A/N 1: I am so flattered and thrilled by the response to this fic! Thank you all so much for taking the time to give feedback, and THANK YOU for sticking with the Fandom. B/A still lights my fire after four years, I'm glad I'm not the only one.

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CHAPTER THREE: AFTER MORE THAN A DECADE, UNMASKED

"Pull over."

They'd only been driving for a few minutes, each lost in their own thoughts.

"What? Why?"

Bobby was already undoing his seatbelt and pulling on his gloves. "I'm gonna walk for a bit. Drive a half-mile and wait for me, and I'll catch up," he said over his shoulder as he opened the door and hopped out.

"What? Bobby, it's getting dark!" The false twilight they'd been travelling in all day was giving way to actual sundown, and worry warred with irritation as she saw him wave and start shuffling along the shoulder.

Sighing, she pulled out onto the highway and then back onto the shoulder after a half-mile. When fifteen minutes passed, she pulled on her hat and gloves, fastened her parka and got out of the SUV. After a few more minutes she began to get concerned, but then she saw his hulking form lumbering towards her.

In the dwindling light she could still make out the details of her partner's face. His eyes were glued to her as he shuffled up to the back of the Explorer where she was standing, arms crossed. It was so quiet she could hear the snow falling against the rhythmic click of the four-way flashers.

After a minute or so, she spoke. "You getting in?" She asked.

"I dunno," was his irksome reply.

"What were you doing back there?" She waved vaguely at the disappearing road behind them.

"Cooling off," he said with a shrug. She knew he wasn't referring to the temperature.

"Did it work?"

"No."

Alex fell silent with a shake of her head. "I don't get you," she eventually said. "Are you angry?"

"No," he said, still staring at her.

"Cuz you seem it. Actually you seem like you're looking to pick a fight."

He sighed. "Maybe."

Maybe. Alex looked at her partner and couldn't decipher the complex maelstrom of signals he was sending her. Well if he wanted a fight, she would be happy to oblige. Perhaps it would help him blow off some steam.

"What's going on Bobby?" she pressed.

"I – can't be here right now, Alex." Alex? He started rocking from foot to foot, a sure sign he was having trouble saying what he felt he needed to say. Now she was a tiny bit worried, what was this?

"Well you are here, Detective," she said acidly, "What are you gonna do about it?"

Bobby hunched his shoulders and she wondered, did he realise that she was playing a role for his benefit? Did it matter? "Get off my back," he growled.

"Get. Off. Your. Back?" She imbued the words with all the righteous indignation she could muster, despite her wholly-inappropriate instinct to give him a hug. Or more. Her partner's eyes were pure black, there was a prowling, predatory hunch to his shoulders, and he licked his lips as he looked her up and down…

Bobby had often lost his temper around her, but to her recollection he'd never allowed himself to get really angry at her. The fact that he felt safe enough to do so now was refreshing, and frankly arousing.

She manufactured a look of contempt for her partner. "Please. Running away again? Will I get into work tomorrow to find your desk cleaned out?"

He took a few steps towards her. "Don't push me."

"Don't make me."

Bobby took her by the shoulders and shoved her none too gently into the back of the SUV. The sound that began as an atavistic growl soon resolved into words.

"You are magnificent. I. Love. You. And you're mine."

The raw passion of his words took her breath away. She stood almost gasping, barely upright her knees were so weak, as her partner looked at her, his expression desperate, hungry, vulnerable.

How could she be certain to say the right thing? For him and for her. This was a man who for a long time didn't believe he was lovable, that he had a right to be happy. This was also a man whose intentions she was entirely unsure of. She quirked an eyebrow. "You only get to have me if you're gonna do something with me."

For a moment they both hung in stasis, eyes locked. His expression registered utter shock… god, she loved to surprise him. For her part she could feel her own hunger and vulnerability showing on her face.

When they finally moved it was towards each other. He cradled her gently, but his kiss was blistering, sliding his whole tongue in her mouth at one go in a surprising but welcome invasion. His lips, his whiskers, the smell of his skin and his aftershave… his hands, one at her hip and the other curled around her neck to support, not control.

His body. Hard, oh my so hard in so many places in so many ways. You're mine. Her hands and arms tried to gain purchase but he was so bulky in his parka that she could barely hang on. His huge tongue took ownership of her mouth, exploring while she caressed it with hers and gently bore down with her teeth.

After what seemed like forever, out of the corner of her eye she saw one of the fire trucks approaching, and at her tiny noise of protest, Bobby instantly withdrew. His eyes were wild and he was breathing heavily, and though he looked at her with a bit of apprehension, he barked a laugh when she smiled at him. "Get in," she said.

"Yes ma'am," he replied.

The fire truck honked as it went by, then a few seconds later she got a call from one of the firefighters asking if they were OK. She explained that they were a tiny bit shaken up and had stopped for a few minutes to chill, and he seemed to accept the explanation.

When she got into the SUV they were both grinning. She suggested he call Captain Hannah to give him an update, and he agreed.

The trip back to 1PP was unremarkable. Bobby stared at her boobs the whole way.

Is someone yelling into your earpiece, "CUT THE RED WIRE!"? If so, please don't review. But, may I suggest, go with your gut? The earpiece screamers are almost always wrong…

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WORDS: 1112 UPLOADED Friday, January 11, 2013