Chapter 21

Disclaimer: See previous chapters.

A/N: I thought I should follow up on that little devastation before y'all get too mad. Well, you're going to be mad anyway but good things come to those who wait. Peace.

Carolyn and Mike were on a stake out when she got Alex's frantic phone call. "What? A date? You've got to be kidding me. Oh Jesus, Mary, and Joseph."

"The Holy Trinity? That sounds bad," Mike muttered to himself, surveying the scene. Carolyn heard him and elbowed him.

"Alex, chill out. Is the baby sleeping? Okay then, chill the hell out! We're going to be relieved in about twenty minutes so just hang in there, okay? Bye." Carolyn hung up the phone and looked out the window towards the suspect's hang out. "Bobby's got a date. Like right now. She's ready to tear him a new one."

Mike thought for a minute before saying his piece. "This is going to sound really mean but, did she talk to him? Because if she didn't talk to him then he doesn't know. And if he doesn't know, then let the man have a date." He dodged Carolyn's fist and grabbed it. "Look, I think he loves her too. But they have to sort this shit out for themselves. If they want to be with each other bad enough, it will happen. If not, let's just hope they both find some one who'll love that kid as much as we all do." Mike let go of Carolyn's fist. It stayed in mid-air where he had stopped it. He looked over at her; she had that look girls get when they're getting ready for a happy cry. "What?"

"That's the sweetest thing I've ever heard come out of your mouth, Logan." A car pulled up behind them. The brake lights flashed twice. Their relief. Mike started the car and pulled out ahead of their spot, flashing his brake lights at them and taking off. "Feel like some food?" Carolyn pulled out a take out menu from an Italian restaurant she knew both he and Bobby loved. Mike saw it.

"Oh, kid, you know it."

Scenes From An Italian Restaurant (my sincere apologies to one Billy Joel)…

Bobby sat across from his date, one Miss Willa St. Clair. Nearly six feet tall in heels, thick auburn hair, perfect make up and super model thin, Willa kept her date amused with stories about her days as a substitute French teacher. Her blue eyes were unnaturally so, and her laugh was like a wind chime in a summer breeze.

"So, how is detective work treating you?" She smiled at him over the candlelight, the diamond earrings she was wearing sparkled next to her face.

"Well, it's a bit boring at the moment. Paperwork, no real detective work to do. Sorry to disappoint." He studied her. "Just busy outside of work." He almost regretted saying it. And wait for it…

"Well, what kind of busy work? Private investigations?" And there it was. Why did people always assume he did PI work in his off time? And before he could think through the reaction of his date…

"Uh, no, no. I actually, I have a daughter. Six months old." Bobby watched Willa carefully. A flicker of annoyance. Hmm. The Goren Show on in 3, 2, 1…

"So, you don't like kids? Or…"

"Oh, no! I love kids. And babies…that's such a cute age." Head tilt to the right…what a liar.

"No." Bobby put his napkin on the table and signaled the waiter. Willa looked confused.

"What are you doing?" Willa dropped her cute and coy routine and just sounded flat out pissed off. "Have to get home to your baby?"

Bobby looked at her, trying to cover his disgust. "Goodnight Willa. And yes, yes I do." He paid his bill and walked out. Wow. He reached into his pocket for his keys when he ran right smack into someone.

"What the fuck! Watch it, jack ass!" The figure kept moving, the guy she was with turning to look at him. "Goren?" The offended turned around and looked at him as well. Carolyn. She charged at him. "You went on a date! You son of – " Mike pulled her off of Bobby.

"Who's this? Baby mama?" Willa click-clacked on the sidewalk towards her car, smiling smugly to herself. "Jealous, sweetheart?" Carolyn got a look in her eyes that neither Mike nor Bobby had ever seen. Carolyn walked over to Willa and looked at her car.

"Is this your car, ma'am?" Carolyn looked at the registration, and then at the parking meter Willa had parked next to.

"Yes, it is. Jealous of that too?" Willa started to walk around to the driver's side. Carolyn touched her arm gently, getting her attention.

"You're going to have to come with me ma'am. Your under arrest." Carolyn flashed her badge and pulled out her cuffs.

"Excuse me, but can you explain why, s'il te plait?" Carolyn looked at her.

"Well, you're parked in a handicapped area. Now, I'll take you down to the local precinct where you'll get an appearance ticket and this will be marked down to a parking infraction. But, I do have to do this. And…it's vous. You don't know me." Carolyn hauled Willa into the undercover car and took her away. Mike and Bobby looked at each other in shock.

"She did just do that right? I'm not hallucinating?" Mike doubled over in laughter. Bobby stood, shocked but amused.

"Yes, she did. And the way she corrected her French; she had told me that she was a French teacher. What a liar!" Bobby rubbed his face and shook his head. Mike calmed himself down.

"You were on the date with her? Nice, but what a – "

"Yes, I know. I caught her in a lie about liking kids when I told her about Meredith." Bobby paused for a second. "How did you know I was on a date?"

"Er, Carolyn told me."

"Carolyn didn't know. Did Alex call her?" Bobby tried to get Mike to look him in the eyes. A car screeched to a halt in front of them. Carolyn hopped out, still with that frightening look on her face. She strode up to Bobby and shoved him against a wall.

"I'm gonna lose my shit on you. You know why? Do you know that Alex is sitting alone in that apartment, hurt because of the date you hadn't told her about, and – "

"Carolyn, stop – "

"Shut up Mike!" Carolyn turned back to Bobby. "She told me about the kiss." Bobby inhaled sharply. "Yeah, and she's in love with you and what do you do? You keep it all bottled up in that big, frigging head of yours and then go out with that, that bitch! You're an asshole Robert Goren." Carolyn breathed in and out heavily. She felt so drained. Why was he so stupid? He knew he loved her. He was just too damn stupid to realize it. Carolyn hoped her words had made some sort of impact, but he just stood in front of her, arms crossed, eyes dark. She softened. "Bobby, you know it's true." He slowly nodded, acknowledging that she had spoken, but she had no idea what was going to happen next.

"Ah, look I'm going to get the food before they think we were crank calling them. And let's quiet down now; you have an audience." Mike tilted his head to the small crowd formed near the entrance of the restaurant before walking in.

"Carolyn." Bobby stopped and looked at her. "I have to go." And so he did. Carolyn stood outside the restaurant and waited for Mike to come out with the food she no longer had an appetite for.

A/N - I honestly have no idea if cops can actually do that. But I thought it would be nice for Carolyn to raise up for Alex.