Let`s check on Bobby shall we?? ;0) Italics means flashbacks
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He succeeded to slow his pace. His longs legs swallowed miles of sidewalks. The sun had finished its descent. A dark blanket covered the sky. The night was cold, clear and windy. His neck protested against the fluid movement of the air. He placed his scarf to protect his neck against that nasty wind.
The neighborhood was quiet. The rare persons walking were hurried to get home, to enjoy some time with the family before the frenzy of the week started over. Breathing deeply, different scents played with his nostrils: meat being grilled, potatoes being fried and later, humidity and wet soil. He sidetracked on his course and walked in a park. Walking aimless, he stopped by a pond. The water was covered by a thin layer of ice. It was the proof that winder still had its grip on the developing spring.
Smells continued their waltz and one perfume in particular tickled: subtle but well-known. It was light with a hint of vanilla. He turned his head and Tara was his side. Sitting on a bench, legs crossed, she was smiling. Pinot limped to him and asked for a caress. More than happy to obliged, the Aussie patted the lab's head that let his tongue out.
Tara slid along the bench to give him some space. Bundled in a warm blue coat, she could see a multicolor scarf rolled around her thin neck. Her hair twirled in all directions. Her green eyes were competing against the stars in the sky.
"She is beautiful", he mused, mesmerized by her twinkling eyes and took place at her side. His anger vanished at her sight. She could feel his warmth irradiated her body.
"Needed some air?" she asked, curious. He rolled his eyes to the sky and she giggled. He smiled at the sound of her light silver bell laugh.
"And you?" replied the tall man. She tilted her head.
"Pinot needed a walk..." she gave as a reason. A comfortable silence settled between the two colleagues. Pinot curled at Bobby's feet and yawned. Tara enjoyed that silence. Noise came muffled through the bushes and trees encircling the park. Spring tried to burst and to clear away the remaining of the winter. Hope was trying to shed some light on the darkness. Dreams had a chance to blossom, again.
Different smells and noise traveled to them. Not far away, Tara heard a woman trying to hush her baby's cry. A sigh engulfed her soul. That evening was a time of broken dreams too. Yes, Pinot needed some fresh air. Still, she used that excuse to leave the heavy atmosphere of the bullpen. She was trying to put some order in all the information she was able to retrieve from her faithful computer.
Still, some blank needed to be filled and she decided to do a phone call. Because, she was unsure, she decided to call that person out of indiscreet ears.
When she studied in college, she didn't have a lot of friends. She was not a party animal but not a library rat either. She enjoyed the quietness of her tiny apartment, the joy to study her books and the presence of strangers when she was typing on her laptop in a café. Still, one person was bold enough to approach her and that girl became one of her dearest friend.
Her name was Sara Provencher. She studied mathematics and criminal history in the same college as Tara. She was a foreign student, doing a student exchange. Tara laughed about her choices: she never quite understood how those two subjects could match together but Sarah was a smart girl. After her studies, she went back home: Ottawa and was able to obtain a job through the Royal Canadian Mounted Police or RCMP, easier to say. Tara smirked. Sara became an analyst for the law enforcement agency, got married and popped children. She was even at her fourth pregnancy when Tara called her earlier.
The phone rang five times before someone picked up. As soon as the phone was lifted from the hook, a roar of noise jumped to her ear. A toddler cry, two children running through the kitchen, a husky voice asking to the children to bring their race upstairs and then, she heard Sara's voice: melodious and caring.
"Oui, bonsoir", she said, probably rocking her last one: Jodi who is 16 months against her well-swollen belly.
"Hello Sara", said Tara with a smile. She had enclosed her cell phone in the crook of her shoulder and walked with Pinot at her side.
"Tara! How are you hon?", replied the young mother. Tara heard Sara whispered to her husband Peter to take Jodi so she could be free talking with her friend. Tara heard footsteps, a door being shut and then, silence. Sara probably went to a room where all the noise where cut.
"Tired but OK…so far", answered the computer tech. She found a bench and sat while Pinot sniffed around the pond.
"Are you on a case?" questioned Sara, knowing her friend well. Usually, Tara was bubbly and giggling all the time but not tonight. Sara laid on her bed and caressed her belly. Tara mumbled her response.
"Tara, are you OK?", asked Sara, now worry. She heard a sad giggle through the phone. Sara frowned and waited for Tara to continue.
"We are on a case right now…" she trailed off, unsure how to words her emotions. "It's hard emotionally and…", she didn't finish her sentence, knowing that Sara would understand. Tara breathed deeply.
"The reason I was calling you tonight is that it seems that our suspect lived on the north of the border and I wondered if you could dig some information for me. It will be faster because we are running of out time here.", she explained, fingers crossed.
"Tara, I would be happy to do that for you. The only thing I want you to do is to send a request through the NCIC (National Crime Information Center) so my butt will be covered", she smiled. Tara understood. If Sara dig some information and transmit this information to Tara without any official request and consent, she could be in trouble. In a sense, she could breach the suspect's civil rights and these proofs could be inadmissible in court.
"No problem Sara. I already sent a request through the Interpol System, the I-24/7 and something popped up from the RCMP. It seemed our suspect had a rap sheet in your country but I was unable to go further. I tried to search through your database, the CPIC (Canadian Police Information Center) but I'm losing time as the two systems are a bit different. The codes are not the same and I feel I am swimming still! I already downloaded his fingerprints electronically, encrypted and please, check if it's match", she said, now eager to obtain the information.
"Tara, I will call you back in an hour…" said Sara.
"A hour? Why so long?", questioned Tara, eager. Sara laughed frankly.
"Honey, you seemed to forget that April is still synonymous of snowstorms here in Canada! And right now, we have one and plus, it's mixed with freezing rain. It already fell 15 centimeters or almost 6 inches so the roads are snowy and icy. I have to get dressed and with a belly of 8 months, I am kind on the escargot mode", she exclaimed, laughing.
"Sorry Sara!" said an apologizing Tara, blushing when she spotted Bobby at the other side of the park. "Call me back at my office", she said and gave her number. "Be careful Sara and thank you for you help."
"No problem Tara and oh, honey?" said Sara, serious.
"Mmmhh", mumbled Tara.
"Did you talk to him?", referring to Bobby. Tara confided to her friend her feelings towards the Aussie. Sara was far so what were the chances that she spilled the beans right? Unfortunately, it seemed that Sara shared the same genes as Lucy: self-proclaimed matchmaker!!
"No…", whispered Tara, still watching Bobby approaching, oblivious to her presence.
"He is close of you, is he?", chuckled Sara. Tara giggled and Sara understood.
"Listen to me hun and I am serious! Once your case is wrapped up and if you get more than 2 days off, come down to my place. I am even ready to pay you plane ticket. You need a change of scenery and you need to talk!! And I am ready to listen! The only thing that prevent me to go in DC is my precarious state: I'm ready to pop anytime so will you think about it at least?", knowing that Tara will not say yes, right away.
Tara sighed heavily and tears stung her eyes. Sara was right: she needed neutral ears to listen and a change of scenery will help to all the pieces of her messy heart together.
"I will think about it, promise", she said in a hurry as Bobby was coming closer and closer. Sara agreed and promised her to call in an hour.
Tara closed her phone and hid it in her pocket and waited for Bobby to get closer.
A light touch on her hand jolted her from her reverie. His dimpled smile melted her heart and right at that moment, a strong desire to get refuge in his strong arms overpowered her. Bobby observed her eyes darkened and became misty. Pain stung his heart, wondering what caused her trouble.
"What were you thinking at?", he asked, hoping that she explained her sadness. She shook her head ruefully and looked at him. His green eyes showed her concern and care. He was ready to listen. She sighed.
"I called a friend earlier that might help us in regards of the case and …" she started to explain. His fingers reached for her hand and the airy contact burned her skin. She sighed again. How to explain that she envied Sara's life: her husband that was a best friend, children that filled her house…She missed that. She wondered if one day, she will get her chance. Before, she met Sara, she didn't believe in fairy tales marriage. She wanted children but the example of her own parent's marriage falling apart scared her. She desired to meet a soul mate but wondered if Bobby was the one.
"And.." pursued Bobby, still playing with her fingers. She shrugged and turned her face away. Bobby's fingers slid under her chin and forced her to look at him. She plunged.
"Do you have dreams Bobby?" she asked, bluntly. He frowned and his eyes questioned her.
"Of course I do. Maybe it will sound silly but I dream of a house, a woman who will share the same dreams, the same goals, a wife who will be a best friend, a confident and I will be able to laugh with. My mom and pop were a good example: they laughed together, planned together and supported each other.
"Ankle-bitter?", she asked, with a light smile.
"Of course!" he replied with a large grin. At that precise moment, children with green eyes and dimpled-smile came across her mind and she smiled. His gaze darkened while he was looking at her. Did she know that she filled his dreams? He realized, maybe too late, that he made a mistake. His words haunted his dreams…the words he uttered to her and he knew he broke her heart. Darcy had an impact in his life but Tara with her bubbly smile captured his heart. Still…he was afraid to express his feelings.
Their eyes locked together for a moment. A slight blush blossomed on her cheeks but she didn't flinch her gaze. Warmth and love traveled between them. Both questioned each others silently but refused to admit their love…too afraid to scare the other.
A cell phone ring broke the spell. It rang few times before Tara realized it was hers. Plunging her hand in her pocket, she dug out her cell phone. On the screen, it was Sara's home phone number. Tara frowned and answered without letting go of Bobby's eyes.
"Sara?", she answered.
"I have your info!" said Sara, without preamble. Surprised, Tara shook her head.
"You were quick! You already at the office?", she asked. She heard Sara giggling.
"No, Peter refused that I take the road with that kind of weather. So I called a colleague who was at the office, even a Sunday night and he is willing to do a conference call.", explained Sara, sitting at her home office.
"Give me few minutes to walk back the Hoover building and I call you back", said Tara and close her phone.
Bobby lifted an eyebrow and waited for her. She took Pinot leash and explained.
"Let's go back to the bullpen. I have some info on Spencer that may break the case. I'll explain on our way back", she said. He nodded and walked at her side.
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So...???