The Dance
Alex looked out her apartment window down onto the street just before the clock chimed 7:30. She was antsy and wanted to get this over with. Stakeout sure, fine, no problem. She had gotten use to them. But never the clothing that went with them. Why was she complaining this time though? When was the last time she was allowed to wear this much on a single stakeout? She couldn't remember.
Just then two loud thuds emitted from the outside of her door. She walked over and opened it to a shivering and wet Bobby Goren. "You're going to want a jacket. I-It's freezing out there." She turned to retrieve a trench coat from her bedroom, but he put a hand on her shoulder stopping her, giving her the once over. Her feet were covered by dainty black dress shoes, the calves were bare until just below her knees where a satiny A-line skirt fell. He completed the evaluation by taking in her light blue top with a neck line lower than he'd ever seen her wear willingly, over which she pulled a grey sweater tighter as if to keep out the cold. He looked at her, but she avoided his eyes. He let her go.
Damn, tonight was going to be difficult, he could tell. He had told her how to dress, but he never expected her to come up with something so…attractive. He wanted to hold her, to protect her from whatever it was that she felt she needed the sweater to fend off, from whatever had made her so distant. But his thoughts were cut short by her return. She still has the sweater, he noted as they left.
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They arrived at the club and rushed under the overhang to avoid the rain. Bobby was right, it is freezing. Alex was not in the mood to dance. She wasn't angry like she had been earlier, instead she was sad. Maybe it was because she was human, maybe because she was female, or maybe because she was Alex, but she felt sad, almost depressed. Bobby pulled her into the warm club.
She had never expected what she saw. The dance floor was large, she wasn't quite sure how it fit in the building; it hadn't looked that large when they were outside. And there were lights of all colors. It reminded her of most night clubs, but looked more like lights they used in a theater. The music was loud, but didn't have the techno beat that usually came with a club. Instead the music was organized and clear—but it still made her want to move. She had never heard anything like it. But what really surprised her were the people. Everyone on the dance floor was moving in a structured but free-flowing manner. Each couple acted as though they were the only two people in the room, but somehow, amazingly, none of the couples seemed to run into each other, as if they were each on their own track and were timed to miss the others.
She had never seen anything like it and the unexpectedness of it all made her pause as she took in the sight before her. Bobby took the dress coat from off of her shoulders and checked it in with his own. Taking her hand he led her to the floor. "Keep your eyes open for anyone you recognize, I never got a good look at either of the other two." She nodded and he pulled her in to start dancing. He let her get into the Waltz slowly, waiting for her to remember the basic three count, the whole time trying to identify any face he could. The song ended and Eames left. He didn't stop her, realizing that she was distracted. Instead he followed her, wondering what was wrong now. "Eames…"
"I miss it. I miss having a family, knowing that someone is depending on you. When I was with my sister today, I saw my little nephew. He's so much bigger now; it's amazing just knowing where he came from. It…It makes me wonder what could have happened had my husband not been killed. I only faintly remember what it's like to wake up with someone beside me. And I-I want…"
"You want that again." He finished for her. She nodded in silent agreement but didn't look at him.
"I'm sorry. Go, dance. I'll look from here. I don't think spinning around will help me identify the people we're looking for." He looked at her—a blank stare, but she knew what it meant. "Go Bobby, have fun." Her voice was sad, but firm.
Hesitantly he left her and moved back to the dance floor, but he didn't dance. Instead he stood to the side and digested what she had said. She was right, it had been a long time since her husband died. They hadn't known each other at the time, but he had heard about the incident. He lingered on the subject only as often as she mentioned it, basically never. Their relationship was one of the present. Being partners didn't mean they needed to know about each other's past, but more their present state of being and the immediate future. And from the outside perspective, they had an ideal partnership. But on the inside—Goren was beginning to think that the walls of their partnership were going to fall at any moment. Eames didn't need a partner right now—she needed a friend.
"Hey there big guy! Wanna dance?" He looked up to see a tall blond woman standing before him. He didn't have time to puzzle over what she had said before her arms were around him and they were dancing. Not to be thought of as slow or rude, Goren took over the lead, letting the music wash over him, replacing the thoughts still wandering around in his mind.
When the marimba rhythms start to play,
Dance with me, make me sway,
Like a lazy ocean hugs the shore,
Hold me close, sway me more.
Alex looked up, upset with herself for being so depressed in such a happy place. Determined to postpone her reminiscing, she looked for Bobby, easily spotting him dancing with a striking blond. At least she thought it was Bobby, but the Bobby she knew never moved like that.
Like a flower bending in the breeze,
Bend with me, sway with ease.When we dance you have a way with me
Stay with me, sway with me.
Together, as a couple, Bobby and the woman danced, seemingly joined at the hip. The movements were so sensual that Alex couldn't help but be entranced by their closeness. Bobby's never this comfortable around anyone! She was admittedly stupefied by the dance before her.
Other dancers may be on the floor,
Dear, but my eyes will see only you.
Only you have that magic technique,
When we sway I go weak.
Suddenly her view of Bobby was cut off. "Care to dance?" A smooth voice interrupted her gaze and she looked up to see a man with sharp, dark features staring down at her. She stood, and he took her hand as he led her to the dance floor. What am I doing? Not even sure what dance this was, she could feel her body move, following the lead of the man before her.
I can hear the sound of violins
Long before it begins.
Make me thrill as only you know how,
Sway me smooth, sway me now.
She could feel the music consume her fears and control her body. This was no ordinary dance. She moved with the man before her as though the world was falling apart around them and their only hope was each other. She looked into his eyes, dark and strong but so full of passion that she couldn't see anything. She could feel the contours of his body as his moved against hers; heat enveloping her state of mind.
Sway me, take me,
Thrill me, hold me,
Bend me, ease me,
You have a way with me.
Goren looked up as he lead the blond into a turn. Eames wasn't on the sidelines anymore; she was dancing! It was so smooth, so elegant, so…arousing. The man she was with was obviously Latino, he probably grew up with dances like this, and it showed. He was fantastic. Their dance took the music to a new level, it was no longer just "Sway with me."
Other dancers may be on the floor,
Dear, but my eyes will see only you.
Only you have that magic technique,
When we sway I go weak.
I go weak!Alex couldn't look away, nor did she want to. Entranced by the movement, she had lost every thought, every feeling. She needed to keep dancing. She needed the feeling, the rush of being needed in the most intimate of ways.
I can hear the sounds of violins,
Long before it begins.
Make me thrill as only you know how,
Sway me smooth, sway me now.
Sway me.
Sway me.
Sway me now.
As the song ended, the dark man let go of Alex and she fell out of her trance. She was warm and sweating but loved everything about it. She looked up at the dark eyes once again, more conscious of the world around her. Just as recognition hit both his eyes and hers, "Eames! Are you—?" Bobby had rushed over and, upon noticing the look passing between his partner and the other man, pulled Eames aside.
The next song started up. Goren wrapped his arms around Eames and they started moving to the slow beat. "Eames, I-I…Well…"
"Well what? And what was that Bobby? You looked so different when you were dancing."
"What do you mean?"
"Well, you looked…" She paused, not knowing quite how to say it without hurting his feelings. "…so much more…alive."
He looked at her, questioning what she had just said. "So did you." His gaze returned to where it had been before. Alex realized he was trying to avoid her eyes, and, wanting to think for herself, she looked away too.
Oh, why did I say that to him? I know he can be sensitive! Great, look what you've gotten yourself into Alex. Way to go…
Shit, I hope she didn't take that the wrong way. Well, maybe I do. Shit! No, no, no! It's not true! I just, I just need someone to…to…
He did look more alive though; there's no other way to put it. Oh, but not just alive, he was…no, not going to think that. Ah hell, it was sexy.
But the way they moved together. Gah! Stop thinking Goren or she might feel your thoughts. Damn, that would be embarrassing…
"Eames, if you ever need anything, I'll-I'll be there…as a friend." She smiled at that and suddenly Goren knew everything would be alright. She was genuinely happy and it shown through more that just her smile—for the first time she relaxed. He took advantage of her calm state and pulled her into a hug, ending their dance.
The music picked up again. "Your husband is such a great dancer. May I cut in again?" The blonde woman was back. Alex smiled, almost laughing, lifting her hand, raising her palm toward the woman in a gesture that said, "Go ahead." She watched them move off as she slowly headed to the side ripping the sweater from her warm body exposing her shoulders. She recognized the Tango and tried to pick up the rhythm while looking for the man she had been dancing with. She didn't know who he was; at least she thought she didn't. But that face seemed so familiar. Where had she seen it before? She felt something brush up behind her at that moment but before she could turn to investigate, the world turned black.
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Sorry this chapter took a bit longer, but it's almost twice as long! By the way, the song is called "Sway." I used the lyrics by The Pussycat Dolls, but the Michael Bublé version is also very sexy… Oh, and if there are any mistakes, for instance the death of Alex's husband, let me know and I'll try to change it. I've only seen a few episodes from seasons four and five and nothing else so I've picked up most of the background info from the internet. I turn 18 today, woohoo!