Disclaimer: I do not own Eureka or any of the characters.

Title: Spa Day
Summary: Jack has learned that Eureka has an exclusive spa. Now, he needs Allison's help to get in.
Rating: PG-13
Pairings: Jack/Allison
Spoilers: Unpredictable (Season 2)

Sheriff Jack Carter leaned back in his chair, feet propped up on his desk, and happily hummed along to the hold music that was playing over the phone. Jo, who normally would be bugging him for a promotion, was off on her lunch break and things had been quiet lately. There hadn't been a single disaster or a runaway experiment in town in over a week.

Jack had a feeling this was going to be a great day. As the familiar chorus kicked in, he started softly singing along. He usually found being on hold this long annoying, but for the new director of Global Dynamics he was willing to make an exception. Wrapped up in thoughts of what else he'd be willing to do for the new director, he failed to notice when the music clicked off.

A bemused voice came over the line. "Carter? Is that you?"

Jack startled and his feet slammed to the floor. Standing now, he clutched the phone in one hand and nervously ran his other hand over the back of his neck. He thought about pretending to be a wrong number or simply hanging up the phone, but then he remembered that she'd called him. Fargo had placed the call on her behalf and then put Jack on hold until she was ready to pick up. It was a little late to pretend to be someone else. Accepting the inevitable, he cleared his throat and answered, "Um…Hey, Allison. Yeah, yeah, it's me."

Allison paused before replying and he could picture her grinning. "Were you singing 'We've Only Just Begun'?"

Jack could feel his face getting hot and he was glad she wasn't there to see it. "Y-yeah."

"Isn't that by The Carpenters?" she asked in a voice that held barely suppressed laughter.

"Uh-huh," he nodded even though she couldn't see him.

Allison's laughter rang out over the phone line and he winced. He was never going to live this down. Hoping to distract her, he asked briskly, "So, was there some reason you called me?"

Allison's laughter died down, but her tone remained playful as she said, "Yes, actually. I was calling about the security reports. You know, the reports you promised to get to me ASAP. After two weeks, it occurred to me that maybe no one had ever explained to you what ASAP stands for. I thought maybe you were confused."

Jack grinned. Sensing she was in a good mood, he decided to see how far he could push his luck. "You know, Allison, I'd like to get those reports to you right away. I mean, normally nothing makes me happier than helping out Global Dynamics."

"But?" Allison prompted.

Jack sighed dramatically. "But my sciatica has really been acting up lately."

"Really?" She sounded concerned.

"Yeah, yeah. My back is just killing me. It's too bad that there's not some place around here to find a good massage therapist. A little shiatsu, maybe a soak in a whirlpool and I'd be as good as new. Ready to focus on finishing up those reports." Jack had discovered recently that Eureka had an exclusive spa and he was dying to go. He didn't like to complain, but he'd racked up more bruises in his first year as sheriff than his last five years as a US Marshall. If anyone in Eureka had earned a little spa time, it was him.

"Carter, the spa is for GD employees only," Allison warned.

Jack snorted, "Right, and as the director of GD there's no possible way you could bend the rules to get me in."

"Right," Allison quickly agreed, pretending to take his sarcastic comment seriously. "I'm glad you understand."

"Oh, come on!" Jack cried. "Please? I'll be good." He was begging, but he didn't care. That spa had looked amazing. He'd felt more relaxed the moment he stepped on the grounds. And that had been in the middle of an investigation! He couldn't imagine how relaxed he'd feel after an entire day there. But he wanted to find out.

A long pause on Allison's end told him that she was seriously considering it. He held his breath in eager anticipation of her reply.

"Tell you what, Carter. You finish those reports, and I'll see what I can do."

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Three days later, Jack bounded up the front steps of Global Dynamics, clutching the promised security reports. He'd finished the reports in two days, working long hours to get them done, only to decide he didn't want to seem too eager. Three days was better. It showed he was interested, but not desperate. At least, he'd thought so when he got up this morning. As he walked into the lobby, he wondered if four days would have been better.

"Sheriff Carter," a voice called out. Jack stopped and looked up to find Fargo leaning over a railing and offering a quick wave in greeting.

"Morning, Fargo," Jack shouted up in reply. "Do you know if Allison is in her office?"

Fargo nodded distractedly as he studied a data pad in his hand. "Mmm-hmm. You can go on in. She's expecting you."

Jack had already resumed walking when Fargo's last words brought him up short. "She is?" He hadn't called ahead to let her know he was coming.

Fargo glanced up from the data pad and blinked in surprise at his confused tone. "Deputy Lupo emailed the security reports over yesterday. When you didn't show up with the hard copy, Dr. Blake assumed you'd be stopping by this morning instead."

Jack nodded. Once again, the women in his life were two steps ahead of him. But the good news was that Allison still owed him a trip to the spa. And he was here to collect.

With that happy thought, he headed toward her office. Unfortunately, when he got there she wasn't alone. Nathan Stark, wearing an impeccably tailored suit that probably cost more that Jack made in a month, lounged in one of the guest chairs in front of her desk, his posture and attire a study in casual elegance. Glancing down at his own beige uniform, Jack quickly brushed at his shirt in case any crumbs from breakfast had lodged there.

Then his gaze fell on Allison and all thoughts about his own appearance fell away. She wore a navy blue suit that seemed to mold itself to her body and her hair fell softly around her face. She broke off her conversation with her ex-husband. "Carter," she nodded in greeting.

"Sheriff Carter," Stark called out casually. "Do come in." The fact that he felt comfortable welcoming someone into Allison's office didn't go unnoticed.

"Are we done here?" she asked him in a cool tone. Whether Stark had acted on old instincts as her former husband or the former occupant of that office was unclear. What was clear was that it had been a misstep on his part. Allison wasn't pleased by him overstepping his boundaries and didn't try to hide it.

Stark's mouth tightened slightly, but he gave no other sign of displeasure at being abruptly dismissed. "Completely," he replied, rising smoothly to his feet. Turning to leave, he tossed over his shoulder, "Allison… always a pleasure." Striding past Jack he offered, "Sheriff…" Stark paused as if struggling to think of a convincing compliment he could offer Jack. With a shrug, he gave up the attempt and exited the room without another word.

Jack watched him go and then wriggled his shoulders slightly to shake off the irritable tightening he felt across the back of his shoulders whenever he was around Stark. Turning back to Allison, he grinned excitedly and held up the security reports in triumph.

Allison chuckled, "You're like a little kid come to get his treat."

Jack ignored her words, focused on watching her open a drawer in her desk and pull out a laminated card. "Oh, yeah," he chortled gleefully as she held out the card to him, "here we go."

Taking it from her, he experienced a rollercoaster of emotions as he read it. He beamed at the words Archimedes Day Spa, then felt instantly deflated when he saw the words Guest Pass. He opened his mouth to launch into an argument for getting his own membership, but hesitated when he saw the words in smaller print at the bottom of the card, Special Guest of Allison Blake.

He lifted one eyebrow in surprise and asked, "Special Guest?"

She rolled her eyes. "Don't get excited. It was simply the most expedient solution."

Unsure what she meant by that, he tilted his head slightly and waited for her to explain.

With a slight shrug, she started talking. "Well, I couldn't just hand you a membership. The spa has always been strictly for employees only. Breaking that rule for you would clearly have been favoritism and an abuse of my new position. But opening it up to the entire town wasn't an option either. We just don't have the staff to handle that. And I couldn't limit guests to spouses and significant others because that wouldn't solve my original problem of how to get you in. I decided that from now on we'll issue every employee one membership and one guest pass. Employees are welcome to bring anyone they want along as a guest, but they must accompany that person to and from the spa. No dropping someone off for the day and leaving."

Turning to gaze out the glass wall of her office at the bustle of employees below, she continued, "Nathan always saw the spa as an opportunity for networking and team-building. I've expanded its purpose to include an opportunity for employees to spend time with loved ones and reconnect."

"And what did Stark think of that?" Jack asked, guessing the topic might have come up in the conversation his arrival had interrupted.

She smiled in a self-deprecating way and admitted, "He says I'm a soft touch." Her expression grew serious as she insisted, "I'm not, though. Constantly choosing career over family only leads to burn out. I don't want that for my staff. I don't want that for myself." Shaking off the brooding tone that had crept into her voice she declared, "I'm not a soft touch. I'm…benevolent."

Jack waggled the card at her. "And I'm the benevolent director's date?"

Allison blinked at that and hurriedly corrected, "No! Not…date. Guest. The next time I go to the spa, you'll join me as my… guest."

"I think you mean your special guest," Jack couldn't resist adding.

She glared at him. "You're not going to let that go, are you?"

"Ah…No," he replied swiftly before breaking out in a wide grin. Rubbing his hands together eagerly he asked, "So? When are we going?"

TBC