Barek, followed by Logan who was returning from a crime scene, stopped dead in his tracks when he saw a little girl at the Eames desk, sitting at her place, almost hitting Logan who stopped in time.
- You could be more careful, Barek.
But Barek didn't even pay him any attention, staring at something in front of her, or rather someone.
It was a little girl with golden curls, her chin resting on the desk, holding her teddy bear in front of her in her tiny hands, and she talking him.
But what a strange attitude.
Strangely enough, this position reminded him of someone much taller with ashy curls.
Could it be...
- Barek... Is this child...
Corlyn turned to Mike, and nodded.
- Yes, it's Goren's daughter.
If she was Goren's daughter, what was she doing all alone, without her father.
Besides, where had Goren gone.
And where was Eames.
The little girl was all alone, in a place she didn't know, surrounded by grown-ups.
It must have been frightening for her.
But, she doesn't at all gave the impression.
She didn't look frightened.
On the contrary, she seemed at ease, talking with her teddy bear, as if it were normal for her to be here, in this unfamiliar place.
- I'll go and see her. Would you...
- Take care of the report. Of course.
With those last words, Logan left for his office, leaving Barek to head for the one Eames', where the little girl was.
- Hello...
At the feminine voice that had just said hello, Jenny looked away from her teddy bear, lifted her head from the desk, and turned to the little lady with the brown curls, who stood there before her, a small smile on her lips.
- I'm waiting for Alex.
Oh...
So that's why she was sitting there.
- My dad left with her. And Alex told me to wait for her here.
Well, Barek didn't need to ask him any questions, the little girl told him everything.
- But my dad didn't seem happy.
And Barek suspected how and why.
After all, Eames, behind Goren's back, had researched the little girl.
And it had paid off, since Goren's daughter was right there in front of her.
- What's your name... Me... Barek crouched down to the little girl's level, gently taking her fingers in his. I'm Detective Barek Corlyn. But you can call me Caro.
Really.
She really had the right to call her that.
Even though she hardly knew her.
She was the second person to say that to her, after Alex.
At Barek's encouraging smile, the little girl immediately felt at ease.
- My name's Jenny... She turned to pick up her teddy bear, and handed it to Barek. And this is...
But Jenny didn't finish her sentence.
Eames had just reappeared before her eyes.
So she gave the teddy bear to Barek, jumped out of the chair and rushed towards Eames.
- Alex...
At the sound of the little voice calling her, and the little girl running towards her, a tender smile appeared on her lips.
When she reached her goal, Jenny took Eames' hand in hers.
At this gesture, Eames gently squeezed Jenny's little fingers in his own.
- Let's go back at to my office.
Jenny nodded, letting Eames lead the way.
- But where's my daddy.
Where was her daddy...
He wasn't far away, but she had to give him a little time to realize the situation.
- He'll be here soon.
Was it true...
Alex had told her that her dad wanted to see her.
But he'd been surprised when he saw it, and he didn't seem at all pleased after Alex.
Thinking about it...
- My dad didn't seem pleased after you. He didn't do anything to you.
For sure, he wasn't.
But of here, to do something to him...
Goren would never do that.
- Your daddy barks more than he bites.
His daddy barked...
More than he bit.
What was that supposed to mean.
Seeing the little woman with the brown curls still by the desk, but this time standing up and holding her teddy bear in her arms, Jenny forgot what she was thinking.
- Caro kept me company... While I waited for you.
This didn't surprise Eames at all.
Barek was the only person she'd kept in the dark about her research into Goren's daughter.
And when she saw the little girl at her desk, she must have realized it was her.
When she reached Eames' desk and Barek's, Barek held out Jenny's teddy bear, which she gladly took back with pleased, hugging it to her with his available arm.
- You forgot to tell me his name.
Oh, that was right...
Jenny was going to fix her mistake right away, and tell him.
- I called him... Mike.
At his name, Logan stood up, walked over to the teddy bear and bent down to look at him.
Really...
This thing, pastel pink...
It had his name.
At Logan's reaction, Barek and Eames burst out laughing.
- Alex... Why is the man looking at my teddy bear like that.
At his words, Eames stopped laughing.
- Simply because that's the gentleman's name... The gentleman is Inspector Mike Logan.
The little girl made a pretty ''o'' face with her little lips.
So, this big man had the same name as her teddy bear.
- A stupid name.
At Goren's words, everyone turned to him, shocked that he could say that in front of the little girl.
- Why stupid.
Eames put his hand on the little blonde head, stroking her hair affectionately.
- Don't look for it. Your dad talking nonsense.
Eames glared black at Goren.
The little girl was particularly fond of her teddy bear.
And to tell her that she'd given him a stupid name wasn't nice.
Her dad talking nonsense...
Logan looked at the little girl and Goren in turn.
Oh but then, she was Goren's daughter.
Logan understood why, when he saw the little girl, he thought he recognized Goren.
Because she was simply his daughter.
- Eames, can I ask you a favor.
Ask him a favor...
It all depended on what Goren asked her.
Besides, she was fine here, little Jenny sitting next to her, watching her draw, her teddy bear still under her arm.
- This is for Jenny.
At her name, the little girl stopped drawing with her crayon and looked up at Goren.
- It's for me.
At her surprised words, Goren nodded.
- If I give you my bank card... Could you go with Jenny and buy her some clothes. And also enough to make him a room.
Really.
Jenny couldn't take her eyes off her father, in disbelief, and tears welled up in her big azure eyes.
So Alex hadn't lied to her.
Her dad wanted her by his side.
- I'd be happy to do you the favor.
Goren took out his bank card, handed it to Eames, who took it and put it in his wallet.
Eames had made no mistake.
After the surprise of her taking his daughter away, she knew Goren was taking responsibility.
Thinking about what he'd just asked her about the room.
Could it be...
Because if she remembered correctly, he only had one room.
He'd give the bedroom to his daughter.
- You want me to make of your room…
- My daughter's room. Yes.
At his words, Eames felt an immense tenderness for this man.
And how could it be otherwise.
He put his daughter's welfare before his own.
Eames pushed his chair away from his desk and stood up.
- Come on, Jenny... We'll buy you what you need.
Jenny was delighted and got up from her seat, but instead of taking his hand, she walked over to her father.
And when she reached his side, she placed her teddy bear on his desk.
- Mike will keep you company.
Mike...
Name of God..
What a stupid name.
Whenever he heard that name, on his hairs stood on end on his head and he thought of Logan.
And it was getting annoying.
Besides, there was already a Mike in his life, he didn't need a second one.
But the idea of his daughter leaving her teddy bear with him touched him deeply.
- Let's go, Jenny...
The little girl nodded, rushed over to Eames, took his hand, squeezed it with her little fingers, and followed Eames.
