Title: Prove their vows…

Rating: M (Language and Situations)

A/N: Dick Wolf Owns LOCI characters, the others are mine.

Three weeks after Bobby and Tynie offered to buy his apartment off of Mr. Keim, they're in the landlord's office. Waiting for Mr. Keim's attorney, Tynie's a bit nervous, her admitting "Mr. Keim, I've never testified for a mass-eviction before. I've testified for other cases, hell yeah, it's just I'm worried that my first-ever testifying for this case will turn around and bite your professional reputation in the ass." "Relax baby, you're worrying too much." Bobby soothes, petting her back. Mr. Keim's lawyer then shows up, and heads right for Tynie.

"Before we go any further, I've got to know. Are you the same Tynie that was deemed by the owners of a special events bar in Peoria Illinois as a narc to the DEA?" "Yes. Here's how that happened. It was back before my first marriage, Bobby's my third and final, and I was in a bar. I was off that day, and debating in my head about walking out on that special events bar. I have a tendency to be a fuckin' klutz, and I proved it that day. Meaning, I bumped into a man in a very nice three-piece suit at that bar. Fearing I would be on the hook for dry cleaning, since I had a beer in my hand at the time, I introduced myself and offered to cover that pre-emptively. The man told me he was a DEA Agent, and had been in court that day. He also refused my offer to pay for the dry cleaning, said something about it being against protocols for DEA agents. Agent Harlon Wilts was his name, and I offered to buy him a beer, just out of civility. He couldn't accept it, of course, but we got to talking. He told me I did in fact have the right to just walk out on that special events bar, which after how those owners treated me was news to my ass. I told him everything I knew, meaning Agent Wilts heard shit he most likely never wanted to. I didn't pull any punches, and I cussed like a damn sailor, but Agent Wilts was cool with it. I then asked him to watch my beer while I went to the restroom. He did, and it wasn't until I got back to my beer that I learned he was wearing a wire. I wound up on the phone to Agent Wilts' boss, and that's when I learned that for my safety in that case: my ass was not to appear in court." Tynie reminisces.

Facing Tynie, Mr. Keim's lawyer assures "That's all I needed to know." "Tynie, I followed that case! You were called the Golden Child by the DEA! Agent Wilts gave you that code name, at least according to the news!" Mr. Keim discovers. "Oh that, I was 22 at the time, Agent Wilts was in his mid-forties, and I am a blonde. He called me child repeatedly because of the age difference. That is, until I asked him to just call me Tynie. Wait, why the hell does my DEA-assisting history, have anything to do with this mass-eviction?!" Tynie reconsiders. "They were going to assassinate your character, use that against you. When you're on the stand, you follow my lead." Mr. Keim's attorney orders. "Hey, you got it." Tynie agrees, them all heading out.

Going to court, they take Mr. Keim's SUV, riding together. Arriving before the courthouse, Tynie covers paying the meter, the men with her waiting for her return to the group. Heading inside, Tynie bumps into someone, her inquiring "Agent Wilts, is that you?!" "Yes child, oops, Tynie." Agent Wilts confirms, getting introduced to everyone with Tynie. As they go through security, Agent Wilts follows the foursome to the mass-eviction courtroom. Sitting outside the courtroom, Tynie turns to Agent Wilts and confesses "I never thought I'd see you again. I hope you know why I got the hell out of Illinois." "I did too, transferred here last month. I've got two more years before I can retire. Relax Tynie, as you once said "kick back, we're good."

Shaking Agent Wilts' hand, Tynie nods, them all then are getting lead into the courtroom. In terms of testifying, Tynie goes first, Agent Wilts last. Every testimony is more damning than the last; with Tynie learning in the process that those on the defendant's side of the mass-eviction are also facing federal cases. "One question before I declare a recess, Tynie Goren, are you willing to testify in the federal cases connected to this mass-eviction?" The judge asks. Leaping to her feet, Tynie contends "Yes, your Honor. Matter of fact, as soon as you do declare that recess, my husband Bobby will give Agent Wilts my updated contact information. There's a hitch though, and that is, Agent Wilts must sign a sworn statement attesting to the fact he won't give out that information without being served with a warrant. A copy of that statement must be given to my spouse upon signing, but other than that my testimony in federal court for that is a given."

"That's the most reasonable hitch I've ever heard of. Agent Wilts, you heard Mrs. Goren, I'm ordering the affidavits she mandated be signed, and copies of them be entered into the record. We're in recess for one hour." The judge adjourns, slamming his gavel down. As they leave the courtroom, Mr. Keim marvels "Tynie, you're good!" Tynie shrugs, Bobby and Agent Wilts meeting up. "I know what she meant by those affidavits, I have some on me. Let's get this done." Agent Wilts provisions. Resolving that matter right then and there, Bobby pockets his copies of those affidavits, and returns to Tynie's side. From there, they all go to lunch, but stick close to the courthouse. "I'm sorry baby, I did it that way because…" Tynie starts. "You did it exactly as I would have wanted you to, sweetheart. Relax." Bobby interrupts. As soon as lunch is over, they all go back to court, nobody bothering them. Reconvening in the courtroom, Tynie's nervous again. Agent Wilts arises, and educates "Your Honor, I have copies of the affidavits you ordered ready to be entered into the record." Heading up to provide those to the judge, Agent Wilts isn't gone from the group long. "I order the defendants remanded into federal custody, where they will be held in administrative segregation until trial. I already aligned it with a federal judge. Mr. Roger Keim, you win your mass-eviction. You will be given orders on how to handle the defendants' property, which is being surrendered to you immediately." The judge administers. Receiving those orders ten minutes later, Mr. Keim's lawyer temporarily secures them in his briefcase. "We are adjourned!" His honor hollers, slamming his gavel down.

Outside the courtroom, Tynie pulls Mr. Keim's lawyer over, conveying "I'm delaying my husband's offer to purchase our apartment from Mr. Keim until after those trials are over. In that, I'm including what Mr. Keim was just ordered by the judge to do in terms of the defendants' surrendered property. We will remain current on rent until that point. Give Bobby your business card, and we'll be in touch." "Deal." Mr. Keim's lawyer accepts, doing as Tynie said. Turning around, Tynie faces Agent Wilts, and ponders "Would it be a heinous breech of DEA protocols to ask you to let me and Bobby, or me or Bobby one, know when you retire? I mean, so I can buy you a beer as an act of celebration at that point?" "With those affidavits Bobby signed which are now a matter of court record for the federal cases, one of you would have to literally sign off consenting for me to call you then." Agent Wilts replies. "Get me a pen and you got a deal!" Tynie relates. Witnessing all of that, Mr. Keim and Bobby smile, but don't say a word. True to her promise, Tynie fills out a "modified affidavit" right then and there. "Keep this one OUT of the court records, because if you don't I suspect it'll get us all in deep shit. You know what I mean, Agent Wilts." Tynie directs. "Yes, I do, and you got it." Agent Wilts contends, watching the four of them leave. Departing himself, Agent Wilts waits until he's in his car before reveling "Tynie, you've not lost your touch."

In Mr. Keim's SUV as they head back for his office, Tynie discovers "I told Agent Wilts back when it first came out my DEA codename to the media was Golden Child that I'd not live it down. Yeah, I think I just proved that." "No matter, you were an amazing witness today. I've been in the field of law for twenty-six years Tynie. You were the first civilian witness I've ever had whom knew the correct way to handle being on the stand. You were also very respectful towards the judge's schedule, which is unfortunately rare. Oh and the whole "There's a hitch to the affidavits" thing, nice touch. I have to have a meeting with my client Roger, but we'll be in contact Tynie. Just as you arranged outside of court. When we get back to Roger's office, you two are free to go." Mr. Keim's lawyer rebuffs. "Hell, that works!" Tynie cheers. "Lou, for what my wife arranged outside of court, you go through me alone." Bobby warns. "Like Tynie just said, hell that works!" Lou restates. "Did I just get a veteran lawyer to sound like me?" Tynie giggles. "Yes, and now Lou knows he doesn't have to hold his tongue around you. Unless we're in court, I mean." Mr. Keim reveals.

Returning to Mr. Keim's office, Tynie and Bobby head for home, with Lou and Mr. Keim entering the actual office. Waiting until they're inside with the door locked, Tynie relents "I totally forgot to accredit Agent Wilts with how I know the way to handle a courtroom, babe. I mean, to Lou." "He and I have to chat in the future honey, I'll see to it he knows. Not today though, let him and Mr. Keim get other things done." Bobby obliges. Walking to the couch, Bobby notices Tynie's favoring her right ankle. Picking her up off the ground, Bobby carries his wife to the couch, and takes off her heels. "I rolled it earlier, when we were rushing back to court. I'll be fine." Tynie notifies, as her spouse sees swelling on that ankle. "It's not just rolled baby, I'll take care of this." Bobby rejects, kissing her cheek before heading to craft an icepack.

Placing that on her ankle, Bobby fields a call from Lou, who's worried over Tynie. "She's off that ankle right now. I've got her covered. Oh and Lou, Tynie wants you knowing that Agent Wilts trained her in how to handle a courtroom." Bobby reports. "You may be taking care of her, but if Tynie's ankle is more injured than your typical sprain, I want called. Immediately after you take her to get it checked. Her ankle injury technically connects to a case I was handling, so I'll take on anything legal that stems from it. Other than that, I kind of figured Agent Wilts had a hand in teaching Tynie how to encounter being in court." Lou requires. "Hey, you got it." Bobby reclaims, with both then hanging up, then laying their phone aside temporarily.

Laid up on the couch, Tynie witnesses Bobby sitting down and pulling her legs into his lap. "I just ruined our night." Tynie mopes. "No, you didn't. I'll take care of you, and if we need it: Lou will assist us legally in terms of your injury. Since it links to a case he was working, he can do that. I just found out that if your ankle's anything more than sprained, I'm supposed to call him. Immediately after getting you checked out." Bobby reconstructs. "I say it again, that works." Tynie repeats. Watching over her, Bobby's expression is that of worry, Tynie reissuing "I told all of them I was a klutz. I proved it… again." "Don't do that to yourself honey. Just relax." Bobby denies. Closing her eyes, Tynie nods, Bobby still watching over her. Being gentle about it, he gets off the couch, throwing away the remnants of her icepack. Opting to wrap her ankle in a bandage, Bobby sees Tynie fielding a call from Lou. "You mean to tell me my injury is because of what you say is legally-considered a restauranteur's negligence?" Tynie inquires, interrupting Lou. Confirming that, Lou stops. "Lou, if you can, quote me on this. I want those bastards NAILED in court! Don't take any offered settlements, or sign anything on my behalf which links to settlements. Let a judge decide, because I don't think I'm the first injured patron from that negligent fuck! Do that for me and keep me updated, me or Bobby one." Tynie requisitions. "I've quoted you Tynie. I assure you I'm all over it right now. We'll be in touch." Lou concludes, hanging up.

Laying their phone down again, Tynie feels Bobby taking her hand in his. Telling her spouse the latest, Tynie apologizes "I didn't run any of that past you, I'm sorry." "Don't be, you told Lou what I would have anyway." Bobby counters. Closing her eyes, Tynie mutters "We owe Lou a beer." Again gently, Bobby gets off the couch, retrieving those beers for him and his wife. Sitting down on the couch again, Tynie sits up so they can have those beers. Sipping those in silence, Tynie later tries to clear from the bottles, Bobby tailing her. Once he sees she's still hobbling, he escorts his spouse to the Mustang. Securing the house and calling Lou back, all Bobby says is "I'm getting her checked out." "I know what to do, you focus on Tynie. We'll be in touch." Lou avows, hanging up. Driving Tynie to the ER, Bobby's worried, his wife reeling in pain.

Guiding her inside after he parks the Mustang, Bobby drops the name "Lou Karn," and obtains immediate service. Having to drop that name repeatedly in a short timeline, Tynie also mentally notes how security's treating her and Bobby. Receiving x-rays, Tynie learns her ankle's got a relatively-extensive fracture. "Will I require a cast?" Tynie wonders. Learning she will, and the x-ray tech has a plan to settle that and still notify Lou, Tynie recommends "I have a different idea. You get someone you work with and trust to get me casted, NYPD blue. While that's done, you do your thing in terms of notifying Lou. If Lou wonders why it was rigged that way, tell him to call me." Readying her to be casted, the x-ray tech agrees "Hey, you got a deal."

Wheeling her out towards Bobby, an orderly remains silent, as Tynie shortens "I've got a fracture that warrants a cast. The x-ray tech is contacting Lou for us, I already consented for that. I'm getting my cast in NYPD blue." Bobby nods, and walks beside his wife, heading to get Tynie's left ankle casted. Halfway there, Tynie's handed Bobby's phone, with her then fielding a call from Lou. Explaining everything, Tynie contends "It was either we drop your name left and right or I would have been refused service, with me and Bobby both being forcibly removed by hospital security. Ask Bobby, he'll vouch that shit in a heartbeat!" Surrendering the phone to Bobby, Tynie smirks, as Bobby verifies "Everything you were just told is true." "Ohh, I'm all over this. Bobby, you focus on Tynie, we'll be in touch!" Lou demonizes. Agreeing readily, Bobby hangs up, and pockets the phone. Receiving her cast, in the demanded color with a pain med prescription already filled, Tynie and Bobby are at last allowed to leave. Nobody gets in their way; rather everyone creates a wide path from where the hospital does casts all the way to Bobby's Mustang. He drives them home, as Tynie pines "Poor Lou, I really didn't mean to thrust him into this shit." "You did no wrong, sugar. You were the victim, and Lou knows what he's doing." Bobby refutes. Tynie nods, feeling defeated, and goes silent until they get home.

Once there, with the apartment secured, Tynie's arm goes around Bobby's waist. "You didn't even notice, I demanded a certain color for my cast. I did it as an honor thing to you, since you've been so amazing since we met." Tynie regards. "I noticed, I just didn't say anything until now. Thank you, baby." Bobby gratifies, guiding her to their bed. When Tynie's comfortable, Bobby sits beside her, only to feel her hand slide into his. "I may be a victim, but with this cast, a lot of shit's mucked up." Tynie loathes. "Guess again, beautiful. I've sworn to take care of you, and I have since we met. All this cast means is I get another chance to show you I meant my vows. As for things getting "mucked up" we can work through it honey, it's no big deal." Bobby denies. "You're already being so wonderful." Tynie gloats, realizing he's right. Hearing their phone go off, Bobby answers it with his other hand, Lou on the other side. Surrendering the phone to his wife, Bobby overhears Tynie shriek "They want to settle for HOW much?!" "7.5 million, tax exempt. That's the restaurant settlement; the hospital's already talking about settling for 6 million, also tax exempt." Lou repeats.

"Lou, here's the deal. After how shit changed so fast for me today, I've reconsidered. I want you to accept those, but there's a hitch. You are to take a 35% cut of BOTH settlements and keep it for you. Man, you were thrust into this shit by me, so to me it's the right thing to do. You accept those settlements, get the papers drawn up and call us back. I don't want shit signed until after I've seen it." Tynie reexamines. "A-are you sure Tynie? That's quite an unusual contingency amount, I've never been told to take that much from a client before." Lou worries. "Lou, listen. I mean it; you take the 35% from BOTH settlements and draw up something that swears I insisted, not just consented. Call us back and we take it from there." Tynie imposes. Sensing he'd lose the argument, Lou forfeits "Alright Tynie, you got it." Hanging up on that note, Tynie returns the phone to Bobby, whom sets it to charge. "Babe, I may be a victim, but in the coming days: my being a victim means we're gonna be RICH!" Tynie releases, then repeating what Lou told her about the settlement amounts. "Ohh my God." Bobby gasps, shocked. "Baby, there's more. I did tell Lou to take that 35% from both settlements, and I stand by my reason for it. Honey, I also meant what I said, we're gonna be rich. I'm sharing those settlements with you." Tynie constitutes. Kissing her temple, Bobby whispers "Thank you baby." "I swore that my all would be for your happiness, and that I'd do all I could to take care of you. By my sharing those settlements when we get them, I'm proving my vows." Tynie discerns.

Sitting there with her, Bobby smiles, Tynie gazing into his eyes. Right when she goes to speak again, Tynie grits her teeth and growls in pain. Kissing her lips quickly, Bobby hustles to get his wife something to take those pain meds with. Resuming his place at her side, Bobby decrees "My pension is means-tested. Once we get those settlements, it's gone." "You know what? After those bastards at the NYPD recurrently dishonored you, calling you a phrase I will never repeat, I'm alright with that! Babe, you can consider the loss of your means-tested pension as a liberation really, because you said it yourself: there ARE jackasses in city government who'd froth at the fuckin' mouth over a chance to yank that pension from you on any bullshit they could. Babe, all we'd have to do is get different insurance for our medical another time. Trust me, compared to the risk of bullshit that you admitted stands a chance of happening because of those city jackasses: it's best." Tynie determines, then taking her pain meds with the drink her spouse brought. "Far as I care, we deal with the rest of that settlement shit tomorrow." Tynie decides. "You most definitely got it." Bobby approves.

Sharing her soda with him, Tynie's comfort in bed is assured before Bobby again kisses her. From that point, most of Bobby's night is spent focusing on his wife. Tynie, in turn, feels like shit for all this happening. After dinner, and they've both gotten cleaned up, the couple retires to their room. Nestled against him, Tynie looks into Bobby's eyes, asserting "I love you Bobby." Cupping her chin, Bobby changes how his wife's head is positioned, before avowing "And I love you." Covering them, he sees her smile waver, as she concerns "I hope my gorgeous husband understands that tonight I just want to relax." Laying back, Bobby eludes "You're not alone in that." Exchanging one more smile and kiss, these two fall asleep just as they'd laid.

Today was supposed to be about a mass-eviction courtdate, but so much more came out. From a plot to assassinate Tynie's character before a judge to Tynie getting injured and learning of massive pending settlements, the day was a frenzy. In the bustle of the day's frenzy though, two new dedications came out of the couple. In their own ways, and after the latest developments, Tynie and Bobby will strive to find means to:

Prove their vows….