- Can I come to your house Alex.
Come to her house...
My God...
What could she say...
What could she do.
Eames had no idea what to say to Missy.
Missy was a six-year-old girl, the main witness in the investigation Goren and her were working on.
Missy was a little orphan whose older sister had been killed by her foster family because of all the abuse they had suffered.
And so the key witness in their investigation.
But with her little blonde curls, and her big azure eyes shining with hope when she looked at her, Eames didn't feel she pretty brave enough to say no to her.
In addition, Missy had only confided in her.
And to her alone.
If anyone other than her spoke to her or asked her questions, the little girl shut herself up, refusing to speak.
And Missy had even reacted like that, in front of her partner Goren, keeping silent.
This had never happened before with Goren.
It was the first time a child had not confided in him.
Goren had always been the one who had the easiest time with children.
And certainly not her.
But not this time, it was quite the opposite.
Missy had fallen into silence with Goren, and had only spoken to her.
But maybe that was because she'd found him in his hiding place, and she'd been the first person to see her.
It could have been due to that.
And so, after the vision of her older sister dead, and what she had just experienced, Eames didn't have the heart to take the little girl in a child protection home.
She wanted to support her and help her through her grief.
But there was one big problem...
She couldn't break the rules.
Like the rule against having a witness to an investigation in your own home.
But this was different.
Missy was a six-year-old girl.
So who knows.
Maybe for once she could ignore the rules and take Missy into her home until the investigation was over.
But if Eames did that, she couldn't tell anyone, least of all Goren.
It would have to be a secret between Missy and her.
- If you promise to keep it a secret that I took you in...
- I won't say a word. Especially not to that tall dark-haired guy, who scares me.
So, it was that...
Goren simply scared her.
That's why she hadn't spoken to him.
And yet Goren had a very gentle voice, and that should have reassured the little girl.
But that hadn't been the case.
It's a shame...
Because if Missy really knew Goren, she would never be afraid of him, quite the opposite…
She would have loved him straight away.
But it was true that Goren could be frightening, with his rather brusque manner and imposing build.
- In addition... He was always with you.
All the time with her...
But that was normal.
Goren was her work partner.
And when a witness had to be questioned, they always did it together.
So she was going to have to explain all this to Missy.
- You come at home... But just for the duration of the investigation.
At Eames' words, Missy clapped her hands together and jumped to her feet, delighted that Eames was taking her home.
Eames smiled tenderizes at the little girl's joy.
After all, what was the harm.
If it was to save the little girl from ending up in a home.
Especially as you never really knew how children were treated.
So yes, it was better for Missy coming at her home.
But it was better that Goren never found out that she had taken in the little girl.
Missy approached Eames, slipped her little fingers into Eames' hand, squeezed it gently, and looked up with her big azure eyes shining with adoration.
- Thank you, Alex.
- Oh, but you've got a canary... Missy let go of Eames' hand and ran to the birdcage. I'm Missy. The little girl stretched out her hand towards the cage and slipped her little fingers inside. You have nothing to fear from me.
To Eames's amazement, Paulie, her canary, approached the little girl and slipped his feathers towards her little fingers, asking to be stroked and letting her know that he accepted her.
Paulie had never done that with anyone.
Missy was the first.
Even Goren had the right, at of pecking blows, and since then he'd never gone near the cage again, so as not to risk being attacked by the bird.
- What's his name Alex...
- Paulie.
- Oh, that's lovely. Missy looked admiringly at the canary. You've got a very pretty name. And you're very handsome.
At this compliment, the canary puffed out its chest and began to sing.
But no, Eames wasn't dreaming.
Paulie had indeed accepted Missy.
But it was getting late, and given the hour, she had to get the little girl to bed.
- Missy... I'm going to get you one of my t-shirts to change into... And then you're going to bed.
- But...
Missy didn't want to go to bed.
She wanted to enjoy Paulie again.
She had never had animals before.
And she loved them.
So Alex having a canary was wonderful.
Eames left the little girl, who was busy with her canary, for a few moments to go into her bedroom, open her bed, put one of the cushions in place and, having done that, went to her chest of drawers to get a pastel pink t-shirt.
A colour that would appeal to a little girl.
With the t-shirt in hand, she returned to the living room to see Missy still in front of the birdcage.
- You can enjoy Paulie as soon as you wake up.
At her words, the little girl turned away from the birdcage and came rushing towards her.
She raised her arms, signaling to Eames to undress her.
- Look Paulie... The sooner I get to bed... The sooner I can play with you tomorrow.
Gently, Eames slipped the top over Missy's head, removed it and her trousers and laid them on the sofa.
Missy in her knickers, Eames slipped her pastel pink t-shirt over the little girl's blonde head and put it on her properly.
- Does this suit you.
Yes, it does.
Wearing Alex's T-shirt, she loved it.
And she loved the colour.
It was her favourite colour.
- Yes, I love it. It's my favourite colour.
At her words, Eames smiled, touched.
Missy was really cute.
And the little girl had this detail in common with her, their favourite colours.
- Off to bed.
Eames took Missy's little hand in his, and guided her towards her bedroom.
- Tonight you sleep in my room... And tomorrow I'll prepare the room next door for you.
Missy nodded, silently following Eames.
Once in the room, and at bed level, Eames placed his hands on Missy's small waist, lifted her up, placed her on the bed, and turned down the sheet over her small body.
- Good night, Missy.
Eames brought his hand to the little girl's forehead and stroked it with immense tenderness.
- Good night, Alex. And thanks again.
On these last words, Eames removed his hand from Missy's forehead and left the room, leaving her to sleep.