With Margaritas pt. 1

By: The Confused One

Warnings: This chapter is tame. That's for sure.

Rating: G, PG maybe

Feedback: PLEASE. I love feedback. Please send it to
Charmed1500y...

Archive: Yes to Amorous Intent. Anyone else just let me know where
it's going.

A/N: This idea came from a scene in "The Third Horseman" where Alex
asks Bobby to promise her a margarita when it was all over. Well,
I've decided to make it their little tradition. LOL I've decided to
have them partners for a LITTLE while before the show starts, and
this is the first time they go for margaritas. This is not a case
from the show, obviously. I just loved the idea of them having a
tradition of getting margaritas after hard cases and just talking.
It just feels right, and it feels like the perfect way to establish
this sort of open, special relationship they have.

Summary: After a cop killer case, Bobby and Alex bond over
margaritas, establishing a tradition to span a partnership.

Disclaimer: Unfortunately I don't own anything remotely related to
the L&O franchise. I just wish I did. I'm making no money, and I'm
a poor college student. Please don't sue. I promise to put them
back where I found them unharmed when I'm done.

Alexandra Eames stared at the table she was sitting at. It was
easier than watching her partner, Bobby Goren, at the bar getting
their drinks. It had been a long, hard case, and she wasn't sure she
was ready to face it. Alex instantly straightened, a little
startled, as a drink was put in front of her face. Looking up, she
saw her partner's worried expression. Pointing to the drink, he
offered, "You said you wanted a margarita."

Alex couldn't help but smile now. Picking up the drink, she
replied, "Thanks."

He took a sip of his own margarita, and watched as she took a sip of
hers. He had to admit, she was worrying him. They hadn't been
working together very long, but he did know that something was
wrong. He had never seen her like this. She was almost despondent,
and he could see it. Just below the surface, there was an anger and
sadness. It's the whole reason he had dragged her to this bar right
after they had gotten Davis arrested. He decided to just come out
and ask. He figured it would save him some time, and that she would
appreciate it a lot more than him beating around the bush, "This case
got to you. I can tell. You want to tell me why?"

Alex closed her eyes and swallowed. Alex hesitated. She liked what
they had going. He respected her. He valued her opinion. He
involved her. They were equals as far as he was concerned, and Alex
liked that. She didn't want that to change. She didn't want even
one more person's pity. Alexandra Eames could do without pity, thank
you very much. It had been the whole reason she had transferred to
Major Case. She couldn't take the looks anymore in Vice. It had
been the whole reason she hadn't said a word about any of it during
the case or even before. Now, she sat, face to face with her new
partner, a man she actually found that, despite all of his quirks,
she rather liked, who wanted to know the story. Meeting his eyes,
she took a deep breath and hoped things wouldn't change, "I was
married to another Vice cop, Andrew. About a year ago, Andy and his
partner were killed by a couple of Columbians when the bust went
sour. This case just brought up some memories."

Bobby's eyes instantly snapped to hers, searching for confirmation.
Despite knowing that something was wrong, he hadn't guessed, he
hadn't dreamed this. He hadn't even begun to think that Alex, his
partner, could possibly be a widow, much less a cop's widow. He
instantly offered the best sympathy he could, "Alex, I'm so sorry. I
had no idea..."

Alex closed her eyes again, as Bobby trailed off. She hoped he could
let it go now. She wanted to let it go, and she certainly didn't
want to drag it out and relive it for someone. She just couldn't
that night, "I'll be OK. Just want to put the damn case behind me."

Bobby nodded. He certainly knew what it was like to have to have
things in your past you'd rather forget. Holding her gaze, He
finally spoke, "That I can understand."

Taking another sip of her margarita, Alex replied, "Good."

Bobby shook his head. He was struck with an odd sort of pride and
even more respect for her and who she was, knowing what she had been
through. On top of that, she hadn't let the case rule her. If it
hadn't been for the quiet and sad look in her eye on occasion, he
would never have known, never would have suspected. She had been
able to keep her emotions out of it, and he wondered if he would have
been able to do the same. After a moment he ventured, "I think you
are absolutely amazing. I don't think I know anyone else, in your
position, who could have handled the case like that. I wish you had
told me."

Alex looked away now, a couple of tears coming down her face. Wiping
them away, she choked out, "I tried not to think about it. I know I
should have told you, should have said something. I was just. I
didn't want this. I don't want people running around feeling sorry
for me. I don't need that sort of pity."

Bobby took another sip of his drink. Tilting his head slightly, he
questioned, "That what you think I'll do? Pity you? Alex. Believe
me, I've known you long enough to know better than that."

Alex took a deep breath. Looking away again, she almost smiled
before replied, "I'm sorry. You're right. I know better. It's
just, I've had enough of it, and I didn't want more. I'm trying to
move past it."

Bobby found her eyes again. Looking a little worried, Bobby wanted
to tell her how much he understood. But he knew. This was about
her, not him. Holding back, he settled with a bit of understanding
and an offer, "Trust me. I understand. But you don't need to run
from it. Next time, next time something bothers you, talk to me.
You're one the strongest women I've ever met, but you shouldn't have
to deal with it alone."

Alex smiled slightly before taking a gulp of her margarita. After a
moment she whispered, "Thank you."

Catching her gaze, again, Bobby replied, "I'm always here."

Finishing her margarita, Alex assured him, "I promise. I'll be fine."

Upon finishing his drink too, Bobby pointed to her drink before
asking, "You want another one?"

Alex shook her head. Standing up, she put her coat back on. With a
sigh, she replied, "Nah. I should go. Look, Bobby, thank you. I
needed this."

Standing up now too, Bobby smiled back. With a nod, he
replied, "This wasn't bad. We should do this again."

Alex smiled in return. She agreed, "Yeah, we should."

Bobby watched as she grabbed her purse. Before she could open it, he
insisted, "It's on me."

Alex smiled even brighter. Meeting his eyes once again, Alex
replied, "Thank you. I guess I'll see you tomorrow. Night Goren."

He instantly replied, "Good night Eames." He sat back down pleased
with himself. He had gotten her to talk to him. They were
connecting. Maybe, just maybe, this partnership would work out for
both of them. He would definitely have to get her to do this again
sometime.