Chapter 2

As Bobby walked into the bar he realized there were not too many people parked outside but a lot more inside. Elonzo's was not just busy; it was crawling with last minute patrons; those attempting to get wasted before the long weekend. Bobby strode to the bar and dropped onto a stool.

A beautiful, brunette, 30-something waitress slid a small napkin over to him and winked, "what'll it be cutie?"

He crooked his elbow on the bar and held his head in his left hand. Bobby smiled as charmingly as he could manage, "just a Guiness draft…" he leaned forward to spy her name tag, "…Christine." She pulled the drink from the tap and set it on the napkin, "thanks."

"Sure thing, baby." She winked again and tended to the other customers. Wow…she must be new and she's pretty hot, he thought to himself. His head still cradled in his hand; he followed her ass with his eyes, and then rubbed his had through his hair. He shook his head side to side and smiled to himself; oh my God, when was the last time I got some; four, five months? He shifted on the stool, looked around quickly and, when it appeared nobody was looking, adjusted himself ever so slightly. She's pretty young though. Ok, not too young but still at least 10 years younger. But since when did that matter…we're both adults; besides, she's probably just looking for a good tip; it's nearly the holidays. I can give her a good tip.

While Bobby continued his ruminations he didn't see or hear his fellow or actually former fellow officer staggering his way to him. Mike Logan plopped an arm around Bobby's shoulders and nearly shouted in his ear, "yo Bobby!" He noticed his gaze, "damn, she's hot," indicating Christine and said silently and almost conspiratorially, "you know, big guy…I think she likes ya." He nodded to Christine, waving his left arm to let her know he wanted another round of whatever brown liquid he was ingesting. She sighed dramatically and rolled her eyes. Bobby had a hunch Logan had been there for awhile and went through his rounds of hitting on almost all of the female waitresses.

Bobby kept his eyes on her and mumbled, "yeah…right."

"I saw how she looked at ya. I also know that she knows you've been staring at her ass ever since you got here." Mike rambled on none too quietly, "you know, I don't blame you, she's really got some gre…"

Bobby straightened, averted his gaze and quickly interrupted, "how's retirement Logan?"

"Oh Bobby, my boy, it's just great! You would not believe who I'm working for." Mike didn't keep him in suspense for any longer than three seconds, "Deakins! He runs his own bar over in Queens. You gotta go over there, it's great!"

Christine arrived to take Mike's order with his arm still slung around Bobby, "I'll take another one of these and my friend, Bobby, will have the same…"

"I'm fine. Besides, what is that crap you're drinking?" Bobby asked, showing Mike his half finished beer.

"It's just rum and coke. C'mon Bobby," Mike slurred, keeping his arm around him and pulling him off the stool, "it's on me. You won't be truly satisfied until you are completely wasted."

Christine raised an eyebrow and looked at Bobby with contempt and derision. Ouch! That's quite the look. He had the urge to lay in a fetal position to protect himself. Damn, I guess I'm no longer cutie and baby. Oh well. Now, without the remote possibility of getting laid, he saw the logic in Mike's statement; getting blissfully drunk would take him mind off his baser instincts. He nodded at Christine and she went to retrieve the drinks.

"So, what are you doing back here?" Bobby resumed his seat and Mike occupied the stool next to him.

"Thanksgiving. Actually, I'm heading back home tomorrow. I was just visiting my cousin, Rickey, Aunt Caroline and my mom's grave." Mike motioned toward the back of the bar, "We were playing some pool in back. Rickey's been trying to hook up with this girl from the DA's office for an hour. It's absolutely hilarious." He appeared to sober a little and looked at Bobby, "I'm sorry about your brother, man. Deakins is too. When he saw it in the paper, he was furious."

"Thanks," Bobby said quietly, gulping down the last of the Guiness. Christine came back with the brown liquid in two small glasses. Bobby looked up at her, smiling shyly, "thanks." She met his eyes and couldn't resist smiling and rolling her eyes comically; shaking her head. Yes, back in her good graces. Bobby directed an adorable, boyish smile at her.

"Sure thing, sweetheart," she smirked and gave him another wink.

Mike stood again and pulled on Bobby's coat. "See, I told ya she wants you. C'mon, I gotta have ya meet someone," he slurred, stumbling toward the billiard tables at the back of the bar.

Logan continued to stumble to the back with Bobby in tow. He wasn't with a member of his family, a hot blond, or even Wheeler, but, with the former Captain Deakins of the NYPD Major Case squad. Logan didn't completely lie to Bobby about seeing family; he had dinner with them the night before. He also visited his mom's grave but didn't stay too long. "Captain?" Bobby smiled as they shook hands and embraced. Bobby had not seen Deakins since his mother's funeral; and then he was so distraught he barely noticed that Frank didn't even show up. "Hey, Cap'n, it's good to see you. What are you doing in the city?"

"Angie has family. She's having a girl's night with her two sisters so Logan and I decided to go out." Bobby and Deakins resumed their conversation at a nearby table while Logan tried to hustle some young college students into a game. Deakins looked Bobby up and down and took into account the longer than average hair, unshaven face and exhaustion in his eyes. "I heard about your brother; I'm sorry I couldn't make the funeral for him. I'm sorry what Gage did." Deakins knew he couldn't do anything about Gage's involvement but he knew who Gage used to be to Bobby.

Bobby nodded solemnly while he studied the ice in his drink, "thanks." Bobby wanted to change the subject quickly.