Can't a Man Get Any Privacy?

Disclaimer: I do not own these characters. If I did, Goren and Eames would be buying each other romantic Christmas gifts.

Timeline: After Frame

Spoilers: None

Alex stood in the hall with her hand on the door. She looks left…she looks right. No one is moving down the halls so no one has seen her…yet.

Pushing the men's room door open, Alex quickly scanned the room. The only one she sees is Bobby standing at a urinal. Leaning down, she made a quick visual sweep of the stalls – no feet. Alex locks the restroom door and then leans her back against it.

Bobby heard someone enter but didn't pay any attention. He is deep in his own world, wading through dark thoughts. But the click of the lock registers and he looks over his shoulder.

"Eames! What are you doing in here?" Bobby reaches down and puts himself back in his pants.

"I have a question for you."

"It can't wait until I am…done in here?" Bobby turns around more than a little annoyed and heads for the sink.

"Well it could if you weren't avoiding me."

"I'm not avoiding you."

"Bullshit. You're avoiding me."

Grabbing paper towel and drying his hands, Bobby walks to the door and Alex. "Okay, let's go back to our desks and talk."

"No. We've got the room to ourselves. Let's talk here."

Letting out a heavy sigh, Bobby backs up. Physical intimidation never works on Eames but it had been worth a try. "This is the men's room Eames. What if someone needs to use it?"

"There's another one down one floor or they can use the ladies' room down the hall. The extra walk won't kill them."

Leaning against the sink, Bobby looks at his shoes. "Okay Eames, you have my attention."

"I want you to answer one question and I want an honest answer."

Bobby can feel a little line of sweat forming down his back. Eames is very intense so this can't be good.

"Do you want to be my partner?"

Bobby blinks. "What?"

"It's a simple question Bobby. Yes or no? Do you want to be my partner?"

Bobby rubs the back of his neck. Leave it to Eames to get to straight to the heart of what has been bothering him for weeks. "That's not a simple question Eames."

Someone first pushes and then knocks on the door. Irritated Alex yells, "Use the ladies' room if you are such a pansy you can't wait five minutes!"

Turning back to Bobby, Alex looks him straight in the eye. "It should be a simple question."

"But it isn't and you know why. With everything that has happened in my life the last few weeks, I'm just not sure."

"Not sure that you want to be my partner?"

"No, of course not. I'm not sure that I am the right partner for you. You deserve a partner without all the personal drama…a partner that can help your career, not hold you back."

"You are getting off point Bobby. I asked you if YOU want to be MY partner."

"Of course I do."

"Then say it."

"I want you to be my partner Eames."

"And I want you to be my partner Bobby. Everything and anything else can be worked out."

Bobby grins at Alex. "Of course you are right...though I hate to tell you that."

Turning around and unlocking the door, Alex says over her shoulder, "I know I'm right. I'm the genius of this partnership. I just let you think you are."

Holding the door open for Jefferies who is running in, Bobby just smiles.