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Chapter 23

Beginnings

Deakins stepped up to Bobby first. "Detective Bobby Goren, I want you to meet Detective Alexandra Eames. You two take a moment to get acquainted." With that James headed back towards his office. Sitting at his desk, he slightly swiveled his chair to watch his two future detectives.

Goren, who had made a small attempt of looking busy working a crossword puzzle, looked up. "Detective Eames, have, have I met you before?"

Alex extended her hand, commanding her stomach to quit flip flopping. "No. No, I can honestly say that we have never met before."

Bobby stood, taking her hand and gave it a gentle but firm shake as he studied her face. Her eyes twinkled brightly. He cocked his head. "Your name sounds awfully familiar, but I can't quite place where I have heard it before."

A smile tugged at the corner of her lips, as she slowly pulled her hand free. Oh, you'll remember, eventually. Holding her hand out in front of her, slightly spreading her fingers, she grinned. "I might need this later."

Goren's face slightly flushed, not realizing that he had been holding it for so long. "I'm sorry, I wasn't meaning to..."

Eames lightly chuckled. "Don't worry about it." She motioned towards the chair he had vacated. "Have a seat and let's talk, uhm, unless you have to return to Narcotics?"

Bobby couldn't quite be sure, but he thought she sounded hopeful. Hopeful that I have to leave...or stay? "No, I took the day off."

Her grin grew. "Good." She took the seat across from him. "Tell me about yourself."

He leaned back in his chair, giving her a bemused look. "Didn't you get enough information from the papers the Captain shared with you?"

Alex face flushed, as she stammered her response. "I, I thought it would be nice to hear it from the 'horse's mouth, so to speak."

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Later that day, Alex pulled into her driveway. Opening the trunk, she pulled a grocery bag out and slammed the trunk shut. Humming on her way up to her porch, she stopped. Sighing a big sigh of content she continued on her way to her house. Her mind was still whirling. I finally met him! I finally met Sergeant Bobby Goren.

Putting the bag on the counter, she pulled her cell phone from her purse. Flipping it open, she hit the speed dial. "Mom? Mom, you'll never guess who I met today!"

She began unloading the bag as she spoke. "No, no, I didn't meet the Governor." She shook her head. "Nope, not the mayor either." She giggled. "Not him either!"

Shutting the cupboard, she went to the refrigerator. Pulling a bottle of pop out, she cracked it open and went to the kitchen table and pulled out a chair. Sitting down, she took a swallow of her drink. "I met, I met Sergeant Bobby Goren. You know, the officer in the army that I wrote to, years ago?"

Alex nodded as she listened to her mother's exclamation, and a multitude of questions. Laughing into the phone Alex kept trying to interrupt her mother with little success. Finally, hearing her take a breath, Alex interjected. "Slow down, Mom. I'll tell you everything!"

After speaking to her mom, she went to her purse and pulled out a well worn wallet. Flipping it open, she saw the warm eyes and shy smile beam back at her. Light rubbing her fingers over the protective covering.She smiled back at the photo. You haven't changed a bit. Hopefully, Deakins will be contacting us with some good news soon. She closed the wallet and tucked it safely back into her purse.

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Bobby stepped into his apartment. He had just recently moved and there were a multitude of boxes in all the rooms. Weaving his way around them, he made his way to the fridge. Pulling a beer out, he cracked it opened. Making his way back to the living room, he plopped on the couch, stretching his legs out in front of them, he rested his feet on top of his foot locker. He took a swallow and shook his head. Where have I heard that name before?

Digging out his phone from his back pocket, he hit his speed dial. "Hey Lewis!" He nodded. "Yeah, it's nice to have my own place." He laughed. "No, I promise, no more moving, at least for awhile." He took another swallow of beer. "Hey, do you remember an Alexandra Eames?"

He listened to Lewis' response, which was long, as he went through the litany of names. Goren broke in, somewhat embarrassed. "Lewis, don't you think I'd remember who I dated?" He heard Lewis chuckle. "Yeah, well, I'm not that old!" He sighed, secretly hoping his friend could have helped him.

Goren nodded. "Yeah, I think I got the job. Just need to wait for the decision to come down." He shifted his feet on top of the footlocker, and frowned. "Yeah, I'll see you on Saturday. No problem." Clicking the phone closed, he tossed it next to his feet. Well, that was a bust.

Getting up, he stretched. "Well, these boxes won't unpack themselves." Grabbing one, he set it on top of the footlocker. Flipping the lid of the box open, he began unpacking it.

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It was a long excruciating wait before either of them heard back from Deakins. Alex bit her cuticle as she listened to the voice on the other end. "Well, Alex...are you still interested in the position?"

Without hesitation, she responded. "Yes sir!" She paused a minute. "Captain, may I ask why it took so long? I mean, it seemed unusually long."

Deakins tried to sound positive. "Well, Alex, it seems the 'Brass' were very positive about having you on board with Major Case. However, uhm, they, they weren't quite as sure about Bobby. I assured them, that being senior partner, you could keep him in line. You, you do think you can do that, don't you, Alex?"

Alex bit her lip. I really don't know that much about Bobby. Can I keep him in line? She cleared her throat. "I'll do my best sir."

"Good. I'll see you on Monday." He grinned into the phone. "Now, I am going to call Bobby and give him the good news."

Alex smiled. "Tell him I'm looking forward to seeing him again."

"Will do."

With that both hung up. Alex was grinning from ear to ear. Going to the kitchen counter, she pulled her recipe box from a small shelf. Finding the card she was looking for, she began pulling the ingredients from the cupboards.

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Rising early Monday morning, Alex quickly showered, dressing in a casual black pants with a burgundy knit top. Running a comb through her hair, she opted against makeup, with the exception of lipstick. Her eyes sparkled back at her from the mirror. Going to the kitchen, she quickly packed a tin.

The light on the eleventh floor was low key. Walking towards the desks that they had occupied several weeks earlier, she came to a dead stop. There, on one of the desks, were two cups of coffee from Starbucks and a very familiar envelope. She hesitated a moment, before taking a step. Setting the tin down next to the coffee, seeing her name of the envelope, she picked it up.

Biting her bottom lip, she could feel her heart racing. She glanced around the room, not seeing anyone, or hearing any movement, she opened the envelope.

There was only a name on the single sheet of paper. She laughed, looking up towards the approaching footsteps. His eyes sparkled, as he looked at her.

He stopped a few feet short of reaching her. "Ah, I wasn't too sure how you take your coffee."

Alex smiled. "Definitely lots of sugar."

She reached for the tin. Shyly Alex handed it towards the tall detective. "You never did get a chance...."

He lifted the lid, chuckling. "Higgins did say they were second best chocolate chip cookies he has ever had. Apparently, his favorite is made with ….."

Both began laughing, and simultaneously said, "Chicken Fat!"

The End

A/N: That's it! They finally met, and I managed to bring at least the idea of Higgins back into the last bit of the story. The name on the stationary was, of course, Higgins. To let Alex know, how he finally figured out who she was. Hope you enjoyed.