A/N: It's been way too long... *grin* A Goren / Eames relationship is established here. Read and review, please! (I apologize about the demise of "A Festival of Fools"-please forgive me! The story refuses to come out of hiding right now, but it will happen, I promise...)



The TV made a buzzing noise as it switched off, and the dusty screen crackled softly in the silence. Goren stared bleakly out the window into the night and watched the flashing lights of an airplane glide swiftly through the sky, shooting across the clouds like a star.

Everything was dreary since Alex had left. A long kiss at the airport, spicy-sweet and burning hot--Goren never tired of the taste of her kisses-- and then he lost her briefly as the crowd swarmed around them, but caught a final glimpse as she trundled onto the plane with her heavy bag and briefcase. He'd wandered around a bit afterwards, not quite certain what to do, and then drove back to an empty apartment. Not his home. It didn't feel remotely like his home, now that she was gone.

The days were heavy and uninteresting, full of boring cases and tedious filing jobs; the nights were long and sleepless. Goren would drift off into an uneasy doze, wake up in a dreamy stupor, and then bury his head in the pillows with a groan as he realized he was alone. No soft warmth beside him, no low breathing... nothing.

He slid off the sofa now, shuffling dully towards the bedroom. Another night of trying to sleep, waiting in the darkness, counting off the hours and days--he could barely wait.

A soft click sounded behind him, and he turned his head to see nothing. The lamp on the table beside the sofa was still burning softly, so he turned back to switch it off... and saw a pair of scissors lying on the floor.

"How did those get there...?" Goren peered down at them in mild bafflement, then picked them up and tossed them idly onto the counter. He flicked the lamp off and trundled off to bed in the darkness.



It was late next morning, and Goren was spitting out a couple of choice words per second because his car keys were missing. With his briefcase in hand he stormed through the living room, overturned the cushions, crumpled up the blanket, rummaged under the sofa and coffee table...

In desperation, he fled to the kitchen and began scrounging around inside the drawers and cabinets. Boxes, cans, bottles were shoved aside and flung across the room, bags were spilled on the floor... Goren stumbled to his feet and ducked his head inside the fridge, then the freezer.

There. In the freezer. Top shelf, beside the steaks. Goren fished out his car keys, dusted off the white frost, and stared bewilderedly at them. His car keys... in the freezer?

He quickly decided he was losing it, stuffed the keys into his coat pocket, and dashed out the door, slamming it behind him. The silence lasted for about three seconds before Goren rushed back inside, snatched up his briefcase, and left for good.



That night, Goren tossed his jacket onto a chair and kicked off his shoes, loosening his tie as he wandered inside. He dumped his keys on the counter and took a glass out of the cupboard, then turned on the faucet and drained the water into the glass. It took him a couple of long gulps before he saw it.

His toothbrush was lying in the kitchen sink, wedged between a couple of dirty plates. Goren tugged it loose with a combination of irritation and confusion. What the hell was going on?

He was careful in brushing his teeth that night, splashing his face in cold water as he rubbed his hair dry. Goren surveyed himself in the mirror and ran a hand over his forehead, his fingers at his temples, as he took a couple of deep breaths.

OK. It had been two weeks since Eames had left for that business trip. He obviously wasn't dealing too well with it. He was doing stupid things like leaving his car keys in his freezer and his toothbrush in the kitchen sink, but that was because he hadn't been sleeping well and he missed her too much. Right?

His reflection stared blankly back at him. Goren gave up and drifted off to bed.