A/N Thank you to everyone for the reviews and the adds to the alerts and stuff. I appreciate it so very very much. Thank you to all who are reading this. There will be at least one more Chapter. And Happy New Year!!

Disclaimer: Show and characters belong to Dick Wolfe, not me, I'm just having a wee bit o' fun.

Fixing New Year's Eve

It was the end of December, near Christmas, and Brian and I were on our second date. He'd had to cancel once before that and begged for my forgiveness, so we'd made these plans. This date was more casual, much to my relief, although the restaurant was still amazing. I was blessedly more comfortable in lined wool slacks and a cashmere sweater.

We were in his exquisitely furnished penthouse apartment, in the sitting room, and I was sipping on the best margarita I'd ever had in my life. Except for one glass of wine with dinner, I didn't drink, so I was on very safe ground. It wasn't until now that I really understood how wealthy Brian Richman was. Brian is a Rich Man, too. Ha Ha. Little did I know.

Brian had been telling me something about one of his investments when my I heard my cell phone. I saw it was Bobby, so I excused myself and moved to the corner of the room. When I finished I came back sofa.

"Brian, that was Goren." I'd learned to quit calling him Bobby. "I'm sorry, but I have to go."

"What do you mean, you have to go?"

"There's a case. We've been called in."

Brian's eyes flashed, and he quickly turned away.

"I, uh, of course." Brian struggled to recover. "Of course you have to go. Do you know how long you'll be?"

"I honestly don't know. It's impossible to say. But," I stood and shrugged into my jacket, "it's probably a good idea for us to say goodnight now."

Brian nodded. The blond man stood, the slope of his shoulders set in resignation. "I'd like to see you again, soon. Do you think it's possible, maybe, Christmas Eve, or Christmas?"

"Oh Brian, I'm sorry, but I have a really big family, and--"

Brian waved his hand. "Yes, I understand. That was just wishful thinking. But I know! New Year's Eve! How about it? Say yes? Please?"

I had no real plans, and I felt guilty and uncomfortable, so I agreed. "Sure, I'd love to."

Brian pulled me close and kissed me lightly on the lips. I pulled back to it end quickly.

"I really have to go."

"How are getting there?"

"B-Goren is picking me up."

"He is? Where?"

I bit my tongue. On the moon, Einstein. "He's picking up here, Brian."

"Here? He knows you're here? He knows--where I live?"

"Well when he called, I told him where I was." Not to mention, he is a detective. is there a problem, Brian?"

"No, no. No problem. I'll go down and wait in the lobby with you."

"There's no need for that, really."

"I'd like to. Is that alright?"

"I'll just be running to the car as soon as he gets here."

"I don't mind."

"Alright then. Let's go."

OoO

The cold wind sliced against my cheeks and splayed my hair. I wished I'd worn my hat, but I was grateful I had my scarf. Bobby's scarf. I'd gone out the next day and bought him a new one. I made up an excuse - I told him that his scarf was the first one ever that didn't itch my skin. He didn't bat an eye. I was a fibber and he knew it, but I didn't care. I had his scarf and now it was mine, and that was that.

Bobby stood by the SUV, holding open the door, and I jumped in without so much as a hello. I could feel Brian's eyes boring into my back.

"In a rush, Eames?"

"You're a laugh-riot, Goren. Let's get out of here."

We'd been rolling on our way to the crime scene a bit when Bobby asked, "Was there trouble?"

"I wouldn't call it that." I took the time to study Bobby. He seemed pretty calm, and he was wearing the scarf I bought him. Mine was hastily pushed in under the collar, but his was arranged snugly and neatly. Not since the night of my first date with Brian, had I been so warmly and securely tucked safely into my coat. I could only imagine it was because of his beautiful hands, and those long nimble fingers. He had an innate dexterity and superior agility skills, and no, I would not let my mind go there. Definitively not.

"Eames?"

"Yeah?"

"I asked you, then, what would you call it?"

"After you called, he wanted us to get together for Christmas, and I told him no. The he asked me to go out with him for New Year's Eve. I said yes."

Bobby just drove, I watched him and I could tell he was processing everything. We seldom talked about our dates at all. And we'd never discussed something as personal as this before. The SUV slowed, he made a sharp right, and we were there. Bobby put the car in park, but left it on.

"You can tell him you changed your mind."

I tried to fathom how to explain this situation to Bobby. Of course, that would mean I had to understand it myself.

I wanted to say, It's complicated, Bobby, and have it be done with. "We're going to a dinner party. One of his friends." I told him where. "There will be a lot of people there. And then after that…"

"And after that?" Bobby's brows raised.

I searched his eyes. After that, that will be that. I nodded. His expression relaxed, and very slightly, he nodded too. I knew he understood.

He reached toward the backseat, the pulled my hand in his.

"Here." He pushed a wool cap in my palm. "I figured you didn't bring one, being out on your, um….well it's cold as hell out there."

Our hands stayed connected as we shared a long look.

"Did he watch you?"

"What do you mean?"

"Did he insist on coming with you, to meet me at the car?"

"It's not what you think, Goren."

"Alright, Eames."

Bobby brought a hat for himself, too, and we both tugged them on before immersing ourselves into a world where touches and warmth and dates and long soulful looks meant nothing.

OoO

It was a little after one AM, and Bobby and I were headed out of 1PP. After processing the crime scene, we'd spent a bit of time there trying to track down a few leads and prepare for tomorrow. We were finally ready to get out of there.

We rode the elevator down. Bobby's fingers brushed my elbow. "Eames, do you want to get right home, or do you want to stop for a drink or a coffee first?"

It had been a long night. Tension thrummed in my chest like steel wire prongs.

"I could use a drink, Bobby. Just one."

"Yeah. Me too." The elevator door opened. His hand moved to my shoulder as he guided me out. "Let's just go someplace close by."

We went out the front of the building, intending to walk to a nearby hangout, when suddenly I froze. Bobby was in tune with me and stopped, too, his hand dropping to my waist.

"Brian. What are you doing here"?

Brian looked at me, then up at Bobby, then back at me. He held a carrier holding one coffee, two creamers, a stirrer and two packs of sugar and two packs of sugar free sweeteners.

"Hi Alex." Brian looked as if he were going to lean over and kiss my check, but I stepped back slightly so he didn't move. "I brought you a coffee, I figured you'd need it. I didn't know how you took it. So I brought you a bunch of stuff."

"Well that was nice--"

"Why did you think we'd be here?" asked Bobby.

Brian and I both looked at Goren. "I'm sorry, Brian, this is my partner, Detective Robert Goren. Bobby, this is Brian Richman." I felt myself blush, and I was grateful for the cold weather. I watched as the two men shook hands. Neither smiled. Bobby's face was more frozen than the frigid air around us.

"I didn't know. I just took a guess."

"You came all the way out here, on a guess?" Bobby wouldn't let it drop.

"Thanks, Brian," I interjected. "But we're done here. I'm sorry you went to the trouble."

"Well that's still okay. I'll give you a ride home."

"She doesn't need a ride home, Brian." Bobby said, and I wondered if he realized that he pressed closer against me.

"Is that right, Alex?"

"That's right, Brian," Bobby answered, talking with his teeth clenched.

Brian looked at me, and I nodded. I could see the angry flush of red slowly color his face, and watched him work his jaw. I was mildly annoyed with Bobby but very confused about Brian.

Before I had time to say anything, Bobby effortlessly lifted the carrier with the coffee right out of Brian's hand.

"Don't worry Eames, I have plenty of sugars in the SUV for this. And it's too cold to be standing out here. I don't want you catching a cold." Bobby reached over and fastened the top button of my coat. "Are you ready to go?" I caught his gaze, and he was deadly serious.

"Yeah, we should get going." I looked at Brian. His eyes were wide with surprise. I had never prepared him to meet Bobby, and I silently sang as song of thanksgiving. "Brian, thanks anyway, for the coffee."

"No problem. I'll…I'll call you, Alex." Brian came close to kiss me. I moved my face, we kissed on the cheek. "Good night, Alex."

"Good night, Brian."

Brian nodded in Goren's direction. Bobby had been watching everything, and was studying him closely. "Good night, Brian. Drive carefully," he said stiffly.

We both watched and waited until Brian rounded the corner. Then Bobby pitched the coffee in the nearest trash can. He turned and faced me, took my hand in both of his.

"He's lying, you know."

"I wondered about that, but you sound so sure."

"Why would he guess where you are? Why wouldn't he call?"

"I don't know, maybe…"

"Alex."

"I know. Let's get that drink."

"Alright." Bobby turned my coat collar up around my neck, to help protect against the strengthening wind. Then he linked our arms together, to draw us closer for warmth. "Let's go."

OoO

One drink turned into three. We stopped at that, but I was a little giddy, and it was pretty late, or early, depending on the perspective. By unspoken agreement, we'd decided to talk about the case, my family, his latest interests, anything but Brian.

We were finally in his SUV and on our way home.

"Why don't you just stay at my place tonight."

"Oh, Bobby. I don't have anything to wear to work tomorrow."

"We can be a little late tomorrow. I'll take you home in the morning on the way, in plenty of time to get ready."

I yawned. "You talked me into it."

I half closed my eyes, but not enough that I didn't see the small smile that played across his mouth.

OoO

I could hardly remember making it to Bobby's apartment. Then I was aware of him guiding me down the hall to his bedroom. He pulled out a big sweatshirt from his drawer. I knew it would come down to my knees.

"You have nice clothes on. So change into this," he said softly. "I…I didn't tell you how lovely you looked tonight. You really do." He walked out of the bedroom but before he closed the door, he gave me one last glance, and added, "but then you always do, Eames."

I found him in the living room. He'd spread out a sheet on the sofa, then three thick blankets, because he knew I got cold, and finally two big pillows. He patted the sofa cushion. "All ready," he said, and standing there, smiling, his big brown eyes open and unguarded, he was the most beautiful man I'd ever seen.

I rolled onto the sofa and he covered me with the blankets and tucked me in.

"You don't like him, Bobby. Do you."

He lightly stroked my cheek with his thumb.

"I don't trust him."

"Alright, Bobby. Good night. It was a good idea for me to stay tonight. Thank you."

He didn't move his hand. I closed my eyes and leaned into his touch, for just a moment. I looked back up at him, and his eyes were half closed, and he was biting his lower lip, and breathing faster. Then he realized I was watching him and he pulled out of it and smiled.

"Good night, Eames. I'll see you in the morning."

And he was gone. I wanted him back, but, that was the alcohol, it had to be. And some kind of romantic crush. Something I needed to erase from my mind before I did something to embarrass myself excruciatingly. Thank heaven and earth I was so damn tired, because I fell asleep before I could worry any more about it.

tbc