So, sorry this one is rather short and action-less, but I really have no idea where I'm going with this story. I just didn't want to disappoint all you lovely people who reviewed!

Disclaimer: Do I seriously have to do this every time? IT'S NOT MINE!


Cal Lightman massaged his temples as he stared down at the billionth file to come across his desk. The tension in the office was so unbearable that it was giving him headache. It had been almost a week his Torres's return, a week since Riley exploded at Loker. And remarkably, things were no better. Riley was now pretending that Eli did not exist, while treating Torres with cold indifference. For his part, Loker was spending his working hours picking fights with Torres (he was too talkative to give her the silent treatment) and trying to get Riley to talk to him.

All in all, it made for a very tense situation.

Ironically enough, this meant that Cal had been forced to assign Riley and Torres to the same case, which he doubted was making things any better. But it was a fairly tame case, so hopefully they would wrap it up quickly. That is, if they could focus on the microexpressions, rather than each other.

"Wait, pause the video."

Riley sighed and paused the video for the umpteenth time. Behind her, Ria Torres was squinting at the analysis room's large computer screen. They had been analyzing the surveillance footage from a local bar for hours, and they hadn't gotten anywhere. Eager as Torres was to prove that she was better at the job, she hadn't been having any more luck than Riley.

"Do you see that?" she asked, pointing to the obvious sneer on the bartender's face. The girl on the screen was standing next to her boss, one and in her apron. "She has some serious contempt for her boss."

Riley sighed. "Or she could just be pissed that he didn't do anything about those two baffoons who were hitting on her all night."

To her surprise, Ria nodded in assent. Maybe they were getting somewhere. "You're right. I guess what it comes down to is, do we think she stole the money, even though there is nothing in this video that suggests that she did?"

Riley stood up and stretched. Her brain was fuzzy from staring at the screen for so long and she didn't really trust herself to make the right decision.

"You know what I think? I think I'm going to get a cup of tea, and then I'll decide."

"Good idea," Torres said, taking her place in front of the controls. "I like my tea with two sugars and a splash of milk."

Swallowing the growl that rumbled in her throat, Riley clenched her jaw and left the office in the direction of the staff longue. She had some very choice words for where Ria could put her tea, but refrained for the sake of her job. She had already blown up at another employee once, and she was pretty sure that now that Torres was back, she wasn't really necessary. Riley didn't want to give Lightman another reason to fire her.

She was adding sugar to Ria's when she heard someone come up behind her and hover over her shoulder. This time, she couldn't stop herself.

"You know, Torres, just because I'm the intern does not make it my job to run around picking up your files, getting you coffee or tea, making your copies. I'm really getting sick of—"

She stopped abruptly when she turned around to find Loker standing right behind her. She could tell just by the look on his face what he was about to say. Riley's face immediately became blank as she retrieved the mugs and headed to the door.

"Riley, wait!" Eli begged, his green eyes pleading with her. "Just give me a chance to explain!"

She gave no response and walked out into the hall.

"You can't ignore me forever!" Eli cried desperately, following her.

She turned around slowly, and for a second, Loker thought he had won. One look at her eyes squashed his hopes. They were blacker than he had ever seen them, and hard like flint. Goosebumps actually stood out on Eli's arms, though he wasn't sure whether they were from arousal or pure terror. Only Riley's mouth moved when she answered.

"Watch me."