Pressure Point

[Dr. J. Grayson]

This was the most like himself that he had sounded all night, and she laughed at his words. "There are many words that I heard used just like that one too. Chaos. Mayhem. I think I've heard caveman a few times." Mostly by her, and when angry but still there. He was an go go go type, and some times he went went went right over everyone and everything.

He also had called her Grayson again, when before he had called her Julianna. Once. It had broken her heart to hear it, and she hoped to hear it at least one more. Under better events. "So, pick a day this week and I will plan to cook." She offered, "Not Tuesday, that is Gabby's birthday."

[Derek Jackson]

She teased him with nicknames, throwing a few out there. Those were actually the kinder ones that people called him... not that he cared whether someone had something nice or bad to say to or about him. "I think there's only one person who calls me Caveman," he teased. He'd probably punch anyone else who called him that, but he thought it was funny when she did. It was usually when she was annoyed with him, and it just came out through her irritation. He found it pretty funny.

She mentioned that her daughter's birthday was coming up, so that she couldn't do anything Tuesday. Was he supposed to do anything that day with her? Make an effort to show her that he was... embracing that part of her life? Maybe it was too soon for that. They hadn't even talked much about the kid. "Friday?" He asked, picking a weekend day which would either make it easier or harder for her to find someone to watch her kid. He didn't know her routine as a mother, or the kid's routine. Something he should probably ask about... eventually.

[Dr. J. Grayson]

"You do have to admit that caveman rather fits you, most the time." She teased, while enjoying her food; which in all honesty was very good. She could see why he liked this place, even if it was a bit nicer then she had assumed he'd go for. "Friday is fine, I will just plan for Gabby to go home from school with a friend. She has been asking me for a sleep over anyway."

Julianna knew he'd catch the meaning. Though she did know that he liked things spelled out for him, or he tended to miss understand. "Do you need me to make that any clearer?" Another tease. She hoped on Friday she could talk to him about coming over to her place one night that weekend, and meeting Gabby--even if it was only as her partner at work rather then what they were now.

[Derek Jackson]

She told him that caveman suited him and he wasn't sure if that was true... he only knew he was amused whenever she called him that. As previously acknowledged, he wasn't offended by it so truly didn't care if she wished to call him that or not. She agreed with the day he suggested, saying that she could let Gabby spend the night at a friends... which meant she could spend the night at his place. As the realization formed in his mind, she asked if he needed her to make it more clear. He gave her a mock glare at her taunt.

"Maybe I do," he said jokingly. "Just so I'm clear, we don't have to have a cab on standby, right?" Now he was teasing her in return for always taking cabs from his place. At least she wasn't hiding her place from him anymore... and that when she did have to leave, he could actually drive her. He wasn't sure why he felt the need to. Before it was part of making sure he did his job. Now it was making sure she got home safe. It had become morepersonal.

[Dr. J. Grayson]

Julianna smiled, "I think it's clear enough for you then." If he understood the no cab part of their evening, then he could fill out the rest. Tonight she had to go home, but Friday she could spend the whole night night, and they could have a lazy morning until around noon when she went go to get her daughter, whom she wanted him to meet.

While she had been planning to wait until Friday to bring it up, she found herself with the change now, as they were already talking about it. Besides, she needed to make sure he understood, this was what she wanted. "Maybe one day next week you can come over and met my daughter?" She'd let him pick a day, and how he wanted to do it--needed to do it. She just needed to know it was in the works.

[Derek Jackson]

She brought up meeting her daughter and... well, he knew he should have expected it. That didn't mean that he knew what to say in response. He was well aware that her daughter was part of why she had broken things off. And that it was on him to make an effort to meet her and embrace that part of Julianna's life. She had said she didn't want to keep the two separate. The thought of not getting along with her daughter also crossed his mind because that was something else that could easily end this relationship. His experience with children was extremely limited, so he had no idea how to deal with them. "Sure," he said as casually as he could, even though inside... he was having his doubts about how that would all go.

"Whenever," he added, meaing he wasn't fussed for the day. As he previously realized, he didn't know her schedule when it came to her daughter. "Let me know when and where. I'll be there." Jackson didn't get nervous about anything really... so he was experiencing nerves for the first time because this... was so far out of his comfort zone. He also didn't know anything about her. He couldn't remember how old she was, if Julianna had told him. All he knew was her name, and that her birthday was on Tuesday. The latter wouldn't help a whole lot for when he met her.

[Dr. J. Grayson]

She knew this would be hard for him, but also knew that she had to protect them both--them being him and Gabby. He could be a lot on a child; but a child could be a lot on him. In order for this to work, she had to play her cards right and hope he was willing to at least try. Which he was doing already.

"Would you rather it at home, or out somewhere? If you want we can do a supper date, or if you rather we can so someplace like a day trip on a boat in the harbor, or the Starling City Zoo. I just need to know what you need form me to help you." Because he was taking a big step as it was. "What you're doing . . . it really means the world to me, Jackson, and however I can make this beginning easier for you I can do it."

[Derek Jackson]

She was asking where he would prefer it to be, and truth be told... he had no idea. She was listing suggestions, places that he didn't really go to, but he also knew that wasn't the point. The point was to meet her kid. She then said that what he was doing, this, meant the world to her. He knew that he was doing this because he had to because... he didn't want to be without her. Maybe part of it was wanting to then, thinking along those lines. He didn't know. He wasn't used to be in this kind of situation since he'd never been in it before, and knew that the more honest he was, the better. Besides, thats what she wanted wasn't it? Honesty. "I don't know anythin' about kids," he admitted, which he doubted would come as a surprise.

"You know me." Better than anyone else did, and it wasn't because she was a profiler. "And you obviously know your kid." Obviously. "Wherever you think is best for us to meet, is good with me." Whether it was at her place, the zoo, a boat trip... didn't matter. Regardless of where they met, he would still feel uneasy about meeting her kid. But that was something he would have to get over if he wanted to be with her. "Letting you take the lead on this is what's easiest for me." He was usually very dominant, which she knew all about, but he wasn't about to bull shit this and act like he knew what the hell he was doing. "That ain't easy to admit," he added jokingly, trying to slightly lessen the tension arisen when speaking of her daughter. Though maybe he was the only one feeling tense right now... he had no clue.

[Dr. J. Grayson]

He was admitting it wasn't easy for him to admit something, and Julianna found herself smiling softly at him. "I know none of this is easy for you, but as long as this is what you want, that is all that matters." As long as he wasn't forcing himself to do this then they could move forward.

"As for kids, I should warn you . . . . some of the things they do are down right odd. You tell them not to touch something, they touch it. You tell them to stand right there, and they wonder off. You ask for help and everything is suddenly more important. They are loud, temperamental, and will say just about anything . . . . ." She was teasing him, making kids sound just like him. "Sound familiar?"

"I'm kidding, Jackson. Gabby is a normal, but her SPD sometimes makes things hard. She likes funny things, jokes, animals, pizza and movies." She was trying to help him know what to expect. "You will be fine."

[Derek Jackson]

She acknowledged that this wasn't easy for him, but if it was what he wanted, then that was what mattered. It wasn't that he wanted a kid, but he wanted her. And it seemed like he couldn't have one without another. Though that didn't mean he was going to try and be some father figure to the kid. It only meant that he was going to communicate with her daughter... and at least acknowledge her unlike he had before. She begant o explain what they were like, detecting a pattern in her words. And it was intentional, because she finished it off with asking if it sounded familiar.

"Don't know what the hell you're talkin' about," he said jokingly, very aware that everything she often told him he did... she was now saying that kids did too. She seemed pretty sure that he would be fine, and he wasn't so sure. It was a kid after all. He never dealt with them in the past, and now he would have to. It was going to be weird and uncomfortable... but he knew he had no choice. If he wanted to be with Julianna, he had to accept the fact that she had a kid as well. Which he supposed he had already accepted, because he was here with on a date. "What's SPD?" He asked, unsure as to what that was that she said her daughter had.

[Dr. J. Grayson]

Julianna smiled when he said he didn't know what she was talking about, but then he asked another question and she found that one more important to answer. Because it was him asking about something, and that was a big and major step. It also defined a lot when dealing with Gabby. Lifting her glass, she drank a little before trying to explain.

"Sensory Processing Disorder." Was what it stood for, "When you are at work, and you're in the large room with everyone walking around. Everyone is talking at their desks, phones are ringing, criminals are coming in and yelling--you can block most that out and only pay attention to what you need too." Hold a conversation without getting overwhelmed. "Well, Gabby sometimes can't. Her's is very mild, and on most days we have a good handle on it, but there are times when we don't. Sometimes she wont touch things, or the smell of something makes her feel sick."

Which led to one point, "Sometimes she can over react to things, or loud sounds or talking frighten her more then a a child without SPD. However there are also days when she is on the playground yelling just as loud as the other children."

[Derek Jackson]

So not only was he meeting her kid... but he was also meeting a kid with Sensory Processing Disorder. She was explaining what this condition entailed, and it made Jackson all the more unsure as to how to act around Gabby. For once, Jackson was thinking before speaking, knowing that something could come out the wrong way and offend Julianna. So instead he just stayed silent for a few moments, trying to understand what she had told him, and trying to formulate his words properly so that it didn't come off as... well, as his typical rude self.

"Do I gotta act a certain way around her then?" He asked. He knew the obvious things: no cursing, no smoking, stuff like that. Luckily he wasn't that stupid. But he wanted to know if there was anything specific he should be doing in regards to her SPD. It seemed to be serious enough even though Julianna had said she had a mild case of it... but still. He was trying not to screw this up and wanted to be prepared... or well, as prepared as he could be under these circumstances.

[Dr. J. Grayson]

Julianna smiled when he asked her that, glad that he was thinking about this and wanting to show so encouragement. "No," It was better for Gabby if people didn't treat her overly special. She was learning to handle her disorder, and while there were times she she needed extra attention, it wasn't all the time. "If I didn't think this was something that Gabby, or you couldn't handle, I would never had agreed to doing this."

"I know it's not the easiest thing to ask a man--or anyone--to get involved with someone with a child, much less one that needs s little extra at times." Yet he was willing to not only try (or as he said there was o trying here) which told her it would all work out. They just had to take it slow, and make sure everyone got comfortable before going forward more. "I do have a question for you though, about how I should introduce her to you. I try to be honest with her, but there are strong limits to what I tell her. She knows I work with you but . . . what would be comfortable telling her." Was he her partner, or were they dating.

Gabby was too young to know the details, but she had been there tonight to see her mother leave. She knew what a date was. Still, if Jackson wasn't comfortable with the idea she could just say this was a work thing and not a date, and introduce him as her partner from work.

[Derek Jackson]

She told him that he didn't have to act a certain way around her and... that made him feel somewhat relieved. Though didn't lessen his discomfort in the idea of meeting her to begin with. He knew there was nothing he could do about that; it was inevitable that he was going to. But she seemed confident that he would be able to do this, and that her kid would be able to handle it. Furthermore, she even recognized the difficulty in this for him. He wasn't surprised. She seemed to understand a lot about him, and it wasn't just because of her job... it was because she knew him. Which was often why he didn't bother explaining himself or his rational... sometimes he had to, but not all the time and that was why he hadn't been able to ever stay away from her for very long. She then asked him something about what she should introduce him as. Labels. Something else that Jackson hated. And something else that he didn't know how to respond to.

He paused in thought, once again, trying to think before he spoke. Because in this case, just like before... he didn't know what to say. Now he was feeling that tension of being on a first date, but not for reasons typical of a first date that one may generally assume. "It's up to you," he answered, knowing what she was asking, but unsure how to respond. "I don't plan on going anywhere," he added, wondering if that helped or if she would need more than that. "If you think its better to say I'm your partner, then stick with that. But if you think that she can handle knowin' that we're... you know... " Together? In a relationship? He hadn't really defined this yet. He only knew how he felt about Julianna. "Then guess it would get rid of some awkwardness later on." Avoid another uncomfortable explanation. Because as he had previously said, he wasn't planning on going anywhere.

[Dr. J. Grayson]

Julianna wondered how best to bring this up with Gabby, but if he dind't mind admitting to dating then it would explain things like touching, and why she planned for him to be around more and more. They dind't have to make up their mind today, but they did have to do it soon, so for now she would think on it. "Alright."

And for tonight they would keep things light. So as she begin talking some more, she slipped her foot out of her shoe, and let her toes run up his leg, settling to rest over his zipper, before moving in an slow teasing up and down pattern. "I was also thinking of talking to the Chief about getting his detectives into a specialized training class that I could teach at the university." Her words weren't meant for him to follow, but to help them appear normal. "I wonder if he would go for something like that."

[Derek Jackson]

She put the talk of her kid to rest and he wasn't sure if she did that cause she was upset at him about something... or if she just wanted to move the subject along. Should he say something? Should he try to think of more questions to ask about her kid? All his thoughts however were put to rest when he suddenly felt her foot skim up his leg, over his zipper and down again, grazing repeatedly over his leg. He felt a sudden urge for her fill him, looking at her with a hunger in his eyes. Not an appetite for food, but for her. After not having been with her for so long, and then what happened in the elevator... it didn't take much to make that ache suddenly surge through him, which was what was happening right now.

He ignored her words, unable to pay attention to them when she was doing things to him that was making him use all his strength to not leap over the table and drag her to the bathroom for a quick fix. "If you want desert, get it now." Because he wasn't going to be able to wait much longer. And she was reminding him of what he needed right now. She definitely wasn't helping the situation, but at the same time, knew that she wasn't trying to. He would get back at her later for it, but right now, he was getting annoyed that they were in such a public place, and that she had more restraint and resolve than he did. "Cause then we're leavin'," he added, not trying to hide any implications of why he was saying it like that right now.

[Dr. J. Grayson]

Julianna was enjoying the power she had over him right now, even more so because she didn't often have it. Jackson was a power house; a hurricane that picked up up and either took you with him or threw you out of his way--so this moment of power over him was not only rare but enjoyably so.

"The food is really good, I am not done yet." Slowly she took another bite, while moving her toes back up to his zipper and then keeping them in running up and down over the seem of his pants, right over him there. "Then maybe I will ask our waitress for a menu to see what they offer." Anything to make him think she was going to drag this out.

[Derek Jackson]

He was not enjoying this. While he enjoyed seeing her try to take control and attempt to be more dominant... this was not one of those times. And she was having too much fun, which just annoyed him even more. He could plan to get back at her for it later, but right now he was suffering, and he was more of a 'in the moment' kind of guy. So in this moment, she was driving him insane. "It's funny how you think I would drag you out of here," he said in a low voice, sharply inhaling whenever she touched the already incredibly sensitive part of him.

He lowered his hand, and gripped her foot, holding it away from that particular region of him and to stop it from moving. "Or at least to a more private place." The only one coming to mind being the bat hroom. He didn't care how nice this place was, or even the fact that he knew the owners. He wasn't thinking of anything right now, apart from this growing ache that was increasing to a painful extent. He leaned toward her a bit more, keeping his voice low as it was before. "And it's even more funny if you think I'm not gonna get you back for this later," he threatened.

[Dr. J. Grayson]

Julianna pulled her foot from his hand, and then watched him closely while he spoke to her. "You tease me every day, Jackson, you can't blame a girl for trying to get even." She waited until both his hands were on the table before moving her foot back, adding pressure to the motion this time. When his hand moved downward, she pulled her foot back quickly.

Smiling, she waved to a waitress and asked for a menu to see the desert choices, knowing that would stall for time. While waiting for it, Julianna kept waiting for this hands to be on the table, before moving her foot back, only to pull it away once he was moving to stop her. "How far is you're place from here?" How long would he have to wait after this?

[Derek Jackson]

She pulled free from his grasp and then said something about getting even. "Don't say I didn't warn you," he mumbled, setting his hands on the table again, only to have her do the same thing. He cursed under his breath, but loud enough for her to hear, when she put pressure on that area. He slightly leaned back in his seat, before leaning forward again, and then just shifting uncomfortably. Because, well, this wasn't comfortable at all. And she was only making it worse. Even more so when she asked for the desert menu.

Reallly? Really?! He glared at her, his expression completely unamused. He couldn't even lean back in his seat because the waiter used the path behind him to walk through the tables. She asked how far his place was from here and he had a simple answer to that. "I'm a cop," he reminded her. "I'll get us there in two minutes." He didn't care about speeding or anything like that. Even less so with what she was doing with him. "So either get that damn desert to go or you better eat it real fast," he grumbled, not liking her idea of getting even with him.

[Dr. J. Grayson]

When she got the menu, she took a few moments to linger over it, then asked the waitress a few questions about anything she could think of. While she talked, her foot would again touch his leg, and run up over him. Finally she picked cream bulay, because while it took a long time to cook, she didn't mind the wait. What was 15 minutes?

She was trying to see if Jackson would really pull her out of here. It was almost exciting to think about him needing her that much. Having have pushed him that far. Jackson might not be known for control but he had once admitted that she could control him--though he was drunk at time. Julianna had not enjoyed the talk at the time, but in the aftermath she liked to test that. To test him more, she let her toes return to rub over his zipper, while she spoke. "You seem tense."

[Derek Jackson]

She was doing this on purpose. He knew she was. Asking questions, chatting with the waitress, ordering something that would take long... and worst of all, letting her foot continue to move along his leg when he already felt like he was going to burst. She was making an already painful situation, ten times more painful. She even teased him by saying he seemed tense... conveniently letting her foot rub over his extremely sensitive region. "Why the hell are you doing this to me," he said in a low voice, a very annoyed voice. He hadn't expected them to do anything past dinner tonight. He had known that if he made it all about the intimate activities they often engaged in, then he would not be proving to her what he needed to.

But now... all that had fled from his mind. It was only replaced with memories of when they were together, of how good it felt to be with her, inside of her... and how right now, he wanted nothing more than that. "And don't give me that bull shit about getting even." He obviously wasn't genuinely mad at her... but he was frustrated because she was doing things to him that he currently lacked the ability to take control of and have his way with her. "Next time we have a date it's gonna be at my damn apartment," he mumbled, taking a large gulp of water as he needed something to cool himself off... though nothing seemed to work at the moment.

[Dr. J. Grayson]

"Your right, it will be at your place. On Friday." Julianna could tell he was getting to the end of his limit and this only made her enjoy it more. She wasn't lying when she said she didn't want to change him. His lack of control, the way he pushed her, and made her try new things, how he never asked just took and forced her to give--she liked it. It made everything fun and exciting, and left her feeling bold.

When he took a drink, she used her toes to slide down and slip between him and the seat, pressing up on him just enough to make it feel good without hurting. Biting her lip to keep from laughing, she knew they might not make it for the last course. "Ever since you've picked me up, you've been trying to be a gentleman. Don't get me wrong, I like it, but it's as if you've been holding back . . . . . stop it."

[Derek Jackson]

She confirmed that it was going to be at his place, and he would have found more relief in that had she not been working him up so much right now. When her foot pressed on his region again, he nearly spit out his water, which only made him choke on it as he tried to keep from spitting it out on the table. So much for the attempt to cool off his increasingly heated body. He coughed a few times, setting down the glass and glaring at her. She then went onto to acknowledge that he'd been trying to act like a gentleman. Good. She used trying, which meant that she knew he wasn't actually one. She said she appreciated it, liked it... but then she told him to stop.

It was true, he had been trying to be on his best behavior to prove that being with her wasn't just about the physical intimacy. But hell, if she was telling him to stop... he was going to leap at that opportunity to comply.He took the napkin from his lap and threw it on the table, before pushing back on his chair and standing up. He walked over to her, taking hold of her arm as he slightly lowered his head so that when he spoke in a low voice, she would be able to hear him. "Get up," he told her. He would have just pulled her up, but figured she may want to put on her shoe first. Apparently, he was still partly on his 'best behavior'. Which was about to change very shortly.

[Dr. J. Grayson]

Julianna watched him get up, and knew that she might as well not have ordered the desert because it seemed they were going to leave now. Putting her foot back in her shoes, she slowly stood up, and smiled at him feeling rather pleased with herself.

"I like this role change. You the good boy, and me the one who torments the other." She told him in a low voice, thinking of his face when he tried to drink his water. "This bit of revenge was fun." Though she also knew that good boy Jackson was gone--and she wasn't going to complain. They didn't start off as playful, but this lightness between them was better then the guilty aftermath of their first few times.

And the broken feeling after their third.