Disclaimer:  To quote the seagulls from "Finding Nemo" – Mine! Mine! Mine! Mine!  Okay, so they aren't but hey, I had to try right?

Rating:  PG

Category:  G/E friendship with slight UST

Spoilers:  Uh, nothing specific but mention of Bishop and maternity leave.

Archiving: Yes to Amorous Intent – anyone else just ask and I am easily bribed.

Author:  Traci   traci_ann@yahoo.com

Summary:  Just a little uh, well, not sure what this is but it was something I had to write.

Thanks to Tracy (as usual) for her neverending help!

Silent Observations

He watched her from a distance.  He loved watching her when she was unaware of his presence.  Not that she acted any differently around him it was just nice to be able to watch without worrying about her catching him.

She was always in control.  She possessed a silent power.  A way of intimidating people in spite of her petite stature.  She had him wrapped around her finger and he, for one, was not going to complain.

"Earth to Bobby."

He smiled down at his partner.

"Did you enjoy the little show?" she asked but the tiny sparkle in her brown eyes let him know she was not angry with him.

"I guess I'm not needed anymore."

Shaking her head, she turned and headed to the door.  "You're just jealous because this was one suspect you weren't able to interrogate."

Jealous?  He almost laughed out loud.  Jealous.  No.  Grateful?  Yes.  Usually he was the one in the room pushing and prodding while she was able to stand outside and look in through the mirror.  Very rare were the occasions when he was able to observe her in the same manner. When the complexities and subtleties of her mind were exposed to him and he was able to know her on a more intimate level. 

"Bobby, are you alright?"  Her once light voice was now laden with a touch of concern.

He smiled back at her.  "I'm fine."

"How did Bishop put up with you for six weeks?" she mumbled walking out the door.

With a tiny chuckle, he followed her.  "Maybe I'm only this annoying to you," he whispered when he caught up to her.

She watched him as he sat across from her at his desk.  "Nah, something tells me that's not it."

Their eyes met.

"I missed you," he quietly admitted.

She grinned from ear to ear.  "I knew you would."

As the hours passed and they finished up on paperwork, Alex yawned and called it a night.  Goren did not look up, merely waved and that was the reason he nearly jumped out of his skin when a warm breath followed by the words "Missed you too" reached his ear.

Before he could react, she was inside the elevator with a full Cheshire Cat grin on her face as the doors closed.

He sat back in his chair and stared at the closed steel doors until they opened again and the elevator was empty.  With a smile that could not be erased, he continued finishing his paperwork.  He was on his own no longer.

The End