Title: What Next?!
Rating: M (Language and Situations)
A/N: Dick Wolf Owns LOCI characters, the others are mine. In real life I've been dealing with drama and BS these past several days, and it actually inspired me. In this chapter, there are actions and attitudes depicted which are modeled after the drama and BS I've dealt with since posting my last chapter.
Four days later, in the mid-morning, Tynie and Bobby are heading to Roger's office. They'd gotten called down there after breakfast, due to Roger receiving, and signing for, a certified letter for Bobby. Since Tynie's yet to get the cast removed due to the latest winter storms causing so many places in town to close, it takes them about twenty minutes to arrive, yet when they do, she closes the office door behind the couple. Once that certified letter is opened, Bobby starts to read it, his wife standing by his side. "I can't fuckin' believe this! There's a new Governor, whom has a new agenda about law enforcement. Since I had so many notes on my jacket about being threatened with having to face a psych eval to keep my shield, much less the counseling that now-retired Captain Moran arranged for me to even be able to come back to the Force: the new Governor's agenda on law enforcement classified me as "too dangerous" to get a retirement party. The PBA's a fuckin' joke too, because they totally caved to this new Governor's agenda after just hearing threats about lost state law enforcement funding. The only thing they did for me about this situation was send this letter. Oh, and they blame me for "one of their best represented Detectives" being dead, too. Alex Eames, my ex-partner, was what is considered as a legacy-employee in civil service. Several of her relatives were either NYPD or NYFD for their careers. Even though Alex's dad got busted for double-dipping after he retired, they essentially fuckin' idolized Alex and her family. It basically says so right here, and compared to them, I'm "Not worth the time and now-potentially more limited resources" to contest this Governor's agenda. To them, it doesn't matter what Alex did to us honey, even though they're not contesting what came out of those court cases either. What matters to them is that I'm out of their lives, and their fight for state funding to stay the same for law enforcement." Bobby restates, glaring at the document in his hand.
"You gotta be shitting me!" Tynie shrieks, her now being purely enraged. "No." Bobby sighs, forfeiting the letter. Reading it for herself, Tynie snipes "I fuckin' knew it was a good idea to surrender your pension and replace our health insurance after getting those settlement checks!" Facing his wife, Bobby re-evaluates "You were right for that, honey." "I know, it just infuriates me that after everything you and I have already survived together, this shit comes out!" Tynie debases. "I'd be just as mad as you both are if that happened to me." Roger admits. "Roger, get your number changed. Immediately. I say that because I believe you're gonna be harassed all to hell over the contents of this letter. Let Lou know so he can have the court records amended for the federal cases. After Bobby and I calm down some, I'm having him call Agent Wilts to tell him the same thing I'm telling you. I don't think this letter's gonna be the last of today's bullshit if you get my fuckin' point." Tynie demands. Right when Roger goes to comply, Lou calls, getting briefed on the latest. "Tynie's right on this, do as she says." Lou orders. On that note, the call's ended, Roger changing his number and distributing it to Bobby and Lou both. The next thing Tynie knows, Lou's called Roger's line back, wanting to speak to her. Roger doesn't contest that mandate, rather he rushes his phone right to Tynie.
Not even a full two minutes after Tynie lets Lou know she's on the line, Lou regrets "Tynie, I don't know how to tell you this. Agent Harlon Wilts, the one you considered a friend, is dead, he got killed in the line of duty. He was working on a different DEA case than the ones involving those inmates with the mass-eviction, when he got ambushed. I got the call because Harlon had a bad number for you and Bobby, and my number was able to be pulled from Harlon's phone by the DEA's TARU division. I've already learned the funeral is family-only, and the DEA got threatened with litigation to make that the case. I'm sorry." "Don't be, man. It ain't your fault, you did more for me on that than I expected. I'm the one who should apologize, because Bobby's not gonna let me give you the new number. He's not gonna want that distributed any further than it's already been, especially after what we just got." Tynie reviles. "I can see his logic on that, actually. You need anything; you have Roger get ahold of me." Lou recounts, hanging up.
Surrendering Roger's phone to him, Tynie raves "Sometimes I hate it when I can predict the Goddamned future!" "What happened, baby?" Bobby wonders, then learning just what Tynie was told by Lou. "I lied on your name, Bobby. When I told Lou you'd forbid me from giving him our new number in light of all this new bullshit." Tynie closes. "No, you didn't. Honey, I'm so sorry." Bobby counters, holding her. Seconds after feeling his arms around her, Tynie mutters "I made so many promises to Harlon, back in the day. When the "Golden Child" case was coming out, and I was a part of that. I don't want to break those promises, but I don't want you jealous Bobby. I don't know what to do!" "Tell Bobby what the promises were, Tynie. When you're comfortable and calmed down enough to, I mean." Roger coaxes, having overheard that. "I'll do that, Roger." Tynie murmurs, feeling Bobby pull an arm away to stash that letter in his pocket.
Ten more minutes of pure silence pass, before Roger takes another brief call from Lou. "Well, we no longer have to contend with the federal courtdates for the DEA-connected cases to those who were mass-evicted." Roger repeats, laying his again-hung-up phone aside. "Say WHAT?!" Tynie howls, her head lifting from Bobby's chest like a shot at the same time. "From how Lou understands it: Agent Wilts' in-the-line-of-duty death was spun by those bastards, the ones we got locked up after the mass-eviction courtdate, into egregious Constitutional-right violations against them. A federal judge sided with them on that, so the cases all got tossed out. Agent Wilts isn't even buried yet, and those bastards did this! The only decent news about those bastards is, because they caught more charges while incarcerated, they're not roaming free right now. Lou told me to tell you guys, and to say we're not involved in any way with any of those bastards' new cases. There is some other good news though. Tynie, that hundred bucks you gave me four days ago covered where I was short on this building's insurance premiums for the year." Roger informs.
"I'm actually glad that worked out for ya. I don't mean to be disrespectful, but Bobby and I are headed home. Right now's not the best time for the free world to encounter us, if you get my meaning." Tynie rebukes. "I do, and I totally understand." Roger resolves, witnessing the couple leave his office. Closing the door behind them, Roger goes about the rest of his day without again disturbing the couple. Speaking of those two, Tynie and Bobby arrive home twenty minutes later, with her again securing a door behind them. Bobby turns around to face his wife, whom rants "I should have known. I always lose people who matter to me, and more often than not when I do: there's some faction of bullshit attached. It's been that way since I married my first husband, the abusive asshole that he was. I was a victim, and yet, my entire family tossed me aside, told me they never wanted to hear from me again. When I married my second husband, the uber-abusive fuck that he was, people I thought were friends bailed on me too, abandoning me in very weak moments. Now this shit, with the New-Governor's law enforcement agenda which denigrated you, the PBA being total pussies, and everything now out that was somehow linked to Harlon's death. I love you Bobby, and I don't mean to rant, but I have to get this off my chest. I don't know what to do now, honestly. Two patterns are resurfacing, one involving my losing those I love or respect. Of course, that pattern has an escorting pattern of bullshit, which I should be used to by now. I mean both of those patterns have happened so much in my life that they really shouldn't surprise me anymore, I don't even know why they do."
Wrapping his arms around her, Bobby objects "You never need to apologize to me when you to speak your mind. I should have known something like this would come out, sooner or later. It must be a real twisted high for so many people to kick me around in some way or another, because you're not the only one with those two patterns in your life. I am sorry about Harlon, sweetheart. Roger was right when he said we deal with the promises you made Harlon later. You were right too, when you advised Roger as you did before telling him it's unwise for the free world to encounter us right now."
Staring right into Bobby's eyes, as his arms again abound her waist, Tynie notions "Babe, I love you. I don't mean to sound controlling, but I don't want to discuss anything linked to that letter again. Matter of fact, I want it taken the hell out of both our lines of sight, but kept anyway." "I love you too, you got it." Bobby agrees, then kissing his wife. As that affection ends, they temporarily separate, him to secure the letter and her heading off to get them beers. Meeting up with her, Bobby's served his beer, Tynie not opening hers until everything from breakfast is at last cleaned up. Finally drinking hers, Tynie sees Bobby coming up on her once more. His beer already half gone, Bobby chides "Baby, you didn't have to do that alone, I'm here."
"I chose to, honey. We've already had a ton of shit tossed at us today, I didn't want to chance us getting injured getting added to the list of problems." Tynie self-defends. Seeing her point immediately, Bobby finishes his beer, his wife not too far behind with ending hers. Kissing her cheek briefly and then clearing from those bottles, Bobby's silent as Tynie conveys "Babe, I didn't yet tell you what my promises to Harlon were. I promised that if we found a way to reconnect, even briefly, after the "Golden Child" case, and he died in the line of duty: I'd have a whisky double for him when I found out about his death. I also promised him, that if some asshat made it so I couldn't be at his funeral…. Now here's where you may get jealous…. But I promised Harlon I'd get an in-memoriam tattoo. You know, like the one on my right arm that I got for a friend who died whose wife was an uber-controlling cunt?"
Turning around to face her again, Bobby defies "Yeah, you told me the story behind your cross-with-flames tattoo before. I won't stop you from getting an in memoriam tattoo for Harlon, but I do have a couple restrictions about it. No tramp-stamps and I go with you when you get it done. Other than that, I'm not jealous about those promises you made, sugar. We'll have the whisky double later, because I'm joining you in honoring Harlon that way." "You're seriously not jealous about the fact I'm going to get inked in honor of another man?! Really?!" Tynie exclaims, Bobby's latest answer being totally unexpected.
"I'm not jealous about those promises you made to Harlon, honest. Honey, I hate to say this, but you keeping the tattoo promise will be one of your only ways to honor him. Remember what Lou said about asshats basically preventing you from attending Harlon's funeral." Bobby reminds. "You know what? I say we have a drink for Lou too, he's kicked ass for us lately. Beyond that, I do remember and you're right." Tynie recognizes. Ending the gap between them, Bobby contrives "We can do that, later." Then escorting her to the couch, Bobby soon sits down first, his wife curling up into his lap. "I now can't help but wonder what the fuck's gonna hit us next." Tynie mumbles. "You're not taking on what hits next alone, we're tackling it together." Bobby refutes.
"I love you Bobby, with all I am." Tynie vows, under her breath. Swearing his love in kind, they both go silent, the quiet soon enshrouding the entire area. Twenty minutes passes before Tynie kisses her husband again, and afterwards gets out of his lap. Standing beside her, Bobby takes his wife's hand, the two heading for their room. After arriving at his side of the bed, Tynie sets their phone to Bobby's endtable. When their phone's laid on that table, Tynie briefly kisses her spouse before heading for a shower.
Fifteen more minutes pass before a switch-out occurs, Tynie for Bobby in terms of getting showered. Dried off and redressed, they meet up again, her arm going around his waist. "What are you thinking now, honey?" Bobby wonders. "I don't want to go out today, or be bothered by anyone." Tynie renders. Leaning up to kiss him, Tynie's held tightly by her husband, both of their minds still bogged down with all of today's recently-uncovered bullshit. Slowly dispelling this kiss, Tynie's lead to their bed by Bobby, only to lay out against it in wait of him joining her. He doesn't keep her waiting long though, rather he moves so she can be tightly held. Lowering her head to his chest while now in his embrace, Tynie pleads "Forgive me Bobby; I've held back these tears for a while. I didn't want to break down while we were discussing all the serious bullshit that we got word on a bit ago."
"Let it out, honey." Bobby goads, soon feeling every tear his wife sheds pelting his shirt. Holding her in their bed as she bawled, Tynie's back gets petted, her spouse silently hoping that soon begins to soothe her. Slowly breathing to calm herself, Tynie eventually glances up into Bobby's eyes, and gratifies "Thank you gorgeous." "Anytime." Bobby promises. "Hubby, when I get that in-memoriam tattoo for Harlon is entirely up to you. One thing though, I want to have this damn cast removed before you decide that." Tynie plans. "I was going to arrange it that way anyhow, but we don't do anything with either situation today." Bobby contends. "I'm good with that!" Tynie accepts, moving to stand at his side. Leaving their phone where she'd laid it, they head off to make and share in lunch. No conversations had, they clear from this meal before Tynie wonders "Hey babe, what do you want to do today?" Taking her by the hand, Bobby eludes "Follow me." Being lead back into their room, Tynie's escorted to the bed first, her spouse delaying joining her until movies are showing on TV. "From this moment on, our day is just that, ours." Bobby proclaims, laying out beside his wife. Cuddling up to him, Tynie purrs "Sounds perfect." Draping his arms around her, Bobby's greeted by yet another kiss from his wife, as it's dispelled they begin watching TV together. Not once since their meeting in Roger's office did the phone go off, and given what news the couple got then, that's just what they want.
A few movies watched, Tynie gently removes Bobby's arms from around her and sits up, realizing "I know one very hot man who definitely needs a massage. Lay out gorgeous." "I will not go before you for that." Bobby protests, causing Tynie to splay out stomach-down. Once massaged, Tynie returns the favor, the couple again laid out side-by-side afterwards for a short time. Arising from the bed, these two make a way back to the kitchen once more, retaining the trend of being at each other's hips. Another trend resurfaces, that being, the couple sharing in a meal without chatting. Tonight's nightcap is the whisky double Tynie promised Harlon, Bobby keeping his word about having one with her.
Silently toasting, they both know who this drink's in honor of, and in the backs of their minds Tynie and Bobby are separately grateful that today's nearing an end. Cleaning up from it all, she looks at him, inquiring "Anything on your mind, sexy?" Waiting to answer that until dinner dishes are done, Bobby then wraps his arms around Tynie's waist, leaning his lips to her ear and propose "For us to enjoy our night, and if you're so inclined, enjoy each other." Resting her head against his chest, Tynie slurs "Ohhh I am." Releasing her from the embrace, Bobby's hand is taken into Tynie's, whom leads them back to the master bedroom.
Only delaying the start of their intimacies long enough to shut off the entertainment center and make sure their phone's charging, Tynie sees her suitor again standing in wait of her. Mutually disrobing at the same pace a few minutes later, Tynie and Bobby's eyes now glare in desire. Kissing as they make a way to the bed, the couple's more privately passionate part of today has begun. Breaking off this affection when the backs of her knees bump the mattress's edge, Tynie climbs onto the bed, Bobby hovering her once she's splayed out. Swiftly, he enters her core; their lovemaking fueled by anger and need from that moment on. Eventually spent and laying in her arms, Bobby's praised for his intimate prowess, his wife doing so through panted breaths. Commending her in kind, he takes a few minutes to collect himself, prior to rolling off of Tynie. Catching their breath, and basking in one another's afterglow, the couple's night draws nearer a close a hell of a lot better than their day started. Once they're both composed from the wildness of their private passions, Tynie and Bobby mutually swear "I love you." At last able to widely smile today, they cover up, with her moving to lay against him. With his head on the actual pillows and her head rested over Bobby's heartbeat, the couple succumbs to slumber.
The predominant bulk of today for these two was encircled in utter bullshit, only a few fleeting bits of good news given them. After learning about all the bullshit and bad news, Tynie asked this when the couple was alone. Thing is, Bobby actually wondered the same thing without saying so outrightly, which was:
What next?!