NOTE: Didn't win any lottery, so nothing is mine except for what is.
ALSO: Squarey is brilliant. Some of the best ideas are hers (hello, cliffhanger) that she lets me use.
AND: Thanks for reading. I have one, possibly two chapters left until IAB is all done. Everyone has been super supportive I may have to write something else!
Everyone shuffled back to their seats, varying expressions that all fit nicely into the "wary" category on their faces. As Bobby went to his end of the table, he felt a small, warm hand on his arm. He looked down at Eames, who smiled at him and shook her head. Slightly dazed, Bobby allowed her to lead him over to where she and Logan sat. He took the chair in between the two of them. He smiled back at her and knew it was the right move. He was no longer in the hot seat, as it were, and by sitting with his fellow MCS detectives it was a powerful visual to Moran and everyone else that he could take whatever cockamamie notion the Mayor had. He was not alone.
The Mayor remained standing, waiting for everyone's attention. The Commissioner raised his eyebrows slightly at Bobby's change of position, but Moran and Leech did not take notice of Bobby; they were focused on the Mayor. Santelli looked pointedly at the Mayor, while Forrester smiled his approval at the MCS detectives and tipped the brim of an imaginary hat at Eames for her successful maneuver. Bobby looked back at Eames who was smiling in acknowledgement. Despite the stress of the moment, Bobby could suppress the stab of annoyance at the casual way Forrester interacted with Eames. What was with that guy?
His Honor, milking the dramatic pause for all it was worth, leaned slightly forward with his palms splayed on the table. He surveyed each face individually and once he had gone full circle, his gaze settled back on the Commissioner. "Why not send Robert back out on the street?" The Mayor said to the room at large. He looked around at several astonished faces; all eyes blinking rapidly back at him. He sat down, pleased with his pronouncement. Bobby remained expressionless, his attention still on the Mayor, who beamed triumphantly at the assembly. The Commissioner looked at Moran whose eyes had gone wide and was looking at Leech. She gave him a slight shrug and looked back at his Honor.
"Follow me here," the Mayor instructed. "First, I think there's a tremendous opportunity to generate buzz about the Integration Program." He held up his fingers and counted off. "Second, it will show we take Robert's transgressions seriously and respond seriously. A demotion is a slap on the wrist. We need to show the harshest critics," his eyes unconsciously swiveled Moran's direction, "that we understand and are taking appropriate measures. Three," he directed a smile toward Santelli. "He will be in Augusta's very capable hands. She's done amazing work on my own personal detail and I think she'll be a perfect partner for Robert as he transitions back into police work." Santelli's face remained smooth as her eyes bored into the back of her boss's head, but Bobby could see her jaw was working as she gnawed on her tongue, probably to keep from saying something.
The Commissioner considered this as he stared up at the ceiling and after a moment nodded. "You know, Sparky" said the Commissioner. "I think you might be on to something." He looked at Bobby and stroked his chin with his hand. "It's perception that matters, so a demotion and temporary reassignment present a powerful combination to anyone who might cry 'foul.'" He pointedly looked at Moran. "Yeah, I think it's a great idea," he said half to himself. He turned and looked at Bobby. "It will also remind you, son, of why you became a cop in the first place." He chuckled. "Nothing like being back in a uni, behind the wheel of a black and white to give you perspective about where you came from and where you're going."
Since the two highest ranking officials in the room thought it was a good idea, everyone else remained silent; the ambient noise of New York going about its business – cars honking, jackhammers jack hammering, people shouting – was the only sound. Inside the room, everyone waited for someone else to react first, but no one said a word. Moran, however, looked suspiciously smug.
"Splendid!" said the Mayor. "Augusta will take excellent care of you, Robert." He beamed at the Inspector who returned his regard with a polite smile.
"Sirs," Danny Ross interjected. "I hate to burst your bubble, but that puts me down a detective."
The Mayor waved his hands as if Ross's point wasn't worth worrying over. "Annabelle can spare Calvin," said the Mayor as if it were already a foregone conclusion. "He'll be partner-less for the duration anyway."
"Actually, Your Honor," Leech protested. "That puts me down two inspectors."
"Now Annabelle," said Moran who stopped sulking long enough to look superior. "You want this brain child of yours to work you must be prepared to make sacrifices." He was rubbing her nose in it, probably to get back at her for defending Bobby.
The Mayor was too pleased with himself to bother noticing Moran's remark or its tone. "Right. So work it out amongst yourselves." He stood and everyone followed suit. "In two weeks time, I want Robert and Augusta to inaugurate the Integration Program, with Calvin on temporary loan to Major Case to partner with Alexandra." He shooed them off with his hands. "Dismissed!" The Mayor made a beeline for Santelli, but was intercepted by Ross. The two men engaged in conversation while the Commissioner made his way to the door without stopping to talk to anyone. Moran gave one last sneer to the room at large as he exited behind the Commissioner.
Mike came over and good naturedly punched Bobby in the shoulder, but Bobby didn't feel it; he was still numb from the last five minutes of the proceeding to notice. Go out on patrol? Work with Santelli? Wear a uniform? He looked down at his slight paunch, a souvenir from the stress of the last two years and wondered if he would even fit in his old uniform. Probably not. He was dizzy. Eames and Logan were talking, but he couldn't quite understand what they were saying.
Annie Leech approached, followed closely by Forrester and Santelli. "Congratulations, Detective Goren," she said and held her hand out. He shook it. "Uh, um. Thank you Chief."
"Spec," she said. "My people call me Spec. Since you are in my program now, Detective Goren, you're one of my people." She cleared her throat. "Please contact my assistant to set up an appointment," she said abruptly. "I need to brief you on the particulars of the program. You'll need to spend some time with Gus prior to going out." She turned to include Santelli. "You two will only have each other, so it's vital you are on the same page from day one." She directed this last statement mostly toward Santelli, who tilted her head slightly to the right as she looked at Bobby.
After a long minute, Gus finally held out her hand for him to shake. "It will be-," she broke off and searched for the right word. "An adventure," she finally decided. "To work with you," she said, avoiding the standard words like "pleasure" or "fun" without being overtly insulting. Bobby shook her hand. "Uh, yeah." He replied.
"Augusta!" said the Mayor in a sing song voice, tinged with adoration. With a desperate glance at Leech and an eye roll toward Forrester, Santelli fixed a smile to her face and turned to greet the mayor. Leech chuckled as she said her goodbyes and left the room. Bobby stood there with Eames, Forrester and Logan as the Mayor tenderly clasped Santelli's hand.
"And how is Gary?" the little guy said, his eyes coming just at the level of her chest.
"My husband is well, your Honor," she said, not bothering to correct the Mayor that her husband's name was Greg. "He'll be delighted to know you remember him so well." Her face remained perfectly straight. Their voices faded as the remaining detectives turned to each other. Forrester broke the silence.
"Guy has a thing for tall women," he said unnecessarily. "Poor Gus."
"Lucky me," said Eames quietly.
Forrester took her hand and kissed the back of it loudly. "My lady, twill be lovely to serve with you," he extolled gallantly.
Eames giggled. Eames giggled. Bobby looked at his partner as if seeing her for the very first time. Eames does not giggle! He was about to mention it to her, but decided to keep his mouth shut. When things were back to normal, and they were back together in the MCS bullpen, he would remind her and point out that she giggled, and she will be as disgusted as he.
"And you, sirrah," she purred demurely. Bobby openly gaped at his partner this time; obviously she'd been replaced by some sort of coquette. Who is this person? He was going to have to get the details of her so called questioning at Forrester's hands. They appeared to have gotten very close when he wasn't looking.
"Let's get together for a drink this week," said Forrester. "I feel like a Minor League player who just got picked to pitch in the World Series." He winced. "Except I play hockey."
"I'll take good care of you, Calvin," she responded.
"I am sure you will, Alexandra. Although," he said self importantly. "I think, since I will technically be the senior partner, I will be taking good care of you." He winked. Bobby did not think this day could get any more surreal. He was still a cop, but he was going to walk a beat again. He had a new partner that didn't like him, and now his old partner, a woman he had known and respected for years, was acting like she was in high school and just got asked out by the head jock. Bobby closed his eyes, thinking it would all be a result of too much scotch, but when he reopened them, all the same people were there. Eames was smiling at Forrester who smiled dopily back, and Mike looked on like he approved. Bobby needed to sleep, like maybe for a day or two.
"Logan," Forrester said, turning to address the other detective. They were all oblivious to Bobby's inner turmoil. "Always a pleasure."
"You too, Sharpie."
"Detective Goren," he said shaking Bobby's hand. He glanced over at his partner, still engaged in conversation with the Mayor who was animatedly describing something to her, then back at Bobby. "You and I are going to need to grab a drink, too."
Bobby shook the Inspector's hand. "Uh, sure."
"Great. We'll make it a Thing," Forrester said. He looked over at Logan. "You can bring Wexler, if she's old enough to imbibe."
Mike laughed. "Yeah, Wheeler's old enough." He caught Santelli's eye as she glared daggers at the group. "I think you are being summoned for savior duty, Sharpie," Mike jerked his head in Gus's direction where she was firmly caught in the Mayor's amorous web. Forrester chuckled as he saluted their group and went to save his partner from the attentions of New York City's love struck Mayor.
"Of all the ways it could have gone down," said Mike, shaking his head. "I wouldn't have guessed this." He drummed Bobby on the back with both his hands, unable to contain his delight. "You did it! We won!" He tapped a staccato beat on Bobby's shoulders as if playing drums for the Stones. "I promise as your new keeper, brother, I won't be too much of a hard ass," he vowed jokingly. "I may make you wash my car, however."
Eames laughed at Mike's good humor and looked up at Bobby with a smile on her face and a sparkle in her eyes. He looked down at her, feeling free for the first time in a very long time. He'd expected so much worse; dismissal, possibly even legal action, but those hadn't happened. He could deal with Santelli, and walking a beat, and searching backpacks at subways, and whatever else he had to do. He'd already been through so much worse. For now he would just savor the moment and simply be. With Mike practically dancing around him, and Eames smiling up at him, victory felt suspiciously like joy.
"Detectives," said Ross coming over to join their party. "Goren," he said to Bobby. "Glad you are still with us." He held out his hand which Bobby shook. "If you'll excuse me, I owe Annie Leech a drink," he said and made his way to the door. He paused to look back on the tableau that Eames, Logan, and Bobby made, standing as one unit, and shook his head, smiling as he left the room.
