This chapter is fluff / filler, if you will. The next scene in untethered was short, contained completely within Ross's office. And, according to wardrobe, covered an entire day in less than 30 seconds, giving me very little to work with. So, in the interest of keeping with the episode, here goes nothing! Stick with me, there is more substance in the chapters to come and please remember to review. It means sooo much!!!

Chapter 9

Alex padded down the hall, half awake, toward the scent of fresh Columbian blend. She rounded the corner into the kitchen and headed straight for the coffee maker. Bobby was sitting at the kitchen table reading the morning paper, drinking his coffee and eating cinnamon toast. He looked up as Alex entered the room and grinned in adoration at her morning hair and sleepy eyes. Her pursuit was clear. Coffee, "sweet nectar of life" Alex had once called it. She swept past him without so much as a glance. It was quickly becoming their morning routine. Bobby was always up first. He showered and shaved (or not), dressed, started the coffee maker and retrieved the morning paper. Each morning, he left a coffee mug on the counter next to the coffee pot for Alex. She poured her cup, doctored it properly with milk and sugar and took that first eye opening sip. He heard her sigh. She turned to face him and leaned against the counter. She met his amused eyes over her cup. Another sip and a deep, awakening breath. With a pencil thin smile and still heavy eyes, she offered, "morning."

Bobby nodded and met her greeting with his own. "morning."

She shuffled toward him and ran one hand through his hair as she leaned down, first to give him a quick kiss and second, to steal a piece of cinnamon toast. Bobby watched her leave. "How can two words between us leave me wanting and yet settled and secure at the same time," he wondered.

Forty five minutes later, Alex reappeared in the kitchen, this time fully human. She stopped just short of Bobby as if she was seeing him for the first time that morning. He looked at her and raised his eyebrows, "What?"

"Is that the only suit you have over here?"

"Yes… Why... Is there something wrong with it?"

"No. Come on let's go. Not a good day to be late"

"Wait," he called, as she was already heading to the front door. "What's wrong with this suit?"

Alex walked through the front door and stood on the porch holding it open for Bobby. He stepped through and turned to lock up. Alex headed for the SUV. She started it up and Bobby fell into the passenger seat, portfolio in hand. He buckled up and turned to face her. "Alex, what is wrong with this suit?"

"Nothing really… it's just not my favorite, that's all"

Bobby looked perplexed. Alex chuckled to herself at the expression on his face. Without a word, Bobby turned to right himself in the seat. Three lights later, Bobby asked, "Is it the color or the fit?"

The light turned green, Alex looked both ways before crossing the intersection and before giving Bobby an answer. "I just like your dark suits better. What I really like, is when you take your tie off, undo a button or two and roll up your sleeves. That, my dear, is a good look."

Again, Bobby looked perplexed. Not another word was said until they reached the parking garage at 1PP. Alex was in a good mood. He could tell by the way she swung her hips on the way in to 1PP. "She ought to be after last night," he thought and couldn't help but smile at the memory, quite pleased with himself and his performance.

Still no words in the elevator except for the tune Alex was humming to herself. Just before the elevator doors opened, Alex turned to Bobby with a mischievous grin. "Naked is another good look for you." With that, she exited the elevator leaving Bobby with flushed cheeks.

They sat across from each other and watched Captain Ross enter the bullpen. They gave him time to poor his coffee and settle in for the day. With a file folder full of facts about Donny and Tates they descended upon his office. The meeting ended with Goren having been dismissed and Eames left to plead their case alone. In the end, Ross came through, at least for now. Donny was to be transferred to Rikers as a potential witness for 24 hours.

"I just don't understand why he always has to dismiss me like a child while the parents discuss the next course of action."

"I don't know Bobby. Like I told you before, I didn't give him a chance to speak before I let into him about keeping you clear of involvement and offering to be the face on the case. He made his decision and shuffled me out of his office too."

"Why couldn't he say all that in front of me?"

"I don't know." They stopped in front of her car in the 1PP garage.

"So I'll stop by my place and pick up some things. Then, I'll see you at the house."

"OK," she nodded. "Are you picking up dinner or do you want leftovers?"

"I'll pick something up. I've got to make a few stops between my place and home anyway."

Alex smiled. "I'll see you in a bit then." She started the car and watched him open the driver's side door to the SUV. "Home - he called my place home," she thought and held back the flood of emotion rising in her chest. She drew in a breath and headed that way - home.

Bobby showered and threw on his jeans and an NYPD sweatshirt, a dark navy one. He gathered his things in a duffle and carefully folded the gray suit into a bundle. On the way home, he stopped at the drug store and the neighborhood Blockbuster. He had one more errand.

"Hello, how are you this evening?" the attendant asked cheerfully.

"I'm good, thank you. I'd like to drop this off please."

"Sir, this is beautiful!! Are you sure?"

"Yes, hopefully you can use it"

"We certainly can. We don't get many donations in this size. This suit looks brand new. Can I ask why the generous donation?"

"I'm just not… comfortable in it anymore. Darker is better, I think."

"Well, we surely appreciate the donation. We'll put it to good use."

Bobby left, feeling good about the donation, and headed to Charlieboy's Diner for takeout. Eames loved their fries best.

TBC

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