~ Chapter Two: When The Dust Settles

~2~

Tears and Fears

Alex slipped her arm out of his and grabbed his hand as they walked in silence. It seemed as if they were in no hurry to sit and have that talk. Bobby was enjoying the feeling of Alex's hand in his, although he knew it was wrong to lead her on … if that's what he was doing or was he leading himself on? He had a job to do, a new life that Alex didn't fit into, but he soon found out that he missed her, he didn't miss the job, he missed her. He went to say goodbye to his mother but he found Alex there and his plans changed, he would come back and say goodbye … after he said goodbye to Alex.

"Hey, where did you go?"

"I'm sorry?"

"Bobby … you just kinda checked out … where did you go?"

"Oh … uh … I was just thinking how funny it was that you were having a heart to heart talk with my mother. Do you do that often?"

"I, I do actually. It helps me feel close to you. I mean, you know, you've been a huge part of my life for the past nine years and then, she waved her hands in front of her, nothing."

"It hasn't been that long … a couple of weeks maybe."

"Try, a couple of months … two months, fifteen days, eight hours and fifty two minutes … to be exact, but who's counting?"

Bobby chuckled and blushed a bit.

"Well … not you."

Alex tugged at his arm, "No … not me."

They walked in silence again and Bobby felt sorrow over the inevitable loss of his friend. When he took over Captain Ross's undercover assignment, he never thought about Goren without Eames. Now, he was thinking about Bobby without Alex. This was a thought he never let himself entertain. He was breaking his own heart.

He decided it was time to sit and tell her what he had been up to and say his goodbyes and get on with it.

They had made their way to Central Park, he picked a bench and they sat … in silence. He was bent over, shuffling his feet around in the dirt and she was sitting staring at his back … getting nervous. At the same time, they both began to speak …

"I really did …"

"You go ahead."

"No, no … ladies first … please Alex, you go first."

He needed to stall for time.

"I was about to say, I really did miss you … you know … coffee and danish in the morning, disagreement in the afternoon."

"Oh, yeah … ha, I see … you'll take my coffee and danish, but …"

"But nothing, I said I miss the disagreements … I miss the whole package that belongs to Bobby Goren."

"Oh really … the whole kit and kaboodle, aye. I find that hard to believe."

"Hey … I quit over you!"

"Do not lay that on me Alexandra Eames! I won't have it."

"Bobby, I'm sorry but you were my partner … I took an oath; I, Detective Eames, take you Detective Goren, to be my Partner … to have and to cuff from this day forward, for better or for worse, to protect and to serve, in sick-days and in health, to agree with and not so much; from this day forward until death do us part."

Bobby gave her that sideward's glance and shook his head.

"How long did it take you to come up with that one?"

They both laughed it off and Alex wrapped her arms around Bobby.

"A long time. I was thinking about the time my Dad lost his partner in the line of duty. It made me think of Joe and then you and back to Joe and I connected the dots … ya know?"

"I guess, but I didn't die."

"No, our partnership did and I can't go on without you."

The tears ran down her face.

He was afraid to tell her that his job put his life in peril. His plan was to be buried next to his mother, now his thoughts went to Alex having a one sided conversation with him instead of Frances. He returned her embrace and wondered what it would be like to have her as his partner again … a different type of partner.

Thanks for reading ~ reviews appreciated, Judy