Author's Note: I like this chapter. I hope you do too.
Disclaimer: Property of Dick Wolf, et al. Borrowed by me.
Title: Keeping It Together
By: Marion
Chapter: 6"How'd it go?" Alex asked, standing up to greet her partner.
"Not bad," said Bobby.
"Are you ready to go?" she asked.
Bobby looked around at the nearly deserted cafeteria. It was just after 6pm on Thanksgiving Day and most of the holiday visitors had gone home. "Yeah. I'm ready."
She handed him his coat and donned her own. "My mom wants me to bring you to my parents' house. I told her you probably weren't in the mood to be fussed over, but she insisted I ask."
"No, it's okay," said Bobby. "We can go see your family."
Alex hadn't even realized how anxious she'd been. Or how much she wanted to go back to see her family. "Really?"
Bobby smiled at her. "I wouldn't want to deprive your mother of her fun," he said.
Alex laughed. "She'll be thrilled."
They walked out of the center and got into her borrowed car. "Are you hungry?" she asked him. "Mom packed turkey sandwiches before I left."
"No, thank you," he said, gazing out the passenger side window at the emerging stars.
Alex pulled out one of the sandwiches and ate it once she'd set the cruise control. "Captain Deakins and Angie said you are to call them if you need anything," she said when she'd swallowed the last bite. "So did Mike Logan."
Bobby looked sideways at her for a moment. "You called them?"
"They care about you, Bobby," she said.
"Who else did you call?"
"Captain Ross. And Lewis."
"Thank you for taking care of that," he said a little stiffly.
"The Captain gave us a week off," she said. "We don't have to report until a week from Monday."
Bobby cocked his head as he looked at her. "You… you don't have to waste your vacation time on me," he said, clearly surprised.
"I know I don't have to," she said. "I want to. Besides, it's not a waste. I was hoping… maybe… how do you feel about staying at my house for a few days?" She stared determinedly ahead at the road, unable to chance a quick glance at his reaction to her question. Was it too much?
Bobby was silent.
"No impropriety implied, of course," she added hastily. "I have a spare room."
Bobby was silent for so long she had to finally look at him. Bobby was smiling slightly, his head cocked in wonder at her. He bit his lip, uncomfortable now that she was staring back at him. "Well, say something," she said, breaking the silence. She was hitching her jaw to the side nervously and dragging her teeth along her lower lip.
"You really worry about me, don't you?" he said after a moment.
Alex let out a breath. "You're my partner. Of course I worry about you."
"No," he said. "No, it's more than that. I've had plenty of partners that wouldn't have come here today. And only one that would."
"I was raised in a family of cops," she said. "Partners are like blood. Besides, I told you I want to be part of your support system. I meant that. Is it really so surprising that I'd want to take care of you while you're going through this?"
Bobby shifted his gaze downwards. He scuffed his feet together on the floorboard of the car. "Y-yes, i-it is," he said finally, meeting her eyes for the briefest of seconds before shifting his uncomfortable gaze to the floor once more.
And with that simple answer her heart broke for him.
Then her temper took over. "Well, it shouldn't be," she said forcefully. "You and me, Bobby, we take care of each other. And that is just the way it is."
If he'd been surprised before, he was floored now. She'd pole-axed him. Tenderly. And the look on her face dared him to challenge her statement. "Okay," he said, softly.
"Okay what?" she asked, confused.
"Okay, I'd like to stay at your house," he said.
She laughed. The tension finally broke and she laughed like he'd just told her the best joke in the world.
"What's so funny?"
"I was so afraid I'd push you away by asking you," she managed to choke out between her giggles.
He wasn't sure why this was funny. And he wished she'd let him in on the joke. He told her so.
"I'm glad you're going to come stay with me," she said, finally calming down.
"I am, too," he said, smiling a little.
Author's Note: Eames always struck me as the type of person who might laugh to blow off nervous tension. As always, reviews make me really happy. And, a happy author writes more don't ya know?