An Acquired Taste

Tease

Author's Note: Thank you for your support on this story.

I really liked Bobby's friend Louis (the mechanic) who was a minor recurring character in two episodes in the early seasons. He'll be a supporting character that pops up from time to time in this story. I want to stress that Louis's behaviour in this chapter is light-hearted, and that Eames is receptive to it—not repulsed by it.

This chapter introduces a number of OCs. Most are members of Eames's family.

Most of these OCs (like Eames's siblings) are minor supporting characters throughout the bulk of this story. They just happen to feature heavily in this first arc—but are not a primary component of the story as a whole.

-X-

6:32 p.m. | Lower East Side | Manhattan

Alex Eames stepped out of the frigid December air into a dark pub.

She brushed a light dusting off snow off the shoulders of her wool jacket and shook her head to shift the snow from her hair.

The pub was busy, but not packed. There was a Rangers game on and most of the patrons had their eyes affixed on the screens overhead.

Alex scanned the room. Her sister, Elizabeth, waved from a tall table near the bar. Alex's sister-in-law, Stephanie, was present too.

The three Eames women liked to get together when they could—which was increasingly less so in recent years. Between work and family obligations, it was a rare thing for the trio to coordinate a night off.

Alex adored her niece and nephews—but she had no idea how Stephanie and Elizabeth did it all.

Well, she had some idea.

Elizabeth was a paramedic. Her husband, Peter, worked from home. His career afforded him the flexibility and means to take on most of the day-to-day work in parenting their new baby boy.

Things were more challenging for Stephanie. She had Oliver, Alex's little brother. Ollie was a devoted father—but life was hectic with two kids.

Steph and Ollie made their home out on Staten Island and commuted into the city. Stephanie was an ER nurse at Bellevue. Ollie was a fireman with Ladder 8 in Lower Manhattan.

"Hey, sorry I'm late," Eames said as she approached the table.

Elizabeth waved her off as she took a long sip of beer.

"We're just glad you're here," Stephanie said.

As the three caught up, it wasn't long before the pictures came out. Stephanie had finally developed the photos from Thanksgiving and Elizabeth had a stack of new shots of the baby.

"He's starting to move about. Any day now, he's going to roll over. I just know it," Elizabeth said, gushing about her son.

He was still so tiny and yet growing up too fast.

Alex beamed as she caught sight of the last photo.

"Yeah. He's started smiling now. You know, in response to us?" Elizabeth went on. "At least, he does as long as Peter doesn't sing."

The three women shared a laugh. Then silence descended on the table. All eyes fell on Alex.

"How's work?" Elizabeth inquired.

"It's good. Busy," Alex answered casually.

There wasn't all that much to say. Steph and Liz saw their own fair share of trauma in the line of duty. Eames didn't need to add any new stories. Hell, she figured they got the worst of it considering they had to deal with the 'after.'