Chapter four

A/N: Some of you suggested Bobby would most likely retreat and let Alex be happy with Leo. I agree with that. I do, because I think that fits Bobby's character. However I already did that in my other fic Work Out and I did not want the two fics to become similar. That is why I decided not to go for that option. I liked the idea many of you gave me to bring in Mike. And I did. Mike is such a cool character and fun to write that he had to make an appearance. I thought Mike was the ideal person to give Goren a kick in the butt. This turned out to be a transistion chapter. To get things started. Ideas and suggestions for the what Goren should do would be welcome. I thought maybe Bobby should surprise Alex by turning up at her place. Maybe they could go out and do something? Or something else, another idea?

Carolyn had told him about Alex's date with Leo. She'd also told him how Alex felt about Bobby. It was up to him to talk to Goren and make him see he still had a chance. He didn't know if he could help. Goren and he had become friends, but he wasn't sure if they'd become good enough friends for him to give Goren advice on his love life. He had to give it a try, otherwise Carolyn would have him do the paperwork for the next two weeks.

"Come on Goren, let's go." Mike said as he pushed Bobby's coat into Bobby's hands.

"What are you doing?" Bobby looked from the coat in his hands to the files on his desk.

"We're going out for a drink."

Alex's interest was piqued. "Is Carolyn joining you too? Can I go too?" Hanging out with Carolyn and Mike was always fun.

"Sorry, you can't join us. We're have a men's night out."

"Going to a stripper club, are you?"

"Not that it actually concerns you, but no. We're going to a sophisticated place." Mike acted as if he was insulted by Alex's suggestion. "Now, I'm sorry, but we have places to go, people to see. Let's go Goren."

Bobby, still unsure of what was going on and what to do, looked from Mike to Alex and back to Mike again. Mike made the decision for him by grabbing his arm, pulling him up and practically dragging Bobby out of the bullpen.

"Why are we here?" Bobby asked, looking around the jazz club they were at.. It was a nice place.

"Because you, my friend, need a kick in the butt." Mike emptied his beer bottle.

"Why?"

Carolyn had told him to be subtle, saying that bluntness didn't work with Goren. Subtlety wasn't one of his strong suits. He went for the direct approach. "I've seen Anderson checking Alex out. It's no secret he was the one sending all those gifts."

He ordered two more beers from the waitress. "He's been telling several people how their date was. He's really into her."

As soon as the waitress arrived with their drinks, Bobby immediately grabbed one. He really didn't want to hear about Anderson and Alex. He hoped Mike would stop talking. Unfortunately for him Mike went on.

"I know you don't want to lose her. I also know you would sacrifice your own happiness for hers. You need to get your act together."

Goren surprised his friend with his answer. Maybe it was the alcohol that had loosened him up? "I know, but what if she… isn't interested?" Not knowing how she felt about him left him feeling insecure.

Mike laughed out loud. "You have nothing to worry about. She only has eyes for you. She's temporarily distracted. You need to get her to focus on you again."

"How?"

"Be creative. You know her better than Anderson. Use that knowledge and make her notice you again. You've got a brilliant mind, Goren, focus it on Alex."

Yes, he could do that. He wasn't really sure how to proceed, but there something he had to do. Losing Alex wasn't an option. "I…. I gotta go." He mumbled to Mike. He had to go home and form a plan to conquer Alex.

SHE was about to make herself coffee and breakfast when there was a loud knock on the door. She wondered who it could be at this strange hour. Then it dawned on her, it probably was Bobby. Quickly she opened the door and found a delivery guy there. He greeted her cheerfully.

"Good morning ma'am. Here you are." He handed her a brown paper bag. "If you could sign here please." After signing he handed her a foam coffee cup and left her.

Curious, she quickly opened the brown bag. She wondered what Leo had gotten her this time. Inside she found a warm croissant and a muffin. She loved croissants and she treated herself to a muffin every once in a while. She had no idea how Leo had gotten that information. The only person who knew was Bobby. Surely this wasn't from Bobby? That wasn't like him and there was no reason for him to send her gifts.

After enjoying her croissant, muffin and coffee Alex was more than ready to go to work. On her desk she found an mysterious black envelop with on the front her name in elegant letters. She looked around for Leo in the squad room, but he was nowhere in sight. Surprisingly neither was Bobby and he almost always arrived earlier than her. Opening the envelop she was almost squealed with delight, but she quickly realized where she was and closed her mouth. Inside were two tickets for the musical Rent for next Friday evening. She had talked with friends about going to that particular musical for a while, but never really finalized it. Now she was actually going and looking at the seats she realized she would have a great view of the stage. She wanted to share her delight with someone and spotted Carolyn. Waving her over, she almost shoved the tickets into Carolyn's hands.

"Leo's treating you right." Carolyn was silent for a moment, looking at Alex. She was almost beaming with joy. "It surprises me how well he knows you. Have you talked with him about you going to go to Rent?"

"No and the thing is, this morning a delivery guy was at my door. He gave me a coffee and brown bag with a cinnamon apple muffin and a croissant. How does he know I love a cinnamon apple muffin?"

"Are you sure it's from Leo? Was there a card or something?"

"Nothing, but then again who else could it be from?" Alex followed Carolyn's eyes as she nodded towards Goren who was on the other side of the bull pen talking with Logan. Apparently he had just gotten in and hadn't had time to take off his coat.

"Why would Bobby be sending me gifts?"

Crossing her arms Carolyn looked incredulously at Alex. "Come on, Alex." Did she really have no clue at all?

"What?"

"Could it be that he might be jealous?"

"Why would he be jealous?"

Carolyn didn't get the chance to answer that question, even though she was ready to point everything out to her friend, because Bobby was walking towards them.

"Good morning." He greeted the two ladies with a nod.

Carolyn and Alex both watched him closely, but his face betrayed nothing. He confused them even more by asking what was in the envelope.

"Two tickets for Rent for next Friday." The excitement in Alex's voice was clearly heard.

Bobby gave her one of his rare warm smiles. He knew how much she wanted to go there. "You're going to love it."

Looking at Carolyn, Alex shrugged and decided to go to work. Later that morning Alex finally had the chance to talk to Leo. She thanked him for the breakfast and wondered how he'd found out.

"I didn't send you anything." Leaning against his desk, Leo crossed him arms.

"You didn't send me the muffin and croissant?"

"No."

"The tickets I found at my desk this morning. They were from you?" Alex shifted on her feet. Apparently she'd been wrong thinking the gifts had been from Leo. And Leo's answer confirmed her fears.

"I didn't send you any tickets." He'd felt pretty secure about how things were going with Alex. Now he found out there was another man out there trying to win her heart. He could deal with some competition. He had nothing to fear. He and Alex clicked and it could only get better.

TBC...