It’s three weeks into the school year and Jack is slowly getting used to life at NYU. Despite his unusual neighbors across the hall, things had been normal. Paul had, had three more ‘dates’ with Vicki, each ending in Paul getting smacked upside the head. This has earned her a soft spot in Jack’s heart because he was just barely able to put up with Paul as it was.

We find Jack getting ready for work and listening to The Beatles on his radio. Paul is nowhere to be seen. Jack fishes his uniform out of his dirty clothes pile and sniffs it.

“Smells clean enough.”

He puts it on and then looks at himself in the bathroom mirror. A scruffy looking man in overalls that are a little too short stares back. Jack smirks.

“And to complete the an semble,” he swings his plunger over his shoulder, “Ahh, yes! The famous attorney, Jack McCoy, heads out to his latest crisis- saving poor, defenseless toilets from the ravages of fecal matter...,” he shakes his head, “Obviously, you know something I don’t, Dad.”

With that, Jack is on his way. No sooner has Jack left then Paul comes tearing into the room. He runs into his bedroom and we hear some crashing and cursing.

“Dammit, dammit, DAMMIT!!! I’m gonna be late again!”

He grabs a book off his desk, shoves it in his backpack, and then dashes out.

Jack is busy trying to unclog a drinking fountain when he hears someone approaching him. Since most people ignore janitors until their crapper is over-flowing at one in the morning, he takes little notice of it. When the footsteps stop just behind him, though, he looks up. A skinny, blond-haired woman is staring at him.

Jack is... Well, a little flustered by this, tries to think of something to say.

“Can I help you?”

“You’re in my lawyering class, right?”

Jack thinks for a moment, “Yeah, I think so. You sit in the back.”

“And you sit in the front.”

Jack grins. The girl smiles, politely, back.

“I’m Christie Singer.”

“Jack McCoy.”

“Jack, huh? Okay, Jack, I was wondering if you could help me out.”

“I’ll try.”

She giggles, “I’m having a hard time in the class and would really appreciate if you could tutor me.”

“How do you know I’m not failing the class?”

“I asked around. Professor said you had one of the highest grades in the class right now.”

Jack is caught off-guard by this, “I... I guess I could help you. When would you like to study?”

“Whenever is good for you.”

“Well... How about tomorrow?”

“Great! How does 3pm work for you?”

“Fine. I’ll meet you by the Arch.”

“Excellent. Thanks, Jack!”

She leaves, waving over her shoulder as she goes. Jack leans against the drinking fountain, grinning like an idiot. Suddenly, a voice booms down the hallway at him.

“What the Hell are you all smiles about, McCoy?”

Jack jerks away from staring after Christie and comes face-to-face with his boss.

“Nothing, Mr. Moore.”

Moore is an imposing figure. He scowls at Jack.

“Stop acting like an ass and get to work.”

Jack gives him a salute, “Will do.”

Moore glares at him and then walks away, shaking his head and muttering something about stupid law students. Jack makes a rather obscene hand gesture to Moore’s back and then returns to working on the drinking fountain.

The next day comes and we find Jack waiting by the Arch, backpack slung over shoulder.

“Where are you, Christie?” he grumbles to himself.

No sooner has he started to wonder what happened to her than her slim figure can be seen bopping up to him.

“Hey, Jack! Sorry for making you wait.”

“No problem. Where exactly do you want to study at?”

“How about the park? It’s nice this time of year.”

Jack shrugs, “Sure.”

They find a pleasant spot under an oak tree and take a seat. Jack whips out his textbook.

“Where do you wanna start?”

“The beginning?”

Jack chuckles, “That lost?”

“Yeah.”

“Okay, then the beginning it is.”

They aren’t even past the first page when Christie starts to loss interest in the class material.

“Christie, you’re not going to learn much if you don’t listen to me.”

“Who says I’m not listening?”

“That far off look in your eyes.”

She giggles. Jack sighs and continues.

“What are some things to look out for when picking out jury members?”

“Bad... bad...,” she looks to the sky like the answer is going to fall in her lap, “Something bad?”

Jack closes his eyes and takes a deep breath, “No, you-”

She cuts him off, “It’s a nice day, isn’t it?”

“Absolutely, lovely- now, back to juries.”

“How about we take a walk?”

“A what?”

“A walk. It’ll help me to clear my head so I can concentrate.”

Jack thinks for a second and then sighs, “If it’ll help you concentrate, alright.”

They get up and start walking. Christie is moving ever closer to Jack. He tries to not notice it and moves away each time she gets too close. Finally, Christie stops.

“What’s with you?”

“Huh?”

“You keep moving away from me.”

“I- I have a personal space bubble. I don’t like people entering it.”

“Oh.”

“It’s nothing against you- it’s just how I am.”

“Okay.”

They go back to walking but she starts doing it again and again Jack moves away. This continues for the next two hours. They reach a more secluded part of the park and Jack is really beginning to not feel good about the situation. Christie gets a coy look on her face and in one smooth motion she puts her hand in Jack’s. Jack just about jumps a foot.

Once he has regained his composure, “Umm, exactly what are you doing?”

“Oh that?” she glances down at her hand in Jack’s.

Jack rips his hand from her grasp, “Yeah, that.”

“Jack, I’m a very hands on person.”

“I can tell.”

“No, I mean I’m more, touchy than most people.”

“Well, don’t be with me.”

“You don’t like it?”

“No, I don’t.”

“Very well.”

“Thank you.”

They walk in silence for a few more moments and then, “Christie, are we going to study at all today?”

“I’m sorry, Jack. I guess I’m not too good at studying today. Maybe if we tried again tomorrow.”

Jack’s eyes grow wide at this comment but, wanting to be a gentleman, he lies, “Sure. Why not?”

“Awesome.”

Jack winces- oh the adjectives!

“Well, I should be going back and getting some dinner. Caf closes at 8pm on Fridays.”

“But Jack, it’s only 5.”

“I wanna get the good food before it’s gone.”

“Oh, okay.”

Jack starts to leave and then realizes that she’s following him.

“Umm, what are you doing?”

“I’m coming with you.”

“Yeah, I noticed that- why?”

“I thought you could use some company.”

“I-”

She doesn’t give him time to object, “Com’on, lets go, Jack!”

Jack looks to the sky, “Oh God, what have I done?”

Jack and Christie reach the building about ten minutes later. Jack is trying to think of any way out of this. A thought occurs to him.

“Hey, Christie, would you mind if my roommate dinned with us?”

She looks a little disappointed but quickly flashes her phoney smile, “Why not?”

“Great. Just have to go up and get him.”

They walk into the room just as Paul is exiting the bathroom.

“Hey, Jacko!”

“Hey, Paul.”

“Jack?” a voice from farther back in the room. Vicki pokes her head around the corner. She arches an eyebrow. Jack attempts to not look embarrassed but fails.

“This is Christie Singer.”

Paul grins, “You’re a fast worker, Jack!”

Christie is about to say something cute but Jack cuts in.

“No. We were just studying together.”

Christie frowns at Jack. Jack pretends not to notice. Vicki appears somewhat confused by the body language of the two as compared to what Jack was saying.

“Uh huh.”

“What?”

“Nothing, Jack.”

“Paul, you heading down to dinner?”

“In a bit.”

“Are you sure? I’d love to have some company.”

Christie giggles, “You have company, silly.”

“Well, yeah, but I want more company. You know, more than just you and me. The more the merrier.”

“I don’t think so, Jacko. Vicki and I were going to go over some stuff from class today and then get something to eat.”

“Are you really sure?”

“Positive.”

Vicki catches the look of desperation on Jack’s face and she looks from him to Paul. She comes to some conclusion.

“Ya know something, Paul? I’m hungry and I’ll work better with something in my stomach.”

“Aww, Vicki, come on.”

“I’m hungry, Paul.”

“I’m not. And you something else?” he walks away. Vicki follows him.

“OWWW!!!”

Jack and Christie cringe. Paul returns with Vicki following him.

“I’d love to join you guys for dinner, Jack.”

In the caf, Paul finds a table for all four and then goes off to find something to eat. Jack trails behind him. Vicki and Christie look over the food selections together.

Vicki glances at Christie, “So, what have you and Jack been up to?”

“Well, we walked around the park for about two hours this afternoon. It was so nice!”

“Really?”

“Oh yes!”

Vicki nods and then heads back to their table, “Psycho.”

Jack and Paul take a seat.

“So I say, ‘You put a murderer on the jury, you’re more likely to get an acquittal.’”

“And what did he say?”

“Professor was like, ‘While that may work in theory, NO ONE in this class had better try it.’ Then, he looks right at me and says, ‘See me after class, Mr. Kopell.’”

“And did you?”

“Hell, no! I’ve got better things to do than listen to someone tell me I’m a smart-ass.”

Jack chuckles, “Paul, you’re got a lot of-”

“‘A lot of’ what?” Christie is back.

“Oh, umm, hi, Christie. A lot of... Guts.”

“Interesting. Be right back. Gotta get something to drink.”

Paul and Vicki both give Jack questioning looks.

“Don’t ask! Just help me get rid of her!”

Christie returns, “What did I miss?”

Paul decides to jump right into action, “Oh nothing... Hey, by the way, Jack is gay.”

Vicki spits her water across the table and Jack starts choking on his mashed potatoes. Vicki gives Jack a slap on the back and then kicks Paul, squarely, in the shin.

“OWWW!!! Jeez!”

“Shut up, Paul,” she hisses.

She then turns to a shocked Christie, “He means that Jack is a very gay and happy guy.”

Christie doesn’t totally believe her but nods, “Ahh, okay.”

They eat in relative peace for the next few hours. Christie won’t shut up, though, and before long it is dark outside. 8pm rolls around and Vicki starts to get up.

“It’s been nice to meet you, Christie, but I need to get going. I mean, it’s dark out and you have to walk across campus to get back to you dorm, right?”

“Yeah... Hey, Jack, could you walk me back?”

“What?”

“Ya know walk me back... If you wanna you can come up and see my room since I’ve already since your’s.”

Jack’s mouth is open but no sound is coming out. Vicki takes charge once more.

“Jack and I have some stuff to do this evening... Paul, could you walk her back?”

“Me? Why me? Why can’t Jack do it?”

Vicki leans in close to Paul so only he can hear her, “Do you want me to kick the other shin?”

“Christie, my love! It would be an honor to walk you back.”

Later that evening, we find Jack and Vicki heading back to Jack and Paul’s room.

“So what exactly was little Miss Christie?”

“I was supposed to be tutoring her. Turns out she wanted a boyfriend, not a tutor.”

“So I gather. What will you do if you run into her again?”

“Run like Hell.”

Vicki laughs and shakes her head, “Great strategy.”

“I thought so, too,” he stops and becomes serious, “But thanks for helping me out.”

“No problem. Any friend of Paul’s is a friend of mine.”

“I’m really not friends with Paul.”

“All the more reason for me to like you.”

She pushes past Jack and goes into the dorm room. Jack can only stand in the doorway and gaze at her, a bemused expression on his face.