Aches, pains, humor, angst. A little of this, a little of that. Time to finish lighting the house.
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CHAPTER FOUR: WHAT'S MORE DANGEROUS, BEING A COP OR DECORATING A HOUSE FOR CHRISTMAS?
Erasing The Past
The Goren baby alert monitor was going off loud and clear. They didn't really need it since the babies were right near their bedroom but none the less, it was working … Bobby however, wasn't. Alex could hear him moan and groan all night long. Every muscle in his body hurt from cutting down Christmas trees. He could also be hurting from having her on his back, carrying Nate, falling on his butt, landing flat on his face and the dragging said trees through the woods and tying them to the roof of their vehicles. She was glad that she taped it all to remind him next year that he wasn't getting any younger and no amount of Glenlivits would make the pain go away the following morning, in fact, it probably added to it.
Alex's broken ankle wasn't great but she was managing to get around better and better every day. She let Bobby sleep while she tended to the triplets. He finally heard the babies and rolled over. When he found Alex missing, he jumped out of bed and instantly regretted his movement. He didn't know what part of his body hurt more, his back, knees, shoulders or head from too much single malt whiskey. He sat back down on the bed and grabbed his head.
"The Goren Family Tradition was a smashing success, don't you think … Sparky?"
He glanced at Alex that sideward's glance … the 'not funny' glance.
"Are you okay with the Trips? I need some aspirin."
"I'm fine but you're going to need more than aspirin, Lewis and Mike will be here in an hour to work on the house … have fun with that."
"Shit."
Alex had an appointment with the orthopedic doctor that afternoon, she planned on taking the babies with her so that Bobby and the boys could finish the house. Under ordinary circumstances, this would be difficult, with a broken ankle, next to impossible but she was Alexandra Eames Goren and when she made up her mind, much like her husband, it was made up.
That hour went by quickly and Logan and Lewis were pounding on the front door of the Goren house hold demanding coffee.
"Would you guys shut the fuck up!"
"My, my such language. I don't fuckin talk like that … do you Lewis?"
"Well fuck no, Michael."
"Shut up both of you and get in here. Coffee's on, help yourself."
"So what's your problem Goren?"
"Too much tradition yesterday is all."
"Hey, I saw the huge Christmas tree outside. How are you going to get that thing in the house?"
"It just needs a little trim."
"I thought you were suppose to trim the tree when you got it inside the house."
"Funny Mike."
"I'll tell you what, when you and Lewis are stringing the lights on the house, I'll cut back the tree. I'll take some measurements and make sure the giant spruce fits through the door."
"It's a Douglas Fir."
"Okay encyclopedia Goren … Douglas Fir."
Alex is listening to this whole exchange, she must interject her thoughts on the matter.
"Excuse me gentlemen. Is someone going to hold the ladders? I mean the ground isn't exactly even, one broken bone in the family is enough … and if you haven't noticed, Bobby is hanging."
"Am not."
"What do you have, four kids Alex? … am not." Mike imitates Bobby.
"Bobby thought he was Superman yesterday. He carried me, Nate, a chair … chopped down three trees, dragged them back to the cars and then loaded them on top of the SUV's and tied them down. He soothed himself with a few glasses of Glenlivets." Bobby was grateful that she left out the soaking in the tub, part.
"Man I wish I were there to see that!"
"Oh you still can Lewis, I have it all on tape. I had to capture The Goren's first Family Christmas Tree to begin our Goren Family Tradition so the babies would know what their daddy did for them when they were six weeks old."
Bobby shoots her a look. He was desperately trying to erase his past Christmas experiences and this was the first one that meant anything to him in a long time. He was hurting more mentally than physically … he didn't want Alex to know. He made it through Thanksgiving and he was determined to make it through Christmas, after all, he was a man that now had it all, he knew that.
"I need to see that tape."
"Me too."
"I'll let you watch the tape after we finish the house. Lets get moving."
"Grump!"
The guys start setting up their ladders when Liz pulls up.
Bobby, still curious about the state of Liz's marriage, runs up to her car. Liz gets out of the car and starts taking out bags of clothes for the babies.
"Liz, what's all this?"
"I went shoppin for the babies, I wanted to stop by and visit with my sister and drop them off."
"Oh … okay … but Liz, you've already given us so much for the babies and helped us so much, what can we do to repay you?"
She touches Bobby's cheek.
"You just keep loving my sister … never stop … okay?"
"I never will, you know that."
Liz disappears into the house with the bag of things that she bought for the Goren triplets.
Bobby and the guys went back to work on the house.
"Alex!"
"In the kitchen."
"Are the babies sleeping?"
"Yeah, they always go down after that first bottle."
"Why are you dressed?"
"I have a Doctors appointment today."
"So Bobby's gonna come back in and take care of the babies."
"No, I'm taking them."
"What are you crazy?"
"Maybe but they're my babies and I need to learn to take them places and do things with them."
"Not this. Either I coming or I'm staying here with them, take your pick."
"Okay, well, either you tell me what's going on with you and Matt or you can go home … take your pick."
Just as Liz was about to open her mouth to speak, they heard a crash in the front yard. Liz went running and Alex went hobbling … really fast. Bobby was on his back on the ground and Lewis and Logan were hovering over him … he fell off the ladder. Alex flew as fast as she could outside. It was as though she didn't even have a cast on.
Clutching his side. "I'm alright Baby, I only fell about seven feet."
"Oh, only. Can you stand?"
"Nah, I think I'll lie here for a bit."
"Mike call an ambulance."
"NO! No … Alex, honey … really I'm fine." He stands up with Lewis's help, still clutching his side, and walks it off. At this point, he knows that he's broken a few ribs but he's determined not to let Alex know and to get those lights on the house.
"Go back inside … I'm good."
She's not sure, he's good at hiding things and she knows he can work through pain, she looks at Logan and Lewis and they get the picture. She goes back in the house.
"Is he okay?"
"I'm not sure. He has his mind set on getting these lights up. I don't know. So back to you and Matt."
"I'm just not ready Alex … please?"
"Okay but when you are … I'm here."
"I know you are."
"Just one more thing. Nate seemed fine, great … does he know anything?"
"A little but well, you know how much he loves his uncle Bobby … ah Santa. He had such a great time cutting down the trees. It was great for him. Matt would never do something like that with him … or me."
"But does Nate know?"
"He does but doesn't seem to care. Like I said Matt doesn't do anything with us anyway … what is he missing? I really don't want to talk about this right now … lets decide about your appointment."
"Lets all go together."
Meanwhile, Bobby is having a hard time breathing, not because the broken ribs have punctured his lungs but because he was in that much pain. He called his Doctor from his cell phone outside and they made an appointment with an orthopedic Doctor later that day.
Alex and Liz packed up the kids for her appointment and Bobby leaves the house lighting and tree trimming to Lewis and Logan until he gets back. Alex didn't tell Bobby about her appointment, she wanted to surprise him with the trimmer walking cast that she was promised and Bobby didn't tell Alex that he called his Doctor about his ribs … the two trains were about to meet. Bobby was wondering why his Doctor's secretary thought the time would be convenient for him.
When Liz and Alex went outside with the kids and loaded up the car, Bobby was getting into his to go. She told him they were going to the park he told her he was going to Home Depot.
They both met at Dr. Muller's office. Alex's orthopedic and now Bobby's.
"This doesn't look like Home Depot."
"It doesn't look like the park either. Hi my babies." He gingerly gets down on one knee to kiss each of his babies, noticeably wincing.
"I have a broken ankle Robert. What's broken on you."
"Ah … well … I'm not sure. Dr. Ahmad sent me here."
"For?"
"X-rays of my … ribs."
"Do you think you're trying too hard to make this Christmas too special? I don't want it to be your first best and your last. I'd like the babies to know their father … in person, not just by the video I took."
"I just fell off a ladder babe, no big deal."
"Bobby, I'm more afraid of you getting killed decorating our house than you dying in the line of duty." Bobby starts to laugh then wince then laugh.
"I think your right … I should go back to work."
After their appointment, Liz took the kids home and Bobby and Alex went out for a late lunch. Bobby's ribs were broken, only two. He was given prescriptions for pain meds and instructions to lay low for a few weeks. Alex's cast came off and she was now wearing a boot, easy to walk in and she felt good. Bobby was upset that he wouldn't be able to finish the house but Alex was right … they're only six weeks old. Next year and the many more to follow would be better.
By the time they arrived home, panic set in as they were pulling up to their house. Two fire trucks were in front of their house. Mike had called in some favors and the ladder trucks made putting the lights on the house faster and more efficient. The house was done and Mike put the tree up. All the Goren's had to do was decorate it. Bobby pulled into the driveway astonished.
"Holy shit, that's amazing. We were only gone for a few hours."
"We're Exterior Illumination Experts Goren."
"Really and here I was under the assumption that you guys were professional firefighters Jackson!"
"You know what they say about assuming Goren."
They have a laugh then Jackson puts on a serious face.
"So Goren, in return, Ladder Company 101 needs a Santa for The Widow's and Children's Fund …"
Bobby holds his hands up. "Say no more Jackson other than time and place and I'll be there."
"Good man Goren … I don't care what they say about you … you're alright."
"Thanks but you should hear what they say about you."
"Hey, I am an asshole, I know it, deserve it and work hard at being one!"
They laugh shake hands and Jackson gets his crew together but before he leaves he gets a kiss from the prettier Goren. He hops on the back of the truck and as they're pulling away he yells to Bobby …
"Goren, how did you get such hot wife?"
Mike yells back to him.
"He's a sensitive man with size thirteen feet!"
Alex smacked Mike in the back of his head and went into the house. Bobby smacked him too.
"That's for calling me sensitive in front of the guys!"
"Okay so thanks Mike, Lewis … it was great of you guys to do this for me because I was such a klutz and fell off the ladder and I really want to win this dumb ass contest."
"Okay, okay … Thank you. I really appreciate what you guys did. The Doc told me I can't climb ladders or do anything for a few weeks so I really do appreciate what you guys did."
"Your welcome … now buy us dinner."
"Fine. Oh and Lewis, the guy is legit … the Chevelle isn't hot … we ran the VIN number … he's the owner."
"Sweet, thanks man."
"So dinner and the house lighting tonight … should be Chinese … what do you think."
"Chinese sounds perfect for the occasion."
Everyone, including Matt, showed up for the first annual Lighting of the Goren Christmas House. Carolyn and Mike, Lewis and his girl Laura, the Eames clan and even Captain Ross came by with his sons. Bobby plugged in the lights and Lewis plugged in the lawn ornaments that filled with air. Everything worked … Alex leaned over and kissed her husband.
"I hope planes don't land here Bobby!"
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TRIMMING THE TREE AND THE TRIPLETS FIRST CHRISTMAS ... BOBBY'S TOO!