"Winners and Prizes"
Copyright 2008 Penn O'Hara
T
Usual disclaimers apply.
LOCI Timeline: During Season Seven.
MY LOCI Timeline: Post "Conversations".
A/N: So many volunteered, my only choice is to leave the 'winners' vague so that you can slot yourself into your choice. You'll have to make a leap of faith with any inaccuracies in your chosen voice.
I'm amazed at, and warmed by, how many Logan lovers came out of the closet. They're more forward than the Goren gals. Hehe… Except, Bammi, who's always been unashamedly Bobby-besotted.
Oh, and El Chacal… I've gone with your little idea…
oOo
The Winners
Some days are just way out there.
oOo
"How do you know they're the ones?" Logan asked, and Goren looked across at him.
"Look who… is escorting them."
Logan's mouth dropped when he saw who was shepherding the women through the crowded tables of Ducasse's.
"Shit! Ross! Is he checkin' up on us?"
"Dunno." Goren pushed back his chair and rose slowly to his feet, watching the women approach, pleasantly surprised by the caliber of woman who considered a detective an appealing prospect for a night out.
He was conscious of their assessing Logan and him, one murmuring close to the other's ear without breaking her scrutiny of Logan. A smile spread on her friend's face as her gaze touched on Logan then slid across to a contemplation of him. A quickening of their steps convinced Goren they liked what they saw.
Glancing at Eames at the dining table with Barek, Goren confirmed she was weighing up the two women and he saw Barek's nostrils flare as they passed by her.
Goren squared his shoulders. The evening was going to be interesting.
"Detectives…" Ross sidestepped the women to stand beside Goren. "This is Gigi and Deedee. Ladies, Robert Goren and Mike Logan."
"B…Bobby," Goren said, feeling he should put them at their ease, but he wasn't sure it was necessary. Gigi had moved in close to Logan and was looking up at him, eyes shining and mouth wide in a smile, and Logan responded with a bemused grin. Deedee was showing no sign of shyness either as she held out her hand and Goren shook it lightly.
He pulled out a chair for Deedee and settled back into his own as Ross backed away. Instead of leaving the way he had come, their Captain detoured off to the side and bent down to speak to another patron. Goren craned to look past a diner blocking his view and saw the distinctive blond cropped hair of M.E. Rodgers. Goren's mouth opened as he tried to catch Logan's attention, but the other man had his head bent attentively toward Gigi.
Turning back to his own 'date', Goren searched for a conversation opener while his mind raced with the concept of Ross and Rodgers together.
"Gigi and Deedee… aren't your real names," he offered. He had no reason to suspect they were using aliases, but the odds of two such unusually named women winning the same contest would be high. He suspected they were acronyms — G.G. and D.D. — and commenting on his deduction could be a safe bet.
"Bobby and Mike aren't yours, either," Deedee said, smiling, her expression shrewd.
Goren felt a curling of warning in his gut. "I…don't know what…you mean," he bluffed, daring a look at Logan. The other man lifted his head, his concentration straying from Gigi.
"I'm sorry," Deedee said, laughing lightly. "Forget I said anything." Her gaze slid from his as she took a deep breath. "Here's our waiter." She glanced through her lashes at Logan, then at Goren. "Would you boys like to order for us?"
Goren put his head down, the words on the menu shifting under his vision. His instincts were clamoring for the attention he should be devoting to the exotically-named dishes. Ross and Rodgers at one table, Barek and Eames at another, although that had been their idea, and Deedee's strange comment coupled with her calculative look. He smelt a set-up and wanted to alert Logan to the possibility.
"Does everyone like seafood?" Goren asked the table in general, then speared Logan with a look. "Our Captain has decided to join us."
"Whatever you choose…Bobby," Deedee said. "I'm sure I'll love it."
"Ross?" Logan asked quickly, looking around. "Where?" He froze when he found their table. "Isn't that—?"
"Mike," Gigi leaned into Logan, prompting him to hastily watch Barek's table before subtly edging away. "What have you got for me?"
Startled, Logan almost dropped the menu. "Uh…I…I'm—"
"Gigi means…what are you ordering for her," Goren supplied, sensing Logan's misreading the situation.
"Ah…right." His grin was a mixture of relief and approval of Gigi's wide-eyed interest in him and Goren lifted a brow at how Logan was a sucker for an admiring woman.
"Bobby…Logan."
Goren slowly lowered his menu to see Alex standing beside Deedee's chair, smiling brightly, with Barek at her elbow. "Fancy meetin' you guys here. Didn't know your budget extended that far."
After a quick appreciation again of how beautiful she looked in a pale yellow Jovani gown, Goren processed her cue to pretend this was a chance meeting. Rising out of his chair, he cautiously introduced her.
"Uh, Deedee. This is my partner, Alex Eames."
Deedee smiled up from her seat but didn't look surprised. "Oh, am I stepping on toes here? I'm so—"
"He means, work partner," Alex supplied, her brightness morphing into dry amusement.
Logan was also on his feet. "And…uh… Gigi…this is Carolyn Barek, my gir—"
"Ex-partner," Barek forcefully inserted.
His mouth twitching at Logan's stunned expression, Goren again shifted gears. The smell of a set-up was turning into a stench, but he figured with Alex there to keep things honest for him, he could afford to go along for the ride and see where it took them.
Gigi curled an arm around Logan's and dragged him back down to his seat. "How nice, Mike. But you're with me tonight."
Goren reaffirmed his earlier conviction. It was going to be an interesting evening.
oOo
A/N: A word of warning to those that are intending to live vicariously through Deedee and Gigi, as these ladies are NOT going to be wallflowers. And if there's a catfight at the end, don't forget to sharpen your claws.
