Title: The Briefest of Moments Part Two of Two

Characters: Bobby Goren and Alexandra Goren

Fandom: Law and Order: Criminal Intent

Spoilers: Season Six and Season seven; including July 6th episode

Disclaimer/Author's Note: I so don't own Goren or Eames; though
sometimes I wish I did. I don't write CI fic; infact, I gave up
writing fic over four years ago; but something said write this. So
here it is.

--

It was that brief moment that made me follow you. The rational part of my being said it was just to make sure you got wherever you were going safely. It was the irrational part that was screaming out that it was because you were hurt and I needed to protect you. That my job as a friend; even a lousy one; deemed I protect you.

So I followed you as your left 1PP. I followed you through the streets of New York until you pulled up to the store. Once I saw what store it was, I should have gone home. The rational Goren would go home; only irrational Bobby would stay. Guess who won out?

I slipped behind you in the isle; watched as you pushed the cart through the store. It was as you were engrossed in … something that I made my move. I don't think you saw it coming. One minute, you're browsing the Lego Collection and the next you've got a multi-colored stuffed lobster hitting you in the side of the face. To say you were startled would be an understatement. Actually, I think you may have shrieked. There was a moment of silence as you angrily turned to look at who had thrown the toy. And there was another moment as your jaw dropped as you realized that I was standing next to you in the toy store; and that I had thrown a toy at you.

I don't remember if you called me Goren or Bobby as you bent down to pick up the poor toy I had thrown. I do remember that wicked gleam that crossed your face before you threw the lobster back at me. It hit me in the face and I allowed myself a moment to be stunned as you took off further into the store. But it really was only a moment before I followed.

I can't remember the last time I really laughed or when the last time I heard you laugh was. At least within the last six months. But for twenty blissful minutes, all the problems and stress of the past two years disappeared. During those twenty minutes we weren't two fully grown New York City Police Officers but rather two big kids enjoying themselves in a toy store.

The noodle jousting contest in pool toys may have gotten us banned from that Toys R Us for life; but that's all it was, a contest. We weren't trying to hurt each other; we were only having fun. And as you left that night with a Lego set for Nathan and a stuffed lobster for yourself, I left with the knowledge that Bobby wasn't dead. While Goren may be stuck out there for the world to see, for brief moments with you, I can still be Bobby. My final thought as I pulled out of that parking lot was just maybe Goren was irrational and Bobby was the rational one.