Title: Truth
Disclaimer: All rights belong to the other rightful owners of the 'Law & Order' brand.
A/N: I really should be working some more on "Hope" but I've hit a brick wall for the time-being with that story. But, worry not, I will eventually get back to it! This is my homage to "Brother's Keeper" I felt I needed to write something and this little ficlet just happened. I actually don't think this episode needed alot of "post-epping" as it was pretty perfect as it was, but where the writers leave blanks, we fan fiction writers take up our pens and proceed to fill in those blanks. I guess we can't help it, huh? Anyway, nothing I write will ever do justice for Vincent's acting in this episode! I don't think any written word I put down would break your heart as much as he did mine...! Ah, but do enjoy... (Set immediately after the entire brother reunion scene.)
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His shoulders raised high and his chin turned up, his entire body language was trying so hard to reassure her and himself that everything was alright. And maybe to the untrained eye, that would be what they perceived: an unaffected, strictly professional, impossible to break, strong-willed man. But she knew well enough her own partner to know what was really going on inside his head. He'd tried averting his eyes, shielding them by gazing out the window as he sat beside her in the car. She caught enough to read him like an open book.
He'd said barely anything as they pulled out into traffic and made their way back downtown. She normally wouldn't press him, it was none of her business after all... But there was such a sadness in that glimpse of his eyes that she could feel her own heart breaking for no apparent reason. There was enough evidence before her for her to know at least part of the reason for this silent sadness, but like always, there was that murky dark area in which to tread lightly. One where she had tried a few times to venture into and ended up getting herself stuck in its depths.
From the corner of her eye she saw him shift his weight and sigh quietly to himself, still fixated on the window and the passing scenery. She made a quick adjustment to the heat, noting that without a coat he must have been cold. And she turned her attention back to the road.
"Love," she began softly, gaining a small glance from him in her peripheral vision, "it's tough."
A moment or two passed before she dared to look over at him, and when she did she met his saddened but understanding eyes, "Yeah." he replied finally before turning back to the window, "They never tell you that."
"No," she shook her head and eased the car off the avenue and down a quiet street, "But it's always worth it."
Stopped at a red light, Alex turned in her chair to face him, beckoning his eyes to look at her, if just to let him know she was actually there. He lost the battle, of course, and looked at her with gratitude. Gratitude he often didn't acknowledge he had, but was always in the back of his mind.
"Thank you, Eames."
She just smiled at him and drove forward through the intersection. The rest of the drive back downtown was in complete silence.