After Major Case

He said he’d be back early. She was excited – a precious night home together. It had been too long! He also mentioned a surprise. She wondered what it could possibly be. She tried to exercise patience – not in her nature really, although she was getting better. The evening wore on and still he wasn’t home and his cell was on voicemail. No point in leaving a message, she thought. He’ll think she was nagging, or worse, and if he bothered to look he would see her missed call(s)! She tried to stay up but in the end she couldn’t fight her best friend Morpheus – she needed her sleep. She had an early start – every day was an early start.

He removed his size 13’s and tiptoed into the apartment assuming she would be mad at him; he wouldn’t blame her. She didn’t normally worry what time he got home; she knew with plenty of caffeine he could exist on little sleep and she trusted him - now. He knew it had been a mistake to call her earlier – he did it automatically. This news he had to tell her face to face.

She was sleeping. It never failed to arouse him the way she lie on her tummy, one arm swinging out the side of the bed, the other slung above her head and her bottom in the air. Her tussled hair and makeup free face, clean and shiny, gave her the appearance of a schoolgirl.

His emotions were a mess; he really was happy the way things had worked out. No he wasn’t, he was damn furious and bloody mad. Still it was for the best, he guessed. No it wasn’t, now what would he do with himself? He was filled with pent up rage; filled with alcohol and filled with a burning thirst that had to be slaked. Better his wife than the company he had been keeping earlier.

He slipped the sheet from her body and dragged her down the bed. He wasn’t all mean, he tested the water, so to speak, and found it pleasingly wet and warm and welcoming… and still she slept, stirring slightly. His first thrusts were deep and long and urgent and she groaned, “You monster! Is this your surprise?” but she didn’t stop him. His next were tender and loving; he growled - she purred – they kissed.

He felt so much better and slept soundly curled around her soft round curves; she was his comfort blanket.


She was woken by her early morning call. Once summoned, she brought her other monster into their bed. There were some things even beyond the brilliant Bobby Goren’s capabilities. He sat up and proudly watched them together; the loves of his life. Whilst the baby contentedly fed, she asked what the surprise was. His face clouded over, “I don’t want to talk about it.”

What he meant was he didn’t want to upset her – not yet.

“When you’re done, do you want to go out for breakfast?”

He didn’t have to ask her twice; she wouldn’t turn that treat down, but his motive wasn’t altogether altruistic. He didn’t want them to be at home when he told her the latest. He wasn’t sure if there would be a scene remembering her reaction to his suspension. She loved having him home - it was the reason behind it. In her opinion he lived that one too close to the edge for comfort and he didn’t have the decency to tell her what he was up to and there was another life he should have been thinking about. She was right on all three counts.

“What about work – guess ‘cos you pulled a late one you can…” she interrupted his thoughts.

“Yeah, yeah.” He stopped her short and made a dive for the shower. Beneath the pounding water he rehearsed the many ways he would break the news. As successful and resourceful as she was, he was not prepared to be a kept man. She can argue her pretty head off as much as she likes, this man has some pride and he wants to support his wife and child.

They found a quiet booth in the corner café – Robert Jnr obligingly slept in his stroller. Bobby toyed with his coffee and played with his food and watched in wonder as Honey’s fork jumped from one plate to another. He admired her hearty appetite – even stress didn’t stop her – quite the reverse in fact. Suddenly he blurted out, “I’ve been fired!”

Her fork halted midway between table and mouth; she choked on her omelette.

“I don’t believe it!”

His head hung waiting for the onslaught, as if he wasn’t already pissed off enough. He was in no mood for an argument.

“Bobby, look at me.”

She took his hand and softly said, “We’ll get through this fine, we really will. Honey, are you okay with it?”

Now he was annoyed with himself. He had no right to assume she would give him grief. Sure in those early years she used to run rings round him, but he’d given her a hard time too. Theirs had not been an easy marriage, not then, but their lives had changed; they had grown up surviving loss and worse. Things would work out – they always do.

She was upset for him. He had devoted himself to the Major Case Squad and they had the nerve to get rid of one of their finest. He was their finest. He was the best. He is still the best. He will always be the best. What was this city coming to?

“Great, that means I get you all to myself…” she quipped trying to lighten the tone. “And what about Alex?”

“She’s the one who did it.”

“I don’t believe it!”

“You’re repeating yourself.”

“I’m sorry Bobby, but…”

“Listen, believe it,” he said gravely. “They promoted her, gave her the task of kicking my butt and then she quit.”

“Well their loss is my gain. So what’s the plan?”

Bobby scratched his beard and shook his head. “I’m sure you’ll think of something for me to do my love.”

She saw him nervously play with his wedding band and wondered what he really had up his sleeve.

By Ann.