She's Gone
Disclaimer: Totally not mine! Totally all Wolf's!
A/N – Week 2 done – guns next week. Oh, the fun to be had…oh! And I got my dress blues. I now have a dorky hat – good times. So…yeah, Lynn's knocked up; how about that! Some language in this chapter – just a warning. Hope y'all enjoy!
Carolyn stood stock still in the middle of her kitchen, her mouth hanging open in a most unattractive fashion. "Excuse me? Did you say godmother? Did I hear you correctly?"
Lynn grabbed Carolyn's hands and smiled. "Yes. I am with child."
Mike snorted and walked over to Carolyn. "Bobby's going to be the godfather. We found out the other day at work, but you were on your "personal day" with Avery."
Carolyn closed her eyes for a moment at the sound of her boyfriend's name. Oh, to tell or not to tell…Not. Well, not yet. She opened her eyes and looked at her friends. "Of course I'll be your illegitimate child's godmother! What else are friends for?"
They all laughed and walked into the living room, settling in for a "Ghost Hunters" marathon, which Mike mocked relentlessly.
"I just don't understand why they are so hung up on EMF readings. Who cares?" Mike shook his head in exasperation.
Lynn slapped him on the thigh. "They're very important. Just like the voice recordings. God, I love when they get a voice recording." She smiled and hugged herself. "That's the coolest thing."
Carolyn stared at Lynn. Who would've thought Lynn of all people believed in the ghosts? She shook her head at the thought. "So, anyway, how far along are you?"
"About nine weeks." Lynn stood up to grab the blanket off the back of the chair, looking pointedly at Mike. "And don't say nine and a half. This is not some tawdry Kim Basinger film – it's the life span thus far of our child, so shut your mouth."
Mike complied. "Fine, I won't say anything…except in two more weeks I'm going there and you can't stop me because the reference will be apt."
"Nine weeks? And Bobby has known for how long?" Carolyn felt a little annoyed about being left out.
"He's known for about a week. We were going to tell you guys at the same time, but we couldn't get a hold of you outside of work." Mike shrugged. "Sorry, but it's true. What's been going on anyway?"
Carolyn turned to face the TV. The previous season's finale was starting. Good, time to change the subject. "I'll tell you later. The finale is on and I missed this one."
Mike and Lynn exchanged glances. Something was up, but Carolyn seemed determined to keep her mouth shut.
Bobby's Apartment, Post Date…
Bobby sat on his couch, nursing a beer, staring past the ghost show that was on his TV. Nan had finally fallen asleep. He contemplated calling Mike or Carolyn but thought better of it. They were so hopeful for him. He was so hopeful for him. How could tonight have gone so wrong? Bobby tipped the beer bottle to his mouth. Empty – damn it, Bobby thought. He picked himself up off the couch and trudged into the kitchen.
The date had gone sour the minute they stepped into McDonald's. Emer was a terror to behold. Nia and Bobby had walked into the play area and let the girls down. The second they hit the ground, Emer pushed Nan down and ran to get to the ball area. Every time Nan tried to do something with Emer, Emer would knock her down. Bobby spent most of his time consoling his daughter, glaring at Emer and losing more and more respect for Nia. Nia sat blithely on her child size bench, picking at French fries and laughing when Emer went down the slide headfirst. She did nothing to stop her daughter's behavior. And it wasn't just Nan Emer liked to pick on; she hit other kids as well. Several parents glared in Nia and Bobby's direction, but none had come up to them directly. Bobby started to comment several times on her behavior, but Nia brushed him off. He was just about to grab Nan and leave when the manager came up to them and asked if they would leave, due to other parents complaints. Bobby had never been more embarrassed. He grabbed Nan and left, leaving Nia to create a scene in the middle of Play Land.
Bobby grabbed a second beer and shuddered at the memory. How could anyone be that terrible with their child? He felt like even more of an ass because he hadn't gotten Nan out of there quicker. The poor kid cried the entire walk home. Bobby flopped back onto the couch, causing one of his pictures to fall down on the end table. He picked it up, putting it back into position. Alex, just after she found out she was pregnant, and Carolyn holding up the positive test smiled back him. He half smiled. He wondered what she would think of all of this. Bobby started to turn his attention back to the TV show when there was a knock at the door. Groaning, Bobby stood up to answer it. A bedraggled looking Avery looked at him through red-rimmed eyes.
"You have to make her take me back. It was a mistake." Avery collapsed against the wall outside of Bobby's door.
"What are you talking about?" Bobby pulled Avery in and sat him down at the kitchen table.
"She kicked me out. She caught me with that girl and she kicked me out." Avery stared intently at the patterns in the wood of the table.
"What girl?" Bobby's heart dropped as his temper boiled. If Avery had hurt Carolyn…
"Nia, man, she caught me with Nia." Avery put his head down on the table.
Bobby stared at the back of Avery's head. If it weren't for Nan in the next room, he'd knock this guy out. "Wait, you were with the girl I was dating, cheating on my friend with her and you want me to get you back in?" Bobby paced his kitchen, his hands on top of his head to keep from doing something stupid. "Get the fuck out of my house, now." His voice had dropped, low and scary and at the same time calm and steady.
Avery looked at him and backed out. "Okay, man. It's cool. I didn't know you were dating her."
"But you forgot that you were with Carolyn? Get out." Bobby opened the door. Avery shut up and walked out. Could this night get any shittier? Bobby picked up the phone and called Carolyn.
The Next Day – One Police Plaza…
Lynn sat at her desk, her hands gripping the sides. Bobby was completely involved with his paperwork, Carolyn was in the break room, and Mike was on the phone with a possible lead. She debated on whether or not the nausea would pass and if not, could she sprint to the bathroom in time? She tried taking some cleansing breaths. Not working. She bolted from her desk, ran towards the bathroom, slamming her knee into the doorjamb on her way in. "Fuck!" She hopped the rest of the way to an available stall, collapsing in front of her new best friend, the toilet.
"Lynn, are you all right?" Carolyn knelt behind Lynn, rubbing her back. "I saw you running."
Lynn sat back up, wiping her face off with some toilet paper. "I'm okay. Such a fun night last night and now the unpleasantness has started. Just wonderful."
"Bobby's still not talking to me." Carolyn backed out of the stall, Lynn behind her.
"Honestly, do you really expect him to be? Avery was cheating on you with Nia and you knew Bobby was interested. But I'm glad that didn't work out. Her kid's a bully and she's a cheater." Lynn swiped at the mascara running under her eyes. "I don't mean to make you feel bad, I'm just saying." Lynn squeezed Carolyn's hand. "Sorry." Lynn gave her a little smile.
"I know, but I told him – I didn't know it was his Nia! I didn't even know this chick's name until Avery told him and Bobby decided to rant about it on the phone!" Carolyn ran a hand through her hair in frustration. "Why won't he believe me?"
"Well, he's ready to kill Avery for hurting you," Lynn said.
Carolyn stopped, touched. Bobby had called her the night before. Mike and Lynn were still over watching TV and checking out baby name books after the marathon ended. Bobby started yelling at her about not telling him about Nia and Avery and Carolyn had no choice but to start explaining to everyone just what had happened.
A week before Bobby's date with Nia, Carolyn had left Tiffany's early in the afternoon. She and Avery were sort of discussing marriage and she liked to go in there to look at the rings for fun. She decided to stop by Avery's office to see if he could grab some lunch with her. Well, he was already grabbing lunch and more…and more's name was Nia. Until Bobby's phone call, she hadn't known it was Bobby's Nia or that the woman was a Nia in the first place. And now all morning Bobby was giving her the cold shoulder, conferring with Mike on cases and where to get lunch – completely excluding her in the process.
"Wow. I don't want him dead, though. I just want Bobby to understand – I didn't know. How was I going to tell him something I had no previous knowledge of?"
"Well, why didn't you tell us about him anyway?" Lynn walked out of the bathroom, Carolyn behind her.
"Before I walked in on them I was at Tiffany's, looking at solitaires. I was a little bit more than a little embarrassed." The pair reached Lynn's desk. Bobby was still engrossed in his paperwork.
Carolyn inhaled deeply. "Bobby, can I talk to you for a minute? Please?" She let out her breath in a rush. Bobby looked up at her impatiently.
"Now? I'm busy." He turned his head back to his desk.
"Stop it! I didn't know! I'm not the Great Kreskin!" Carolyn slapped the papers onto the floor. "I'm sorry I wasn't psychic and couldn't tell you something I didn't know. Happy!" She stormed out, all of Major Case staring after her. Bobby sighed and stormed off to an empty conference room. The door slammed shut, causing Lynn to flinch.
Mike walked over to her. "What the hell is going on? Is he still mad at her?" Lynn nodded. Bobby stamped his way out of the conference room. Mike grabbed him as he walked by. "Man, what the –"
Bobby hauled off and punched him. Mike stood there, stunned for a minute. And then he punched him back. They started fighting, other detectives gathering around to watch.
"Stop it!" Lynn tried to break them up. "Stop – "She was pushed into one of the desks, the corner hitting her directly in her stomach. She collapsed onto the floor, and finally some of the other guys broke up Bobby and Mike.
"Something's wrong with Bishop!" Detective Corey Balanski scooped an unconscious Lynn in his arms. Mike turned, his nose bloodied and his face turned pale at the sight of her.
"Let me take her. Bobby I have to get her to the hospital." Mike took Lynn in his arms and ran to the elevator. Bobby grabbed his keys and called the hospital to let them know they were on their way.
