Designed Intent
Chapter 68
Late Friday Afternoon
Deakins sauntered over and said to Eames, "Where's your partner?"
"He's going through that surveillance tape again."
"You and Sledge are coming to Mulligan's, aren't you?"
"I am," she looked down and began setting her desk to order, "I don't know what Sledge is doing."
Deakins suppressed his surprise. He saw Gleason make the turn from the elevators, "Here comes the bride!"
Gleason beamed and blushed, "Good afternoon, Captain. Alex."
"Congratulations, Gleason," Deakins said and gave her a quick arm around the shoulders. "You have made that man very, very happy. Angie and I wish you both the best of everything."
"Thank you," Gleason replied, blushing and looking at the floor for a quick moment.
"Let's get your husband."
"I'll get him," Eames said and started for the room full of wide-screen monitors.
"When do you head back to Chicago?" Deakins asked.
"The twenty-ninth."
"Will you two get a honeymoon?"
"Not any time soon. Perhaps this summer, whilst I'm on break and Bobby has built up some time."
Deakins watched Gleason light up as she watched Bobby stride to her. He turned and saw the same light in his detective's face.
"Hi, Honey," Bobby said and stood next to Gleason. Eames stood by watching and smiling.
"So, what time are people heading over there?" Deakins asked.
"The memo said anytime after five," Eames answered.
Sledge walked over and Eames turned and walked away. "Congratulations Gleason, Bobby." He nodded to Gleason and stuck out his hand and the two men shook.
"Are you and Alex going to Mulligan's?" Gleason asked.
Sledge took a beat and said, "Uh, I've got a prior commitment. I don't know what she is doing."
Gleason and Bobby were surprised, and then understood. Sledge watched them understand and nothing else needed said.
"Anyway, best wishes to both of you. Have fun tonight. I'll see you Monday, Bobby."
"Yeah, thanks." Bobby and Gleason looked at each other but said nothing. "Give me about ten minutes and then we'll head out," he told her.
Gleason smiled and Bobby dragged over the spare chair.
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Friday Night
Police officers, detectives and office personnel filled Mulligan's Bar. The happy sounds of camaraderie made it nearly impossible to converse. Nonetheless, Bobby and Gleason accepted good wishes from all of his colleagues. The room was awash with drinks and smiles. Gleason met everyone and all were smitten with her.
"Hey, congratulations Bobby, Gleason," officer Byard said.
"Thank you," they replied.
"Hey, let me get Caruso. I'll be right back." Byard went to search for his partner.
Bobby's gut tightened a wee bit. Shit, he thought.
Several minutes later, Byard returned with Caruso. "Congratulations, Detective, Mrs. Goren," Caruso said.
Byard put his arm around his partner's shoulders and said to Gleason, "Hey, this here's the man that took that bullet intended for your husband."
Gleason wasn't sure she heard correctly, "Pardon me?" Bobby shut his eyes and looked away.
"Caruso took the bullet that that old codger shot.at Det. Goren, here. Back a few months, that jewelry store heist? Yeah, Bobby was trying to talk this old guy holding a gun on your husband into putting his weapon down, and – POW! – the old man pulled the trigger. It went wild, missed your husband, and Caruso here caught it in the chest. Good thing his vest was tight," Byard explained, looking from Gleason to the tall detective and seeing the sour look on Bobby's face. Shit, he realized, Goren didn't tell her.
Gleason looked from the officer to Bobby. "What bullet?" she asked, "When was this?"
Byard said, "We'll let you tell the whole story, Detective; congratulations again." And they walked away wincing at the trouble they apparently instigated.
"Bobby?"
"Honey, it was nothing. Let's let it go."
Gleason knew they would definitely talk about this at home. Gleason's deepest fear rose to the surface at that moment – he could be killed. She stepped closer to him, feeling his warmth, his strength. She would never let go of him, she swore to herself, never. She leaned against him and he pulled her close.
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Two Weeks Later
"Dr. Wintermantle, Dr. Conway is here to see you. Should I send him back or send him away?"
Gleason smiled and answered, "Send him back, please." She looked at the magnificent ring on her left hand and smiled.
"Gleason, how are you?" Malcolm said, pulling shut her office door behind him. He came around the desk and she stood. He went to embrace her, and she put up her hands and stepping back.
"No, Malcolm, don't."
He stopped and dropped his arms, his confusion clear on his face. "I see. Well, can we at least talk a few minutes?" he said, not masking his hurt and disappointment.
"Certainly, sit down." Gleason sat and Malcolm pulled up a chair; they sat, knees nearly touching.
"How are you, Love? I've missed you so, we all have. I wanted to call you, talk with you, see how you were doing, but I thought it best not to. I've thought of you constantly. How are you?" He rested his left arm on the side of her desk and reached for her hand.
Gleason looked at her lap; he hadn't noticed the ring. "I am fine, Malcolm. Actually, I am better than fine, I am married." She looked up smiling.
Malcolm was dumbfounded. "What?"
"Bobby and I were married two weeks ago." She held out her left hand.
His eyes went slowly from hers to the ring on her finger. "You're married?" He sat back and removed his arm from her desk. "I see." Malcolm's eyes moved back to hers. "Well, congratulations, then."
"Thank you." She couldn't stop smiling.
He sat up, uncrossed his legs and put his palms on his thighs, then stood, returning the chair to its place against the wall. "Uh, yeah, congratulations to you and, and Robert." Malcolm opened the door and left.
Gleason loved it! She pulled her cell from her bag and hit speed dial one.
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The newly weds' love for each other continued to grow and deepen. They continued to commute between Chicago and New York every other weekend, and they spoke at least once every day. More often than occasionally, they would speak on the phone late at night, naked, in bed, taking matters into their own hands.
Gleason faithfully took her heart pill and the other one and each one did the job it was designed to do. Her colleagues at Northwestern were surprised and happy for her when they learned of her marriage. Several of the female faculty in the different departments in which Gleason worked, and several of the Margrave Hall office assistants, had a shower of sorts for Gleason in the conference room in Townsend Hall; she received an array of items from naughty to nice. Malcolm and she maintained a strictly professional relationship. They met with their colleague, Willow, to work on the conference presentation they would give in Toronto in November. Gleason's life in Evanston settled into a full, working rhythm.
In all respects, Bobby was in top form. He and Eames worked as one on every case they caught; their thinking became synchronized once again. In addition, it seemed he had no temper; he would get upset, of course, but he would not lose control. Moreover, he stopped drinking except for the occasional beer. Bobby continued to see Dr. Stephens once a month for several months. As his temperament settled and his focus returned, Captain Deakins, Dr. Stephens and Bobby determined that he no longer needed to see the good doctor. In reality, both Bobby and Dr. Stephens missed their sessions.
Mrs. Goren's health continued to decline. Her weight continued to drop as her fatigue and confusion rose. Dr. Shinto could find nothing other than an accelerated physical decline some people experience as they age. He assured Bobby that nothing was afoot – his mother was becoming a frail, old woman. It pained Bobby to see her once spry self wane to a pale, thin shadow. Her mind, as well as her body, diminished. The antipsychotic drug, Geoden that she took for her schizophrenia, kept her fairly well balanced, but her memory and processing were not the same. Nevertheless, Frances Goren continued to badger the couple about having a baby. In spite of his efforts, Bobby still could not please his mother.
Christian continued to visit his gramma and was a constant source of joy for the old woman. He especially liked when his daddy and mommy came to visit Gramma; they were so happy now; he wondered if they knew about Lilly yet. While Gramma slept, and she did so often, the little boy watched for his mommy and daddy at the window, standing behind the drapes. Occasionally, he would pop into his parents' dreams and they would have a wonderful time. However, he saw the coming sadness. The child knew that his gramma was sick; he saw the dim purple haze rimming the edge of the near future. He also saw the second purple haze beyond the first. He was happy now, but a sad, sad time was coming.
Eames and Edward separated; they avoided each other completely at work, one or the other found an excuse to be unavailable when the captain called a meeting. Eames threw herself into her work as she had little else upon which to spend her time or attention. Sledge grew quiet; even his partner noticed that he passed up opportunities to snark at her. While Eames stepped onto her hurt about Edward leaving her and rose above it, Edward stepped into it and pulled it around him. He seemed centered yet sullen.
All seemed well in the Goren-Wintermantle home and on the eleventh floor of One Police Plaza; well, for a while anyway. After all, nothing is forever is it?
The End