Spring Cleaning
She was quiet, something that rarely happened. She looked troubled, something that no one ever saw. Her eyebrows were knitted together; she sat alone in the dimly lit bullpen.
“Hey,” he whispered his steps light as he walked towards her. He didn’t want to startle her after all.
She hurriedly wiped the tears away those tears that stained her face and pushed back her fringe. “Hey,”
“She’s not worth crying over,” he found a chair and went to sit beside her.
“You don’t know that,” she struggled against another onslaught of tears. “She was my friend. I trusted her.”
“And she betrayed you.”
“My fault,” she hung her head.
“No, it wasn’t,” he insisted. “You did your best to be her friend. It was her choice to go down the road she did. It wasn’t your fault.”
“If I had just paid more attention, maybe…”
“Maybe she would have turned out good, we don’t know. It isn’t up to us,” he went to take one of her hands into his and gently squeezed it. “What matters is that you did your best.”
She lifted her head and faced him. “Doesn’t feel that way.”
“It usually doesn’t,” he comforted. “Come on,” he tilted his head towards the door. “I’ll take you home.”
*With references to the episode “Missing”
Full Version: Spring Cleaning - MelissaT - option 3
RomanceFanFiction.net > The Highlights - A Place To Start > Seasonal/Holiday Challenges > 2006 Seasonal/Holiday Challenges > Easter/Spring Challenge 2006
PG17 WARNING FOR VIOLENCE!
He sat in the dark living room, alone, his gun in his hand, contemplating. He thought he had it all under control but he couldn’t have been more wrong. The habit slowly ate him away and now, he was nothing more than a shell.
First, lying to his best friend. And then his girl. All because he was going to Atlantic City where he maxed out three credit cards. What kind of a person had he become? How could he face Jack after promising that he wouldn’t get sucked in again?
Bobby swallowed the lump in his throat and closed his eyes. Jack and the team would understand, wouldn’t they? He lifted his gun to his temple and his finger tightened on the trigger.
[Tone]
[Computerized voice] Hey there mate. I’m busy right now
so leave a message.
[Click]
Bobby? Bobby? You there? Gosh, you sound so adorable
on the voicemail. [giggle] I mean, that in a good way of
course. [cough] Actually, I’m calling because D and Jack
are worried about you. And we were wondering if you
wanna head out and grab pizza or something. So…[pause]
call me when you get this and let us know. This is Tara,
by the way. Or did I say that already? Whatever. Bye!
[Tone]
Bobby dropped the gun in an instant and broke down. He couldn’t do this, not when there were people still cared about them. He went to keep that spare gun in his drawer and promised himself, “Never Again.”
She’d never know how she had saved him that night.
*With references to the episode “Bobby Gambling”
He sat in the dark living room, alone, his gun in his hand, contemplating. He thought he had it all under control but he couldn’t have been more wrong. The habit slowly ate him away and now, he was nothing more than a shell.
First, lying to his best friend. And then his girl. All because he was going to Atlantic City where he maxed out three credit cards. What kind of a person had he become? How could he face Jack after promising that he wouldn’t get sucked in again?
Bobby swallowed the lump in his throat and closed his eyes. Jack and the team would understand, wouldn’t they? He lifted his gun to his temple and his finger tightened on the trigger.
[Tone]
[Computerized voice] Hey there mate. I’m busy right now
so leave a message.
[Click]
Bobby? Bobby? You there? Gosh, you sound so adorable
on the voicemail. [giggle] I mean, that in a good way of
course. [cough] Actually, I’m calling because D and Jack
are worried about you. And we were wondering if you
wanna head out and grab pizza or something. So…[pause]
call me when you get this and let us know. This is Tara,
by the way. Or did I say that already? Whatever. Bye!
[Tone]
Bobby dropped the gun in an instant and broke down. He couldn’t do this, not when there were people still cared about them. He went to keep that spare gun in his drawer and promised himself, “Never Again.”
She’d never know how she had saved him that night.
*With references to the episode “Bobby Gambling”
“Have you ever spared a thought for me? You told me you’ll be at home and when I get back, I expect you to be!” Bobby raised his voice at his petite bride of 10 months.
“Don’t you yell at me, Robert Stephen Manning!” Tara was equally upset. “I have every right to leave this place, just like you!”
“I want you safe!”
“You’re choking me!” Tara broke down. She wasn’t being choked literally but rather by her husband’s antics. “I can’t live like this anymore!”
“I don’t want you hurt.”
“So you would rather cage me up like an animal? A pet has more freedom than I do!” She sniffed. Ever since they got married, Tara started to work at the FBI at a part-time basis. But that wasn’t enough for Bobby. He wanted to know where she was at any given moment of the day.
“I just care about you, sweetheart,” Bobby reached to hold Tara but she moved away. Bobby’s mood worsened. “Is it wrong of me to protect you?!”
“I’m with the FBI too. Surely I can take care of myself,” she argued.
The both of them were silent; trying to cope with the anger in them. Tara’s heart broke when she finally realized what she had to do.
“Let’s take a break,” she proposed softly.
Bobby was wide-eyed and livid. “A divorce?!”
“No!” Tara exclaimed. “Just a separation, for now. I need time to think.”
“I can go out for a beer. You can take the time to think,” Bobby suggested. He was anxious not to lose Tara. Not this way.
“Bobby, we both know that’s not going to work,” she shook her head. “Please…”
“Fine!” His voice turned cold and hard. “Call me when you’re done thinking!”
The slamming of the door would forever echo in her mind.
“Don’t you yell at me, Robert Stephen Manning!” Tara was equally upset. “I have every right to leave this place, just like you!”
“I want you safe!”
“You’re choking me!” Tara broke down. She wasn’t being choked literally but rather by her husband’s antics. “I can’t live like this anymore!”
“I don’t want you hurt.”
“So you would rather cage me up like an animal? A pet has more freedom than I do!” She sniffed. Ever since they got married, Tara started to work at the FBI at a part-time basis. But that wasn’t enough for Bobby. He wanted to know where she was at any given moment of the day.
“I just care about you, sweetheart,” Bobby reached to hold Tara but she moved away. Bobby’s mood worsened. “Is it wrong of me to protect you?!”
“I’m with the FBI too. Surely I can take care of myself,” she argued.
The both of them were silent; trying to cope with the anger in them. Tara’s heart broke when she finally realized what she had to do.
“Let’s take a break,” she proposed softly.
Bobby was wide-eyed and livid. “A divorce?!”
“No!” Tara exclaimed. “Just a separation, for now. I need time to think.”
“I can go out for a beer. You can take the time to think,” Bobby suggested. He was anxious not to lose Tara. Not this way.
“Bobby, we both know that’s not going to work,” she shook her head. “Please…”
“Fine!” His voice turned cold and hard. “Call me when you’re done thinking!”
The slamming of the door would forever echo in her mind.
15 April 2005
Tara Manning hated this time of the year when she had to clean the house. She didn’t mind the dust; it was the pictures that bothered her. Pictures that she had placed facedown because she couldn’t bear to see Bobby and her so happy when they were, in reality, depressed.
The weeks following Bobby’s walking out were difficult. The tension in the bullpen was thick enough for a knife to cut through it. Tara couldn’t take it anymore so she asked for a transfer. To the IT department.
Jack was not happy at all. Couldn’t they go to a marriage counselor instead? Bobby flat-out refused. If he couldn’t talk to his own wife about their problems, how the heck was he going to talk to a complete stranger about them? Tara pleaded for the transfer and Jack gave it, not doubt in a disgruntled manner.
Bobby moved out and Tara was now alone. She didn’t want her marriage to be this way but both of them were so stubborn. He wanted her home all the time; she wanted to be his equal and go to work with him.
How in the world were they going to solve their problems if Bobby refused to seek help? Were they going to carry on like this?
Tara sighed and started to dust the place, trying hard not to look at the pictures. The phone rang but she ignored it. The answering machine would get it anyway.
[Tone]
[Computerized voice] You’re reached Tara Manning.
Leave a message.
[Click]
Um, hey, it’s me. And um…I’ve been doing some
thinking and um…if the offer’s still up…[pause]
[sigh] I was thinking we could go to that marriage
counselor person you’ve talked about. [pause] Call
me, all right?
[Tone]
Tara Manning hated this time of the year when she had to clean the house. She didn’t mind the dust; it was the pictures that bothered her. Pictures that she had placed facedown because she couldn’t bear to see Bobby and her so happy when they were, in reality, depressed.
The weeks following Bobby’s walking out were difficult. The tension in the bullpen was thick enough for a knife to cut through it. Tara couldn’t take it anymore so she asked for a transfer. To the IT department.
Jack was not happy at all. Couldn’t they go to a marriage counselor instead? Bobby flat-out refused. If he couldn’t talk to his own wife about their problems, how the heck was he going to talk to a complete stranger about them? Tara pleaded for the transfer and Jack gave it, not doubt in a disgruntled manner.
Bobby moved out and Tara was now alone. She didn’t want her marriage to be this way but both of them were so stubborn. He wanted her home all the time; she wanted to be his equal and go to work with him.
How in the world were they going to solve their problems if Bobby refused to seek help? Were they going to carry on like this?
Tara sighed and started to dust the place, trying hard not to look at the pictures. The phone rang but she ignored it. The answering machine would get it anyway.
[Tone]
[Computerized voice] You’re reached Tara Manning.
Leave a message.
[Click]
Um, hey, it’s me. And um…I’ve been doing some
thinking and um…if the offer’s still up…[pause]
[sigh] I was thinking we could go to that marriage
counselor person you’ve talked about. [pause] Call
me, all right?
[Tone]
15 April 2006
Tara Manning was in her kitchen, making breakfast and humming “Love Me Tender”. She had just popped two slices of bread into the toaster and was waiting for it to be done when she felt a pair of strong arms wrapped themselves around her waist.
“You smell good,” Tara heard those words being whispered in her ear. She couldn’t help but smile. She cradled her head into his broad chest and sighed.
“You too,” She felt that she was in a dream, a wonderful one.
“You like my aftershave?”
“Tropical Delight? Why shouldn’t I?”
Bobby laughed a hearty one. A year on and they were still picking up the pieces of their marriage. Thank goodness for counselors or he wouldn’t have known what he was giving up because of his stubborn behavior. Now, the both of them were going to work together but Tara was taking a desk job. It was a win-win situation.
“I’m really glad you’re back.”
“You know what?” He rained kisses down her neck. “Me too.”
FIN
Tara Manning was in her kitchen, making breakfast and humming “Love Me Tender”. She had just popped two slices of bread into the toaster and was waiting for it to be done when she felt a pair of strong arms wrapped themselves around her waist.
“You smell good,” Tara heard those words being whispered in her ear. She couldn’t help but smile. She cradled her head into his broad chest and sighed.
“You too,” She felt that she was in a dream, a wonderful one.
“You like my aftershave?”
“Tropical Delight? Why shouldn’t I?”
Bobby laughed a hearty one. A year on and they were still picking up the pieces of their marriage. Thank goodness for counselors or he wouldn’t have known what he was giving up because of his stubborn behavior. Now, the both of them were going to work together but Tara was taking a desk job. It was a win-win situation.
“I’m really glad you’re back.”
“You know what?” He rained kisses down her neck. “Me too.”
FIN
Melissa, that was heartwrenching. You really had me scared. I loved the ending. The simple mention of the counselor and the year later. Great work. 
I truely enjoyed that hun. But i have one question, in the one post in reference to teh Gambler I am a little confused on i believe the time line of it. WHen he said he let his best girl down, was he refering to Darcy? And Tara's phone called saved him. . . . Or is this a head some time and he was refering to Tara.
Or it could be just me thats one of the eps i have seen yet and they haven't rerunned yet/
Or it could be just me thats one of the eps i have seen yet and they haven't rerunned yet/
I loved that Mel. Beautifully done. I like how you paired Bobby and Tara together but still showed that they have a normal relationship, by that I mean that not everything is all perfect all the time. I'm glad they worked things out though.
Now, that you've blessed us with this lovely challenge entry, you can return to your other one - or have you forgotten about that?!
Now, that you've blessed us with this lovely challenge entry, you can return to your other one - or have you forgotten about that?!
wow, Mel, you got me scared for a few moments but I'm glad things worked out. I agree with JF about portraying some normality about them...and it's even better to see that they found a way to get over their problems.
It's nice story, Mel... I love especially the part where they have a problems because it reminds me the real life.... I want to thank you they solved it !!!
FOR SHARING THIS STORY WITH US!!!
Restie
FOR SHARING THIS STORY WITH US!!! Restie
Mel, this is beautiful!! You really show their growth into a strong, lasting relationship over time!!!
Thanks for sharing!!
Joy
Thanks for sharing!!
Joy
This is a "lo-fi" version of our main content. To view the full version with more information, formatting and images, please click here.