Caution: Both the author's note and the story contain spoilers through the end of season 8.

Given the embarrassing amount of B/A shipper fic I've read, this story is not what I expected my first L&O: CI fic to be. It's not shippy in any way, and it's not even focused on the Goren/Eames partnership directly. It is set sometime in season 8 after Wheeler leaves to have her baby. I really loved watching Eames and Nichols as partners, and that's what prompted this ficlet. I've been watching this show mainly on re-runs, so my time estimates may not be correct. Please do tell me if I've made any canon-related errors.

I write this for my own pleasure and not for profit. I do not own the characters or any part of L&O:CI. I don't think anyone really expected it to be otherwise.

Nichols has been watching Eames since he returned to the police force. Not just her specifically of course, he watches everything, and watches closely. Since she became his temporary partner however, he has been paying special attention to her.

Though naturally neither of them has mentioned it, Nichols knows Eames knows he has been scrutinizing her these past few weeks. He also knows she's not bothered by it. Unlike Wheeler, Eames is used to being the object of close examination. After all, she's been Goren's partner for seven years and Goren studies everything, minutely and with an intensity as yet unparalleled. She wouldn't be put off or made uncomfortable by Nichols' gaze.

Nichols notices immediately that Eames is perfectly comfortable working with him. She treats him no differently for all his quirks. It amuses him that she is more comfortable with him than his own partner is. Only recently has Wheeler begun to respond to him with something that may one day resemble the kind of trust critical to successful partnerships.

Eames cannot follow Nichols' trains of thought, but she does not let that paralyze her. She is willing to work with him, which is more than he can say, some days, of Wheeler. He and Eames work well together, he thinks. If they were partnered permanently, he's certain Eames would learn to read him as well as she reads Goren. He likes Eames. She's a good cop, and a good and interesting person.

xxxx

By the time Wheeler returns from maternity leave, Nichols has been working with Eames long enough to know he'll miss her when she returns to working full time with Goren.

"I require adult supervision?" he asks Wheeler, one eyebrow raised, and a hint of amusement in his voice.

She rolls her eyes and gives him a tiny smile. "You need to ask?"

Perhaps he and Wheeler will be partners yet.

Fin.

I always appreciate feedback. Constructive criticism helps me improve my writing.