Finally got to see Frame the whole way through last night and I decided to write this. It takes place right after the screen goes black at the end. Might be a bit OOC, it's been a while since I've written any CI fic. As always, let me know what you think.

As Bobby Goren's first tear fell from his eye, the door to the interrogation room burst open. Captain Ross and some uniformed officers cuffed Declan Gage. Someone read him his rights as he was hauled off, but at this point, Bobby was numb.

So numb in fact that he didn't notice his partner Alex Eames enter the now empty room. Bobby wiped the rest of his unshed tears from his eyes, refusing to look over at her by the door. The silence between them stretched on, becoming almost unbearable.

"Bobby?" She asked quietly.

"I'm sorry."

Alex was a bit taken aback by her partner's simple apology. "What?" She wasn't sure that she heard him properly.

"I'm sorry for -- " He paused. "For not trusting you. For pushing you away when I needed you the most."

When he finally did look up, the anguish in his eyes made Alex's heart break. This past year had really strained their partnership (even their friendship). Now with the confession of the broken man before her, things could finally begin to come together.

"Bobby, I'm sorry too." She closed the distance between them, leaning against the table next to him. Reaching out her hand, she said, "But I never left you. I know things have been . . . difficult lately, but I'm still here." Her voice broke. "Don't shut down on me now, Bobby."

He gave her the tiniest of smiles and clasped her still outstretched hand tightly. "I promise I never will again, Eames. I'm sorry I ever did." In a hushed whisper, he added, "You're all I have left."

With those words, a new sense of determination filled Alex. She made many mistakes in her life, the worst of which was doubting Bobby. Now she promised herself that she would never do it again, that everything could go back and be normal again. If there was hope, she knew she could do it. However, here was not the best place to talk right now.

"Hey," she said. "Let's get out of here. I'll take you home." Standing up straight, she pulled on their still entwined hands to get him to stand up too.

As Bobby stood, his arms went around her shoulders, pulling her towards him. He kept muttering, "I'm sorry." Alex couldn't hear him though. She brought her smaller arms up and wrapped them around his waist, giving him a light squeeze.

"You okay now?" She asked, looking up at him.

"I don't know if I'll ever be, but -- " He trailed off.

The taller man looked down at her. Realization set in and he quickly let her go, blushing slightly. He fidgeted uncomfortably, until Alex laughed.

"Come on, let's go." She gestured toward the door. "We'll talk more over dinner." Together they left the cold, grey interrogation room.

Unbeknownst to the two of them, Captain Ross had been watching this friendly exchange on the other side of the two-way mirror. He couldn't help but to smile. Maybe Alex really could help heal Bobby? Maybe, just maybe, things could be right again, as they were meant to be. He shook his head and flicked the speaker switch as they exited. The captain knew with his two best detectives, anything was possible.

Comments and criticism always appreciated. Thanks.

- Silvarius