Not Up To This | PG | 30 Rock
Title: Not Up to This
Prompt: I don't have it in me
Challenge: ham_napkin
Fandom: Jack/Liz, 30 Rock
Rating: PG
Word Count: 501
Disclaimer: Not mine. Wish they were. Please don't sue.
Author's Note: My first instinct was to read this prompt in a completely dirty way, but I was in the mood to write something angsty. Let me know what you think!
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Liz leans against the leather sofa, clasping her hands together. They're clammy and cold and the combination is extremely unpleasant. She has the urge to run them under hot water until they turn pink and go numb, but she doesn't. She leans against the arm of the sofa, staring at the rug and pretending not to listen to Jack's phone conversation.
His back is to her, signaling that it is a private call, but Liz is the only person he'd actually allow to overhear the things he is telling Nancy on the phone. Liz tries hard not to listen but cannot help but pick up on fragments like "imagine how great our children's hair will be" and "next time I'm in town, let's break into the school and kiss by your old locker."
She'd leave, but there is an issue with Tracy insisting that he will only rehearse if he can use a Spaceman Ltd. Transportation Device and Liz really needs Jack's help on this one because Tracy is now missing his eyebrows. She'd leave, but she is kind of worried about the things he'll say if she's not there to listen. She thinks it would hurt more not to know, because then her imagination will take over and that will be undoubtedly worse.
When he finally hangs up the phone, his grin is wide and welcoming. He asks her what her "problem" is and cuts her off when she tries to tell him, sharing instead his latest Boston-related exploits. "She's calling a lawyer tomorrow, Lemon!" He grabs her arm as if to pass on some of his excitement. "It's really happening for me now. We'll finally get a real chance."
And suddenly, it's all too much. "Jack," she says, pulling her arm away. "I'm sorry, but I'm not up to this."
He tilts his head in confusion. "Up to what?"
"Pretend that this is a good idea. It's gonna hurt you, Jack. You're messing with a married lady…when does that ever end well?"
Jack opens his mouth to speak and Liz stands, holding up a clammy hand. "I wish you all the best. I really do. I hope for your sake that she is the one and that she actually does divorce her husband and that you two live happily every after. I just…I don't think it will…and I don't have it in me to stand by and watch it happen."
Liz looks away because the confusion on his face hurts too much to see. She's afraid if she looks at him again that the verbal diarrhea will start and she'll tell him the real reason why she can't listen to him talking about Nancy anymore. "I'm just…gonna go find Tracy some eyebrows," she says, wiping her palms against her jeans.
She turns and heads for the door, hoping that Jack will admit that she's right or try to talk about this insane thing that he's doing or at least offer to help with the eyebrow situation.
He doesn't.
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Prompt: I don't have it in me
Challenge: ham_napkin
Fandom: Jack/Liz, 30 Rock
Rating: PG
Word Count: 501
Disclaimer: Not mine. Wish they were. Please don't sue.
Author's Note: My first instinct was to read this prompt in a completely dirty way, but I was in the mood to write something angsty. Let me know what you think!
-
Liz leans against the leather sofa, clasping her hands together. They're clammy and cold and the combination is extremely unpleasant. She has the urge to run them under hot water until they turn pink and go numb, but she doesn't. She leans against the arm of the sofa, staring at the rug and pretending not to listen to Jack's phone conversation.
His back is to her, signaling that it is a private call, but Liz is the only person he'd actually allow to overhear the things he is telling Nancy on the phone. Liz tries hard not to listen but cannot help but pick up on fragments like "imagine how great our children's hair will be" and "next time I'm in town, let's break into the school and kiss by your old locker."
She'd leave, but there is an issue with Tracy insisting that he will only rehearse if he can use a Spaceman Ltd. Transportation Device and Liz really needs Jack's help on this one because Tracy is now missing his eyebrows. She'd leave, but she is kind of worried about the things he'll say if she's not there to listen. She thinks it would hurt more not to know, because then her imagination will take over and that will be undoubtedly worse.
When he finally hangs up the phone, his grin is wide and welcoming. He asks her what her "problem" is and cuts her off when she tries to tell him, sharing instead his latest Boston-related exploits. "She's calling a lawyer tomorrow, Lemon!" He grabs her arm as if to pass on some of his excitement. "It's really happening for me now. We'll finally get a real chance."
And suddenly, it's all too much. "Jack," she says, pulling her arm away. "I'm sorry, but I'm not up to this."
He tilts his head in confusion. "Up to what?"
"Pretend that this is a good idea. It's gonna hurt you, Jack. You're messing with a married lady…when does that ever end well?"
Jack opens his mouth to speak and Liz stands, holding up a clammy hand. "I wish you all the best. I really do. I hope for your sake that she is the one and that she actually does divorce her husband and that you two live happily every after. I just…I don't think it will…and I don't have it in me to stand by and watch it happen."
Liz looks away because the confusion on his face hurts too much to see. She's afraid if she looks at him again that the verbal diarrhea will start and she'll tell him the real reason why she can't listen to him talking about Nancy anymore. "I'm just…gonna go find Tracy some eyebrows," she says, wiping her palms against her jeans.
She turns and heads for the door, hoping that Jack will admit that she's right or try to talk about this insane thing that he's doing or at least offer to help with the eyebrow situation.
He doesn't.
---