Chapter 36

The men walked easily down the street. Bobby's coat was zipped shut, and his bare hands were stuffed in his pants pockets. Mike's leather jacket was zipped over his trussed up shoulder, the left sleeve hanging hollow and loose by his side. His right hand was in his coat pocket. They both wore knitted caps to keep the cold wind out of their hair.

Bobby was tight-lipped about his weekend, and Mike knew there was a story there, if he could manage to get it out of him. "You didn't go out for Halloween?" he asked.

"Nah, uhm… Alex was… sick. We hung around the house."

"Us too. That movie Men in Black was on. Did you catch it?"

"Uh, no."

"Too bad. That cockroach is the spitting image of you."

Bobby gave him an exasperated glance. "The cockroach."

"Yeah, you've never seen it?"

"It's been a while."

They came up on a basketball court. Some kids were playing ball on one end. A ball sat idle on the ground. Bobby pointed to the ball and asked a player when he came around, "Do you mind?"

The kid shook his head and Bobby's hands came out of his pocket. He picked up the ball and made a quick jump shot, then went after it and passed it to Mike, who caught it with one hand.

Mike caught the quick glimmer on Bobby's hand, but didn't say anything. He smiled to himself, balanced the ball on his right hand, and made a one-handed shot, nothing but net.

Bobby took his turn, and the ball bounced off the rim. He ran after it, scooped it up, and brought it back to Mike. They took a few more turns, and stepped out of the way when the full court game headed toward them. Finally, Bobby set the ball back on the young man's jacket. "Thanks," he called.

"I see you made a little investment."

"What?"

"Your left hand, Goren."

Bobby pulled his hand out of his pocket and looked at it. Noticing the ring, he grinned. "Nice work, detective."

"Congratulations. Why wasn't I invited?"

They headed to the corner deli. "It was… a… spur of the moment thing. Alex wants to keep it secret until Thanksgiving."

Mike raised an eyebrow. "No way can you keep it secret that long."

"Why not?"

"Besides today?"

"I won't wear it when I go back to work."

"Who already knows?"

"Andy. And you."

"And Carolyn," Mike said, daring Bobby to tell him to keep it from her.

"All right, and Carolyn."

"And it's only been… how long?"

"Three days."

"Three people in three days. You'll never make it." They peeled off their caps and found a table in the restaurant. Mike dropped his coat on the booth seat beside him, and Bobby did the same on the other side.

"Fancy meeting you here," Deakins said cheerfully, sticking out his hand to shake Logan's, and then Bobby's. He turned to Logan. "What the hell happened?"

"You know me," Logan said. "Trouble always seems to find me."

"Look, I'm gonna get the sandwiches. You guys catch up." Bobby listened to Mike's order and headed for the counter.

Deakins stared at him a moment as he walked away, then turned back to Logan. Mike gestured for him to take a seat, and he did. The younger man told him about the undercover job and how he got hurt. "Well, you're looking good. It must be coming along."

He raised his hand to touch the bandaged shoulder. "Yeah, it's coming along." Goren returned, tray in hand. Hiding his left hand as much as possible, he set the food out in front of his partner and scooted into the seat next to Deakins, who simply stared at him.

Bobby's face colored. "You saw it, too, didn't you?" He asked, his hand hidden under the table.

"When? And who?" Deakins asked, winking.

"Last Friday," Bobby grinned. "And of course you know who."

Deakin's smiled and clapped him on the back. "Congratulations, Bobby! I'll have to give Alex a call!"

Bobby explained again about keeping it secret. Deakins promised not to say anything, except to his wife. "We'll have a…. party or something… after she tells her family."

"Feeling better?" Ross asked, stopping by her desk as he walked to his office.

"Yes, sir, thanks. Just a nasty bug, I guess."

He nodded and went on his way. Alex turned to Andy with a look of gratitude. She read the file in front of her and made some notes on her pad. Her phone rang, and she answered it quickly. "Hello?"

Bobby met her at the hospital, with Mike in tow. Her sister was already there, and gave her, then Bobby, a quick hug. "He's fine now. They're running some tests to be sure, but everyone seems to think it was a heart attack."

Alex tensed up at the words. She held Bobby's hand and left Mike in the hall waiting area with her sister.

"Hi Dad," Eames called, trying to force herself to sound cheerful. She let go Bobby's hand and gave her Dad a quick peck on the cheek.

"I see they've called in the troops," he grumbled. "I'm fine, you know."

"Yeah, they put fine people in hospitals all the time. Just meeting a quota or something," she snarked.

"Hello, Bobby. You don't have to lurk in the background. I'm not contagious."

Bobby came forward and shook his hand. "Sorry, Mr. Eames. Dad," he said nervously.

"You came back in one piece, good," Mr. Eames said. He knew about the undercover assignment and was glad to see them back together. "How's my granddaughter?" He asked Alex.

She put her hands to her belly. "She's fine, working on being an Olympic gymnast, I think."

Her Dad finally smiled. He stared at his daughter, and watched while Bobby collected her coat with his and set them on the large windowsill. "Huh?" he asked Alex. He had not been listening to her questions.

"I just asked you what happened," Alex repeated.

"Oh, you know. Nothing. I just got this pain up my arm, and sweaty."

She frowned at him.

"Probably because my daughter got married without inviting me," he said, sarcastically.

Bobby and Alex looked at each other in surprise. Bobby slipped his left hand into his pants pocket.

"Wha—how did you know?" Alex asked.

"Boy Wonder is wearing his ring, darling. You wouldn't dare bring him in here if he married someone else while you're pregnant, now would you?"

Alex blushed, and smiled. "We were going to surprise everyone at Thanksgiving," she admitted. She grinned, and the words came slowly, as they always did when she found something difficult to say. "Uhm, 'Boy Wonder' and I tied the knot on Friday, at the courthouse." She gave Bobby an amused glance. "Sorry, Dad."

"It's all right, Alex. It's your life. You can live it however you choose." He looked at Bobby, who had a quiet smile on his face. "C'mere."

Bobby stepped closer.

"Welcome to the family, son." He shook Bobby's hand again.