Disclaimer: I don't own them Dick Wolf does.

Rated T

FIRES WITHIN

Chapter Ten.

Bobby had taken Noah out front to his car and they both were working on removing the old starter motor. Paula had insisted on making her potato salad and preparing some of the finger food for the BBQ. Noah was passing Bobby the tools he required when they suddenly heard a rumbling sound that was getting closer and closer. With a grin Bobby stood up and wiped his hands clean, and signed to Noah that their guests were arriving and pointed down the street to an approaching motorbike with two men on it.

The big Harley Davidson Fat Boy pulled up into the drive of the beach house, and Fitz and Lewis both climbed off of it. Noah was excited to see the motorcycle but wasn't too sure of the big biker that stood by it, he was covered in tattoo's. Bobby sensed Noah's apprehension and knelt beside him and told Noah that Fitz was ok and that he needn't worry, he wheeled Noah down towards his two old friends.

Paula had heard the motorcycle too and curiosity got the better of her and she walked out to the front. She saw Bobby and a slightly built man greeting each other and then saw a bear of a man smothered in tattoos grab Bobby in a fierce hug. She smiled when she saw Bobby introduce them both to Noah then walked over to meet them for herself. The man she knew had to be Fitz looked intimidating in his jeans and biker leathers. When he turned and faced her and smiled she saw how kind his eyes were.

Bobby introduced his two old friends to Paula then they all went into the house. They all sat down and drank a cup of coffee. Lewis decided that he was going to work on the mustang this evening so that nothing interrupted with their 'party' time, so he led the way out followed by Fitz, Bobby and Noah assuring Paula that it wouldn't even take them an hour. True to their word 35 minutes later they all filed back into the house and went to the bathroom and cleaned themselves up. Paula was going to prepare them all something to eat but Fitz told her to take it easy and that tonight they were going to relax and order food in. They all decided that they wanted Chinese so Bobby took the yellow pages out and ordered from the local restaurant.

Fitz had been watching his old friend interact with the beautiful lady. He had spent a week with Lewis at his auto shop, he had just returned from Dubai where he was chief engineer on a couple of sky scrapers being built there. He was used to people judging him by his looks, he realized though that Paula hadn't judged him. She had accepted him as one of Bobby's friends and that impressed him. Her son had seemed nervous at first but had soon accepted him also. He had been deeply disturbed when Lewis had told him about all that Bobby had been through. He hadn't been in touch with Bobby for over 5 years. He was sad to have heard that he lost his mother, but unsure of his feelings about the loss of his brother Frank. He had known Frank it didn't surprise him to hear that Bobby put his career on the line to save his nephew. When Bobby went out to the kitchen to take care of the dishes Fitz followed him.

"Hey man I'm sorry to hear about your mom. If I had known I would have been at the funeral."

Bobby turned to Fitz and nodded. "Thanks I know you would have been there. We tried to track you down."

"Lewis told me about Frank too. It's tough on you I know, but Frank and I we never were friends. I know you would never ask. I was told about your 6 months suspension without pay. If you need any help then just tell me man ok."Fitz reached over and gave Bobby a friendly pat on his back.

"Your right I never would ask Fitz. I did have financial problems; however I now have that problem under control. How have you been? Still not found your dream lady?" Bobby reached into the fridge and brought out a six pack and offered Fitz one of the bottles and took one for him-self.

Fitz took the bottle of beer and grinned at Bobby.

"No haven't found her yet." He then watched Bobby intently. "I must admit Dr Gyson sure does have my interest. "He took a sip of beer from the bottle and grinned when he saw the reaction he had been looking for cross over Bobby's face.

"I can see though, that I'm too late and she is taken. You always did have a great taste in women though." He raised his bottle to Bobby and then they both went back into the living room to the others. After they spent an hour talking and getting reacquainted with each other, Paula saw that Noah was getting tired. So she stood and said her goodbyes to everybody. Bobby insisted on walking her home telling his friends to make themselves at home. Once at her door Paula turned to Bobby.

"I really enjoyed meeting your friends, Noah and I really had fun this evening. She stepped up to Bobby and kissed him. "We have a big day tomorrow. I'm looking forward to it. You had better head back you have a lot of catching up to do with Lewis and Fitz. I will be back at the beach house at 11 am, and then you can introduce me to your partner ok?" She rested her forehead against Bobby's.

Bobby nodded then he kissed her softly and tenderly and stopping before it got out of hand and said his goodnights to Paula and Noah. He waited till they were safely inside then returned home to the beach house. He already missed her.

Lewis and Fitz had decided to start the party a little earlier than planned between them they all emptied a keg of beer and a two bottles of tequila and were unable to take themselves to bed so they laid sprawled out all over the living room.

Alex pulled up outside of the beach house surprised at the entire tranquility. She had expected to find them all outside. She grabbed her overnight bag and climbed up the porch and entered the beach house. She wasn't prepared for the sight that greeted her inside though. It smelt like a brewery so she left the front door opened and opened some windows and the blinds letting sunshine into the room, then decided to go and make some extra strong coffee and laughed when she heard a collective groan behind her. She set the machine ready for the coffee then looked in the fridge and started preparing breakfast for them all.

Bobby had the least trouble in waking up, even if he felt like a marching band was inside his head. He stood up and went to the kitchen and greeted Alex. He poured them both a cup and added just the right amount of coffee to her sugar, just how she liked it.

Alex accepted her coffee off of him she had placed the biscuits in the oven and prepared the gravy. She had to smile as she looked him over, his hair disheveled and red bloodshot eyes.

"You guys have fun last night then?" She asked him and waited for him to finish drinking his coffee.

"Well from what I remember of it yeah." He replied, then walked to the sink and drank two big glasses of water and helped her get the rest of the breakfast ready.

Lewis woke up to the sun glaring in his face and rolled over with a groan. However the smell of bacon and coffee revived him and he crawled up off of the floor. After he had used the bathroom he joined Alex and Bobby in the kitchen, saying a prayer to the gods for the person who discovered coffee. It wasn't long before Fitz joined them and they laughed when he went over and hugged the coffee machine.

Bobby introduced Alex properly to Fitz, she had only seen him briefly once before when he called for Fitz's help to trace a tattoo that a suspect had and that had been right at the start of their partnership. She had never asked him any questions about Fitz back then but he did recall the look of shock on her face as he went and greeted his old school buddy.

"Right you guys I made breakfast and I will even do the dishes but that pig sty you all left in the living room that is your problem so I suggest that you get your butts in there and tidy it all up so that we can get this day rolling. Once she had given them their orders she took their dishes and started to clean up the kitchen. Once they had gotten everything cleaned up Alex decided to take Lewis and Fitz in her car and go and get some stuff for the party later….

T.B.C …..