Hey, everyone! I started to write this story a few days before Purgatory aired, and I just now got around to posting it. It began as a oneshot songfic to the gorgeous song Stop And Stare by One Republic, but quickly grew. And another author, The Confused One, joined me on this little project. So here ya'll go. And reviews are always a nice birthday present. (grins)

Disclaimer: Not mine!

CICICICICICICICICICI

Bobby Goren looked at his new partner with hard eyes, and some contempt. He didn't want a new partner. He wanted his partner back. He wanted his Eames back. But unlike the fights they had in the past, he somehow knew that it wouldn't be so simple.

She was pissed, and rightly so. He had been trying to protect her the only way he knew how: by keeping her out of the loop. He told Ross, the Chief of D's, but not her. He had already hurt her career enough. He wasn't about to damage it more.

Every time he closed his eyes, he could see her standing in front of him, her eyes blazed by fire, rage and hurt. But she couldn't see that he had only been trying to keep her safe. He would never forgive himself if she had gotten involved and gotten hurt. It would have killed him, in both the metaphorical and physical senses.

"Goren!"

He snapped his head in the direction of his replacement partner's irritated voice.

Larry Jacobson raised an eyebrow. "We're here."

Bobby nodded and slid out of the driver's seat. That was another thing. Eames never let him drive. "If I want a roller coaster ride, I'll take my vacation at Disneyland," she had once told him. He smiled at the memory of her smile.

"Come on, Goren," Jacobson snapped again, and Bobby rubbed a hand over his forehead.

He had been willing to give this guy a try, if only for the sake of getting Eames back sooner. He missed her more than anyone realized, and he didn't do well with change. But for their partnership, he was trying. He nodded at the other man, lightly fingering his gun as they went up the steps that led into the house.

Jacobson reached the door first, and he pounded his fist against it. "Police! Open the door!"

Bobby sensed something was wrong. It was too quiet, the air too still. Something was about to happen. He knew it in his gut.

The silence erupted into a deafening hail of gunfire, and Bobby felt a fire deep in his side as the world began spinning around him. He sank to his knees, blood pouring over his hands as he looked around for Jacobson. Suddenly there was silence again, and his head hit the concrete with a sickening thud.

This town is colder now, I think it's sick of us

It's time to make our move, I'm shaking off the rust

I've got my heart set on anywhere but here

I'm staring down myself, counting up the years

Alex loved playing with her nieces and nephews, and she tried never to play favorites, but Matt had always held a very special place in her heart. She had given birth to him, after all. She had given her sister the greatest gift of all: a child. And never once had she regretted it.

Matt climbed into her lap and smiled at her, sloppily kissing her cheek. "I love you, Aunt Alex!" he declared innocently, a bright smile on his little mouth.

She returned his smile and tousled his hair. "I love you, too, Matt." She kissed his cheek, and he scurried away to play with his cousins.

She leaned forward and rested her elbows on her knees, running a hand through her hair. A gentle hand clamped down on her shoulder, and she smiled at her father. "Hey, Dad."

He sat down beside her, leaning over to kiss her forehead. "What's going on, Princess?" he asked.

She raised an eyebrow. "What are you talking about, Dad?" Damn, he could always read her like a book.

He reached out and touched her hair. "You and I go way back, Princess. I've known that face for forty-two years." He gave her a gentle smile. "What is it?"

She let out a heavy sigh. "It's... a lot of things."

"Any of them have to do with your partner?"

At her shocked look, he chuckled softly. "I knew it. What happened?"

Holding her head in her hands, she told her father everything, from Bobby's suspension, to their dangerous encounter in the club, and finally she finished with their blow up in the precinct.

John just listened, nodding thoughtfully at points. When she was finished, he rubbed his chin in intense concentration. "Have you talked to him?"

She slowly shook her head. "I can't."

"Can't... or won't?"

Her phone buzzed angrily against her hip, and as she pulled it out to shut it off, her father's large hand closed around hers. "Answer it. It may be him." He gave her a quick peck on her forehead before standing up and walking away.

Reluctantly, she opens the phone, bracing herself. But for what, she didn't know. "Eames."

Eames? Her captain's voice sounded harried.

Her stomach dropped. "Yes, sir?"

There's been a shooting. I need you back here right now.

She closed her eyes. "Captain, I'm with my family."

It's Goren.

The phone dropped from her hand and hit the grass below her feet.

Steady hands just take the wheel

Every glance is killing me

Time to make one last appeal

For the life I lead

TBC...

A/N: Well, there ya'll have it. We've already written a few chapters, so if we get enough reviews, we'll update today. It's turned into quite a little project, and we really hope ya'll enjoy this. Thanks for reading, and please remember to review!