- So how's our amnesiac...
At Deakins' words, Eames shifted his gaze from the blinds of Deakins' office windows to Goren, where he sat at his desk with Logan.
Logan was taking all the books out of Goren's desk, which were all neatly arranged according to Goren's chronic tidying, and putting them on the desk in front of Goren.
And given Goren's expression at Logan's every move, Eames couldn't help but smile.
But it openly displeased Goren that Logan would disturb Goren's chronicle of his books and scatter them on the desk.
A desk that Goren hadn't even recognized when he arrived at the major case.
But despite his amnesia, Goren couldn't bear anyone to mess with his well-sorted books.
In spite of everything, Goren still had, without realizing it, a part of the man he was before he lost his memory.
- I see that Goren hasn't lost certain habits.
At Deakins' voice and footsteps, which had just come closer and stopped beside her, Eames snapped out of her thoughts to see a Deakins looking in the same direction as her, watching Goren and Logan with a smile on his face.
- And Logan doing everything to make him react.
At his words, Eames felt the hilarity rise up inside her.
For the more Logan did this, the more it openly displeased Goren.
And in his annoyance, Goren put the books back in their place, but that didn't stop Logan from continuing his merry-go-round.
- Alex...
At Deakins' deep voice, Eames turned his face towards him.
- You know it's not your fault what happened to Goren.
It wasn't her fault what happened to Goren...
Even though she was the main cause of what had happened to him.
Deakins didn't know what he was saying.
He hadn't been there.
He didn't know everything.
That it was she who had insisted he come, not letting go until he said yes.
If Deakins knew that, he'd see her differently.
And he'd probably blame her for what had happened to Goren.
At the memory of everything that had happened at that monstrous party, an immense sadness mixed with guilt rose in Eames, and tears welled up in her eyes, blurring her vision.
Deakins' heart sank at the look of distress on Eames' face.
Barek and Logan had told him that Eames held herself solely responsible for what had happened to Goren, and that nothing would change her mind.
And Eames' reaction only confirmed what they'd told her.
Even though they knew full well, all three of them, that she was in no way responsible.
It wasn't Eames driving the other car that had crashed into them.
And they were lucky to be alive.
Which was rarely the case in such an accident.
What's more, Deakins was uneasy.
He didn't know what to say to Eames to ease his grief.
But a small woman with brown curls appeared in his thoughts.
Sure enough.
She could help Eames, much better than he could.
- Wait two seconds, Eames... Deakins walked to the door and opened it. Barek, can you come here.
At Deakins' call, hailing her with his hand, telling her to come and join him in his office, Barek pushed her seat away from her desk, stood up and walked towards Deakins.
Deakins had such an awkward face.
As if...
Yes.
Barek immediately understood what had just happened.
Deakins must have been trying to make Eames understand that she wasn't responsible for Goren's accident.
Nor for what had happened to him.
But knowing Eames, and her guilt, it must have served no purpose, just rekindled the wound that was still wide open.
And Barek knew that Eames must be in immense distress right now.
When he reached Deakins, he stepped aside to let her pass, but put his hand on her arm, stopping her.
- I'll leave you two alone. Deakins didn't dare look at Eames, embarrassed as he was to see her in such distress. I'll go and see Goren and Logan.
Barek nodded, entered the office, and Deakins closed the door behind her, leaving them alone.
- Alex...
At Barek's worried voice, Eames lifted her face, tears welling in her eyes.
My God...
So Deakins had left them alone.
Then he'd realized she couldn't cry in front of him.
And that Barek would be a good support.
She'd have to thank him later for the thoughtfulness of his gesture.
- If you need to cry... Don't deprive yourself Alex.
At his words, spoken with such solicitude, Eames could hold back her grief no longer.
She burst into tears, her tears cascading down her cheeks.
She brought her hands to her eyes, wiping the tears from her palms.
Her heart squeezed by Eames' grief, Barek approached her, and gently took her in his arms.
- You can cry as much as you like.
At his words, Eames let out all her sadness, clung to Barek's top, sobbing her heart out, and screamed her distress.
- It was all my fault.
It was all his fault...
Barek's heart broke into a thousand pieces, and tears welled up in his eyes.
Good heavens.
It wasn't.
Eames was not and would not be responsible for what had happened.
The only one to blame was the hit-and-run driver.
- Don't be silly, Alex... She put her hand to Eames' golden hair and stroked it with immense tenderness. It's the driver who hit you, who's solely responsible.
Yes...
The hit-and-run driver had a great deal to do with Goren's condition, but she too had her share, however small, she was responsible.
Eames was so unhappy.
She could never forgive herself for what had happened to Goren.
Thinking of Goren...
He was just in the next room.
God...
Eames absolutely had to pull herself together.
If Goren ever saw, or heard him crying, he'd ask him what was wrong.
And Eames wouldn't have the courage to face him, or answer him.
So she had to take it on herself.
So Eames stepped back from Barek, brought her hands to her eyes and wiped away her tears.
- Thank you, Caro.
Thank you.
And for what.
Eames didn't have to thank her.
Alex and she were colleagues, yes.
But they were friends first.
And there's nothing more normal than supporting your friends.
- Come on, let's join the trio.
At her words, Barek nodded.
Yes, maybe it would be better to go and find Goren, Logan and Deakins.
And it would take her mind off the immense grief and guilt that was eating away at her.