Don't worry kids, it's going to get Christmassy again in here real soon. I promise!
The red hued bloodlust suddenly turned a cool midnight blue. And despite the burning sensation every time Bobby took a breath, he felt the most peaceful he ever had in his life.
And she was so beautiful…
The blonde with the gun that was now leveled inches above his head.
He wished she would move it a little. Because when he died and he knew it was only minutes now. She was the last thing he wanted to see.
She was a goddess.
He took one of his last moments to mourn the fact that they didn't get more time together.
So strange that his thoughts about their time turned to placid happy moments a couple would share and not rape and torture.
Maybe it was the blood loss and lack of oxygen.
Maybe it was something else entirely.
Sirens wailed in the background. Funny thing though, the closer the lights got the quieter the sirens seemed to be.
Bobby figured that meant death was mere seconds away.
And he was right, because now the light was fading and so was his vision of the goddess who saved him.
Who put him out of his misery.
His savior.
Merry Christmas….
The sound of someone wishing yuletide happiness suddenly got louder
"MERRY CHRISTMAS!"
It was so loud it felt like it was echoing off of Bobby's skull.
"Hey… you wake up."
Bobby heard an unfamiliar voice among the Yuletide din.
Wake up? I'm dead! How can I wake up?
"Hey Mister." A hand gently shook Bobby's shoulder.
"It's midnight, it's Christmas."
Bobby Goren raised his head and looked around through blurred vision.
He was no longer in the alleyway, with a slug in his chest, bleeding out.
He was in a seedy bar, butt planted firmly on a barstool. A semi-moist napkin stuck to his cheek and people wishing merry tidings, hooting and hollering around him.
"What happened?"
The bartender snickered. "Well buddy, you pounded four rounds of scotch and took a nose dive into the pretzel sticks. Been sleepin' like a baby for a few hours now."
The bartender smiled and looked Bobby in the eye. "You looked so miserable when you came in here. When you fell asleep, I didn't have the heart to wake ya. But it's midnight now, it's Christmas… I thought you should know."
"It's Christmas?"
"Every year at this time." The bartender answered. "You sure I can't call you a cab?"
Bobby rose off the stool, shaking the sleep from his weary body.
"No…. No, I'm good…. I'm actually really good."
"Musta been some dream…"
"What do you mean?" Bobby inquired as he pulled his coat closed.
"Well buddy, I don't know who Alex is, but whoever the dude is, he must really be someone important to you. Cause you were yelling that name every so often… Alex! Alex!."
The bartender chuckled.
"Good thing though, that's how I knew you were still alive."
Bobby touched himself. Ran his hands over chest. No holes were present.
"I am still alive!"
The bartender gave Bobby an odd look.
"No doubt buddy… Um… You sure I can't call you that cab?"
"No" Bobby smiled, for the first time in a long time. "I don't have far to walk."
Bobby didn't really walk, he ran the five blocks back to 1PP. He knew it was unlikely, but just maybe, Alex would still be there viewing surveillance footage in the Stevens case.
1PP was a ghost town 12am Christmas Day. Only skeleton crew remained to hold down the fort. As Bobby rode the elevator, voices from earlier in the day played out in his head.
"Nine years…. Nine fucking years and you wanna end it all?"
"I can't save you because you don't want to be saved!"
"You're my family too Bobby…"
Bobby prayed she'd be there.
Ding!
Major Case was a virtual ghost town too. Christmas lights were about the only thing illuminating the main room.
The flicker of a television monitor caught Bobby's eye in one of the back offices. He crept over and peered through the blinds.
There she was.
His Eames.
His beautiful and resourceful and amazing Eames.
No vice uniform of g-strings and short skirts.
No cross dressing, jack ass husband.
Just this lovely creature, asleep at the desk.
Her appearance made more angelic because she was bathed in the blue light of the monitor.
Bobby looked around to make sure he had no audience and he entered quietly. He didn't want to wake her abruptly. Sliding into the chair next to her, he savored her presence. Taking in every part of her that he could visualize. Bobby couldn't help but stroke her hair.
"Beautiful Alex…. You've already saved me." Bobby whispered, continuing to stroke her hair.
"…. Just never wanted to burden you."
"You're not a burden Bobby."
Shit!
"Alex!" Bobby pulled his hand away from her head like it was a hot burner on a stove. " I thought you were asleep."
"I was." Alex lifted her head and rubbed the sleep out of her eyes, then faced him, closely.
"I woke up awhile ago. Didn't feel like going home, so I was trying to crash here. I was almost asleep when I heard the elevator. I prayed it was you." Alex smiled.
She reached across and touched his face.
"I'm so sorry I yelled at you today. I didn't mean too…. You didn't deserve my tirade. I was just scared you'd go away again. You don't need me to save you Bobby…"
The memory of Alex Mulrooney, vice cop, was still so fresh in his skull. Bobby became overwhelmed. He reached out and grabbed Alex into his strong embrace. She lifted off her chair with a start and collapsed into Bobby's eager arms. His hands running up her spine and caressing the back of her head.
Alex felt the change in course Bobby's hands were taking. The pressure he applied to the back of her head, would lead one to believe he was seeking a kiss. Fearful for crossing a line that could send them both reeling, Alex kept her head buried in his shoulder.
"Alex…. I missed you" Bobby muttered, continuing his squeeze on her.
"Missed me? You were only gone a couple of hours." Alex removed her head from Bobby's shoulder to give him a confused look.
She felt his breath and took the time to study his mouth.
It was such a sensuous mouth. And no matter how much age and stress consumed him, Bobby still had a beauty about him that Alex couldn't really put into words.
She moved her gaze from his mouth to his eyes.
Alex swallowed hard.
Bobby was surveying her with unrepentant desire. A look that pleaded for her to accommodate his thoughts. To journey with him in the quest for their mutual release.
"You were only gone a couple of hours… " Alex repeated, this time in a low whisper as she held Bobby's stare. Desperately wrestling with her mind and her heart, as the heat grew between them.
"Alex…." Bobby murmured, his face drawing closer, guiding her head to meet his.
"I won't ever leave you again…."
Alex could feel his breath on her mouth, they couldn't be any closer without touching lips.
" Bobby…."
Suddenly Alex retracted her advance, feeling the need to abort the mission at hand.
"We shouldn't." She whispered, rubbing her face with her hands. Perhaps trying to rub her feelings away.
Bobby sat back and took her in again. His eyes leaving desperate trails of longing up and down her body.
"I'm sorry Alex, I didn't mean to…. Well…. to come on so strong… I've … Well, it's that I've had some time to think and…."
Bobby was struggling, fearful that he scared Eames away with his over zealous glee at their reunion.
"I'm just glad we're okay." He said in an exhale.
"Me too." Alex agreed, hugging herself, trying to keep warm. "By the way, Merry Christmas." She added, pointing at the clock.
"Merry Christmas." Bobby nodded.
"I'm beat Bobby, I need some sleep. You want to come home with me? Celebrate Christmas with me? I'd really like it if you would."
"Tonight!?" Bobby couldn't hide the shock and awe from his voice.
"Today." Alex corrected. "It is Christmas after all." She tried to put forth her most comforting smile.
"I'd like that." Bobby returned her smile.
"I'd like that a lot."
My apologies to those who wanted a longer and more fantasy filled tome. This was the gist of my idea. Now all that's left to resolve is some unresolved early XMAS morning sexual tension. Keep those reviews coming and to all my other fellow G/E angst authors out there. Keep up the great work!