TITLE: Once Upon a Movie Night Chapter Three
AUTHOR: Tubbie
ARCHIVE: Anyone who would like. Please drop me an email so I can visit.
RATING: T or that thing we used to call PG to be safe
BETAed by: Linda
SYPNOSIS: Alex goes to the movies.
COMMENTS: Fairy Tales. Who knew?
DISCLAIMER: Everything relating to Criminal Intent is owned by Dick Wolf and NBC productions. Yadda, Yadda, Yadda.

Soon they were out of the cold New York night and at their destination.

"So," Bobby handed Alex a glass as he sat on the couch next to her, "what is the deeper meaning I draw from the movie we just saw, Detective?"

"I believe you identify with one of the characters," Alex said as she sipped her drink.

"Really?" Bobby took a large swallow of his drink. "That's interesting. Of course you relate to one of the characters as well."

Alex lowered her glass. "You tell me who you relate to, and I'll tell you who I relate to."

Bobby smiled big to cover his dodge. "Avenant"

"Avenant?" Alex raised her eyebrows. "Beauty's narcissistic would-be suitor? That guy was so full of himself; he was a cad."

"Oh, he had some good attributes," Bobby countered.

Alex's reply was a non-verbal head gesture that stated 'oh, really' louder than if she had said as much.

Realizing he had a chance to tease Alex again, Bobby added, "Very snappy dresser, good grooming, definitely was a ladies man, knew what he wanted and went after it."

Alex, still stunned, continued. "He was a self centered bobo, with a sociopathic personality."

Bobby knitted his brow as he looked at her and mouthed the word, "bobo."

"Stop that," Alex admonished him. "It's been a long day and you know what I mean."
She raised the back of her hand to her mouth to cover a small yawn.

"Fine." Bobby tried to sound indignant. "I identify with the skirt-chasing cad." He smiled. "I can live with that. Your turn." Bobby relaxed back against the couch waiting for Alex to reply.

Alex was still trying to wrap her head around Bobby's character choice that he related to. It didn't make sense. Then it clicked; she suddenly realized why Bobby had chosen Avenant, because a nonsensical answer was easier than saying what he really thought. He was avoiding a serious exchange of thoughts because something was a little too close to home. She was used to deep and meaningful conversations with him, but that could be decidedly risky for both of them, right now. Especially for her, with two glasses of Cuban rum surging through her tired body. Therefore, she decided to follow his lead.

Now it was Alex who took a large swallow. "Magnificent."

"Beast's horse?" Bobby didn't see that coming. He sat up straight, as if he had just been jolted awake. "He lives outside the castle, in the stable. And is just an errand boy, doing what he's told to do"

"Not so. He's a fine specimen of a horse and keenly intelligent. Remember the rider only had to say 'go where I am going' and he knew what to do. A very perceptive animal."

"I see," Bobby rested his elbow on the armrest and cupped his chin into his hand,
"So you are a mind reading beast, uh, male beast of burden, at your master's beck and call."

Alex smiled smugly as she sunk back into the cushions of the couch.

Bobby shook his head, "Mind reading, no, good profiling skills, yes. At anybody's beck and call, no." He reached over to take her glass for a refill. "I especially don't see the male part."

"Well, I don't see you as a sexist self-centered narcissistic ass. Which reminds me," she added, "have you finished that Greek mythology book you borrowed?"

Bobby paused while freshening their drinks and gestured down the hall. "Yes, it's on the night stand in the bedroom."