Rolling right along!
.....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
CHAPTER FOUR: LOGAN'S HERE AND A CONSPIRACY
Q. How do you say no, to the woman you love? A. In German.
"Marry you?" Bobby takes his arm away from the back of the bench and rest his left elbow on his left leg and put his right hand on his right knee. He looks down at his shoes and shakes his head in disbelief.
"Is that a no?"
He leans back to look at her again.
He exhales and begins. "Alex, I'm leaving for Germany on Sunday, I'll be gone for at least a month. I'm not even sure if this job is going to work out. You and I have never even kissed, my life has just taken a 360 and you want to marry me." He shakes his head again.
"I love you Bobby, have for a long time."
"And I love you too but have we even gone on a date?"
"I get it, you were hoping to meet a pretty Fräulein in Germany."
He puts his arm on the back of the bench and while he caresses her cheek and looks deeply in her eyes he says … "Sie haben Frosch wie Augen."
Her breath is taken away at the love she knows she sees in his eyes and of course, like most woman, she's a sucker for a man that can whisper sweet nothing in her ear in a different language.
"What did you just say?" In a very feminine sexy voice.
"I said, you have frog like eyes. So you see Eames, my German … not so good for picking up the Fräuleins. She smacks him on the arm. He laughs and envelops her in an embrace.
"You're such a geek, Goren. How many men know how to say frog in German?"
He leans back from the embrace and kisses her. She kisses him back. She wraps her arms around his neck and holds on for dear life. She doesn't want him to leave her … Germany would be the end for them … she just knew it. She whispered, "please don't go."
"I have to do this for me, please understand. The Captain's exam is coming up again … please take it, you'll make a great Captain ... do that for you."
"Can we see each other this week before you go … we could go on that date?"
"I'd like that."
"Do we have a chance?"
"I'll be gone for a month, at least. You really should reconsider resigning. If you don't want to stay at Major Case transfer out … it will be a fresh start for you but take the Captain's exam it's coming up soon. When I come back if some young stud hasn't swept you off your feet, we can start dating and see how it goes. I want to make sure that this job is right for me … for us."
"Us?"
"I would be a stupid man to say no to you but I love and respect you too much to not do this right. If this job doesn't work then I'll have to look for something else. I have other irons in the fire but it's law enforcement again and it would mean relocating."
"What other offers did you get?"
"FBI and the CIA."
"The CIA? No offence Bobby but aren't you a little too old to be a spy?"
"I would be a profiler for their counter terrorism division in Washington."
"Why didn't you take that?"
"Because it's in Washington. I would never see you. Don't you get it Alex … these offers have been sitting on my desk at home for the past six months. I wanted my shield back to be with you."
"These offers … they waited for you all this time?"
"No, not all of them."
"You really are a genius and I do just carry your water."
"That's not true … I hired a head hunter. There was a real possibility that I wasn't going to get re-instated … I needed a job. I have the resume, so don't you."
"I wasn't in the Army, the CID. I don't have a Purple Heart or a Metal of Valor or your genius mind."
"You're the best God damn cop I've ever had the pleasure to work with … I've learned a lot from you."
"Like what."
"How to be snarky at the appropriate time."
"Very funny Goren."
"Seriously, you taught me how to be a better cop, not just get inside a person's mind but to investigate the crime itself … do the work. I'm … I was a better cop because of you."
She's crying now … a very un-Eames like thing to do. It really is over … he said was and that one little word hit her like a brick wall falling on top of her.
"What are you doing tonight?"
"Meeting Logan … shoot the shit and some pool. Do you want to come?"
"No, you'll have a better time without me … do your guy stuff."
"Okay, but if you change your mind we'll be at Sal's. I should go, I have a lot to do before Sunday. Can I see you after work tomorrow."
"I'm not going in."
"Eames please … don't throw your career away because of me. Consider a transfer and take that Captain's exam … I'll help you study."
"You will?"
"I'll even call you from Germany. Come on, I'll walk you back to your parents."
There was trouble brewing at 1 Police Plaza.
Ross was sitting at his desk staring at the two empty chairs in his bullpen when his phone rang.
"Captain Ross."
"Hello, Danny."
"Commissioner?"
"Who were you expecting Santa Claus? You need to fix this Danny. The media and the people of New York love Goren … not to mention my wife, I think she has a little crush. Anyway … get him back!"
"He has an incredible job offer Sir, there is no getting him back."
"Make the job offer go away. That's a direct order Captain and right now, I'm using the term Captain loosely."
"But Sir, I don't know which firm offered him this position."
"Find out and take care of it. I trust that you want to keep your position here Danny."
"Yes Sir."
"Fine, then Goren should be back at his desk by this time next week. Very good. Always nice talking to you Daniel."
Ross hangs up with the Commissioner and then made a phone call of his own.
"MaGill, Ross, I need a favor. Can you find out the name of the firm that offered Robert Goren the security position. It's a financial firm, that's all I know."
He hung his head. He had already done enough damage to Goren over the past few years. He never cut him any slack and never even tried to understand him … but he did like him. He just couldn't catch a break and here was just another example. He checked his e-mails while he was waiting for the call.
Christ … Eames wants a transfer … I should just kiss my Captain bars goodbye now.
Sal's Bar
"She asked you to marry her!? What did you say?"
"Nein, for now. I want to get my shit together. Go to Germany … see if I like my new gig and settle down into the new … me … you know?"
"No, I don't know … what the fuck are you stupid man? She loves you and wants to marry you and you say no? Idiot!"
"So, I should have said yes not knowing what the future holds for me?"
"Exactly … no ones knows the future Goren … I didn't know that I was going to resign because a Priest told me to get a life. I would have bet you a million bucks that that wouldn't happen but it did. The point I'm trying to make is …"
"Life is too short?"
"Right … life is too short … you of all people should know that. Do you love her Bobby?"
"Of course I do."
"Then what the fuck are you doing here with me? Go say yes … take her to Germany. Get her a job at this swanky place and stay Partners for eternity. Don't go to Germany without giving her some kind of commitment. This is Eames … she doesn't need a ring … she just needs your heart. Now, put the pool stick down and go talk to her."
"Hey Mike … when did you become so … ah … sensitive?"
"It's happened gradually over the years … we've both seen too much shit … neither one us need this crap anymore man. Call me when you get back … I want to hear all about it."
Goren walked out of the bar and took his cell phone out of his pocket. He called Eames to tell her he was on his way over. She was waiting for him at his apartment … that made him smile … the devilish one. He noticed a missed call on his phone, it was from Charter International Financial group … the firm that hired him. The CEO wanted to speak with him right away … he called him on the drive home.
"Bobby, I'm glad you called."
"Yes Sir, what can I do for you."
"I just wanted you to know that your Captain called me tonight. He wanted me to know that you're a time bomb waiting to blow and I should reconsider my offer to you."
"Really?"
"Yes Sir, you told me they considered you a whack job but now they're using it to get you back … this is good stuff. I think I'm going to give you a raise before you even start."
Bobby's laughing. "I think my starting salary is more than generous."
"No … I don't think so. They want you back Bobby and I need you. I'm going to add another fifty thousand dollars to your package and if there is anything you need before Sunday … just call me."
"Yeah? Do you have any openings for my girlfriend … my ex-Partner?"
"I think that can be arranged."
Bobby pulled up to his apartment building happier than ever in his life … so much money … the woman of his dreams just yards away … all he had to do was get out of the car and go tell her. They really want me back?
Hell no!
"Lucy, I'm home! …" In his best Ricky Ricardo impression.
"Bobby?" She comes out of the kitchen to see Bobby down on one knee.
"Alex, will you marry me?"
"Well, I don't know … I have a busy month. I have to have my nails done … mani and pedi. I have to go grocery shopping, take Nate ice skating and study for this test my fiancé is making me take. I'm pretty busy … I may be able to fit you in on … let say .. Hmm … Christmas Eve?"
He tilts his head to one side and glances up with the grin … that "make love to me now" grin. He pulled her down to the floor, since he had a cramp in his leg and couldn't get up, and he kissed her, making her dizzy, hot and horny … the trifecta. As they were making out, Eames cell buzzed in her pocket.
"Ooh … that feels good."
"Bobby!"
"Don't answer that."
She takes the phone out of her pocket and the caller ID lights up ROSS.
"Don't!"
She doesn't … he tries again and again.
"Damn it! Eames!"
"Eames, I'm sorry I know you need time but I need you and Goren if you could just talk to him … the Commissioner's wife has been murdered!"
.....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
tbc. Thanks for reading and reviewing! keep them coming ... they're helping me with the story! Peace ... Judeey