A/N: The 'first time' is of Bobby and Jennifer meeting. It's in flashback, hence the italics which will pop up regularly through the course of this fic. As always, errors of all description are mine.

Chapter Three: The First Time:

"Copeland, you're with Goren" Jennifer stared at the Captain in surprise.

"Goren? Where's Eames?"

"Called in sick with the 'flu" If possible, her eyes grew even wider; Eames was never sick and never missed work if she could possibly help it.

"What's the matter, don't you think you can handle him?" her eyes snapped up to his face, saw the twinkle of amusement in his blue eyes.

"It's not that…it's just…"

"His reputation precedes him, I know, but he's damned good at what he does. He gets results and it'll be a great learning experience for you" she took a deep breath and then nodded.

"Come on, i'll introduce you." Jennifer nodded hastily and then swallowed. She followed him out of his office towards Goren's desk. He sat at his desk and was concluding a telephone call when he caught sight of them approaching. He replaced the receiver and got to his feet. Jennifer watched him, saw his easy grace and hoped she wasn't shaking too hard in her shoes. She swallowed again and hoped that she didn't come across as a total rookie.

"Bobby, this is Jennifer Copeland, she'll be your temporary partner til Eames is back on her feet" the two detectives looked at each other and Goren nodded imperceptibly. Jennifer regarded him, she wouldn't let him intimidate her but it was going to be tough, he was intimidating just to look at…at least six four with shoulders and hands to match. She'd heard the stories, about how he used his skills as a profiler to get into the head of a perpetrator. His solve rate with Eames was phenomenal as a result, his reputation legendary. A few of the Major Case detectives had nicknamed him Crazy Goren, and there had been whispers about the apple not falling far from the tree, whatever that meant, she hadn't stuck around to find out.

He hadn't been pleased to be assigned a new partner even if she was temporary. Normally the Captain would just let him work by himself but for some inexplicable reason he'd paired him off with a rookie. The male part of his brain appreciated her attractiveness, she wasn't a raving beauty but there was something about her that made him mentally stop and take note. He wasn't sure whether it was her blue eyes or her pinned up blonde hair but together it made for quite the package. There was also coolness about her, an air of professionalism. She wore a grey pantsuit with a light blue blouse and she just shaded the top of his shoulder.

Their first crime scene together had been gruesome, there had been no shortage of blood and gore and she had taken it all in her stride. She'd followed him around, took copious, detailed notes, questioned potential witnesses and her recall and knowledge of forensics had impressed him. She had crouched down by his side and observed him with great interest as he'd explored the corpse with his usual brand of thoroughness and he had watched her as she pointed out something he had missed and offered an explanation; she'd even gotten her latex gloves bloody. That had impressed him slightly.

They had solved the case within three days and she had been a witness to him getting a confession out of the perp with skill and precision. By the fourth day, he had invited her out for a drink with him. He'd been almost shy when he'd tended his invitation and relieved when she'd accepted. They went to a small bar just far enough away from IPP to avoid bumping into anyone from work. The last thing either of them wanted was to be the object of curiosity, rumour and worse still, innuendo.

"How are you finding Major Case?" he asked her. She looked up at him through her eyebrows.

"Interesting. Fascinating, but the paperwork is…" she rolled her eyes and he smiled in agreement.

"Yeah, thirty percent actual investigation, seventy percent paperwork" he agreed and she nodded. She watched him pick up his beer glass and take a drink. He saw her observing him and then looked away again when she realised that he'd caught her.

"What?"

"I didn't figure you for a beer guy. I thought scotch would be more your thing" he placed the glass down in front of him.

"I've been known to indulge, but I like beer too. You're sticking with soda" it was her turn to look down at her glass.

"Never really liked the taste and I like to keep my head clear" she admitted.

"That's rare in this line of work, unless you're a recovering alcoholic" he replied and she looked at him.

"So I've been led to believe and the job has its fair share of addicts" A lot of cops, detectives and lawyers relied on booze to deaden the pain of a tough case or a tougher day and more than often acquired a more than healthy interest in it to the detriment to their marriages, their kids and their careers. She'd seen it happen and she'd been glad that it had never attracted her. If it got too tough for her, then she more often than not hit the pool. She swam lap after lap as her mind processed a day's tough events and began to make sense to her. By the time she got out of the pool and back to her apartment then she was often too tired to think about anything but sleeping. And ninety-nine percent of the time it worked for her.

Goren watched her as she spoke. Despite himself, she interested him. Women as a whole either fascinated him or completely repelled him and Jennifer Copeland definitely fit into the first category. She was quiet, thoughtful, independent and didn't seem to hold an agenda of any kind. There was a competitive spirit at Major Case, each team wanting to do the best or be the best that they could but it seemed to have bypassed Jennifer completely. She did her job and moved on. She didn't do anything to score points. He had watched her in the squad room and had noticed her efficiency. She worked well with her regular partner but remained detached at the same time. He could see it now as she talked. She was friendly but at the same time impersonal. He found her intriguing and he wondered why.

No one had warned her of the extreme exhaustion that came hand in hand with the nausea. Come quitting time, she barely had the energy to get up from behind her desk. She felt wrung out and it didn't help that it felt like a hundred degrees outside today. She went through her usual routine at the end of the day. Bobby wasn't at his desk and neither was his partner so she had to assume that they were on a case. She braced herself as she felt her head suddenly begin to swim.

"Copeland?" her partner's voice seemed to come from a distance and she put her hand to her forehead as her knees weakened and then buckled. She grabbed at the desk as they went out from under her.

Bobby was entering the squad room when he saw Jennifer's face suddenly lose all colour and she passed out. He hurried towards her and then slowed as fellow detectives crowded around her instead. He swallowed and turned his head and saw Eames give him a strange look as she pushed past him. She crouched down beside her and noticed that she was already beginning to come around. No doubt she would be horribly embarrassed. She looked around at the other detectives.

"Come on guys, give her some room," she snapped irritably and immediately everyone began to disperse but Bobby hung around on the sidelines. Jennifer made to sit up.

"I'm so sorry," she mumbled. Eames looked at her and then touched her forehead.

"You're overheated and it's like an oven in here. Just stay where you are for a minute, you're as white as a ghost"

"Here" Eames lifted her head and saw Bobby standing beside her, a paper cup of water in his hand which he held out. She took it from him and in turn handed it to Jennifer.

"Small sips" she instructed.

"Eames! Phone call for you!" a detective called out and she cursed quietly beneath her breath. She looked at Bobby.

"Can you sit with her for a few moments?" she requested. He just nodded. Eames got to her feet and strode away to take the call.

"Let me help you" Bobby murmured and helped her into her seat. He snagged Penny's vacant seat and dragged it over. He sat close enough to touch her but he was careful to keep his hands in his lap. He watched her as she sipped the water, careful not to look at him.

"Feeling better?" he kept his voice low, confidential and she nodded. She didn't feel as overheated as before.

"You're going home, right?" she looked at him then

"Yeah Bobby" she told him, slightly irritated. He sat back in his seat.

"Okay. Get a cab. I don't want you passing out on the street" Again she nodded. He turned his head and saw Eames approaching them. He pushed the seat back and Jennifer watched him get to his feet.

"Feeling better?" she asked and Jennifer nodded. She put the paper cup on her desk and slowly got to her feet, relieved that there wasn't to be a repeat performance of her passing out. She saw Bobby walk away.

"Thanks" she said to her fellow detective. Eames smiled.

"Anytime. Sometimes there's just too much testosterone in this room to feel comfortable in" she commented and Jennifer smiled. She had no idea.

Tbc…..