Finding Joy

"What are you up to?"

Mike had been leaning on his
desk, staring at the white board on his door, when Jack McCoy walked in that
door and closed it behind himself.  Mike
started upright.

"What are you up to?"
Jack repeated suspiciously.

"What are you talking
about?" Mike asked, barely managing to suppress his initial reaction: style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>You're going to have to be more specific.

"You and Connie have both
been eyeing me today like I'm a side of beef. 
What are you up to?"

Mike dropped his arms to his
side and his gaze to the floor and took a breath.style='mso-spacerun:yes'>  "Connie … mentioned over the weekend
that … she'd…."

When Mike didn't continue, Jack
gave him an exasperated look.  "She'd
what?"

"Nothing.style='mso-spacerun:yes'>  Never mind."

"Does this have anything to
do with … your … birthday present?"

Mike half-shrugged and
nodded.  "She … she wants to do it
again," he admitted, and added, almost inaudibly, "and so do I."style='mso-spacerun:yes'>  He chanced a look at Jack and wasn't sure
what to make of the other man's amused expression.style='mso-spacerun:yes'>  "You don't seem surprised."

Jack snorted.style='mso-spacerun:yes'>  "I have been around the block a few
times, Mike."  He stepped back to
the door and rested his hand on the knob. 
"Stop by my office later," he directed, and was gone.

Mike was left staring again at
the white board.