Chapter 22

Lewis saw the mustang parked out on the street. Shit. All of the reasons Bobby would be at his place at 8:30 on a Tuesday night weren't good ones. He punched in his code and jogged up the stairs, and juggled his keys against the door.

The tv was on. Bobby was sitting up on the couch, watching a game. Lewis came in and helped himself to a slice of pizza from the box. Taking in the empty bottles on the coffee table, Bobby was on his fifth beer. Lewis bent down and pulled a new bottle from the case on the floor, beside Bobby's overnight bag.

"Bobby, what gives?"

"I... Uh... I need a place to stay for a while."

Lewis' first inclination was to say no, to force them back together. "I thought you guys were pulling it together," he said.

"No, uh, Alex... She, uh, called it off."

Lewis sank into the chair and twisted off the cap of his beer. He took a long, slow sip.

"Look, my apartment... Won't be available for a couple of months. I just need a place to stay until... And I can always bunk at the squad if you need the place to yourself."

"Hey brother," Lewis finally said, and then shrugged. "Mi casa es su casa." He opened the box and went for his second piece.

"Thanks, Lewis. I mean, really, thanks."

"So what happened?"

If he hadn't been so tired, he would have started pacing. Bobby scrubbed his face with his free hand. "Oh, you know, I," he scoffed, "I screwed up again."

Lewis studied his friend quietly for a moment. "Screwed up, how?"

"Fuck, you know, I just... I went out and got drunk and didn't come home."

A frown crept across Lewis' face. If Bobby was that upset, there was a reason behind it, and not likely one he would put into words. "You can stay on the couch for now. Maybe this weekend we can find you something more comfortable."

"Thanks, man, thanks."

Alex found herself staring at his things once again. This time, she was determined. She couldn't live like this. She couldn't raise a child like this. His stuff was everywhere. Ever since he'd sublet his apartment, more and more of his things were in hers. She didn't mind at the time: they were trying to build a life together, after all. But now, they were so intertwined with hers that it was going to take a lot of work to separate it.

Just like us. The thought brought forth the sobs she'd been suppressing all day. As she sat on the floor and cried, another thought popped into her head. It would be easier to just leave it be.

And then another: Just because it's easy doesn't make it right. She got to her feet and worked, ignoring her tears. She had to do what was right, for the sake of her child.

They'd barely laid eyes on each other when the Captain called them into his office. For some reason, Alex had a ball in the pit of her stomach.

Ross was angry. That was clear to both of them. They obediently walked in, and Ross walked around them and shut the door, a little harder than was necessary.

Bobby looked more human than yesterday. He'd managed a few hours sleep. He stood beside Alex, and she could feel his arm as it almost bumped her shoulder. Bobby had his arms folded. Whatever Ross had to say, he was going to give it back as hard as it came. Alex forgot herself a moment, and gave Bobby a pleading look. He'd been in hot water with the Captain before, and every time they locked horns…eventually, she knew, Bobby was the one who would lose.

He noticed the plea in her eyes, and ever so slightly, Bobby's posture softened. His jaw was still set firm, and his arms were still folded, but he relaxed them a bit, and she looked back at her Captain.

"I need an explanation from you two," Ross said. He was discouraged when neither of them seemed surprised. "There are some rumors floating around here that, if true, could have some very serious repercussions."

He noticed Alex stiffen, but again, saw no surprise from either one of them. Ross frowned and leaned against his desk, folding his own arms. "Please tell me it's not true."

"What, sir?" Alex asked.

"That you're having Goren's child."

She immediately looked to Bobby, who never moved a muscle. He stared right through Ross, reminding her of a soldier at attention.

"Well?!" Ross demanded.

Alex sighed. "Yes, sir, it's true."

Ross swore under his breath, in Yiddish. "When exactly were you planning to tell me?"

Again, it fell on Alex to answer. Bobby was like a statue. Some kind of angry statue.

"We didn't want to lose our partnership, sir."

"That's inevitable. You know the department's policy."

"Yes, sir," she whispered.

Ross stared at Goren a moment, trying to figure out exactly what was going on with him. Finally, he spoke again. "Goren, you're now partners with Logan. You're senior. Don't screw it up. Eames, I'll have you with someone by the end of the week."

"What about our current cases?"

"Divvy them up between you, and I want your old paperwork caught up by Friday."

"Yes, sir." Alex was suddenly very tired. The deadline on the paperwork meant she was in for some late nights.

"That's all, get to it," Ross commanded. Alex headed out the door and was surprised when Bobby didn't follow her. She went all the way to the desk before looking back to stare.

"You've got something to say?" Ross asked him.

"Just… Captain, I might be interested in a transfer. I wondered if you knew of anything, you know, coming down the pike."

Ross shut the door again and sat down at his desk. "Goren, as much as you're a pain in my ass, I don't think I want to grant you a transfer right now. If you're having trouble with Eames because of all this, well…"

"So that's it? No transfers."

"Not now."

"I can go over your head."

Ross smiled sadly. "You can. But unless you've got more secrets you're hiding, I don't think the brass would go for it."

Bobby finally let his hands go, and rubbed the back of his neck while he bobbed his head up and down. Angrily, he sauntered out, taking the time to give the Captain's door a slam on the way.