No changes in the disclaimer! Please remember to leave a review.
Chapter 21
The Catch
Alex rushed into her home, lightly stomping her snow covered sneakers on the rug in front of the door. "Mom! Mom, you'll never guess who I met today!"
Mrs. Eames was in the back room, hearing her daughter's excited voice, she quickly put the last pair of socks in the drawer and slammed it shut. Walking into the kitchen, she found Alex at the cookie jar. "Alex, you'll ruin your dinner."
The younger Eames begin talking with a mouthful of cookies. Seeing her mother frown, Alex took a gulp of milk. "Sorry." She wiped her sleeve across her mouth, erasing her milk mustache. "But, you'll never believe who I met today!"
Her mother's eyes twinkled from the excitement in her daughter's voice. "Well, have a seat and tell me about it."
Pulling out a chair, Mrs. Eames sat down, waiting for her daughter to do the same. Alex grabbed another cookie, and her milk. Taking a chair next to her mom, she took a deep breath before she began. "I met Corporal Elbert Higgins!"
Mary cocked her head, furrowing her brow. "That's not the one you have been writing to, is it?"
"Well, no. Higgins is, or was Sergeant Goren's roommate while he was in Germany."
"Oh. I see." A puzzled look crossed Mrs. Eames face. "Did he say anything about the Sergeant?"
Alex paused, feeling somewhat deflated. "Mom, I thought you'd be more excited for me."
Her mother snapped out of her thoughts. "Sorry. What is Higgins like?"
With that, Alex related her entire lunch as her mother listened intently. Mary leaned back in her chair as the story ended. "So, he's at Langley."
Alex nodded silently. Suddenly realizing she had no idea of how to contact him, any more than she did when he was in New York City. I'll have to wait...but for how long?
________
Her wait went from minutes, to hours turned into days, days into weeks, and weeks into months. Enough time had passed to where Alex seldom paused at the table to rifle through the small stack of letters. Her projects in school, and helping her mother in the kitchen, and her brothers kept her life busy.
Bobby's life had become equally busy. He continued his work and studies at Langley. In his down time, he tried to continue to spend as much time as he could with his mother, whom he found, was becoming more and more difficult. Slowly feeling 'his world' was becoming smaller and smaller.
_________
We're going to take a small jump in time....
Slapping her alarm off, Alex stretched underneath the covers. Slowly rising, she swung her feet to the floor. She stretched again, before standing. Heading to the bathroom, she grabbed a towel from the hall closet.
After her shower, Alex stood before the mirror, primping. She bit her bottom lip as the figure stared back at her. Slowly exhaling, she tried smiling. Damn, I look like I'm in pain. She pulled the bottom of her blouse down. It's just an interview. She sighed. An interview that will get me out of vice and into Major Case. Reaching into her purse, she brought out a tube of lipstick. Carefully, she applied the color she leaned closer to the mirror for a better look. Too dark? She shook her head. No, no it's fine. You look fine. Everything will be just fine.
Putting the lipstick back into her bag, she smiled at herself. "Everything will be just fine, Alex."
Walking back to the kitchen, she shoved her small makeup bag into her purse. Checking the time, she inhaled. Grabbing her lime green jacket, she quickly put it on. Swinging her purse over her shoulder, she stepped out on the porch. Alex glanced up at the sky and smiled. The sky was a light blue, filled with wispy clouds. Giving herself a reassuring nod, she felt stronger. Yes, everything will be just fine. With that she stepped off of the porch, heading towards her car.
_______________________________________________
The older gentleman leaned back in his chair, eying the young man carefully. Leaning forward again, he jotted down some notes into the folder. Setting the pencil down, the white haired man raised a brow. "You have a good track record in the Narcotics Division, why would you want to leave?"
The younger man's voice was soft as he answered. "I think I have something I could offer Major Case. In the service, I was CID, and worked out of Langley for over a year. I understand forensics, almost as well as...." He abruptly stopped as the Captain impatiently waved a hand in the air.
James Deakins' voice was gruff, and impatient. "Yes, yes, that's all in your file. What's also is in your file, is that you seem to work better alone. We're a team here. You have to be able to work with your partner, and me."
Goren stretched back in his chair, quickly swiping a hand over his face. Carefully choosing his answer before he answered. "Sir, I would be more than willing to work with you and anyone you have in mind."
James Deakins grunted. "You'd be the junior partner. Do you think you could work within those and Major Case's guidelines?"
It was more of a statement than a question. The tone of the Captain's voice also held doubt. James leaned forward in his chair, linking his fingers together resting his hands on top of Goren's file. James' eyes were piercing the figure before him, waiting for a response. Goren raised a brow, that was something he hadn't considered. He cleared his throat. "Do, do you know who the senior partner will be?" Silently wondering if he was making the right move in his career with NYPD.
Looking past the large man, Deakins saw a petite young woman speaking to one of the detectives in the bull pen. A smile crossed James' face. Bobby slightly turned in his seat to see what or whom had caught the Captain's eyes. Seeing the young woman, Goren's jaw went slack. She looks like a rookie! He turned back towards the James Deakins, suddenly realizing that he was being carefully scrutinized. Goren took a deep breath, wondering if he had just flushed his chances of getting into Major Case with one careless look.
A/N: I have debated on when they should meet, and thought this would be the best. What do you all think?