Eames came into the living room at her father's house. "Mommy!"
She caught Maggie in an embrace and kissed her. Maggie pulled back and looked around. "Where's Daddy?"
"He's not here right now."
"Oh," she pouted. She scurried back to the coffee table where she had been coloring.
John Eames looked up from the couch, setting his paper to the side. He smiled at her. "First chance I've had all day to look at the paper. How's Bobby?"
"In big trouble. He went out to Rikers this morning and got into a fight with Ricky."
"It's about time."
"Dad!"
"Well, it is."
She sat down next to him. "How was Maggie today?"
"She's worried about her father. She needs to see him."
"I know. Right now I don't know where he is, and I'm not happy with him…or Mike Logan."
"He just did what he's always done, honey. He's watching out for you and Maggie."
She watched Maggie coloring at the table. She had her father's intensity…and his good heart. She should have gone to his place first; she had to settle this with him. She kissed her father's cheek. "I'll be back later."
Maggie looked up as her mother kissed her. "You getting Daddy?"
"Yes, Maggie. I'm going to get him."
"Don't you want some dinner first?" John asked.
"No, thanks, Dad. I'll eat later." She left the house, got into her car, and headed back toward the city.
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Logan and Goren entered the apartment, laughing. They were muddy and bloodied, and Logan was carrying a football. "…because you're an idiot, Mike," Goren was saying.
"Yeah, well, at least…" He stopped when he saw Eames sitting on the couch, and so did Goren.
"Don't let me interfere with your bonding," she said.
Logan handed the football to Goren. "I've gotta get going now. I'll see you tomorrow."
"Stop right there, Logan," Eames ordered…and he stopped. She got up and said, "You are both in deep shit with me. How dare you go out to Rikers and get into another fight! What the hell is wrong with you two?"
Logan shut the door and walked over to the couch. "Go ahead, Goren. Tell her what's wrong with us."
"Mike," Eames warned. "Don't you dare get flippant about this or Barek is going to be looking for a new partner."
Goren had leaned back against the door, knowing better than to say a word. He was turning the football over in his hands, waiting for his partner to get done with Logan. She looked at him. "I'm waiting."
"What do you want me to say?"
"What did you solve, Bobby? Do you feel better? Because I don't. When is it going to end? I've divorced him and it's over."
"No, it's not, Alex. He's not going to let it be over. That's not how he works, and I think you know that."
"I am not going to live my life in fear, looking over my shoulder every step of the way! I will not do that!"
She no longer knew who she was angry at, Mike and Bobby, or Ricky, or herself. She was confused, and she hated feeling that way. She felt lost, and she hated that even more. She sank onto the easy chair and just stared at the floor. Goren looked at Logan, who shrugged. Neither of them knew what to do either.
"Alex?" Goren said softly.
She looked up at him. "What have I done?"
He frowned. "What are you talking about?"
"I found out about all the fights."
Goren glared at Logan, who shook his head. "I didn't say a word, I swear."
"It wasn't Mike. Bobby, nothing you do goes unnoticed. How could you think I'd never find out?"
He just looked down at the ball in his hands. She got to her feet. "Why? I really want to know why you never told me. I thought you trusted me."
He looked up. "Trust? This had nothing to do with trust."
"You were protecting me again."
"You and Maggie. Tell me he didn't ease up on you after Maggie was born."
"That's beside the point."
"No, Alex. That is the point. If I'd told you, you would have confronted him, like you did while I was in the hospital. I know you. And he would have taken out everything on you, and Maggie, and I couldn't let that happen."
He was right about that. She would have come unglued and confronted Ricky. And it would have been ugly. "I've told you over and over…"
"I know, I know. You don't need me to protect you. But whether you do or not, I always will."
Logan cleared his throat. "Can I go home now? There's a TV dinner somewhere in my freezer with my name on it and I really need a shower."
"Go on," Eames said. She grabbed his arm when he started past her. Gently, she wiped some of the mud from his cheek and kissed him. "Thank you, Mike."
"For what?"
She met his eyes. "I think you know."
He just grinned. He hit his shoulder into Goren's and said, "Call me when you get up in the morning. Since we were sent to time out together, we might as well make the most of it."
"Try not to get into any more trouble, will you?" Eames warned.
He opened the door and turned to look at her. "We'll do our best."
The door closed and she said, "Somehow, I'm not reassured."
Goren tossed the football into the corner and headed into the kitchen. She stood in the doorway, watching him as he washed his hands and face. "You need a shower," she commented.
"I know. But I need to eat, too."
"I'll fix you something to eat while you get cleaned up." He studied her for a moment. "Well, go on," she said, trying to sound annoyed. "If you insist on protecting me, the least I can do is make you something to eat."
She stopped him before he moved past her out of the kitchen. Reaching up, she touched the bruised laceration under his eye. He winced. Her fingers trailed across his cheek and he turned toward her, pulling her into his arms and kissing her. She said softly, "You're still in trouble."
He smiled. "I know."
He headed off to the shower while she went to fix them something to eat.