Disclaimer: New stuff here, I have no claim to The Flying Wallendas or Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus. I bet you're all saying "WTF" does that have to do with CI ... well check out the "author" ... me "Judeey" warped mind and they think Bobby is a whack job ... and then read on. I hope you like it and look forward to what follows!
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CHAPTER SIX: THE FLYING WALLENDAS ( I HOPE THEY DON'T MIND! THEY'RE AWESOME) PART ONE
Bobby Walks a Tightrope With Alex … No! Really!!!
Many moons ago in a land far far away, Robert Goren, Sergeant Robert Goren of the US Criminal Investigation Division of the US Army, was stationed in Germany. He met and made friends with the Flying Wallendas. They were originally from Germany but perform mainly in the united States and Canada with the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus. They happen to be in town performing, Bobby made a phone call.
"Tino, Bobby Goren … got a second to talk?"
"Bobby? For you? I have two."
Bobby chuckles.
"I have a huge favor to ask."
"I have a huge speeding ticket that needs fixing … do you have any pull in Virginia?"
"I might."
"Then name it … I'm gonna lose my license with this one Bobby."
Bobby smiles into the phone. He has plenty of pull in Virginia and the favor he is about to ask is a huge one. He was watching the Learning Channel with Nate one day when they were doing a piece on The Flying Wallendas and he told Nate that they were close personal friends of his and Nate said he wanted to meet them. This was the perfect opportunity to make Nate's Christmas a special one … a happy memorable one.
"Tino, I have this Nephew that wants to be a circus performer someday, he's going through a rough time right now and I want his holiday to be a happy one … can you help me out?"
"You bet ya. I'll leave tickets for you and your family at the will call window and after the matinee performance, my family will teach you all how to walk the high wire … do you remember how to do it Bobby?"
"It's been a long time Tino."
"Can you come by … we'll get you up there and tell the crowd that the NYPD does more than serve and protect … we can surprise your family!"
"I, I don't know T … I ,I have a couple broken ribs from falling off a ladder."
"You fell off a ladder … we have a lot of work to do. When can you get here."
Liz and Nate had stayed over the night before while Matt slept off his eggnog induced bad mood at his parent's house. The entire Goren house was still asleep when Bobby made his phone call to his friend Tino Wallenda, Bobby was excited. Alex was the next to wake up and thought for sure the her husband would be in a fowl mood because of Matt … she was wrong and very nervous about it.
"Good morning sunshine." She was under one of her many mistletoe so he planted a kiss on her lips and handed her a perfectly made cup of coffee.
"Ah … Bobby … it's too early to be hitting the eggnog. What gives?"
"I got us all tickets to Ringling Brothers for tomorrow. Do you think it would be alright if we take the babies so we can all go?"
"You know somebody … right?"
"Yeah … someone I met in Germany. He and his family are here in town. What do ya say … Nate will love it!"
"I'll ask Liz when they get up. If she doesn't come, we'll take Nate … okay?" She touches Bobby's arm, she can see that it means a lot to him … if she only knew, she would handcuff him to the bed again!
"Great! Great. I have to meet him for lunch … is that okay?"
"Yes, of course and old friend of yours … you should go. I can't wait to meet him. I love meeting your friends."
Bobby murmurs under his breath … If you knew this one wants me to walk the high wire in front of a crowd of thousands … you would want to arrest him for endangering a police officer's life!
"Honey? Did you say something?"
"No Dear."
Liz woke up and was fussing over her nieces and nephew. She was trying to keep her mind off what went down the night before … she did have a slight smile on her face at the thought of seeing her husband fly through the air and land on Thomas the Tank Engine. Bobby would always defend his wife and she was sure he would defend her as well. She loved knowing that Alex was happy. Alex caught her smiling as she rocked Tracy in her arms.
"A smile? After last night?"
"I was thinking about you."
"Me?"
"I'm happy for you Alex. Bobby loves you and I don't think he'll ever stop."
Alex realized the implication of that statement. She sat down next to her big sis and put her head on hers.
"Oh Lizzy."
Liz started to cry. Nate came barreling in …
"Mommy, Mommy … Uncle Bobby got us tickets to the circus!'
"I'm sorry Liz … I told him I'd ask you first."
She quickly dried her tears so that Nate wouldn't notice.
"Really honey? For when?"
"Tomorrow … he got tickets for everyone … he knows somebody."
"Yeah … he knows the Flying Wendas."
"Who?"
"The Flying Waldos?"
"What?"
"Someone that flies but not really flies … more like walks … on a rope … up high."
"Oh … The Flying Wallendas."
"That's what I said Aunt Lexie … geesh."
"Lunch" with Tino
Bobby went off to meet with his old friend Tino. When he was with the CID and stationed in Germany, any chance he got to go see a magician or death defying acts, such as the Wallendas … he would go. He was a huge fan of Tino's and they struck up a friendship. At that age, Bobby was afraid of nothing. Tino saw that in him and got him up on the hire wire. That was many, many moons ago but Tino, ten years Bobby's senior wasn't going to except "ooh, I have broken ribs" and "I'm a cop" and "new father" and blah blah, blah. He was going to get Bobby back up on that wire if it killed him. There was that phrase again … where was a drug dealing low life when Bobby needed one?
They practiced for a few hours, Bobby did some magic tricks with the magicians and one of the female little persons developed a crush on Bobby.
"Detective, are you sure your taken … cause I would love to climb up you!"
"Sorry Bobby. Down Melinda … you're married too and your husband is no match for Bobby so shoo!"
Bobby laughs it off thinking that her husband is also a little person … not … he's the strong man … very strong man. He holds his hands up and backs off. Mr. Strong man walks over to him and gives him a friendly pat on the back which sends him flying about three feet.
"Any friend of Tino is a friend of mine."
Under his breath … "Thank God!"
"So Bobby, are we gonna do this?"
"I don't know … you don't use a net. My wife thinks in general … I don't use a net … metaphorically speaking. She's gonna kill me."
"You'll be the talk of the NYPD."
"Tino, I already am."
"You'll be the talk of your nephew's school!"
Bobby shakes Tino's hand.
"Okay … let's do this thing."
"Alright … Oli! Bobby's gonna do it!!"
Back at The Goren's … a Matt appearance.
Bobby returns from "lunch" with the Wallendas to find Matt sitting in his living room. Nate is sitting on the floor playing with his toys quietly … un-Nate like and Liz is sitting with her hands on her lap … un-Liz like. Matt stands as soon as Bobby walks in.
"Bobby, I came by to apologize for last night."
Bobby looks down at Nate, who looks up at him with those beautiful hazel eyes that he seemed to inherit from his aunt Alex. Bobby gave him a soft smile and asked him to go upstairs to get his aunt.
"You should be apologizing to your family for making stupid assumptions … you owe my wife an apology."
"Yes I know … I will and I was an ass. Could Liz and Nate stay with you and Alex until I get my shit together?"
"What shit is that Matt?"
Liz stands up visibly shaking and grabs on to Bobby's arm. Bobby looks down at her and rubs her hand. Matt's jealousy flairs again but remembers the ease in which Bobby threw him out of the door and onto the front lawn … he held it back.
"I'm an addict … it started with a back injury and then stress at work and now I'm out of control … really out of control."
"I know a facility … a good one but you have to be ready."
Matt shakes his head violently. "NO! I'm not ready … we have bills … I'll lose my job. I can't. Not now!"
Bobby steps towards Matt. Alex is downstairs now and sent Nate back up. She's very nervous at the look on Bobby's face.
Bobby pokes Matt in the shoulder. "If you don't get help, you're gonna lose your job, your wife and your kid. I don't know about you but now that I have those things, I'm not going to be stupid enough to let percocet and scotch fuck that up for me. Those things don't keep you warm at night."
Matt pushes Bobby away and stormed out of the house. Nate was listening at the stairs … he ran up to Bobby and jumped into his arms. Bobby held on tight as Liz ran to the bathroom with Alex not far behind.
Through his tiny six year old sobs Nate said … "I can't wait to runaway to the circus tomorrow Uncle Bobby."
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NEXT UP: "Auntie Lexie, look up there! It's a bird, it's a plane ... it's Super Uncle Bobby!" Thanks for reading! Judy :)