Goren to Eames: "You worried about what she said -- that your career could be tainted by me?"

"I used to," Alex admitted without hesitation.

"And now?" Bobby wanted to know.

"It's too late," Alex said, briefly looking back at him before walking out of the room.

Chapter 1

Bobby had only been half serious when he asked her that. Her answer stung him to the core. How could she say that to him and just walk away, with no explanation, or better yet, no immediate apology? After all this time!

Alex stuck her head in the door. "You coming?"

"No, you go ahead," Bobby said, not looking at her. "I've got something to do."

For a moment, Alex looked at Bobby curiously but decided not to question him. Not just yet, anyway. Although she hadn't said it, Leslie LeZard had correctly deduced that Bobby was an egomaniac who thought all women were smitten by him. Now, he was no doubt disappointed that the only interest Leslie had in him was to manipulate him to further hide her crime.

Alex left the Shore Office and went outside. She watched as the officers escorted Leslie LeZard to the patrol car and drove off. Leslie was a woman who had figured out how to get what she wanted. Usually, but not this time.

Alex got into her own car and headed in the opposite direction of One Police Plaza. Returning to the office was the last thing she wanted to do. Knowing Bobby as she did, Alex was sure he'd go there and start on the report for this case. That is, once he picked his bruised ego up off the floor. That "something he had to do" was go off to himself and brood for a bit before returning as if nothing had happened. He had to show that he wasn't affected by anything.

xx

Bobby waited for a few minutes until he thought Eames had gone. He was angry with her, but unlike her, he didn't want to say something that would hurt her feelings.

Bobby had to agree, Leslie was right when she said Eames was never going to make captain. She wasn't that good! Hell, talk about Leslie's career arc being tied to Pallin. Eames' career arc was definitely tied to him -- and in a good way for her. He was the one who figured out the cases! If anything, Eames was just window dressing.

Bobby marched out of the office and plowed through a group of the Shore employees who were gathered together, no doubt still reeling from the death of one of their own. The sight of Leslie LeZard being escorted out in handcuffs would give them something to talk about for months.

"Excuse me," he mumbled, not stopping and silently fuming at Eames' lack of sensitivity to his feelings.

Bobby went outside, hopped in a cab, and went straight home. He didn't even stop at his favorite Italian restaurant for take-out because he didn't want to talk to anyone. He just needed to get home, to himself, to think.

xxx