Author's Note: Thank you so much for your support on this story! There's a long A/N here in the first chapter. Future A/Ns will not be this lengthy.
The title for this story is taken from the S5 episode In the Wee Small Hours.
The crux of this story relies on the premise that Alex Eames's pregnancy in S3 is not a surrogacy on behalf of her sister. Instead, Alex has chosen to have a child.
I want to show how the relationship between Goren/Eames unfolds, the process of them both healing from their trauma, and how they reclaim their lives.
Major themes include found family, processing/coping/healing re: trauma, and some good old Detective procedural drama.
Goren/Eames are the primary focus, but this story will include expanded ensemble roles for the supporting characters like Deakins, Ross, Logan, Rogers, Frank Goren, Johnny Eames, and more.
This will be a long, multi-chapter fic. Slow burn.
By the end, I think the conversations Bobby has with Paula Gyson will carry much more weight in the context of this story.
It's my goal to weave this fic into canon by blending missing scenes and narratives that were left open to interpretation in the original series. You'll notice some changes where I've had to finesse the timeline and some details. For example, I've expanded the timeline to allow proper space to explore storylines like Eames's pregnancy, Goren's suspension after Untethered, and the time between Loyalty and their return in S10.
In spite of those tweaks, I've really tried to preserve the essence of the show.
This story begins with a brief scene set in the future before jumping back to 2002 (the end of S2). It will carry on from there through the remainder of the series and beyond.
The bulk of the Criminal Intent timeline occurred in the early 2000s. Bear in mind that there have been significant changes in technology, criminal justice, world events, etc. since that time.
For example, the NYPD did not have a policy prohibiting fraternisation between employees in the same chain of command until 2022.
Please keep that in mind as this story unfolds.
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Content/Trigger Warnings
The majority of this story includes content at or near the level seen in canon in relation to the field of law enforcement.
This story is a deeper exploration of the characters and relationships in Criminal Intent.
It includes stronger language and content than typically seen in canon for the Law and Order franchise.
I will include additional chapter-specific content warnings for any chapter that includes direct scenes/portrayal of that content or for any situations involving anything beyond 'general discussion' of that topic.
AKA: Goren and Eames investigating a hostage situation won't include a c/w. Whereas the chapters that deal with Eames's abduction during Blind Spot will.
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Chapter Specific Notes
Hunts Point, Bronx does not have an apostrophe. Hell's Kitchen, Manhattan does. That's not a typo—just how they are.
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Like whisky, Robert Goren was an acquired taste.
He knew it. She knew it.
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An Acquired Taste
FanfictionLike whisky, Robert Goren was an acquired taste. He knew it. She knew it (as did anyone that spent time in his company). But Alexandra Eames liked whisky. This story explores the deep bond between Eames & Goren. It covers the events of the series an...
