Chapter 115
Monday morning came way too soon after the previous late night they had with Ryan's family. It was all very nice, and Alex can't thank her luck stars enough for her amazing family in law. Ryan turned around and snoozed the alarm hoping to doze off for at least five more minutes. Wordlessly Alex buried her face in between his shoulder blades, snaking an arm around his waist, hoping the alarm wouldn't sound again in five minutes.
"I'm comfortable." Alex moaned when the phone buzzed again and Ryan stirred to get up and silence the small device.
"Yeah, well work is waiting." He answered sitting up, pulling the covers from the bed forcing his wife to get up.
"You are really cruel." Alex looked up at him, sighing heavily as she got up dashing into the bathroom.
"I wanna go shower first, you're always using all the hot water."
"Go downstairs." She yelled smiling knowing how much he hated it when she showered first, because she just stands under the water enjoying the warm water before she actually starts washing. Leaving him to take a cold shower.
Getting coffee started her walked down the corridor towards the nursery, checking up on his daughter who stood up in her crib when she saw her father. Extending her arms to be picked up and he carried her out to the living room putting her down against the couch, moving back towards the kitchen to retrieve some coffee cups for him and his wife. His attention shifted when Phoebe started walking towards him. Unlike her robot Terminator ways of practice walking that started a few days ago. Another indication that his baby girl is growing up.
When Alex walked down the stairs Ryan handed her a cup of coffee and went upstairs to get ready for the day. Preparing Phoebe's baby cereal as she paraded around the kitchen looking for a cupboard to unpack, when her mother stopped her from doing it by announcing that it's time to eat. Alex picked her up, but Phoebe refused to be picked up and kept kicking her feet and moaning until her mother put her back down.
"Come now bub." Alex tried as she sat down and waited for her daughter to walk towards the couch. When Phoebe finally made her way over to her mother she refused to be picked up and stood in front of Alex opening her mouth waiting to be fed. Once the first spoonful of food was in her mouth she walked off again.
"Phoebe Grace, I am not going to play this game with you." Alex sighed, not knowing what new mischief got into her child by playing this new game. She thought it was a fun game on the other hand, and came back to her mother whenever she was done eating for the next spoonful. Grateful when Ryan appeared on the stairs looking for the little human when his wife sat on the couch with the pink bowl and spoon still in hand but no sign of the person who the contents of the bowl belongs to.
"She wants to walk around between bites and refuses to be picked up." Alex explained seeing the questioning look on her husband's face.
"O-kay." Ryan nodded when she handed the bowl over to him and started drinking her coffee leaving him to deal with their new morning routine.
"Pheebs." Ryan called and she walked over to him. Picking her up with no hassle and sitting down with her on his lap he continued the job his wife just handed over to him. Without Phoebe having all the tricks she had with her other earlier.
"Seriously? I'm your mother. Why don't you like me?" Alex asked and Phoebe smiled up in her mother's direction. "No don't smile at me, I'm upset now." Alex moaned pulling a face at her daughter which caused her to laugh more.
"Mommy's jealous. As always." Ryan whispered to his daughter and Alex hit his shoulder playfully. Getting Phoebe ready and gathering the last things they headed out the door to get their day started.
Stuck in Monday morning traffic, Ryan texted Liam t let him know that he'll be late for work, and Alex looked at him as if there is something he forgot.
"What?" He asked. "Liam's my boss, they think you're getting to the office on your own so you need to let Maranda know." He shrugged looking at her with a twinkle in his eyes.
"Okay, well if we're called out on a case today please remember this moment. If someone holds a gun to your head I will look the other way." Alex said as she typed a message to her boss.
"You're gonna miss me when I'm gone." Ryan said moving driving forward towards the green traffic light.
"Yeeaahh, I probably would." She admits giving him a small smile, as they pull into the parking lot at work.
Walking into the office rushing to get to their separate destinations, without people noticing that they're late. "Good morning Booth one and two." Simon greets as he walks past them and disappears around a corner.
Alex barely made it to the office door when Maranda caught up with the two of them, Liam right behind her leading the way to one of the interrogation rooms. Not knowing what to expect Alex prepared herself for the worst, feeling like she's been sent to the principal's office and is about to get detention for a week after school. Not bothering to sit down when Liam closed the door behind him.
"All right I'll get right to it." Maranda said putting the yellow file on the table with such force that it slides across the smooth surface and came to a halt in the middle of the desk.
"I get that the two of you are married, and have your own things going on. And from the start I've made it clear that there will be no special treatment to you Parrish, just because you're married to a Special Agent." She looked between the two of them and Alex bites her bottom lip preparing herself for the worst that is yet to come.
"Yes I understand having a family and running a household is stressful, but showing up late for work, both of you, and today is not the first time it's happened is unacceptable. If you know you're going to be stuck in traffic leave home earlier take an alternative route. I hope I made myself clear in this regard and that this won't happen again." The older woman concluded looking between the two of them and Alex and Ryan both nodded their head. Ryan still confused as to why Liam is there but he didn't say anything , or maybe he's just waiting until he can get Ryan alone before he starts laying down his ground rules.
"Back to the work. Case files for the two of you, read through it. And get there as soon as you can. I'd appreciate it if you can make debriefing happen by the end of the day and not delay it for tomorrow. With all the necessary paperwork on my desk before the end of the day?" Maranda asked, although it sounded more like a demand than a question to Alex but she agreed, finally letting go of the breath she held when Maranda and Liam left the room.
"Should I take that as my first official verbal warning?" Alex asked looking at her husband who was already scanning one of the files.
"If it was a warning she probably would've mentioned it. Let it go, we have more important things to worry about right now." Ryan motioned towards the file he held in his hands and Alex picked up her copy that was on the desk.
With not much to work with except an address and a few case numbers for domestic violence she and Ryan took to the streets and drove towards the neighborhood where the address led them.
In the Suburbs things just seemed calm and relaxed. The sky looked five shades bluer and the sun seems brighter. Walking into the white painted house, with welcoming large green lawn and big wooden double doors, Alex ringed the doorbell, but no one answered.
There were two cars parked in the driveway, and Alex could hear distant voices that sounded like yelling, but she couldn't be sure unless they entered the house. She looked at Ryan and he shrugged. She was about to knock again when a highly pregnant woman opened the door, eyes wide in fear looking between Ryan and Alex, not opening the door any further.
"Hi Ma'am, we got a called out to this address, to check up on an old domestic violence case." Alex tried to explain but it looked as if the woman had no idea what Alex just said.
"Is everything okay Ma'am?" Ryan asked looking around the road, and trying to peak through the window.
"Everything is fine." The woman nodded. "Thank you for coming." She said and Alex heard someone call the woman's name and she looked back into the house.
"I'm coming Marshall." She yelled back. "You really need to go now. Please." She said turning around and closing the door leaving Alex and Ryan standing on the front porch, looking at each other.
"Something's wrong. That woman was way to jittery. And she couldn't wait to get rid of us." Ryan said out loud to no one in particular, because his wife disappeared. He looked around and couldn't find her.
"Ryan, back door." Alex said and he followed her around to the back of the house and the yelling became louder. Without thinking Alex rushed towards the door but Ryan stopped her, because none of them know what to expect when they open the door and there is no way he is allowing his wife to enter into unknown territory first.
The sound of glass breaking and the scream of a male voice followed by that of a female was more than enough proof that something was wrong, and without the go ahead of her husband Alex burst through the back door, weapon in hand pointed out in front of her.
The woman they saw at the front door moments earlier stood in the kitchen with her hand on her mouth, another and on her pregnant belly. In the middle of the room was a teenage girl, a heavy porcelain candle holder in her right hand, and an older gentleman laying on the floor on his front and a knife laying on the floor close to the man. Blood seeping through his light blue shirt. The girl holding the candle holder let go of it and it shattered on the marble tiled floor while Ryan rushed over to the man, feeling for a pulse before trying to examine which vital organ the knife hit the of the deceased.
The girl rushed over to her mother and hugged her, fear evident in her eyes. Alex froze as the events played out in front of her, and time stood still for that moment as she relived her childhood. Or a part of it that she'd much rather want to forget.
"Alex." Ryan called her but she didn't respond. She had a far of look in her eyes and Ryan's patience was running thin at the moment since he felt like he was alone on this case because his wife was just standing there, not moving.
"Alex!" He tried again louder this time and she snapped out of the haze she was in.
"Wh…what?" She asked looking at him, as she swallowed deeply.
"Call the paramedics." He ordered and she nodded, stepping outside and called for emergency services to assist them. While she waited out front for them to arrive. Not that she had to do it, but she just couldn't face going back inside, and left Ryan to explain everything as they took care of the mom and daughter. Confirming that Marshall Kirby was indeed deceased when they got there. Telling Ryan they'll bring them back to the office for questioning once they've checked them out.
About an hour later when everything was done, and the house became a crime scene Ryan walked back out to the car, finding his wife sitting on the curb. He didn't know how to approach her exactly and when she saw him walk towards the car, she got up as he pushed the button on the key to open the doors and they both got in.
"Alex.."
"I don't wanna talk about it. Ryan please." Alex said looking at him. Without saying a word her started the engine and drove off into the direction of the office. The drive there was silent except for the raiding playing in the background. Ryan had no idea what his wife was thinking or how she was feeling. He had to constantly remind himself not to push her to talk to him unless she wants to at least.
The car came to a halt in the parking lot and Alex got out, walking inside not waiting for Ryan to walk the route with her. Stopping by reception to ask for all the case files they might have on Kirby, Roxanne informed her that Maranda came to get it this morning and didn't return it yet. Taking the elevator hoping to avoid people on the staircase who wants to make small talk, grateful when there was no one inside, she pressed the button leading to Maranda's office.
Catching a glimpse of herself in the reflective metal inside the elevator she closed her eyes and pulled the emergency button, and the elevator came to a stop. "Get a grip, Alexandra." She whispered to herself pinching a piece of skin between her fingers, before she pressed the button again and walked into her boss's office. Knocking on the open door she entered when Maranda looked at her and took of her glasses.
"Parrish I am not extending debriefing. I still want it done, with the proper documentation and paperwork before you leave the office today." Maranda reminded the young woman standing in front of her.
"Uuhhmm, I'm looking for the case files on Marshall Kirby, Roxanne says you have it. I need it for interrogation." Alex explained briefly not in the mood for another reprimand. Maranda handed her the three files and she accepted it walking back out.
"Parrish, is everything okay?" She asked and Alex nodded, continuing her walk downstairs, just as the paramedics leave the building and Roxanne informs her that there is a girl waiting to talk to her. Walking down the corridor towards the room, she takes a deep breath before opening the door and walking inside. Not sure of where her husband is and if he'll join her on this, she decided to go ahead and face this mountain on her own.
Ryan burst into Liam's office not bothering to knock. The older gentleman was on the phone, but ended the call when he saw Ryan standing there, looking like he's out to kill.
"Okay Booth, first of all you don't just burst into my office when I'm on the phone and then expect me to end the call to attend to whatever you have on the heart." Liam said getting up from behind his desk and walking towards Ryan.
"Was this case Alex and I had today you and Maranda's idea of punishment after the lecture you gave us this morning? Because if that was your intentions you've succeeded." Ryan told his superior not bothering about what might happen to him for talking to someone this way who has a much higher rank than he does.
"It was a routine check – in with a previous domestic case. Everyone hates doing it because of the amounts of paperwork involved, that's why we gave it to the two of you. Since no one wanted to do it." Liam defended himself, really having no idea why Ryan is making such a big deal of it. "So you need to get off your high horse right now."
"Okay whatever is going on here, it needs to end now. Sort this out like the grown men that you supposedly are." Maranda said looking at them sternly.
"The Kirby case. The domestic violence that turned into a girl killing her father." Ryan summed it up.
"That explains her behavior earlier when she came to collect the case files from my office." Maranda put the pieces together. "Ryan I assure you we had no idea it would turn out this way or I wouldn't have assigned it to the two of you" She explained.
"I'm sure." Ryan said shaking his head. "Do you have any idea how long it took her to get through it, and in a few minutes you had her experience all of that again. Having to re-live those memories?" And with that Ryan left down to the control rooms.
"Hi." Alex greeted the girl sitting at the table, who looked up at her briefly. Taking a seat on the opposite side of the table. "I'm Alex. I'm sorry but I have to ask you a few questions about what happened today." Alex started and the girl sighed heavily nodding her head. "Can I at least get your name before we start?" Alex smiled.
"Tracy Kirby. I'm fourteen." She said softly and Alex nodded her head.
"I swear I didn't want to kill him, I just wanted him to stop yanking my mom around." She stated rubbing her hands together. "He doesn't work, he didn't have to really, granddad left him money to last forever. So he spends most of his nights out on the streets with a bottle. And there is this unspoken rule that whenever he comes home, his food has to be warmed and served to him." Tracy took a deep breath before she continued.
After Ryan left Liam's office he went into the control room. Closing the door behind him and watched the interrogation his wife had with Tracy on the TV screen. Alex's eyes were glistening with unshed tears as the teen continued her story, and she haven't said a word since Tracy started talking. He wanted to burst into that room and tell her that everything will be okay, but knowing his wife she'll tell him she doesn't want to talk about it.
"He came home last night, really drunk and mom got him his food. She forgot to add the usual glass of water. He took one bite and noticed there was no water. And he threw the plate of food at her." Tracy explained her eyes watering as the memory floods back. "I went into the kitchen to see what all the noise was about and he was pushing her around, not even caring that she's pregnant. By day break it still continued and I just couldn't take it anymore. I just wanted to scare him, let him know that he doesn't have all the power Alex I swear I didn't want to kill him." She whispered voice full of emotion.
Taking a deep breath before she started talking in order to compose herself. "Uhm, I've had my share of cases I've dealt with, and none of them hit as close to home as yours. Whenever we deal with things like this we're not supposed to get personally involved, but right now I can't help but to relate to your story on so many levels." Alex cleared her throat, and set her hands on the table twisting her wedding bands around her finger.
"My father was an FBI agent. And an alcoholic. He was abusive, in more ways than one. H..he and my mom got into it one morning. I went into their room and got his service pistol. I aimed it at him, and I pulled the trigger. I just wanted him to stop treating us the way he did. I didn't mean to kill him, like you said. My mom sent me to Mumbai to live with relatives until it all blew over." Alex concluded shakily.
"How did you get over it? Did you ever forgive yourself? Will I be able to move forward?" Tracy asked the questions in one breath.
"It didn't happen overnight. I battled and questioned myself and my intentions until I got to a point where I finally forgave myself. My mom played a big role in helping me get over it. It's not going to happen overnight, but it'll get better." Alex encouraged the teen, who got up and walked over to her and hugged her.
"Thank you for sharing this with me. You're a really strong woman, Alex." Tracy said and for the first time in the past few hours Alex smiled a real genuine smile at the comment of the teenager.
Alex walks out of the room and bumped into Maranda as she turned the corner.
"Parrish. I'm sorry about the case you went on today. I didn't know it would end the way it did. You can hand it over, I'll finish it." Maranda said as she pulled Alex into the empty boardroom, so they'll be out of earshot from those who walk past them.
"You made it clear this morning that I'm overstepping my boundaries and that I won't receive special treatment. So I'll finish it and have it on your desk before I leave today. Even if it means I have to stay here all night. Excuse me." Alex explained and Maranda moved out of the way so she can pass.
"She is so hardheaded sometimes." The older woman whispered looking at Alex as she disappeared out of sight.
Gathering her things from her desk she moved into an empty office space where she could work alone, and get out of this place. Alex spent the rest of the day finishing up the paperwork, and avoided the usual office gossip or small talk that she usually engage in. Her friends saw that something was different the moment she came back and they didn't push her to talk or say something, about what is bothering her.
The door opened and she looked up seeing her husband standing there. At times she really hated this glass building because she's not in the mood to talk. Not to him. Or to anyone for that matter.
"Alex? Why are you working in here?" He asked confused.
"Not in the mood for people and that includes you right now." She sighed heavily looking at him.
"Okay. You know you can talk to me right?" Ryan tried again.
"Ryan. Just leave me alone. I do not want to talk to you!" Alex raised her voice, regretting it the minute she did it.
"Alex can you just stop isolating yourself from me. I'm trying to be there for you after what happened but you're making it really hard."
"Please close the door on your way out." Alex breathed and Ryan obeyed walking away from her.
Alex finished the work and surprised herself when she got it done before 5PM. She packed up and walked towards Maranda's office hoping she won't be there and she was in luck, when her office was empty. She left the files on her desk and Ryan came out at the same time ready to leave. Without talking to each other they walked down to the car and drove off to get their daughter at day care.
Upon entering the house Alex set Phoebe down as she waddled around following her mother to the kitchen. The two adults still not talking to one another when Ryan came inside and took the stairs towards the bedroom. Alex walked across to the dining room table where her bag was to check emails since she didn't have a chance to do so during the day. Phoebe yanking on the handle of the kitchen cupboard, but she paid no mind to it until she heard the sound of glass breaking. Setting her phone down she rushed over to where the sound came from.
Phoebe pulled out two glass salad bowls that were stacked into each other and was standing amongst the rubble of glass.
"Uuuhhhggrrr! Phoebe just go to your father!" Alex yelled carrying her out of the kitchen towards the stairs when Ryan came down the stairs, and picked up their crying daughter as Alex went about cleaning up the pieces. Walking her to the nursery he checked if she was fine and stayed with her until she calmed down and continued playing.
Alex was huddled on the kitchen floor picking up the big pieces of glass before she started sweeping the floor. Ryan stood at the kitchen counter, noticing a small stream of blood on Alex's hands where the glass had cut her, and he walked over to her. Putting a hand on her wrist to stop her from her current action.
"Hey, you're bleeding." Ryan said and she looked down at her hand seeing the small pool of blood that formed. Reluctant she shook her head. "I need to clean up here first." She said softly.
"Alex, come on." Ryan tried again, this time she obeyed and he walked her over to the kitchen sink. Standing behind her he opened the tap and took her hand in his guiding it under the warm water, when he heard her sniffing slightly and soon after her shoulders started to shake as sobs took over her body, and she started breaking down, sliding onto the floor.
"Hey, it's okay." Ryan whispered siting down in front of her, tightening his hold as she continued to cry, burying her face in his shirt, grabbing fistfuls of the grey fabric. For Ryan there was nothing worse than hearing the heartbreaking sobs of his spouse and there is nothing he can do to make it go away or make her feel better. He didn't say anything he just held her until she was the first to let go, wiping her face with the outsides of her hands. Ryan placed both his hands on the sides of her face, and pressed a kiss to her forehead. Hearing her blow out a shaky breath.
"I..I'm sorry." She sniffed looking up at him. "Acting th..the way I did today when you tried to talk to me. F..for yelling at Phoebe. Ff...for doing what I did to my dad." She whispered the last part as fresh tears sprung to her eyes.
"Alex don't do that to yourself, please. You've come too far to go back to that stage of your life. Everything will be fine." He tried to reassure her.
"I can't get through this on my own, Ryan." She sad voice hoarse with emotion.
"And you don't have to. I'm here for you every step of the way. Even if you chase me away and don't want to talk to me." He said seeing a small smile appear on her face.
"Well go away now." She smiled up at him with red and puffy eyes of crying. "I should go apologize to Phoebe."
"You're more upset than she is probably busy unpacking her cupboards now since she can open it." Ryan said imagining all the baby proofing he'll have to do around the house now that their daughter is mobile. "I'll clean up here." Ryan said getting up, offering a hand to his wife helping her up from the floor.
Alex walked into the nursery and saw Phoebe playing in the corner with a bunch of soft toys, throwing them around. "Hey bub." She smiled walking over to her, and the smile she gave her mother in return made her heart melt and Alex picked her up, sitting cross legged on the floor with Phoebe in her lap.
"I'm sorry for yelling at you. I didn't mean it and I feel really bad about doing it. There is nothing in this world that you can do that'll make me stop loving you." Alex stroked the curls out of her daughter's face.
Phoebe looked up at her and touched her mother's face slightly. "Mama." She said oblivious to a the word she just uttered that made her mother pull her into a tight hug. Despite the day she had this is the reason she know she can make it through the storm.
Hey guys. Ezzybobo this one is for you I hope I did it justice. Hope you guys enjoy this one, it took me two days to write it and I'm a bit skeptical about it but if I make any more changes I might never be satisfied with it. Thank you for reading and I hope you enjoy
Lovies-S