For havers as part of the tvrealm gift exchange
Title: Every Time a Bell Rings
Fandom: Law & Order: Criminal Intent crossover with a certain Christmas movie...
Characters: Bobby Goren, Alex Eames
Rating: PG
A/N: Written for havers as part of my tvrealm gift exchange.
Bobby Goren woke from the nightmare with a shout, breathing heavily with sweat dampening his hair. He grabbed his cell phone from the nightstand to check the time: 2:55 am. He closed his eyes and tried to slow his breathing.
It wasn’t going to work. He needed to call her. Eames.
Goren looked at the time again: 3:02 am. Damn.
He dialed the number.
“Eames,” her sleepy voice mumbled.
Goren opened his mouth, but no words came out.
“Bobby?”
He huffed a breath in response.
“Was it a dream?” she asked. Bobby pictured her sitting up, rubbing her eyes.
“Yeah,” he managed to say.
“Which one?”
“It’s a wonderful life.” Bobby gave a half laugh.
“Tell me.”
“Eames…”
“Bobby, tell me. Give it a voice and it loses its power over you.”
“This isn’t a Harry Potter book, Eames.”
“We’ve both spent enough time in therapy to know that Rowling got that one right, Bobby. ‘Fear of a name…’”
“’…increases fear of the thing itself’,” Bobby finished. He pressed his forehead against the cold windowpane in his living room. Moonlight illuminated the light blanket of snow that covered the street.
“That’s right. And she got another one right, too, about feeling like you’re all alone against an enemy. So let me be there for you. Want to come over?”
“No, Eames, really…” Bobby was feeling silly for bothering her.
“Ok, then just tell me the dream.”
“It was the same,” he said. “I was never born. My mom never met Brady so she didn’t get pregnant with me. She never had the psychotic break. It was just her, Frank, and Frank’s father. Frank grew up in a happy home and he never turned to gambling and drugs.” Bobby drew a sharp breath.
“Go on.”
“And our dad was faithful, a good husband and provider. Frank had a successful career. He took good care of mom after dad died. And you…”
“Yes?”
“You weren’t saddled with me as a partner, and you made captain in record time. I…I ruined your career, Eames.” Alex heard Bobby stifle a cry.
Eames rolled her eyes in the dark of her bedroom. Only Robert Goren would have a dream like “It’s a Wonderful Life” and imagine that everyone’s life was better if he hadn’t been born. She got up, turned on the lights of her Christmas tree, and headed for the kitchen.
“Goren, I’m starting the coffeemaker. Be here in 20 minutes.” She didn’t leave room for argument.
Bobby wiped his eyes and attempted a smile. “Yeah.”
“And you know that bakery on 57th? It’s open all night. I feel like some gingerbread cake.”
“Cream cheese frosting?”
“Do you need to ask?”
Bobby chuckled. “Ok. Be there in 20.” He ended the call, grabbed his coat, and went out into the frigid night air to start his Mustang.
~~~
Clarence wiped his brow. “That one is a handful, that’s for sure!”
Michael nodded. “And his partner is no better. At the rate they’re going, I’ll never get my wings!”
“Don’t worry Michael. I’m sure you’ll get your wings. Say, did I ever tell you about my first case, George Bailey? He owned a savings and loan, you see….”
Fandom: Law & Order: Criminal Intent crossover with a certain Christmas movie...
Characters: Bobby Goren, Alex Eames
Rating: PG
A/N: Written for havers as part of my tvrealm gift exchange.
Bobby Goren woke from the nightmare with a shout, breathing heavily with sweat dampening his hair. He grabbed his cell phone from the nightstand to check the time: 2:55 am. He closed his eyes and tried to slow his breathing.
It wasn’t going to work. He needed to call her. Eames.
Goren looked at the time again: 3:02 am. Damn.
He dialed the number.
“Eames,” her sleepy voice mumbled.
Goren opened his mouth, but no words came out.
“Bobby?”
He huffed a breath in response.
“Was it a dream?” she asked. Bobby pictured her sitting up, rubbing her eyes.
“Yeah,” he managed to say.
“Which one?”
“It’s a wonderful life.” Bobby gave a half laugh.
“Tell me.”
“Eames…”
“Bobby, tell me. Give it a voice and it loses its power over you.”
“This isn’t a Harry Potter book, Eames.”
“We’ve both spent enough time in therapy to know that Rowling got that one right, Bobby. ‘Fear of a name…’”
“’…increases fear of the thing itself’,” Bobby finished. He pressed his forehead against the cold windowpane in his living room. Moonlight illuminated the light blanket of snow that covered the street.
“That’s right. And she got another one right, too, about feeling like you’re all alone against an enemy. So let me be there for you. Want to come over?”
“No, Eames, really…” Bobby was feeling silly for bothering her.
“Ok, then just tell me the dream.”
“It was the same,” he said. “I was never born. My mom never met Brady so she didn’t get pregnant with me. She never had the psychotic break. It was just her, Frank, and Frank’s father. Frank grew up in a happy home and he never turned to gambling and drugs.” Bobby drew a sharp breath.
“Go on.”
“And our dad was faithful, a good husband and provider. Frank had a successful career. He took good care of mom after dad died. And you…”
“Yes?”
“You weren’t saddled with me as a partner, and you made captain in record time. I…I ruined your career, Eames.” Alex heard Bobby stifle a cry.
Eames rolled her eyes in the dark of her bedroom. Only Robert Goren would have a dream like “It’s a Wonderful Life” and imagine that everyone’s life was better if he hadn’t been born. She got up, turned on the lights of her Christmas tree, and headed for the kitchen.
“Goren, I’m starting the coffeemaker. Be here in 20 minutes.” She didn’t leave room for argument.
Bobby wiped his eyes and attempted a smile. “Yeah.”
“And you know that bakery on 57th? It’s open all night. I feel like some gingerbread cake.”
“Cream cheese frosting?”
“Do you need to ask?”
Bobby chuckled. “Ok. Be there in 20.” He ended the call, grabbed his coat, and went out into the frigid night air to start his Mustang.
~~~
Clarence wiped his brow. “That one is a handful, that’s for sure!”
Michael nodded. “And his partner is no better. At the rate they’re going, I’ll never get my wings!”
“Don’t worry Michael. I’m sure you’ll get your wings. Say, did I ever tell you about my first case, George Bailey? He owned a savings and loan, you see….”