Well, in penance for not updating OMEGA, ALPHA and ROADS, here's the conclusion of SECONDS.

Chapter Ten

"I love being in Major Case," Alex thought. "But there are moments…" She sighed.

"Eames…don't make things bad before we get there." Her partner sat quietly next to her in the SUV. He was seemingly lost in the file on their latest case, but Bobby was acutely aware of his partner's mood.

"It's just," Alex said as she maneuvered the large vehicle through the afternoon traffic. "I smell a political rat behind us being called for this one…"

Bobby nodded. "Yea…I don't like dealing with cases involving the UN."

Alex snorted. "Talk about rabbit holes for someone to disappear into…"

Both Alex and Bobby attempted to approach every case with a completely open mind, to read the evidence and not allow any preconceived ideas to shape their interpretations. But this scene screamed "Suicide!" and continued screaming that word as they examined it.

"Exactly why were we called?" Alex asked the remarkably civil detective from the local precent.

"Politics," he replied. "That, and we wanted to help you keep that high solve rate."

A quick smile crossed Alex's face. "Thanks," she said genially. "We appreciate the help."

"The father of the victim is a muckety-muck with the Germans…He made a demand—a polite one as these go—for Major Case." The detective shrugged.

Bobby performed his usual meticulous examination of the scene. The father, white with anger and grief, calmed as Bobby spoke gently to him.

"Definitely suicide," Alex asked as a uniform escorted the father away.

"Yea." Bobby sighed. "The daughter…she'd been having trouble…hearing voices…for a few years…Her mother…killed herself several years ago…" Bobby stared after the grieving father.

Alex brushed his arm. "Hey, you can't save everybody…especially if you don't know them…C'mon…let's report back…"

Bobby had suddenly frozen; his face bore a surprised but not unhappy look. Alex followed his gaze to a petite woman with short blonde hair. Most of her height came from her long, elegant legs. Alex found it difficult to place her age; she looked young, but carried herself with a quiet authority, and Alex noted that several individuals in the office deferred to her. The woman became aware of Bobby and Alex's scrutiny. As her attention moved from Alex to Bobby, her eyes widened, and a faint, sad smile tugged at the corners of her mouth as she slowly walked towards them.

"Bobby Goren," she said softly.

"Marlene…Marlene Dross," Bobby answered with the same combination of sadness and amazement.

Alex stood quietly at Bobby's side, trying to subtly examine this woman and to figure out her relationship to Bobby.

"It's been…a while," the woman said ruefully. Alex caught the subtle trace of a German accent.

"Over twenty five years," Bobby answered.

Alex thought that they regarded each other affectionately if regretfully.

Bobby suddenly remembered Alex and his manners. "Marlene Dross—is it still Dross?—my partner, Detective Alex Eames. Detective Eames, Marlene Dross."

Alex took Ms. Dross' extended hand. Her grip was firm but not overly so; her attitude friendly but watchful.

"A pleasure, Detective Eames." Marlene glanced at Bobby. "It's still Dross professionally…But Richter at home…" She gazed again at Alex. "You're the detectives the NYPD sent?"

"Yes," Alex nodded.

"I'd be happy to provide you with any information you need," Marlene said. "Would my office be a better place?"

Bobby subtly glanced at Alex. Marlene noted the unspoken communication between the two.

"We'd appreciate that," Alex replied. "I just need to call in to our captain."

As Alex moved away to make the call, an awkward silence briefly descended between Marlene and Bobby.

"You…you look wonderful," Bobby finally said. He shifted his binder from one hand to the other. "And you made it to New York…"

"Thank you," she answered softly. "You…you look good too…you fill that suit very well…Although I admit it's odd to see you in a suit."

She did look wonderful, and at least ten years younger than her age. There were a few laugh lines around her eyes, her figure a little fuller, but there was still much of the Marlene of twenty five years earlier. He had changed as well—his body fuller, his hair graying—but his eyes were the same dark, gentle, intelligent and troubled ones she remembered.

"I'm sorry," he said. "I stopped writing…One of my letters came back…and I…" His voice tailed off. The day that his letter to Marlene returned was, at that time, one of the worst of his life; unfortunately other days had since passed it.

Marlene tried to meet his eyes. "I moved…and then there was someone…I'm sorry, Bobby…you deserved much better."

He gave her a small, sad smile, and Marlene felt something squeeze her heart.

"It's ok," he said. "It was time."

Alex returned in time to hear Bobby's last words. "Time for what," she wondered. It was increasingly clear that Bobby and this woman shared a past, and likely a romantic past. Alex knew a little of his experiences with women, that his first sexual experience, like hers, had not been a happy one. He had a reputation as something of a ladies' man, but the ex-girlfriends Alex encountered spoke of Bobby with love and regret, and Alex sensed that Bobby took the idea of fidelity seriously. Casual, quick encounters were not his style, and Alex wondered if this sophisticated woman had something to do with the man Bobby was.

Marlene's office was small and efficiently furnished. The bookshelf behind the desk was filled with several language dictionaries and other reference works, but the shelf directly at eye level held several photos. Bobby glanced at Marlene, who nodded; he moved behind the desk to study the photos. Alex saw several pictures of Marlene with a handsome dark haired and eyed man with an equally handsome boy and girl who were clearly their son and daughter. There were also pictures of Marlene with an older woman in Times Square and the Statue of Liberty; the older woman resembled Marlene enough that Alex reasoned she must be her mother. Bobby started slightly, and Alex followed his gaze to a small picture in a corner of the shelf. It showed a younger Marlene and a young man—really still a boy—who was clearly Bobby Goren. Marlene smiled at the camera, but Bobby's dark eyes were focused on her with a combination of adoration and puzzlement.

"Well," Alex thought. "I need to find out about this."

As the two detectives took their seats, Marlene studied them. Most of her attention was on Bobby, but she was also fascinated by the small but intense blonde woman next to him.

"She's tough," Marlene thought. "But some of it is part of a skin she's had to develop. I can't tell how old she is…she looks young, but she's clearly a veteran…Bobby defers to her…He's clearly very comfortable with her…He's become a striking man…In a suit, no less…A very good looking suit…But that sadness is still there…He looks tired…But he never did sleep well…and no ring on his finger…I hoped he'd find someone…Have some of the happiness I have. "

Their conversation was brief and to the point; Alex and Bobby rose to go.

"Eames," Bobby said quietly. "Could you go ahead? I…I just…"

Alex decided to press for more information later. "Sure."

Bobby turned back to Marlene. "I…I…" He looked at her shyly, and Marlene felt she was in her twenties again. "Do you feel as awkward as I do?" he asked.

"I suspect I do," Marlene replied.

"I'd like to…if it's not too awkward for you…to get a cup of coffee or something?"

"I'd like that," she answered gently. "Is Saturday good for you…around ten…My kids have things going on and Sam has a conference…I was prepared for a long, boring day…"

Bobby fumbled with his binder. "I dream," he said softly. "Of long boring days…"

They agreed on a nearby coffee shop; Bobby turned to go. "It's good…good to see you again," he said. "You really do look wonderful."

Marlene watched him walked down the hall to join Eames. "I hope…" she thought.

Marlene sipped her coffee and stared down the street. It was a rare, early fall day, just cool enough to require a sweater but warm enough to allow her to sit on the coffee shop's small terrace. She was on her second cup of the dark, rich liquid. Bobby was late, and Marlene was just beginning to think she had been stood up.

"But he never stood you up," she thought. "But he was never late either…I'm so nervous…It must be all the caffeine…Maybe he isn't that nice young man any more…Maybe he's changed…"

She glanced up from her cup and saw Bobby approaching. A barely remembered feeling rose in her.

"Twenty five years," she thought. "Over twenty five years and he still makes my heart jump. "I love Sam…I love my life…but your first real love…"

He reached her table. "I'm sorry," he said with a tired smile. "I…Saturday mornings…family stuff…" He waved one of his large hands and sat across from her.

For Marlene, the afternoon was a repeat of her first meeting with Bobby. They were, of course, outside on a bright day with the sounds of the city around them rather than in a dark, smoky bar with pulsating music, but just as she had told Bobby of her life in that bar, so she told him all about her present life outside that coffee shop.

"I'm sorry," she said as she realized she'd talked nonstop for some time. "I'm not letting you get to say much."

Bobby smiled at her. "It's ok," he said. He leaned forward, his hands clutching his cup. "One of the things…One of the reasons why…" He looked up at her. "I'm so glad your life has turned out so well…I'm so happy for you, Marlene." He sipped his coffee. "I thought about looking for you…But I…I thought it would be an intrusion…It wasn't that I had some idea of restarting things…It's just I…I wanted to know how you were…but…I was afraid…if things weren't good for you…I was afraid of what I might find…"

Marlene returned his smile. "I can understand that. I've thought about you a lot…Wonder what happened to you…"

"Hence the picture you kept." Bobby rubbed his thumb over his cup. "Your husband ok with that…and this?"

Marlene grinned. "Yes…I explained to him that it was someone who had a lot to do with what I am…and he said that if that was the case, he couldn't complain since he loves me…"

"It's clear you feel the same way about him," Bobby said quietly. "Marlene…really…I'm so happy for you…"

She reached across the table to touch his hand. "I'm so glad I to see you again…I've always wanted to thank you…"

He gave her a surprised look.

"Remember what I told you…that last time," she said. "You made me a better person. I never would have had the courage to do what I've done without you…"

He stared into the depths of his coffee. "You…you always had the ability…You would've found the courage…"

"I don't know about that," Marlene said gently. "I believe you were the difference. But you…you haven't told me anything about you…Your family…"

She saw the shadow in his eyes. "I'm sorry," she said. Marlene was suddenly confused, and she realized that she had never known anything about Bobby's family.

He smiled again—that sad smile that hadn't left him after all of the years. "It's ok." He rubbed his thumb over his cup. "I…just my Mom…and she's…she's got some health issues…" His voice was gently, but Marlene sensed he had no desire to discuss the issue.

"You're not married?" She asked. "You don't have any children?"

He shook his head. "No…I'm afraid…to both questions."

Marlene's good mood was disappearing in the face of what she saw as Bobby's sadness. "I'm sorry, Bobby…I didn't mean to…"

"You haven't," he said quickly. "It's not as gloomy as it sounds…a couple of years ago…well…maybe…" He looked away for a moment. "Right now, my Mom isn't as good as she has been…and there's some stuff at work…"

Marlene could only imagine what sort of "stuff" a high ranking NYPD detective might have to deal with.

"But," Bobby continued, and Marlene saw a genuinely happy look on his face. "I do have someone now…It's really complicated…but it's worth it." He smiled. "Really, really worth it…I have hope…For the first time, maybe, since I was with you…Real hope." He looked at her, his dark brown eyes warm and glowing beneath his long lashes. "In spite of everything, I have hope."

Marlene tenderly squeezed his hand. "I'm glad, Bobby…You deserve it…You're a good man."

They spoke for the rest of the afternoon until shadows crossed their table.

"I'm sorry," Marlene said as she checked her watch. "The kids will be getting home soon…I have to go…"

Bobby stood. "Yea…" He extended a hand to Marlene. "I…that "someone"," he smiled.

"That "someone"," Marlene said. "Is very lucky." She stood on her tiptoes and softly brushed her lips against his.

Bobby wrapped his arms around her. "I think," he said, his breath gently ruffling her hair. "One of the reasons I didn't try to find you…I couldn't believe it really happened…I though sometimes that you were a dream…a wonderful dream…and I didn't want to lose that…"

They hugged each other.

"Your "someone" mind if we keep in touch?" Marlene asked. "As friends?"

Bobby smiled. "I don't think so…She's pretty tolerant…She has to be…to be with me."

Bobby lay with his head resting just below Alex's breasts; one of her hands weaved in and out of his curls; his soft stubble gently tickled her as she breathed. The air, still charged with their lovemaking, was cool against their damp skin; Bobby started to reach for the covers.

"No," Alex said gently. "If you're warm enough…Could you stay there a little longer?"

He smiled up at her, and Alex felt her heart tumble. "You like this, too?"

She nodded. "A lot."

He listened for a few moments to her breaths and heartbeat. "How was your afternoon?" he finally asked.

"Good…really good…" Her hands rubbed his back. "I got to see my nephew…he's great." She smiled mischievously. "And how was your meeting with your old girlfriend?"

He looked up at her again. "It was good…good…She has a good life…Great job…kids…HUSBAND." He emphasized the last word.

"Don't worry," Alex laughed. "I'm not jealous…Besides, I saw an old boyfriend this afternoon too…And he's doing great too…WIFE…" Bobby laughed as she emphasized the word. "Great business…He's Tom Wexstein…"

Bobby raised his body on his arms. "The guy who owns all those auto care places? Lewis does work with his guys…has great things to say about them…"

Alex nodded. "Yea…Tom…Tom was my first real boyfriend…the good one…"

Bobby rolled on his back. "Marlene…she was the first good one…she taught me a lot…"

Alex moved so that she rested on Bobby's chest. She kissed him just above his breastbone. "I should thank her," she said huskily.

Bobby brushed his lips against her hair. "And I should thank this Tom…"

Alex laughed. "Well, let's just see what we learned from them…"

END