A/N 1: Don't think I've ever written Ross before. I was struggling with the chapter after this one, and Ross piped up and told me to let him open, he'd get Goren started. Actually I think he said he would 'Get Goren going'.
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CHAPTER TWELVE: MITZVAH
11th floor, 1PP, New York
8PM Monday evening
It was after eight, but Captain Ross was still at his desk. He looked at the clock – if Goren's flight was on time, he would have landed almost 20 minutes ago. He looked at his department phone, with few lights blinking, then glanced at his cell. Ross's laptop was open, and papers and photographs littered his desk; he had all the same files as Goren, and he'd been reviewing them all afternoon and evening.
As Eames had requested, he'd kept quiet about her detention and arrest. Even her family didn't know. He'd been able to arrange for counsel and union representation with a couple of discreet calls, and he'd managed to get word about her from a friend in Vegas PD.
Aside from that, he'd stayed out of it. Reluctantly. A part of him had resisted putting his best detective in Robert Goren's hands, but after years of selectively judging him on his failings, he'd finally come to the realisation that, despite his fragility, Goren was capable of delivering. And not because – or only because – he'd been coddled and protected for most of his professional life. It had been a surprise, but… his grittiness, the way he'd kept clawing his way back from the abyss, had earned Ross's respect. Demonstrated that he was capable of taking care of his partner. Despite what Ross judged to be ample evidence to the contrary.
Yes. Goren not only needed Eames, he actually cared about her. So much so that Ross had cowardly dodged any discussion of Eames's lover in Vegas.
No matter what Eames wanted, Goren would eventually have to know about her almost decade-long affair with the dashing blond Lieutenant. But Ross was just spineless enough to make him learn the hard way – from the interview video. On the plane. Not an ideal situation for a man Ross suspected was hopelessly in love. A better man than the Captain might have bit the bullet and spilled the revelation, finding a way to soften the blow. But was he wrong for trying not to be the bearer of bad news, for once? For not wanting to seem like he enjoyed Goren in pain. Which had never been true, despite appearances.
Ross checked his cell to make sure the ringer was on. He had to admit that he was dying to speak to Goren. He'd recently, finally, gotten over his resistance to acknowledging Goren's genius, and now he could just allow himself to bask in its reflected glow. The nature of the case only heightened his impatience.
Yes, he wanted to know what Goren thought. Particularly about Dreyfeus, who to Ross was a complete mystery, but of course about the case. Ross grimaced a bit at the realisation that he'd been imagining Goren, on the plane, cogitating. Reviewing the evidence as only he could do. Manufacturing rabbits to pull out of hats. It was a guilty pleasure. To feel confident that someone would figure it out; would see more than he ever could. Was that how it was for Eames? No wonder she'd stuck to him like glue.
About the case, he had some ideas. He hoped Goren would be willing to listen to him. He didn't pray much, but as the phone rang, he muttered a quiet oath that he might be a better and more trustworthy soundingboard for Goren than the detective had found in the men around him the previous times Eames had been lost to him.
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A/N 2: A huge THANK YOU to all the wonderful reviewers, PMers, favers and alerters – your interest and support is deeply appreciated! And thank you to morgancorinthos84, who has review replies and other personal communication disabled. And don't fret about the short chapter – there are four more written, several of them loooooong, on the way. I expect about another dozen chapters in all, not including this one.
Also… so yeah, they're coming back. Would anyone call me a liar if I said I always knew it? The thing is, I read on a chatroom board someone complaining that the show in Season 9 never mentioned G&E after they left. The commenters considered it a slight against the duo, but I suspected the moment I heard that it was because the PTB wanted to avoid committing themselves, because they were planning – or hoping for – a return.
Reviews do not make me write more or try harder… they just make me happy!
WORDS: 808 UPLOADED Tuesday, October 12, 2010