Chapter Sixteen

Breakthrough

Alex's Apartment

She checks the time, it's a little after nine PM, finally she has enough energy to get out of bed. She hears the television and she shuffles out of her bedroom. "I know I shouldn't ask," he says, "but how do you feel?

"A little better," she wraps herself up tighter in the blanket.

"You know I love you right?" she nods, "But you look terrible."

A slight smile crosses her face as she sits down next to him, "Gee thanks, I love you too."

He puts his arm around her shoulder and she snuggles in, he touches her forehead with his lips, "Your fever broke, do you want to try and eat something?"

"I probably should, what is that?" she points to a container on the table. "I went to the deli across the street and picked up some food. That is soup. It's pretty good."

"You ate some?"

"Yeah, I'll heat it up, be right back."

Minutes later he returns with a bowl of soup and sets up a tray, "You're right," she says after a spoonful, "this is pretty good, thank you."

He kisses the top of her head, "Hey, after everything you went through with me, this is cake."

A Few Days Later

"Hey Alex, how are you feeling?"

"I still feel a little weak Laurie, but I went to work today."

"Why? Why push yourself?"

"That's the same thing Bobby said."

"Well I always thought he was an intelligent guy and a very sweet one."

"Yes is he," she smiles to herself, "It was so nice to walk out of my bedroom and see someone sitting there."

"I know what you mean."

The Next Afternoon

One Police Plaza

Mike and Alex enter the squad room and Ross greets them, he inquires about the interviews that they conducted with the friends and family of Lance Butler, the murder victim from their latest case. Alex fills him in, "Captain everyone we talk to seems to think that Lance was into something that not only got him into trouble but dead. His sister Stacy, who was very close to her younger brother, believes he was seeing a woman but every time she brought it up he would change the subject."

"Who's the woman?"

"No one knows."

Mike sits down at his desk, "We showed the family the photos that were taken at the funeral and they could ID every one there, so if this woman is involved she's smart enough to know that she shouldn't attend family functions."

"Eames…………." The color has drained from Alex's face. "Alex are you alright?"

Oh my God it's Nicole…..no, no it can't be….but what if it is….. "What?…..Yes Captain I'm fine, just a little tired."

Mike sits back in his chair, "I guess we better find this woman."

Alex chuckles to herself, If it's who I think it is, forget it partner, she is gone……. We'll never find her.

"Oh just to be able to sit for a minute, shit what a day." He looks over at her, "Eames, are you sure you're alright? You look pale."

"I feel fine, thanks. Like I said I'm just a little tired."

He leans across the desk, "Tired huh, too many late nights with what's his name?"

"First of all it's none of your business what I do at night and secondly you damn well know his name."

"I can't believe that you are still seeing that guy. I have to say I find it hard to believe, you and him, seems very weird to me."

"I enjoy working with you Mike, you're a great partner but my personal life is none of your business."

Alex's cell phone rings, she excuses herself and answers the phone, "Eames."

"Eames it Goren, I want to ask you something."

"Very funny," she says as a smile crosses her face.

"Well you could at least say hello, when you know it's me."

"Sorry Bobby, it's a habit, what do you want to ask me?" She looks up at her partner, he rolls his eyes, "He can't call you at home, he has to call you now."

She puts her finger up to her mouth, "Shhhhhhhh."

"I want to take you away for a weekend and since my schedule is much more flexible than yours, I would like for you to pick the weekend."

She sits down at her desk, "A weekend away, just the two of us." She catches her partners' eye and winks. He smiles, shakes his head and leaves his desk.

"Yes a long weekend, Friday to Sunday. If you could pick the days, as soon as possible, then I can make the arrangements."

"Where are we going?"

"You'll find out when we get there."

"You've already picked the place, haven't you?"

"Yes I have, so let me know as soon as you can, ok."

"I will, are we still on for tonight?"

"You actually need to ask me that question."

"No. I'll see you later."

"Bye Alex, I love you."

She looks casually around the room and whispers into the phone, "I love you too, see you tonight."

Mike returns within minutes, "Can we get back to work now?"

"What is the matter with you?"

"Nothing, not a damn thing."

That Night

"Oh……………. I think I ate too much."

"Let's go for a walk, maybe we'll feel better."

She slowly gets up from the chair, "Good idea."

The night air is calm but unseasonably warm for a January evening. Alex's cell phone rings. "Eames,"

"Eames, I need to tell you something."

"Hey Mike."

Bobby whispering to her, "He has to call you now; he can't wait till tomorrow and talk to you, what a pain in the ass." He lets go of her hand; she listens intently to her partner. Bobby continues to walk and she stands still.

"I was reading over some of our notes and, do you remember the waitress that we talked with."

"Yes, what about her."

"I don't know how or why we missed this but she says in her statement that she saw Lance and Barry together only hours before he died, Barry told us he hadn't seen Lance for days. I want to bring Barry in for a talk."

"I agree with you, we'll pick him up at his office in the morning, see you tomorrow, good night Mike."

She quickens her pace to catch up, "Bobby." He stops and she reaches for his hand. "Is the world ending?"

"What?"

"What was so important that he had to call you now?"

"He discovered a discrepancy between two witnesses and he wanted to tell me about it."

"He's not able to remember that the next day."

"Bobby he's my……" he interjects, "Please I know, he's your partner and you're cops."

"Are you upset because he called me or are you upset that he is a he?"

"I'm just telling you how I feel………….you woman…………you want us guys to let you know how we feel and then when we do you don't like it."

Her phone rings again, he stares at her. "Go ahead answer it."

"Eames."

"It's me again…."

She looks up at Bobby and he is standing with arms crossed. "Mike, I'll call you back later."

"Am I bothering you and what's his name?"

"Knock it off Logan," she says with an angry tone.

Bobby shakes his head, "That guy is royal pain in the ass; tell him to get a life."

She covers the phone. "Stop it. I can't talk to the both of you at the same time."

Bobby leans down and catches her eye, "Simple solution, tell him goodbye and talk to me."

"Mike I have to hang up, I'll talk to you tomorrow."

He takes her hand, "Thanks." She smiles and reaches up and kisses his cheek. "Now that wasn't so hard was it?"

"No, it's just that we always call each other whenever we get an idea concerning a case and……………" She looks up at him. Forget it Alex don't fight him over this, "I've pick the days for our weekend, getaway. Now can you tell me where we're going?"

"No……………..I will say one thing…Not that I would ever tell you how to dress or what to wear but that Friday night could you wear something like you wore to your Captain's retirement party."

"Yes defiantly," she squeezes his hand, "Oh I'm getting excited."

Later that Night

Alex makes herself comfortable on the couch and the clock chimes ten-thirty, she phones her sister. "Hey Laurie."

"Hi, Alex, what's up?"

"I was just thinking about Mom and Dad's anniversary, it's in three weeks, any ideas."

"Shit, I haven't thought about that at all. Let's give them a party, we can have it here."

"I like that, good idea; we'll discuss the menu later."

"So how is everything with you and Bobby?"

"It's wonderful, he's a great guy and I love him dearly. But things are getting weird."

"How do you mean?"

"The two of them are making me crazy."

"The two of them, you mean his kids?"

"No Bobby and Mike."

"What the hell does Mike have to do with your relationship with Bobby?"

"He's my partner and…………"

"Yeah, yeah I know, we're cops and it's hard for people to understand the kind of relationship that partners have, I've been hearing that crap from you for years."

"Crap, it's not crap you…………I haven't been in a serious relationship in a long time and when Mike and I became partners it was a common occurrence for him to call me or for me to call him whenever we get an idea concerning a case and for some reason it bothers Bobby whenever Mike calls."

"I don't blame him that would bother me too; I know how important your career is to you and I know Bobby is bright enough to understand that but you can't keep putting you career and your partner over him."

"I've been there for him, whenever he has needed me."

"I know that and so does he. Are you feelings for him the same as they were a few months ago?"

"No," She smiles thinking about him, "I have to see him and talk to him everyday. I miss him when he's not around."

The Next Day

One Police Plaza

"You did that on purpose last night, didn't you?"

"It never bothered you before, me calling you at night. What's the problem or should I say who?"

"He is not the problem; you know damn well that we could have discussed Barry and the waitress this morning."

"I'm not allowed to call you."

"I didn't say that………."

"You're a cop Alex."

She looks away from him and chuckles, "God now I know how annoying that must sound, it's not Mike or Bobby…………….it's me."

"What?"

"Nothing, forget it, everything's fine. Come on, we have an appointment with Lances' old business partner."

Later that Afternoon

Alex's cell phone rings. "Eames."

"Alex, its Laurie."

"Hi Laurie, what's up?"

"I found a caterer for Mom and Dad's party. Now should we have it on Saturday or Sunday?"

"Sunday afternoon."

"Yeah I like Sunday better, so Sunday the eighth."

"Excellent, oh did I tell you that Bobby is taking me away for the weekend."

"When?"

"Next month, I have to say I'm excited."

"Where?"

"He won't tell me, but I hope he has planned what I think he has planned."

TBC