Author's Note: Well, this is my first T/M fic. I had watched that scene when Tony told Michelle he had decided to keep personal and professional stuff separate and one day while I was sitting at work taking a mental break, I thought 'I want to know what changed Tony's mind'. So I decided to sit down and just write and here's what I came up with. It short, but I hope you like! Also, I am working on a post s4 piece and when I post that, I'll pay homage to all the great T/M writers I've had the chance to read and enjoy.

Summary: What made Tony decide to put personal and professional back together again?

"Almeida."

"Tony, Michelle Dessler is here."

"OK, thanks. Could you walk her back?"

"To the conference room?"

"No, my desk."

"Sure thing."

"Thanks" I hung up and dialed Mason's extension.

"Mason."

"George, Michelle Dessler is here."

"Who?"

"Michelle Dessler, our 10:00 interview."

"She's early."

I looked down at my watch. It was 9:45.

"Maybe she's just punctual" I looked up and saw her walking toward me.

I couldn't tell you much of what happened during the interview but I can tell you what happened after.

"I like her. I think we should hire her."

"I don't think so."

"What? Why? She's the last and most qualified candidate. And she comes highly recommended from Division. What the hell else do you want?"

"Something's not right. I don't think she'll work out."

"And why not?"

I couldn't tell George that… the something not right was Ms. Michelle Dessler herself. I couldn't tell him that there was something about her that made me… nervous, uneasy. That something about her set me on edge.

"I don't know. She just doesn't seem like a good fit."

"Tony, we've interviewed over 30 people. She seems like the perfect fit to me. And if you can't come up with something other than She just doesn't seem like a good fit, you're going to put the paperwork through to hire her."

George walked out of the conference room, leaving me with a bad feeling in the pit of my stomach. George was right. She was the perfect fit.

But, still, I couldn't shake the feeling. There was something about her…

That bad feeling in the pit of my stomach was still lingering 2 ½ months later as I sat across from her at a staff meeting.

I found myself gazing at her wondering, for the umpteenth time, what it was about her...

And then, to my great embarrassment, she caught me staring at her. I was quick on my feet though and smiled at her as if I just happened to glance her way the precise moment she glanced my way. She smiled back and I shifted my eyes and pretended to be paying attention to Mason.

When I felt enough time had passed, I stole another glance in her direction.

I still had not figured out what it was about her that made me nervous, that made me uneasy.

She was an attractive woman. I was attracted to attractive women. That had no bearing… I had sworn off co-workers.

She was very attractive. Exotically attractive, in fact. I was attracted to very attractive, exotically attractive women. Again, no bearing... I had sworn off co-workers.

She was an intelligent woman. Intelligence was a turn-on. But once again, that had no bearing… I had sworn off co-workers.

She had a sense of humor. An attractive, exotically attractive and intelligent woman with a sense of humor… she was batting a thousand. But still, no bearing… I had sworn off co-workers.

I frowned. What the hell was it about this woman…?

At that moment, she caught me ogling her again. She frowned a bit, but gave me a smile anyway.

And then I knew… I knew what it was about this woman.

It was those eyes.

Eyes that had the potential to make me renege on my vow to never, ever again look at a female co-worker as anything other than just that – a co-worker.

When Casey had walked her back to my desk 2 ½ months ago and I stood up go greet her…

"Tony, Michelle Dessler. Ms Dessler, Tony Almeida" Casey introduced us.

"Ms Dessler" I extended my hand and took her small one in mine.

"Mr. Almeida" those eyes looked up at me.

I'm not a man given to talking like a poet or anything but damn... Those eyes… with just one look, I felt lost in them. Hell, I think I was lost… All because of those eyes.

Because of those eyes, I couldn't hire her… Because of those eyes, but I did.

Because of those eyes, I had to keep my distance… Because of those eyes, but I didn't.

Because of those eyes, I couldn't date her… Because of those eyes, but I did.

Because of those eyes, I had to keep my heart… Because of those eyes, but I didn't.

And now…

I'm down on one knee… All because of those eyes.