As partners you felt obliged to protect the person that you worked with every day. Even if you didn't like them. As a partner you slowly began to understand your counterpart's quirks, routines and habits. You knew when something was wrong. You knew how they would handle situations and you knew how they liked their coffee and sandwich.
If you were lucky your partnership would slowly turn to friendship. The truly lucky ones were the ones who could call their partner their best friend. When you worked with your best friend you protected them out of friendship. Gone was the obligated protection. It was replaced with the desire to protect a friend, a brother or sister by association. When you became friends you knew the things that happened in their life. You met their parents and significant others. Your opinion not only mattered to them, but it meant something as well.
Then there was the level that not many partnerships reached because if they did, it meant one thing. Being split up. Fraternization with your partner was strictly forbidden. If anyone was found to be involved with their partner they would be reassigned and the process would have to begin all over again. Of all the rules that were enforced, this one was the biggest.
Robert Goren knew this and yet he had his arm wrapped around Alex Eames's naked waist. She shifted in her sleep and he pulled her closer to his chest, wrapping one of his legs around hers. He let out a sigh, content to stay in bed with her for as long as possible.
Alex gave a small moan as she began to wake up. "What time is it?" She asked; her voice heavy with sleep.
"Not time to get up," He whispered, pressing a kiss to her head. "Go back to sleep baby."
"Ok,"
Bobby gave another sigh as he closed his eyes. Feeling Alex's skin against his he smiled. Sure they were breaking the rules and they risked being split up. But it was well worth it.