Disclaimer: I am in no way affiliated with the show and do not expect to profit from this endeavor. Please don't sue.
Spoilers: Any and all episodes, just to play it safe.
"So why don't we go someplace and get to know each other better?" Shang whispered to Alex, trailing his finger up her arm as he leaned in.
"Oh I wish I could," Alex said, pretending to pout. "But to tell you the truth I thought this party was going to be a bust so I made plans with one of my girlfriends. I'm due to meet her soon."
"What a shame. I guess we'll just have to have dinner then."
Alex smiled at Shang, the sadistic part of her hoping that Bobby was watching and getting jealous.
"Let me give you my number."
As soon as they had exchanged numbers Alex said goodnight and made her way to the elevator, waving to Shelia and the woman without a name as she left. Once the doors shut Alex allowed herself a huge sigh. Great. Just great, she groaned inwardly. It was just her luck to meet Shang. It was beyond great for the case, this she knew. But to have to fake an attraction to him was going to require some effort. Not that he wasn't attractive, she reminded herself. In truth he was handsome and even though they only spoke briefly she could tell he was pretty smart--he'd have to be to move in Jun-Thai's circle.
Actually when she thought about it she could see the whole thing being easy to accomplish once you dismissed the whole probable criminal thing he had going on. And that was even kind of sexy in that bad boy way. No, as with most things the problem was with Bobby. Alex knew that Bobby wouldn't be jealous--or at least she'd never know if it he were. But the problem was that she wanted him to be jealous. She wanted him to tell her in no uncertain terms that she was not to go out with Shang, that he couldn't bear the thought of her and Shang alone together. She almost snorted aloud at the thought of Bobby doing anything like that. Instead of allowing herself to wallow in her daydreams she focused on the positive side of this. If she played her cards right they could wrap this case up much sooner than they had thought. This was a huge break for them. She just wished that the role she was going to have to play didn't include getting physically close to Shang but from the way he acted tonight there was no way he would be convinced if she didn't. Not that she'd been suffering from an excess dose of physical contact as of late, she noted dryly. Ever since the Halloween party she and Bobby had been at arms' length (or further, her neglected sex drive piped up to remind her.) The elevator stopped at the lobby and Alex pulled herself out of her musings and reached for her cell phone.
"Hello?"
"Hey Captain, it's Eames."
"Oh hi, Alex. How did everything go?"
"We got a real break. Jun-Thai's mystery man was there and I had the chance to meet him, I'll need Deborah Wingfield's essentials re-instated ASAP."
"I'll make the call. So he asked you out, huh?"
Eames laughed.
"I'm not reading too much into it. He made a point of mentioning that he'd never seen me before so I think he's on a fishing expedition."
Deakins relaxed back into his sofa and absently patted his Dalmation puppy Grover as Eames laughed. He knew full well how potent Alex's charms could be when she consciously used them to her advantage and a large part of him was relieved that she restrained herself. He worried, though, that she restrained herself subconsciously. She always seemed surprised when her flirting paid off. He wondered what Alex's protective partner thought about Alex's "dates" with the bad guys. He realized Bobby probably never gave it a second thought--if it helped them solve a case he would undoubtedly be all for it. He opened his mouth to ask about Goren's efforts but quickly decided against it. Bobby would fill him in later.
"Well, Captain, I'm going to get going. I have a feeling the case will be picking up steam and I'll need all the sleep I can get."
Alex's voice broke into his thoughts.
"Sure thing, Eames. I'll see you tomorrow. By the way, are you still going to lunch with your sister after the briefing?"
Alex stopped walking and hit her forehead with her hand.
"Oh shoot! I completely forgot all about that--thanks for reminding me."
Deakins laughed.
"You're welcome. Goodnight, Alex."
"Goodnight."
Alex picked up her mug of hot cocoa from the kitchen counter and made her way to her bedroom. She picked up the book from her nightstand and thumbed through it until she found her place. She fell asleep reading and when her alarm clock sounded she stumbled out of bed and made her way to the bathroom. As she brushed her teeth it struck her that Bobby hadn't called to go over the details of their nights. It was so uncharacteristic of him that Alex was at her cell phone and dialing before she realized she hadn't spit out her toothpaste yet.
"Hey, Eames. Is everything all right?"
Bobby's voice on the line served to calm her immediately and she chastised herself for being so concerned in the first place. She hurriedly spit and answered.
"Um, hey, Bobby. Yeah, everything is fine. I realized I didn't ask you last night if you wanted a ride this morning?"
Good one, Alex, she thought. No chance he doesn't see right through that to the subtext: Bobby, why didn't you call me last night?
"Actually I'm already here."
"You are? Oh, okay. Well I'll see you in a bit."
"Sounds good."
Alex kicked into high gear as she hung up and made it to the department a short while later. When she passed Deakins' office she saw Bobby already inside. She deposited her things at her desk, grabbed a cup of coffee and made her way to the Captain's office.
"Good morning, Eames."
Deakins' greeting was warm and Bobby's was non-existent.
"Morning, Captain, Goren." Bobby lifted his head and nodded before returning his concentration to the paper in front of him.
"So Goren was filling me in on his night and I was telling him about yours. Now that you're both here we can go over the details of Deborah Wingfield's background briefly to get ourselves reacquainted with the necessary backstory."
As Deakins kept talking Alex took in Goren's appearance and realized he was avoiding looking at her. But why?
When the meeting finally wrapped up Alex breathed a sigh of relief. Now maybe she was going to have time to talk to Bobby, find out what was going on with him. As she piled her folders on top of one another and took a step toward the door Deakins' voice stopped her.
"Alex, have a nice time with your sister. Tell her I said hello."
"Sure thing, Captain."
"Oh, and Goren," Deakins continued, "I hope this Shelia person ends up giving you something worth knowing about Jun-Thai."
Alex dropped her stack of folders on the floor. Shelia? As in, Shelia? She looked over at Bobby, who was busy crouching down to retrieve a folder that had skidded to a stop at his feet.
"Shelia who?" Alex inquired with a sinking feeling. She looked at Bobby, willing him to suddenly look up and explain, but he avoided her gaze completely.
"Shelia from the party last night," the captain answered as he too bent down to help Bobby pick up the folders, "Goren has a lunch date with her. And I'm hoping that after spending all night with her that you've managed to exhaust all idle chit chat and can actually move on to subjects that will help the case. Here you go, Alex."
Eames took the folders from him and Bobby with a slight nod before wheeling around and exiting the room as quickly as possible. He spent the night with her? Shelia? Where? Doing what? Why hadn't he told her? Then it hit her and her legs almost buckled in despair. No wonder he wasn't looking at Alex anymore…he'd found someone else.
Bobby watched Alex deposit the folders on her desk, collect her keys and coat and make her way across the room to the elevator before going back to his desk. Deakins didn't realize what kind of damage he'd just caused, although to be fair it really was Bobby's fault. If he had just called Alex and told her that he'd spent the night with Shelia, mentioned it when she called him that morning, or better yet had taken the time to dance with Alex, share his plan with her before putting it into motion, he wouldn't be in this pickle now.
The gods were undoubtedly enjoying a hearty laugh at his expense. How on earth was he going to convince Alex that there was nothing going on between him and Shelia when the very fact that he had concealed their meeting suggested that there was more to the situation than meets the eye? He groaned in frustration and snared his keys from the desk before heading out to try and catch Alex.
E
N
D
C
H
1
7
Author's note: I apologize for the wait, although really it almost was a lot longer. Hope you enjoy, and as always, thanks to those who read, read and write, and read and write again. You guys are the backbone.
REVIEWER THANKS:
Elizabeth—Thank you so much for your kind words. I know I have not updated in what feels like forever and I am sorry about that, but your review helped me return to the story, so thank you.
Kcbeatles—Here's some more for you, hope you enjoy. Thanks for writing.
Mrs. Rhett Butler—Well, Mrs. Butler, I do sincerely pray that I have provided you with something you find entertaining. I thank you most humbly for your charitable words.
Audacious—I hope you find this worth reading, thank you for writing.
Bryony Cel—I am so pleased that you found my story and appear to enjoy it. I hope it will continue to amuse you to the end.
Willow Murray –I really abhor the thought of torturing anything, small animals, you, etc. So I beg forgiveness for not updating for a long while. Thank you for your kind praise, it means a lot.
DoM05—Thank you very much for your review. It made me smile the first, second, and twenty-third time I read it. I appreciate you taking the time to check in.
XxBandGeekxX—Well, this wasn't a repeat of the party but I hope to get back to that sort of scene very very soon. Keep on the lookout!
Alamo Girl—Well I'm as pleased as punch to have been of any help at all to your story. Thanks for being willing to let everyone see you. Thanks for leaving such a nice review.
Thermy—I have obeyed and not let a year go by before updating. I mean, after such a wonderful review how could I do anything else? Thanks for keeping me on task.
Faith—Thank you. Your review was so sweet. I appreciate it!
Haizea—Addictive, you say? Well thanks, I love reading that! Sorry my update was not soon at all.
Kimber McLeod—Ah, baited breath, one of my favorite expressions, and you will undoubtedly read it in a part coming up soon. Thank you for your praise, it was a delight to read in my inbox. Thank you.
Daze-dly—That was pretty funny…I love when things like that happen. I'm sorry that it's straying towards sappiness, and I can't promise it'll find its way out anytime soon, but this chapter should at least lean more towards angst, so I hope it makes you a little happy. Thanks for writing.
Mammypooh—You actually did a jig? I do love a good jig, myself, provided no one else is around. Well I was tickled to read your review and I liked receiving it, it makes me laugh. Thanks for adding a bright spot to my inbox.
Thinkofmefondly—Short, sweet, and to the point. You can't ask for more than that. Thanks for writing.
Quicksilvermad—Sorry the chapters haven't been long enough, I'll try to do better. Glad to hear you have fully recovered from the wisdom teeth pulling. And I do agree that Bobby in glasses is an image I can really get into.
MattnAmy4Life—Thank you for your review. I hope to keep you on as a reader.
Wood Venefica—Oh it's not over, I promise you that it will be finished. And I guess I just ended it there because I'm all consumed by the Dark Side or something. Anyway, thanks for writing.
Dirce—Well I am pleased as punch to have made you giggle gleefully once before. Thanks for writing and I'm sorry I waited to post. I'm even more sorry about the lack of physically interaction. Sorry sorry sorry.
Alliegilly—Thank you for your review, I really appreciate it!
Kelanth—Yes, poking and prodding do work every now and again. Glad that you are enjoying it. Thanks for taking the time to review.
Netherfield—I will indeed be finishing it, do not fret. I was glowing for days after reading your review, even though I felt bad that you had thought it was already finished. So I'm sorry about that. Yours is the kind of review that gives me the impetus to go on writing, so thank you very much for that.
Jenn—Yes, I promise, cross my heart hope to die, that this fic will in fact be finished. I am working on getting it done, and done well. Thank you for your gentle encouragement.
Jen—The next part is here, and I'm sorry it's not filled with shippy goodness for you. I will endeavor to bring it back around to there soon. I'm glad that the voices (whatever their source) are contributing to your enjoyment of the fic. You will know how it ends, I promise. Thanks for reviewing.
Lisa—Thank you, I appreciate that. I will continue to write more and more.
Tigerlil96—Yes, I too was ready for there to be more to this fic. Thank you for taking the time to review.
Denaliyasha—I whole-heartedly agree with the "Ack. Cliffhanger." Feeling. Sorry I had to go there. Thanks for writing.
Alecia—Well jeepers thanks! I'm so glad that you like the story, it means a lot to me.
thousand-miles—Thank you seems inadequate, and yet I find myself at a loss for words. Thank you so much for taking the time to write such an enthusiastic review. I appreciate the time and effort you took. You know what's terrific? You!