Chapter 25

Bobby and Mike paced down the sidewalk together. They'd already had several standoffs in their first few hours as partners: over who would make the calls, who would drive the car, and who would lead the interviews. At this point, the only resolution was for Bobby to pull the Senior Partner trump card, and he didn't want to overdo it.

When Logan first came to the squad, Goren thought he was all right, but now, with all that had transpired between him and Alex, he didn't like him much. He certainly didn't trust him. It was a poor foundation for a partnership.

Still and all, he was glad Logan hadn't been partnered with Alex. Maybe it was just the jealousy rearing up again, but Bobby knew Logan's history. He slept with Barek and Wheeler, and given the chance, he was sure he would pursue Alex.

They both reached for the door at the same time, and then pulled back. Bobby threw his hands up in the air and shook his head. "Go ahead, go ahead."

Mike yanked the door open and they walked in. They flashed their badges and asked for the owner. While they waited for him to come up from the back, Bobby snooped. He leaned hard over the counter and took a mental inventory of what he saw. He stood straight just as the young woman appeared with her boss.

They took turns shaking his hand and Logan began the questioning. Bobby's focus appeared to drift as they spoke, and he took a few steps away from the conversation, running his fingers along the shelves. Bobby picked up a small bottle from the shelf. "You're supposed to… just pour this in your gas tank, right?"

The shopowner nodded.

"I didn't think people used this stuff anymore, with all the new additives in the gasoline at the station…"

"It's not that popular, but I still keep it on the shelf."

Goren put it back, and studied the other items on the shelf. Finally, Logan wrapped up the interview and they walked out together.

Logan honestly didn't know what to think. In his mind, Goren had done nothing to add to the interview, nor to help it. If anything, he'd made the guy uncomfortable and less likely to talk.

"The CSU report," Goren explained quietly. "They picked up jet fuel at the crime scene. We've been thinking we need a connection to the airport. But that fuel injector cleaner, jet fuel's an ingredient."

"We've been barking up the wrong tree," Logan muttered, suddenly assured that Bobby's time in the interview wasn't a waste.

She wasn't in the squad room when they returned, and Bobby couldn't help but scan the room every few minutes, looking for her. He tried to lose himself in the case. He was researching gasoline additives, trying to find an exact match to the mixture the CSU team reported they found. If he could identify the type, they might be able to track it down to a specific store, which could lead them to their perp.

But he was distracted. He told himself that Alex could take care of herself. He knew she could, he'd been her partner for years and seen it firsthand. But he also knew she was carrying a baby, and he wanted desperately to be there to protect her, to protect their child.

He and Logan had another standoff trying to push the elevator button. Again, Bobby backed off. At least Logan didn't seem as bullish about it now. The doors opened, revealing Alex inside.

Bobby couldn't move. His brown eyes searched hers, and he found himself speechless.

Alex swallowed hard and mumbled his name as she brushed past him back to the squad room.

"Goren, you coming?" Logan asked, holding the elevator door open with his hand.

"Oh, uh, yeah. Yeah." Bobby was jittery as he walked into the elevator. He took a deep breath and sighed, trying to calm his nerves.

"Things seem… pretty tense between you two," Logan observed.

Bobby's anger flared. "That's none of your damn business," he snarled.

"No, Goren," Mike said, drawing closer, "when you're my partner, it is my damn business. I could care less if you're together or not, so long as you've got my back when I need you."

The doors opened and Logan stepped out. Bobby's distaste for him was strong, and although he knew as Logan's partner he would do what he had to, he couldn't say the words. He couldn't make the man any promises. He smacked his hand against the sheet metal wall before he followed Logan out.

Alex had been doing paperwork for three solid hours. Her butt was falling asleep, her back was starting to hurt, and she was sick of the protein bars she'd been eating to stave off the dizzy spells. She kicked the chair away from the desk and stood up, pressing her hands against the small of her back.

She stretched as best as she could manage and paced a little circle to get her blood flowing again. Fortunately, she hadn't seen him much today. Even with her new resolve that it had all been a mistake and the best course of action was the one they were currently on, she couldn't deny the intensity of her love for him.

That look in his eyes, at the elevator today… Alex felt like she'd been knifed in the heart. She sighed. This was going to take a long time to get over.

Suddenly, he was standing before her. He smelled like smoke, and she raised her hand to her mouth and nose, trying to mask it.

"Uhm, hi," he said quietly, shifting his weight nervously from one foot to the other.

She dropped her hand for a moment. "Bobby," she replied in a raspy voice. They stared at each other.

"I, uh… I was going to empty out my desk… move the stuff over there," he explained, jerking his head.

"Oh. Okay."

"Alex?" he said urgently, then stepped back. "Uh… are you… you and the baby are all right?"

Tears welled in her eyes. She couldn't speak, so she simply nodded.

"Look, I know… I know you don't want… and I know it seems like… but if you need anything, Alex, I… I want you to come to me."

She nodded and a tear slipped down her cheek. She wiped it away angrily. "For the baby," she whispered.

"Yeah. For the baby," he agreed. He dropped the cardboard pack of cigarettes on the desktop, then opened a desk drawer and started grabbing things inside.

"Bobby?" she said, halting him. He glanced over at her. Alex lightly touched his pack of cigarettes with her fingers. Please don't fall apart. "Never mind." She headed for the breakroom then, to give herself some space to recover.