Disclaimer: No money collected. No harm intended. "No sue"ing policy in effect. Thank you all.
Don't take that from him!
Chapter 7Karen was surprised to find Bobby and Jerry gone when she came back out of Deakins office. "They left already?"
Alex shrugged. "Bobby doesn't wait around to get things done. What did Deakins want? Are you in trouble already?"
"No, he was actually quite pleasant. I have something going that he got wind of and wanted me to confirm or deny them. It's nothing to be concerned about. What can I do to help?"
Alex shifted uncomfortably on the office chair. "Have this baby for me." She joked.
"Back spasms?"
"Yeah, I'll be alright. It won't be much longer."
"But you're here because they wanted someone to train us, right?"
"I'd go crazy at home. Don't give it a thought."
But Karen came around behind Alex and began to rub her shoulders. This made Alex tense until it began to relax her. "Ah, that feels good." She oozed.
Karen smiled. "You're all tense. Your body is all twisted into knots from the unaccustomed weight. That's why you're in such spasms. I'll bet you had a headache too."
"Now that you mention it, I did."
"That's not a surprise, either. They usually go hand in hand." Karens hands had migrated to Alexs outer shoulders and to her upper arms. The pregnant woman as practically humming.. Stepping to one side, Karen ran the tips of her fingers down the womans back on first one side of her spine then on the other. At first Alex was surprised, but the relief quickly overshadowed the shock of the personal space invasion. Karen did that a couple more times, then went back to the shoulders. She self-consciously stepped away from behind Alex's chair.
"Oh, my God, did that feel wonderful." Alex sighed rolling her neck. "You have wonderful hands."
Karen shrugged deprecatingly and smiled. "Just something I picked up somewhere."
"Maybe you should've been a masseuse instead of a cop."
"The patients appreciate it more, but most of them don't kill people. I want to stop that more." Karen grinned.
Alex looked at the younger woman. "You never say much about yourself."
"Sure, I do. I talk all the time. Can I help you with that?"
"You're changing the subject. And something's bothering you. Want to tell me about it?"
"Yes. And no. There has to be something I can do."
"There is. Stop running away when I try to help you. Tell me what's wrong."
"Nothing, I'll talk about here in front of everyone." Karen insisted stubbornly.
Alex rose to her feet. "Come with me."
"No, Alex, it's fine. It's nothing." Karen protested.
Alex put one hand on her hip and gave Karen the firm look that she always gave her husband when he was being particularly difficult. The one that said she wouldn't take no for an answer. Try as she might, Karen couldn't get away from that look and ended up following the woman out of the room.
To her surprise they didn't go to the elevator, but to a small dimly lit corridor and Alex pushed open a door that looked original to the building. The dark windowless room lit up under the single light bulb. Alex stepped in and motioned for Karen to join her. There were boxes of office supplies stored there but there was also a small wooden table and a couple of chairs. Alex settled into one of the chairs and motioned for Karen to take the other.
Karen perched on the edge of hers, feeling like she had just been sent to the principals office.
"What's the matter, Karen?" Alex asked softly. Her maternal instincts had joined her cop instincts and they were screaming at her. She could see the younger woman was deeply troubled by something. "And don't tell me it's nothing again or I'll make you give me another massage."
Karen flashed a grin at her. "I'm just having trouble with this situation, is all. It's just all so…."
"New? Different than what you're used to? Overwhelming?"'
"All of the above. And Jerry. I mean, I expected there would be some problems with a new partner at first, but I didn't expect to go back to the old south days. I've worked damned hard to get where I am and I'm not going to go back to that. I was raised that women are more or less property and it was assumed that all I could ever expect was to get married and have babies….uh, sorry."
"Don't apologize. This was a surprise to me and Bobby, but we are happy for it and I wouldn't change it if I could. But this isn't normal for everyone. No one says you have to do this. You may never want to get married or have kids. This is New York. The city is filled with women who don't have kids and don't ever want to. Where did you come from, Karen?"
"Michigan."
"I thought you were from the southern states the way you describe that attitude."
"No. That attitude is from all over. I was raised in an orphanage where some of the girls expected to get pregnant so someone would marry them and take care of them. Some of the girls in the public school where we went even voiced the opinion that that was all we were good for. Raising farm laborers to help with the crops."
"Like broodmares." Alex guessed.
Karen flashed a smile at her. "Yeah, like broodmares."
Alex nodded. "I can see where that would cause you a problem with self esteem. So how long after they made that comment did you get out of there?"
"About two years. They were seniors and I overheard them talking in the locker room after gym class in my sophmore year."
"And it seemed to you that that's how everyone saw the kids at the orphanage?"
"Stupid, huh?"
"Not stupid. Naïve, but not stupid. And was it mentioned what they expected the boys to do?"
"Oh, work in the fields, pick up garbage, whatever else needed doing that their rich husbands could hire them to do. When I think back about it, I realize it's silly, but it just burns my butt that they could be so mean and I believed them. Then to walk into here and there's that attitude from Jerry. I'd like to punch his lights out."
Alex laughed. "I think you should."
"What?!"
"Not really of course. I'm talking more like a psychological punch but very much the same. Don't let him get away with that. There is no reason that you have to put up with that. You have to start early making sure he treats you the way you want and deserve to be treated. Now is the time to do that."
"That sounds like marriage advice."
"In a way, it is. You will spend a lot of time together and you need to treat it like a marriage. That's why cops spend so much time getting divorced. There are some incredibly long hours and you won't need to spend it being resentful if you can stop it now."
"How do I know all this work is worth it? Maybe I won't even be partnered with him permanently."
"Not if you don't even try to get along with him. Why are you doubting yourself? You have done nothing wrong, nor truthfully has he. Yet. Don't give him or anyone the power over you and make you doubt yourself. There's enough people who will do that for you without you doing it too. Karen, I know what I'm talking about. Good cops come and go, but to be a Major Case detective you have to be the best. Go for that. Be that! If Jerry stays or he goes it's up to him. Don't let that affect you either way."
"Did you have these kind of problems with Bobby when you first started to work with him?"
"With every partner I've ever had. You have to know yourself first then work on being the most effective partner you can be. It's a balancing act, but it can be so rewarding professionally and personally. Make the commitment or go home, Karen. It's up to you." Alex slapped the table for emphasis. "Now we need to get back. It's almost quitting time and we still have to update the Captain. The guys should be back by now."
"You're probably right. Alex?"
"What?"
"Thanks. I appreciate the advice."
"Just don't tell Bobby that I'm on to him. He's a good man and so is Jerry. They have very delicate egos, but they can be so much fun to have around."
"Spoken by a true partner and wife." Karen teased Alex just a little.
"Right on both accounts." Alex groaned as she rose from her chair. "It's definitely time to go home."
Bobby and Jerry got back to the squad room first. Bobby was mildly alarmed not to find Alex right away and no one had paid any attention to the ladies when they left the room. Both men were relieved to see the women coming back looking just fine. Alex smiled at her husband.
"What did you find?" She asked.
"Enough for a search warrant, I think. We need to tell Deakins and Carver." He took Alex's hand and walked her back to her desk. She leaned on his arm, gratefully.
"Go get the Captain, please, Jerry." Karen asked her partner.
"We should go to his office." Alex said.
"You should go home and rest. He's not carrying a bowling ball on his front." Karen told her firmly.
Bobby sent her a grateful look. Deakins came out to them. The squad room had begun to empty for the day. "Jerry says you have a theory." He said by way of greeting.
His eyes went to Alex's tired posture and Bobby's anxious hovering over her.
Jerry filled both the captain and the two women in on their findings. Deakins nodded. "It sounds like a plausible theory. I'll get it sent to Carver and Vice as soon as you get me something in writing. Alex, you've been overdoing. Go home and don't even try to come in here until 10:00 tomorrow. This was a stupid idea and I won't put up with it any longer no matter what they say."
"I'm fine, Captain." Alex assured him.
"Three kids, Detective. I know better. Bobby, I expect you to sit on her if you have to."
"She'll behave herself, Captain." Bobby informed him firmly.
"Karen, help me here." Alex appealed to her new friend.
"Sorry, Alex. It sounds sexist, but I have to agree with them this time. If it were just you, that'd be one thing, but the baby is involved here. I'll make you a deal, though. I promise not to let them get away with a thing. And I'll let you know the minute something goes down."
Alex crossed her arms and scowled. "I guess I'm outvoted."
"We just don't want anything to happen to either of you." Bobby said soothingly. "Come on. I'll help you to the car."
Alex struggled to her feet. "I can still walk, Bobby." She took her lightweight jacket that Jerry had retrieved without anyone noticing. She walked away with Bobby right beside her. The last anyone heard from her was her saying "… and this is all your fault, you know."
Bobby's voice replied, but no one could tell what he said. Then they were gone.
TBC