- Ding... Dong...
Name of God...
No, but who dared to come and ring his doorbell at this time of the night.
He never slept much.
And even less since he knew what Eames was going through.
That as soon as he closed his eyes...
He had nightmares of an Eames in a hospital bed.
Or worse...
In a coffin.
So come to disturb him at this time of night.
With annoyance, he pushed back the sheet, got up grumbling.
Strangely...
The closer his steps were to the door...
The faster his heart beat.
As if one came to announce him a bad news.
Like a bad premonition.
I hope it doesn't concern Eames.
- Ding... Dong...
No but oh...
What did the person who insisted believe...
That he was up this late at night.
- It's okay... I'm coming.
Arrived at the height of the door, he put his hand on the handle, and opened the door.
At the little blonde head that appeared before his eyes, standing on the threshold of his door, his heart stopped.
My God...
No this couldn't be possible.
It couldn't be her.
And yet...
It was her.
Eames was there...
On her doorstep.
And in one of her states.
She was wearing half-ripped clothes that did little to hide her body, and showed all the bruises she had on it, and bleeding.
Her face was blistered, her lips and right eye were swollen and bloody.
My God...
This nightmarish vision of Eames.
It could only be a nightmare.
And yet...
He was not dreaming.
It was Eames in this state.
My God...
Everything but this.
He did not want to see this vision.
He had sensed that something was wrong.
And when he opened the door...
He discovered the state of Eames.
Name of God...
What a bastard Kevin was.
A man who hit a woman was not a man.
Especially when...
When the woman was Eames.
Eames didn't deserve this.
She who had always been there for him.
In good times...
As well as in the worst moments.
And he would return the favor.
He would make Kevin pay for everything that Kevin had done to Eames.
And he would make him pay a hundredfold.
Even if it meant ending his life in prison.
Nothing would stop him this time.
Goren gently put his hand on Eames' arm, who winced, and pulled her inside, closing the door behind her.
- Now that's enough... I'm going to fix Kevin's problem once and for all.
What.
Fixing Kevin's problem...
No, Goren couldn't do that.
Kevin was in a rage.
And Eames didn't even know how she got away.
But all she knew...
Was that she had to get away.
And go to Goren's house.
And Goren couldn't leave her like this.
She needed him.
She needed to confide in him.
And above all...
To keep him from going to Kevin.
Because who was to say her boyfriend wouldn't carry out his threat to Goren.
And Eames couldn't take that chance.
- No... Bobby…
Pardon.
No.
How could she tell him that.
Couldn't she see in the state she was in.
And there was no way Kevin was going to get away with it this time.
- I wouldn't let him get away with it in the state you're in.
Goren without a word and a glance for Eames headed for his room, but Eames came to stand in front of him, put his hands on his chest, stepped in, and stopped him.
- No... Don't go.
Don't go.
Eames couldn't be serious.
He couldn't stand by and do nothing.
It was too much to ask of him.
He had let it go too much.
And because of his hesitation to act...
Eames was in this state.
If he listened to himself...
Eames would not be in this state.
- Alex... Let me go get dressed.
Eames shook his head in denial.
- No...
No.
Goren was getting seriously upset.
Eames was refusing to let him pass.
And especially...
Let him get dressed to go take care of Kevin.
- What do you want in the end... Goren was screaming, causing Eames to pull her hands away, and step back in fear. Let him kill you. He pointed at Eames' outfit. Look at the state of you.
Look at the state she was in...
Eames realized that she hadn't even taken a jacket.
And that Goren could see all the bruises.
Even the ones she had hidden from him.
Instinctively, she put her hands to her torn outfit, trying to hide her bruises.
At Eames' gesture, Goren felt all anger slip away, replaced by a deep sadness.
He gently approached her, put his hand on her arm, and with extreme gentleness drew her into his arms, holding her gently.
With this gesture, Eames felt all his despair going out.
She burst into tears, clutched her shirt with all her might, crying and screaming.
At Eames' cries and screams, Goren's heart broke into a million pieces.
My God...
How could she have kept this to herself.
She must have suffered so much.
And today...
Good God...
He had to make her understand that he was there.
And that everything was going to be okay.
He would see to that.
He would deal with Kevin later.
But first...
He had to take care of her.
That was the most important thing.
- It's okay, Alex... He brought his hand to her golden hair, stroking it with infinite gentleness. I'm here now.
He was there...
Eames looked up into Goren's face with big, tear-filled hazel eyes.
- Bobby... I was so scared...
Scared...
Of course she must have been afraid.
When you saw the state she was in.
Speaking of her condition...
He had to treat her.
And first...
Find her a garment.
Since he was much taller...
A shirt would do.
Gently, he took her hand in his, intertwined his fingers with hers.
- Come... I'll take care of you... Eames nodded, letting Goren guide him. And most of all... Lend you a shirt.
- Why didn't you come to me before...
Not to have come to him before.
It wasn't that she hadn't thought about it.
But with Kevin's threats, Eames never dared.
And tonight...
She didn't hesitate.
She was afraid Kevin would kill her.
- I was afraid…
Fear...
Goren could understand.
But he had to make her understand that she could not risk anything with him.
That with him...
She was safe.
And that she was safe.
- You are safe.
Nothing anymore...
But he is.
If kevin came here.
He'd go after Goren.
And Eames didn't want that.
From the worry and fear on Eames' face, Goren knew that Eames was hiding something from him.
- You must tell me everything...
Tell him everything.
So he understood that she had not told him everything.
She saw him get up from the couch and crouch down in front of her.
Goren took her hands in his, intertwining his fingers with hers.
- Alex... He brought his hand to her cheek, brushed against it. What else are you afraid of...
My God...
How could she tell him she was afraid for his life.
Afraid that Kevin would come here.
And kill him.
- Alex...He brought his hand to her chin, forced her to lower her face to him. You have to tell me everything. Everything that's bothering you.
At the concern and the deep softness in Goren's brown eyes, Eames gathered her courage.
- Kevin told me... The tears came to his eyes, his lips trembled. That he would kill you.
That he would kill him...
So that was the reason.
That's why Eames hadn't said anything.
My God...
If he had known...
He would have reassured Eames.
He was not afraid of Eames' boyfriend.
On the contrary...
He had held back from taking care of him.
All to prevent her from getting hurt.
And this bastard…
Had taken the opportunity to be even more violent.
And to make such threats to him.
He was going to fix that right away.
The serious face, the glance darkened by a violent rage, Goren rose, keeping preciously the hand of Eames in his, forced it with softness to rise of the sofa.
- I'm going to go settle this Kevin's account. Eames shook her head in denial. Don't worry. He won't kill me. Not until I do it myself.
At Goren's distorted features, Eames didn't insist, preferring to keep her mouth shut.
Because she knew that look on his face.
And she knew that nothing would change his mind.
Not even her.
- All right... Let's go.
At Eames' words of resignation, Goren didn't waste a second, picking up his service weapon and his badge as he went, Eames' little hand in his, he headed for the door.
Now it was over for that bastard Kevin.
Goren was going to make him understand that he was not the law.
And even less when it came to Eames.