Eames was late coming back from lunch, and Goren started getting restless. On his way to the coffee pot, Logan passed him and said, "Relax. So she's a little late."
"She's not usually late."
"Take a pill, Goren. What the hell is up with you?"
"I don't know. She just seems…out of sorts lately."
"You worry too much. Look, there she is now, safe and sound."
Goren shot him an annoyed look as he went on his way to get coffee. Eames sat down at her desk, looking a little pale. "What's wrong?"
She shook her head. "Not now, Bobby."
He let the matter drop because she asked him to, but his anxiety increased and so did his restlessness, which annoyed her. "Will you sit still?" she snapped, halfway through the afternoon.
"Sorry," he muttered.
When the day came to an end, she left right away, which was also unusual for her. Logan came over and leaned against Goren's desk. "What's up with her?"
"She won't tell me."
"That's not good."
No, it wasn't. Something was bothering her, and he knew he wouldn't be able to settle down until he knew what.
Eames got home shortly before Ricky did. She made herself a light dinner and was just sitting down to eat when he came in. "You're home early tonight," he said.
"We're between cases. I need to talk to you, though."
"Ok." He sat down across from her. "What's up?"
"I went to the doctor at lunch today because I haven't been feeling well."
"Everything okay?"
"Fine. I…I'm pregnant, Ricky."
He stared at her. "You're what?"
"Pregnant. I'm due in May."
"I thought we agreed we weren't going to have kids."
"No, you agreed we weren't going to have kids. I did no such thing."
"So you just decided all on your own to have a baby?"
"Can't you ever be reasonable? Why is everything always about you? In case you missed high school biology classes, it takes two to make a baby. That's you and me, asshole."
She got up from the table, leaving her dinner untouched, and locked herself in one of the spare bedrooms. She refused to come back out and was gone by the time he got up in the morning.
Goren was surprised to see Eames at her desk when he came in. She almost never got there before he did. He dropped into his chair and looked at her, concerned. She looked upset, and he could tell she had been crying. His stomach flipped, and he fought down the anger that began to form. "Eames?"
"Let's go get some breakfast, Bobby."
"Okay." He didn't know what else to say.
They walked along the sidewalk away from the headquarters building. Letting her take the initiative, he remained silent as he watched her. "Stop looking at me, Goren."
He looked away, watching the sidewalk, not commenting on her snippiness. "I'm sorry," she said after awhile. "I just…I'm not sure how I feel right now."
"Do you want to talk about it?"
She noticed how tentative he was. "Yes, I do." She was quiet for another half a block. "I went to the doctor at lunch yesterday. That's why I was late. Bobby, I'm pregnant."
"Oh," was all he said. They had crossed the street before he noticed she was crying. He stepped over to stand against a nearby building, out of pedestrian traffic, gently guiding her along with him. He pulled her into his arms and held her. He didn't have to ask what was wrong. It had to be her husband. She had always wanted children of her own and had loved being pregnant with her nephew. It wasn't the pregnancy that had her upset. He didn't know what else to do but hold her. So that's all he did.
Two weeks later, following a holiday custom they had established the year she got married, the four partners got together for Thanksgiving dinner. This year, it was at Barek's apartment. Logan and Barek had both noticed a change in Goren and Eames over the past two weeks. Logan tried to get Goren to tell him what was wrong but all he would say was that it was up to Eames to explain. It troubled Logan that Goren was withdrawing from those around him, and he hated not knowing why.
During the dinner preparation, he was relieved a little to see Goren and Eames relax some, but they were nothing like they had been three months ago on his birthday. Barek checked on the turkey as Eames mashed potatoes.
Goren set out a couple of bottles of sparkling apple cider. Logan picked up one of the bottles. "Apple cider?" He looked at Goren. "What the hell?"
Goren just glared at him. Logan knew that look and he set the bottle back on the table and said nothing more. He wandered into the kitchen. "Anything I can help with?"
"Get the rolls out of the fridge and put them on a cookie sheet. The turkey is almost ready to come out."
He squeezed past Eames. "You need a bigger kitchen."
Barek answered, "Ok, Mike. I'll move to a bigger apartment to accommodate you once a year."
"Just an observation." He pulled a cylinder of rolls from the fridge and a cookie sheet from the cabinet closest to the stove. Popping the rolls open, he grinned. "I love these containers."
"Anything that explodes, huh, Mike?" Eames said with a grin.
"You got it, sweetheart."
Eames covered the potatoes and set the pot at the back of the stove to keep warm. She stepped out of the kitchen and noticed her partner sitting on the couch. He was thinking. She walked into the living room and sat beside him. "Penny for your thoughts," she said.
He shook his head. "You don't want to go there," he replied.
"Probably not, but I will anyway."
He smiled and kissed her cheek. "I think you know what I'm thinking."
She watched him get up and walk into the kitchen. Barek handed him two oven mitts and pointed to the stove. "The turkey's ready to come out."
Eames stood by the kitchen doorway, watching him take the turkey from the oven and set it on the stove. She did know what he was thinking, what he had been thinking about for the past two weeks. She never had to tell him how Ricky had reacted to her pregnancy. He knew, and it made him angry. That much she could tell. Beyond that, she wasn't sure what he was feeling. He didn't seem upset by the fact that she was pregnant, other having the same unsettled response to needing a temporary partner when she went on maternity leave. She hadn't discussed it much with him, but there was time for that. If Ricky was going to be an ass, she knew that it was her partner she would have to turn to if she needed anything. She had no doubt he would be there for her.
Goren carved the turkey when Barek asked him to, and Logan opened the cranberry sauce and helped Barek and Eames put the rest of the food into serving dishes. The rolls came out of the oven ten minutes later and they sat down to eat. Once everyone was settled, Eames spoke up. "I have something to say," she said tentatively.
Logan and Barek looked at her expectantly. Goren met her eyes, silently offering her his support. She smiled at him, then looked at the other couple. "Two weeks ago, I went to the doctor and found out I am pregnant."
They looked at one another, then at Goren, who had returned his attention to his plate. Logan looked at the cider in his glass. "Well, that explains why we're drinking cider. How do you feel about it?"
"I'm still not sure."
Goren muttered, "Her husband isn't too happy."
"Asshole," Logan grumbled. Then he looked surprised that he'd actually said that out loud. "Sorry, Eames."
Barek sighed and said, "If you need us, Alex, just call. Okay?"
Eames smiled. "Thanks. I just may need you…all three of you."
Logan just nodded, watching Goren. "Bobby? Your turkey is not that interesting. How do you feel about this?"
"It doesn't matter. I'm not involved."
"The hell you're not."
Quietly, Eames said, "It does matter. I'd like to know."
He felt backed into a corner. Carefully wording his response, he met her eyes and said, "I'm glad you're finally having a baby of your own. And I'm sorry the circumstances are less than what you expected. But you know where to find me if you need me."
And that was all he needed to say. Bringing a baby into an already rocky marriage was not the best of plans. They all knew that. And having this baby further trapped her in her marriage. She found herself hoping Ricky would turn around after the baby was born, but deep down, she knew that wasn't going to happen…and it worried her.