C6Mel

The characters of "Nash Bridges" are the property of CBS. This story is set in March of season two.

                                                    It's Just Another Day

It's just another day. At least, that's what he'd been trying to convince himself of all morning. The          reality of it hit had him the moment his eyes popped open that morning when his alarm went off. Irony    of ironies, the oldies station his alarm was set to, blared the words of Paul McCartney…"You say
it's your birthday. Well, it's my birthday, too, yeah." As if he needed a reminder.

Kneeling, he grabbed a box of coffee filters from the cabinet. His knees popped when he stood to put the filter in the coffee maker. "Well, there's a sure sign that I'm getting old." Grumbling to himself, he        performed the coffee-making ritual before heading back to his room to finish getting dressed for work.

Running a hand through his hair, he looked at himself in the mirror. He didn't look any older than yesterday. Why did one day seem to make such a difference, then? With a sigh, he left the bathroom, turning off the light as he went. No sense in dwelling on it.

He returned to the kitchen for the much-desired cup of coffee, savoring the aroma as he blew on the steaming liquid. He let the cup warm his fingers. He should have turned the heat up before going to bed the night before. The early March night had had a bite to it.

After downing that first cup, he filled a small thermos with the remains of the pot and jingled the keys in his pocket. It was time to head for the office.    He'd never made a big deal about it, before. But, before, he'd had somebody to share that special day with. Now, he just had his friends and co-workers. He wondered if they knew today was his day. Nobody had asked, and he'd never mentioned it. He wondered why.

Maybe, perversely, he'd wanted them to recognize the special day, without him having to bring it up. To know and like him well enough to have found out on their own. Sighing, he locked the door before heading down the steps to his car. Thirty-nine. The last year before the big milestone of forty. His last year before officially being "old". He sighed.

When he stepped onto the ferry, his rather odd place of work, he half-expected to hear a birthday greeting. He didn't get one. Maybe everyone was waiting for the boss to be the first one to say "Happy Birthday".

The boss, however, just tossed him the usual morning greeting. Stifling another sigh, Harvey sat down at his desk to start on the paperwork that had been piled there since he'd left the day before. He cast a surreptitious glance at his partner across the little aisle. Evan seemed completely absorbed with whatever Bryn was telling him, both smiling at an obviously shared joke. He felt left out for some reason. Out of sorts, was more like it.

Scrawling his name on a report form, he dropped it in his box and looked up as Joe walked toward him. From the huge smile on the other man's face, Harvey was sure he'd remembered. Joe would've been the last one he'd have thought would, so Harvey was even more pleased.

"Hey, Harv." Leaning down conspiratorially, Joe dropped his voice to a whisper. "I've got a prank planned for Nash and I need your help. You in?"

Harvey's pleased smile fell, disappointment leaving a bitter taste in his mouth. Well, what had he expected? It wasn't as if he'd ever brought the subject up to anyone before. "Sure, Joe. What've you got in mind?"

He only half listened as Joe laid out the plans for yet another hair-brained scheme to pull one over on Nash. He nodded at all the right places, but when Joe finally wound down and returned to his own desk, Harvey wasn't quite sure what he'd just agreed to do. Well, senility was a sign of old age, wasn't it?

Giving himself a mental kick for his self-pity, Harvey swallowed his disappointment and got back to work. He still had a job to do, after all. It was too early for retirement. He sighed.

                                                         ~~~~~***~~~~~

Hearing the tell-tale squishing, Evan looked up from his desk and tried to smother a smile. "Shoes still wet, there, Harv?"

"Very funny, Ev. Very funny." Harvey glared at the younger man then flopped down in his chair, sliding it closer to the computer.

"What are you blaming me for? I didn't tell you to jump in a mud puddle."

"You're the one that parked the truck right next to the biggest puddle in San Francisco. Just how was I supposed to get out without landing in it?"

"Well, you can't blame me for making you get out, partner. It was the bad guy's idea, not mine." Evan waited for a scathing retort from his partner, but all he could hear was indistinct mumbling. "What?"

"Nothing, Evan. Just forget it." Harvey kept his eyes glued to the computer screen, ignoring the look he was sure his partner was giving him. Let Evan wonder what was bothering him. It'd serve the younger man right. He could've at least shown me a little sympathy. He sighed.

                                                      ~~~~~***~~~~~

Trudging back from answering a call for a possible break-in, Harvey ignored the looks and snickers as he walked wearily back to his desk. Behind him, Evan handed the two handcuffed suspects over to Ronnie, explaining the charges. Dropping once more into his chair, Harvey looked up when Bryn sauntered over. His look dared her to open her mouth. Bryn was unfazed.

"Harvey, what the hell happened to you?" Laughing, Bryn reached out to wipe a smudge of dust off Harvey's nose. He was sure a sight. Harvey was covered in dust from his still-damp shoes, to his red beret. Bryn just had to hear this one. Unable to resist the temptation, she pulled a tissue from her pocket and tried to wipe some of the dirt from Harvey's face.

"Cut it out, Bryn. Geez, I'm a grown man." Batting her hand away, Harvey used the sleeve of his jacket to try to wipe away the irritating dust.

Laughing again when all he did was add more dirt to his cheek, Bryn looked inquiringly at Evan. Harvey might not be willing to tell the story, but she knew Evan had to be dying to share it. "Come on, Cortez, spill it. What happened?"

Casting a glance at his partner, Evan smiled and folded his arms. "I don't know, Bryn. What'll you give me?"

"A black eye if you don’t tell me."

Knowing she was only half joking, Evan smiled as Nash and Joe joined them. They were as curious to know what happened, as Bryn. "Well, see, we get there and the two guys have tried to leave with the jewelry. One guy has tried to get out the same window they busted to get in, but it was safety glass and it was sticking in. He couldn't seem to get out without cutting himself. When he saw me, he tried to find a way to get through. I got him anyway."

Shaking his head when Evan stopped, Nash waved a hand. "Bubba, that doesn't explain why Harv looks like feather duster."

Choking back a laugh, Evan continued with the story. "Well, Harvey's guy had tried to escape through the ventilation ducts. We could hear him screaming that he was stuck. The moron's pants had caught on something. So, Harvey crawls in after him, gets him loose then they both crawled back out again. Personally, I think the owner ought to pay Harv for cleaning his air ducts."

Trying to ignore the chortles from the others, Nash smiled. He couldn't stop the laughter, however, when Harvey got up in disgust and headed for the men's room…trailing dust bunnies behind him.

"…justifiable homicide…traitor…" Mumbling under his breath, Harvey shoved open the door to the restroom, nearly hitting an officer coming out. Walking over to the taps, he turned on the hot water and waited for it to warm up. Scooping up a handful, he splashed water on his face and wiped the dirt off with a paper towel. Scrutinizing his reflection in the mirror, Harvey frowned. He could tell it was going to be a long, miserable day. He sighed.

                                                      ~~~~~***~~~~~

Bringing his mirth under control, Nash waved a hand for the others to calm down. "I think it's time to let Harvey off the hook. I feel like I've just kicked a puppy."

"No! Nashman, we've gotta stick with the plan." Joe looked to Evan and Bryn for support. Evan was smiling his agreement, but Bryn looked skeptical. "C'mon, guys. It'll be even better after the day he's having. Trust me."

"Bubba, I hate when you say that." Against his better judgment, Nash agreed to go along with their original plans. He hoped Harvey's day got better.

"Shhh, here he comes." Shooing everyone back to their desks, Joe tried to act as if they hadn't been discussing Harvey.

If the man in question hadn't been so distracted, he would've noticed that Joe was up to something. It was pretty hard to miss the signs. Joe smirked in self-satisfaction and went back to his desk. He still had some last minute arrangements to make.

                                                   ~~~~~***~~~~~

"Look, Harvey, I said I was sorry. I didn't know it was loaded." Evan practically trotted next to his partner, who'd lengthened and quickened his stride as they boarded the ferry.

His whole body stiff with barely-controlled anger, Harvey ignored Evan. He also ignored the stares and pathetic attempts at stifled laughter from the rest of the member of the SIU. He practically growled at Joe when the man laughed openly. Dropping into his chair, Harvey thumped his elbows on the desktop and dropped his head in his hands. Maybe if he ignored the rest of the day, it'd go away.

"Harvey, is that blood?" Nash had stopped by Harvey's desk and felt a moment of fear at the sight of the large red stain on Harvey's shirt.

Bringing his head up only long enough to glare pointedly at Evan, Harvey braced it in his hands once more. He was developing a headache.

Shifting his feet under his partner's angry glare, Evan cleared his throat. "Uh, no, Nash…it's paint."

"Paint?" Nash couldn't wait to hear this one. Judging by Joe's expression, he couldn't either. Bryn just had a sick look on her face.

"Well, see the 411 was at a store that sold sporting equipment. I was talking to the owner, while Harvey was checking out some damage to a case. There was a paint gun sitting on the counter and I was just, you know, fooling around with it. I didn't think it was loaded!"

Already knowing where the story was going, Nash circled his hand in a "go on" gesture. Evan stole another glance at his partner and cleared his throat again. "Well, I guess I must've pulled the trigger, 'cause it went off. I looked up and there was Harv…red paint all over his shirt. I know it was a stupid thing to do, Nash, and it won't happen again."

Joe knew that was it. Nash was going to pull the plug on the whole thing. Looking at Harvey's hunched form, it wouldn't be a surprise. Joe had never seen a man look so defeated. Then, they were saved by the bell. Well, the phone, anyway.

"SIU, Inspector Bridges."

While Nash was distracted with the phone, Joe pulled Evan and Bryn aside to go over the details for that night. They made sure they were far enough away that Harvey wouldn't over hear them.

Harvey, however, was completely oblivious. He was doing his utmost best to totally block out everything around him. Just as he'd expected, it had been a long, miserable day. At least it was almost over. He could go home to his empty house, turn on some Grateful Dead and sit in his sanctuary…the Dead room. Alone. He sighed.

                                                        ~~~~~***~~~~~

"Come on, Harv. You said you'd help me with my prank." Joe went back over the plans he'd described to Harvey earlier. It was becoming obvious that Harvey hadn't heard a word he's said the first time. "You promised you'd go along. What else do you have to do, anyway?"

The words stung. Mostly because they were true, although he didn't remember making any promises earlier. Not having the energy to argue, Harvey reluctantly agreed to go along with the ruse. He'd help Joe get Nash to the restaurant, then bail. Not that he was dressed to appear in a public place. Not after the day he'd had. It would probably be easier to burn his clothes, than wash them. Well, except for the armband, naturally.

"Fine, Joseph, I'll go along with you. Let's just get it over with."

Breaking into a Cheshire grin, Joe dragged Harvey over to Nash's desk and started the ball rolling on their carefully thought out plans. Piece of cake.

The bright yellow 'Cuda rumbled to a stop in front of the little Italian restaurant and Harvey had to be nudged to get him to snap out of his reverie and exit the car. Shaking his head, Joe urged Harvey to go in first. Exchanging smiles with Nash, Joe couldn't wait to see Harvey's reaction.

"Surprise!"

Stopping in stunned disbelieve, Harvey gaped at the festive decorations draped on and around a group of tables in the back. Bryn and Evan ran up to slap him on the back and wish him a happy birthday. Harvey opened and closed his mouth, but couldn't find the words.

"You're mouth is moving, but I don't hear any words, brother."

Smiling broadly for the first time that miserable day, Harvey gave Evan a shove. "Shut up, Ev."

"He speaks." Laughing lightly, Bryn took the birthday boy by the arm and led him to the place of honor. "Hurry up and blow out he candles, Harv, before we burn down the joint."

Unable to stop the huge smile plastered across his face, Harvey looked over at Joe and Nash, who'd joined them. He knew this had been a team effort. Taking a deep breath, he blew on the candles. It took a puff from Bryn to get them all, but they did it.

Evan slapped him on the back then stuck a finger in the icing to get a quick taste. "What'd you wish for Harv?"

Wrinkling her nose in disgust at Evan's table manners, Bryn rolled her eyes. "If he tells us, it won't come true, Evan."

Yet, looking around, Harvey knew it had already come true. When music suddenly started up, he cast a mischievous smile at Bryn. "Care to dance?"

"Why, Mr. Leek, I believe I will."

Sharing a laugh, the two hit the dance floor. Swaying to the soothing music, the scent of vanilla from Bryn's shampoo filling his nose, Harvey felt the tensions of the day wash away. It hadn't been such a bad day after all. Maybe getting another year older wasn't so bad. After all, he wasn't getting old…he was just getting started. Pulling Bryn a little closer, basking in the warmth of the generosity of his friends…he sighed.

END