Chapter 38

Six months now, and Alex was large enough that she was feeling her limitations. She was still working, but Bobby worried when she went out in the field. He'd been trying to get her to ask for desk duty, but she was too stubborn to consider it.

Since he was getting nowhere with his wife, he tried a new tactic: He took her partner out for lunch. Alex teased him about it relentlessly, calling it a date, calling him a two-timer. She knew what he was up to, but she let him follow through.

Logan was her consolation prize. He'd come back on light duty a couple of weeks ago, unencumbered by his brace, and enjoying the limited range of motion of his shoulder. He and Bobby had become like brothers ever since the undercover work. He knew what his partner was doing.

"Italian, Chinese, or Mexican?" She asked.

"Sounds like a really bad joke," he teased. "Chinese. My treat."

She walked with Mike to his car. He helped her in and she managed to get buckled. Mike pulled out of the garage and down the street.

Alex rested her eyes a moment. She was starting to fatigue more easily, probably from carrying around all the extra weight. She had gained more weight this time than she did when she carried Nate. Bobby was worried about that, too. She just looked at her husband's size and figured it all made sense.

The city had already hung garland on the lamp posts. Mike was looking forward to Christmas this year, something he'd not been able to do for quite a long time. He glanced over at Eames, who appeared to be asleep in the seat next to him.

"You all right?" He asked.

"Yeah, just resting," Alex said. She opened her eyes and looked over at his profile as his eyes darted from the road to the rear and side mirrors and back. "Bobby is organizing a conspiracy." Her eyes narrowed. "Are you in on it?"

Mike grinned. "Not exactly. I do think it's worth considering, though."

"You are in on it."

"Alex, you have to admit, you're having a hard time of it. Hell, I've only been back for two weeks, and even I can see that."

"But I don't need a doctor telling me what I can't do," she protested.

"And that's why I'm not in on your 'conspiracy.'" Mike pulled into a free space on the curb. "I think you need to back off a little, but I don't think you have to have it on paper."

"You're my only friend," she said affectionately.

"Bobby's heart is in the right place," Mike said in defense of his partner.

"I know."

"You need to make sure yours is, too. Something happens to you or the baby, and three people are going to be hurt, not just you."

He climbed out of the car in silence, and went around to her side. Mike offered her a hand and shut the door for her, then followed her into the restaurant.

"I hear what you're saying, Goren, but what can I do? I'm not a doctor, and I'm junior partner, and if she wants to keep going out on the streets, there's no way I can stop her. You know how stubborn she can be."

Bobby looked earnestly into Andy's blue eyes. "Just say something to her, Andy. Please."

They sat back while the waitress put their plates on the table. "I already have. I've been saying something at least once a week for a month, now."

As the afternoon wore on, all four of the detectives were quieter than usual. Bobby was brooding, Alex was pissed, and their partners said nothing out of fear. The two of them were like explosives, and neither Mike nor Andy wanted to be the one to light the fuse.

Ross walked through his bullpen, all the way to his office door. Then he turned and looked at the two groups of detectives working in silence. He frowned. Then he spoke. "Eames, Dawes, Logan, Goren. My office. Now!"

He went in and waited for them all to arrive. Just as Eames waddled in, his phone started to ring. Ross ignored it, and after a few more rings, it was silent. Bobby held a chair while Alex sat down. Dawes made herself comfortable by the window. Bobby stood behind Alex. Mike was compelled to take the other chair.

"It's like a funeral home out there. What the hell is going on?" Ross demanded.

They all looked around at each other, not wanting to be the first to answer. "We're working, Captain," said Eames. "It's just a quiet day, I guess."

"Bullshit." Ross's phone rang again. He picked up the receiver and dropped his hands on the button that hung it up, then replaced the receiver. "It's not working. For any of you. I'm reassigning you all."

Bobby's hands gripped the back of the chair Alex was sitting in. Logan twisted in his seat, taking the pressure off his sore shoulder. Dawes stood up, listening with interest.

"Logan, you're with Eames. You two will do the research, and Goren and Dawes will be your legs."

"But, Captain!" Alex protested. Mike sat forward in the chair and complained, as well.

Ross' phone rang again. He picked up the phone, pulled the cable out of the back of it and tossed it unceremoniously back on his desk. "No buts. We've still got crimes to solve, and doctor's orders or not," he looked at Eames, "your condition is affecting your work." Then he looked at Mike. "You're not 100% yet, either, and you know it." He stared them all down. "Now I want to see some movement on these cases!"

Ross flopped in his chair and disappeared behind the desk while he retrieved the errant phone cord. The detectives filed out of the room. Bobby was the only one smiling, and he had to work hard to suppress it.