The Long and Winding Road: Chapter 11

By: The Confused One

A/N: Let's see who can figure out what Alex and Bobby have figured out.

The drive back had mostly been in silence. The anxiety and worry ate at them both. Bobby, of course, was absorbed in thought. His mind raced through all the information they had so far, desperate to make the pieces fit. It was then that he remembered. As Alex parked, Bobby hesitantly spoke, "Before we go up, you should know. I. I told Deakins to tell the squad. There are APBs out and a real search to find them."

Alex didn't dare look at him. Taking a deep breath, she turned the engine off. She knew getting more people involved was important. She knew it was the right thing to do. She knew it had to be done, but a part of her feared that she and Bobby weren't prepared for the fallout. She knew it was a selfish thought, but she couldn't help that. It was the reality of the situation. She focused on the good. A lot of people in the NYPD would now be looking for her little girl. She finally spoke, "We could use the manpower."

Bobby nodded. That much was true. He followed her lead out of the car. He was almost afraid to speak. He was still having trouble being the shoulder in the relationship. He had hoped he had gotten them through it at the cemetery, but she seemed to be in a funk. Alex was never in a funk. Slowly walking behind her, he tried to imagine how she managed to pull him back every time. Alex sighed. With that, he ventured, "What's wrong?"

Alex almost laughed. He really could open a can of worms with that question. She finally admitted, "Is it not bad enough that whoever this has it out for us? Did they really have to drag our children and my family into it?"

Bobby nodded. He understood perfectly what she was saying. This was someone going for the knife in the gut and twisting it several times. Stopping at the elevator he tried to comfort her, "It does seem to be overkill. They won't hurt any of them, for now. They're using them as more than just to get at us. They're using them as bait right now. They're trying to get Domingus and Lopez off, for some reason. I just don't know why them and why us.

Alex snorted. She marveled at how he could put his foot in his mouth sometimes. She was pretty sure he was trying to make her feel better. She had news for her partner, it wasn't. Not to mention, this time anyway, she couldn't care less about his whys. She just cared about who and where. Her mind drifted back to her sister and family dragged into this nightmare. She figured Richard was getting back to town by now. She hated the thought of her brother-in-law going through this. Looking down at her watch, she groaned. She finally pressed the button and explained, "We're going to be late for lunch."

Confused, Bobby quickly asked, "What?"

The doors to the elevator opened. She jogged his memory, "Lunch at my parents. Richard just got in."

Realization dawned on Bobby. He knew he was forgetting something. Following Alex into the elevator, Bobby was getting visibly agitated. He tried to explain, "But we need to look at the file."

Alex nodded. She smiled slightly. He really was two steps behind today. She chalked it up to worry and information overload. He tended to let the little stuff slide when he was engrossed in a case. It didn't surprise her he forgot about lunch. She suggested, "I know. I'll call and tell them we're going to come by later this afternoon. It'll be a compromise."

Bobby nodded. He knew as well as she did that they couldn't ignore her family right now. If they didn't go to Alex's parents sometime during the day, the whole Eames family would most definitely descend upon the major case bullpen demanding answers. He smiled slightly. It was nice and refreshing to know a family that connected and close. Bobby assured her, "We can probably go by about 3:00 or so."

Alex sighed and nodded again. Her family was just going to have to understand. She closed her eyes and knew they were in for it for it when she called. Her family wasn't very patient, especially when it involved family.

Bobby's thoughts had moved on. He braced himself for what they were in for when the doors opened. He knew IA and the brass were going to be up in arms, not because they were together. That could be handled. It was more than that. Bobby and Alex were the best pair in Major Case. They weren't going to be happy about having to split them up because of the rules. He figured most of their colleagues though would be alright.

The doors opened, and Bobby, again, followed Alex out. The bullpen seemed especially quiet and empty. Bobby and Alex exchanged a look. Something was up. Most of the desks were empty. Walking towards their desks, fellow detective, Andrea Williams, caught Alex's eye. Andrea smiled. Alex let Bobby go around her. Andrea whispered then, as Alex passed, "It's about time you two came out of the closet." Alex smiled now too.

Catching up with Bobby at their desks, Alex scanned her desk for the file. Looking up at Bobby, she explained, "Goren, the file is gone."

Bobby met Alex's eyes. Before he could react further, Trevor walked up and explained, "Pretty much the whole squad had divided the file and are checking up on the names and addresses listed. That's where everyone is. The rest of us are doing research and background on all the names. We saved you two a copy of the file to look over."

Alex smiled a real smile. She knew the people she worked with. They could be totally wonderful sometimes, but this was going way beyond the call of duty to a fellow officer. Looking at Bobby, she knew he was at a loss for words. He still had trouble sometimes with the concept of family and friendship. She spoke for them both, "Thank you."

Bobby nodded. He wasn't used to selfless generosity for him. They both knew the whole squad their own stack of cases and concerns, but they were taking the time to really help them. He finally found his voice, as he took the file, "Yes. Thank you."

Trevor smiled. He always liked Goren and Eames. The rest of the squad did too. They didn't always show it, especially since Goren had a reputation, but it was true. They were basically revered as the standard and the best around the squad. He was about to make a smart-ass comment when Deakins yelling from his closed office could be heard clear into the squad room, "I don't care what the rules are!"

Bobby and Alex exchanged a look of guilt. It didn't take a genius to figure out what he was yelling about. Trevor explained, "They suspended Carson, pending investigation. But they've been in there for awhile now arguing about you two. Well, we're assuming it's about you."

Alex put her hand to her head. Taking a deep breath, she sighed and sadly replied, "Count on it."

Bobby nodded. They both knew it was about them. Watching her, he understood how she was feeling and what she was thinking. He was feeling and thinking the exact same thing. Guilt was an ugly feeling. Bobby and Alex felt like their world was falling apart. Bobby knew Jimmy Deakins was silently feeling like his world was falling apart too. This had been last thing Deakins had been expecting. Sitting down, he tried to give Alex a reassuring look too.

It was Trevor who broke them both out of their thoughts. He simply assured them, "I'll be at my desk if you need me."

Alex nodded. Looking up at Trevor she felt the need to express her gratitude again, "Trevor, really, thank you." She watched Trevor go back to his desk. Looking over at Bobby, she saw him already flipping the file open. With a sigh, she sat down too, and playfully agreed, "Right. You look at the file, and I'll call my parents."

All she got in return was a nod. Alex smiled. While it could be totally irritating to have him seem to ignore her, right then it was kind of comforting to her. If he was so engrossed in his file he was barely processing what she said it meant the world couldn't be off its axis completely. Picking up her phone, she dialed the familiar number. She waited for the greeting, "Hello."

Alex was relieved that it was her mother. Alex tried to verbalize what needed to be said, "Hi mom. Bobby and I aren't going to be able to make it for lunch."

Ellen Eames scrunched her eyes. She had very much felt the need to see her only other daughter. She didn't want to be denied that one comfort, at least one of her girls was OK. She was sick with worry and this wasn't helping. Her daughter and some of her grandchildren were missing and her other daughter was acting very odd as of late. Ellen didn't like it. Alex and Bobby were hiding something. She could feel it. Ellen tried to refrain from getting into it, "Are you two going to come at all?"

Bobby sometimes acted like wasn't paying attention at all, but he always was. He heard every word she said. He just hadn't wanted an argument about the file. He was just glad she had let it go. He began scanning the names. Bobby listened as Alex answered, "Yes. Closer to 3:00 though."

It was almost too much. Ellen was too worried to be tactful. She insisted, "Alex! We're all very worried here. Is there a lead?"

Alex closed her eyes. She hated hearing the worry in her mother's voice, but it couldn't be helped. Alex silently blamed herself. It was her fault. She had to go running off and wasting time. Alex tried to delicately explain, "We're trying to find a lead mom. I know you are all worried, but we really don't have many developments to tell you about the case. We're not going to leave you guys out. We find something out you know we'll tell all of you."

Ellen sighed. She believed Alex. Really, she did. She just felt there was something Alex needed to confess, to get off her chest. Ellen pushed a little, hoping for some sort of information, "Alex, I'm not just worried about Kate and kids you know."

Alex knew what her mother was getting at. Her mother could sense things as well as Goren sometimes. Alex was surprised they had gotten away with it this long without her mother's suspicions. Alex tried to reassure her mother, "I know. I promise I'm OK, and we'll talk. I'll call you if anything comes up before 3:00. I promise."

Finishing another page, Bobby turned the page. He was determined to find one that popped out at him. Then he saw the name.

On the phone, Ellen gave up, "Alright. As long as you promise."

Bobby, agitated, stood up and started pacing. He looked over at Alex, who locked eyes with him. She could see the panic on his face. He needed Alex off the phone, and he needed it now. Alex watched the crazed look in his eye and cut off her call with her mother before he got worse, "I'm sorry. I have to go mom. It may be that lead." Hanging up, she focused on Bobby. She could tell he was about to fly off the handle into about a million different places. He seemed to be suddenly not comfortable in his own skin. She summoned her best authoritative and demanding voice, "Bobby! What's wrong?"

Before he could speak, the door to Deakins office opened, drawing the whole room's attention. Two men headed to the elevator. Deakins stood in the door. She scratched his forehead and headed over to Bobby and Alex. He looked like he had gone thirteen rounds and lost. Reaching Bobby and Alex, he quietly explained, "I'm stalling. If I have to break you two up, it will be after we find them."

Bobby was back to his pacing. Grabbing the file, he basically ignored Deakins. He walked over to Eames desk. He pointed to the name. Alex was started. Looking up at Bobby she said, "She's dead."

Bobby shook his head. He knew Alex would get it in a moment. He read the name, "Ella Miyazaki is dead."

It took a moment and it clicked. Looking at Deakins, who was totally confused and then back at Bobby, she hesitated, "You don't think…"

Bobby's agitation grew again. He was beginning to really get a sick feeling in the pit of his stomach. He insisted, "It has to be her. I'm so sorry Alex. It was never about us. It's about me."