it would probably be waaaaay more angsty and emotional and messy, but somehow, this happened. forgive me, sorkin. no jim in this one, oddly enough...

first of a few for sbd1 :)

XXX

"No."

Her answer surprises herself as much as it surprises him.

"No?" he blurts.

"No," she replies, blinking rapidly. He slowly lowers the key, throat working. He opens his mouth, seems to change his mind, then opens it again.

"Look, Maggie, I'm, uh…" He stops, staring at anything but her with a focused, burning helplessness. "I'm really trying here," he says at last. "I know lately we've kind of been, you know, but I'm trying, okay?" He finally meets her eyes then, and the vulnerability she sees there shocks her. "I'm really trying." She touches his arm then snaps it back. What are you doing what is this what about oh my God the Sex in the City has gone to your head -

"Okay," she says firmly, putting her hands on her hips, then at her sides, then crossing them. "Okay, sit down."

He does.

"We're going to talk about this," she decides, pacing in front of him. "About all of this. Because this is weird. This is super weird. We have been on and off for forever, and this is what I wanted – "

He actually half-raises his hand.

"Can I – ?"

"In a second," she snaps. "I thought this was what I wanted, but I don't think it is now, and you know that feeling when you're really up high? It's like – oh, my God, what's that word – "

"Vertigo?" he supplies hesitantly.

"Vertigo!" she cries. "I am experiencing vertigo!"

Don stares at her.

"I don't know where this is going," he says bluntly. She nods, frowning slightly.

"You know," she says after a beat, "I don't either." Without warning, she swoops down and gives him a kiss on the cheek. "You're a good guy, Don," she tells him emphatically. "And I'm sorry. And I have to go."

"Maggie – " he calls after her as she flies out the door.

"You're a good guy!" she calls back, scrambling to get her purse on her shoulder. "And I think I'm breaking up with you!" The hall echoes with something like a giddy laugh, and she's gone.

Don sits down, key in hand.

"What – " he starts to ask it, but he stops, settles for just shaking his head. Maggie. This hurt, yes, but Maggie. Classic Maggie. He glances down at the key in his palm again, and offers with as much good humor as he can muster, "You wanna get a drink?"