CI Fic

Title: Broken Promise
Flavor: CI
Rating: Let's call it PG, for language and situations
Word Count: 2309 (Sorry it's so long, it got away from me)
A/N: Never again will I say I'm bored at work. audragoren is to blame for this. The bonus is that it seems to also fit the t100+ challenge. And yes, Jenn, I will do Wobbly Desk™ fic this week, if it kills me.


Blackness and ringing, that’s all her world encompassed in the split second after the suspect had drawn and fired his gun. There had been no time to think, only an instant in which to react. Three distinct pops, followed by warmth and darkness.

And that damned ringing.

~ ~

The call had gone out over the radio, a 1013, officer down. Logan and Barek had been out, interviewing a witness on their current case. Normally, the radio stayed in the car. Today, however, Mike had grabbed it.

Recognizing Goren’s voice, Mike panicked. He grabbed his partner and dragged her out the door, the witness left to stare in confusion. By way of explanation, Mike just shook his head and snatched the keys from her hand.

The roar of the unmarked prowler’s engine was deafening. The dash light and wailer cleared a path for them. Once in the car, Barek had learned of the shooting. She understood the need to assist, especially members of her squad. But, she did not understand Logan’s agitation. Had she missed something about her partner?

~ ~

The area was littered with radio cars and ambulances. A large pool of blood had collected against the gutter, ten yards from a covered body. Jumping from the car, Mike grabbed the nearest uniformed officer.

“Who was it? Who was shot?” he yelled in the officer’s face, his voice cracking. The uniform, startled by the appearance of the detective, stood mute.

Exasperated, Mike moved to the next uniform, a sergeant. He had slightly more information, “It was a female detective. She was taken, by bus, to St. Vincent’s. Her partner…”

Mike turned on his heel and ran back to the car. Seeing the look on Logan’s face, Barek hopped back into the passenger’s seat and buckled her seatbelt. The departure of the unmarked was punctuated by the smell of smoke and burned rubber.

~ ~

The waiting room was thick with New York’s Finest, uniforms and plain clothes alike. In the center of the mass, Bobby Goren was slumped in a chair, his face in his hands. Deakins stood next to him, a hand resting on his shoulder.

As he and his partner pushed their way through the throng, Mike saw that Bobby’s hands and sleeves were covered in dark red. The sheen of the slowly drying blood reflected the overhead fluorescents, forming a faint red glow around the detective’s face. At the sight of Bobby’s hands, a deadly calm descended over Mike. Bobby chose that moment to look up, making eye contact with Logan briefly.

The desperate horror in Goren’s eyes scared Mike more than anything had in many years. It was the look of a man consigned to the lowest level of Hell, a look of abject failure. Mike was torn. Should he even try to talk to Goren, to find out what happened? Or should he attempt to bully information out of a nurse, away from the collection of cops awaiting information of their own.

His gaze then fell to Deakins and an answer presented itself. Cautiously approaching the Captain, Mike tapped his shoulder. Barek knelt in front of Goren and rested her hands on his arms, allowing the Captain to step away.

“Cap, what happened? Is she okay? Was anyone else hurt? Is she going to pull through? Where was she hit? Is she conscious?” Mike rattled his questions off rapid fire, not giving Deakins a chance to answer.

Taking Mike by the arm, Deakins dragged him away from the gathered officers. A safe cushion of space between them and the nearest uniform, the Captain laid his hands on Mike’s shoulders.

“Mike, calm down for just a second, alright. She was shot once in the stomach. She’s in surgery right now. I don’t know what happened yet. I can’t get anything out of Goren. He’s in shock. All I know is that I have a dead suspect, one member of my squad under the knife and two others who look like they have just been shot themselves,” Deakins took a few deep breathes while looking Mike in the eye.

No response forthcoming, the Captain continued, “I know why Goren has that look. What I don’t understand is why you do. Is there something I need to know, Mike?”

Breaking the look, Mike turned his eyes towards his feet, weighing his words before speaking them, before breaking his promise to Alex.

Swallowing, he raised his eyes and looked at his captain. “Eames and… Alex and I, we’ve been, well, we’ve been seeing each other. We’ve gotten close.”

“How long?”

Running a hand over his face, though his graying hair, Mike sighed, “since that thing with the COs.”

Deakins shook his head. “Jesus, Mike. Does Goren know?”

“I don’t know, Cap. She made me promise not to bring it to the office. She said she didn’t want a repeat of her marriage.”

“Well, I guess, if he didn’t know, he will soon. Better get back in there.”

“Yeah.”

Mike followed Deakins back into the waiting room, all eyes on them as they entered. Clearing his throat, Deakins addressed the officers. “I appreciate all of you being here. And I know Alex would, too. But, if you are on shift right now, I’d ask that you do what Alex would want and get back out there. I will keep everyone appraised, through your Watch Commanders. When I know something, you’ll know something. Now, let’s give these other folks here some place to sit, shall we?”

Soft murmurs of agreement met Deakins’ request, officers stopping to share a word with Goren as they filed out. After fifteen minutes of movement and whispered words, the only people left in the waiting room were two IAB detectives, Deakins, Barek, Goren and Mike.

The silence was oppressive, a wet blanket of despair wrapping itself around everyone. The IAB officers kept to themselves, unable to leave until their questions had been answered, unwillingly to ask them until word had come down on Eames’ condition.

Deakins and Barek sat off to one side, watching as Mike and Goren carefully avoided looking at each other. Goren’s behavior seemed motivated by fear. Mike’s, motivated by guilt. He watched Goren and wondered if he knew and, if he did, how he felt about it.

Was the fact that Mike and Alex were seeing each other the reason Goren had been so standoffish? Was it the cause of the anger that Mike felt when he and Goren were in the same room? Or was it Mike’s own fear bubbling over?

The time passed in a fog, a haze of unreality. Finally, a pair of doctors entered the waiting room, stopping in front of the group. All eyes turned towards them, fearing the worse.

“She’s going to be fine. We removed the bullet with no additional damage. She should make a full recovery. We’ve moved her into a recovery room, if any of you would like to see her.”

Everyone stood, Deakins, Goren and Mike all following after the doctors. The shorter of the two surgeons turned. “Sorry, guys, one at a time.”

With a look to both the other men, Deakins settled the argument before it started. “I’ll go and check on her. Bobby, you need to tell IAB what happened and get them out of here.” Knowing his word would be taken as gospel, he turned and followed the doctors back into the labyrinth that led to the surgical ward.

~ ~

The darkness was now being interrupted by bright light and sharp pain. The ringing had subsided, replaced with indistinct voices. A warm touch on her hand, fatherly in nature, established a connection with the outside.

And she started to battle back.

~ ~

Mike listened as IAB questioned Goren. The suspect had pulled his weapon and gotten a shot off before being hit twice in the chest, once by Alex and once by Goren. The detectives took both Goren and Eames’ service weapons, per standard procedure. With a few muttered condolences, the pair left the room, leaving Mike, Goren and Barek in silence.

“Fucking Rat Squad.” Mike huffed, stalking around the waiting room like a caged beast. Stepping in front of Mike, Barek eyed him.

“Logan, what are we still doing here? The Captain dismissed everyone.”

Mike watched as Goren looked up, seeming to notice that Mike hadn’t left for the first time. Feeling like a deer caught in oncoming headlights.

“Well, ya see…” Mike took her by the arm and pulled her out of Goren’s earshot. “Damnit! I made a promise. Can you understand that? I’m a man of my word. It’s all I have.”

“Wait. You mean. You and Alex? Really?” Barek looked over at Goren, then back at Mike. “He doesn’t know, Logan. You need to be careful. They’ve been together a long time. I’ve seen how he looks at her.”

Dragging a hand across his mouth, Mike sighed. “You don’t think I know that. I’m not blind, just stupid. But I can’t just leave. I need to be here when she wakes up.”

“Well, here comes the bear. You might want to tell him while the captain’s not here. Better if he doesn’t see his detectives trying to kill each other.” Barek stepped away from Mike just as Goren’s hand landed on his shoulder, turning him around.

“Logan, don’t you have someplace else to be? Alex needs her friends here, not you.” Goren’s voice was rough, as if fighting for control.

Shrugging the hand off his shoulder, Mike took a step back, putting some distance between him and Goren. “Goren, listen, I know what you are feeling. You almost lost your partner today and you are beating yourself up about…”

Mike didn’t see the fist until it was inches from his jaw. He ducked back, the blow glancing off his chin, stunning him briefly.

Barek stepped between the two men, her small size no deterrent, should it turn into a fight. Her only hope was that Deakins would return before they killed each other.

~ ~

Deakins’ return to the waiting room, with good news, was marred by the sight of his detectives getting up close and personal. Logan’s chin was turning a lovely shade of purple, Goren had murder in his eyes, and Barek looked like she wanted to pull her weapon and shoot them both.

“Knock. It. Off. NOW!”

Three pairs of eyes turned towards the sound of his voice, a sharp report in the quiet waiting room. Goren and Barek had both heard that tone before, Barek recognizing it for what it was and getting clear of the men.

“I do not know what you two hope to accomplish with this display of testosterone, but it is not working. I am not impressed. Now, what is this about?” Deakins looked from one man to the other, his eyes demanding an answer.

“It was nothing, Cap. A misunderstanding,” Mike said as he turned away from them both, his hand going to his jaw. He jerked his fingers away quickly at the jolt of pain.

Deakins locked Goren with his gaze. “Do you feel better now? Did that help, at all?”

“No,” Goren said softly, not meeting Deakins’ eyes.

Deakins went to the Nurses station and got Mike an ice pack. Handing it to him, he leaned in close, “What was that about?”

“It really was nothing, Cap,” Mike demurred, holding the icepack to his chin.

Sighing deeply, Deakins sat. “Fine, if that’s the way it’s going to be. Logan, have a seat. Goren, you can go back and see her.”

Mike’s head whipped around, his eyes widening. “But, sir.”

“But, what? Do you have something you want to say, Detective?” Deakins cocked his head in Mike’s direction, an eyebrow raised.

Swallowing, Mike backed down. “No, sir.”

Watching the exchange from where he stood, Goren looked confused. “What is going on?”

Mike looked from his captain to the other detective, weighing his options. Deciding, finally, that if Goren tried to kill him, he was already in a hospital, Mike met the other’s gaze.

“Goren…Bobby, there’s something I need to tell you.”

~ ~

The warmth in her hands pulled her back into the world. She lie quietly, enjoying the feel of two different, yet familiar hands on hers. Her eyes fluttered open, the world dark and indistinct. Turning her head from side to side, working the kinks out, she saw something she never expected to see.

On right side, his hand on hers, sat her partner. His head the top of a precarious tower of hand, arm and knee, his eyes were closed. She could barely make out traces of blood, her blood, on his face. She blinked back tears and turned her head.

On her left, holding her other hand, sat her lover. His head tilted over the back of the chair, she could just make out a bruise on his chin. His soft snore brought a smile to her lips.

A soft cough from the foot of the bed brought her eyes forward. Her Captain stood there, his arms crossed over his chest, a bemused look on his face.

“You’ve got some explaining to do, ya know,” he rumbled. At her nod, he continued. “But, not right now.”

“How long have they been here?” her voice was harsher, raspy.

“Long enough. They both love you. You know that, don’t you?”

Her sigh turned to a cough. Both men shifted, neither waking. She looked from one to the other before turning her eyes back to her boss. “I do now.”

Turning on his heel, she watched as he headed to the doorway. “Get some rest, Alex. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

As her eyes closed, she felt Bobby’s hand shift into hers. She squeezed both hands as she drifted back to sleep, a smile on her lips.

~~
Fin