Law & Order: Criminal Intent – Redemption Song Part Three
A/N: Thank you, loyal followers! To my reviewers:
MariskaRose: OMG, I made a 'Favourite Authors' list! Hurrah! Glad you LOVE this story, actually it's my favourite too. It's interesting because of the crucial actions of Alex. I enjoy manipulating her. Between us, she's got a thing for Bobby, but she would never betray her niece! Such a b-arch I am...
PJ Blindclown: Glad you liked TTOG! It was originally just a one-shot, but I got so many e-mails asking me for more that I eventually turned it into a seven-part, culminating in a proposal. Your review was beautiful and I am honoured that you loved it. Couldn't believe the scary coincidence between you and Sarah...
Here we go again, readers, part three! The usual disclaimers apply, but I own Maria, Angel, Robby and his family, Darla Sarah and Rogers. Redemption Song belongs to Stevie Wonder, the brilliant singer who influenced Guy Sebastian, who is the most wonderful person I have ever had the pleasure to meet. I am in awe. Now I must have him or Vincent D'Onofrio. Such is my life.
By the end of the day, Bobby was completely stuffed. More tired that he had ever felt before, which was surprising, considering the insomnia he suffered for many years. Since they had arrived back at the precinct, he had been completely wiped out He yawned and stretched to a considerable length. Maria watched him from her desk.
'You ready to go home?' she asked. Bobby covered his mouth and nodded.
'Oh yeah, I'm ready,' he winked tiredly at her. Maria smiled weakly.
'Alright, get yourself together and I'll drive us home,' she said, grabbing her light blue jacket and swinging it over her white tank top with an embroidered pink flower on it. Bobby swiftly swung himself out of his chair and quickly packed his briefcase. By the time he was finished, Maria was waiting at his desk with her car keys in hand.
'Time to hit the saddle, cowboy,' she drawled in a fake American accent. Bobby playfully biffed her shoulder.
'C'mon cowgirl, ride me on home,' he replied cheekily in the same accent. Alex watched the pair leave. As they approached the elevator, Bobby turned his head back to look at her.
'See ya in the morning, Alex!' he shouted, waving. Alex felt the loneliness ebb and flow in the pit of her stomach as she waved heartily back at the happy couple. She sat at her desk, mournfully watching the paperwork that had built up over the last few months. Alex opened her draw and rummaged around until she found what she had been looking for. She held the photo of her husband on their wedding day close to her heart and stared at the empty floor where Bobby had once been.
'Don't let him leave me, too,' she whispered, clutching the frame.
'I don't want to be alone anymore.'
Deakins watched her through the blind-covered windows of his office. Tonight wasn't the first night she'd done this. But it was the first time he'd seen her get emotional over Bobby leaving with Maria. Deakins had a sneaky suspicion that Alex was more attached to her partner than she'd let on.
'It's too late, Alex,' he whispered to the female detective through the window.
'You have to let him go. It's time to move on.'
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Bobby carried his fiance through the door, with her arms locked tightly around his neck.
'Put me down, Bobby!' Maria giggled.
Bobby laughed, swung her around in a circle, then dumped her on the couch, covering her with his large frame. Maria grinned.
'You know, it's a good thing I'm not a feather-weight, because there's no way I could hold you up otherwise,' she said. Bobby looked at her, confused.
'Are you saying you're fat?'
'Did I say those words?'
'Well, no, but...' Bobby was swiftly cut off by a quick kiss on the nose. Maria smiled at him.
'Well, then. I was merely pointing out that a skinnier girl couldn't hold your weight or size,' she murmured, allowing a renegade finger to trace it's way down Bobby's chest. His eyes widened.
'Are you insinuating something?' he gasped. Maria kissed his nose again.
'You're the senior detective, Bobby. You tell me,' she whispered, latching onto his collar and dragging him down to her. Bobby sighed as he surrendered to her soft kiss, allowing her to slip off his tie and undo his shirt painfully slow. He moaned and twisted against her, forcing her mouth to his ear.
'How long have you been waiting, Bobby?' Maria asked softly, as he slipped off her jacket and tossed it aside.
'All damn day,' he moaned, sliding the sleeve of her tank top down and kissing her bare shoulder.
'Do you want to carry this out here?'
Bobby looked down into her bright eyes. His head tipped in the direction of the bedroom. He looked back at Maria.
'Too... damn... far,' he breathed, trying to hold himself together. He never could understand what it was about Maria that he wanted so badly, needed, craved. He'd watch her at work; tapping away at her laptop, filling in forms, chatting to Carver and he'd need her. Want her so badly that he'd feel that if he didn't have her, he'd suffer a cardiac arrest. Now he had her, he didn't want to move. He was quite happy making love to her right there.
Maria studied her fiance. There was so much going on in his head; so much that she didn't understand, yet so much that she did. She knew that he loved her just as much, or even more, than she loved him. As for his age... Maria mentally shook herself. She had dealt with that issue. When she had worked for Sydney Homicide, she'd dated guys her own age. Oh yeah, she thought dryly. That had worked out well... not. Look what happened with David, remember? Idiot narcotics officer...
Maria remembered with a jolt that Bobby had been a narcotics officer. Oh god, she thought. No, he couldn't... I've been living with him for nearly five months. I would've noticed...
Bobby noticed the look in her eyes and sat up straight. Maria swallowed.
'What is it?' he asked softly, his deep brown eyes boring into hers. Maria had the question on her lips, but couldn't bring herself to say it.
'Go on, say it,' Bobby said, reading her mind and crossing his arms.
'I promise I won't be mad if you tell me the truth.'
Maria cringed inside. How would she say this?
'Bobby... are you on drugs?' she asked softly, a terrified look in her eyes. Bobby was taken back. It wasn't the question he'd been expecting.
'On... on drugs?' he stuttered. Maria wrung her hands.
'I'm sorry, Bobby! I-I had to ask!' Maria began, but Bobby was off the couch with a speed that rivalled lightning. He ran a hand anxiously through his hair. He looked at her.
'What made you ask me that?' he asked in a dangerously soft voice. Maria swallowed. She'd never seen him like this.
'M-my ex-boyfriend, David, he-he was a narcotics officer, but was moved to the major case squad,' Maria said. Bobby stared at her.
'Go on.'
'He said he wasn't on them, said that when they transferred him, that he'd never touched them. But he lied and I caught him shooting up in the bathroom, when I-I moved in with him,' Maria sobbed. Bobby sank down next to her, his mind blank.
'W-what... what did he say?' he asked quietly. Maria snorted.
'Said it wasn't any of my business. He didn't care about the relationship. David was only interested in the one thing that he wasn't getting from me,' she replied. Bobby saw the hurt in her eyes. He put his arm around her and held her to him.
'And you wanted to make sure that after I got the one thing I was after, I didn't have something to go back to,' Bobby asked quietly. Maria nodded. Bobby swept away the fly-away strands from her face and smiled at her.
'I assure you, Maria, that there was only one thing I was ever after,' he whispered.
'What was that?'
'You.'
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(quick A/N: If anyone objects to a steamy scene between Bobby and Maria later on – and I'm not saying there will be - I might just whack one in... what do you think?)
Alex sighed as she sat next to one of her only friends, Sophie, at the speed-dating club. It wasn't her idea of a good night, but in all fairness, Sophie had been right. She really didn't have anything else special to do tonight.
The MC, dressed in a distasteful sequined jacket and bow tie stepped up to the microphone.
'Welcome, desperate and dateless of NYC!' he bellowed. Alex cringed.
'Tonight, we are bringing together twenty eligible bachelors and bachelorettes! Tonight could very well be the night you find true love!'
Alex snorted with laughter. God, this is tacky, she thought to herself. The flamboyant MC jiggled the microphone and pranced around the stage of the small nightclub, a block from her apartment. She looked around the club, taking in the seedy light from dim light globes, the heavy tablecloths on the wooden tables and realised just how sad she must look. If the great Bobby Goren could see me now... she thought. The MC cleared his throat.
'Now remember, you only have three minutes with each partner. When that three minutes is up, you must move on to the next person down the line. When the night is over, put a mark next to the person or persons that you liked the most. If they liked you too, we will match you up and send you an e-mail with the e-mails of your matches,' the MC said cheerily.
'Sounds fun, hey?' Sophie said enthusiastically. Eames nodded, smiling just to satiate Sophie's relentless positivity. She liked Sophie, though; she was always there to lend a shoulder to cry on and some good advice. She had been the first one Eames had spoken to when she had realised that her feelings for Bobby weren't purely professional. Fat lot of good that did me, Eames thought to herself spitefully, as Sophie hopefully eyed the prospecting bachelors. Eames allowed her eyes to scan the local talent, doubting she'd find anyone who'd catch her eye. She was wrong.
'Daniel' –the name on the badge he was wearing- cut a dashing figure in the crowd as he moved swiftly over to Eames, who was seated in the corner. Eames raised an eyebrow as he sat across from her. As Eames assessed him, she felt guilty in comparing him to Goren. It was clear that he would never be her partner, but (Eames thought) he'd make the perfect distraction.
'Hi,' he said softly, giving her a shy smile. Eames felt a familiar weak feeling in her knees but in true cop-style, kept her face straight. She returned with a charming smile of her own.
'HI, I'm Alexandra,' she replied, extending her hand to shake his. Daniel took it gently in his own and shook it. Firm, yet gentle, Eames observed.
'So Daniel, tell me about yourself,' she said causally, leaning back in her chair and flicking her hair back over her shoulders. Daniel laughed.
'Please, Alexandra, call me Dan. I work for Microsoft as a software designer,' he said. He's got gorgeous eyes, Eames thought. Very honest...
'What about you?'
'Me?' Eames asked, slightly taken aback. Dan tipped his head to the side, almost making Alex jump clear off her seat.
'Yeah, you,' he said playfully. Eames forced a smile.
'I-er, I work for the NYC major case squad,' she said, slightly unnerved. Does Goren have a brother I don't know about?
'A cop, huh? That's very interesting,' Dan replied, the dull light reflecting out of his dark brown eyes. No, Dan's far too young to be Goren's brother. Illegitimate son, maybe?
'Yeah, it is. My partner is a fascinating man,' Eames said idly, unaware of the way this comment came out. Dan's face fell.
'Oh, I didn't realise...' he said, running a hand through his rusty brown hair. Eames snapped upright. Damn it! Why did I mention Goren? Why?
'Oh no! No, it's not like that. Goren and I are just partners. He's engaged and is getting married in four weeks,' she said hastily. Dan smiled, to her relief. Yeah, he's getting married. To MY niece...
'I'm glad to hear that. I was worried that I might have some stiff competition,' he said. Eames laughed nervously. God, you have NO idea...
'Time's nearly up! Time to wrap it up, lovebirds!' the MC screeched. Dan stood up. Eames reckoned that he was nearly the same height as Goren. Not Goren, but perfect in his own way...
'It was wonderful meeting you, Alexandra,' Dan said softly. Alex smiled.
'Please, call me Alex,' she said warmly. Dan's face had a look of achievement on it.
'I hope to see you again, maybe?' he asked hopefully.
'Me too,' Alex replied, watching him move onto Sophie, who instantly began chatting his ear off. The night wore on, but Alex didn't see anyone else as intriguing as Dan. As the night drew to a close, Alex reached for the pencil that lay beside the card they had been given at the door and firmly ticked the box next to Dan's name. Sure, he wasn't Goren. But he'd make a damn fine distraction for now...
Who will beThe one for me?
Someone I can love for eternity
I know I don't understand
There's a master plan, ooh ooh
In a Story Of A Single Man
Tell me how this story ends – Story Of A Single Man: Guy Sebastian.