Disclaimer: Show and characters belong to Dick Wolf, not me, I'm just having a wee bit o' fun.

A/N Hi! This was my first LOCI fanfic. I am rewriting it a bit, correcting errors. I have written many other fanfics in the past for another fandom. I'm very nervous about posting this, since there are so many amazing LOCI writers and stories out there, but I had to start somewhere. I haven't written for a long time and had to get my feet wet all over again. ;) This is B/A relationship fluff, as I've read it described before. It starts a few days after the episode Semi-Detached (major spoilers), and is already six chapters long. I would really love criticism, I have a very thick skin. If you see any problems, let me know. Nothing bothers me.

Forget What We're Told

gorenrocks

Alex

Alex Eames' brain was a hive swarming with a thousand angry wasps; she couldn't stop the buzz. Her eyes were grit-covered orbs, sinking deep into her skull.

It had been a long week with a disturbing case, and now it was the end of an endless Friday. Alex was shattered. She wanted to go home, now, but waited for Bobby to get back from a last minute meeting, knowing he'd see her home. Wanting to see him, to talk to him, and to set things straight. She gave up her phony efforts at paperwork and fiddled around straightening her desk drawer. Giving up, she rested her throbbing head on her hand, and when she closed her eyes, she replayed the exchange between her partner Bobby Goren and murderer Nelda Carson.

Don't you care about me at all? I know you do, I saw it, cried Nelda.

I didn't mean for you to see it, murmured Bobby.

She lost count of the times the details haunted her - the shy looks, the subtle gestures, the heartfelt words between the magnetic borderline personality Nelda and her charming, intense partner Bobby. Her Bobby. Alex tried to take a deep breath, and she couldn't do it and tried again, but had to settle for shallow gulps of inadequate dry oxygen.

Alex could not purge this case, nor Bobby, out of her thoughts and out of her dreams, and it made her breathless with worry. What was he thinking, getting his head wrapped around such a lethal woman? She had told Captain Deakins that Bobby was playing Nelda, but she'd had serious doubts and she had kept them to herself. Doubts that multiplied as Bobby's fascination with the deadly nurse intensified. Fears that morphed to dread as the case reached its climax, and now fears refused to relinquish their grip. Had Nelda penetrated further into Bobby, beyond his ever-questing brain and piercing his unprotected heart?

Those thoughts caused Alex's pulse to speed and her heart skipped a beat. She was both shivering and sweating, and needed to use her other hand to help cradle her aching head. She tried to sort her thoughts and feelings, but failed.

What's happening to me? I need to get some fresh air. I need to tell Bobby….

Alex's world went black.

Bobby

Bobby Goren thought about getting coffee for himself and his partner before he returned to his desk, but looked at his watch and decided against it. The meeting that should have been quick ran long, and it was time to go home. Most of all, he needed to see Alex. He had noticed something was bothering her and needed to spend time with her, and to talk to her. He hoped she hadn't left.

He walked faster as his urge to see her intensified, and that's when he saw the small crowd of people surrounding her desk. Alex's empty desk - where is she? He stopped breathing.

Bobby Goran ran.

Janet, a secretary, knelt by Alex's chair. Alex sat slumped over, her arms crossing her legs, her right cheek resting on her forearms, eyes half closed.

"Detective Eames, are you feeling better? Can you try to sit up?" Janet asked. To Bobby her voice echoed around the room.

"Janet, what happened? What's wrong with Eames?"

Janet finally looked up at Bobby. "I don't know, Detective Goren. I was walking by, and noticed she was slumped over…"

"Excuse me," Bobby interrupted, gently but firmly, moving the woman out of his way, "I need to talk to her."

Finally he was near her, kneeling on the floor, and ignoring their unspoken boundaries his hands reached for his partner. One supported her back and one curved around her neck. Holding his breath, he checked her pulse and felt it beating strong and steady under her soft skin. Gently stroking her back, he exhaled, and moved his face so that he could feel her warm breath, then let his lips brush against her ear.

"Alex, can you hear me?"

Her eyes fluttered, and fully opened. "Bobby..?"

He tilted his head and so he could look in her eyes. "Yeah, it's me. I'm right here. Don't worry. Everything is going to be alright. Don't try to sit up yet. Just relax."

Bobby sat up a bit. "Where's the Captain?"

"He's out of the office," a male voice answered.

Who the hell is he, Bobby thought. He looked for the secretary, and met her eyes. "Janet, would you please find Alex something to drink, some juice, or something else sweet and caffeine free?"

Bobby stood and looked around. "Ok, everyone, thanks for the concern. But…but it's over now. She's going to be alright. What my partner needs now is some privacy." He watched as people slowly drifted away, then he turned his full attention to Alex. He desperately wanted to get them both out of One PP.

"Alex, honey, I'm going to help you sit up now. But we're going to take it slow, okay?"

Bobby held her gaze, and for a moment, neither moved. He pursed his lips, slightly, and she lifted her head. Looking at her carefully, he saw that her hair was slightly damp, she was very pale, but there were dark circles under her eyes. Bobby cursed himself for not really noticing the signs earlier; he would make it up to her.

So he didn't care where he was or who was there; he let his hand slide to her cheek, brushing it with his thumb, gliding his fingers through her hair. Her eyes filed but the tears didn't fall and she nodded, accepting his help with grace and dignity. Damn it! He thought. This is killing her.

"Just hold on, Alex. We'll get through this." He moved the palm of his hand to her back, then placed a hand on her shoulder. Together they moved easily, and he supported her as Alex sat back in the chair. When she smiled at him, Bobby felt his heart expand, growing so large it nearly strangled him, but he managed to smile back.

"I have her car keys." The loud voice startled Bobby and intruded on their moment. "I'm going to take Alex to the emergency room, just to be on the safe side. Then I'll take her home."

Bobby looked up. It was...that man, the nuisance…again. Goren ignored him.

"Are you okay, Alex?" asked Bobby.

She nodded. "And what took you so long to get here?" she teased, easing the tension.

"I like to make a dramatic entrance." Bobby smiled at her, then held up one finger. "Just wait for me, please? I'll only be a minute. And don't-- don't interrupt."

Bobby felt a painful knot forming between his eyes, and his anger began to burn his gut. His nerves were shot and he had no time for this.

Face to face with the middle-aged man holding his partner's keys, Bobby demanded, "Who are you?"

"I'm Detective Bill Andrews, from narcotics. I know Alex from Vice."

"You do? I've never heard Detective Eames mention you."

"Well… actually, I worked in Vice when she did. Who are you?"

"I'm Detective Robert Goren. Her partner." Bobby held out his hand, palm up. The message was clear - he wanted the the keys. Bobby waited but Andrews didn't move. Bobby's was non-existent.

"Look, Bill, I'm here, and she doesn't need you now."

"Well you weren't here when this happened, and we already made the arrangements," Andrews hissed, "Janet and I," he nodded toward the secretary who returned with a bottle of apple juice and some crackers.

"Oh really," Bobby said, and laughed, but the next moment he stopped, and jammed a long finger in Andrew's chest. "Well your arrangements have just been cancelled. So give me the God damn keys."

Alex

Alex sipped on apple juice and watched the scene unfold with some alarm but mostly amusement. She was relieved when Andrews, who she vaguely remembered, finally folded and slammed the keys in Bobby's hand, muttered a few terse words of well wishes to Alex, and then stormed out of the bullpen.

Bobby turned, and she felt herself become the full focus of his attention again. She knew she blushed furiously; she was confused as she remembered the spark of his touches, and the fire of his lips against her ear. Again, he knelt next to her, touching her hand.

"I see you recruited a new member to the Robert Goren Fan Club," she teased, smiling.

"Yeah, maybe. How do you feel now?"

I'd feel better if you'd just pick me up and whisk me away from here! Alex thought. But she did a brief physical inventory. She took a deep breath, and it felt good. Her head hurt some, but the terrible buzzing had stopped. She felt nervous still, but calmer. Bobby was with her. But when did she start feeling like this - dependent on him?

"I feel better. Not great, but…." she thought a minute, "Did you really call me honey?"

"Well... I was worried." He seemed to be completely unfazed, and he squeezed her hand. "Did you eat today, Eames? Have you been sleeping?"

"I-I'm not sure. Yeah-- well maybe not." She looked down at her bottle of juice, then drank a few more big, guilty gulps.

"Alex, what is going on --" Bobby looked around. "Ok, not here. If I help you, do you think we can manage to--to get the hell out of here?"

"Yes, Bobby. I'm sure of it."

Bobby smiled. "Let's go."

Once they were in the elevator, Bobby took off his suit jacket and slipped it around Alex's shoulders. Then he loosened his tie and snaked his arm under the jacket, under the hem of her sweater, and tightened it around her waist. He pulled her close, bent down and pressed a kiss against her forehead.

His touches made her tremble; she stared up at him, wide-eyed. "Bobby -- what, what are you doing?"

Bobby stopped her, briefly touching his finger to her lips.

"Alex, look. Today… today there are no rules. We don't have to do what we're told. It doesn't matter what anyone thinks. I'm taking care of you, whatever you need. Because it's what I want. It's what we both need."

Her throat was so dry, she swallowed hard and licked her lips. Bobby was right. He squeezed her waist, his thumb rubbing her stomach. She nodded her head, yes, and he tucked an errant strand of hair behind her ear.

"Are you," she cleared her throat, "do you have to take me to the emergency room?"

He shook his head. "No. But I am taking you somewhere, to have you checked out."

"What do you mean?"

"You'll see."

The elevator doors opened, and Alex slid her arm around Bobby's waist as they walked together to her car.

TBC

A/N Title from this song, by Snow Patrol - Chasing Cars