"Hey you look stressed. Are you stressed?"
She was staring at the phone and back at her fingers before tearing open a pack of tropical skittles.
"You don't say. I wonder why, it's not like we are in a pandemic or anything. What's there to worry about?"
"It'll be alright. I'm sure many were worried about the flu when that pandemic occurred and now there's a vaccine and we have a means of assessing and curing it."
Eames looked at him wanting to feel as there was nothing to worry about but she couldn't help but worry. The news hadn't been helpful every day ticking off the numbers of people who died each day and the number of people risking their lives, she and Goren now among those individuals deemed essential.
"You are very healthy. You take care of yourself and they say the people most at risk are those with underlying health conditions and the risk is minimal if you quarantine, practice good hygiene by washing hands thoroughly, and wear a mask. Is it the handwashing time? I was worried about that too but they say happy birthday is a good way to measure the time you know to make sure we're thorough but I guess twinkle little star would be just as effective. I also purchased hand sanitizer, clorox, alcohol-"
"Pass that over here."
"Why do we need to sanitize something?"
"Oh you meant Rubbing alcohol. You know Bobby, you should be more specific."
"Why is there a better brand? I bought the store brand. They say it only has to be 60 percent for it to work although I did grab a 70 percent bottle just to be sure. They didn't say it had to be a certain brand."
Eames just stares at him.
"What? Am I doing it again?"
"Mmhmm," Eames shook her head.
"Sorry. Sometimes, I can't help myself. So you are worried? What is bothering you?"
"That was a lot of info to process and you know, it doesn't exactly put me at ease. My dad was being stubborn yesterday. We wanted to bring him to stay with one of us so we could take care of him. You know how he is. He barely takes care of himself with all the smoking and drinking. He doesn't understand how at risk he is."
"Yeah, that Eames stubborn gene did not skip a generation."
"Hey!" She smiled.
Goren shifted in place wanting to reach out and comfort her but not sure if he should. "Can I, uh, you know.."
"You want to give me a hug?"
Goren nodded.
"Yeah, you can give me a hug."
He wrapped his arms around her hoping to comfort her and let her know that he was here for her. He wasn't exactly in touch with her experience being away from family he was close to. For him, she was his only family left. Well her and a distant niece and nephew that he didn't see often. But it wasn't if he lacked empathy. He could identify with her feelings of worry. He worried constantly for his own mother. Even though he grieved and missed her greatly, there was a comfort she wasn't here at this current time to deal with this pandemic and her own unique challenges. He also knew what it felt like to be alone.
"We can keep in touch," Goren offered, "and if he doesn't leave the house as much, that works in his favor."
"Yeah, I know. It's just...my dad."
Goren just nodded. "Do you, uh, want to call him?"
"I'm sure he'll get a kick that I'm stuck quarantined with you."
"You don't mean that right?"
"Huh?"
"Stuck with me."
"It's not bad. At least, I don't have to worry about you being alone and I can guarantee we'll know all the latest updates due to your inability to keep yourself from over researching."
"You make it sound like paradise." He hoped that she would find some comfort in being quarantined with him. It wasn't ideal but at least he cared about her and would do his best to keep them safe.
"Was that sarcasm? I guess I'm already rubbing off on you."
Eames dialed her father. "Hey dad. How are you?"
"Alex, how are you, my girl?"
"Oh, you know I'm fine all things considered."
"Yeah the world is going to hell, isn't it? First, this damn plague. Now we got to worry about these rookie cops making us all look bad. I hope you are being careful out there. You and Bobby. "
"Speaking of Bobby, guess what the chief of D's bright idea to keep us available and safe."
"What's that? Bright ideas not exactly what I'd associate with that policy pusher."
They both laughed and she was glad she called cause she did feel more relaxed than earlier.
"They decided partners should be quarantined with each other. Their way of accounting for other family members or w-"
"Is that what they decided now? I guess they were afraid they had to step in the shit if they needed all hands on deck. So Bobby's there huh?"
Eames motioned to Bobby to say hello.
"How are you Mr Eames?"
"Johnny. How long have you been partnered with my daughter?"
"Too long."
Now they were laughing. "Now you take care to avoid that mean streak of hers and watch my baby out there."
"Yes sir," he chuckled. "Always"
Eames took the receiver "So you and Bobby, huh?"
"Don't even say it."
"Well I guess it's good you don't have any kids to worry about. No, this is good. I like Bobby. He's smart and a good man. Great cop plus he likes to stick it to the higher ups."
"You like that. Moran and the Captain not so much."
"Ah and when did Moran have any brains?" He coughed a little into the receiver.
"How are you, really?"
"I ain't kicking the bucket if that's what you mean. The cough is just my lungs fighting my two pack a day habit."
"You know it may be a good idea to ease up on that a little."
"When your time comes, it comes."
"I wish you wouldn't talk like that, dad."
"You kids need to stop worrying about me. the way you kids are keeping tabs on me like I didn't already live my life and I am your father. I'm supposed to be the one worrying not the other way around."
"Well, I didn't mean to upset you."
"Oh it's okay, Alex. I know you kids mean well. So they don't want you having personal relationships with each other but this idea they go for."
"I'm sure they aren't thinking it will be problematic."
"I'm sure they weren't thinking."
"It's not like they have much to worry about. It's Bobby."
"You could do worse than Bobby."
"On that note, I'll say goodbye." She laughed and shook her head in disbelief.