Handing Off the Torch

Author: TheLaughingLark

Disclaimer: I do not own Law and Order: Criminal Intent, Bobby Goren, Alex Eames, or even Bobby's portfolio. Although, the names and personalities of Sally Brown and Black Leather Special Deluxe Portfolio are purely the result of my overactive imagination, not Bobby's

Author's Note: So between the plot bunnies that won't leave me alone (or is that portfolio bunnies?) and the very, very lovely praise I've been getting, (some of it from some of my favorite Law and Order Authors) I've been unable to focus on anything but more Black Leather Special Deluxe chronicles, even though I have two Batman stories, a Superman story, a Fantastic Four story, and a Smallville story in dire need of some polishing off and posting. Not to mention the other types of Law and Order: Criminal Intent plot ideas swirling in my head… Ah… So many Geekdoms, so little time… Anyway, I hope you enjoy it. Chapter Two coming soon.

Memories and Hopes

So...it's my last day of work today. The NYPD is a difficult job to stay on very long, either you get worn out or forced out, for me it's a bit of both. I'm retiring. The boss and Alex took me to the home of my childhood yesterday, to pick out my replacement. Bobby of course was reticent to force me into this, but sadly as much as I love the sweet, pleasant part of Alex's nature she's also very practical sometimes, (especially in comparison to the boss) and I actually haven't been feeling the best recently. I know it's time, but that knowledge still doesn't make me completely happy with the loss of the biggest piece of my life.

All in all, it was a bitter sweet day. Since we finished our case yesterday morning, today was all paperwork and Bobby had time to go over me and get me ready for retirement. He was really rather reluctant to do so, but only because he's so attached to me. Some would say that that was just a normal Goren oddity, being overly possessive of his things, but I know the truth. I'm special to him, not because of any great magnificence of mine but because I fit him, I accept him and help him function in his routine. My boy Bobby takes his experiences, his routines, the things that he learns, and makes them a part of him.

Alex is the prim example of this tendency of integration. This doesn't make her a mere object him, but the opposite, to him we aren't just objects, to him we are beauty, we are life, truth, and a real relationship. I don't think he's ever found that with people until Alexandra Eames entered our life, certainly not as long as I've known him. Alex is the first human that fit into his life, to most people who see their partnership it seems like that's because she adapts to him, and while that's true to some extent, the key to their relationship is that she is the type of person he can integrate into his life make her a part of himself, like us. Being human, she's a much bigger part of his life than I, but I was first.

I became a part of him long before Detective Alexandra Eames came along, before she became Eames to us, and then Alex, although he still can't quite admit she is Alex to him, but he can't lie to me, I've known him too long. That's the key to our relationship: I know everything about him, and he knows me just as intimately, every pocket, the way papers fit in me, the way we work together without even thinking about it. Someday, I hope it'll be that way with my boss and his partner, down to the physical stuff too, he deserves to be happy and I'm just softie matchmaker. Although, if I woke up tomorrow human, she wouldn't have a chance, I'd snap that boy up so quick… But, they're just so cute together. You can't convince me I'm the only one to see it, either. Even the Captain's secretly hoping they'll make it together, he just can't admit it because it's his job to make sure it doesn't. I hope it happens during the new guy's term of service, I'll have to remember to mention it to him when we get home to night and Bobby finishes getting him ready for tomorrow.

I'm really pretty hopeful about the new kid, he seems pretty well made, if a little cocky, but he should do well if he minds the boss properly. I was pretty concerned about my replacement yesterday, more so than Bobby even, it's a big deal to pick a replacement, to give up such a big responsibility to someone else. I wasn't sure about him at first, when Alex held me as Bobby and I looked him over. Sure the technical features needed were there, but in this job it makes a big difference how well one works under pressure. I mean although Bobby is really very meticulous about caring for me, it doesn't always look that way. If you don't know what he's doing, slamming me down to scare suspects, or scattering my papers to look like an idiot and irritate someone or lower someone's guard just seems stupid. But if there's one thing my Bobby isn't, it's stupid. Anyone working with him regularly needs to understand how he works and help him do it. You can't be a shallow can't-see-beyond-the-obvious type.

Bobby must have seen some potential though, 'cause we brought the squirt home with us, even though he still seemed a bit unsure if Junior would completely measure up to my high standards of paper management, and who can blame him? I didn't get a chance to talk to the young whippersnapper until we got to the bar and Bobby set us next to each other at the end of the booth, in-between him and the wall. Although, I'd never been close enough for a conversation before, I'd been watching his body language the whole time: he'd been ramrod straight trying to look his best as Bobby inspected him, frozen in longing while he waited for the verdict, and nearly jumping up and down with excitement by the time we reached bar (or he would have been if we were capable of jumping. We're not. I've tried it when Bobby's dropped me for show before.) I wasn't surprised that he spoke first, but was rather surprised that he sounded a bit shy when he did.

"Hi…. I'm Black Leather Special Deluxe Portfolio." said a soft boyish voice.

"Big name for such a fresh smelling fellow…"

I pictured the elegant sarcastic look Eames makes sometimes by raising her eyebrows, as I as this. "Oh man, I guess I am beginning to lose it. I think I've spent a leeetttlle too much time with Goren's highly active imagination when I start picturing myself with a human face." I thought to myself sadly.

"I thought I was supposed to smell like nice new leather." Junior fretted.

"Maybe at the beginning B.L.S.D.P. but you'll soon lose that. I'm Sally Brown by the way."

"Sally? Isn't that a weird company name?"

"It's not. The boss mentioned he liked the name Sally once so I decided that's what I'd call myself."

The baby perked up at that.

"He's a cop, right? We catch criminals and stuff?"

Over eager, no idea of what to expect from the brass… I thought I'd better set him straight before he tried to go into work like that.

"Cool your jets, mister. The boss is with Major Case, we investigate only the most high profile or complicated crimes. Flying off without knowing what you're doing is a bad idea. It requires timing, patience, and endurance to run this gig."

The youngling (Great vocabulary word I picked up when Bobby and I watched Star Wars with Alex one night.) apparently decided I was to be respected and obeyed, and listened to me with rapt attention the rest of the night. Hopefully, with a few more words of reminder tonight he'll be set to start tomorrow. I don't expect him to get to where I am immediately; after all, it took nearly two years before I decided I had earned the right to call the boss by his first name. I think the kid realized he has to prove himself though. He's eager and excited to help and already refers to Goren in awe, "The Boss" in capitals. I hope the kid goes in there and proves his leather tomorrow. He might even prove to be better than I expect from a beginner. I didn't think much about Logan's potential the first time we worked with him, but the after he started working with us permanently several weeks ago, my impression changed a bit. He's not as instinctual and tough guy as he tries to seem.

"Well," I think to myself as we make it home from work. "It's your show now kid. Make me proud, and take good care of my boy for me. He's not the average boss, but he's the best!"

Coming soon to computer screen near you…

Chapter Two: BLSDP's First Day on the Job