"Queen of Spades"
Copyright 2007 Penn O'Hara
T
Usual disclaimers apply.
LOCI Timeline: Post "War at Home".
My Timeline: Post "Fold", which really should be read before continuing with this one…
This is still my LOCI universe where Goren and Eames were forced to be intimate in "A Shift of Axis", their developing relationship nipped in the bud by Eames' bad recovery after "Blind Spot".
oOo
Prologue
Excerpt from "Fold" with minor adjustments based on earlier feedback.
oOo
He feathered his fingers down the side of her face, apologizing for his inability to feel a closeness to her that might endure. It didn't seemed important to her, but it tore at his sense of worth as a man.
She lay still as if sleeping, ignoring his mute regret.
Dragging himself from her, Bobby Goren went in search of his clothes, his earlier tension gone, but replaced by a heaviness of heart and self-loathing.
In the bathroom, he stared at his reflection, leaning heavily on the basin and supporting a weight that was more mental than physical. His eyes were half-closed, refusing to look into a damaged soul. Angry red marks on his neck extended into full-blown scratches from his shoulders around to his back and a set of teeth-marks branded one shoulder. Smoothing his hands through his short curls, his hair bounced back into a semblance of order. Clothes would cover most of the evidence of his weakness, but he couldn't erase the self-derision from the down-turn of his mouth.
Pushing away from the basin, Goren sorted through his clothes. The shirt was torn beyond repair, his trousers clasp damaged but still operational, and one of his jacket buttons was missing. Stuffing his shirt into his jacket pocket, he donned the trousers and fastened the jacket as best he could, then, with leaden feet, left the hotel room.
The woman on the bed didn't move.
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Intending to trash his clothes, shower and set out for Carmel Ridge in the hope that his mother would understand he hadn't deserted her, Goren headed his car toward home.
He parked in the street, then loped into the building, praying he wouldn't be seen in a damaged coat with bare chest. Taking the flight of steps to his floor two at a time, he rounded the banister, and was brought up short by the sight of Alex Eames sitting on the floor, her back propped against his front door.
She looked up, her eyes narrowing as she took in his dishábille. Goren watched the slide-show of shock, concern and realization shutter across her face. Disgust was the last thing he saw before she pulled in her lips and pushed herself to her feet.
Holding out a cell phone, she walked toward him.
"You left this on your desk," she said, her jaw grinding over the words.
Her gaze raked his body but she didn't break stride as she handed over his phone and passed him on the landing.
"I'm not even going to ask," she said, then walked down the stairs, the heels of her boots angrily clicking against the well-trod wood.
The woman had been wrong when she assured Goren, no strings attached.
They were attached but unraveling fast.
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"Alex."
Goren closed his eyes as his stomach dropped. Tension clawed at his shoulders and he rolled his neck trying to ease it.
She didn't even break stride, her footsteps growing fainter but still reverberating with anger.
"Alex!"
Goren ran down the corridor and swung into the stairwell.
"Alex!"
He was tempted to propel himself after her, but reason made him cling onto the railing and hover there. They both needed the light of day to work through this, a night to sleep it off and look at things calmly.
And he couldn't go to her with the smell of another woman on him.
Retracing his steps, Goren's fingers fumbled for the keys in his pocket and managed to jab them into his door lock. Letting himself into his apartment, he headed for the shower, his feet dragging across the carpet.
What are we doing, Alex?
Goren didn't know what was right or wrong for them anymore, but he knew that to go back to what they were would be as difficult as exploring and developing what they had become. He knew where the greatest reward lay but doubted his ability to convince Alex.
Hot water steamed off his back as he hung his head and tortured his mind with the looming possibility of failure.
oOo
Chapter One
Stepping over the threshold of the Major Case Captain's office, Goren noted Alex wasn't with Ross as he'd hoped.
She wasn't at her desk when he arrived late for work this morning, but he assumed she was elsewhere in the building, maybe even avoiding him.
"Sit down, Detective," Ross said before closing the door and rounding his desk to settle back into his own chair. Goren remained standing, but Ross didn't seem to notice.
"Sorry I'm late, Capt—"
Ross waved away Goren's apology, evidence that the frown on his face was caused by something other than Goren's tardiness. "We've been sent a new addition to Major Case. The command came through early this morning, without warning, which I'm not happy about, but I'm even more concerned now."
Goren swung his head round with interest, momentarily abandoning his search of the bullpen for a sign of Alex.
"You've got a new partner—" Ross held up his hand at the jerk of Goren's body. "Albeit a temporary one. The Chief of Ds informed me we're to train this one, up and out, but, as you know, we have an interested source in his office—"
Goren nodded, shuffling his feet with impatience to hunt down Alex' whereabouts. "Barek…"
Ross' eyes glittered with humor. "Yes, well, it seems she has not only Logan's best interests at heart, but also yours."
All impatience vanished from Goren as his body froze.
"Unofficially… and I'm sure, against orders from Bradshaw, Carolyn Barek has asked me to warn you that your new partner is to report back to the Chief on your performance as a Detective and your…general…state of mind. It seems there's some concern in HQ that—"
"Bullshit!" Goren exploded into movement, leaning forward and punching his fist onto the Captain's desk. His body vibrating with latent rage, he snarled at Ross, who merely held up a hand.
"Your…somewhat erratic behavior, Detective," Ross said calmly, "has been noted, and reported… but not by me. I like this less than you. With Wheeler away on temporary assignment, I've got two detectives breaking in new partners and Eames out in the cold." Ross palmed his desk and pushed himself to his feet. "Your job, now, is to placate Bradshaw and his mole, for want of a better word, and send—"
A knock at the door had Goren swinging his gaze toward the interruption. Alex was outside, her face wiped neutral as she waited for permission to enter. Bobby pushed himself upright and scrubbed his face with the palm of his hand, his heart quickening.
"Eames is back after showing your new partner around," Ross said, finally feeding Goren's curiosity about Alex' absence from her desk.
Ross waved in Eames and the detective behind her.
Goren's eyes strafed the face of the newcomer and his blood ran cold.
Clutching for the side of Ross' desk, Bobby looked into the equally startled eyes of the woman he had bedded last night.
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tbc...
A/N: With a tough year behind me, I can now recoup, regroup, recharge and lose my negativity and find time again for the things I love.