"The Rib Eye", Nr Casa Grande, AZ
By the time they were finished at the Mission and heading north back to Phoenix, it made sense to eat dinner on the way and before it got too late.
"It's still very circumstantial Bobby unless you plan to get hold of a set of lunar tables?"
She might be teasing him but Eames knew there was a chance that he was right. After learning where the Castillo trailer always parked up, she too could accept the hypothesis that what Jesus saw from his bunk that fateful night was the statue of St Lucy above the lintel illuminated by moonlight.
What they both suspected was that "the devil" had a very human form when he was left sick and alone in the trailer by his grandfather. When the only other person anywhere close by was Father Pike. Who was very swift to pour cold water on the idea of a "miraculous vision" despite the donations that might have poured in as a result of an increased number of visitors.
"Our best hope is that Chater can find Jesus and he's willing to speak to us...Alex are you listening?"
"No. I'm watching our steaks heading this way"
The Garden Hotel, East Van Buren, Phoenix
When they went to collect their keys, the desk clerk handed Eames an envelope he said had been dropped off by a uniformed officer.
"Whatever else we might say Dave Chater is pulling out all the stops"
She handed Goren the note which confirmed Chater would have a CSU team at the Mission the next day and they had tracked down Jesus Castillo Jr. Helped by the fact he had followed the family tradition of not staying clear of law enforcement. Jesus was currently on probation, staying at some kind of group home for young offenders in Phoenix and working at a meat packing plant.
"How far is it to West Clarendon Avenue?" he enquired of the desk clerk who helpfully circled it on a free local map.
"Think we earned a beer before bedtime Bobby?"
"Yes Alex"
"On me then...on the condition you do not mention the case once"
"Deal"
They were on their second having talked wedding plans and she made him laugh about the fitting for her gown. He could remember Caro coming back equally exasperated with Jean-Paul and threatening to turn up in jeans and a sweatshirt.
"And you would not have cared less would you Bobby?"
"I would have been surprised and felt a little over dressed myself but no...no I wouldn't. So long as Caro..."
Eames did not press him to finish what he was going to say. For a man could struggle to control his negative emotions at times, he had always been very private about certain things. And had never needed to say what he felt about Caro. A blind man could see that.
"How is Elliot doing by the way? Forgot to ask with all that's been happening"
"He's due another x ray this week" replied Eames "If the bone is not healing they'll have to consider surgery...brace and screws job"
Goren pulled a face "Won't help his chances of returning very fast...if at all"
"I know" said Eames "Like you Stabler drives me nuts at times, but he's damn good at his job. You wouldn't consider..."
"As much as Elliot and I have...um...history...I think it's very...mean... of you to think about replacing him before you even know that will be necessary"
Eames shrugged "But if it was..."
"No. I never had any ambition to work SVU and certainly not with a Lieutenant who would be plotting to get rid of me before I even got my desk organised"
"That's a six month job on its own"
"Very funny Alex"
"What if chance came to stay at the Academy? Would you?"
Goren sipped his beer.
"I'm fairly sure the answer to that is no. Don't get me wrong...it's interesting and I'm enjoying it but...but it's not the same. Too long at the sharp end? Caro says investigation is my first, best destiny"
She smiled at the realisation he'd thought that through since the other day.
"Isn't that a quote from Star Wars?"
"That's what I said, but she insists its Star Trek and even I know better than to argue" he glanced over at her "Sometimes. Want another?"
"Yes...no...I must call Jack before it gets too late at home"
Room 312, The Garden Hotel
Eames managed to catch McCoy before he turned in for the night and she had barely asked how his daughter and granddaughter were before she got an excited reply.
"Guess what Al? Julie is pregnant. They are so thrilled and so am I. Baby is due 3rd September. They say they don't mind but I think they are hoping for a boy this time..."
As Jack went on Eames was hardly listening. Of course it explained why Julie had been so keen for them to visit this weekend, but that had never crossed her mind as the reason. Foolish of her in one way and also very mean to wish it was news of almost anything but that. It was the last thing she wanted or needed to hear right now.
Not when she had a growing suspicion she might be pregnant herself with a baby they had not planned. An accident, if she was right and they went through with it, which would make Jack a father for the fourth time about six weeks after he became a grandfather for the second. And there, in a nutshell, were almost all the reasons she was hoping she was wrong and putting off doing a test. That and her uncertainty about her own feelings on the matter.
"Al? Al are you still there?"
"Y..yes. Yes I am Jack. I'm really pleased for them"
"You don't exactly sound it. Bad day for you?"
"No...not really. Long one"
The rest of their conversation remained brief and on her part, stilted and awkward. And the more interested Jack tried to be and the more sympathetic he sounded, the worse she felt.
Relieved when the call ended, Eames lay on the bed a while turning her thinking into knots and starting to develop a headache. She felt totally wretched about the whole thing and angry with herself and Jack. That they had never really come to a conclusion about children before now. That had only really discussed it when he was diagnosed with cancer. Not the best time with that hanging over them. And they were so keen not to upset the other, she doubted either of them was totally honest about what they really thought.
Either that or neither of them actually knew what they thought and it was not something you could completely separate from the context of the person you were discussing it with. Three marriages, four kids including a surrogate for her sister, two ex wives, one dead husband, one (soon to be two) grandchildren and the difference in their ages, made it far more complicated than it was for Bobby and Caro.
For a moment she was almost tempted to go next door and pour out her troubles to Goren. But three things stopped her. Firstly, Bobby might be asleep and secondly, they had never gone in for great confidences. By and large they dealt with their own private troubles, didn't pry or try to interfere and she was sure that had helped to make them a stronger team. Bobby would be acutely embarrassed by her snivelling her troubles and looking to him for advice.
And lastly, she had a fair idea what he'd say. Something along the lines it was all rather hypothetical and maybe she would be better to be sure she was pregnant first. Work out what she wanted to do, whatever Jack said and before she told him.
She got up and went to the bathroom resolving to at least stop putting things off and do a damned test as soon as possible.
To be continued...
AN: Goren's "history" with Elliot Stabler is explained in "A Wide Open Country".
