Total Eclipse

Prologue:

Sebastian stared down at the floor, his brow furrowed in consternation. How had this happened? It wasn't supposed to go down this way. Not at all. His planning, scheming and plotting had not allowed for such a scenario. He thought that he had accounted for every outcome, but looking at the dead man at his feet, he had to accept that he had never considered this one.

Shaking his head in disbelief, he sank down into the nearest chair and took a slow, cleansing breath. It didn't work. The rage began to form in the pit of his stomach and in a matter of moments it consumed him. He didn't even try to stop it and without a sound he began to kick the body of the man he had waited so long to visit and who had dared to die before him from an apparent heart attack.

How dare he! How dare he take the coward's way out? He silently stormed in the man's hotel room; kicking and punching the corpse. No answer was forthcoming and it infuriated him even more. All of his plans - ruined. He had waited so long to confront this man, to talk to him, to have him listen to his story! It wasn't right! It wasn't fair! This man had listened to the others - "Now you should have listened to me!!" Sebastian yelled with a final kick at the dead man whose face was now unrecognizable as even human.

He sat back down in the chair, breathing heavily, and still furious but in some control. He took a moment to make sure that he hadn't left any trace of his presence in the man's hotel room. When he spotted a large manila envelope on the bed, he was curious and went over to pick it up. A smile spread across his face as he read the label:

Sebastian

"Maybe I'll get my answers after all," he whispered. He put out the "Do Not Disturb" sign and sat down at the table, opening the envelope with a kind of reverence and slowly removed the large stack of papers and photos.

"It's all here," he thought nearly overcome with awe. "All of it."

He looked over at the corpse and smiled as he flipped through the pages. "Thank you, Declan Gage," he said casually, "Although I am sorry that we don't get to have a long heart to heart talk, I am ecstatic to have in my possession all of your notes. All your analysis, your observations," he came to abrupt halt. "What's this?"

Now, instead of skimming the pages, he began reading each one thoroughly enthralled. Here was something he hadn't known about. When he had finished, he stacked them all neatly and replaced them to the envelope. Returning his attention to the dead man, he knelt before him, addressing Declan as if the two of them were sitting down for a drink.

"How sad for you, Declan, that it had to end this way. How truly pathetic you are. Your failure to capture me cost you dearly, didn't it? You, and your daughter. So, after all these years, I present myself to you - ready to sit down and talk - really talk and what do you do?" Sebastian stopped to take a breath, feeling the rage begin to overtake him again. His face morphed into a mask of pure hate - "What do you do you fucking piece of crap? Huh? You die on me! You have a fucking heart attack and you die!"

Furious, he again kicked at Declan's corpse until his anger dissipated and he again had control.

"This isn't over, Declan," he whispered. "Not by a long shot." He clutched the envelope. "The entire case file," he murmured, grinning madly, "with a bonus section." His mind was already planning and scheming.

Chapter 1

Detective Bobby Goren thought that up until now he had handled every rotten thing that life had thrown at him. However, last year, a triple bomb had landed in his lap and in retrospect, he decided that he never recovered. Strike one had been losing Captain Deakins under a bitter cloud of disrespect by the department. Strike two had been nearly losing his partner to the psychopathic daughter of his former mentor and strike three had been his mother's illness.

When Bobby first learned of his mother's diagnosis of cancer, he had shut out his partner. He knew it and he knew that he had hurt her, but he had been unable and unwilling to accept her help. As irrational as he knew it was, he felt that letting her in would only make it more real and more painful. If he fought the battle on his own, devoted his time and energy to find a cure, then she might have a chance to beat death. That and he felt that she had enough to deal with regarding her captivity and Ross. He shoved those two issues to the back burner and focused on his mom.

Now with her impending death looming large over him like a cloud of doom, he knew that he'd handled it all wrong and the pain he felt from that was just as unbearable. But the latter pain had a possible solution if he could accept it. He felt like he was on the brink of losing it all: his mother, his partner, his job and his sanity. His brother was already gone. He had tried to help, but you couldn't help someone who didn't want to be helped. Listening to the Corliss v Riggins debate over God and Science had also set an emotional chain reaction into motion.

He berated himself for keeping his partner at bay for so long. He should have known that she wouldn't hover, or be overbearing if she at least knew what was going on. He should have known that just because she came from a large, close-knit family didn't mean that she didn't understand the need for privacy and personal space.

A week after the case concluded, he had had a 'breakdown', he called it. Alex had labeled it a breakthrough. She found him on her door step at 11:30 on a Friday night, bearing 2 bottles of wine and 3 six packs of beer. She had tied her velour robe more snugly against the bitter cold of the February night, staring at him standing on her porch with his shoulders slumped, his nose red with cold and shivering slightly.

"So, did you start this party without me?"" she quipped, unsure what frame of mind that her currently erratic partner was in.

"No," he said softly. "I - I came over to see if you'd take me back. I don't know where Frank is. Mom is getting worse. I've managed to piss off our Captain and I think - no - I know that I've hurt you - a lot. I've let you down and I think that's what is affecting me the most."

Eames just stared at him. It was probably the most personal thing he'd said to her in a longer time than she could remember. It instantly knocked her defenses down and she extended her arms out to him.

Hesitantly at first, he stepped forward just enough to allow her to grasp his arms. She was in her house shoes and he was in his work oxfords and their height difference was even more pronounced.

"Bobby, you're freezing - why didn't you get another coat?" She asked, her tone tinged with worry and irritation.

He shrugged, and then noticed that she was shivering as well.

"Come on, Eames; can we go inside before we both end up with pneumonia?" When she nodded, he hesitantly, wrapped his free arm around her and she snuggled up close and led him inside and went to the couch.

"Sit down," he told her, "and I'll put this stuff away in the fridge, if that's okay?"

"You thinking about trying to get me drunk?" She called out to his retreating back as she bundled herself under the afghan, listening to him move about her kitchen.

He didn't answer and she was about to go after him when he reappeared with a glass of wine and a beer. "Which one do you want?"

"You –are- trying to get me drunk!" she exclaimed.

Bobby shook his head. "No. You can drink as much or as little as you want. I - I need to talk with you."

Alex stared up at him. He was reaching out to her. Finally.

"Okay. The wine, I guess." She took the proffered glass.

Bobby nodded and sat down; not on the couch but on her overstuffed side chair and began to talk.

Alex listened.

At one point, rather than interrupt him and risk derailing his train of thought, she moved off the couch to sit on the floor at his feet.

Bobby had leaned forward, elbows on knees, head in hands, explaining, rationalizing, and apologizing. Alex didn't interrupt, letting him get it all out, thanking God that he had come to her before he completely lost his sanity.

By the time he'd finished, she thought she might scream if he apologized one more time so she quickly drained her glass and got up on her knees putting Bobby at face level. Gently she pried his hands down.

"Bobby - you've got to stop apologizing. I'm serious and you should know that you can't rid of me so easily. I know how hard this has been for you with your mom, and Captain Ross, but I'm here for you - I'll always be right here. You haven't lost me, but you have shut me out and I hope now that you can let me in, even a little. I know that you want your family to be private and I respect that. I do. But you can't do this all on your own. Nobody could."

Her partner scrubbed the stubble on his face, struggling to get his emotions under some semblance of control. Alex reached over to pick up his untouched beer. "Here," she offered it up, patiently waiting for him to accept it.

Finally, just when she thought that he wouldn't let go, he sighed and looked up. With a small huff, he took the can, drained it almost dry and then gave her a tentative smile.

"What kind - what -" he sighed again and started over. "What did I ever do to deserve you?"

Alex quirked a smile of her own. "Don't try and set me up as some kind of saint. We're partners and we care about each other. You just haven't been letting me do a very good job lately."

Bobby turned serious. "Don't. Don't say that. I've - I'm the one who kept you away - out of the loop. It's my fault."

"No." She stood up and planted herself on the arm of the chair in order to wrap her arms around his shoulders. "I've pushed you away as well. After I was - after Jo Gage -" She shuddered as the memories of her kidnapping flooded her mind.

"But that was my fault." Bobby protested.

"No!" She almost shouted.

Bobby winced and she immediately backed down. "No," she repeated her tone quiet but just as firm. "It was not your fault."

"I should have been there for you."

"You were there for me - but I didn't accept your help. I thought that I could handle it on my own. I did exactly what you've been doing."

"You did handle it on your own." Bobby said sadly.

Alex turned her head, unable to meet his gaze.

Bobby cocked his head to one side, scrutinizing his partner carefully. "You handled it - right? Without me?"

She didn't answer choosing instead to reach for her wine glass before remembering that it was empty. "I - I'm going to get a refill. You want one?"

Still she wouldn't look at him and without waiting for an answer, headed for the kitchen.

For several moments, Bobby simply stared after her, his thoughts in turmoil, until he thought that he finally figured it out. Instantly he was on his feet and moving after her.

She was standing at the sink, staring out the window.

"Eames - " he started but she cut him off.

"You were busy, Bobby."

"I still would have helped. I wanted to help."

Alex sadly smiled and shook her head. "I wasn't going to let you. Wait - let me finish," she said when he opened his mouth to speak. "Look - first you spent most of your time blaming yourself."

He closed his mouth. She was definitely right about that.

"And then your mom . . . The point is - I saw a counselor, but you haven't let anyone in, Bobby. I'm not trying to be your therapist - but you've got to acknowledge that you're not alone and you don't have to do this by yourself. I'm your partner - if it affects you - it affects me. I want your support but I can't let myself accept it if you're not taking care of yourself first."

Bobby hung his head, his shoulders slumped. "You're right."

Alex raised her eyebrows. "Glad you know it."

Bobby grinned as the mood lightened noticeably. He felt like a load had been lifted as he glanced up to see his partner with a small smile as well. "So - are you all right?" He let his tone convey that he wasn't just talking about tonight.

Alex took a breath. "An occasional nightmare, extra security around here, but yeah - I'm all right." She went to the refrigerator and pulled out the wine and grabbed a beer. "Here," she handed him the can then proceeded to refill her glass.

"Thank you," Bobby murmured, setting the can down. "For - all - for everything."

"You're welcome." Alex said with a tip of her glass to him. "Thank you for the refreshments."

Bobby caught sight of the clock on the microwave. "It's late. I really should go and let you get some sleep." He moved as if to leave when Alex's hand shot out in a flash to grab hold of his arm. He turned back to stare at her.

"Please, stay awhile longer." She stared back at him as he tried to read her expression, enjoying the feel of her touch.

"I'm not tired right now," she clarified.

"Okay - yeah. I can stay." He reached out to get the beer and waited while she dug in the cabinet for a bag of pretzels she had stashed away and a bowl to put them in.

This time he sat on one end of the couch and watched as she looked for the TV remote.

"Aha!" she exclaimed as she found it and then tossed it his way. "Here - fire it up. I've got 'Young Frankenstein' loaded." She settled next to him on the couch, close enough for their shoulders and knees to touch.

"'Young Frankenstein'? I didn't - you like Gene Wilder?"

Alex sipped at her wine with a grin. "Actually, I'm a huge Peter Boyle fan and this movie was one of his finest. You know he passed away recently?"

"Uh - no - I didn't."

"Well - I was going to watch it in honor of him and now to also have the pleasure of your company - someone who has -?" She left the question blank and waited for him to fill in the answer.

"Uh - I haven't seen it." he admitted ruefully.

"Even better. I love it when I get to watch a movie that I adore with someone who never has."

"Glad I fit the bill," Bobby grabbed some pretzels as the credits started.

"Perfectly," Alex whispered, almost too softly for him to hear.

By the end of the movie, the bottle of wine was almost empty and three more beers had been polished off along with the pretzels and half a can of roasted peanuts.

Bobby burped loudly, surprising a giggle from his partner. "Excuse me," he muttered, embarrassed, but charmed in the goofy sound of her laugh. "Are you ready - do you think that you can get some sleep now?"

The mere mention of sleep, elicited a nearly jaw-splitting yawn from her and then she giggled again. "Yeah -" she replied finally. "What about you?"

Bobby thought for a moment. "I'm probably going to sleep better tonight than I have in a long time," he admitted to her delight.

She quickly stood, taking his hand and dragging him along with her. "Come on - I have a guest room and I don't want you driving tonight." She began to lead him down the hall and when he opened his mouth to protest she immediately shushed him, stretching up to put a finger to his lips. "No arguments, partner." And before he could say another word, she gave him a quick hug and steered him into the room across from hers. "Bathroom is next door and I'll be right here if you need anything."

"Thank you," Bobby said, grateful and with a touch of bemusement in his voice. "Sweet dreams," he called just before she shut her door.

"You, too," her voice floated back just as he closed his own door. He looked around the small room that was completely taken up by a queen size bed, a narrow dresser and a single night stand with a small lamp.

He turned down the sheets and slipped off his shoes and socks before making a quick trip to the bathroom. Hearing running water from Alex's room he figured that she was similarly getting ready for sleep. Back in his room, he removed his shirt and slacks and after carefully laying them aside, he collapsed across the bed. Unlike previous nights of the past several months, he fell asleep within minutes and slept longer and deeper than he could remember doing since sometime last summer.

Chapter 2

A light steady rain began to fall just after dawn, obscuring the sunlight and keeping bedrooms dark, allowing Bobby to sleep in later than he normally would have, even on his day off.

He shook off his momentary disorientation at waking up in an unfamiliar bed when the events of last night came rushing back. Groaning softly, he stretched his arms then angled his wrist in order to check his watch.

10:15

He was shocked that he'd slept so long; realizing that he must have really needed to catch up on his sleep.

"Eames?" He thought, figuring that surely she would be up by now and hopefully had some coffee brewing, but as he got dressed he listened and heard nothing except the rain beating softly on the window.

It occurred to him that if she wasn't up yet, then maybe he could surprise her by making breakfast, confident that she would appreciate his special recipe omelet. Quietly he stepped out into the hall and moved towards the kitchen, passing the living room on the way.

And did a double take.

His partner was curled up on the couch, huddled under the afghan. For several seconds he just stared; trying to remember.

"She had gone to bed, right?"

Careful not to wake her, he slipped noiselessly back down the hall and peeked in her bedroom.

She had definitely been in there at some point. It looked like an epic battle had been fought on her bed the way the sheets and comforter were tangled and nearly off the bed and the pillows were across the room.

Either she hadn't made a sound or he'd really been out of it, he thought as he went back to check on her.

She was beginning to move restlessly about on the couch. Concerned that she would possibly fall; Bobby went to her side, sitting down carefully on the coffee table next to her. He debated whether he should try to wake her up or let her come around on her own.

Suddenly she sat straight up; her arms flew out, tossing the afghan off and trying to push herself back as if trying to escape – someone or something.

Instinctively, Bobby raised his arms to keep her from hurting herself. When her flailing arms came in contact with his, her body went rigid in fright or in pain; Bobby couldn't tell which. He moved in to sit behind her, locking one arm around her waist and putting his mouth to her ear, rocking them both slightly.

"Ssshh – it's me – it's Bobby," he murmured softly. He couldn't tell whose heart was pounding harder as he waited for her to come around.

"Bobby?" She whispered, dazed.

"Yeah," He eased up his grip and she relaxed back into him.

"What -?" She sounded breathless, out of it and she was trembling slightly.

"I'm here," He assured her, his voice low and soothing. Relieved that she was responding, he moved his hands up to cup her shoulders and squeeze gently. "Just stay still a minute. You woke up a bit abruptly."

"Yeah – okay," She replied taking several deep breaths. She lifted her shaking hands to her face, trying to get under control.

Bobby eased back, letting his own hands fall to his lap, suddenly unsure if he'd crossed some kind of line concerning the appropriateness of his actions regarding his partner.

Finally she seemed to have shaken off the last remnants of the deep sleep she'd been so unexpectedly awakened from, taking formal notice of the fact that her partner was sitting directly behind her and she was almost in his lap wearing only her pajamas.

She reached for the afghan and pulled it close; scooting around so that she could see him better and he quickly rose to a standing position.

"No – no, sit down," she admonished him lightly. "I was just trying to figure out how I got out here."

Bobby cocked his head to one side as he sat back down, his face full of concern. "You don't remember coming out here?"

Alex shook her head, looking around the room as if the answer was going to present itself. "What time is it?"

"10:30," Bobby answered with a quick glance at his watch and observed his partner's eyes go wide. "That was some nightmare you were having."

Alex looked away. "Uh – yeah – it happens now and then. I told you last night."

Bobby pursed his lips. "Yes – but you didn't tell me what they were," He pointed out.

"And I'd really rather not now," She said, not unkindly. "Just your standard nightmare, but I don't think I've ever. . ." she trailed off uncertainty clouding her features.

"Sleepwalking is new for you?" He pressed lightly.

"I just don't remember coming out here."

"I'll take that as a yes," Bobby stood up again. "Why don't I make some coffee and you can get dressed."

"That sounds great," she moved to stand. Bobby reached out a hand to steady her when she faltered. "Thanks." She mumbled untangling herself from the covers and started towards the bedroom.

"Let me warn you, I checked your room and it looks like you and your linens went a few rounds." Bobby said after he watched to make sure that she was all right then went to make coffee.

Alex realized that he wasn't exaggerating and she was relieved that she hadn't broken anything. As she brushed her teeth and got dressed, she tried to remember exactly what her nightmare had been about. Since her kidnapping, she'd had nightmares usually involving Jo and she'd always recalled them vividly the next morning. This was different. Jo hadn't been in her nightmare and nothing had been familiar. She wondered what it meant. The fact that she had been sleepwalking unnerved her and for the first time since her attack, she felt vulnerable and she didn't like it.

Then she berated herself for giving credence to an isolated incident and she decided to just try and forget about it and go get the coffee that Bobby had promised.

The rest of the weekend was uneventful. There were no further nightmares and no more sleepwalking and for that she was extremely grateful. She decided to visit her family since Bobby had said that he'd be with his mom until Sunday night.