TITLE: The Bet Chapter 6

RATING: T or PG or whatever
BETAed by: Brynna
ARCHIVE: Anyone who would like. Drop me a line so I can visit.
SYNOPSIS: Logan and Barek make a wager.

COMMENTS: Inquiring minds want to know are they or aren't they.

DISCLAIMER: Everything relating to Criminal Intent is owned by Dick Wolf and NBC

productions.

Readers enjoy, Reviewers you rock!

I mean it I love your kind words.

This should wrap up in about three more chapters.

Barek raced out the door to find Deakins standing in the door way of a very quiet room. He looked even madder than he did less than a minute ago. He saw Barek approaching.

"Get your partner," he jerked his head toward the doorway, "and get to my office now!"

Barek continued toward the open door, giving him a surprised look. "But sir, this wasn't my…" Her launched complaint was cut off.

Deakins shook his head no. "Partners, if one of you looks brilliant, then the partnership looks brilliant." He raised and waggled an index finger at her. "And if one of you steps in it…"

Carolyn shot Mike a look that made him wish Bobby would finish him off right now. Nothing Goren could do to him would be as painful as the wrath his partner was about to unleash. Barek looked past Logan to the table. Bobby and Alex were tense, bracing for the rest of Deakins rant to hit them.

Thud, thud, thud. Barek turned to look down the hall. Mitchell, whose density was vibrating the floor, rounded the corner, sounds of his barreling echoing toward them.

"Captain!"

Deakins met his approaching officer half way down the hall. The panting Detective rapidly, between gulps of air, was explaining a situation the Captain needed to know about.

Barek resumed the glare of impending doom at Logan, and she could read from his reaction that he knows he is in for a world of hurt. But he was spared, for the moment, as her attention was caught by Goren and Eames. Bobby was folding a dollar bill into something and Alex was casually watching him.

What's wrong with this Picture? Or the shorter question what's right with this picture? Nothing. I'm ready to smack my partner. Mike is on edge and distracted enough that he doesn't notice the sudden calm from these two. These two people who a moment ago looked more wound up than everyone else present? This couple who should be bouncing off the walls the hardest right now? What gives?

Barek caught Logan's eye and slightly nodded her head upward in the direction of the other two detectives. With the Captain still away and deep in his conversation, they edged over toward the seated pair.

Bobby had made an origami heart with an arrow through it.

"Don't know the origami 'toilet with two badges being flushed' design?"Alex pondered, as Bobby handed his creation over to her.

"Make that four badges." Logan added. He sounded very sincere and his facial expression reinforced the sentiment that he truly was sorry for their current situation. "Really, I'll explain to the captain, somehow make him understand, and take the heat for this."

"Mike." Barek was sure she had just put some of the puzzle together. "I don't think you are going to need to explain much. I don't see a problem here." Goren and Eames curiously looked up at Barek. "See, I think Deakins knows. Why else would they be so calm now?" Barek was feeling that smugness that normally resided on Logan. "When the Captain was barking at us, they looked highly tense. That was for our benefit, not his. That's why they're so laid back right now."

Mike nodded and pieces were lining up in his puzzle as well. "Yeah…"

"I'm sure you know," Bobby was folding another bill into something, "high stress can cause many health problems. I manage taxing circumstances with a little distraction."

He finished and handed Alex an origami rose.

Alex accepted the bill. "At this rate it will take you all year to pay me."

Bobby smiled at her and turned to Barek. "You're right, Barek. Eames and I have been and are putting on a great act. Being scared, or rather respectful of the Captain's orders, well, that is defiantly not act." He shook his head in agreement with his words. "This, right now, this is the act. If we convinced you two, I'm sure that Deakins has also been had."

Bobby pulled out another bill and resumed his relaxation.

Barek and Logan exchange confused looks. Been had? Mike confronts them about being a couple, they stall but don't put up argument, when that makes him doubtful they demonstrate, and prove to Mike that they are. And now they say the captain doesn't know, because there is nothing to know, as the 'yeah we are a couple' is an act? Barek was trying to calculate all the recent events combined with what little she did know about them before this, this stupid bet. My head Hurts! She shot the death glare at Logan again.

Logan caught the 'look' and stammered out, "What?"

Barek looked back toward Bobby as he handed Alex his newly folded crane.

"Nobody goes home until we talk. Understood?" Deakins stood filling the door frame with arms crossed. Everybody silently nodded to the affirmative, and the captain spun to head off toward the bullpen.

"So much for the accused having rights to a speedy trial," Alex grimly added.

"Uh, guys" The quartet of officers looked up to see Mitchell standing just inside the doorway. He pointed with is thumb back over his shoulder. "Um, Deakins got a call from Davis and Adams about their case. Seems they stepped on some Fed toes. He's got to go smooth things out. It could take sometime."

Over some muted groans, Goren sounded almost excited. "Good, this is good." Everyone looked surprised. "Deakins is good with smoothing over conflicts; he likes doing it, as he usually wins. Plus he will be distracted from this, and it will give him time to cool down."

"Um, there is a bit more than that." Mitchell didn't know why they were all apparently current members of the boss's short list, but he feels sorry for them as the odds were stacking up against them. "Boss got a call from the wife. Their car was stolen."

"That not so bad." Alex tried to stay positive on this development. "It's over 10 years old and I'm sure fully covered by insurance."

"She thinks she left the keys in it."

"Oh, boy." Mike shook his head.

"And his youngest daughter today is her birthday; all her birthday gifts were in the trunk."

"Well," Barek said with a shrug. Geez, you never want to disappoint kids. "Replaceable at least."

"Along with Captains back up revolver. He just got it back from the gunsmith late yesterday."

The paper work required to explain the gun loss was about eight pages of fine print, and had to be filed within twenty-four hours of the loss. Alex wondered how much worse it can get.

Mitchell realized all eyes were upon him. Nervously he finished up with, "Uh, that's it, all I know." He made his way to the door, stopped, remembered and said, "Did I mention one of the Fed's guys is the Governor's nephew?"

"We are so screwed," Alex lamented, as she dropped her head onto the table into her folded arms.

"Eh, guess not." Mitchell beat a hasty retreat.

Goren, unruffled, rose and headed toward the door. "Back to work, lunch is long over."

"That might not be the only thing that's over." Barek looked at Logan. Ouch, ouch…

As they all headed to the hallway. Goren called back to Logan with, "Mike, if we all have to stay here all night…,"

Man he sounds pissed off. Mike braced himself.

"I call top Bunk."