Chapter 19

"How," Elliott Stabler asked in amazement. "Did you know about that lock?"

Embarrassed, Bobby stared at the conference room table. "Uh…Eames and I had a case…Two of the suspects ran an antique furniture and fixtures store…And the locks…I…I just remembered…" He acted as if anyone could've performed the extreme mental gymnastics.

"Damn." Finn shook his head. "We should've just let Goren take a look at the crime scene photos…or wheeled him out there…"

"Quiet, Finn," Munch said. "Somebody will hear you, and we'll all be out of a job."

"Yea," Alex said. There was an edge to her voice. "And if Goren doesn't take care of himself, he might not be able to do the job."

Bobby blinked. "I…I know…I…I'm sorry…but I had to go." He spoke to everyone in the room, but his words were directed at Alex. "But it might have given us something…"

Olivia Benson handed Bobby a cup of coffee. "Well, I'm convinced you and Alex have some sort of psychic link. Alex had us combing the files and photos for some link between Claret and Mrs. Czechowski while you were at the farm."

Bobby glanced at Alex. There was a question in his eyes, and Alex gave him her "No, we're not in trouble, but I'm not going to let you hurt yourself" look. It was a look Alex had practiced and Bobby had seen a lot of in recent days.

"Captains and Huang at twelve o'clock," Finn said.

Bobby moved to speak with Huang. Alex nodded to Cragen and Ross; both Captains acknowledged her but looked quickly away. An uneasy feeling rose in Alex's stomach.

"Something is going on," she thought. "And it's not good."

Bobby appeared at her shoulder. "We…we need to talk," he said softly and hesitantly.

As they walked to another conference room, Alex sensed the eyes of the squad room on them. Ever the gentleman, Bobby opened the door for her and deliberately shut it. Alex strode to the far end of the room and stood with her arms folded. Bobby, one hand fiercely rubbing his neck, stood at the other end.

Alex sighed. "I'm not going to like this, am I?"

"No."

She stepped towards him. "They want you to interview Claret…"

He nodded.

"And you're going to do it." Her voice was flat; her face set.

"Eames." His voice was resigned. "Claret…at best he's playing with everyone…but…because…because of what I know…what I share with him." Pain entered his voice. "He may respond to me…He…he may even want to…"

"And they're just going to dangle you…to use you…And you're going to let them." Now that the thing Alex had feared for so long was in front of her she felt a strange, calm resignation.

"Alex." He surprised with his use of her first name; he didn't use it unless they were clearly in the personal rather than professional world. "I…I…" He began to pace in the small space between the wall and the table. "It's not…It's not just the case…I…I…need to do this…I need…I need to be able to do this…"

Alex gnawed at her lip. "Bobby…You don't have to prove anything to anyone…Everyone on this case…You can do the job…Ross knows it…I know it…"

He ceased pacing and stared at the floor. "But…I…I have to…I have to know…that I can do the job." He opened a window to her. "And…I…I have to know why…why…why…"

Alex stepped closer to him. "Why you're not him," she said softly.

His hand covering his face, Bobby nodded.

"We're not supposed to let the personal into the job," Alex chided him gently.

"I…I know…but…you know I've never been able to do that, Alex…One reason…why I do this…I'm trying to understand…To make sense…So much of my life has been…chaos…I…I'm trying to make…make some order out of chaos."

He lowered his hand and his eyes met Alex's. The world stopped around them; they could hear each other's breaths and heartbeats, sense their nerves and muscles dancing beneath their skins.

"Alex," he breathed. "Like we talked about…We have to let ourselves be ourselves…We have to let each other do the job…You have to let me…I have to let you…Both of us…The job is so much a part of us…Our partnership." He swallowed; Bobby knew he was turning on to a dark and dangerous road. "If we try too hard to protect each other…If we can't do the job…" The words stuck in his throat.

Alex spoke the dreaded words. "Then the partnership…and the friendship…are over."

Bobby closed his eyes in pain and fear. "Yes," he whispered. He was afraid, almost as afraid as in those few, awful hours when he thought he'd lost her. He felt a gentle touch on his chest and opened his eyes. Alex stood inches away from him; one of her hands rested lightly on him.

"As far as I'm concerned," she said firmly. "This partnership…this friendship…are good." She looked at him. "I will protect you…but I won't keep you from the job…"

He breathed again.

"And you'll do the same for me," Alex said quietly. "You'll watch out for me…but let me do the job."

"Yes."

Alex stepped back. "All right…" She sighed. "When do they want you to this?"

Bobby rubbed the back of his neck again. "Soon…They're bringing Claret from Riker's…"

Alex flamed. "Right now! You're barely…"

He touched her arm. "Eames…"

They returned to the professional world.

"Eames…The sooner it's done, the better for everyone…The case…Mrs. Corelli…" He hesitated. "Me."

The flame lessened in Alex. "All right…but I'm going in with you…You're not facing him alone…"

Relief flooded from Bobby. "I…I didn't want to face him alone…And…and I want you there…" He looked at her, and the trust and gratitude in his dark eyes thrilled and terrified her. "If you're with me, I'll be ok…"

Cragen knocked at and opened the door. "Claret's here with his lawyer. You ready?"

Bobby's eyes were on Alex. She answered for both of them.

"Yea…We're ready…"

End Chapter 19