Personal: because currently my grandma may go and I desperately need a distraction.


Note: Silencer. Continued from previous chapter. Goren likes to put his foot in his mouth and insecurities are majorly triggered.


The next morning while waiting for Eames to come into work, Goren noted that she was later than usual. Goren was sulking and leaning on his arm, busying himself writing notes and occasionally staring at Eames' empty chair. He rubbed his face and his eyes were sad as his mind went through a bunch of scenarios for her absence. His chest hurt but he held back the feeling of a panic attack that he knew would come if he let himself worry too much. Eames did text that she was on her way, ten minutes ago, when he had texted her. Goren allowed himself to stay busy until her arrival to mitigate the intrusive feelings and thoughts panging in his gut.

When she arrived, he saw them arrive side by side smiling and talking. She was in good spirits as is the case when she could easily read and call bullshit on a suspect or witness. A side that he usually got to witness first hand but instead she had chased the lead with Detective Lyons. There was no doubt in Goren's mind that Detective Lyons did it intentionally to buy himself some one on one time with her. The way he looked at her as Eames stripped her coat, left Goren feeling rage and a sick feeling in his stomach. "He told Peter…" Eames started and Goren immediately rolled his eyes and closed them before reopening them. Doesn't she know how much it feels like a knife in my gut every time she sweetly says "Peter?" Goren's eyes danced back from Eames to Detective Lyons and back to Eames before getting up to join them in an interview with the Deaf playwright, Larry.

Detective Lyons and Eames walked off together from the other side of the two-way mirror and went down to the cafeteria to have some coffee and talk about the case. This was something she would normally do with Goren. Instead, she was here with Detective Lyons because she could sense something was bothering him. She didn't know why she cared to know. Maybe she was just being friendly or maybe it was because she could sense he really was a great guy. Either way, she figured she could lend an ear.

"Your DA thinks she could bully deaf people as if they don't know their rights."

"She's not my DA and her fiance was just killed."

"Then, she shouldn't be in the room." Eames nodded. She had some experience dealing with this kind of emotional outburst of frustration. Afterall, she was partnered to Goren. She was fluent in it. She took a confrontational approach to cut through the emotion and get to the reasoning.

"What's going on? Are you upset with her or that the killer might be deaf?" She listened to his explanation and out of the corner of her eye she saw the Captain walking in their direction. She took a breath and nodded to herself. Great, this is all I need. This is all going to get misinterpreted now, I'm sure.

"Captain." He redirected Detective Lyons to look at news footage of Deaf protesters and then addressed Eames when Detective Lyons was no longer in the room.

"Sorry, if I interrupted." Great now the rumor mills will be running overtime.
"You didn't." she replied sharply and confidently. She started drinking her coffee and hoped he read her nonverbal body language shutting down any notion that she would discuss her love life. Of course, Captain Ross, being who he is, was oblivious to the hint to drop it.

Captain Ross continued to speak, "He seems like a decent guy." When did he become so invested in my love life? He is a decent guy but I'm just not into him. She was into someone else, the someone else that could drive her crazy but also make her feel as if she were the only person in the room. She couldn't reveal that to him so she just answered his comment.

"Yeah, he does." She was grateful when he didn't prod any further.

She finished her coffee and returned to her desk where she saw Goren with his head down into his notes and books, barely looking at her when she sat down. "Hey," she said with a smile on her face. "You okay?"

He was moody and just raised his eyes without speaking. Okay so we're doing this again. Ugh I hate when he's moody.

"I missed you last night," He spouted off insinuating something happened he wasn't privy to.

"Yeah, I was going over our notes and I was exhausted so I went home."

"You didn't call."

"I fell right asleep. You could have called or come over," she reminded him.

"Uh huh and you came in with him." I hope I'm wrong but the two of them were playing in my head on repeat and I just couldn't get it out of my mind. I had to know.

"Whatever you're implying, get it out of your head now," Eames answered sternly knowing his ability to take a small innocuous thing and blow it up until it was bigger than it should be. He exhaled a relief. "Peter and I met this morning for breakfast as we spoke with a witness."

"Peter," He scoffed.

"What Bobby? It's his name."

He puffed out his lips in an annoyed manner, "He's coming on to you."

"And?" I'm not stupid, Bobby. I can tell when someone is into me. Doesn't mean I'm going to do anything about it.

"You're flirting with him too."

"Am I?" She stated bluntly widening her eyes in response. Wow really he went there. Just when she didn't think he could frustrate her any more, he goes and pulls this.

He shook his head and his eyes showed his motion to yes. Eames thinks, So I guess its solved then, I must be sleeping with him since I can't seem to have any platonic relationships without them being misconstrued by the all knowing Robert Goren.

"We just talked. That's it. I'm not looking for anyone." She looked into his eyes trying to emphasize that last part and communicate with him that she was happy with him. She hoped that would be enough to assuage his jealousy realizing that no one compares to him but apparently not.

"But he thinks you are. He thinks he has a chance. Doesn't he?"

"Goren. I'm not doing this."

"Why don't you just answer. Tell me I'm wrong."

"You are reading too much into it."

"Oh. Am I?" He stated a little higher than his normal speaking voice drawing some looks from nearby detectives.
"Yes." she suck in a breath and smacked her mouth closed. She was not about to let him embarrass her in the precinct.

"What did I get wrong then? Enlighten me." She just shook her head at him. I'm not doing this, Bobby. You are being so irrational right now and it's not attractive.

"What did you talk about?" He continued to push. God, he's like a dog with a bone.

She gathered her files and leaned in to him as she moved to go passed him."I hate when you're like this." She answered in a low, hushed but clear tone. "You act like I'm not supposed to have a life outside of you. You don't control me. You'd do well to trust me. Jealousy is not a good look on you." She pressed her tongue against her cheek and shook her head. Her lips stretched thin and her arms folded against her chest. She turned and walked away papers in hand. She settled in an empty conference room and began to organize her information on the case. Goren become more frustrated in his desk but couldn't concentrate. He just pushed things around to look busy shooting glares Detective Lyon's way.

"Tommy's cousin alibis Tommy, but not Malia. Malia alibis Larry, but Larry rejects her alibi," Eames informs the Captain.

"It's possible that the three of them are in this together," Captain Ross said frustratingly and instantly aiming to find the easiest reductive conclusion.

"There is one way we can break into their world," Goren proffered making Detective Lyons uncomfortable.

"Bring Tommy and Malia in together, pull them apart." The captain caught his drift and finished his idea.


Interrogation

"You didn't want Malia to get the implant.

Why would you? You didn't think she needed to be fixed, did you?"

"Of course not, she's perfect"

"And you thought Dr. Mallory was destroying all of that, didn't you?"

"He had no right to ruin our lives!"

"Tommy, what did you do?" Malia was heartbroken.

"I did it for us. So we could be together forever. In our world, not theirs."

"You killed him?" Goren questioned leading Tommy into his confession.

"I didn't mean to. I just shot his hand so he couldn't perform the surgery. But then he was yelling, and someone was gonna hear. I had to stop him." Detective Lyons translated and spoke for Tommy.

"You stomped on his throat. He was screaming, his mouth was open. But he didn't make a sound." He stated as he signed the words to him. Goren found himself failing to grasp the sign for what he was trying to communicate next. "You knocked out his voice box," he spoke. Tommy looked at him befuddled until Detective Lyons filled him in. "You didn't have to kill him," Goren finished. The unis made their arrest and they walked out of the interrogation room.

Detective Lyons caught Eames eye and walked towards the elevator. She followed. "Thanks for your help on this case," She stated as she shook his hand. Detective Lyons placed his hand on hers and replied, "Of course. Anytime you need a sign language interpreter, I'd be glad to help." There was an awkward silence where Eames felt he wanted to say more. His hand was still on hers. Goren watched from his desk feeling like bile would erupt from his stomach to his throat at any minute. Eames removed her hand from his letting it fall to her side. "Alexandra, it was nice meeting you."

"As was you" She smiled warmly.

"Any chance, you'd be interested in going to dinner with me?"

"Peter, you are a great guy." He sunk at the sign of rejection. "I'm not looking for anything right now." He nodded and entered the elevator going down.

Eames turned to catch Goren listening and he immediately tried to busy himself. "Too late. I hope you got an ear full. You know, your biggest strength and problem is that overactive mind of yours." She sank in her chair to start on paperwork.

He lowered his voice and leaned forward. "I'm an ass."

"You got that right?" She answered sharply but in equally hushed tones.

"Maybe, I just woke up on the wrong side of the bed. I don't sleep as well without you now." He tried giving her his best puppy eyes.

"Waking up had nothing to do with your insane jealousy."

They finished for the night leaving the rest of the notes for the morning. They grabbed their jackets and walked to the elevator.

"Could you blame me? You are obviously a, um, beautiful woman and he was coming on strong. I can't fault him, of course he would have to be daft not to see you. But to have to stand back and grit my teeth watching him try to put the moves on you and not being able to do a damn thing about it…" he shook his head.

"Maybe, it wouldn't have bothered you so much if you realized we were secure. That he was going to get nowhere with me, cause I was spoken for. If you'd remember that, you would have taken care to treat me with respect and not assume that simply because he was trying, I would immediately be taken by him." Goren shuffled his feet glancing at the floor sheepishly.

"Uh...you're right, Alex. I was being a jerk. I'm sorry about what I said earlier."

"And another thing. Don't think that just because we are in a relationship, that it gives you the right to control me and dictate what I do. I will not stand for that, Goren."

"Understood, loud and clear."

They exited the elevator and Goren walked Eames to her car. "Forgive me." He leaned in then backed out of her space.

"I'll think about it."

He whispered, "I really want to kiss you right now." He looked up to catch her reaction. She was still mad but was softening. She shook her head then gave him the briefest of smiles.

"Get in the car, Goren." He smiled and proceeded to join her in the car. She pulled off. "You are so frustrating," she spoke, smiling. Goren shook his head and smiled shyly.

"Yeah, I get that."

She pulled into her driveway. Goren leaned in softly pulling the hair out of her face and caressing her cheek with his thumb locking eyes with Eames. He pressed his lips briefly on hers and pulled back. "I've missed you."

"I missed you too," she responded and he immediately knew it was true. This case had them busy and cranky and they didn't have much time alone with each other. Goren didn't question anything. He knew he would be spending the night and he had a few ideas of how the night would go. He needed to reacquaint himself with her body and he had some making up to do.