Bobby is broken and Alex is sick. Who is that last person that they want to see?

CHAPTER SEVEN: Googles, giggles and bunny slippers

A Surprise Visit

With all Goren's home and grumpy ones at that, there was nothing to do but wipe noses and wait for Bobby's air cast, or "boot", to arrive. Captain Ross decided to pay the clan a surprise visit. Although relations had improved between the two men, Ross was still the last person Bobby wanted dropping in unannounced. Alex was on the couch wearing her bathrobe and her big furry bunny slippers. Bobby turned on the humidifier for her and the Trips. They were crawling around getting into "Goren" mischief ... it started at a very early age and Bobby tried his best to make everyone happy. His toe was throbbing ... so not everyone. He answered the door and Ross took in the sight.

"Looks like you're into it up to your eyeballs, Detective."

"Yes Sir, but they're all mine and my eyeballs love it."

Ross gave him an odd look. "I suppose so, Detective."

"Can I get you a cup of coffee, Sir?" Say no, say no…

"I'd like that, thank you."

Sometimes, I'd like to shove that size thirteen, right in his mouth! thought Alex. …

"Good morning, Sir."

"Eames … you look awful. Why don't you and Goren take the rest of the week off and come back after the holiday?"

Bobby walked back in the room, juggling two coffees, a tea for Alex and bottles for the Trips.

"But Captain … if we do that, we'll deprive Jeffries of his much needed Goren and Eames fix."

"Excuse me? Goren an Eames fix."

"What my husband is trying to say Sir, is … we amuse Detective Jeffries."

"Oh. I hate to tell you this, but you amuse all of us. The latest pool going around the office … and we have a chart … is, which one of you will crack under the pressure and sign the Trips up for play group."

"PLAY GROUP! They're not even a year old … play group?"

"It's the in thing. Career minded parents … hobnobbing with other career minded parents."

"Hobnobbing? Alex … do we have to hob … nobb?"

"NO, no way! You can tell our fellow detectives that we're in!"

"What? Als … what do you mean … we're in?"

"We should be allowed in this pool too. That way, when we DON'T send our kids to play group … we should get the money. Think of all the eggs you can put in one basket then … Goren."

"Goren? Goren? Since when do you call me Goren in our own home?"

Not only was Captain Ross amused … and couldn't wait to get back to 1 Police Plaza to give his squad a complete blow by blow, as well as tell them all about Alex's slippers, but the Trips were also amused by their parents. They had stopped their mischievous ways, held their bottles and took in their parents as if they were watching a good detective story.

"Hey, you're the one that keeps buying eggs."

"WE, are having an extravaganza this week-end! We need eggs. Do you know how many people I invited, Alex? I have to hide a lot of eggs."

"They didn't have to be real eggs, Bobby."

Captain Ross sat down and made himself comfortable. He could see why Jeffries got so amused.

"What … not real eggs? I have perfected the coloring process and you tell me this now?"

"You have perfected the coloring process? Can't you ever do anything half ass?"

"No … full ass or no ass at all."

Jackass is more like it, thinks Ross.

Bobby looks over at Ross as if he knows what he's thinking … and he does.

"I know, I know, I'm a jackass, but I want the kids to have fun this Easter. The Eames stopped the Easter egg hunt tradition after Erin had her stroke. No one else will do it … I thought we should."

Alex went over and put her arms around Bobby.

"Really … you remembered that? We were just assigned as partners then."

"Yeah, I remember … you were talking to Denise about it. She told me later that you were upset."

"Oh … Denise huh? I wonder what she's up to these days."

"I wouldn't know."

Ross needs to know …

"Who's Denise?"

"The Chief of D's old assistant."

"Excuse me … she wasn't just the Chief's assistant. She was Bobby's girlfriend."

"Really? You dated the Chief's assistant, Goren?"

"That was a lifetime ago, Eames. Why bring her up?"

"Eames, EAMES … since when do you call me Eames in our own home? AND, you are the one that brought her up!"

Uh-Oh, the Captain thought … big trouble bringing up the ex. And to call her Eames …

"Since you're taking a trip down memory lane. I remember you as Eames. I barely remember her."

"Speaking of trips … remember this … I am the mother of your triplets!"

"Yes Dear. As I said …oh never mind, I have more googling to do."

"Oh, face book … are you going to look someone up?"

"NO! I was going to search Easter Egg Hunts and how to make them fun for all."

"Fun for all or fun for ex-girlfriends?"

"Alex, did you get up on the wrong side of the rabbit hole, this morning?" As he points to her furry feet.

She took her left slipper off and smacks him on the shoulder with it. John Robert starts to giggle, which led to Haley giggling and Tracy simply says … no, no, no.

Bobby wags his long finger at Alex and says … "I concur."

She put her slipper back on, kisses him, laughs, says goodbye to Ross and leaves Bobby to google and giggle while she goes back to bed.

Ross gets up, thanks Bobby for the coffee and went back to work. On the way in, he calls ahead …

"Jeffries … gather everyone in the bullpen. I just had coffee at the Goren's. I have some good stuff. Send out the Goren alert … I want to start a new pool."

Two more chapters to go. Thanks for reading:)