A Chance Meeting
By Mary
Goren/Bishop interaction
Rated G Set during S3 after Pas de Deux
Mary owns nothing related to Law & Order: Criminal Intent and makes no money from fanfiction related to same.
I saw Detective Goren today at my new precinct. He passed by me in the hall, on his way to or from somewhere. He looked preoccupied -- I expected him to just nod and give a brief, polite greeting. Instead he stopped and smiled. He asked how I liked my new placement and my new partner. He asked, with a twinkle in his eye, if I was using everything he taught me. I was so stunned by his pleasure in seeing me that I barely gave coherent answers. Goren's smile was dazzling. He never aimed it at me before so I never knew until today how it cuts right through you and warms you in ways you don't want him to see.
I steadied myself and asked him polite questions like how are you, are you overworking yourself as usual, blah blah blah. "It must be so great to be back with your real partner," I said.
"Sure," he said. Just that one word. As his smile faded I noticed the circles under his eyes, the drawn pallor of his skin. Something maternal inside me made me ask if everything was all right. It was none of my business, but I couldn't help myself.
He hesitated. "It's just... it's not the same as it was before. She's ... different."
"It's probably hard to readjust to the grind again after having the baby."
"I mean she's different toward me. It's as if ... I annoy her." He lowered his voice to a near whisper. "Like she doesn't enjoy being my partner... like she doesn't like me. I don't know. Maybe she never did and I just didn't realize."
I said the predictable thing: "Don't be ridiculous." Inwardly I cursed myself for being so selfish, for hoping what he said was true. I didn't want Goren to be miserable...I just wanted him to know that I'm the one who liked him, I'm the one who appreciated him, I'm the one who needed him as a mentor. There was only one thing I didn't love about being his partner, and that was the feeling...or was it certainty...that he didn't need me. But none of that should have mattered. If I cared about more than my own childish feelings I'd hope he was wrong, that Alex Eames respected him as her partner and cherished his friendship. I tried to want that for him. I tried not to hope for anything that could cause him pain.
"Yeah, yeah," he was saying, "I know. I'm probably just imagining things. Don't tell anyone I said anything. Please."
"Of course not." I smiled a little, trying to make light. "It goes with me to the grave." And then Goren surprised me. He leaned down and kissed me on the cheek. I just stood there, frozen. I had to force myself to breathe.
"It was really nice seeing you," he said. "I've missed having you around." He laughed to himself. "You're nice to me."
"Well...thanks. I've missed you guys too." There was nothing else to say without arguing with him or slighting his partner.
"I'll see you," he said, touching his hand to my elbow. He walked away from me with his usual, confident stride, back to thinking about whatever case he was working on instead of how nice I was. But the adrenalin from that kiss still ran through me, propelling me, making the rest of the day go by in a blur.
By the time I went to bed the euphoria had worn off. I'm lying here awake, wondering when I started crushing on Robert Goren, and what the hell I'm going to do about it now.
Goren/Bishop interaction
Rated G Set during S3 after Pas de Deux
Mary owns nothing related to Law & Order: Criminal Intent and makes no money from fanfiction related to same.
I saw Detective Goren today at my new precinct. He passed by me in the hall, on his way to or from somewhere. He looked preoccupied -- I expected him to just nod and give a brief, polite greeting. Instead he stopped and smiled. He asked how I liked my new placement and my new partner. He asked, with a twinkle in his eye, if I was using everything he taught me. I was so stunned by his pleasure in seeing me that I barely gave coherent answers. Goren's smile was dazzling. He never aimed it at me before so I never knew until today how it cuts right through you and warms you in ways you don't want him to see.
I steadied myself and asked him polite questions like how are you, are you overworking yourself as usual, blah blah blah. "It must be so great to be back with your real partner," I said.
"Sure," he said. Just that one word. As his smile faded I noticed the circles under his eyes, the drawn pallor of his skin. Something maternal inside me made me ask if everything was all right. It was none of my business, but I couldn't help myself.
He hesitated. "It's just... it's not the same as it was before. She's ... different."
"It's probably hard to readjust to the grind again after having the baby."
"I mean she's different toward me. It's as if ... I annoy her." He lowered his voice to a near whisper. "Like she doesn't enjoy being my partner... like she doesn't like me. I don't know. Maybe she never did and I just didn't realize."
I said the predictable thing: "Don't be ridiculous." Inwardly I cursed myself for being so selfish, for hoping what he said was true. I didn't want Goren to be miserable...I just wanted him to know that I'm the one who liked him, I'm the one who appreciated him, I'm the one who needed him as a mentor. There was only one thing I didn't love about being his partner, and that was the feeling...or was it certainty...that he didn't need me. But none of that should have mattered. If I cared about more than my own childish feelings I'd hope he was wrong, that Alex Eames respected him as her partner and cherished his friendship. I tried to want that for him. I tried not to hope for anything that could cause him pain.
"Yeah, yeah," he was saying, "I know. I'm probably just imagining things. Don't tell anyone I said anything. Please."
"Of course not." I smiled a little, trying to make light. "It goes with me to the grave." And then Goren surprised me. He leaned down and kissed me on the cheek. I just stood there, frozen. I had to force myself to breathe.
"It was really nice seeing you," he said. "I've missed having you around." He laughed to himself. "You're nice to me."
"Well...thanks. I've missed you guys too." There was nothing else to say without arguing with him or slighting his partner.
"I'll see you," he said, touching his hand to my elbow. He walked away from me with his usual, confident stride, back to thinking about whatever case he was working on instead of how nice I was. But the adrenalin from that kiss still ran through me, propelling me, making the rest of the day go by in a blur.
By the time I went to bed the euphoria had worn off. I'm lying here awake, wondering when I started crushing on Robert Goren, and what the hell I'm going to do about it now.