The Meaning of Family

After finishing a case. Alex Eames looks over at her partner. For as long as she has known him, she has come to know how he spent his Christmas. He would go see his mom. Spend time with her then go home and spend the rest of the Christmas alone. She on the other hand went to her moms house and spent Christmas with her family. Now he has no one, well he had no one to begin with but she wasn't about to tell him that. His mom just past away. His brother he don't want anything to do with. She couldn't stand the fact of him being alone for Christmas, but while his mom was here she knew better than to ask him to go with her. He couldn't leave his mom for Christmas, she knew that. Now on the other hand, how was she supposed to leave him knowing he'd be alone. She knew what his answer would be. But it doesn't hurt to ask.

"Bobby?" She said.

"Huh," he says while looking up to see her smiling down at him.

"You know my family likes you Bobby. They say we make a great team. And well every year they ask if your ever going to come over to see them for Christmas……"

"Uh huh," Bubby smiles while giving her that smug look he knows she hates. it's the look he gets when he knows what she is about to say but is having to much fun watching her beat around the bush.

Alex rolls her eyes. She knows that look very well. "Ok I already know the answer but I will ask it anyway. Will you go with me to spend time with my family?"

He smiles, but says nothing

"Fine ok," she says as she walks over and puts her hand on his shoulder, "I'm leaving tonight if you change your mind. Ill call you ok?"

"Ok call me as soon as you get there so I know your ok." Bobby pleads

She smiles, "ok I will." She allows her hand to slid across his back as she leaves. "Merry Christmas Bobby!"

"Merry Christmas Alex"

Four hours later Bobby is still at his desk sifting through paper work. Half of which is stuff that is from previous cases that they never finished or got to.

"I thought I told you to go home," says Ross coming out of his office.

"Just catching up on some paper work."

Ross walks toward Gorens desk "Do that after Christmas it will still be there."

"But I want to do it now so we don't have it when we get back"

"Goren it is Christmas eve go home." Ross stops in front of Gorens desks and smiles at him. "Besides whats all this coming back stuff, you never leave."

They both share a laugh.

"Ok well then im going home since by the looks of it I cant persuade you to go home."

"Ok cap."

Walking to the door, captain Ross turns around. "Bobby?"

"Yeah," says Bobby surprised that the captain used his first name, instead of the usuall last name base.

"Don't stay to late ok." Ross stars at him

"Ok Cap I won't."

Bobby!!

"I won't." Bobby assures him. "I'll go home as soon as im done."

"Promise Bobby."

Bobby looks at him and smiles. "Scouts Honor," He says holding his hand up.

"Ok," the caption laughs, "Merry Christmas Bobby"

"Merry Christmas Captain"

They both wave each other goodbye and Ross turns and walks done the hall to the elevator.

Once he is gone Bobby's phone rings. "Goren," he says when he picks it up.

"Hows the paper work?"

Not hard to recognize that voice, Bobby thinks to himself. "I take it you got there safely?"

"Nope i'm stuck in a ditch in the middle of nowhere and decided to call and chat." She chuckles

"Haha ill remember that." He says.

"Im pretty sure you will," she tells him. "Yes I got here safe and sound."

"Hi Bobby" her mother yells from the background, "When are you going to come and see us?"

He chuckles, "tell her i said HI, and maybe when theres not so much work to do."

"Well ill let you go ok. See you when I get back ok."

"Ok," Bobby tells her.

"Bye Bobby"

"Its not goodbye Alex its see you later."

She smiles altough he can't see her. "Ok Bobby cya later"

"Cya later tell everyone I said Merry Christmas."

"Got it." She says as she hangs up the phone.

Bobby sifts through paperwork for the next five hours. By time he is done it is 1 o-clock in the morning. Well merry Christmas mom, bobby says as he puts everything back in their folders. He opens his file cabnet and he pauses. He reaches in and pulls out a perfectly wrapped present. Bobby puts the present on his desk and procedes to put away the papers. After he is done he sits up and looks at the present. On top lay a card. With big bold letters. BOBBY. He recognized the hand writing. It was Alex's. he grabed the card and opened it.

Bobby

I knew you wouldn't come. See how well I know you Bobby Goren. SCARY HUH? :) I wish you would have came I know you would have liked it. You should come with me sometime. My family would like that. I would like that. You know I have had a lot of partners over the years, but none quite like you. I heard a lot about you before we met but I thought those were just rumors. Nope they were true. But they got one thing wrong. Out of all thing things I heard about you they never told me how great you were, I guess they were never able to see what I have had the privilage to see over the years. That is that you are the sweetest most generous man i've ever met. You're like a little puppy in a bears body. You treat me like an equal. Which is a hell of a lot more than what I can say about my other partners. You never look down on me because I am a girl. Yes you do get a little over protective at times but I like that. It shows that you care. I wouldn't trade you for the world Bobby Goren. Remember that. I will always be there for you no matter how far away I am, and I know you'll be there for me. MERRY CHRISTMAS BOBBY

Yours truly

ALEX