A Connoisseur of Women
A/N: Just a note, this starts after Masquerade but then no longer follows canon, which means Bobby's mom is okay and none of the other bad stuff happens either.
One word of warning, I promised everyone that I was going to redouble my efforts in the smut department so some of these chapters are going to be scorching, lol.
I wanted to dedicate this story to Superfelix. Your reviews have encouraged me and your stories have entertained and inspired me. Thanks for sharing all of your talents.
Please read, review and enjoy!
Chapter 1: Just Desserts
"What the hell is this?" Alex asked Captain Ross, tossing the invitation she had just received on his desk.
The Captain sat back with an exasperated sigh and looked at his detective. "I don't know how many times I have to remind you and Goren that this is Major Case and I plan on running things differently than Deakins. Our department is always in the spotlight. We handle the press cases, the cases with sticky political situations attached to them."
"So?" Alex said with as much disrespect as she could put into one word.
"So, my detectives are seen on TV, they're written about in the news and whether they like it or not they are public figures." He tossed the invitation back toward the corner of his desk that Eames was standing at. "This came to my attention, I felt that it was an honor you deserved and I think it is a good media opportunity for you, as a member of my department, to shine.
"It says I have to give a speech."
"So, have your partner write it." Ross flipped his hand in the direction of Bobby's desk. "His reports read like a James Patterson novel anyway, I'm sure he's capable of writing a ten minute speech."
Alex stood looking at her superior officer and felt a small sense of gratification when he squirmed slightly in his seat. "Thank you for the recommendation, sir." She said flatly and turned on her heel and exited the office.
She sat back down at her desk. More than anything, she wanted to lay her head down on that desk and then bang it repeatedly against the hard surface. She couldn't do that, Ross was sure to be watching her. Since that first day when Ross had told her to keep Bobby in check, she had been acutely aware of his ability to look out of his office window and see every move she and Bobby made. She knew Deakins must have watched them also but she had never felt like a bug under a microscope while he had occupied that office.
"What's wrong?" Bobby asked her, looking up from his report.
"Not here and not now, okay?" She told him through clenched teeth.
"Okay, we've only got an hour til lunch. Where do you want to go, my treat?"
"The Five Palms Grill."
"I, uh, I don't know that one. Where is it?" He put his pen down and looked at her squarely.
Alex sighed, "In Maui."
Bobby's features lit up and he gave her a playful grin. "Oh, do you want me to book first class or is coach okay?'' He handed her a stack of reports. "Seriously though, we should finish up these on Amberleigh's case and take a very long lunch."
"Alright, what still needs to be done?" They worked steadily for over an hour and finally they were both satisfied with the report.
Down in the garage, Alex flipped the keys to her partner. "You drive."
"Uh, oh, this must be serious." He said catching the keys in one hand. "Where are we going?"
Alex climbed in and buckled her seatbelt. She pulled the invitation from her purse and handed it to her partner.
Bobby read in silence but halfway through, his face broke into a big grin. "This is awesome! You totally deserve it. I don't see what the problem is?" He put the car in gear and started to drive.
"Let's just go to The Garage, okay?" Alex was referring to one of their favorite haunts, The Garage Restaurant and Café. The waitstaff there knew them and could always be counted on to get their orders to them as fast as possible. The food was great too. "The problem, Det. Goren, is me."
The invitation was from the New York City Guild of Women Professionals. Once a year, they sponsored an event wherein ten women were given awards for being pillars of their respected fields and were asked to give a speech about why they chose their particular areas of expertise and what they hoped to accomplish in the future. Thousands of names were submitted every year but only ten were chosen by the committee.
Bobby understood immediately what an honor it was for her to be chosen. It was a testament to Eames' track record with the NYPD as well as the glowing letter the Captain must have written about her. He was very proud of her and couldn't imagine why she wasn't more pleased about accepting the award. She wasn't talking, so Bobby kept silent too. Whatever the matter was, she would tell him when she was ready and not before.
He let the valet take the car, for once and soon they were seated in their favorite booth. Bobby then spread his hands wide indicating that there was no time like the present.
"Ugh, its embarrassing!" She finally succumb to her first instinct and laid her forehead on the tabletop.
"This from a woman who worked vice? Come on, tell me." He cajoled her. "It can't be the speech?"
Alex just looked at him helplessly.
"It's the speech?" Bobby looked back at her in disbelief. "Eames, you talk to people all day long. You interrogate them, for crying out loud."
"Not a few hundred of them at a time, I don't. I've never been good in situations like that, Bobby. I get tongue-tied and lose my place." She was unconsciously tearing her napkin to shreds. "And it's not just giving the speech, what am I supposed to say?"
"You tell them that you chose your career to honor and continue the years of service your family has given in the protection of this city and you tell them what your goals are." He told her simply.
The waitress came and took their orders. Alex waited until she was gone. "That's just it, I don't have any goals."
Bobby had been prepared for just about any argument she could hand him, but he had no answer for that. "Why not?" Was all he could think of to say.
"Well, let me ask you what your goals are, Bobby?" She countered back to him. He was silent. "See, its not so easy, is it?"
He waved a hand impatiently in the air. "Of course it is. It's different for me. I'm doing what I want to do." Bobby then remembered something she had said during their first year as partners. "I seem to recall Deakins teasing you about you bucking for Sergeant and you told him to forget about Sergeant, that he better hold on to his own Captain's bars."
"Why haven't you ever taken the Sergeant's exam?" She asked him softly.
He shifted his position uncomfortably. "I've always tried to be honest about my strengths," he glanced up at her, "and my weaknesses. I don't think I have what it takes to maneuver the constant political red tape of a supervisory position." He stopped and took a drink of his club soda. "And, I would miss the chase too much."
Alex nodded in understanding. "I used to be very ambitious. I wanted it all. I wanted to go as high as I could go." She looked at the bubbles rising in her glass of soda. "But……"
"What happened?" He asked, his voice barely above a whisper. One of his biggest fears was that somehow, he was holding her back.
"Frank Adair happened." Alex missed the rush of air that escaped from her partner's throat. "Working with Deakins over the years opened my eyes to what his primary duties really were, mainly taking the brunt of the crap that rolled downhill from the brass." Their food arrived and they both tucked in. They knew from experience it was important to eat before the next call came in and there was never any knowing when that would be "I know my strengths and weaknesses too, Bobby. I could never put up with that crap and keep my mouth shut."
Bobby laughed, nearly choking on his Ruben sandwich. His partner reached behind him and thumped him on his back. "You do know," he said, when he finally regained his breath, "that whacking a choking person on the back does nothing and might even cause…"
"You eat with me almost everyday. Don't piss off the person most likely to administer the Heimlich maneuver when you really need it." She said dryly.
Bobby laughed again and continued to cough. "I actually happen to think you would make an excellent Captain, Eames."
"I think I would too. That's not what I said. I said I wouldn't be able to take it. I wouldn't be happy." She took another bite of her burger. "I feel the same as you, I would miss the chase."
They ate in silence for awhile, each lost in their own thoughts.
Bobby pushed his plate away first. "So your problem is that you don't think you'll sound very ambitious and impressive enough if you say you're happy where you are now?"
"Its more than just that, though. These awards are supposed to be inspirational to young women all over the city. What kind of roll model am I by saying, go here," she raised her hand off the table, "and no higher?"
"I suppose it depends on what lesson you're trying to impart to them." Bobby rubbed a finger over his lips. "You know, we've never really talked about our personal philosophies. What is it you believe in? What gets you through a tough case? How do you sleep at night when we fail?"
"Your serious?" She asked him and he nodded. "Okay, I think, I believe we are put here to do our best, that we're given strengths to use in the best way we know how. I can sleep at night when I know that we tried our hardest, that we left no stone unturned."
"Alright, do you think less of me because I don't possess the talents of political savoir-faire?" He raised his eyebrows at her questioningly.
"Of course not!"
"Then why do you think less of yourself or your contribution because you choose to stay where you feel your talents are put to the greatest good?"
She leaned closer to him and dropped her voice to a conspiratorial tone. "This is why I love you, Detective Goren."
"So you're saying you plan on keeping me around?" He matched her tone and twisted his face into a sardonic smile.
"I'm saying that I'll go to the damn awards banquet if you'll help me write my speech." She took another sip of soda and then winked at him. "And I plan to keep you, always."
"I love you too, Detective Eames, now tell me, when were you in Maui?"