Her first thought to not argue with him was starting to fade away.

"Two weeks ago you were beaten nearly to death. Few weeks before that you were drugged and nearly raped, a year before that..."

"What is your point, Deschanel?" Julia interrupted him, asking with gritted teeth.

"You went through so many traumatic events, Julia. You need to give yourself time to process all that, think it through, to..."

"That's none of your business how I process my trauma, Jack!" she was fuming. "Last time I checked, you were no freaking therapist..."

"No, I'm not a therapist," Jack admitted, still in a calm tone. "You need to talk to a real therapist, Julia. You can't live through trauma by trauma and expect that all will just fix itself if you work all day."

"Jeez! You know, I actually thought you are maybe not such a big headed asshole?! Boy, was I wrong." Julia felt she was losing it and hoped to say something that would infuriate Jack instead. "You are still the cocky and arrogant dickhead that thinks he knows it all!"

Jack watched her for a moment then took a sip of his coffee.

"If this is what you want to believe, Stiles..." he sighed and then left the kitchen.

Julia was not expecting him to just leave like that. She hoped he would just say something similarly offensive back to her.

She was standing in the middle of the office kitchen, breathing hard and feeling like an utter idiot.