This story is a sequel to "The Rescue". It can stand alone, but you may want to check out that other story first if this seems strange (or, you know, it may just be strange! lol).

Setting: December of Season Two.

No Spoilers.

Character thoughts are in italics.

Disclaimer: Oh, how I wish I owned them, but I don't, they belong to Dick Wolfe.

Again, just like The Rescue, it's kind of ooc.

Enjoy~

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The Deakins' annual Christmas party was in full swing. It was always held the Saturday before Christmas and this was the second year that Bobby and Alex were invited. They were both told to bring a guest, but neither one did. Everyone was asked to wear red and green and Bobby had joked over lunch one day that he was going to show up in a green jacket and a red hat with mistletoe, Alex told him if he did she would kiss every person at the party.

Alex arrived, gave her coat to a young girl, and made her way through the crowded foyer and into the dining room, which also housed the bar. She got a glass of wine and moved into the living room where she saw Bobby near the far wall talking to a guy she didn't recognize. She took one look at her partner knew that kissing everyone in the room was not in her future. She gave him the once over and she felt her heart race a bit. Damn, he looks hot! He was the man in black. He had on a black button-down shirt, black dress slacks, with a black sport coat. She couldn't take her eyes off of him as she felt herself begin to sweat a little. This is so not good. She took a deep breath and made her way over to him.

He sensed Alex approaching and turned in her direction. He was mid-sentence but stopped short because he completely lost his train of thought. She watched as his eyes raked over her body and her stomach did a flip. Alex was wearing a short, dark red cocktail dress. Bobby noticed right away that while it wasn't form fitting, it highlighted the curves of her breasts and hips exactly right. The dress was sleeveless, and it made Bobby wonder what it would be like to run his tongue along her muscular arms. She had her swept up, exposing her neck, and he remembered how that neck tasted on the night that suddenly seemed to be way too long ago. I'm in so much trouble, was all he could think. She had almost reached him when he looked down and saw that her shoes were red, too. Red Pumps. He could feel himself getting hard from just looking at her. Shit!

"Hey, Goren…I guess I don't have to kiss everyone in the room after all." She said as casually as she could.

"Eames…you look..." His voice cracked and trailed off.

"Absolutely beautiful!" They both turned to the man Bobby was talking to.

"Matt Warde," he enthusiastically held his hand out to Alex, "and it is my pleasure to meet you."

"Oh…sorry…uh…Alex, this is Matt. Matt…Alex," Bobby motioned with his hand between the two.

She shook his hand half-heartedly, "Nice to meet you."

"Oh, no. The pleasure is all mine." He was practically drooling.

"How do you two know each other?" She looked at both men, Bobby noticed irritation in her voice.

"We don't, we just met tonight. I'm a long time friend of Jimmy's. His youngest is friends with my oldest." Matt couldn't stop grinning at Alex.

She gave him her fake smile, "Oh. So then where is Mrs. Warde?" She accentuated the word Missus.

"I don't know, she's around here somewhere." He motioned with his hand around the room.

Alex had already had enough of Matt. "Well, you two enjoy your conversation."

Bobby smiled at her because he knew what she was thinking about the married man who couldn't keep his eyes off of her.

"I'll catch up with you later, Eames." He gave her an escape.

Matt tried to keep her there, "Eames? Why does Bobby keep calling you that?"

Bobby answered instead of Alex, "That's her last name," Matt looked at Bobby in confusion so Bobby expanded, "We work together…she and I are partners."

Matt's eyes grew wide, "You mean, you both work with Jimmy?" Then he directed his next comment at Alex, "You're a cop? You're much to beautiful to be a cop!"

She rolled her eyes, "I didn't know being homely was a requirement for the job…I guess you think I should go type up a letter of resignation." She started to walk off then turned back to Bobby. She let him see that she looked him up and down, then said, "While I'm at it, should I type one up for you, too? There's no way you're legal to work if I'm not." She watched his expression change and she thought the look on his face was priceless.

After that she comment, she left him there with Matt and started mingling with the other party goers.

For the next couple of hours, Alex had noticed Bobby throwing glances her way and had been ignoring them. But as the evening wore on, he was letting his eyes linger and each time she caught him she felt a twinge of desire stir deep within her. She knew exactly what was going on his mind. And even knowing it was a mistake, she began responding to him by holding his eye contact with a seductive gaze of her own. At one point, as they were playing this game, she shook her head to indicate it couldn't go any further, but Bobby responded by slowly nodding his and they ended up grinning at the same time.

--

Earlier that night, Deakins and Bobby had been talking, and being no slouch himself, the captain picked right up on Bobby's distraction. He had been watching Bobby after that, wondering what he was up to. After a while Deakins couldn't take it anymore. He saw the looks that Bobby and Alex were giving each other. Despite the constant rumors, his gut always told him that nothing was going on with them, but now his eyes were telling him differently. He had to get a reaction from Bobby so he approached him again, "So, Bobby, why have my two best detectives been standing on opposite sides of the room all night? Is everything alright?"

Bobby was taken aback by the question so he stammered a little, "Uh...uh...yeah. Everything's good."

"Then why haven't you two said 'boo' to each other?" If Bobby looked at Deakins right then, he would have seen a mischievous glimmer in his captain's eyes, but he was too flustered by the topic of their conversation to notice.

"Well, I don't know. I guess because we talk to each other all day long, so now we're talking to other people."

"But I've noticed you've been watching her...or should I say you're admiring her?" Now Bobby did look at Deakins; in complete shock.

"C-captain, ah -"

Deakins leaned in toward Bobby and gave him serious look, "Listen, Goren, let's be honest here. Alex is a beautiful woman", when he said that he gestured with his head toward her, "And I'm sure at times it must be hard not to notice her. I get that. But just remember two things; you two work together, and that she's worked very hard to earn the respect of the NYPD. It would be a shame if you two let those rumors become reality and then have all her hard work fall by the wayside because of it."

Bobby lowered his head like a little boy who was just admonished by his favorite teacher. He knew Deakins was right but at the same time, he knew what was going on in both his and Alex's minds right then. Somehow he had to acknowledge what his captain said to him without lying straight to the man's face. "Thanks, Captain." Bobby was hoping to God that Deakins would leave it at that.

Deakins put his hand on Bobby's back and gently patted it, and they both smiled at each other. "Enjoy the rest of the evening, Bobby, and in case you haven't noticed, there's a woman in the corner behind you who has been trying to get your attention all night...maybe go check her out. She's one of Angie's co-workers and her name is Susan."

As Deakins walked away, Bobby stared at the back of his captain's head. Shit! Now I have to go talk to this woman just to keep Deakins off the trail. He hated being deceitful with his captain, the man had been nothing but supportive to him, but he also knew that what whatever had and may still go on between he and Eames was their own business. Neither of them would ever let it get in the way of their job. Since that one night they shared three months before, they never spoke of it again, and it hadn't caused any tension between them…well…work tension, anyway. Right now there was a whole boat load of tension between them, all of it sexual. And even after his conversation with Deakins, Bobby was really hoping a lot of that would be relieved later that night.

--

Alex watched Bobby and Deakins and knew they were talking about her because of way Deakins motioned in her direction then leaned forward and spoke to Bobby quietly. What the hell? She was equally dumbfounded as she watched Bobby go over and introduce himself to some woman. She tried not to look too shocked when he didn't walk away from her soon after. Instead, he stood there for a long time talking and laughing her. Then she saw the woman leaning into him and touching his arm as she laughed. Alex felt sick to her stomach as she watched this lady fall all over him and he let her. Maybe I imagined him flirting with me earlier. She shook her head and went to get another drink.

--

As she was waiting for the bartender to come back with another glass of wine she felt a hand on her shoulder; she knew it was Bobby. Before she turned around she teased, "Why Matt, I was wondering where you've been." When she did turn, Bobby was grinning at her, "Maybe I should get him over here, you two seemed to really hit it off." She smiled back, "Talk about hitting it off, that woman you were talking to sure seemed to find you interesting." He detected jealousy in her quip and he was surprised to find that it made his heart soar.

He dropped his head and whispered in her ear, "What woman? The only one I've noticed all night is standing right in front of me." She felt like she was going to melt into a puddle.

He thought of what Deakins said so he straightened up to put some distance between them before he continued, "I haven't had the chance tonight to tell you that I think you look beautiful, Alex." He gave her that shy smile of his. "Thank you, Bobby." Then she saw his eyes brighten up and she knew he was up to something, "But only red? I'm surprised you only went half way…that you didn't wear red and green."

Alex paused, took a step toward him, raised up on her tip toes and looked him dead in the eyes as she gave him the sexiest look she could muster, "Who says I don't have any green on."

Bobby watched her walk away and for the second time that night he felt his groin come to life.

--

Later that night, Alex got her coat. As she said her goodbyes she couldn't find Bobby anywhere. She went to thank Deakins and she couldn't help but ask him, "Have you seen Bobby? I wanted to say good bye to him."

"Oh, he left about twenty minutes ago."

She did her best to hide her disappointment. "Okay, then. Well, thanks, again and I'll see you Monday!"

--

It wasn't until she pulled up in front of her house that she realized where he went.

She got out of her car and stood in front of him. "Fancy meeting you here." She was smirking.

He remained sitting on her steps. He was leaning back with his elbows resting on the step behind him; his legs were stretched out straight. She watched him for a minute, taking in the sight of him. She knew if she opened her door there would be no going back. The thing was, she didn't want to go back. She wanted this.

"You know… I'd hate to think I was that much of a foregone conclusion." She played with the belt on her coat.

He still didn't answer her. He just sat there, his eyes wandered all over her. He was trying to decide if he should get up and walk away. He knew he still had a chance to do what was right. He knew he should; but he also knew he wouldn't. Not tonight.

Alex walked toward him slowly and he stood to let her pass. She made her way past him and unlocked her door.

He got up and followed her in.

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