The World Kept Turning.
The story is set obviously after Frame but chapters 2, 3, 4 will travel back to Endgame.
And just before, but it will make sense in the end.
But starts at Frame, when Gage sets him free…remember Goren shouting at the ME?
Reviews welcome
Note; Character thought in italics.
I have amended this story slightly.
Chapter 1.
"You know you scared her Bobby."
Eames was driving. He quickly glanced over as her mouth finished forming the words that made him wince.
Even now he had no idea why he'd shouted at Rodgers; it wasn't her fault. She was purely the wrong person, wrong place, at simply the wrong time.
Had he frightened her?
That certainly hadn't been his intention. He liked Elizabeth Rodgers, over the years he'd come to feel at ease around her.
Years before she told them there was a reason she worked with dead people, that had made him smile, it was a snark he'd expect from his partner not Rodgers. She was a smart lady and a good M.E. and she was usually okay with his questions and his touching of the bodies and she was not afraid to tell him when he was wrong or he was right.
Yes he liked her.
When he'd decided to have a paternity test done, he'd gone to her. She'd asked very few questions. Best of all, she offered no opinion. But she had promised to say nothing, and then Boom of all the people to tell. Ross.
The visit down to see her had started alright. He'd planned on simply asking her why she had told the Captain about his paternity. Okay maybe he was naive in expecting it to remain a secret, but he needed to keep the truth to himself a little while longer try to understand where he stood. One thing was for certain he just wasn't ready for the questions that would be asked. Damn it, he had no answers for his own questions, let alone anyone else's.
When he'd entered, Rodgers had just glanced up at him. Almost as if she expected him, which with hindsight maybe she had. Their conversation started okay, and then it all sort of became hazy. His temper simply exploded he'd started shouting, and she - she'd backed away from him.
She'd backed away from him
His hand ran through his hair it was if he were watching himself self destruct the more he'd tried to stop the more he shouted. He was locked in a never ending loop.
Alex didn't miss the movement of his hands, or the twitching. He needed to work this out himself. She could actually almost see the cogs of his brain spinning trying to sort through the information. If he wanted to behave like he was alone then fine, but he wasn't.
It was easier to slip through his defences when he least expected it, rather than a direct attack. Her words about Rodgers were to remind him that people cared for him. When hurt Goren could lash out, in the Captains office he came close to almost landing a punch, she had known he wouldn't and Ross had stood his ground. But her partner was his own worst enemy when wounded. The twitch of his eyebrow, and the smirk had caused Alex to inwardly groan.
It was a taunt, something he did to those who he knew were unsure around him. She knew him well enough to know the taunt was bravado in this case because he was scared. Hence the ME's office.
Glancing at him again, she saw his turmoil and confusion and a large amount of fear and hurt. Bobby Goren, her partner, friend, best friend. The man was a mystery to himself.
Bobby's mind was back in the ME's office. They'd been talking, he'd been calm then he'd got this overwhelming gut wrenching fear like a cold hand in his stomach. He'd felt his control slipping and the only way to beat the fear down was to react. He hadn't been able to explain, Goren the man with words for everything couldn't say he was afraid. Instead he'd gotten angry and Rodger had been the target of it.
The train crash that was his life...his life what a joke, it could be a soap on the TV. One in which it seemed everyone appeared as merely "contract players," not destined to be signed for the whole series. His mother, father - both of them, now his brother and Nicole, may as well count Gage into that, too.
His family now only Donny was left, yet even his nephew seemed to have chosen to make a fleeting guest appearance.
Rodgers had backed away from him.
He had scared her. She'd called for help. Eames and Ross had arrived before he had chance to regain his composure. He'd knocked the instrument tray over as they'd come in.
He'd was so damned angry, with everything, everyone. Ross and Eames had entered almost together only the look on Eames face had reached him, her look of shock, anger and something he just could not place on her face brought him up short.
Re- playing her words, words through his head… "I'll keep you in the loop" …. "Let's take a walk"….. "You've been gas lighted"…she'd always been on his side.
His words to her meant to reach out not to hurt. "Don't - don't take that side" Yet he knew as he said them his side wasn't always a good place to be. If they'd been alone he'd have…what would he have done? Reached out, taken that step towards her. He just didn't know anymore. She could reach out and had but could he? Would he?
Eames was obviously waiting for an answer or some sign he'd heard her…"Bobby…did you hear me?"
He glanced over as she spoke. Do I hear her?
Jesus Alex yours is the only voice I need to hear you, without you I'm....
"Goren"
"Yes, I heard."
"Sometimes Bobby for a smart man you just don't get it. Do you?"
He could hear the sadness in her voice.
We're partners. Bobby damn you I need you to be here with me.
His head hurt, she was his partner. He needed her.
Sometimes he would give everything to simply know what she was thinking, but other times he would give everything not to know.
"I I didn't mean to scare her, Eames. S..she knows that, right?" He could hear himself tumbling over the words. Desperate for conformation, he didn't, hadn't wanted to upset anyone least of all Rodgers, when all she'd tried to do was help him.
Bobby Goren you're an idiot but you're my idiot.
"I hope so. But smashing the place up didn't help. Okay you were pissed, at the situation, maybe a little at her, but Ross had to know."
She turned her head to look at him, he averted his eyes. Not willing for her to see he was scared. Because he knew just then that's just what she'd see and that would be too much. Because if she saw it. Then it had to be real.
"You do know that – Bobby?"
He kept his face from hers…please Eames not now
He heard her sigh. She was letting it go for now. Thank you
"I am sorry about Frank."
Shit. Frying pan to fire.
Why did she care so much?
"I know."
I need you Eames.
She was in traffic and couldn't pull over, but his voice was so raw it caused her to turn her head slightly to see him, immediately he turned his head away.
Jesus Bobby. he's scared.
"I'm here, Bobby."
His head had almost imploded, when had she learnt to read his mind.
Thank God she's driving. Turn keep your head turned away stupid, don't let her see your tears. Don't let her see you're scared. She's your partner, not your mother!
TBC