All Hell Breaks Loose

"They're not going to like this," Captain Ross said to Kenny Moran, the Chief of Detectives.

"I could not care any less," Moran told him, "especially about him. He's been a royal pain in the ass since day one. I'm telling you, Danny, someday someone's gonna take him out in a body bag. I'd stay out of his wake if I were you."

Ross bristled. "That's my detective you're talking about!"

Moran looked him intently in the eye. "I know damn well who I'm talking about. And I'm warning you—he's trouble. He's going to bring us all down."

"Seems to me that if everything and everyone was on the up and up, there'd be no one to bring down."

Moran glared at him. "'I'm only going to repeat this one time—keep away from him."

Danny Ross took his time getting back to his office. Something about his talk with Moran troubled him. It was no secret that Moran did not like Goren… but that sounded downright ominous. Hopefully he cools down before Goren pulls his next stunt, he thought.

"Eames. Can I see you for a moment?" Captain Ross beckoned her into his office, leaving the door open, waiting for her.

"What now?" Alex asked, exasperated. She looked at her partner of almost nine years, Bobby Goren. "Did you….?"

Bobby held his hands up. "Not this time."

She looked at him for one more moment, while he protested any wrong-doing, then got up and went to the office. "Captain…?"

"Sit down, Eames, and relax. It's nothing to worry about. And it's not about your partner. It concerns your vacation"

"My vacation? "she said, puzzled. "But that's not for another two months."

"Yeah, well it seems the Chief has decided to change a few things this year."

"Really?" Already she knew what was coming. "I hope he took into account the fact that I already have reservations with my family for—"

"Well, I'd be forgetting about that. I just spoke with him, and he says you either take your vacation next week, or forget it till next year."

"That son of a bitch! I'll go talk to him myself!"

"No you won't. There's no sense in pissing him off even more. I tried, there's no changing his mind. It's a done deal. As of next week, you're on vacation. I guess if you want you could take it up with your union representative."

"And by the time I do that--What about Goren? Does he go then, too?" She wasn't a bit happy.

"That's another thing. I need him in here now."

Eames stalked out. Coming to her desk, she said angrily, "He wants you in there now! That son of a bitch Moran basically cancelled my vacation with my family. I have to go next week!"

That made Bobby angry too. Getting up, he said, "Bastard! Did the Captain—"

"Yeah, he tried. But it's a done deal. I don't know what my family's gonna say."

Bobby shook his head, and went to the Captain's office, where he started in angrily on the Chief of Detectives. "Why is he doing this to her? The fucker! She deserves her vacation!"

"Goren, sit down. I've talked till I'm blue in the face, he won't change his mind. He damn near threw me out physically."

Bobby was angry, though, for his partner. "He won't throw me out."

"No, he'll do worse. Sit down!"

Reluctantly, Bobby sat down, and waited to hear what the Captain had to say to him.

"You," Ross started, "will not have a vacation this year. He says you've already had enough vacation. Six months of vacation."

"Unpaid," Goren commented. "And he knows I've got a month built up?"

"He knows," Ross replied sympathically. "And he doesn't care. Like I told Eames, you can take it up with the union, maybe at least get paid for your vacation. Regardless, while Eames is off next week, you'll be working."

Bobby nodded. "And do I get a partner?"

"That's the other thing," Ross added, with not a little trepidation. "He's not giving you a partner. For the most part you'll be on desk duty."

"For the most part?" Bobby repeated. "What the hell is that supposed to mean? When I do go out, I don't have a partner?" He was getting more angry by the minute. "He is trying to get me killed, isn't he?"

"Goren, that won't happen. At the very least, I'll go with you. Nobody goes without a partner. You know that."

"Sorry, Captain," Bobby said, calming a little. "I do know that. I just don't get the Chief. I swear he's out to get me."

"And I told you before you're sounding paranoid. Don't let him get something else on you."

"Okay, Captain.," Bobby said. Somehow Ross didn't think he'd heard the end of this.

Back in the bullpen, Bobby sat at his desk.

"What'd he tell you?"Alex asked.

"Well, looks like I don't get a vacation. Apparently I used mine while on suspension, according to the Chief."

"Some vacation," Alex said, miffed. "You didn't even get paid. It was nothing but worry and scrambling to make ends meet….that asshole. So you have to work—did he set you up with a partner? Is Bishop coming back?"

'No, he thinks I can do it on my own. Ross said he'd do it, but he really can't…"

"Just don't do anything on your own." She stared at him, knowing full well he wouldn't hesitate to go out by himself. "Promise me!"

"Alright, I promise."

"Bobby, you better."

"Alright. I said I wouldn't, and I won't."

Alex gathered her things. "Well, guess I'll be seeing you in about two weeks."

"Yeah." Bobby still wasn't happy.

"I'll call you, maybe we can get dinner one night, unless we end up going somewhere."

"That'd be great!" Bobby said, a little happier. "But don't stay home from anything on my account."

"I won't. I'll give you a call and let you know what's going on."

"Okay. Whatever you do, just have fun. Maybe you can work something out after all." He gave her a little smile, which made her rotten day a whole lot better. She loved that elusive little smile.

Watching her leave, Bobby sighed. This was going to be a long two weeks..

tbc