Disclaimer: I don't own any of these characters.
Spoiler: Season Four: False-Hearted Judges.
In that episode Goren and Eames put Lloyd Wilkes away after he killed several judges in retaliation for losing custody of his son.
This story takes place a few weeks later.
Character's thoughts are in italics.
--
Alex stabs repeatedly at her nightstand, trying to find her phone. Once she's successful, she flips it open, "Eames". She answers the phone even though she's barely conscious.
"Eames, it's Deakins. Get up and get to your door. NYPD SWAT will be knocking in about ninety seconds. We have a major situation."
Alex sits up, she's suddenly completely awake. She throws on the pajama bottoms that matches her shirt and heads down her hallway. "I'm listening, Captain."
"Lloyd Wilkes escaped while being transported from his court appearance. He's taking revenge on everyone who put him away. Judge Freeman has been shot and killed. Carver was also shot, he's still with us but he's fighting for his life. The logical next step for Wilkes is to find you and Goren."
She hears pounding on her door. She moves toward the door but continues speaking to Deakins. "Where's Bobby?"
"We're rounding him up now, too. Go with the SWAT team, once you're in their vehicle, they'll have our rendezvous point. I'll see you in twenty minutes."
Alex peers though her peep hole then opens the door. She sees four men, layered in Kevlar and heavily armed.
"Detective Eames, you have two minutes to pack a bag. Hurry."
Alex doesn't argue. She does as she's told and gets out of her apartment.
--
The meeting place is an empty warehouse in the Bronx. The Chief of D's is there, along with Deakins and Lieutenant Thomas , the head of the SWAT team. Just as Alex exits the van she was in, another pulls up and Goren steps out. They exchange a quick glance before Lt. Thomas addresses them.
"Detectives, as you've already been told, Lloyd Wilkes has escaped. And given the fact that he's killed Judge Freeman, and attempted to kill ADA Carver, we believe his next targets are the two of you." Thomas pauses but no one interrupts him so he continues. "We are working with the FBI to find this guy, but in the mean time, we need to get the two of you out of circulation. Immediately."
Bobby can't help but protest, "I think we'd able to help to find him."
Deakins responds to his detective, "That's out of the question. This guy is a hunter, and a disciplined one at that. We've seen his skill, and we can't take any chances." Deakins keeps his eye contact with Bobby. "Goren, we can stash you in an office upstairs. It's bleak but you'll manage." Then he turns to Alex. "I've arranged for you to be brought to a convent out in Patterson, you'll be safe there."
Bobby's eyes widen as he hears Deakins' plan. "Captain, no! If we're going into hiding, we're going together." Then he lowers his voice, so only the planning team and Eames could hear him. "I know a place… a place that we'll be safe."
Deakins already figured that Bobby wouldn't approve of the original plan, so he isn't surprised that his detective has another option in mind. He just hopes everyone else will go for it.
Thomas speaks up, "I don't know, Detective, I think it's better if we control your surroundings."
Bobby is getting angry and he's trying to control his voice, "I don't agree, Lieutenant. I can get Eames and myself to a safe location, and we can wait this out there. I like knowing we're together, in case he does find either one of us."
Thomas gives Deakins and the chief a concerned look, then the chief speaks, "If you like Goren's plan, I'll approve it. It's up to you, Thomas."
Goren looks to Eames. He sees she looks mad, but she nods her willingness to trust him. He nods back then turns to the men and begins to speak quickly.
"We'll need a no-name cell phone, and some spending cash."
"That's it?" Deakins asks.
"Yes. Well, I also need to make a phone call. My buddy will drop off a car for us out in Bronxville. You get us there, and we'll be gone."
Deakins looks at Alex. "Eames, are you okay with this? Would you rather stick with the original plan?"
Alex shakes her head, "I like Goren's plan, Captain. But, I do have concerns for my family." Bobby notices she sounds upset, but he can't tell if it's with him or the situation.
Deakins briefly touches Alex's forearm, "I should have said something sooner, we have detectives at your parents' home. Your dad is giving them the addresses of your brother's and sister's and we'll send unit's to sit watch over them as well." Then he looks at Goren, he knows what his answer will be, but he feels it isn't right not to ask. "Goren, is there anyone…" He lets the question trail off as he sees Bobby shake his head. He speaks softly and Alex is certain she senses uneasiness or possibly embarrassment from Bobby so she looks down as he speaks. "Uh, no…no sir. My mom is safe where she is…and well…that's all I need to worry about."
Thomas walks over to his vehicle, then returns with a cell phone. "Use this to call your friend. Give captain Deakins your own phones, I don't even want them with you incase he has the ability to track with GPS. We'll have your no-name cell and your cash here in a few minutes. Then once your friend has the car in place, we'll move."
"Okay, Lieu." Bobby looks at Alex once Thomas walks away again. Once she realizes he's reading her she changes her expression and gives him a small smile.
He sees beyond the smile. He knows she trusts him, but he's certain he also sees apprehension and anger. He motions with his head toward a quiet corner, he wants to ask her if she's really okay with all this, but she shakes hers back at him and walks away.
--
One hour later:
They're settled in the car, heading north on I95. Alex isn't saying a word and Bobby keeps glancing over at her as he tries to decide whether to speak or not. He knows she's pissed, but he's clueless past that.
He hesitates a little as he begins, "Do…do you want to know where we're going?" He peeks over at her, she's staring forward as he drives.
"Whatever."
He bites his lip a little. He knows he's in for it.
--
Two hours later:
Bobby ventures to speak again. "I could sure use a bathroom break, how 'bout you?"
"Whatever."
SHIT.
--
Three hours later:
Bobby pulls off the exit and Alex stirs. She had fallen asleep just as they crossed the border from Connecticut to Massachusetts. Now they were in Vermont. Alex straightens herself up as she takes in their surroundings. Bobby pulls into a Price Chopper parking lot and finds a parking spot.
"Where are we?" Alex sounds sleepy and it tugs a little at Bobby's heart.
He knows she's mad about something, so he keeps his answer brief. He's hoping not to add to her mood. "We're in Brattleboro Vermont. We'll get some food and head to the house."
She snaps at him. "And will I ever get to know where that is? Or are you in charge of that, also?"
Okay, now I know why she's mad. I asked her before and she gave me "whatever." What the hell? Was I supposed to answer her?
Instead of answering her, again Bobby ignores her and gets out of the car.
--
They get their food and supplies and drive down dirt roads for about twenty minutes. In what seems to be the middle of know-where, Bobby slows down and turns into a driveway. The driveway is steep and full of twists and turns. Alex can't quite see out the windows because it's so dark, but she can tell they are going deep into the woods. After about a mile, they take a sharp left turn and drive through a clearing. Then just beyond the clearing she see's a circular driveway and then as the car rounds the driveway, the head lights shine on a house.
"Who's house is this?"
"It belongs to Lewis' family. His dad built in the early sixties. It took him two years. I was lucky enough be invited up here when I was a kid..."
--
The house is a small A-Frame that looks a bit worn, but still in decent enough shape. Ten stairs lead up to a narrow porch that runs the length of the house. Directly in the middle of the porch is a storm door, and Alex assumes that leads to a small entryway, and the front door is inside of that. Wood is piled up on either side of the door, and beyond the wood are various things like a broom, an axe, and an old wooden bench.
She sits in the car and watches Bobby as he gets out of it. He leaves the car running and the headlights on, but still uses a flashlight as he climbs the stairs and makes his way across the porch to the door. She see's him feel around the doorframe, she assumes it's for a key. Alex can't help but roll her eyes. How fucking original is that?
Once he finds the key and unlocks the door, he comes back to her and she grabs her bag and some groceries as she gets out of the car.
--
Bobby enters the house first and turns on some lights as he makes his way through the rooms. "I'm gonna go down stairs and turn on the water."
Alex doesn't acknowledge him as she slowly makes her way inside.
The inside of the cabin is dated but clean. There is an industrial grade red rug that runs from the front door through the kitchen. As Alex starts down the hall, she sees a bathroom on her left and a bedroom on her right. The kitchen is next. It's got a red countertop that doesn't quite match the carpet, but she has a feeling it wasn't meant to. It also has an adorable diamond shaped window over the sink and she can imagine that the daytime view from it must be serene.
She steps through the kitchen to the living room. The red rug stopps at the kitchen's boundary, now there is hard wood floor and a blue, pink and white area rug in the middle of the room. There is a blue couch on one side, two blue and white chairs on the other. Next to the chairs is a round, wooden kitchen table and six chairs. The furniture is all old but functional, she feels cozy and a sense of comfort as she stands in the middle of the room. The far end of the living room is not a wall, but a large sliding glass door that looks like it opens up to another deck. Alex finds herself looking forward to the morning so she can get a better look at their surroundings.
As she turns she sees a beautiful stone fireplace with a wood stove insert built in. There is a hand carved sign above it that reads, "Tall Timbers". Alex reaches up and touches the outline of the letters. Bobby comes up from the basement and sees her admiring the sign.
"Lewis' dad made that sign when we were little kids. I was here when he hung it up. And this fireplace…he put this together stone by stone. He said it took seven months to build."
Despite being angry, she couldn't help her response. "It's beautiful."
He stands behind her and watches her. He's afraid to say anything, he's hoping her mood is softening.
After a few minutes, Alex speaks. "So, there's only one bedroom?"
"Uh, yeah."
"Okay then, I'm exhausted and it's almost morning so I'm gonna get some sleep." She grabs her bag and disappears into the bedroom. A minute later, she uses the bathroom, then goes back to the bedroom and closes the door.
Bobby finds he's not surprised by her actions. He waits until she's closed the bedroom door, then he uses the bathroom. After that he removes his jeans, grabs a throw pillow and blanket and gets comfy on the couch. Even though he can see the pitch blackness of the night starting to soften at the beginning of daylight, he falls asleep in minutes.
--
Tbc…