This story is 80 to 90% done, so updates will be quick. I started it a long time ago. Got an idea watching a video on Youtube with the same title. All relationship drama, no cases.
Sometimes moving on doesn't mean you're over someone.
March 2012 (~ 10 months after 'To the Boy in the Blue Knit Cap')
Friday - 7:00 pm - Manhattan, NY
Alex sits at a table with some of her fellow Major Case officers. They're at a pub in Midtown Manhattan called Bertrand's. It's one of her and Bobby's favorite spots.
The pub isn't as busy as it was when the group arrived at happy hour. She's seated between Bobby and Captain Hannah. Also seated at the table are three officers and another detective from Major Case.
The pub staff rushes around collecting plates, beer bottles, and glasses from the tables and tossing them into dishpans or recycling containers. A song by Shakira plays over the speakers, although it's occasionally drowned out by the crowd's excitement over the college basketball finals on four large-screen TVs. There's a faint clicking sound of the pool sticks hitting pool balls in an adjacent room.
Their group's conversations have segued off of work and onto topics like beer breweries and sports.
As Alex's attention wanes, her hand absently picks at the St. Patrick's Day cardstock table tent promoting drink and appetizer specials for the holiday next week.
She's tired, and it's been a long week. She finally has a weekend off and is looking forward to it.
She should be happy right now, except she isn't.
"How about another toast before we wrap up this farewell party for Detective Goren?" Captain Hannah says while raising his glass. The others at the table join him. "I wish you lots of success. I'll have a hard time finding someone to fill your shoes after you're gone." Hannah looks him in the eye. "It's been an honor. Sincerely."
"Thank you, sir."
"To Goren," he concludes.
"To Goren." The group echoes. They tap glasses together.
As the group gets up from the table, Bobby nudges Alex. "Can you stay?"
She nods.
Before heading out, Officer Darren approaches Bobby. "Sorry, I arrived late and missed your speech. What's this about you leaving the NYPD to write a book? What's it about?"
"It's a narrative on forensic psychology. Just some ideas I had that turned into a chapter. I wrote out a draft, handed it to a friend, and the friend gave it to a publisher. They wanted to see more. I've wanted to do this for a while, so I'm pretty excited about it."
"When are you leaving Major Case?"
"I'll be here for another week."
"I'm sure your book will be great, but I hate to see you go. It's been great working with you."
"Thanks. And likewise."
As Darren walks away, Bobby turns toward Alex with a smile. "This was fun."
"The department should have given you a party," Alex frowns, shaking her head.
"I'm not disappointed. This was a nice gathering. Besides, I'm not retiring or being promoted; I'm leaving on my own terms. And hey, at least I'm not being escorted toward the door, right?" He smirks.
"You deserve more respect than this, Bobby." She wishes he was more disturbed about it. "They've given farewell parties for cops who don't have the years on the force or case close record that you do. Hell, they didn't even spring for a cheap parting gift!"
"Eames, you know how the brass is. They've never gotten over some of the things in my file. But none of that matters to me." He puts his hand on her shoulder. "This gathering only happened because of you. It means a lot that you would do this for me."
Alex sniffles and wipes her eyes with her fingers. "Stop. I'm barely holding it together as it is."
He nods, then leans in a little closer so she can hear him over the bar crowd's protest of a basketball penalty. "While we're here, how about dinner and a game of pool?"
"I'd like that."
xoxoxo
A few hours later.
Alex shoots the eight ball into the side pocket to win the game. "Ha! I'm up by two games! Want to play another, or have you had enough?" She takes the beer bottle from his hand, chugs some down, then hands it back to him.
He finishes the bottle and sets it down, then reaches for his wallet and hands her some cash to settle their bet. "You're on a roll tonight."
"I'm kicking your ass," she teases.
"How about a game of 3-ball?" he asks.
Bobby's best game is 3-ball, though she still occasionally wins. "Sure. If I win, you withdraw your resignation so I don't have to break in a new partner."
He feels the tug at his heart, as he does whenever she expresses disappointment about him leaving. "Eames, I'd throw the game if I thought I could keep up with the writing and the job."
A smile lingers between them.
"Yeah, I get it. Okay, if you win, I'll give you this $65 back that I won tonight," she offers. "If not, you owe me another $65."
"Agreed. And…I get to drive next week."
She smirks. "Oh really? I can't let that happen."
"Next game…" He lifts his hand and gently tucks a strand of her hair behind her ear, "…is mine."
Bobby flirts as naturally as he breathes. She pretends not to notice, but the alcohol she's consumed tonight isn't helping matters.
They're closer than ever these days.
Although lines have never been crossed, she's thought about it. She keeps herself awake some nights, wondering if he has.
"You're going down, Goren."
"I can't wait."
xoxoxo
The object of the game 3-ball is to knock the 1-, 2- and 3-pool balls into the holes with as few shots as possible, including the break.
Bobby sets the 1-, 2-, and 3-pool balls on the table, secures them with the triangle, breaks, and sinks the 2-ball and 3-ball on the first shot. He sinks the 1-ball on the second shot. "Two shots. Beat that."
Alex collects the pool balls and sets up her shot. With the break, she gets the 2-ball in. She must get the other two balls in one shot to tie Bobby. Then they'll need a rematch to break the tie.
The 1-ball and 3-ball aren't in a good location for a combo shot. The cue ball may be placed anywhere on the table when she takes her shot, but that won't make much difference from her perspective.
While she's studying her options, Bobby walks up behind her. He puts his hands on her shoulders and begins rubbing her shoulders and neck.
"What are you doing?" asks Alex, without taking her eyes off the table.
"Just helping you relax. It's a stressful shot."
"Too soon to celebrate," she responds. It may be a lost cause, but her competitive side won't give in until it's over.
The bar crowd suddenly gets loud again, so Bobby leans over her shoulder and speaks near her ear, "I'd aim for the 1-ball. With the right spin, you can sink the 3-ball too."
Bobby's warm breaths on her ear do nothing for her concentration. "Yeah? How about you move your balls somewhere else?" she tosses back, but there's a wink to show she's being playful.
He laughs, then moves to the opposite side of the table nearest to the 1-ball. He takes his pool stick and demonstrates by pretending to strike where the cue ball would be placed. "I'd set it up this way. Give it a little spin to tap the 1-ball into the corner with a little more momentum on the release, so you send it back toward the 3-ball into the side pocket. It's a tough shot, but not impossible. You can do it."
Alex moves over to where he stands and lines up her pool stick as he suggests. She positions the cue ball, leans over, and prepares to take the shot. After a few seconds, she stands up and shakes her head. Too much force and she'll end up scratching.
"Can I help?"
She knows he's more interested in seeing if the shot can be made then whether or not they'd have to play a tiebreaker game.
But this is where the line gets blurry. By 'helping,' Bobby plans to stand behind her with his arms on either side of her as he guides her shot.
He looks and smells great, and she's drunk. A Chris Isaak song is playing over the speakers. She wants to win, but not as badly as she wants to do her partner up against this pool table.
She shakes her head and returns her focus to the pool game. "I've got this."
Bobby nods and steps back.
After thinking over her options, she tries his suggestion. She draws her stick back, then strikes the cue ball. The cue ball hits the 1-ball and heads for the number 3-ball, but neither goes in.
Alex groans and sets her pool stick down, then hands him back the cash she's kept in her pocket.
"Good game," he says accepting his money back. "Ready to call it a night?"
She sighs. "Yeah."
xoxoxo
11:30 pm
They exit Bertrand's. "How about we split a cab?" asks Bobby.
"You expect to get a cab around here on a Friday night? Ha! And I thought I was drunk."
"We'll find one."
The smells from the alleyway dumpsters reach her, and she's nauseated. She separates from Bobby and hurries to a spot on the sidewalk away from the foot traffic.
Bobby follows her. "Eames…?"
She leans over and throws up.
He steps in and helps her by holding her hair back.
When she thinks she's done, she stands up and immediately feels lightheaded. She reaches for the brick wall next to her for support. Bobby also steps in and wraps his arm around her until she finds her balance. "I've got you."
God, she wishes she was sober enough to appreciate this.
"Let's get you home." He keeps his arm around her as they start walking.
Her eyes are watering and her throat burns. The street lamps and fluorescent building signs resemble a blurry light show. She's not paying attention to where they're going, so she depends on him to keep her from running into something or falling on her ass.
They walk about two city blocks before Bobby manages to catch a cab that is about to go off duty. The driver will only go as far as Brooklyn, so Bobby gives them his address.
He gets into the backseat, and Alex climbs in after him. She dozes off while leaning against Bobby's side, making the 40-minute ride feel like 5 minutes. Once they arrive, Bobby helps her out of the cab.
She feels like death as she drags herself up the four flights of stairs to his apartment. Even though he offered, the thought of Bobby carrying her up the stairs is too much.
She's still sluggish when they reach his front door. He unlocks it, and they enter. She shrugs out of her coat and attempts to deposit it on a chair, but it lands on the floor. The room feels like it's spinning, so she ignores the coat, stumbles toward the leather couch, and collapses on it. She hopes she's done throwing up for the night.
Alex kicks her shoes off, pulls her legs up, and lays her head on the back of the couch.
Bobby fixes their coats on the back of a chair. He knows she'll want aspirin and goes to get some. After a stop at the kitchen, he returns with two pills and a glass of water and gives them to her.
"Thanks." She swallows two pills, sets the water glass down, and rests her head on the back of the couch. "I'll be fine. I'll go home in a minute." A few minutes later, she's asleep.
Bobby watches her sleep, but dozes off periodically himself. About 40 minutes later, she awakes to find him watching her. "How do you feel?" he asks.
Rather than rattle off what hurts her, she sets her mind on getting out of his place and salvaging some of her dignity. "I can probably make it home." She lowers her feet to the floor and starts looking for her shoes.
Bobby shakes his head and groans. "Eames, come on…"
She retrieves her shoes, then looks back at him. "Come on, what?"
"Just crash here and leave in the morning." He knows she'll go home and straight to bed, forget to text him that she made it back and he'll spend the night worrying about her.
"I don't have my stuff," she argues.
"Be right back." Bobby gets up and leaves the living room. It takes him a minute or two to gather a spare toothbrush and a shirt to sleep in. He returns to the living room holding those items. "Now, will you stay?"
The part of her that's too tired to go anywhere wins out. "Alright," she agrees and drops her shoes back on the floor.
"Good."
"Mind if I take a quick shower?"
"Help yourself."
xoxoxo
She finishes her shower, brushes her teeth, and leaves the bathroom wearing Bobby's New York Mets shirt. It's very baggy and falls about at knee length. She puts her clothes into a bag that he also left for her.
The nap and shower helped lift some of her drunken haze. Her head doesn't hurt as much, though her stomach still has a dull ache.
Bobby changed out of his suit into some grey cotton shorts and a black t-shirt. He's flipping through the channels for something to watch on TV, but turns it off when he sees her.
She walks over to his leather couch, lands on the cushion beside him and pulls her feet up. "I just remembered that I have to be at my dad's tomorrow morning for his appointment. I didn't plan this night very well," Alex laughs to herself.
"What's going on with your dad?" He shifts on the couch cushion to face her and props his arm on the back of the couch. Some of the strands of her long hair are within reach, and he starts combing the ends with his fingers.
She loves the physical contact, but oh is it distracting.
"My siblings and I… Um… We have him scheduled for physical therapy for his knee. Of course he's reluctant to go."
Bobby grins. "Might have to cuff him and drag him."
"Thought about it. It took us a while to get him an appointment. The pill he takes for his heart makes him groggy and he hates it. The pain pill he takes for his knee counteracts other heart medications. If we can reduce the pain, we can omit that pill and try a different heart pill."
"He's lucky to have you."
"Yeah, I keep telling myself that." The draft in the room is getting to her, so she pulls her legs in closer to her. "By the way, I'm sorry."
"For what?"
"For getting so drunk that I need help getting home."
"How many times have you made sure I got home okay? Or dealt with bar tabs, cab rides, and so forth." He shakes his head. "Eames, we're far from even."
"Yeah, but it's not how I wanted your night to go."
He moves the arm resting on the couch so it's around her shoulder, then gives her a gentle squeeze, nudging her closer. "Well, I had a great time with you."
More stomach flips.
"Yeah, me too."
"Guess we should call it a night?"
"Okay."
He gets up off the couch and heads toward his room. A moment later, he returns with a blanket and a pillow and hands them to her.
"Thanks. Good night, Bobby."
"Good night. Let me know if you need anything."
Bobby turns out the lights in the living room and leaves while she stretches out on the couch. She hears him enter the bathroom a second later.
It takes her about twenty minutes to relax; her thoughts drift from work, to family, then to Bobby. Finally, she succumbs to sleep.
xoxox
3:20 am
Alex wakes up suddenly. Her eyes drift around the room, recalling where she is and what prompted the overnight stay.
She tries to fall back to sleep, but the room is chilly and the blanket isn't doing enough.
Frustrated, she gets up and makes her way to the hallway closet. It's the only place she can think of where he would store blankets. Bobby's bedroom is across from the closet and the door is open, so she does her best not to make too much noise.
A window in Bobby's room filters a little light into the dark hallway, but it's barely enough to make out what's on the shelves. She touches things and figures out the shape of a few bottles on one shelf. Probably bath products. Some boxes on another shelf, then some towels and sheets. Nothing feels like a blanket.
Maybe a stack of towels would provide a layer of warmth? She'll try anything.
"Eames…?"
She turns toward his room and he's lying on his side looking at her.
"Sorry for waking you," she whispers.
"It's okay. Whatcha need?" he asks sleepily. He pushes the covers back, stretches and yawns, then sits up more.
She steps closer to the door to his room. "I'm cold. Looking for another blanket."
He thinks for a minute and shakes his head. "Sorry. Just the one I gave you. I sent a bunch of my things to storage a while ago."
"It's alright." She turns to leave and he calls her back.
"Eames…wait." He scoots back in the bed while lifting the corner of the covers up. "Get in."
"What?"
"Just get in. Plenty of room. We can share."
Well, okay. Sharing sounds good to her.
She approaches the side of the bed, takes the corner of the sheet and blanket and climbs in.
His bedding is incredibly soft and cozy. She's in the spot where he was lying, so it's already warm and also filled with his scent.
She lies down on her side with her back to him. Bobby is about a foot behind her, facing her back.
"Is this warm enough?" he asks.
"Perfect, thanks." She looks over her shoulder. "Good night."
"Good night."
xoxox
She's drifting in and out of sleep.
Maybe twenty minutes later, the mattress sinks a little beside her and Bobby's right there. He wraps his arm over her and slips the other arm under the pillow she's resting her head on.
She doesn't object. Curious about why, but it doesn't matter. She puts her hand on his arm to show she's glad he's there.
About a minute later, Bobby answers her unspoken question.
"Thank you again for what you said tonight."
xx
Bertrand's Pub - Hours ago
"I guess it's my turn," Alex remarks. She stands up from her chair and lifts her glass. Her fellow officers follow suit.
Her teary eyes drift around at the other cops. "Not sure how great of a job I'm going to do at holding it together, but here goes…"
Her eyes meet his.
"Bobby… You've challenged me every day as a cop and I know that I'm better because of it. I can't imagine a better partner and friend to have been with me these last 13 years. It's been an honor. As much as I hate that you're leaving, you deserve whatever great opportunities lie ahead for you. You're an exceptional cop. I know you'll be exceptional at anything you do."
"Thanks," he says, meeting her eyes.
"But if you leave any surprises in my desk when you go, it'll come back to haunt you!"
Everyone at the table laughs.
Alex blots her eyes with a cocktail napkin, then raises her glass. "To Goren."
"To Goren."
xx
Present
"You're welcome," says Alex.
He suddenly leans in and kisses her cheek. Warmth rushes through her. Since his cheek is a little out of the way, she returns the gesture by kissing him on the shoulder.
Her heart is pounding. Even if this is all they do tonight, it's meant everything.
He touches the side of her jaw with his fingers and then turns her face toward his.
She feels his breaths descend on her mouth. Her heart temporarily stops then starts beating rapidly. She doesn't dare to breathe. Her eyes close. He moves closer still and presses his lips against hers.
She's still surprised by it, but warmth and passion quickly take over her senses and any thoughts about what this could all mean just exits her brain.
Bobby kisses with longing and depth; giving full attention to her lips while his fingers affectionately stroke her hair and her face.
Her heart is so full right now. Things are falling into place.
She raises her head a little, hoping for a better angle, but she's not willing to stop kissing this man regardless. Fortunately, Bobby notices and reaches his hand behind her head to support her.
Moments later, breaking the kiss, he slides over and takes her arm, tugging her until she's on top of him.
They easily fall into a rhythm of touching, holding, kissing and caressing.
All she feels is the depth of her attraction for him, the bond between them that has broken and repaired and grown stronger through the years.
As his hands glide down her back, he pauses on her bare ass. They break the kiss to exchange a glance; he already noticed she wasn't wearing panties. Not like she had any other option. Her overnight bag is still at One PP.
He prompts her to lift her arms and the Mets shirt is removed and tossed to the floor.
At her request, his black t-shirt is removed as well. All that remains are his grey shorts and a pair of underwear.
While she's thinking about getting him out of those, he suddenly lowers himself in the bed while urging her to grab the headboard. She knows what he's about to do and suddenly there's nervousness, arousal, and vulnerability ramping up inside her, and all she can do is grip the headboard in front of her.
Bobby slides himself down, slowly kissing her skin to her belly button, inching lower and lower. She ends up straddling his face, though he skips over her center and begins working on the inside of her thigh. Although enjoying it, her knees are starting to shake.
He turns his attention to her center, but it's only teasing touches with his tongue.
Their eyes meet whenever she glances down. He seems to want her to watch.
She wants to call him a bastard for taking his time, but he's got an incredible mouth and tongue and it'll end up being worth it.
He's letting his warm breaths waft over her center, then he's back to her thighs.
Bastard. It's also been a while since she's had sex.
"Bobby…." She moans.
She hears a smirk from somewhere below the sheets, but he gets it.
A couple flicks of the tongue against her clit is really all it takes but Bobby lovingly adds his fingers, and begins thrusting against the pressure built up in her, opening her up to a deeper climax and finally, the release she had been waiting for.
She collapses on the bed, landing mostly to the left of Bobby. Panting and sweaty, her heart races while her body is thoroughly satisfied.
Bobby gives a satisfied chuckle at the sight of her, but then takes her arms and lifts her so her head rests on the pillow. He kisses each breast and then lifts the covers up to warm her up.
"I'll be right back," he says and leaves the room.
Although she feels incredibly relaxed, she instantly misses him.
After a couple of minutes, she hears a fan suddenly shuts off and the sound of water running in the bathroom. Sounds like he's taking a shower.
His bed is rapidly becoming so comfortable. His scent is another layer of comfort that surrounds her. She's on the verge of dozing off when he walks back in.
"Hey… I brought you some water." Bobby enters the room with just a towel around his waist and sits down on the side of the bed.
She sits up and he leans in and kisses her. She tastes the mint where he brushed his teeth. Then he hands her a bottle of water after removing the cap.
"Thanks." She takes it, drinks some and hands it back. He takes a sip, then sets it on the nightstand near her.
He goes to the bathroom for a minute to hang up his towel, then returns and climbs into bed with her.
She feels the mattress sink beside her. He rolls toward her and props himself up with his arm, so he's hovering over her. And he's naked.
"This okay?" Bobby whispers while brushing back some strands of her hair back with his hand.
She's not sure if he means them lying naked together or suggesting they have sex, but she's okay with all of it.
"Yeah," she whispers. She's tired, but her desire for him is greater than the need to sleep.
He climbs over her, their lips meet again, and they deepen the kiss. They fall back into their rhythm, kissing touching, rolling around. The intensity of their attraction is off the charts. Finally, she's able to release all of her pent-up feelings toward him. It all feels a bit risky but in a way that's very liberating and sexy.
He turns her on so much with his kisses and touches. She's wet in no time. She widens her hips, letting him know she's ready and he enters her.
Alex arches her hips up, letting Bobby know what she likes. While he supports her hips, she wraps her legs around his waist and he begins thrusting harder and faster.
It goes on for a minute while her orgasm builds. Bobby's headboard hits the wall a few times. She ends up unwrapping her legs from him a moment later, needing the support but also finds the position that allows him to enter her more deeply.
As she climaxes, all of Brooklyn and perhaps Manhattan are made aware of her appreciation for Bobby's sexual abilities.
Bobby lovingly continues his thrusts while her walls expand and contract through her orgasm. Alex can only hold onto his shoulders at this point and ride it out.
Only when he senses she's done, Bobby rolls them over so he's on his back while shoving the pillows aside and scooting them toward the headboard.
She's spent, worried about the way she looks with perspiration everywhere and her strands of hair sticking to her skin. She's not sure her legs will work, but she straddles him and reaches for the headboard. After arching herself back, she begins thrusting her hips over him. He has his hands on her hips while supporting her ass and showing her what he wants.
A couple of slow thrusts, then she gets the motion, picks up the pace and Bobby's gasps and moans get louder. Soon he groans and comes.
She collapses on top of him and he wraps his arms around her snugly. He holds her in place like he doesn't want to move, but she lifts her head and meets his eyes. He kisses her.
"Incredible," Bobby adds.
"Yeah," she agrees. "Wait until you see what I can do when I'm not hungover."
He chuckles. "We should probably try and get some sleep."
He moves them over to the right side of the bed which isn't messed up from their activities, lies down and she snuggles in beside him. They're asleep in a matter of minutes.
xoxoxo
Saturday - 7:38 am
Alex awakens suddenly to the sunlight filtering in through Bobby's bedroom window.
While she's still piecing together their night and all that has happened, she remembers her dad's appointment at 9:00.
Bobby's phone is beside the bed and within reach, so she checks the time.
Shit! Shit! Shit! Shit!
She has to get her car, which is at One PP and she's in Brooklyn. Alex carefully detaches herself from Bobby and rolls out of bed trying not to wake him.
She's tired, dehydrated, and a little hungry. She grabs the bottle of water beside the bed and chugs some down. Her head is pounding, reminding her again that she made the dumb choice to drink too much.
She retrieves her clothes bag and hurries toward the bathroom. After putting her clothes back on, she brushes her teeth. The aspirin bottle is still sitting out, so she grabs another and swallows it down with a scoop of water from the faucet.
Alex quickly cleans her face. Fortunately, she had a comb in her jacket and can fix her hair.
Then she's back in his bedroom, and Goren's sleeping peacefully. Still looks good.
It's taking all her strength not to say 'screw it' and just climb back in bed with him. Maybe sleep another two hours, then get up and go another round. She wants to. Badly.
She leaves his bedroom.
As she grabs her coat and nears the front door, she notices two folded pieces of paper on the floor that appear to have been shoved under his door.
Paper notes seem a bit outdated but it could be a neighbor or Lewis. Bobby probably turned his phone off since they're not on call this weekend.
Curiosity strikes her and she's bending over to pick up the notes. She reads the first note.
Hi Robert… Katie and I are playing boardgames and we'd love to make it a threesome. ; ) Come see us. Luv, Marta
Next note.
Hey Sexy. I miss ya! Call me! When are you going to come play with me? I've got some of that tea you love, and it won't stay hot for long. Me, on the other hand… XOXO, Francesca
Alex's heart sinks. Who the hell are these women?
When Bobby's dating someone, he usually tells her.
Around the time they worked that kismet case, she remembers him mentioning that he wanted to be in a serious relationship. Is that still true?
Bobby has to know she's not the type of woman who wants to be on anyone's rotation.
She doesn't have time to ask about it. She's got to get to her dad's place.
She puts the notes back on the floor and leaves.
x x x
9:40 am
Bobby turns over and lifts his head. His thoughts return to Alex and his smile is instant. She's not in his bed. He listens for sounds of her in the apartment but hears none.
"Eames?"
Then he remembers something about her father having a doctor's appointment.
He gets out of bed and finds a pair of underwear, shorts, and then a t-shirt to put on.
He checks his phone. No text messages from her. Some missed calls and texts, which he scans and deletes. No one important. He turns the notifications back on so he can hear any calls that come in.
When he returns to the living room, he sees the pieces of paper on the floor near the door. He wanders over and picks them up.
The one on top is from Francesca. Bobby rolls his eyes, crumples the note without reading it, and tosses it toward the trash. It misses the can and lands on the floor beside it.
They had a one-night stand a while back. The next morning, her husband called her phone. She never mentioned being married, so he was done with her. This happened right after he was fired from the NYPD so his guard was down. Months later, he met her for a drink. They just talked. He told her he was not interested. She'll get the hint or someone else will come along.
Next, there's a note from Marta.
Marta and Katie are his neighbors from down the hall. They're good people. Sometimes he'll play Scrabble or cards with them. They flirt, but it's harmless. There's no romantic interest on either side. Katie prefers women and Marta has a fiancé in the military. He tosses out that note.
Bobby glances at his phone again while thinking of Eames. He's not sure whether to call or wait. She's helping her dad, so maybe she'll call later.
Two hours go by. He grabs some lunch, does some laundry, and works on a chapter, but he's not making much progress. He keeps glancing at his phone.
At 8:00 pm, he's eating at a diner in Brooklyn. Still no calls or texts from her. He tries to write a short text, but nothing sounds right.
After he finishes eating, he goes for a walk. He replays everything in his mind hoping to figure out why he hasn't heard from her. Did he say something to upset her? Did he elbow her during the night and that pissed her off? Did he snore? What happened?
Then another thought crosses his mind… Did something happen to her?
He hurries toward the subway and grabs the next train to Queens.
x x x
Saturday - 10:20 pm
Alex's apartment building - Queens
Alex climbs the steps to her apartment. She can barely walk, she's so tired. Didn't sleep last night and this was the day from hell.
As she reaches the door, she sees her partner standing there and her heart sinks.
Bobby crossed her mind a few times today. She still can't get those notes out of her head. Probably shouldn't confront him while she's barely functioning. All she's had to eat today was a Kit-Kat bar and a banana, but food isn't even on her mind.
She'll keep this short and go straight to bed. If she manages to make it that far.
"Eames! Hey… Are you okay?" He's so relieved to see her, and while she still looks good to him, she also looks exhausted. To be honest, he's seen her look more rested after pulling a double.
"Hi." Her voice is barely above a whisper. She reaches the door and takes her keys out.
Bobby puts his hand over her wrist to stop her. "What's going on? I've been trying reach you."
Her eyes drift up from the door lock to her partner's. "My dad was missing."
"What?"
"I showed up to take him to his appointment. Got to his house and he was gone. No note. No one knew where he was. We checked all his usual spots. Then hospitals. It turns out he went to visit a friend we didn't know, fell asleep in the friend's recliner, and didn't return until a little while ago. Didn't have his phone with him, because his generation doesn't care about carrying a phone when they leave home," she groans. "We had everyone, including a few off-duty patrol cops out looking for him."
"I'm so sorry."
"He's fine. Scared the hell out of us." She turns and resumes unlocking her front door.
"You could have called me, Eames. I would have helped."
"It was an hour-by-hour situation."
"Is there anything I can do?"
Alex shakes her head. "I need sleep. Talk later." She enters her apartment and closes the door behind her.
Bobby turns and leaves.
x x x
TBC…