Thursday 11th December

The Parking Lot, Mount Sinai Hospital

Goren started the engine of the Mustang convertible to get it warmed up inside on a night when a light snow had started to fall. For the comfort of his soon to be two, female passengers. Technically speaking it was Caro's car. He'd sold his classic soon after they moved into St Luke's Place.

They did not need two cars. The house only had one parking spot down the side and it was money better saved and spirited away for the future. How much longer the Ford would stay was another matter still to be decided. Caro might mutter occasionally a regular sedan was "dull" but fact was when the baby came it would be far more practical. You would have to be mad to drive round with a new born with the top down in summer and by the time she got heavily pregnant he doubted she'd find it so easy to get in and out of.

Caro was working one of her occasional evening clinics for out patients, so it had made sense for him to offer to pick up Alex after visiting Jack and then drop by that way to collect her from Bellevue. The good news was though he spent only a very short while with Jack who was still groggy and sore after abdominal surgery, he was doing well. Had come round with no problems and the histology while he was still "under" had been good. Yes the growth on his testicle was as expected, malignant, but none of the supporting or connective tissue showed any signs of cancer.

Couple of doses of not especially pleasant, but standard chemo and he had an eighty percent chance of "beating it" according to the specialist. He was just so relieved for Alex when she called him just before he left work and when he saw her up on the fourth floor; it was like a weight had lifted from her shoulders. The dark rings she had been disguising a little under make up would hopefully start to fade now and she would quit that lip chewing. In favour of her more usual amazing appetite she had lost in recent days.

As Goren turned the fast warming car to the entrance she stepped out.

"How was he when you left?"

"Having some water, flirting with a nurse and watching the TV. Though I doubt he'll be awake for long. You know how anaesthesia is Bobby"

"Unfortunately I do. But then I'm told I make a very bad patient in every sense"

"I expect you are like Jack. Complain all the time in private but are like a little lamb when it comes to…"

She stopped with a sudden sneeze "Sorry…all I need is a cold and for him to get it"

Goren sensed her raking for tissues in her purse. "There's usually some in the glove box Alex"

"Danks" she said opening it.

"Did you eat yet? Only I can…"

Eames blew her nose.

"Yes. Went and got something when they were doing something to or for him earlier"

She blew again and then seemed to drop something putting their pack of tissues away.

"Bobby?" Eames said quietly "I…er…this fell out…and um…"

"What?" he frowned with a quick glance over as he drove.

"I didn't mean to pry but I couldn't exactly…um…well not see"

"See what? I doubt it's a statement from a secret bank account in the Bahamas, Caro never told me about…and if it is, I shall have something to say about that"

"It…er…it's got Bellevue Maternity Department on the top" Eames said putting it back in the glove box.

"Oh" Goren said calmly. "Yes well it would Alex. It's where people have babies. Where we are aiming to have ours. Around 17th June next year. Caro is ten weeks pregnant"

"Stop the car this minute!" Eames barked.

"Excuse me?"

"Stop the car so I can give you a great big hug Goren…I mean Daddy"

Friday 12th December

Major Case Squad Room

It was with considerable trepidation Goren approached the door that morning. Alex discovering by accident was not at all how they planned it. In fact with Jack's situation and wanting to be sensitive to that, he had not given it any thought. Beyond the fact he guessed he would be subject to the sort of ribald response he'd seen other people get in that situation.

Your own partner's private happiness and kindness born out of your personal relationship over many years, sometimes trying, some times happy for you both, was one thing. And Alex after all that had happened to her seemed to find it especially wonderful news. Didn't even tease him about whether it was a "happy accident". Goren had a hideous feeling when they got home last night she and Caro, occasionally giggling upstairs in the sitting room, were having one of those "female" conversations it was better not to ask about. The sort just a look told you that you were not invited to be part of.

But she had checked before he drove her back to Soho quite late, it was not something to be kept a secret and he suspected along with news of Jack, Eames would have given anyone she spoke to, that bulletin as well. He was too busy trying not to apologise to George Reese for getting his daughter pregnant and consoling Caro. Not so much that Eileen was not happy, as initially very casual about the news, having worked it out two weeks ago.

The locker room was suspiciously quiet when he arrived. No one from Major Case about at all and Goren's dread only rose when he saw how unusually "normal" things looked in the Squad Room. Or rather "abnormal". Nobody just ahead of the shift starting having a quick gossip or grabbing coffee. But he had barely stepped through the door when Joe Wakefield who sat nearest to it said:

"Oh Bobby this is for you"

And then as he turned, Joe tossed something in his direction and Goren automatically reached out to catch. Even before it landed softly in his palm he realised what it was and that it was just the start. As his hand closed around one Trojan someone else spoke and another flew his way. This time out of the wrapper. By the time Goren reached his desk he wished now was nearer the door, condoms were flying in his direction like confetti at a wedding. Along with comments like "I guess this is too late now Bobby".

Mike lay in wait at his desk and was very probably the person along with Eames, he could thank for this. Her expression was that interesting mix of the totally guilty and completely innocent, women manage so well.

"Congratulations Bobby" said Mike kindly. "From all of us. To you and Caroline. And we got you these too"

From behind his back he produced a pack of diapers.

"Thank you Mike" he replied managing to gather himself "I'll be sure to save the first used and smelly one for you"

Then Ross' office door was flung open.

"Goren? In here now and the rest of you? Get this place cleaned up! It looks like a Bronx bordello on a Saturday night"

At first he thought Ross was joking but his face was like thunder.

"Well I'm waiting Bobby"

It did cross Goren's mind for a fraction of a second to just deck the man. He couldn't lighten up for five seconds; allow him a little shy joy about something he wanted very much and especially when Ross began to drone on about the rosters. And how he had better let him know exactly when this baby was due and how he aimed to take or split his paternity leave. Somehow he resisted and just as well. Because when Goren looked at the seat he was being irritably waved to, it was taken.

By a very large teddy bear whose paws were cuffed to the arms. Before he felt someone give his shoulder a quick squeeze and Ross's voice say.

"I'm very happy for you Bobby. Think you could take this guy into custody until your baby is ready to take over?"

"No trouble Captain" he said quietly.

To be continued…