Authors note to KateBA: You're so perceptive. Are you a detective? Thanks, C.

Disclaimer: Dick Wolf owns everyone here but Karen and Jerry. This is a fan fiction story. I sincerely request not to be sued.

Karen and Jerry have a lot to learn about what being a partner is. Can they learn form Bobby and Alex or is it just too much of a leap? Please, please Read and Review. I love to hear from you.

A Team of Four?!

"Captain, all of us together?" Eames asked. Her voice was slightly squeaky. She cleared her throat and tried again. "That's a lot of people on one case, sir."

"I don't think it'll be too crowded, Detective. Jerry and Karen are going to be doing work in another burrough, but I want them to learn how we do things here so they can take that knowledge with them. It's directly from the commissioner. They have seen how successful you two are and they hope Karen and Jerry can duplicate it."

"I liked it when you said Jerry and Karen. It flows." Jerry said.

"And it's alphabetical. Except that it doesn't matter who is first. We will work together." Karen informed him coolly.

Jerry glanced at her then immediately turned his attention back to the captain. "I'm ready to get started, sir. Where do we start?"

Bobby wasn't the only one who noticed the tightening of the lips on Karen and Alex was sure that there would be a few things said and very quickly. She was surprised when Karen just let it go. She glanced at her husband to see him watching Karen, too. But no one said anything until Deakins said "We have a series of robberies that have been committed throughout the city, but no one can seem to catch the crooks. And they aren't small ones. Whenever there is a robbery there is also some sort of event going on at the arena. The dates match but we haven't been able to figure out how the robberies are planned or who is doing it. That's where you four come in."

"Robbery, Captain? We haven't done a robbery in…." Bobby began. "Ah, yes, we're to show Karen and Jerry how we solve crimes. Right?"

"I don't need to be taught, Goren. I know how to solve a crime." Jerry said indignantly.

"No one says you don't, Wilkes. It's a matter of procedure and if you learn something along the way so much the better." Deakins said firmly. "Don't get the wrong idea. This is a case is not as easy to solve as you might think. There've been several detectives on it and they haven't been able to solve it. I expect you to be better at it than they are. I'll leave the details to you. Detectives Goren and Eames are the leads in this. Get to work."

Bobby opened the door and waited for everyone to go out. The order made a statement. Eames went first, Jerry pushed his way ahead of Karen and Bobby glanced at Deakins before he followed her out. Deakins still didn't look happy. Jerry was close enough to Eames at her desk to touch her easily. Bobby glared at the man, but it was up to his partner to take care of that aspect. And she was more than capable of it. Even seven months pregnant.

Karen looked over at him. "I'm guessing the Captain gave you all the details?"

Jerry looked up at him and saw the glare directed his way. He self-consciously moved away from Eames. "Yeah, big guy, give us the scoop." He encouraged heartily.

"It'll be on the computer." Eames said. "Take mine and tell me what you find out. I have something I have to do." She told Wilkes.

"Is it something I can help with?" Jerry asked, eagerly.

"Uh, no. I can handle it, thanks." Eames told him delicately.

"Anything at all…." Jerry insisted.

"She's about eight months pregnant and she doesn't need you help. She has to go pee, Genius." Karen put in abruptly. "Get a clue."

Jerrys face went red and he puffed up. "I don't have a lot of experience with that kind of thing, Wesson. Care to enlighten me?" his pride was not allowing him to admit that he'd been totally tactless.

"Oh, I'm sure someone will sometime. Right now I have a case to get to work on."

"Don't know that much yourself, huh? I suppose you've seen lots of baby cows born, haven't you? Talked to many momma cows lately?

"Some. They're called calves and the mommas tend to have a limited vocabulary. I can understand them, so I shouldn't have any trouble getting along with you."

"This is not how you should be looking at this case." Bobby said. "Jerry, take that computer, Karen, take this one. Read the case and we'll discuss it. I'll be right back."

Bobby left the two junior detectives reading at opposite desks and went back to Deakins office. "Can I talk to you a minute?"

Deakins sounded resigned. "Come in. I've been expecting you. Close the door."

"What's going on? Those two are as different as…."

"You and Eames? I know, but it wasn't my choice. They have two very different styles of investigating crimes. I believe given enough time and a push in the right direction they could be a valuable asset to the NYPD. I need to you help them get off on the right foot. And it doesn't hurt that Eames and Wesson both have the same type personality."

"That was obvious from the beginning. And Wilkes?"

"Wilkes, is young and a hot shot, but he has good instincts. He's also a loose cannon that the commissioner wants to pin down. He thinks, and I agree, that Karen is just the person to keep him in line. She learns by example and you and Alex are it."

"What is so special about these two?"

"Karen is an orphan, raised in an orphanage in Michigan, but we are investigating her past for more than she suspects and that's all I can say right now. Just keep her under your wing and we'll take it one step at a time."

'For how long?"

"I'm not sure. I said I'd tell you when I know."

Bobby left the captains office feeling unsettled. Why would they be protecting the young woman who obviously wasn't from around here? And Deakins couldn't tell him everything. Not all that he knew for sure. Jerry was reading the computer, but he was fidgeting in the chair and bouncing a pencil on the eraser at the same time. Karen was in Bobby's chair reading intently, sitting very still. She kept glancing in irritation at Jerry. The noise was quiet but repetitive. Bobby recognized the restless energy that consumed Wilkes. It was the same with him. At the same time Karen had too much control.

When the explosion came it would be a big one and he wanted to be around for the show.

Alex reappeared, looking refreshing and definitely sexy, even in her condition. "So what are your ideas on this case?" she asked brightly. Everyone turned to look at her. "What? What did I say?" She looked at Bobby, curiously.

He just shrugged and indicated the two newest additions to the team. "Ask them." He suggested.

Jerry leaned back in her chair and stared at the computer screen. "I'd say it has to be someone who knows that these things are going to be going on has knowledge of who will be there."

"The staff at the arena? Have they been checked out?" Karen asked.

"Not as far as I can tell. It hasn't been reported, but there is a list of the employees for the arena, so I'd say that's where we should start."

"And?" Karen prompted.

"What do you mean and? It's a good place to start." Jerry bristled at her.

"Hey, one nut, I never said it wasn't. But suppose we start off with a couple of theories together and see what else might fit."

"Suppose you enlighten us, old wise one."

"Happy to, Junior. While someone might work there, they didn't get a list of the clerical and janitorial staff that might have access to the records. Did you see the salaries on those employees that they did get? Those are some hefty numbers. Wouldn't it make more sense that employees who don't get the big bucks might be the culprits?"

"Except that once they make those big bucks, they might want more." Bobby added. "It's a common scenario."

"True. I just think a lot of lower level employees can be overlooked in favor of the higher placed officials. When you look at this room, what do you see?" Karen sweeping gesture encompassed the entire room.

Jerry glanced around. "Four men over there, one at the coffee pot, and the Captain in his office. What's your point?"

"You just proved my point. Did you see the cleaning staff that was just here? Or the guy who brought the mail in? Or the woman who just walked by the door headed upstairs?"

"No."

"My point exactly. Higher visibility people get the eye and the ones who do the work are far too often overlooked. You can learn a lot from them."

Jerry opened his mouth the say something. Alex cut him off. "We've had that same experience. So lets go talk to the arena staff again. All of them."

"Lead the way." Jerry bounded to his feet.

Alex glanced at her amused husband and led the way out of the office. Karen got to her feet, more slowly and headed for the door. Bobby dropped in beside her. "Seven." He said quietly.

"Seven?" Karen glanced sideways up at him.

"She's seven months pregnant, not eight." He smiled down at her thinking she did seem a lot like his partner.

"Is she good with kids?" Karen asked quietly.

"Sure. But why do you ask that?"
"Because if someone is good with kids then that means she's also good with puppies and I think she just inherited one." Karen nodded toward her eager partner, who was practically bouncing around Eames.

Bobby grinned and had to agree with her assessment. And acknowledged that Karen very likely would be more than able to keep her partner on a short leash. It was going to be interesting.