"Eames-uh Alex," he closed the phone "What are you doing here?" He drank in her appearance again. Damn that dress.

"I sent Peter home."

"Oh," he licked his lips. He felt his mouth go dry. She had pushed him aside earlier and he was sure she would go to bed with Peter. Now, she was in front of him, on the other side of his door.

"Can I come in?"

"Uh, yeah." His hands went to the hair at the nape of his neck. He was suddenly very nervous. Then, he wiped his now sweaty hands on his paints. He had been messing it up with her and he was scared to say or do anything to make her leave. He moved aside to let her walk in. She brushed against him lightly as she walked past him. Finally, he closed the door behind them.

"Is it true?"

"You have to help me out here, Alex. Is what true?"

"I heard you and the Captain had a conversation."

Goren looked at her puzzled.

"There's eyes and ears everywhere, Goren. Did you think I wouldn't know?"

"Yeah, well, he's not going through with it but you knew that."

"So, why you do it?"

"Huh? Now I'm confused. You asked..I thought you wanted…"

"I know I asked. But that doesn't answer my question."

"Eames. I don't want to make things difficult. I just want to do my job and if it means we can't do it together, yeah it'll break my heart a little but I can deal with that. I don't want to hurt you anymore."

"Do you mean that?"

"What? That I don't want to hurt you?"

Eames arched an eyebrow.

"Yeah. It was never my intention to hurt you, still isn't."

"Okay," she was ready to let it go.

"Okay?"

"I forgive you."

"Just like that."

"Just like that. I don't want to be angry anymore."

Goren didn't know what to say. He looked at her hesitantly.

"But Bobby why didn't you tell me what was happening?"

"Happening?"

"I heard about how the other cops were treating you. I was so caught up in being angry that I didnt notice."

"Well, you had reason to be angry."

"Are you okay?"

She stepped closer to him. It appeared she was sending signals to him but he didn't want to assume wrong.

"Yeah, I'm fine. Alex.."

Her eyes caught his. She took in his wet hair and smelled his freshly washed skin. He showered.

Goren looked at her and she smiled at him. Damn that smile. I am weak.

Goren closed the distance between them. He bent his head, snaking his tongue gently into her mouth, kissing her tentatively and then more passionately. Her hands rested on his back like a hugging position as she kissed him back occasionally stopping and nuzzling against his neck before finding his lips again. Then, her hands grabbed his neck and through his hair until the movement paused.

"Bobby."

"Is this okay?" He asked hesitantly between kisses. Everything between them was still fragile. He was hoping; praying she would say yes because he didn't know if he could stop. He would if she wanted him to but all his feelings and desire was too much for him to push away. His hands traced her thigh, the thin fabric ruffling against his fingers and down to the split where his hands touched bare skin.

"Yes..bedroom?" She needed to be with him. They needed each other.

He lifted her as she wrapped her legs around him for support. Her dress hiking up as her legs wrapped tight against his hips. Goren continued kissing her before gently placing her down on the bed. He removed his t-shirt and rested his arms to either side of her as his mouth met hers again. Her lips were sweet and welcoming.

They nipped at each other's lips gliding tongue and lips in a sensuous pattern until Eames stopped him, again. She motioned to Goren to where the zipper was on her dress and he torturously took his time unzipping it. His mouth meeting her neck and shoulder blade as he moved the zipper down. His lips and tongue marking the path of revealed skin as his hand worked the zipper.

She let out a light moan and was about to speak when he put his finger on her lips then claimed her lips with his. "Bobby-"

No, don't beg. It's been too long. I'll give you all of me, Alex. He used his hands to move the dress material down her body. Yet, his lips stayed on course. Eames lifted her hips to him as he shimmied the material down. She dug her nails into his back as the rest of the material slipped off his fingers. He took in her naked body with such a reverence that Eames felt more exposed than just naked before him.

His eyes looked hungry with desire yet also soft and loving. Hers was love and desire laden. Anger had pushed them apart but now it was just them and this moment. The love was still there. It had never left. There was so much hurt between them and neither could think of anything to fix it. They just knew they needed to feel close again.

She undid his pants and he took both his pants and underwear off in one sweep. He maintained eye contact with her as he plunged deep into her. Then, Goren rested his head on hers as he tried to regain composure begging his body to hold on and not give into the pleasure he felt so quickly. Then, when he felt himself settle, he withdrew himself and thrusted back into her. She grabbed his face looking at him and kissing him making sure he knew how much she loved him and wanted him. His hands cupped her hands against his face, closing his eyes at the intimacy of her light touch. His hands grabbed hers, fingers entwined, as he thrusted again slowly.

His breath still had a hint of whiskey along with coffee and mint as he exhaled against her neck. He wasn't drunk. He sobered himself. His inhibitions were more reserved. He was using her actions to guide him cautiously to keep from making any mistakes. His breath caught as he tried to look away, shamed at the way he treated her. He hated himself for his selfishness. Alex is the most important person in my life. Why did I have to hurt her-to hurt us?

She brought his eyes back to her. Kissing his lips softly bringing his attention back to her. "Don't go away. Stay with me, Bobby."

"I love you," he couldn't hold the words back.

"I love you, too."

Goren exhaled a sigh of relief that he didn't mess it up enough to make her hate him.

"I'm so-" his grief and the pain he caused her washed over him. He acted like an asshole. He loved her and he pushed her away. He wanted to let her know how sorry he was.

"Don't. I know." I know. We are both sorry. I forgive you. Let this be what it is.

She didn't want this moment to be interrupted with words, apologies, and promises. They never needed the words to communicate before. She knew Bobby would disassociate, if he felt guilty and self-loathing, push her away, and punish himself. She didn't want that right now. She almost lost him in that raid but he was here and he was sorry. She felt it in the vulnerable way he touched her and connected his eyes to hers.

Her fingers trailed on his arm reassuringly as she bucked her hips against him. His eyes went back as he focused on the sensations drawing him back to the current moment. This feels so good.

"I'm here, Alex," he reaffirmed letting her know that he was in this moment with her.

"Good. I'm with you," she let her lips make contact with every piece of bare skin she could reach on his body. Her hands dug into the curls of his head holding a fist of wet curls as he went deeper and deeper.

He grunted as he pushed into her deeper each time. He felt himself get sensitive as the pleasure surged in his body with each push. Sweat dripped off the tips of his hair, as it fell on their shoulders

"Al-ex," barely got the syllables out as he nibbled on her ear and neck "I never." He groaned. "Wanted to...God, I love."

She moaned, "Bobby, yes, I love you."

He fixed his eyes to hers as he buried himself deep with one final thrust. Skin glistening, his breathing was ragged. She wrapped her arms around him pulling him so close to her, so close until they were one. She let her tension and his betrayal fall as she came. She didn't want to feel any negative feelings about him.

They held their position for a couple more minutes not wanting to leave this bubble they created. Then, Goren shifted, pulled himself out and cleaned himself with a shirt from the floor. Eames pulled the blankets around her in bed. Goren pulled his underwear on and settled beside her in the bed.

"So …"

"Yeah…"

"I don't mean to sound cliche, but What does this mean?"

"It means...uh, I forgive you. I love you. It means goodbye."

"Goodbye?"

"Well, not really. We still are partners and we can be friends but…"

"But we can't do this anymore." He finished for her.

"I don't think it is a good idea. I think we should focus on our partnership. Our friendship," she was drawing circles on his shoulder with her finger.

He curled up to her side and pulled her over to him, still wrapped in the blankets. She nuzzled up to him, taking in the last intimate moments between them.

"Okay."

"Okay?"

"I understand. I agree it got too messy. I-"

"Yeah but Bobby," she caressed his back as he turned his eyes to focus on something random in the room

"Hmm?"

"It got away from us but it shouldn't have happened not because I don't love you."

"I love you, too."

"Yeah, I know. The timing isn't right. Bobby, you're not ready for a relationship. You have a lot going on and it's not fair to add this on top of it."

"Maybe we can…."

"Yeah, maybe but when the time is right. I'll be here with you." she grabbed his hands in hers "You know, you're not alone. You can still talk to me. That won't change and neither will my feelings for you. I still care about you."

He kissed the back of her hand drawing both of their hands to his face before letting them drop.

"Bobby?"

"Mmhmm."

"Don't withhold information I need to know. I'm your partner. I can't have your back if you don't tell me everything."

"Alright," he responded without hesistation. "So that's it?" Goren asked as he ran his finger on her shoulder in small circles as she had just done to him.

"Well, I'm not in a hurry to leave but once I leave, yes."

"So, can I convince you not to leave?" He playfully nibbled on her shoulder.

She ran her finger down his chest playfully. "I'm not going anywhere, right now."

They laughed and He kissed her again. "Then, I guess, I should make this last one count, huh."

"Won't it make it harder to let go of this?"

"I'm not thinking about that right now. You said until you leave. Well, I don't see you leaving yet."

She smiled. He smiled. The tension between them was gone. Friendship was on the horizon.

After the second time, both their phones rang. Goren answered his and smiled as he hung up.

"We just got a case."

"Yeah."

"And you're smiling."

"Did I ever tell you about when I wanted to become a magician?"

"No, I don't think you've told me that story before," she responded with an equally flashy smile on her face.

"I was obsessed."

"You obsessed...no."

He laughed and it was light and almost childlike.

"I read everything I could and tried to make the illusion props myself. I drove everyone crazy trying to trick them. My uncle used to take me to the magic shops on the weekend."

Eames couldn't help but feel his positive energy in waves. She felt like they were partners again in all the ways that truly mattered.

They entered the SUV heading to the crime scene and Goren was still chatty and boyishly happy.

"I, uh, could teach you."

"I never really saw myself as a magician but I did like watching a good magic trick."

"Well you're in luck. So, Miles Stone, a famous magician was found dead but the way he was found is the interesting part, during a rival's trick. The Great Carmine. Man, they don't make it like that anymore. Was it murder? An illusion? Or bad luck?"

"You are enjoying this too much. I mean a man did die."

Goren paused for a beat then smiled again. "I bet they have those boxes when I can saw you in half," he said excitedly

"I think I like my body in one piece, Bobby," She giggled.

"Well it doesn't actually…"

"Shhh don't ruin the trick," Eames said as her fingers went to his lips. Eames was content and just like that, they were back on track and everything was right in their world.

The end.

Author Notes: Maybe this will get a sequel after some time has passed but for now, I'm calling this complete. I know you may not like how i ended it but at least I left them on a positive note. There's hope on the horizon and who knows if we do find them next time, it may be in a much better place.