"You remembered, thank you," Bobby said, catching her attention a few moments later.
"Remembered what?" Alex asked, creasing her forehead. She looked up but he wasn't looking at her.
"That I would want to eat with my left hand and that I don't like my pie heated up," he replied and then he fell back into silence.
She grinned and went back to eating and reading.
"Hey Alex, I think I found something," Bobby interrupted a little while later.
She got up and moved over to stand behind him, looking over his shoulder.
"Whatcha got?" she questioned.
"Well I think that the type of sword is a saber," he explained, pointing the picture that was up on the screen. "Notice the slight curve to the scabbard shown next to it? It seems to mimic the type I saw."
She patted his shoulder and leaned around him to pick up his now-empty bowl.
"Good work, Detective."
She grabbed her own dish and went into the kitchen to place the bowls in the sink after rinsing them out. After wiping her hands on a nearby dish towel she went back to the couch and propped her feet on the edge of the coffee table. Picking up the case file she proceeded to read a bit more until she started to feel drowsy.
"Hey, Goren."
"Yeah?" he replied without taking his eyes off of the screen.
"How much time do we have until we need to go talk to the taxi driver?"
He consulted his watch and turned to face her.
"About an hour, hour and fifteen minutes."
Nodding she tipped her head back so it rested against the couch cushion and closed her eyes while Bobby went back to reading. Reaching blindly along the back of the couch she felt the edge of the afghan her grandmother had knitted and pulled it towards her and spread it out. Deciding she would be more comfortable laying down she held the blanket up and twisted her body so she was lying down. Knowing that Bobby would leave if he saw her sleeping she warned him against making a move without her.
"If I'm asleep when it's time to go wake me up, okay?"
"Sure, Eames," he responded and Alex swore she could hear his smile.
Bobby set the alarm on his watch for half an hour and went back to devouring all the information he could on sabers while Alex fell asleep. All too soon his watch beeped and he reluctantly finished his notes, making sure he noted the web address he had just visited. He pushed the chair back and stood up to stretch. Then he went into the kitchen to put on a pot of coffee to brew, knowing it would help ease Alex into wakefulness. Once he shut the machine off he got two travel mugs down from one of her cabinets, recognizing one as his own that he'd left a few weeks ago. Then he carried them into the living room and sat on his heels near Alex, holding the coffee under her nose so she'd breathe it in and wake up.
Alex's lips twitched as the scent filled her nostrils and she sighed softly, just wanting one more minute of sleep even though awareness was already intruding on her. The twitching became a smirk when Bobby's voice reached her ears but she still refused to open her eyes.
"Hey Al-ex," he called out in a sing-song voice, "Time to wake uh-up. I made you some coff-ee."
"Mmm, okay," she said, but remained prone for a moment longer.
Standing above her Bobby just grinned and rolled his eyes. His partner was hard to wake up, to put it mildly. She didn't yell or get cranky; she just refused to move until she felt like it.
Finally Alex opened her eyes and stretched, then tossed the blanket aside and stood up, reaching for the coffee with one hand while the other rubbed her eyes. Taking a sip she sighed in bliss and closed her eyes. Tilting her head she opened her eyes and fixed Bobby with a look and a smile.
"You are way too good to me sometimes, you know that?"
"Don't I ever."
After Alex had searched through her closet for a warmer (or at least drier) coat they made their way back down to the car, where she insisted on driving, despite Bobby's protests.
"I don't mind driving, Alex."
"I know that, and I know why you're insisting, too."
"Oh?"
"Yes. You're afraid I'm going to fall asleep at the wheel. But it ain't gonna happen so knock it off and get in the car already."
He raised his hands in defeat and walked over to the passenger side, where he remembered to pull the seat back before getting in. They made their way down to the cab company's central garage quickly, with Goren talking about what he had learned regarding sabers to help pass the time. They pulled up in the parking lot and checked in at the front desk.
"Hello," Alex greeted the sleepy young man within the glass booth, "I'm Detective Eames. This is my partner Detective Goren. I spoke with Mr. Lipstill a little while ago. I believe he's expecting us."
The man had suddenly buzzed wide awake with Alex's use of the word "detective" and by the two badges being flashed. He picked up the handset of his desk phone.
"Uh sure. I'll call Mr. L. If you'll have a seat?"
"Thanks so much," Eames replied, although she was the only one to take him up on the offer. As usual Goren chose to walk around, inspecting everything within sight. A few minutes later a rumpled man emerged from a doorway behind the glass booth. Alex stood up and moved so she was positioned next to Goren, their "united front" look as she liked to call it.
"I'm Lipstill. How can I help you?"
Eames offered her hand first.
"I'm Detective Eames. We spoke on the phone earlier? This is my partner, Detective Goren."
Mr. Lipstill seemed disinclined to smile and was gazing at Goren with a look of total mistrust even as he shook his hand. Alex knew she would have to amp up the sweet talking to distract the man from worrying about Bobby.
"Oh sure. I remember. You were asking about Diego's cab."
"Is that his name? Diego? Well, would it be possible to speak with him?" Then she flashed him a bright smile which served its purpose when the corners of his mouth lifted in reply.
"He just called in a little while ago. He should be here any minute. I'll send him out as soon as I see him."
"That would be great, thanks."
Lipstill nodded and went back through the door. Eames turned to say something to Goren but found that he was already looking at her. Worse, he was slightly amused.
"What is it?"
He gestured with one hand like he was trying to think of the answer.
"Nothing."
She merely rolled her eyes, crossed her arms and took a defensive stance until he caved.
"You noticed that he was uncomfortable with me."
She snorted.
"If you're about to tell me that you were insulted I don't buy it. Having suspects be instantly intimidated has got to be old hat by now."
He grinned.
"I wasn't going to say that." At her look he amended his statement. "Ok I wasn't going to only say that. I was going to compliment you on picking up on it so quickly and stepping in to prevent him from getting hostile or uncooperative."
Her defensive posture relaxed and she smiled.
"Well thanks, partner."
The door through which Mr. Lipstill had departed once again opened to reveal a skinny middle-aged man who appeared to be nervous until he saw Detective Eames. Then his whole demeanor changed. He barely glanced in Goren's direction.
"I heard someone was lookin' for me and I was hoping it was a beautiful woman. It looks like my prayers have been answered. What can I do for you?" He asked, giving Alex a none-too-subtle looking over. Her eyes widened but she decided to play along, up to a point.
"Well hi. I'm Detective Eames. This is…" she rotated her body so she was facing Bobby, who interrupted her.
"I'm her partner, Detective Goren. We'd like to ask you about one of the passengers you transported tonight."
"Diego Montalban, at your service." He bowed and took Alex's hand and kissed it, choosing to ignore Bobby completely. He was a real piece of work.
"Mr. Montalban…" Alex began.
"Oh please, call me Diego."
"Ok. Diego, then. What we need…"
"And what shall I call you?" he butted in to ask. Did he really think she was interested?
Goren closed his eyes and rubbed his forehead. He hated it when people totally ignored him but he knew Alex could handle this guy. Lord knows they had dealt with his kind and worse over the years. He barely refrained from sighing aloud when Alex leaned in a little closer to the guy and dropped her voice a notch.
"Well you can call me forever grateful if you'd do me a huge favor and go get your trip log so we can see where you took one of your rides tonight."
Diego winked.
"I could do that for you, sure. But what'll I get in return?"
She pretended to think for a moment, and then leaned even closer to whisper near his ear.
"Would my number work for you?"
His eyes widened and he smiled what Alex was sure he thought was a brilliant smile. To her it came off as lecherous and slimy.
"You bet. I'll be right back."
He left, pausing to wave to Alex before he went back through the door. She barely restrained the urge to gag. As soon as the door shut she went to sit back down, happy to see that Bobby came and sat on her left side, thus blocking Diego's view of her once he decided to return. Goren finally released his pent-up sigh and rested his head against the wall, addressing Eames without looking at her.
"How can you stand it when guys act that way?"
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