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His Worst Nightmare.

Chapter, 19

If Dexter thought that driving conditions in Miami were crazy, compared to driving in New York they were normal. All he could do was hang on and pray as the cab drove him to the hotel he would be residing in until after the trial. He just hoped that it wasn't some cockroach ridden dump. Which however was the least of his worries.

As he entered the foyer the receptionist's dog did what all dogs do that he encountered, they could always sense his dark passenger and try to attack him. His owner had sharp reflexes though and it remained a close but rather scary encounter. Ten minutes later he was in his basic hotel room and surprise upon surprise not one single cockroach in sight, things were starting to look up. Being a neat freak he unpacked his clothes into the cupboards and drawers in the hotel room.

After a last check to make sure he had all the required evidence he decided to go and do a little sightseeing, after all when in Rome. He was due at One Police Plaza on the 11th floor at 9am the next morning to meet up with Detectives Goren and Eames. He was not looking forward to meeting Detective Goren again, however they had to prepare for the trial so it was a necessity.

Major Case Squad One Police Plaza NY

They had spent the past two hours preparing the conference room. Crime scene photos were hung on the wall and files were all laid out and prepared for the morning. Alex looked up at the photos and shuddered at the memory of them. They were working very thoroughly; this was a case they could not afford to lose. The evidence was damming but Wallace had the best lawyer that money could buy and a very annoying habit of being acquitted.

Captain Hannah had informed them that the forensic specialist had arrived and was settling into his hotel and that he would arrive at 9 am along with their ADA Ron Carver, who was very determined to nail Wallace this time. She looked across the desk and watched Bobby reading through the files committing everything to memory, then she looked up at the clock on the wall it was 10 pm already and they were amongst the last present on the 11th floor. She walked up behind Bobby and reached down and closed the file he was reading and made him jump.

"C'mon Bobby it's late the rest can wait till morning."

It showed how exhausted he was as he didn't resist, he just got up and helped her into her jacket then put his jacket on and picked up his binder and followed her. On their way home they stopped at a diner, whilst she tucked into her cheeseburger and onion rings with gusto she watched with dismay as Bobby just pushed his food around on his plate. She got the waitress to pack up his club sandwich, maybe she could get him to eat it when they got home.

111-19, 67th Road, Forest Hills, NY.

Bobby walked into Eames's apartment on autopilot after they hung up their coats and placed their firearms in the gun safe, Alex made them both a tea and they sat beside each other on the couch. Alex turned and looked at Bobby.

"You want to talk about it Bobby?"

She reached out and placed her hand on his knee. Anybody else wouldn't have seen the almost indistinguishable nod, Alex felt relieved that he wasn't closing down on her.

"I want to apologize first off Alex; I'm not trying to handle this on my own. It's just I got so much running through my head right now it is hard for me to get things into order. I had hoped that she wouldn't get pregnant, now that she is I would understand it if you wanted to step away."

Alex couldn't help but feel anger at him but she reined it in.

"Is that what you want me to do Bobby?" She breathed in deeply and continued.

"There is no way on earth that I'm going to step away from you now Bobby, if you know what is wise for you, never give me that option again. We should instead be working together to ensure that you get custody. You are a Detective and single, and 50 years old Bobby. We have to look at it realistically that under those circumstances they won't give you custody either."

Bobby nodded his head in agreement.

"Alex look I will soon have my 20 years service and my full pension if there is a way to convince them that I got everything covered till then they may agree."

Even though he had said those words himself he knew that it would never happen. He couldn't bear the thought that his child would be given up for adoption or even worse end up in foster care. If he had family then it would not be an issue. He looked up at Alex.

"I will have to resign Alex I can't allow for my child to go into care."

Alex wrapped his arm around her shoulder and leant in against him.

"Bobby there is another option. Hear me out please ok. I know that our relationship is new but I have been in love with you for a long time and quite honestly I can't picture my life without you in it." She gestured for him to wait before he said anything.

"Bobby marry me, then we can get the custody. You can take the paternity leave. That will fill in the time left before your retirement. I love you and I'm not going anywhere Bobby."

Bobby couldn't believe what he had just heard he turned towards Alex and looked into her eyes, he saw nothing but love and sincerity and he was lost for words. Alex had just proposed to him and he wasn't dreaming this was for real.

Alex couldn't help but smile as she watched him disappear into his head and think everything through, she had expected no less from him. She was surprised however when he got up and left the room. She waited very uncertainly on the couch for him to return. She didn't want to put him under anymore pressure.

Bobby walked into Alex's bedroom to the drawers where he kept most of his belongings. He pulled open the top drawer and reached in and took out the little red velvet box and opened it. His mother's ring, he remembered accusing Frank that he had sold it to buy drugs. He was relieved that he had it. Marriage had always seemed very remote to him, but he knew that he wanted to spend the rest of his life with Alex. He placed the box with the ring in his trouser pocket and returned to the living room to Alex and knelt in front of her.

"Alex, I want you to know that you are the only woman for me. I love you with everything that I 'am."

He reached into his pocket and pulled out the box and removed the ring from it and held it up to her.

"Alexandra Eames, yes I want you to be my wife. Will you marry me and make me the happiest man on earth?"

Bobby slid the ring onto her finger, it was a bit big, but that could be corrected.

Alex couldn't find any words she looked at the ring he had placed on her finger. She recognized it as his mother ring. Tears trickled down her cheeks.

Bobby had been watching her face and when he saw her tears he leant forward and kissed them away and then claimed her lips in a deep and passionate kiss. When she broke the kiss she couldn't help but grin at Bobby.

"You think we should send Nicole an invitation?"

Bobby couldn't help himself and broke into laughter with Alex, he knew that together they could weather any storm.

T.B.C…