I was planning on sulking a good 24 hours over the demise of We Never Sleep but then I read the last two posts and my keeps turning into a so I guess I have to change my plans and be blissfully happy instead. Absolutely incredible! And Bobby's whole thoughtfully laid out plan...so unlike Jack who is forever circling the issue...is just Alas now I've used up my smilie quota (for now). I'll be back!

kav

Great post! They are so cute together.

Bobby is soooo sweet! Now I have to ask... but is Jack going to learn about the rule not being a rule any more, is he going to act on it, and are we going to get to read about it?????

Em

That was lovely - especially that he knew she would be worried. I would be upset that he didnt' tell her last night except that he brought her breakfast and who doesn't love that!

So... Bobby... Jack will find out about the rule when and if he decides he can't wait any longer eh?



Heck... give me Bobby/Tara all the livelong day and I'm a happy girl!

So Bobby did make a choice!

i think bobby is going to snoop around....and bobby go to jack and make him think about it.....does he even know about the rule?

Part 5

”Even miracles take time." ~anonymous

Donning the yellow apron that all the employees of Value-mart wore, Tara couldn’t believe she’d had to turn Bobby down again. This was the third time, and he had not taken it well. She tried to explain that her plans had been made before there was a “them”. When she insisted on keeping her Christmas secret under the wraps, he barely contained his anger.

“You just don’t understand,” she argued.

“That’s right, I don’t. And apparently you have no intention of explaining it to me. Maybe you don’t want this after all.”

Tears pricked her eyes as she recalled the conversation. Picking up the fallen clothes, she blinked them away. She hung the designer knock-off T-shirt back on its hanger. Bobby would just have to understand. She had a job to do and a promise to keep.



He knew he’d hurt her with his words, and the rest of the day, he’d wanted to apologize but his stubborn pride had kept him firmly in his seat. He’d have even welcomed a terrorist strike if it gave him a reason to talk to her. But, as luck would have it, they had a completely terrorist free afternoon. However, he’d known better than to hope from criminal intervention. Major crime always slowed down at Christmas. Oh sure, purse snatching and burglary rose, but the good old fashioned kidnappings, serial murders, or a weapons deals were few and far between in December. Sighing heavily, he signed his latest report and tapped the stack of papers with his pen. Tara cast her eyes at him, but said nothing. Instead, she stood and pulled on her coat. He glanced at his watch. She was actually leaving on time. ”Just what are you up to, Tara Williams?” he wondered. ”I guess there’s only one way to find out.”



Tara jammed a pair of jean back into the correct slot. ”I can’t believe he actually tried tailing me!”she silently ranted. ”I’m the one who tells him where to go on tails! Did he really think he could get away with that?” She smiled when she thought about how she’d given him “the slip” by using one law enforcements oldest tricks – making a sudden left hand turn that the “tail” couldn’t possibly make. By the time, Bobby could follow her, she’d made a series of turns and was back on the main street again.

She’d have to be more careful next time, and she’d have to have a conversation with Bobby about not invading her privacy. “Those dimples won’t save you this time, Koala Boy,” she said out loud, squatting before the lower shelves.

“Excuse me?” the customer beside her said.

She looked up only to discover a man with dimples nearly as deep as Bobby’s staring down at her. Embarrassment colored her cheeks. “I’m sorry. I…I…I wasn’t talking about your dimples,” she stammered. As she quickly departed, she heard the man chuckling merrily.



After years of working with Tara, Bobby knew her evasive maneuvers as well as she did. When she made the abrupt left hand turn, he didn’t even try to follow her. Instead, he pulled over a couple of blocks later and waited for her car to emerge from the side trip he guessed she was making. Sure enough, she popped up right on schedule. Just to be safe, he stayed farther back from then on.

When the neighborhood grew increasingly rougher, Bobby gripped the wheel nervously. “Crickey! What is she doing in this part of town? I don’t even visit snitches down here without back up.” Then, he saw her pull into the Valu-mart parking lot. He exhaled the breath he’d been holding. “Poor sheila. Must be lost.”

Still maintaining his distance, he parked across the street to watch her. She parked her car on the outside of the lot and got out. Shrugging out of her coat, she pulled a yellow apron from the backseat and wiggled into it. She locked her coat and purse in the trunk and headed inside.

Bobby couldn’t believe what he was seeing. What was his Tara doing working at a Valu-mart? What was she doing at this Valu-mart? Was she on some kind of undercover assignment that he didn’t know about? Maybe she’d uncovered something on her own and this was a personal quest for the truth. She’d been known to do that kind of thing before. He considered calling D, but if she was on some renegade surveillance work, he’d be getting her in trouble.

After pondering the possibilities and the outcomes, he decided there was only one thing to do. Stay right where he was and ask her.

protective Bobby.... Wake up you big dumb Koala.... !!!

Don't ruin it!

Give the girl her pride...

Gads... stuff like that would make me mad... Tara's gonna be really mad at him...

Oh Bobby He doesn't do well with secrets that aren't his own does he?

Em

That was cute that Bobby knew Tara would be worrying and brought her breakfast!! The good news he has, however, I think he needs to share!! If Jack knew there was a chance he might just make a move on a certain sheila!!!

So, Tara isn't as smart as she thinks she is, she didn't shake Bobby!! Won't she be surprised when she gets off work!!!

Joy

I guess Bobby is better and more determined than Tara gave him credit for. At least Bobby knows she isn't turning him down because she's not interested, but I doubt she'll appreciate his visit.

At least Bobby knows what Tara is up to. That should help the situation.

Yay Oreo! Just found this story last night and so glad I did. Just finished reading "We Never Sleep" and before that "Independence Day" (WONDERFUL JOB ON THOSE TWO!) and was really missing having something of yours to read... and now you provide this bit of Christmas magic! Keep up the great writing; I'll be hanging on your every word...

Oh, and love your avatar - you can't beat Snoopy!

Tina

I suppose Bobby knows her better than she thinks he does. I guess it just goes to show how much she really taught him about tailing. I don't know if I'm going to like this conversation, though. I think Tara might be offended by it and a bit embarrassed that she had to stoop so low to get some easy money. Hopefully they don't have an argument right there in the parking lot and I also hope that Bobby will understand and let her do what she thinks she needs to.

Part 6

”I think miracles exist in part as gifts and in part as xlues that there is something beyone the flat world we see.” ~Peggy Noonan

Rubbing her aching neck, Tara exited Valu-mart at half past ten. While the store closed at 9:30, it had taken an hour to get her assigned area straightened for the next day. Now, all she could think of was food, a shower, sleep, and Bobby. She wondered if he had called. She paused and shivered, wishing again that employees didn’t have to park in Zimbabwe. She tensed when a man approached and fell in step beside her. She reached for her gun.

“Easy there, Quick Draw. It’s only me,” Bobby said.

“Bobby! What are you doing here?” she hissed, her teeth chattering. He took off his topcoat and draped it around her shoulders. She stuffed her arms into the slick lining and snuggled into the coat, still warm from his body and thick with his sporty scent.

“I think a better question is ‘What are you doing here?’ But, I know the answer will be something about secrets, right?”

She nodded as they approached her car. “It’s something I have to do.”

“Tara, if you need money. . .”

She rolled her eyes at him. “Bobby, I did your taxes last year. I know you net value.”

“You could take out a cash advance on a credit card.”

“And I’d get a better rate from a loan shark. This isn’t about money; it’s about a promise.”

A car sped through the parking lot with its windows rolled down. He threw her against the car, shielding her body with his own. When no shots sounded from the vehicle, he pulled away, scowling, “Tara, this just isn’t a safe place to be.”

She unlocked her car door. “Then, let’s get in the car.”

He climbed into the passenger side beside her. “You know that’s not what I meant.”

“Bobby, I’m cold, tired, and hungry. If you insist on talking about this, then let’s do it somewhere where I can get food.” She started the engine. “Wait, where’s your car?”

He pointed across the lot. She drove across the lot, pulled along side his car, and started to take off his coat. “Keep it on. I’ll get it later. I’ll follow you to home, and Tara, this time don’t try to loose me.”




Shoulders slumped, Tara climbed the steps to her apartment.

“You look about ready to keel over, luv. You go take a shower, and I’ll make you something to eat.”

“I think I’ll take you up on that.” Tara started down the hall and Bobby called after her. “Hey, Tar, where’s your vegemite.”

“Funny, Koala Boy.”

She emerged twenty minutes later wearing a Pooh sweatshirt and toweling her hair. She sat down at the table where Bobby had placed a bowl of Campbell’s tomato soup and a grilled cheese sandwich. “Sorry, it’s nothing fancy.”

“It looks wonderful. Thank you.” She sipped the soup from the spoon.

“Tara, why did you get a job there?”

“I told you. I had a promise to keep.”

“I don’t mean that. Why at that Valu-mart? You’re not working some case on your own are you?”

“No, Bobby. I just thought that that would be the last place anyone from the team would happen to come in. You know how the Bureau feels about moonlighting.”

“And for a good reason. Luv, what if we have a case that goes into the evening?”

“Like we’ve been so busy,” she replied, sarcastically. Besides. Valu-mart knows that’s a possibility. It’s fine by them.”

“And what if you’re too tired to make good decisions.”

She sighed heavily, pushed back from the table, and carried her dishes to the sink. “If I say this is just something I have to do, is that enough? If you told me that, wouldn’t you want me to accept it? I guess the issue is do you trust me?”

He smiled faintly and gave a little laugh. “Yes, I trust you. I just don’t trust that – place.” He pulled her onto his lap. “And to be honest, I don’t like them getting all of your time. I had much better plans for this season to be jolly.”

She kissed his cheek. “Then, let’s go in the living room and pretend I have some mistletoe before you have to go ho-ho-ho-home.”

It looks like things are taking off for Tara and Bobby.

Well since I am Ho Ho Ho home I would like more of your story!

That was such a perfect post! Bobby is definitely a among men! I love how he found her out and how he took care of her...and this

kav

This is great Oreo! Just great...a wonderful story.

Kim

Too fun-fun-fun-funny! Lovin' it. You've got the characters down pat.

Tina

So, which promise does Tara have to keep?

Part 7



Compromise. Her mother had drilled the idea that successful relationships were built of three C’s: caring, communication, and compromise. That word had pounded her as Bobby agreed to let the Valu-mart thing drop if he she agreed to let him take her and pick her up. Every bit of Tara’s 5’ 4” frame wanted to scream “no”, but then she heard her mother’s voice in her head with that word.

“At least we’ll get to see one another, luv.”

“I know, but what will you do while I’m working. It’s too far to go home.”

“I’ll just hang out there. I can entertain myself.”

“As long as you realize that you’re on your own in that department. No sneaking kisses in the dressing rooms or anything like that, Koala Boy.”

He laughed. “There goes my plans. I’ll be good. If this is important to you, then its important to me.”



The first night everything went surprisingly smooth. She did her work and Bobby managed to canvass the store doing his Christmas shopping. “Maybe this will work out fine,” Tara thought.

But it was on the second day, that Tara saw an all too familiar look on Bobby’s dimpled face. He was bored, and that could only mean one thing – trouble.

“Why don’t you go to the snack bar and have something for dinner?” she suggested.

“When’s your break? Maybe you could join me.”

“Part-timers get one 20 min. break every three hours. I wouldn’t have enough time to wolf down a PB and J.”

He sulked off, clearly disappointed. When he returned and Tara caught sight of him, she thought he had a mischievous glint in his eye. “What is he up to, now?” she wondered. A customer then approached and asked her where she could find leather pants. Tara led the woman to the appropriate rack. She eyed the ample woman and prayed the woman was buying a gift for someone.

She scanned her area for Bobby and smiled when she saw he was gone. She didn’t need to be worrying about him. He was an adult and as he said, he could “entertain himself”. She went back to the never ending task of re-hanging garments in the Junior’s department.

Half an hour later, a commotion in the Women’s department caught her attention. Tara pushed aside the plus size dresses so she could spy on what was going on. She discovered Bobby draped in a flashy red scarf and a matching crimson beret giving fashion advice to the women – very bad fashion advice, Tara noted.

“Ma’am, with those eyes, this blue sweater would be apples on ya,” he said, his accent even more pronounced than usual. Tara thought the woman was going to fall right into his arms when he flashed his dimples at her.

Another woman held up a gaudy sequined top and a patchwork skirt. “What about this one, Bob-o?”

“Bob-o?” Tara whispered. “Oh brother.”

He kissed the tips of his fingers. “Bravo! Perfect! You’ll be stunning.”

Tara nearly gagged at the combination. She watched the display as more and more women sought out the advice of Bob-o. He was having a ball and it wasn’t hurting anyone. Well, she had to admit, he wasn’t hurting anyone unless they actually wore those atrocious clothing combinations. Lucy would call it a fashion emergency worthy of a 911 call to “What Not to Wear”, but the women were loving the attention from a man they obviously found attractive.

When she spied one woman tuck what looked to be a phone number into Bobby’s pocket, Tara decided it was time to call a halt to the charade. She marched over and pushed to the front of his adoring fans. “Ladies, if you’ll excuse Bobby, I mean Bob-o, it’s time for his break. Isn’t that right, Bob-o?” She slipped her hand in his pocket and handed the paper back to the blond who’d given it to him.

Bobby shrugged. “You heard the sheila, ladies. But Gwen you really must buy the Christmas vest. It is so you.” He punctuated his point with a wink and Tara watched poor Gwen fall against the rack. She took his arm and gave it a firm yank in the direction of the cafeteria.

“All right, Bob-o, is this how you entertain yourself?”

He pulled off the beret with the tags still attached and the scarf and set them on a shelf. “I was just having some fun with the ladies, luv. No harm done.”

Unable to keep up her stern demeanor, she began to giggle. “Unless they wear those outfits. Bobby, could you have told them worse things to buy?”

“Are you insulting the fashion talents of Bob-o?” he said with a flourish. “It really was fun, luv. Speaking of fun, isn’t it your break time?” He raised his eyebrows suggestively.

“You’re hopeless.”

He wrapped his arm around her waist, pulled her tightly against his side, and kissed the top of her head. “Yep, I’ve hopelessly fallen for you.”

I just loved every single thing about this post! It was just.....



So funny.




Again too funny! This was all wonderful!

bob-o i love it!

Maybe Bobby could do a reality - crossover fanfic with the What Not to Wear people - although the lady wanting to buy leather pants probably needs the help more!

Bob-o! was perfect!

I don't know - those people on What Not to Wear can be so cruel... I'm afraid they'd eat poor Bob-o alive! He's too nice. And as far as his fashion advice goes, I've seen a few people that could actually benifit from it. Sorry, that was cruel too, wasn't it? Guess I have no room to talk about the people on What Not to Wear!

Love how he's watching over Tara, but letting her do her own thing too. Compromise is a beautiful thing.

BTW, Any chance of Jack and Sue finding their way into this story? Had to ask...

Tina

I'm stifling my giggles as i sit here in the library....

That post was fabulous Oreo! I could so picture Bobby doing something like that.

I wish Bob-o was my fashion consultant. I would fall into the clothes racks as well!

kav

cath

I have just collapsed into a laughing fit!!

Bobo was absolutely roll on the floor laughing my butt of hillarious!

Can't wait fore more!

BLT

Do you know everytime I read one of your posts that song from camp goes thru my head "an oreo, a chocolate oreo, how I love the creamy filling in a chocolate oreo". I think the song is Sarahsponda (or something similar I could look it up but I'm too lazy to find that file)!

Just trying to be entertaining while waiting for another post...

Bob-o in my opinion is making shopping fun for those women. I could start shopping there myself.

And I'm so glad Tara didn't yell or scream at him when he discovered her secret

Me too!

Good one!

Em

Oreo, you have Bob-o, er, I mean Bobby, down pat!! I can just see him doing that, and I can also see all the ladies swooning all around him!!!

Joy

I was thinking the same thing but didn't want to ask.



hehehe... me too! except not in the library...

Thank you for laughing with me. Some parts in the following posts were born in an e-mail I recieved about Bill Fenton. It was actually my inspiration for this. After checking the fact or fiction websites, this e-mail appears to be piece of anonymous fiction.

P.S. Yes, Jack and Sue will be appearing

Part 8



By the fourth day of moonlighting, the extra hours were beginning to show on Tara. To compound things, their team was handed a new case. “Tara, can you get us everything there is to know on Rico Ventura?”

“Is he any relation to Jesse Ventura, former WWF wrestler turned Minnesota governor?” Myles quipped.

“Or maybe he’s kin to Ace Ventura, pet detective,” Bobby added, generously rubbed Levi’s coat. “You’d like that, wouldn’t you boy?”

Jack cleared his throat. “I hate to disappoint you all, but he’s actually the brother of Jorge Ventura, arms dealer extraordinaire.”

“And we think Rico has joined the family business,” Sue added. “Howie gave us the information when we took him a Christmas gift yesterday.”

“What exactly do you get the man who has everything or can obtain it illegally?” Myles asked.

Sue shot him a glare. “We picked out a book of poetry.” When the group laughed uproariously, Sue smiled at them. ” What? Howie likes poetry. Anyway, he said word on the street is Rico plans to bring in a load of weapons right before Christmas.”

“Deck the halls with semi automatic gun fire?” Bobby joked as he stood up and headed to refill his coffee cup. He winked at Tara and the bells on her reindeer antler headband jingled when she giggled.

“We need to know when those guns are arriving and how,” Jack announced. “Okay, people let’s get cracking. Sue, let’s head on over to see Howie again and see if he’s got anything else for us.”



Tapping away on her keyboard, Tara was so intent on her findings she didn’t hear Bobby approach. He dropped a gift bag on her desk and her head jerked up. “What’s that?”

“I believe it’s a gift,” he said with a grin.

“For whom?”

“Check the tag.”

She opened the tiny card and read the simple contents to herself. “To Tara with all my love. Bobby.” The words warmed her like a swallow of hot cocoa, sweet and satisfying, yet making you want more. “This is really sweet of you, Bobby, but what’s it for? It’s not Christmas yet.”

“Oh really? And here I thought it was,” he teased. “It’s kind of an ‘I’m sorry gift.’ I hope I didn’t get you in trouble last night.”

Tara thought back to last night at Valu-mart. She’d again been assigned to Women’s Apparel and Bobby had once again grown bored. This time, instead of becoming Bob-o the Fashion Consultant, he slipped inside one of the clothing racks.

Time after time, Tara watched women approach the rack, drop a shirt in shock, and take off. She’d had no idea Bobby was inside until she took a shirt from the rack. Likewise, he didn’t know that it was her. When she picked an item from the rack, he’d called, “Pick me! Pick me!”

She’d jumped back and hissed. “Bobby Manning! Get out of there this instant!”

His long legs unfolded from his crouched position. “Just having some fun, luv.”

She rubbed her aching temples. “Why don’t you try having some fun in the gun department?”

According the manager of the gun department, he’d done just that. While aiming a rifle towards him, Bobby had asked if the pharmacy sold Prozac over the counter. Then, laughed uncontrollably at his own joke.

“Open the bag, luv.”

Tara peeled back the tissue paper, and pulled out the contents – a bottle of Tylenol. She giggled. “Let me guess. This is for the next time you give me a headache.”

“Right-o, and the best part is it comes with a free massage.”

oh Tara has a lot more patience than i would have with Bobby even if Bobby is that cute i would be giving him a lecture about creating a fuss at my work...

i was howling with laughter at bobbys' antics and my dogs are now looking at me as if i've lost he plot........... i lost it a long, long time ago

great post

cath

As a fellow moonlighter I can totally empathize with Tara!
I love the zingers that come out of Myles' mouth when you write him!
Oh my gosh...Bobby and I must be distant cousins. I however, was in my youth when I played this particular practical joke...and did you know that you can find a lot of loose change underneath those clothes racks? I supplemented my allowance every time my mom dragged me shopping.

The funny thing is that I work in a retail store. Luckily for me, no one has been stupid enough to use those tricks on me... not yet, anyway. I guess it's a good thing that I don't work in clothes.

Free massage? I'm in!!!

Em

Another fantastic post! I love the banter between the team.

And Bobby....well, what can I say about Bobby?







Bobby wasn't the only one laughing uncontrollably.

That was hilarious! I work in a clothing store and if that ever happened I don't know what I'd do! I'd likely be scared at first then start laughing uncontrollably!

I have a sick son at home, thanks for making me laugh, Oreo

I'm surprised security hasn't kick Bobby out yet.

"Pick me" was hilarious, and playing with the gun was ...

Massage better be good, Bobby