Disclaimer: Dick Wolf, emperor of the universe

Title: Hurricane Katrina

Chapter 15: Shape Up!

Summary: Eames' gives birth. What can Katayeva do for her?

Rating: K+

Genre: Humor/Angst

Reviews welcome.

Slight Spoiler: Season 3 episode, F.P.S.

Goren and Katayeva had just arrested Neil Colby, the co-creator of computer game Blood Match for murder The uniforms had taken him away. The two detectives were chatting in the court house hallway with ADA Carver, when Goren's cell phone went off. It was a message from Alex Eames' family. She had just given birth to her sister's baby, a 7 lbs. 8 oz. boy. Katayeva volunteered to take charge of the booking so that Goren could go call his Eames.

Hmmmm….what kind of gift do you give to someone who had a baby, but is not keeping the baby? A week at the spa? Sessions with a massage therapist? I have to think about this. What can I do to move this situation along? The situation that neither Goren nor Eames seems to even know exists.

Several days later Goren visited Eames at home. Brought her Chinese food and flowers. He wasn't at all sure what you gave or did for a woman who gave up her child. There's no rules for this sort of thing.

Eames is looking better physically. She seems more fragile emotionally, though. Giving up your baby, even when you know it's your sister's baby, must be extremely difficult. Eames got all the post-partum hormones and the weight gain. Her sister got the kid. Doesn't seem fair.

Goren and Eames sat on her sofa, eating the Chinese food off of Alex's blue floral Corelle ™ dishes. He noted that her appetite was good. Of course, that could just mean she hadn't bothered to eat all day and was now ravenous. She told him how bizarre it felt to now be alone, not carrying around another human being 24/7. She finally gave in and cried about the loss of her baby. Goren just held her. That was all that he could do. All that anyone could do for her. A little while later she was ready to make conversation again.

"Bobby, I didn't realize that I would be getting any gifts for having the baby, but I have."

"What kind of gifts?"

"Well, not baby stuff, fortunately. The secretaries at Major Case sent gift certificates for local take-out places, Angie Deakins sent a fresh fruit basket and Barek sent a gift certificate for six visits by a cleaning woman."

Goren was relieved that the gifts were not baby-related.

"Those sound good."

"Oh, and the biggest surprise was the gift from Katayeva."

"Kat sent something? She didn't mention it to me."

"A one year platinum membership at the New York Athletic Club. All services included. Like massages, personal trainer, classes, acupuncturist, nutritionist and all kind of other stuff. And they have a special post-partum program."

Goren just looked at her. He was stunned.

"Bobby, do you realize how much that must cost for god's sakes? She doesn't really know me. I only met her that one time at lunch."

"Don't worry about the cost. Her husband's a bond trader. They have money."

"Then I won't feel guilty accepting the gift," chuckled Eames.

"When are you going to the Athletic Club?"

"As soon as my doctor gives the OK. I'm really looking forward to it. I feel so fat, so totally out of shape."

Goren gently brushed her hair behind her ear with his fingers.

"You look fine. Your body just needs time to heal, that's all."

"I wonder if the Athletic Club can make me look like Katayeva?"

"First, they'd have to stretch you a good seven inches…."

Eames smacked Goren on the arm for that one.

"I don't want to be taller, I just want to be built like her."

Goren could see that Eames was tiring. But he didn't want to leave her yet. If felt so good to just be in her presence, to hear her voice, to smell her scent. So he just pulled her closer to him, making sure that her head was resting on his shoulder. Pulled the afghan throw over the two of them.

"I think it's your nap time now."

Eames yawned.

"I think you're right."

She was asleep in minutes.

I can use a nap myself. This is really nice and cozy.

Goren lightly kissed the top of her head, then closed his eyes and drifted off to sleep with Eames in his arms.

The following Monday at Major Case:

Goren had already arrived and was sitting in his chair, file opened on his desk. Katayeva joined him, as he held out his hand for her iPod™ ear bud so that he could listen to her music.

"Ahhh…Devil with the Blue Dress On...a little raucous for first thing in the morning. Where did you get this penchant for sixties music?"

"My babysitter played it all the time."

"Babysitter?"

"Oh, yeah. My mother hired the teenage girl who lived behind us to try to prevent me from turning into a major tomboy. My unofficial big sister. Mom felt I needed more feminine pursuits and less time trailing after my brothers. I don't think it worked, though," laughed Katayeva.

"Why? You certainly look uh… very feminine."

"My brothers swear that the tomboy still lives just under the surface," chuckled Kat, "I wouldn't be interested in this job if I wasn't a tomboy. I'd be home knitting, for god's sakes."

That I would pay to see. Katayeva knitting.

Goren nearly choked on his coffee.

"What? You can't see me knitting, Bobby?"

"Uh…no."

Katayeva just laughed.

"I visited Eames over the weekend."

"Oh, how's she feeling?"

"She looks pretty good, but feels fat and unattractive."

"Pregnancy will do that to you. Afterwards you feel like a slug."

"Eames mentioned your gift of the Athletic Club membership. That was very kind of you to do that, Kat."

"It helped me feel better and look better. I figured it would do the same for her."

And after she's been to that gym, she's gonna knock your socks off, pal. There is always a method to my madness.