That night when Goren got home, the only ones there were Marcus and Storm. As soon as the cats identified him, Marcus turned and walked away. Storm mewed happily and charged at him. He leaned down before she could attach herself to his pants and caught her in his hand, which she was content to dig her claws into. "Ow...watch it."

She looked up into his face and mewed again.

"Yeah, okay...just watch the claws."

He set her gently in the crook of his arm, which was one of her favorite places to be, and headed up the stairs. Confirming that Barb and Brian were out, he changed and headed for the kitchen. After feeding Storm and filling Marcus' bowl, he made himself a sandwich, grabbed a beer and went into the living room. Dropping onto the couch, he flipped through the channels until he found a decent documentary on Pearl Harbor.


He heard the laughter on the porch and looked toward the door as Brian and Barb came into the house. It was nearly eleven. Brian kissed his mother and waved to Goren. "'Night, Bobby."

"Good night, Brian."

Barb came into the living room and lowered herself onto the couch beside him, reaching over to give Storm, who was curled up in his lap watching her, a gentle pat. Her eyes shifted back to him and she studied him intently. He raised his eyebrows. "What?"

"You had lunch with Brian, and he told you about his decision."

"Yes."

"He told you first."

He looked away. "Barb...I...I am sorry...I..."

She laid a hand on his and squeezed, one of her ways of quieting him. Granted, it wasn't his favorite way, but it was one with which he was very familiar and he fell silent, shifting his eyes toward her to watch her with silent guilt. She was studying the floor, though she kept her hand around his. Finally, she looked at him, eyes bright with tears. Knowing he would misunderstand her tears, she lightly caressed his arm. "I'm glad he went to you first."

"He was uncertain. He isn't sure how you'll react to things right now, and..." He hesitated before continuing. She needed to know how her son felt. "Barb, it bothers him that you...uh, that you think he could possibly see this baby as a replacement for him."

She sighed. "I should have known better. My father and I worked hard to teach him to adjust to circumstances he can't control."

"It was worth the effort. He learned well. I wish I knew how to adjust like that." He looked at the kitten in his lap, gently stroking her soft gray fur. She purred at him. "I...react with uncertainty. My...life...has been filled with uncertainty. Brian's hasn't, so he doesn't know how to respond to that."

"Have I really been that bad?"

"Not bad. Unpredictable."

"And he wanted your opinion of how I'd handle this?"

"Pretty much."

She leaned into him and nestled against him as he slid his arm around her. She could feel his body relax and he kissed her head. She gently ran her hand over the soft fabric of his shirt, letting the tender contact distract them both, before finally saying, "What do you think?"

"A-about Brian?" She nodded. "I'm glad he opted for chemo."

"Why? You understand why he refused it in the first place."

His fingers slid beneath her shirt and he caressed the gentle swelling of her belly, his mind imagining the baby that grew within her. Absently, he murmured, "I do understand, but that doesn't mean I agreed with it. I...uh, I don't want to lose him, Barb."

She sat up suddenly and turned to face him. Shit...he'd said the wrong thing again. She surprised him, though, by looking at him for a long moment, then reaching a hand forward to caress his cheek. "I have been so involved with my feelings I haven't given any thought to yours. That's not like me."

He shrugged. "You have a lot on your mind."

"You are on my mind, and I still didn't realize how hard this is going to be for you. You've gotten close to him."

It wasn't a question. He nodded in agreement, looking away, not sure he wanted her to know just how much he was troubled by Brian's terminal illness. But she was not going to let him get away with it this time. She touched his chin and guided his face back toward hers. He struggled to hide his upset, but he wasn't successful.

She would have been willing to bet money that she could not love him more, but every time she got to that point, he did something to prove her wrong. The fact that he had taken her son so closely into his heart touched her. She leaned closer and brushed her lips over his. Then she settled back into his arms and said, "There's something else."

She felt his body tense again as he said, "Oh? What?"

"He asked me how long I'm going to take to accept your proposal."

"You'll decide in your own time when you're ready," he answered.

"Do you understand why he's anxious about it?"

"I do. He wants you to be happy, and not alone. Seeing you settled into a happy marriage, and seeing his little brother or sister with two loving parents, will go a long way toward letting him rest..." he faltered unexpectedly. "...peacefully," he concluded with difficulty.

She nodded, slipping her hand under his shirt to caress his skin and settle him. "What do you think?"

"I think you need to be sure about it before you say yes or no."

"What about you?"

"I was sure when I proposed."

She nodded and sank back into silence. Finally, she tickled his side. "Come on. You have work tomorrow and I have a doctor's appointment."

"You do?"

"Yes. Didn't I tell you?"

"Uh, no."

She shook her head slowly. "Where is my head? I'm sorry, Bobby. It's time for an ultrasound to confirm the baby's age and size and make sure everything looks all right. I can reschedule if you can't make it..."

"What time?"

"Eleven."

"I'll be there."

"Are you sure?"

"I'm sure. I may have to bring my partner along, but I'll be there."

She smiled and got off the couch. "Alex is welcome." She tugged on his hand. "Come on, then. I'm tired."

He grinned as he followed her up the stairs. "Not for long," he promised.

With a laugh, she bounded up the last few stairs and ran down the hall. He chased after her and Storm, who was right behind him, dashed through the door just before it closed.


Goren knew that Eames wouldn't have a problem with him going to the doctor with Barb. In fact, he knew she would insist on it. And since they had a witness to track down, he insisted that she come along. She didn't argue too hard.

As he grabbed his binder, a voice called from across the room. "Goren, line two!"

Grabbing the phone, he punched the blinking light and said, "Goren."

Eames was studying the directions he had taken down to get to the witness's home in the Bronx when she heard him exhale hard and mutter, "No...Is she...Okay, I'll be right there."

He dropped the phone into its cradle and took off for the elevators. Eames had to run to keep up with him. "Bobby! Stop!"

He turned at the doorway to the stairwell. She grabbed his arm. "I am not chasing you down eleven flights of stairs. What's wrong?"

His breathing was ragged. "That was Ray Harper. Barb was in an accident on her way to the doctor. He doesn't know any more."

She saw the borderline panic in his eyes and knew there was very little keeping him under control. She kept her hand on his arm and her eyes focused on his as she heard the elevator open. Silently, she steered him into the empty car. "St. Vincent's?"

He nodded, collapsing back against the wall.

"All right," she said calmly. "I'll get you there...in one piece. You need to keep it together for me, all right, partner?"

His breathing was still ragged but he nodded. "I-I'll try."

Eames tried not to get irritated with him as she drove toward St. Vincent's as fast as she could. She knew how he was when he was anxious or on edge. She knew that waiting in traffic only made him more edgy, and she fought down the urge to tell him to walk if he thought it would get him there faster.

When she pulled up to the curb outside the hospital emergency room, he was out of the car and through the doors before she came to a full stop and parked. Placing the NYPD placard on the dash, she ran into the emergency room to find him.

Fortunately, Ray Harper had already found him. He was talking softly to him when Eames joined them. Harper gave her a tight smile. "Hello, Alex. I was just telling Bobby that Barb is all right. Another driver ran a red light and broadsided her."

"The baby?" Goren asked, not any calmer.

"They're checking the baby now. Her obstetrician just got here." He pointed down the hall. "She's in room three. Go on."

Goren hurried down the hall and pushed the door open, stepping into the room. Barb looked away from the ultrasound machine beside her bed, noting the frantic look in his eyes, and she held out her arm toward him. He crossed the room and folded her into a hug as she wrapped her arm around his neck. "Are you all right?" he murmured into her ear.

"Yes," she answered.

He hesitated before straightening away from her and looking at the doctor who patiently waited on the stool beside her bed. He smiled. "Hello, Bobby."

"Hello, Dr. Caine."

"I was just telling Barb we need to take a look at the baby anyway. His heart sounds good. I just want to make certain there has been no other damage and that he's moving around with no problem." He looked at Barb. "Ready?"

She nodded and Caine motioned toward the door. "Can you get the lights, Bobby, so I can get a good look here?"

Goren crossed to the door and turned off the lights, then returned to Barb's side. As the doctor began the scan, the door opened again and Eames came into the room with Harper. They stepped up to the bed to watch the machine's display, and Eames rested a hand on her partner's arm. He was trembling, now on the downside of a serious adrenaline rush. On his other side, Barb was holding tight to his hand as they watched the baby on the ultrasound monitor. Quietly, Caine pointed out different parts of the baby as he measured and examined the little person inside Barb.

"Do you want to know the gender?" he asked.

"No," Barb answered, looking at Bobby for confirmation. "I'd like to be surprised."

"That's fine," he agreed.

'Okay, then, I won't look."

When he was done, Harper turned the lights back on and Caine said, "Everything looks good, guys. You were lucky, Barb. You could have suffered serious complications. But you dodged the bullet." He grinned. "Obviously I don't need to see you in the office now, but I want you to come in next week, just so I can check on you."

"Thank you, Steve."

He squeezed her arm and headed out of the room. Harper went with him, talking quietly. Barb looked at the two detectives standing beside her bed. "Thank you, Alex," she said as she tightened her grip on Goren's hand.

Eames smiled. "If you thought I was going top let him behind the wheel, you're out of your mind. He's bad enough when he's not in a panic." Goren frowned at her and she squeezed his arm. "I'm going to move the car. Remember, we still have a witness to track down in the Bronx."

"I'll be right there."

She left the room and he turned his attention back to Barb. She caressed his cheek. "Are you all right?"

He shook his head. "No. Not yet."

"I'm sorry. By the time I saw that he was going to run the light, it was too late to do anything. I tried to accelerate out of the way, but he caught the back end of the car. Thank goodness Brian stayed home."

"He wasn't feeling good?"

"No." She sighed. "I have to take it easy for a few days, but it's just a precaution."

"Since tomorrow is Thanksgiving, I have the next four days off anyway, unless something comes up."

She reached up and closed her hand around the lapel of his coat, pulling him down so she could kiss him. He laid his hand over the swell in her abdomen and lingered. Releasing him, she said softly, "Now go find your witness. Ray will take me home, and I'll see you tonight. Don't worry about me. I may be a little sore in the morning, but we are fine."

"You're sure?"

"Positive."

He seemed to relax. "I'll be home as soon as I can."

She nodded. "I'll be waiting."

After one more kiss, he reluctantly left the room. He found Harper and got his reassurance, along with a promise that he would have Elsie stay with Barb until he got home. Then he left the hospital in search of his partner.