Disclaimer: I don't own them, Dick Wolf does…but I can dream! I just borrow them for a while.
Title: All About Her.
Rating: T
Ch. 4 Every Woman's Fantasy
Alex stood in front of the floor length mirror, critically assessing her reflection. April, the personal shopper had been right. The dress was absolutely perfect. Alex was petite and slight but toned. Her shoulders and arms were her best feature and this dress showed them off to perfection.
It came just to the knee, a deep blue in Chinese silk. Cobalt blue, according to April. The dress was fitted, moulded to her form, with a slit that came to mid thigh to allow her to move freely. From the hem to her left shoulder, an intricate orchid and songbird pattern, embroidered by hand, wove around a green vine.
Way more exotic than anything she'd worn before when she'd attended functions with Bobby, Alex couldn't wait for his reaction. It seemed light years since she'd felt this sexy in anything!
Alex admitted she'd not even asked the cost of the dress. It hadn't mattered; it was worth every cent to feel this way. She only hoped Bobby agreed! It wouldn't do for him to kill her on the first…date? Or to max out his credit card before dinner… She assumed it was fine, since April hadn't made any comments and she had to be acting on Bobby's instructions.
Bobby must be telepathic, Alex decided. God knows enough comments had been made to that effect. The way they interacted in the interrogation room would seem to confirm they had some sort of empathetic connection. Tonight it showed in the way the corsage he'd thoughtfully left for her perfectly matched the colours of the orchid decorating her dress.
Either that or the dress selection had been a complete set up. Alex thought on that a moment, unsure how to feel about orchestration to that degree, finally deciding that if Bobby had chosen the dress himself, Alex really didn't mind. Besides, if he had then his taste was impeccable. She felt, and knew she looked, like a million dollars.
Once, again Alex admired the delicate concoction adorning her left wrist. The corsage was so high school prom, but seemed touchingly old fashioned and fitting, somehow. Had Bobby gone to a prom? Alex couldn't remember.
She noted Bobby had chosen completely non-traditional blooms, with perfect, thorn-free foliage. His attention to detail was exacting. Alex knew his instructions would have been meticulous. He'd even gotten the corsage from her favourite florists. God knows where he'd stored that snippet of information in his phenomenal brain!
Sipping champagne from the exquisite crystal flute, Alex leant towards the mirror to check her make up. White gold diamond earrings and a matching bracelet completed the outfit.
Alex decided she wouldn't wear a necklace. The way the high collar of the oriental outfit lay was alluring enough, hinting at a shadow of cleavage. Killer heels finished the look. Every inch counted when Alex stood next to Bobby. She figured the mental, if not physical, advantage of the extra inches couldn't hurt.
And, to answer her own question, 'Yes'…the shoes came with the dress, as did a delicate wrap and an evening purse to match. The jewellery, her own. Even now, viewing her reflection, Alex couldn't believe the trouble he'd gone to and the attention he was paying to her. It had long since passed the point of one partner doing the other a favour.
Deliberately shaking herself out of her reverie, Alex glanced at the clock; and realised Bobby was due to come pick her up in only a few minutes.
Wow, the little treats he'd left for her to find when she came back from the Spa and shopping had really succeeded in taking her mind off the squadron of butterflies taking flight in her stomach. Alex knew that was probably just what he'd intended. Most likely, he'd been worried that if she started over thinking it, she'd change her mind.
'Not a chance in hell!' she thought. The note had been sweet as well. And Alex hadn't missed that he'd used her given name. That had stopped her in her tracks for a moment. For Alex, despite all his other elaborate preparations, it was the first hint that Bobby might be considering repositioning their relationship. Alex knew he would not have done it lightly.
Bobby had always made a point of using her surname at work, saying it gave her the same level of respect he'd afford any of the male detectives. He'd always been careful not to make too much reference to her gender, and using her surname was one way of doing that. She'd got used to "Eames" – it would be strange to answer to "Alex" at first.
As the clock struck the half-hour, Alex's doorbell rang. Suddenly, she felt inexplicably nervous. 'Get a grip, Alex' she admonished. This is just Bobby. Your friend. Your partner. Your…whatever else he turns out to be.
Grabbing the small purse and the wrap, against the cold night, Alex answered the door.
Both partners stood there, stunned. Each staring at the other, taking the time to drink in the details.
Bobby broke the silence first. "Eames…ahh, A…Alex, you look amazing."
Suddenly amused at his momentary lack of articulation, Alex arched an eyebrow at her partner. "You're looking pretty hot yourself, Detective".
Surveying him, Alex noted that Bobby's tux did all the right things for his tall frame. What hadn't she noticed this fact before? After all, they'd been to enough formal events together, usually to represent MCS, where a tux was almost standard dress code.
Not expecting Alex's slightly suggestive comment, Bobby opted to let it pass without remark, confident she didn't really mean it. And not really wanting to think right this moment about what it meant if she did.
"If you're ready, Alex, let me escort you to the car." Holding out his arm, he encouraged Alex to put hers through his. Testing the front door, he made sure it was locked.
Alex's first glimpse of the car made his hard won negotiations more than worthwhile. Lewis had managed to find him a 1959 Alfa Romeo Giulietta Spider. In red. The car was a sporty two-seater with butterscotch leather interior.
Bobby stood back and watched Alex circle the car, trailing her hand reverently over the gleaming paintwork. Bobby considered this moment to be worth every bit of teasing his childhood friend had put him through. Bobby thought back to earlier when he'd picked the car up from Lewis.
"So Bobby, who's the hot girl you need the hot car for?" Lewis grinned at Bobby. Shifting from left foot to right, Bobby debated what to tell him, not wanting to lie, but equally not wanting to hurt his feelings. Lewis made no secret of the affection he harboured for Alex.
"I…um…I'm taking Eames out tonight. As a treat. You know, for doing me a favour." Lewis fell silent at this, disappointment reflected in his eyes. Over brightly, he said " Well, you definitely got the right car to impress. She's gonna love it." Lewis paused for a second. "So, you and Detective Alex, huh? How long's this been going on? Do I need to ask your intentions? Give you the safe sex talk?"
Bobby knew his friend was teasing him to cover his own upset. He opted for an honest reply. "The relationship everyone thinks we're having has never been. But Eames…she keeps me grounded, Lewis. I need her, she needs me and believe me, after everything we've been through, we deserve this."
Alex's delighted exclamations brought him swiftly back to the present.
"Bobby, she's amazing!" Holding her hand out to him, she silently demanded the keys. Holding them out of her way, knowing she wouldn't hesitate for a second to wrestle them from him, Bobby laughed, the action immediately lightening his face, stating firmly "No way, Alex. Tonight you're just gonna have to let me drive."
Alex pouted and opened her mouth to argue. Bobby chose to ignore this and, holding open the door for her, took her hand and helped her into the car, closing the door gently. Once in the driving seat, he turned to Alex "I hope you're in the mood for Italian?"
Alex smiled " I can always go for Italian, Bobby."
The drive to the restaurant was fun. With the top down, the little red Spider zipped through the streets. Bobby grinned, gunning the engine little, enjoying being behind the wheel. Alex laughed, enjoying the sight of her oftentimes too serious partner experiencing joy at such a simple pleasure.
"Having fun, Bobby?" she shouted over the noise of the engine and the wind. "Yeah, Alex. It's been a while since I've done anything like this and this time, I don't have to come out of the car when you say so, since it's mine for the weekend!"
Impishly, Alex asked " Bobby, if I'm really good do I get to drive it sometime this weekend?"
"You know the answer's 'Yes' but Alex, you're not getting these keys tonight. You just have to sit back and enjoy the experience. It'll be your turn tomorrow."
Twenty minutes later Bobby drew up at the restaurant. He'd purposely chosen one with valet parking so he and Alex wouldn't waste precious time on such mundane tasks, and also so that Alex wouldn't get cold walking the block to and from the car. Handing the keys over, he took the ticket off the young valet. Turning to Alex, he held out his arm once more, escorting her inside.
The restaurant was perfect. Alex cast her gaze round, automatically noting little things like exits, the other patrons – occupational hazard – but most of all the elegance of the dining room. The tables were discretely set apart, allowing for intimate conversations. White linen tablecloths, fresh flowers, more silverware than they normally saw at the endless delis and diners they ate at. Waiters and waitresses in smart attire. Soft lighting and muted background music accompanied the delicious aromas.
"Bobby, this is so lovely! How on earth did you get a table at such short notice?"
"Remember that favour we did for the Commissioner? Well, I called it in." Bobby looked vaguely embarrassed at the confession. Alex knew exactly why. Neither of them liked capitalising on their reputation as the MCS detectives with the highest solve rate for some of the most unusual cases.
"You know what, Bobby. It's good that you did for once." Squeezing his arm, Alex leaned in closer. "Everything looks so good. Let's go eat." Pulling away slightly, Alex made as if to move inside.
Stretching out his arm, Bobby caught her and held her back, at the same time glancing imperceptibly at the Maître d', who returned the gesture.
"Al…Alex..before we sit down, there's something I want to ask you" Bobby hoped she would say 'Yes'. "Because it's nearly Valentines, the reservation tonight includes a memento for every couple dining here. I hope you're okay with that?"
Suspiciously, Alex raised her eyes to his, the look she gave him seeming to say "What have you got me into this time, Bobby Goren!" Hastily, Bobby moved to reassure her. "It's nothing bad, I swear. They just want to give us a photo portrait to take away and I said I guessed that would be okay with you?"
His brown eyes beseeched her to say 'Yes'. Not having the heart to disappoint him, Alex tamped down her reservations. "Okay, Bobby. But if I find copies circulating round 1PP, you know I'll be shooting first and asking questions later, don't you?"
Bobby grinned, eyes crinkling, pleased to see his Eames still lurked underneath sophisticated Alex. Raising both his hands in surrender, "Sure, Alex", he placidly agreed. The Maître d' led the way. The photographer had set the room up with a nice backdrop and soft lighting. He encouraged Bobby and Alex to stand closely together, at first side by side, then one standing and one sitting, but couldn't get the feel of the photo right. He looked at them critically, each grinning at the other, one looking down, one stretching to look up.
Of course! "It's the height difference! That's why I can't get the composition right. Bobby, would you stand behind Alex? Alex, let Bobby wrap his arms around you."
The partners looked at each other, each gauging the others reaction, brown eyes searched for wordless agreement in blue. Their silent communication working well as both minds worked overtime. Seeing agreement in the way Alex let her body relax, Bobby stepped behind her, drawing her back to rest against him. Self-consciously, he curled his arms round her. Alex tilted her head back against his shoulder, to look at her partner. "Bobby, we're not 10! I don't have cooties."
Grasping his hands, she joined them at her waist, folding her own on top of them. Bobby secured her to him with his arms, feeling every inch of her petite frame. In turn, Alex could feel each and every carefully controlled breath he took.
They looked good together, the tall dark man and petite blond woman, each looking at the other as though seeing through new eyes. Quickly, the photographer captured the image, printing it immediately and presenting copies to each of them in simple presentation frames.
Bobby and Alex extricated themselves from each other's hold, unable, for the moment, to hold each other's gaze. Each took a copy of the picture, and in silent reflection, made their way to the dining room. All Alex could think was "Wow, that was intense…".
A/N Thanks for all the feedback so far. I started to write about their date…and found it took on a life all it's own, so ...I hope you don't mind waiting 'til tomorrow for part two of the date and a little dinner, a little dancing? Reviews are really appreciated :-)