Chapter 8
A/N: Pivotal chapter ahead. ;)
xoxoxo
3 days later
Wednesday–9:30 pm
Bobby's Apartment - Brooklyn, NY
A few days later, his routine had changed.
He didn't go back to work at Major Case. With one phone call, he was reassigned to Homicide in Brooklyn. He already knew the unit, so the transition was easy.
Hannah said it would be fine. Although he asked for a reason, Bobby never offered one.
Leona was back home. Unfortunately, during her recent trip to Italy, she caught a virus. But not knowing what it was, she thought it would be best if she stayed at her place with no guests until she kicked the thing out of her system.
Bobby sent over some chicken soup, flowers, and a note for a speedy recovery.
Ever since that night on the bridge, he's been more confused than ever. If Eames hadn't brought up what had happened between them a year ago, he might have left New York without knowing how she felt.
He gives her credit for being stronger than he is.
He handled things horribly. Lewis tried to warn him that things weren't cut and dry and he didn't listen.
For the next several weeks, he plans to divide his attention between work and prepping his new book. He'll visit with Lewis whenever he can. Once Leona has recovered, the rest of his time will be spent prepping for the move to Lisbon.
While sorting through his binder one day, a business card falls out. He picks up the card and smiles.
Just the person he needs to contact.
x x x
Friday–5:30 pm
Manhattan, NY - Office of Dr. Paula Gyson
A couple of days later, he's seated in a familiar chair, across from the woman he once feared would take away his job. They're past all of that now.
"I'm glad you made an appointment," says Dr. Gyson. "It's good to see you. How have you been?"
"Very good," Bobby replies.
"So, catch me up. What have you been up to?"
"As you know, I left the force over a year ago."
She nods. "I heard about that. Pretty big step."
"I started writing a book and finished it. I'm back on the job, but it's just temporary. Planning to continue writing full time. Also, I'm in a relationship."
"Great! How's that going?"
"Good. We're planning to move to Lisbon in the fall."
"Wow! So, it's serious. Congratulations!"
"Yeah," he smiles. "She's great."
"I remember you saying… Or asking, was it? If there was any hope of a relationship in the cards. And it looks like you've proven to yourself that there is."
"Something like that."
"I'm happy for you. Now hopefully you can see that your past doesn't determine who you want to be. You can be happy. So, what else is going on?"
He fills her in on Alex, and his uncertainties about moving to Lisbon, then settles back in his chair to wait for her thoughts. "So, what do you think I should do?"
Gyson smiles. "It's up to you."
He sighs. "What am I missing that will help me figure things out?"
"Start by being honest with yourself about what you want; what's working, what isn't working. Don't hold back, even if you don't like what comes out. By admitting things out loud, sometimes you find answers."
"But I know what I want. To be happy."
"That's too general. What would make you happy with your relationships? Your relationship with Leona, with Alex. Then move on to the job. That doesn't mean you'll get everything you want. But you won't know until you try."
Bobby ponders her suggestion, then shrugs.
Paula sits up in her chair. "Maybe what you desire is another conversation with Alex before you go to Lisbon. Maybe it's working on that relationship and patching things up. Then you'll feel better about what the future holds. It may give you clarity. Alex tried to talk to you that night and you weren't ready to hear it. After a little time passes, you'll be able to have that honest conversation."
"I'm not sure that's ever going to happen."
"But you don't know that."
"Nope. I messed it up."
"You said she admitted having feelings for you."
"But I'm with Leona. I told… Hell, I practically threw it in her face," he admits and frowns.
"Back to Leona. Why haven't you been honest with her?"
He shrugs. "Because I know how much this move means to her. I don't want to hurt her."
"What's the worst thing that will happen if you're honest with her?"
"I guess we'd break up."
"For being honest about your feelings on a long-distance move… Why?"
"I lied to her. I was so surprised she wanted me to come with her to Lisbon. It was a commitment. I don't know what I'd say to her now."
"It's a life-changing event. Give yourself a break. You might not get the desired outcome, but you don't know until you talk to her. Maybe you'll find a compromise. Maybe she'd re-think her decision."
"She's pretty set on it."
"You're doing the same thing with both women! You're not giving them a chance to hear you out. How has that worked for you so far?"
He nods and lowers his head. "True."
"Do you love Leona?"
He ponders it. "There are things I love about her and about the relationship. Yeah, maybe."
"What about Alex? Do you love her?"
"You already asked me that once."
"Do you?"
"Yes, I do. I don't think I was certain back then. But now I am."
"If you knew that going back to Major Case meant facing these uncertainties about your feelings for Alex, and perhaps wrecking what you thought was going great with Leona, then why go back there?" the doctor asks.
"I don't know."
"Why do you think you went back?"
"I like the work. The precinct. I wanted to see Alex again."
"But you knew there were unresolved feelings and things could get complicated."
He shrugs. "I don't know… I think I might have wanted her to say she still had feelings for me."
"And she did. Do you think you were looking for a reason not to go to Lisbon?"
"I don't know. Maybe."
"So… It sounds like you still need to have conversations with both women."
"Yeah."
"I wish I could tell you everything will get easier from here. You have a lot to think about. Be honest with yourself. Be honest with the two women in your life. Things will work out in time. I know you're a very logical person, and it's easy to rely on your intellect to find a solution. But this is the time to put that away and follow your heart. The answers will come to you."
"Thank you."
"Sure. Time's up. If you want to set up another appointment, call me."
He nods and stands up. "I will."
x x x
-4 days later-
Tuesday - 12:45 pm
Brooklyn Homicide
Alex enters the 105th precinct. Her eyes pan around, looking for Bobby. She sees the desk clerk and a few unis, so she walks in further and finds her former partner chatting with two detectives.
They're talking and laughing. Very relaxed, so it doesn't appear that she's interrupting casework.
Bobby smiles. "Eames… Hey." He's happy to see her, but his heart sinks. They haven't spoken since the night everything fell apart.
Alex gives a courtesy smile to the other two detectives before looking at him. "Detective Goren, do you have a minute?" she asks.
"Sure."
He isn't sure whether she means for this to be private, but assumes it would be preferred. There are no available conference rooms or file rooms, so Bobby gestures to the door and they exit the building.
The street traffic is loud, so they walk toward a narrow alleyway. It's probably the least congested and closest to a quiet spot to talk. Alex turns around to face Bobby.
"What's this about?" he asks.
She removes a thumb drive from her pocket and hands it to him. "I have information about the Bistro fire in Brooklyn that Leona covered."
Bobby nods for her to continue.
"Frank Sollucco, the mob boss who was reported to still be alive, had been hiding out from the feds and his enemies. When the story leaked that he was alive, his enemies came after Sollucco and his associates tried to get revenge. They went after Leona and two others who they thought may have been sources. There's no word on Leona's sources. Names were omitted. The feds offered her protection. She gave them an address in the Dominican Republic and said she was leaving the country."
"She was born there. Her mom and a half-brother still live there," Bobby explains.
"But she chose to stay in New York." Alex gives a timid smile, hinting that it's probably because of Bobby that Leona didn't leave.
Alex continues. "One of Sollucco's associates was shot and killed by the NYPD. Cops tried to arrest him on a drug possession charge. He pulled his gun and the officer shot first. Feds finally caught up with Sollucco and the remaining associates. They got the associates to flip on Sollucco and the trial was set for later this year. But Sollucco died of a heart attack in his cell a month ago. His case is closed. The associates were transferred to other cities with prison terms to serve out. As far as the bureau is concerned, Leona is safe."
"Thank you, Eames."
"You're welcome." She turns and leaves.
Bobby opens his mouth to say something else, but all he can do is watch her walk away.
x x x
7:30 pm
Leona's apartment - Queens, NY
Leona sits at her laptop. She's finally catching up on some of her work after the last few days spent kicking whatever she caught in Italy out of her system.
She promised herself dinner from her favorite Thai restaurant once her latest blog post was uploaded.
She groans at her choice of a concluding sentence, but it's the best she can come up with and she needs to post it. She uploads her document and then shuts down the computer.
There's a knock at her door as she's getting up from the computer. Leona wanders over to answer it, and it's Bobby.
"Robert… I didn't expect you." She greets him with a peck, then stands back to invite him in. "I thought you were planning to work on your draft tonight."
He wanders in, looking mopey. Either a bad day at work or he tried to write and ended up with writer's block. She assumes the latter. "Love, you've got to get that draft to your editor! Get your advance check for Lisbon."
He shakes his head. "I've been walking around for the past hour. Leona, we need to talk."
x x x
1 month later (May 2013)
Friday–7:00 am
Major Case Squad–Office of Captain Alex Eames
Alex walks through the bullpen on the way to her office. Only Lee is there at the moment.
Detective Lee was promoted to Sergeant, at her request. He definitely earned it.
The two newest detectives are doing great. Finally, it seems like her work life is becoming manageable again.
Upon entering her office, she sees a cup of coffee on her desk from a local shop with a notecard in an envelope leaning against it.
Before turning on the lights or even dropping the things in her hand, she turns back to the bullpen where Sargeant Lee sits at his desk eating a bagel.
"Do you know who's been in this office?"
He swallows his bite and nods. "Desk sergeant. Said he had a cup of coffee delivered to you. I opened your office and let him put it on your desk. It was about two minutes ago."
"Any mention of who sent it?"
Lee shakes his head. "Although the desk sergeant likely brought it in because he knew the person or had no reason to suspect a problem."
"True." She walks back to her office.
It's probably Chief Hannah thanking her because they just wrapped up a big case. He mentioned owing her a cup of coffee.
She's grateful. She left in a hurry this morning and forgot her coffee thermos on the counter. The chief hasn't figured out how many sugars she prefers. Very few do. So, she'll have to grab some sugar packets.
Alex re-enters her office, turns on the lights, and places her belongings on the desk. While her computer is booting up, she picks up the note card. After taking it out of the envelope, she opens it and reads the message.
It's not at all what she was expecting.
She sets the card aside and reaches for her coffee.
xx
Dear Eames,
I love you too.
I know it's probably too late, but it's the truth. I thought you should hear the truth.
I've loved you since that night a year ago and even before that.
I love you right now, even though you're probably still angry and have every right to be.
I'll continue to love you long after you finish this coffee.
If you're open to talking with me, meet me at Bert's tonight for a drink. 7:00 pm.
Yours,
Bobby
xx
xoxoxo
A/N: I don't expect a coffee, but a review would be perfect. =)