Lean on me: Chapter 1

By: The Confused One

Summary: Alex's husband dies, and Bobby is there for her. Set before the series starts.

Rating: K+

Warnings: Character death, though nobody we know and cussing in later chapters.

Reviews: PLEASE! I live for reviews. LOL So, please remember to do so. Thanks.

Archive: If you want it, just let know where you're putting it.

Disclaimer: I'm a poor college student who owns nothing associated with CI. Please don't sue. It's all for fun, and I'm making no money with this. I promise. Thanks.

A/N: This story idea has been rattling around in my head for awhile. What if Bobby and Alex had been partners when her husband died? Would it explain their relationship now? So, for my own sake… I'm writing the story. Also, for this story, Alex kept her maiden name when she got married. So, she's still Eames.

Noticing the time, Bobby Goren looked up at his partner, Alex Eames. Confused by the fact that she was still at her desk, he asked, "Eames, it's almost seven. What are you still doing here? I thought I was the one who lived and breathed our work."

There were definitely times when Alex couldn't stand Bobby. She couldn't understand him. She had written the letter during one of those times. It was moments like these that had caused her to ask Deakins to give her a few days to think it over. She kept going back and forth and it was driving her crazy. She couldn't understand why he couldn't just be black or white. Deakins was expecting her answer in the morning, and while Jack had been encouraging her to walk away from Bobby, Alex was leaning towards withdrawing it. Sure he gave her headaches and made her crazy, but he did it so sweetly and unknowingly that she couldn't, generally, stay mad at him. Alex smiled. With a shrug, she explained, "You don't pay any attention sometimes, do you? Jack called a little over an hour ago. He and his partner have been dragged into working a big bust tonight. So, I thought I'd help you out here for awhile."

Bobby smiled. He appreciated her presence, but he knew how she was. She didn't live the job like he did. He was still not sure why she was staying. After a moment of regarding her, he asked, "You didn't want to go home and relax, work in some you time?"

Alex sighed and shook her head. She gave him a small smile and explained, "I'd go out of my mind bored and worried. I can only spend so many nights watching old movies while I worry and wait for him to come home safe. One of these days I'm going to convince him to transfer out of vice."

Bobby sighed and nodded. Looking back down at his report, he agreed, "It would be easier on you both, I would think. He's going to be fine though."

With a sigh, Alex agreed, "Yeah. You're right. I just worry. So, do you want Chinese or Mexican?"

Bobby shrugged. Looking for another report, he distractedly replied, "Whichever you want is fine."

Shaking her head, Alex grabbed a piece of paper with take-out places and their phone numbers on it. Dialing one of them, she ordered some Mexican for them both, knowing what he'd want. She mused that at the very least working with him had taught her what he liked to eat.

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

Finishing her taco, Alex sighed. Looking at Bobby, she got his attention, "Goren, I think you'll want to see this. Kerrigan lied. He did talk to Emily."

Looking up, Bobby threw the box his food had come in away and took the paper from her. Noting the call Alex was referring to, he looked back up at Alex. He smiled and commented, "I guess we have some new questions for him now when he comes in tomorrow."

Alex smiled slightly. She had only been working with Bobby for almost six months, but she was beginning to get to the point where she did enjoy the game sometimes, and this guy had been jerking them around for days. She was going to enjoy it this time. She absently wondered if that was what was causing her to doubt her decision to get a new partner. Was she finally starting to get used to him? Was she starting to enjoy working with him? Her cell phone interrupted her train of thought. She answered it curtly, "Eames."

A desperate and almost hysterical voice on the other end, asked, "Oh God! Alex, where are you?"

Knowing instantly it was Jack's partner Andy, Alex sat up in her chair. With fear in her voice, she answered, "I'm at 1PP. Is Jack OK? What's wrong?"

Andy had been partners with Jack since the academy, close to five years. Trying not to cry, he choked out, "I'm so sorry Alex! Jack got hit. They just rushed him to the hospital. Oh God! I'm so sorry."

With those words, the wind was seemingly knocked out of Alex. It was her worst nightmare. She was desperate to keep her composure in front of Bobby and not let on that anything was wrong. They weren't close enough for this. Finding her voice, she asked, "Which hospital?"

Andy finally replied, "St. Mary's in Brooklyn."

Alex closed her eyes and tried desperately to breath. Trying to keep herself composed, she replied, "Thanks."

Bobby's head had instantly shot up when she had asked about her husband. He watched her carefully and with a lot of worry as she hung up the phone. As she grabbed her things, he asked, "Eames. Alex, let me drive you."

She was trying to keep it in so hard that she was beginning to shake slightly. It was then that she realized he had, of course, deciphered enough of the conversation to know what was going on. She snapped, "I can drive."

While they hadn't exactly become that close over the past six months, Bobby understood she needed him. Whether she admitted it or not, she needed a friend. She needed her partner. He desperately tried again, "Hey. Please. Let me take you. Just tell me where."

Stopping, Alex closed her eyes. The time she had worked with Bobby had taught her how little he reached out to others. Noting that he was reaching out to her, and she needed someone, she relented, "Alright. He's at St. Mary's in Brooklyn."

Bobby nodded. Grabbing his things, they left the building.

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

The ride to the hospital had been in silence. Bobby had expected it. He knew neither of them would know what to say. Walking in behind her, Bobby still wasn't sure what to say or do. He had never been in this position before. He had never had to comfort a worried spouse of a cop, especially not one who was a cop themselves.

Seeing Andy, Alex immediately went to him. Hugging him, Alex whispered, "What happened? Have they told you anything yet?"

Andy pulled away and marveled at Alex's ability to keep herself pulled together. He explained, "They know I'm here, and they haven't told me anything yet. As for what happened, it was a set up. They didn't say a word before pulling their pieces. Scott and Drew were hit and down before the rest of us even got there. They kept shooting. Jack got hit then. Drew and Scott are dead, and Jack was barely holding on."

Alex covered her mouth. She felt Bobby beside her. He guided her to a seat and she didn't fight him. She let a few tears go. She had worked with Drew and Scott for four years. She loved them like extra brothers. Their deaths and Jack being shot was almost too much. Angrily, she demanded, "Tell me the guys who killed them and shot Jack are dead."

Andy slowly nodded. He assured her, "Yeah. We got them. Alex I'm so sorry."

Alex shook her head slowly. Meeting Andy's eyes, she assured him, "This wasn't your fault. I. We have to believe he's going to be OK, that we lost enough good cops tonight."

Andy sat down on the other side of her. He quietly whispered, "Yeah."

It was then that other detectives and the captain from Jack's Vice unit began streaming in. Captain Davis called out to Alex as he walked in, "Alex! God, I'm so sorry."

Standing up, Alex embraced her old captain. Pulling away, she cried a little more and replied, "We're still waiting on news on Jack. I can't believe Drew and Scott are gone."

Davis nodded. Looking away, he replied, "I know. Jack will be OK though. We have to keep believing that."

Alex nodded slowly. She spent the next few minutes hugging and greeting her old colleagues and Jack's current ones. They had met in vice, and she had moved on to Major Case. He had insisted on staying. She would do anything at that moment to go back in time over the last year or so and make him change his mind. She didn't notice Bobby and Andy stand as the doctor entered.

Walking into the waiting room full of cops, Dr. Harrison sighed. These were always the worst. Taking a deep breath, he explained, "I'm incredibly sorry. The damage was just too extensive. We couldn't save Detective McGarry."