7

Designed Intent

Chapter 66

Monday Morning

Eames was on the phone when Bobby walked in. He hung up his coat and then took his seat.

"All right, I let you know. Thanks. Bye."

Bobby looked up at her, "Anything new?"

"That was the victim's brother-in-law. Seems he wants to change his story based on a conversation he had last night with the victim's husband. So, how is the new groom?" she said with a smile.

"Eames, let's not make a bid deal of this, ok?"

Deakins saw Bobby come in and walked over, smiling broadly. "How's the newlywed?"

"Fine, Captain, fine. Thanks." Bobby sat and flipped open his portfolio, pretending to look for something. He felt their eyes on him, but refused to look up.

Deakins and Eames continued to stare and smile at Bobby. Finally, he could stand it no longer, looked up and said to both of them, "Look, this is no big deal. Let's not make it a big deal, ok?"

Deakins nodded as did Eames. Then Deakins said, with a loud voice, "Everyone, listen up! Goren's married!"

"Oh, gee whiz, no, Captain." Bobby put his head in his hands.

Of course, everyone stopped, turned, looked and then broke into an enthusiastic applause. Shouts of "Way to go, Goren!" and "About time!" and "Poor girl!" and other well wishes issued around the bullpen. Individuals wandered over and offered congratulations and handshakes and Bobby blushed through it all.

Eames was honestly happy for him.

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Monday Evening

"Where people surprised?" Gleason asked. Bobby told her about Deakins making the announcement about their wedding as they headed to the pizza place two blocks north.

"Actually, it was kind of embarrassing," Bobby said with a smile.

Gleason said nothing. She had told no one, as she had no one to tell. They walked quietly, each knowing the sad reality. Bobby put his arm around her.

"We should tell your mum," Gleason mentioned.

"Maybe we can go see her Wednesday night."

"That will be nice."

"Deakins wants everyone in MCS to get together for drinks Friday after work – sort of a celebration for us. We should go."

"Of course we'll go! How nice!" Gleason was excited.

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Monday Night

Sledge lay in bed and watched Eames brush her hair. She saw him in the mirror looking at her and set down her brush.

"Come to bed, Hon."

Alex slipped between the sheets, but did not slip next to Edward. He turned to face her and lay with his head propped in his palm. "Are you ok?"

She turned her head and looked at him, but said nothing. Edward noticed the change in Alex since she returned from the wedding on Saturday. He perceived a quiet longing in her and he knew what she wanted.

"Alex?"

She sighed, turned and clicked off the light, pulling the covers over her shoulder.

Sledge dropped back onto his pillow. "Hon, I made it perfectly clear when we started. . ."

"Go to sleep, Edward."

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"Oh, gaw-w-w-d!" Bobby grunted deeply as his fluid spilled into her. Gleason growled under him as she came.

Bobby rolled off her, taking deep breaths. Gleason turned, slid up next to him, and whispered next to his ear, reaching for his softened penis, "Make me come again."

Bobby couldn't, not right now. They had made love four times in the last twenty-four hours and he was spent.

"Baby, I can't. Let me finger you."

"No-o-o-o, fuck me," she whispered. Gleason moved to straddle him and he stopped her with a hand to her hip.

"Sweetie, I can't." Bobby hated this – he wanted to make love again, but knew he could not. He looked at her and could not read her face. Suddenly, he had a thought. "Wait, wait, I know." Bobby turned and pulled open the drawer in the bedside table, "Here we are."

Gleason watched him, wondering.

Bobby turned with a smile and held up the vibrator from the 'box of erotica.' "How's this?"

Gleason smiled and blushed.

Bobby turned again to the drawer, removed the tube of lubricant and returned to Gleason's side. "Let's see what this thing can do."

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"She's got a nasty fever." The two nurses tended to Mrs. Goren. "It's all right, Dear; here, have a sip."

Christian stood by the drapes watching the ladies take care of his gramma; he was worried, Gramma is sick, he thought. Christian was so tired – he had done a lot these last few days.

Saturday, he was with his daddy and mommy when they were at the castle. He watched them as they stood in front of the king while the king made his daddy a prince and made his mommy a princess. His daddy was so happy; Christian watched his daddy's gold and silver light sparkle and shine around him. Christian was happy that his daddy was happy. His mommy was happy, too, but she cried. He thought it was a happy crying, but he wasn't sure.

The child had walked along with them when they went for pizza tonight. He liked the smell of pizza. His daddy and mommy ate the whole thing. Mommy will be sick in the morning cause she ate too much, he thought.

Now Christian watched as his gramma tried to take a sip. She would get better this time, but not the next time. His daddy would be sad that Gramma is sick.

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Gleason smiled in her sleep and shifted slightly. She walked along the road; the meadow to the right was alive with wildflowers. The field on the left that had held rows of corn now had acres of wheat – lovely, dusty, beige wheat. No one can get lost in wheat, she thought.

At the crest of the hill, she saw the now familiar stone wall at the far end. There he was, watching their son walk along the top of the wall. "Bobby! Chris!" she called.

Chris stopped and looked up, Bobby turned around; something rested in his arms. Is he holding a baby?

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Tuesday Morning

Gleason woke slowly. Ugh, she thought, queasy; too much pizza. She turned onto her side and slid her hand over Bobby's back. He was warm and strong. Her hand slipped to his waist and he stirred.

"Mmmm, that's nice," he mumbled and turned over to face her. "How's my wife this morning?"

Gleason smiled at him and then jumped off the bed and dashed to the bathroom. Bobby froze. "Honey?"

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"I'm going back to my place," Edward said to Alex as he stuffed his dirty clothes into his duffle.

Alex stopped, turned and asked, "Why?"

Edward closed his eyes and looked away. The silence between them grew.

"Leave your laundry. I'll do it."

"No, Hon, I'm, I'm going back to my place." He finished stuffing his bag and walked into the bathroom.

"Edward? What are you doing?"

He could hear the low-grade panic in her voice. His toiletries filled his basket-like hands as Edward stopped, coming from the bathroom. Alex bore a pained, worried expression. "Hon, I can't, I can't . . . I can't stay here anymore. We have to end us. I'm sorry, I'm really sorry." Edward said all of this so softly.

They looked at each other for a long minute. Finally, Eames looked away and nodded. Edward crossed to his duffle on the bed, dropped in his toiletries, and zipped it shut. Eames stood, not looking at him. He picked up the bag, crossed to her and put a gentle hand on her arm, whispered, "I'm sorry," and left.

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Gleason sat at the kitchen table with her hands over her mouth and nose – that coffee smell.

Bobby came around the corner, tying his tie. "Are you ok, Sweetheart?"

Gleason looked up at him and then stood. "I can't fill your mug, Bobby. The smell."

Bobby read her face, knowing her fear. "Honey, Gleason?" He took a deep breath, "Baby, are you taking your pills?"

Gleason leaned into his chest and wrapped her arms around him. "Yes. I'm not pregnant. I'm too old. I'm taking the pills."

Bobby felt her shiver – she wasn't cold. "Glea, when is your period due?" He put his hands on her arms and moved back to look into her face.

"Tomorrow or the next day."

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Wednesday Morning

"Good morning, Detective," Dr. Stephens smiled at the tall man.

"Morning," Bobby replied, taking the chair opposite the psychiatrist. He settled back and tugged at the creases in his trousers. He looked at the woman and smiled.

She caught the look, smiled back and said, "You look like the Cheshire cat."

Bobby blushed slightly and said softly, "Gleason and I were married this past Saturday."

Dr. Stephens, gasped her surprise and was genuinely happy for him. "Oh, Detective! Congratulations! I am very happy for you both." She smiled at Bobby with warm sincerity. "Why did you decide to get married?"

Reasons ran through his mind – I love her, she loves me, I want us to be together forever, so does she, maybe that bastard Malcolm will stay away now. "Lots of reasons."

The smile on her face grew. "Was it spur of the moment or had you and she talked about it?" Dr. Stephens was curious as to why they suddenly married.

Bobby laid his right ankle over his left knee, set his elbows on the arms of the chair and tented his fingers in front of his lips. He didn't look at her.

"I knew from the beginning that she was the one. In my soul, I knew it. I thought about asking her when I realized she was pregnant. But that's the wrong reason." He was quiet for a moment. "Then, then things got bad."

Dr. Stephens watched him process. It was important for her patient to examine the reasons for this life choice. Articulating the reasons enabled him to think metacognitively about his choices. She watched, waited and said nothing.

"Then, they got better. My temper is under control, we have stopped fighting, the past is behind us, and this last surgery was definitive. I wasn't sure she would say 'yes.'" Bobby looked at his psychiatrist and smiled slightly.

They sat quietly for a moment, and then Dr. Stephens asked, "You seem contented, Detective. Are you happy?"

"I am contented. And very happy."

"And Gleason?"

"And Gleason."

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