Summary: Some friendships and relationships are stronger than others...
Pairing: Mike/Alex
Series: M/A, Sequel to Confessions
Spoilers: Blind Spot (And the story Shadow, apart of this series, which was a post-ep for Blind Spot) Diamond Dogs
Disclaimer: Not mine. Shame though because I know what I would do if it were... hmmmm.
Reviews: Please?
A/N: I make no appologies for how this story starts... I'm evil so now you all know. You might notice a change in how I post these chapters... you may not.
Podie1 - Thank you so much for reviewing. You get cookies for being so wonderful and helpful too. I can't wait for the Blasters one either... I hope you'll like it. :D
MARY T - Thank you so much for your advice, it was greatly appreciated to the point where I felt the need to thank you again:)
Tight Bonds and Loose Shackles
A court house was always buzzing with activity. So many cases being put to trial, so many people demanding justice and so many defendants trying to be innocent. It was enough to send Alex Eames into a dizzy state and never return. Despite that she was trying to keep herself grounded as they stood in the hallway outside the court room. She and her partner Bobby Goren had been working alongside Mike Logan and Megan Wheeler on a 1 million dollar fraud case that had blown out of propotion, resulting in multiple homicides to solve as well.
"What do you think?" Mike asked no one in particular as he spotted Captain Ross heading towards them.
Bobby nodded, holding his leather portfolio close to his stomach, "The closing statement sounded very convincing. Hopefully the Jury won't take too long to decide on a verdict."
"Mmm, knowing our luck they will." Alex commented, dryly. Bobby shot her a small look but she ignored it.
Ross sighed, "Well, there's no point in waiting around for now. I know all of you have got a high caseload if-"
"Excuse me." Bobby suddenly interrupted Ross quietly, making a quick exit away from the group heading down the coridoor, seemingly spotting something and going after it.
Ross looked at Alex, "What is he doing?"
Alex felt herself sigh inwardly. Why did he always expect her to know? "I don't know." Mike shrugged and Megan just shook her head, having no idea. They all turned to watch him walk away and their confusion grew when they saw him stop to talk to someone but couldn't see who it was.
Bobby, however, knew just exactly who he was talking to and he couldn't keep the anger from his face. "How dare you show up here?" He tried to keep his voice down, he didn't want his colleagues at the opposite end of the hall to hear him.
"I came because of a case study relating to-"
"Look," Bobby interrupted angrily, "just leave before she sees you."
"S-she's here?"
Bobby became flustered, "Yes, she is and No!"
"Why not?" The other man whined, excited and thrilled at the prospect.
"Because you can't!" Bobby's words fell on deaf ears because he walked away from him without another word, heading in the direction that Bobby had come from. "Dec!" He shouted after him but it was no use, the man was on a mission.
A mission that was about to come to a complete stop. Bobby chased after him and was helpless as Alex stood, eyes wide in shock as Declan Gage walked over to with his own eyes beaming with excitement. "Who the hell are you?" Mike asked, confused by both Alex's and Bobby's reaction.
Bobby caught up with them. "Declan, you have to leave."
Declan ignored Bobby completely, focusing his entire attention to Alex. "Incredible." He commented, as if the others weren't there.
"Declan? As in Gage?" Mike asked, his voice sounded threatening as his stance became aggressive and he stood closer to Alex, wanting put himself in between the two of them.
Ross and Bobby looked at each other, weary of what was going on. "Mr Gage if you'd-" Ross never got to finish.
"What was it like?" Declan asked.
"What?" Alex spoke in a small voice, shocked by the question. Megan didn't say a word because she felt a little out-of-the-loop on this one. But Alex's voice was enough to stop both Mike and Bobby from moving any further.
"You're the first known survivor. I-I realise that Jo wasn't Sebastian himself but she was reconstructing and using his tools to the point of obsession." Declan explained wildly. Alex's eyes grew bigger as she realised what he wanted from her; an account of the events from her perspective.
Alex took a step back and Mike took one step forward, effectively managing to block Declan the way he had wanted to. Bobby grabbed Declan's arms and pulled him backwards, shaking him. "I just want to talk to her-"
"No!" Bobby insisted, loudly. "She's not one of your case studies."
"Mr Gage, I will put a restraining order against you if you don't leave right now." Ross threatened, darkly. Alex, despite the fact it would've made sense for her to be the one to walk away, didn't move. She just stood there, her eyes fixed on Declan as her mind raced, trying not allow those emotions to be put on display and her pride not wanting to show any weakness, she tried to stand as tall as her height would allow her to be.
Declan looked her in the eye, "Please let me talk to you about it."
She shook her head, "No."
Bobby looked Declan in the eye, satisfied, "You've had your answer."
"Leave." Mike ordered, dangerously low. Two security guards came over to them and Bobby shoved Declan in their direction. Alex felt the relief wash over her as she could vaguely see Mike turning to see if she was alright.
"The Jury has reached a verdict." Came the voice from the double doors of the court room.
"Wow, that was fast." Megan commented, feeling like she was the only who could make them comment.
"Yeah." Mike muttered, not really bothered about that. He kept his eyes on Alex as she stared ahead, watching Declan being escorted out of the building until they were out of sight. When they were she finally lifted her gaze to look Mike in the eye. "Let's go." He told her, quietly, hoping to get her out of there before she broke in such a public arena.
"Eames-" Bobby started.
Alex shook her head, "I'm okay." She looked towards the court room, "They're reading the verdict, we should go and hear it." Without waiting for a response she headed back into the courtroom, not even checking to see if they were following her.
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Back at the office and Mike's neck was beginning to feel sore. The knots getting knots and he tried to massage his neck but to not success. The reports, papers, interview notes, transcribing and research in front of his eyes were all crossing together and that was only the start of it. On top of all his work he was being loaded with worry about Alex, who from what he could tell, was being elusive ever since the incident at the court house and wasn't speaking to anyone as she sat in the interview room to do her work. Alone.
He'd keep looking up at her, making the knots feel worse, to see if she was okay. Everytime he'd start to feel relieved she was there he'd take one look at her face and feel concerned again. She had that distant, hard look on her face. He knew it well because he'd worn it before. He knew that going up to her and asking her about it here was a bad idea but it was hours until quitting time and he wasn't sure he could hold it in that long.
"Who is Declan Gage?" His red-headed partner asked him, curiosity getting the better of her. The incident at the court house had been confusing for her. Mike eyed her before looking back at his work, refusing to answer. "Whoever he is, it looks like he's going to be a problem."
"Wheeler," Mike started, "Don't."
Megan frowned, "Don't what?"
Mike dropped his pen and looked across at her, she looked confused and bewildered, having no idea what that confrontation had been about. "Just don't." Mike spoke with a finality. He picked his pen back up and ducked his head back down to get on with his work.
"Just-" a beat, "-who was this Sebastian he referred to?"
Mike sighed, dropping his pen again and leaning back in his chair in annoyance, "Do you always play 50 questions with your partners? Or am I that special?"
Megan's eyebrows raised a little, her short hair unphased by the movement, "I'm just-"
"Just what?" Mike almost snapped.
"Worried." Megan replied calmly, "He seems to have you all rattled. Did something happen to Detective Eames?"
Mike stood up and grabbed his suit jacket from the back of his chair. He looked down at Megan and then muttered, "Yeah, something." Then he sauntered out of the squad room with heavy feet.
Megan frowned as she watched him leave, realising that her own curiosity hadn't allowed for her to considered that something terrible had really happened to her new friend, Alex, before they had even met. Worried, she flipped open her laptop and searched the NYPD Intranet for Sebastian.
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Standing outside with the fall weather starting to cause the temperature to drop, only slightly, but with the wind blowing directly at him he was certainly feeling the chill. He should've known she would follow him he just hadn't expected her to. "Wheeler?" He turned around and stopped. Not the person he'd thought would show at all but this person was much more pleasant, in his mind anyway.
The surprise on his face disappeared and he smiled. "Expecting your partner?" Alex asked, holding out a foam cup of coffee for him. He gratefully took it, wrapping his arms around the cheap stuff.
"Well, to be honest, yeah." Mike replied, not elaborating any further. "How you doing?"
She shrugged, "I'm okay." He looked down at her and she sighed, "Fine, I'm not okay but saying it doesn't help." Mike held her arm and gently pulled her into his embrace, holding her tight and allowing her to bury her face in his chest. The coffee cup carefully held in one hand, hoping not to spill the hot liquid all over her. "How dare he turn up and start asking me that?" She growled into his chest, angrily. She half pulled away and lifted her head up to look at him, he ducked his head down to look at her, sensing her movement.
"If he turns up again, shoot him." Mike suggested, as if it was the most sensible suggestion in the world.
Alex smiled, "I doubt that'll fly."
He shrugged, "Fine, I'll shoot him." Alex frowned, "He'd be worth another 50 years on Staten Island." He said, making emphasis on the number of years.
She shook her head in disagreement, "No, he wouldn't." She looked down for a small moment before looking back up at him, sighing, "I thought it was over."
"It is over." Mike promised her with conviction. "Don't let that slimy, useless, no-good-for-nothing, piece of-" Alex covered his mouth with her hand and shook her head, she didn't need to hear him reel everything off like a grocery list. She removed her hand and Mike smirked, "I wasn't finished."
Giving him a soft smile that fell as instantly as it was formed, she sighed, "I thought I was okay, but I'm not."
Mike blinked, "You're not?" She shook her head, "Then you're the world's best actress because you look okay, you sound okay and you seem to be like yourself to me." She started to shake her head but Mike shot her a look. "Wanna know what I think?" He didn't wait for an answer, "I think you're just fine and that incident this morning just made you think otherwise." She looked at the stubborness set on his face and she had to laugh. He watched her as she released the day of tension in her own laughter, letting it all off her chest as she realised the stupidity of her own thoughts and that Mike was right.
He watched her with fascination as she buried her head in his chest once more trying to quieten her own laughter, without prevail. Ducking his head down to get a look at her because she was standing so close to him, he smiled with relief; at least she was okay.
When her body stilled and the laughter subsided she lifted her head up, keeping her arms around his waist, and looked at him. Her cheeks bright pink from laughing so hard. "Feel better?" Mike asked, amused.
She smirked, "Much."
"Good." Mike nodded, "You had me worried for a minute there."
"Just a minute?" Alex asked, feeling more like herself.
Mike shrugged, "Well, a minute and a half." He figured she'd seen him stressing at his desk, he didn't need to actually tell her about that.
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The search Megan had made for Sebastian hadn't really been conclusive, all she'd discovered was that he was a serial killer who has never been caught. So, what did that have to do with Alex? After several hours of meticulus searching, trying to connect-the-dots with the hovering feeling above her that she already knew the answer. But what was it?
And then she was hit by proverbial lightning bolt of eureka.
"Hold on." The words had brought the girls night in party to a stand still. Alex's best friend from High School, Jessie Grant, had spoken the words. Megan had been sat down on one of the chairs, still uncomfortable with all of these women around her that she did not know yet. "You were kidnapped?" The shock wave hit across the room. "By a serial killer?"
Megan's hand stopped moving as the hovered an inch above the keyboard she had been typing on. Why had she forgotten this? Remembering all the alcohol she and a few of the others had been drinking she figured the answer to that was obvious but still, it bothered her slightly that she'd forgotten such an important piece of information. Now, everything that Declan Gage had said was finally put into some kind of context. Especially now she remembered Alex's response to her friends, Jessie, question.
"It was more a woman emulating the killer."
She'd spoken relatively calm but there had been an undercurrent of hurt, stress and worry to her voice that Alex had managed to keep well hidden.
Her partner was opposite her at his desk, body hunched over as he tried to desperately finish his reports. As if he could feel her eyes on him he looked up, "What, Wheeler?"
Megan looked at him straight, "I was just doing some research."
"Research?" Mike frowned, "On what?"
Megan hesitated for a moment but she had no choice but to tell him the truth. Ross wanted her to give this partnership a fair chance, she wanted to give it a fair chance, and do that she needed to be straight and honest with him, "Sebastian and Declan Gage."
There was flicker of anger across Mike's face as she answered but he tried to cover it. "What for?" He couldn't keep the irritation from his voice. "That's not got anything to do with our case."
"I felt it was important considering what happened this morning, if it were to happen again-"
Mike sighed with frustration and leaned back in his chair, it was enough to cut Megan's sentence off. "Congratulations, Wheeler." Mike said, sarcastically, "You're officially good at snooping behind the back of a cop." Mike stood up and, for the second time today, left Megan alone and abandoned the squad room altogether.
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"We need to stop coming outside." Alex told him, with a hint of humor and wry smile on her face. "People are gonna start thinking we're having quickies out here."
Mike turned to her, the thunder still written on his face but there was room enough for a wicked grin of his own, "Yeah? That wouldn't be so bad." He turned back away from her and sighed with frustration. She walked over to him and looked up at him; patiently waiting.
Patience only lasted so long though because it looked like he was going to willingly explain what he was doing so she decided enough was enough and that she was going to do the pushing, "Wheeler told me what happened."
Mike turned to her with a look of surprise, "She told you?"
Alex nodded, "Yes." Mike turned away again, "She was bound to put 2 and 2 together after what she saw this morning."
He turned back to her, "You're okay with that? You're okay with her looking it up behind your back?"
"Well, no." Alex said, almost sounding pathetic. "But, I would've done the same thing. She needed an explanation and we should have given her one. She did the next best thing."
"Look," Mike spoke angrily, "She should've respected the fact that it was private. How dare she look into what happened to you... or any cop for that matter!" Alex didn't respond quickly. Trouble by his anger but understanding of where it was coming from; his own multiple investigations into himself by either IAB or other cops and, although he'd never really said it, her kidnapping ordeal had frightened him.
All Alex could say was, "She didn't know. She's your partner... explain it to her." Mike made a sound of irritation and disagreement. Alex sighed, "Did Carolyn do something at the beginning of your partnership with her that you didn't like?" Mike looked at her for a moment, thinking; he remembered the incident where he and Carolyn had been in the interrogation room and she'd practically forced him into talking about his violent history with his mother to try to win the kid over. Looking at Alex, he didn't tell her but he nodded in response to her question. "Okay, so? You see what I'm getting at?"
Mike rolled his eyes in frustration. "Subtle." He commented sarcastically.
"Just give her a chance." Alex ignored his comment. "It's not worth having to have another partner over, is it?" It wasn't really a question from Alex's point of view, but Mike answered regardless.
"Actually, yes it is."
Alex look at him incredulously, "Why?"
He looked directly at her, trying not to let his emotions betray him as he spoke, "Because it's you." Alex felt like any possible response she could have given was shot down by his three simple words. All she could do was look at him and mirror his statement in her eyes.
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TBC