Chapter 26

"Why didn't you call me?" Liz demanded as she let herself in.

Alex bristled. "I already knew what you'd say."

Liz's expression fell. "Oh, Alex, is that what you think? I must have really hurt you the last time."

Alex was still wary. The bottom line was that Liz had never liked Bobby much and could only be happy that things hadn't worked out.

"I just think I shouldn't have to find out things like this from Johnny."

"I would have told you, Liz. When I was ready."

"When you were ready, huh? Well, I guess I just have to live with that, don't I Alex?" She tossed her coat over the back of a chair and sat down on the couch, like she owned the place. "You do know that all this stress isn't good for the baby?"

"The baby's fine."

"So says you."

"I go back to the doctor on the 6th. I'm sure I'll get a good report."

"Do you want me to go with you?"

Truth be told, Alex didn't want to go alone. She didn't want to ask Bobby, not with things in their current state. She was supposed to get the amnio test done. If the results weren't good… she didn't want to be with Liz, either.

"Alex? Do you want me to go with you?"

"N-no. Thanks, Liz. I'll be fine."

"You'll call me? Afterward?"

Alex sighed and gave a little nod. "Sure."

Their first week together was wrapping up, and overall, it hadn't gone well. They had worked out a few kinks, but when it came down to driving the case, Logan very rarely agreed with Bobby's logic. Logan didn't trust profilers. Goren didn't trust Logan.

Now they were at an impass about how to approach interrogation of the suspects. They stood together in the observation room, and Logan laid out his concerns. "You're not gonna get a damn thing from him that way. Your empathy will do nothing for this guy except give him a chance to yank your chain while the real perp digs down deeper until we miss our chance to snag him!"

"You're not gonna be able to bully the truth out of this one, Logan. He's got a rap sheet as long as my arm, and if the price is right, he won't mind another stint in prison." Goren folded his arms. "We're doing it my way," he said, ready to pull rank if he had to.

"This is never going to work. You're so fucking stubborn and… did you railroad Eames like this, too? Geez, she's better off without you."

The punch came out of nowhere, surprising them both. Mike managed to block the next three, before their coworkers rushed in and pulled them apart.

Bobby was red-faced and screaming at him. "Don't you ever bring her into this again! Don't ever! I'll kill you, you son of a bitch!"

Mike almost broke free of the men restraining him. Ross hurried in, a look of fury on his face. "Goren, come with me," he seethed.

Bobby shook the hands off of him and swaggered out, following the Captain.

Ross kept his hand firm on the doorknob and managed not to slam it shut. "You start explaining."

"It's not gonna work, me & Logan, Captain. He doesn't understand."

"He doesn't understand? Or you don't?"

Bobby took a breath and tried again. "We had a… difference of opinion about interrogation tactics."

"And this is how you resolve that? With fists?"

Bobby looked away and rolled his eyes, his hands clenching into fists.

"You're on leave, Goren. Until I get to the bottom of this."

"Sir, just give me a transfer and… I'll be out of your hair."

"Go home, Goren. I'll call you in when I'm ready to discuss this with you."

Bobby was still angry, and his pace proved it. He grabbed his binder without a look at anyone in the squad room. He glanced in the direction of Alex's desk, but it was empty. She'd never returned from lunch today.

He had the cigarette in his mouth, albeit unlit, before he even left the building. Bobby paced in the cold garage, smoking it down to a nub in record time. He snuffed out the butt and dropped into the driver's seat of his car, slamming the door shut.

He pulled out of the space with a loud squeal of his tires.

"What happened to you?"

"This? Nothing," Mike said, pointing to the bruise on his jaw and then shrugging.

"Uh, thanks for meeting me here," Alex said. "I know this isn't really…"

"Alex, it's okay. I told you before, if you need anything…"

"Still, I feel… weird about it."

"What do you want me to do?" he asked, an honest question. "You want me to go in with you?"

"No. Just wait out here. I just… they're going to do amnio, and if it's not good, I won't want to be alone after."

"Sure, Alex." Mike gave her a smile. "I'll wait here for you."

Bobby left her another message. "Alex, I know we're not exactly talking, but… I know it's almost time for that amniocentesis and I… please let me know… I'd like to go to the appointment with you, if I could… but… anyway, please let me know."

He hung up and raked his fingers through his hair. He'd just gotten it cut, and it felt strange for them to slide through so easily without getting caught in tangles of curls. He did it twice more, and then walked back down the street, in the direction of Lewis' garage.

Logan read everything in the waiting room. By the time Alex came back, two hours later, he felt like an expert on pregnancy, birthing, and parenting. He'd also read the only, well-worn, copy of sports illustrated in the office.

She looked worried.

"Everything okay?" he asked, concerned.

"Yeah. Turns out I don't get the results for two weeks. But I'm glad you're here. They said I would need a ride home."

"You got it," he said, and helped her put on her coat.

"You're off early," Lewis said.

"Actually, I'm on leave," Bobby explained. "I thought, you know, since I don't have anything on the agenda, I could give you a hand around here."

Lewis gave him a crooked smile. "Suit up, big guy. I've got a barracuda to work on this afternoon. You can do all the dirty work."

Bobby grinned, and grabbed a large pair of coveralls off the rack on the wall. The two men worked a long time on the car. Finally, Lewis broached the subject. "I thought you didn't have any leave."

"Uh, yeah. That's right." They worked a little longer, talked about the car. "I got upset with Logan… gave him a left hook."

The wrench slipped and landed on Lewis' shoulder. Without a word, he grabbed it and continued working. "Damn, Bobby. So what happens next?"

"Anything from a note in my file to a suspension to a trip to the unemployment line." For a moment, the ratcheting of Lewis' wrench filled their ears. "It's okay. I'll come out all right. I always do."

But it takes a piece of you every time. Lewis finished with the wrench and rolled out from under the car. He got to his feet, and gave his friend a once-over. Bobby was looking old. "Okay, let's replace the oil and turn her over," he said, clapping Bobby on the shoulder.

Mike had stayed a while, helping her with some household chores before he headed on his way. She was grateful for the help, but she was tired and sore and feeling down. Alex had already laid down when she remembered she'd turned her phone off at the Doctor's office.

She got up and retrieved it from her purse. She had missed calls. A lot of them. Alex pulled up the list and her heart froze when she saw they were all from Bobby. She also had a message.

Alex, I know we're not exactly talking, but… I know it's almost time for that amniocentesis and I… please let me know… I'd like to go to the appointment with you, if I could… but… anyway, please let me know.

Alex hugged erased the message and hugged herself. With some trepidation, she called Bobby.