- Mo... Mmy...
At the murmur of little Francès Martines, Eames rose hastily from his seat to approach the little girl, his heart beating with hope.
My God...
Had she heard right.
Was it really a whisper, and not her imagination.
Had Francès really spoken.
Even if it was only a barely audible whisper.
She hadn't been dreaming.
Praying and wishing that the little girl had really spoken.
Which would mean she'd survived the night.
And so, she'd be alive.
My God...
That she hadn't dreamed that whisper.
That it was real.
Because that would mean that Francès Martines had spent the night.
And that there was hope for the little girl.
As she reached the little girl, Eames leaned her face towards the child's, and found herself face to face with two wide-open emerald eyes.
Then it was real.
Francès had been saved.
It was nothing short of a miracle.
And above all, wonderful.
Eames was overjoyed by this discovery.
At this joy, Eames placed his hand on Francès' forehead, brushed against him, and gave him a tender smile.
- Who are you...
At the child's question, and his big, questioning emerald eyes, Eames decided it was time to make the introductions.
- I'm Inspector Alexandra Eames...
Francès had heard correctly.
The blonde woman with the delicate features, who smiled at her and tenderly caressed her face with her tiny fingers, had told her her name was Alexandra Eames, and that she was an inspector.
But why was a police inspector here.
What had happened.
And where was she.
Francès heard a strange beeping sound, which made her turn her gaze, and see an electronic device, or a wire, which she followed with her eyes, and which was connected to her body.
In addition, she had a mask on her lips.
But what did this mean.
And why did she have this wire connected to this device, and this mask.
Plus, where were her parents.
- Where were dad... And mom…
From the sadness on Eames's face, Francès understood that something had happened, and she felt a violent anguish rise up inside her.
From the anguish on the little girl's face, Eames understood that the little girl was realizing that something had happened to her parents.
Francès had just woken up.
And Eames didn't have the courage to tell her what had happened to her parents.
So she had to find a way to reassure her, without broaching the subject of her parents.
When Francès got better, with the help of her partner, who knew how to deal with children in cases like this, they would tell her about her parents.
As she thought about her partner, her gaze fell on his half-Ebony, half-ashen head, still asleep against the little girl's hand.
Should she wake him...
- Alexandra Eames...
At her name, Eames snapped out of her thoughts and took her gaze from Goren to Francès.
- You can call me Alex... Eames took one of her curly golden locks between her fingers, rolled it up and tucked it delicately behind her ear. If you like.
The blonde lady had told him she could call him Alex.
Strangely...
Alexandra Eames intrigued him.
But without knowing her, Francès felt at ease with her.
Alex was so tender with her, she spoke to her with such gentleness in her voice, and her big hazel eyes shone with infinite tenderness.
But even with all this tender attention, Francès wondered where her parents were.
And she needed to know.
And above all, to see them.
Francès felt a little warm breath on her little fingers, so she put her gaze where the breath came from, to discover half-beige, half-ash curls.
Francès didn't know whose hair they were.
She had hoped the breath was her father's, but it wasn't. Her father was blond like her.
Her father was blond like her.
So it wasn't him.
But who was this man, who was dozing against her hand.
As she thought about this man, she saw him open his eyelids, revealing large brown eyes.
He brought his finger to his lips, warning her not to tell Alexandra Eames that he was awake.
But why shouldn't she say he was awake.
He was such a strange man.
In addition, who was he…
- Francès... Eames brought his hand to his cheek, caressing it with infinite tenderness. This is my partner, Inspector Robert Goren.
Inspector Robert Goren...
So he too was an inspector.
But why were there two police inspectors near her.
What had happened.
Francès knew that when the police were around, her dad had told her that something serious must have happened.
Could it be...
Seeing the little girl's face twitch with panic, Eames decided it was time to get her thinking about something else.
And above all, let her sleep a little longer.
It could only do her good.
- Francès... Eames gave the little girl a tender smile, ran her fingers up her forehead and stroked it with immense tenderness. Try to get back to sleep...
Go back to sleep...
But Francès didn't feel like sleeping.
She was wide awake.
And above all, she wanted to know where her parents were.
But the gentleness of his little fingers on her forehead, soothing her and making her forget everything, made her want to doze off a little longer.
Alexandra Eames was so tender with her.
Her voice was so soft.
What's more, Francès could see that she was profoundly kind.
And she felt safe with her.
Gradually, Francès felt her head grow heavier, as did her eyelids, and she couldn't resist the call of sleep, dozing off under the caress of Eames' little fingers and voice.
- Sleep well, little angel.
Eames smiled tenderly.
My God...
But Eames was so attentive, so tender with Francès Martines, that Goren preferred to pretend he was asleep, so as not to miss anything of this scene, which was something truly magical in his eyes.
Goren knew that his partner played hardball when she was a detective, but that in the real world, Eames was a very sensitive and fragile woman.
And this scene he'd just seen with Francès, showing her being so demonstrative, confirmed what he'd always known.
That Eames was goodness itself.
And it had taken this little girl for him to finally see the real Eames.
The one she'd been hiding.
Trying to protect herself.
Good God...
He could never forget that vision.
The tenderness of this little blonde woman for this little girl.
Tenderness that made his heart beat violently, ready to break.
Should he point out that he was wide awake...
No.
Better not.
If he still wanted to enjoy this vision.
Because if Eames found out he was awake, she probably wouldn't appreciate it, him being able to see her, revealing the real woman she was.
So no, he'd still pretend to be asleep.