The Feeling Is Mutual

Summary: EamesGoren implied. Missing scene from Alex's first episode back after the surrogacy. Drabble.

Alex Eames could not deny how good it felt to be back at work again. She had been up and under the shower before her alarm had even gone off that morning and she hadn't needed the adrenaline hit from her coffee either, she was already wired.

"You never did say whether you missed me or not." Eames commented later, rightfully back at her desk, opposite her partner. She looked up to determine the effect her teasing was having on him. God, she had missed him, probably too much.

Robert Goren smiled. He wasn't the master of words, especially when it came to talking about his feelings and where people he cared about were concerned.

"It's really good to have you back." He told her. It was the truth. He hadn't quite realised the extent and depth of their partnership until Eames had gone on maternity leave and he had been forced to work with Bishop full time. It had taken him almost the entire time Eames had been away to get used to having a new partner, especially when they didn't spark off each other in the same way.

"It's good to be back." Eames sighed. "I was going insane, first here on desk duty, and then being stuck at home." And seeing you working with Bishop, she almost added.

"I'd hate it." Goren agreed. The job defined him as a person as well as his relationship with Alex to some extent. A companionable silence enveloped them.

Eames swallowed a sip of her coffee. "What happened to Bishop?" She asked, then paused. "You didn't scare her off, did you Bobby?"

The corners of Goren's mouth twitched upwards as he tried to suppress a smile.

"No, not quite. She's been assigned a new partner now that you're back." He explained.

Eames smiled, as usual despite the few words that actually passed between them so much as contained in the subtext. Eames didn't really need Goren to tell her that he had missed her and that he was glad she was back because she already knew. She hoped he knew that the feeling was mutual, in fact she was sure of it.

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