A/N For any readers outside of the U. S. the title of this chapter is a twist on a Dear John letter which is a letter you write to break up with a boyfriend.
Chapter 2The Dear Bobby Letter
Bobby arrived at One PP the next morning a little out of sorts. One of the coffees he had picked up for himself and Eames had a defective lid and it had leaked all over his shoes. They had also not had his partner's favorite Danish and he had agonized over the shop's selection of pastries, trying to figure out what else she would want. He knew she was really starting to feel tired with the pregnancy. He smiled wryly at himself. She was also getting a little irritable and the wrong Danish coupled with only a half cup of coffee might cause her to throw another missile at him.
He got to their desks and set the food down and went in search of some paper towels to clean up what had leaked from the cup. He sat down and was drying off his coffee-soaked foot when he saw a sheet of paper, folded neatly sitting in the middle of his desk. His name was written on it in Alex's handwriting
Dear Bobby,
I wanted to let you know, I decided last night to go ahead and take desk duty for the remainder of my pregnancy. I promised my sister I would do everything I could ,short of giving up coffee, to make sure the baby would be alright and I just feel like now is the time to take things a little easier.
The captain has told me that I will be bouncing between Major Case and SVU, doing whatever research and typing that needs to be done so I will still see you. You can always call me anytime you need something looked up or if you just feel like your new partner isn't verbally abusing you enough.
I went ahead and stayed a little late last night and got both of us all caught up on our case files as well as typed up my depositions and yours for the District Attorney's office. I just wanted to make this as smooth a transition for you as possible.
I stated your name on every file just the way you always sign them : Robert O. Goren. Won't you please tell me what the O stands for? Knowing the answer to this mystery will help my days in exile go a little easier. If it's a secret, I won't tell…..unless its something really funny, in which case, all bets are off. Just write it down and slip it in the vents of my locker.
Yours Truly,
Alex
Bobby sat staring at the note, not quite believing what it said. Jeez, he had known she might have to go to desk duty but he had never given it much thought. He guessed he had just assumed that the day would come when they would be working a case and they would have to stop down to rush her to the hospital. He quickly checked his calendar. Man, it would be at least three months before she could be back with him again.
He looked at the bear claw he had ordered to go with his coffee sitting on his desk. He had suddenly lost his appetite. And what was all this stuff about his middle name? A few dinners and one very expensive bottle of French perfume for the Human Resource Director several years ago had insured that none of his departmental records stated his name as anything but Robert O. Goren. Alex had asked him about it before but he had declined to answer her then and had no intention of telling her now.
"Bobby, come in my office, would you?" Captain Deakins leaned out of his office door. "Your partner has put in for Desk Duty."
"Yeah, I know." He answered as he came through the door. "I was just reading the note she left for me." He told the captain as he took a seat in his office.
"I've been watching her for awhile now. If she hadn't done it soon, I was going to suggest it to her. She'll probably manage to work right up to her due date now but having to keep up with you was wearing her out."
"I d-didn't r-realize." He looked forlorn.
"Not your fault. Running around all over the City chasing down leads requires a hell of a lot of stamina. She's going to need her strength for the delivery.
Bobby nodded but still looked concerned.
"Your new partner will be arriving this afternoon so you have the morning to get your paperwork up to date."
"Um, yeah, Eames did all that last night already." He scrubbed at his cheek, still trying to contend with the emotions that this new situation had brought up in him.
Deakins laughed at this admission from his detective. "Great, then you have the morning to yourself. Go out and get some fresh air and be back here at 1pm sharp."
"Okay Captain." Bobby got up to go.
"Oh and Goren?"
"Yes Captain?"
"Eames is over at SVU learning their forms and roster this morning so why don't you bring her Danish in here for me?"
Bobby grinned "Do you want her coffee too?"
The captain pulled a face and shook his head.
