Alex is tired and flustered after the emotionally trying case. She just wants to be alone but she can't go home. She gets a hotel room for the night and Bobby follows her because he's worried.
Go easy folks, this is my first FF
Alex was still shaking even an hour after putting the cuffs on Mulrooney. This case was a little too much, too close to home. She'd been nervous and anxious since the discovery of Baz Burnham. Even though the case was solved it brought Alex little relief. Halfway through the barrage of paperwork, she could take no more. Nervous exhaustion was ruling her body and she needed an escape. The thought of going back to her apartment was daunting. Forensics would be there at anytime to process for fingerprints. Between that and the violation of having her clothing stolen, her personal effects rifled through. She couldn't bear to stay there, at least not until the locks were changed.
She looked around the room scanning it for Goren. She appreciated his help. But his delving into her personal life made her feel very off balance. She couldn't really explain it. She'd seen the worst of his personal affairs. They'd been partners for almost a decade. There wasn't much they didn't know about each other. But this time..... Lately it was different. Ever since Bobby had gone through his personal hell of the previous two years, the two had treated their partnership as if it were made of glass. There were days that Bobby seemed a million miles away. But lately, especially with this particular case, Goren seemed back on track. Alex liked this, but the fact that case involved her, made her anxious around him. She wasn't ready to sift through her emotions to honestly find out why.
Quickly, she dialed the number for the Pan American hotel and registered herself a room for the night. She had hoped to slip out before Bobby returned from lock-up. No such luck and she followed his large frame with her eyes, striding across the office toward their desks.
"Hey." \
"Hey." Alex replied whilst looking down and quickly shuffling her things together to leave.
"I'm gonna go home.... I mean, I need to get out of here, and get some rest." "Ummm, I'll be back tomorrow morning to finish this paperwork."
And with that Alex was on her feet almost jogging past Goren towards the door.
Bobby could almost feel his head spin, she moved so fast. It took him a moment to gather himself, when he glanced over towards her desk. He picked up her phone and hit redial.
"Pan American Hotel, how can I help you?"
Bobby hung up the phone and grabbed his coat.
**********
Alex nursed a bourbon on the rocks at the hotel bar. She only drank about a third of it. The ice had pretty much melted and made the bourbon taste watery. But she could still feel it's burn as she watched the glass form a wet ring on the bar in front of her. She had no idea she was being watched, not from just one, but two directions.
Bobby tried to shield himself in a dark corner of the bar behind a partition in the wall. He gazed over at Eames and wondered why the hell he was here. Why was he spying on her? Was he worried? The last few days had been quite an education for him. He rarely saw Alex so vulnerable. It stirred some feelings in him that he'd try to suppress long ago. Feelings he usually felt were better suppressed. That's why he was questioning himself and his actions at the moment.
You love her.
As a partner, sure.
No, it's more than that.
Ok maybe, but she'll never know. She can't know....the partnership.
The partnership is your life. She is your life
While Bobby was having his own internal argument, he spotted a shady looking tourist-type. A guy with balding blond hair and an overhanging gut he didn't bother to hide with the right clothing. The guy was swaying drunkenly and heading toward Alex. Bobby felt his back stiffen and he poised himself to get up.
From his direction he could tell Eames wasn't interested. You really think she would be?! She must have said something to him to shoo him away but the guy wasn't getting the hint.
Without thinking, Bobby sprang into action, his long legs carrying him to the bar in a matter of seconds.
"Hey um sis, you ready to take Mom out for the night?"
Eames eyes grew wide with surprise over the realization that Bobby was standing right there, next to her, in this seedy hotel bar. But her gaze soon narrowed to one of annoyance.
"Sure." Eames sputtered, tight lipped. She slid off the stool towards Bobby leaving her watery bourbon and seedy guy behind. Brushing past Goren, Alex headed for the door.
"Hey!" Bobby grabbed her arm, only managing to get a handful of jacket sleeve.
Alex turned to face him, eyes bright with rage.
"
Okay Detective Goren, case closed! And I don't need a bodyguard when I barhop!"
With that Alex yanked her sleeve free from his grasp.
"Whoa, hey. this isn't about the case or that guy! I was just making sure you were ok. You....umm, I know you couldn't go back to your apartment and well, I thought you might need some company." Bobby paused. "Some time to decompress."
"Yesss!" Alex hissed. "I do need some time to decompress and I'm pretty sure I can't do it with you following me around."
She stomped off toward the elevator and Bobby followed. She loves you too. That's why she can't handle all of this right now.
Alex jabbed the elevator button hard and repeatedly. Bobby swallowed and gently grabbed her arm again. Firmly turning her to face him.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to intrude on your personal space.......here, or on the job. I was just....Deep breath.... I was just"
"Doing your job." Alex interjected. "I know that Bobby." Alex's shoulders relaxed. Bobby could feel it in his grasp of her arm, but he was compelled not to let go just yet. He stared deeply into her eyes. Her rage subsiding, her gaze studying him.
His eyes, Alex thought. She tried not to give them much attention in the past. She knew deep down in a place she tried not to visit too much in her head, that she could get lost in them. Tonight she'd love to get lost somewhere.....anywhere.
The tension between them at that moment was palpable. Neither noticed the ding of the elevator doors or the swoosh of them snapping open, then shut. Their bodies slowly started drawing together like two magnets.
Alex's mind was screaming to stop, but her body was doing it's own thing. Soon her mind followed suit.
This is what you've both wanted, no needed, for years
Bobby's mind had waged it's own war. But he shut down the voices the minute he jumped to her assistance at the bar. At this moment all he saw were her eyes. A deep brown sanctuary he'd been wanting entrance to for years. Fearing it, intrigued by it, secretly hoping it was inevitable.
Lost in that thought, he tipped his head forward and down and planted his lips over hers. His hand leaving her arm and both of them raising to cradle her face.
Her lips were tense at first, resistant to his full soft kiss. But Bobby persisted. Pressing his mouth over hers until he felt her chin loosen and her lips responding. Slowly at first, then more urgently, to Bobby's surprise, she opened his mouth with hers and gently slipped her tongue inside. It was like an electric shock and Alex could feel his body stiffen as she raised her arms and reached around to caress his back. The two of them stayed like this for what seemed like an eternity. Until the sound of a group of tourists departing the nearest elevator caused them both the snap back to reality.
Backing away from each other, out of breath, lips swollen with newly shared passion. As if in shock, they couldn't stop staring at each other.
"Alex....." Bobby's insecurities were starting to fill the quiet space between them.
"I'm uhhh, that was just a well, uh, a momentary...."
Alex tensed. the relaxed tone of her face brought about by the kiss, was erased by Bobby's fumbling statement.
"A momentary lapse of judgment.... right Detective Goren! Got a little to close to the case again didn't you?"
Her stern tone made Bobby's stomach lurch. Wow, maybe this wasn't what she wanted.
The next thing he heard was the elevator ding, doors sliding open, and Alex disappearing.
TBC
