Well, this is the furthest OOC I have written so far - or so I'd like to think.

The look that Elle and JJ shared when they were walking towards the conference room - I just noticed it. It intrigued me. Got me to thinking, and this is what came of it. It's longer than the rest (yay!), because I couldn't find a way to end it sooner. It had to end the way it did, in order to keep it canon with the next episode. Otherwise we would've seen more of the 'supposed boyfriend'.

Oh, in case you have no idea what I'm talking about: This is the episode with the killer who uses different appearances/professions to lure them, only to torture and drown them. In this episode, Morgan is suspicious of Elle because she kept calling. He thinks she's got a boyfriend.

I like to thank Sue1313, by the way, for being the only one to review. So thank you! As for the others: come on people, I'm sure more of you read this. I need you guys!

The look they had shared had held a wordless conversation. Elle had told JJ the truth, and she had listened to it.

--

Now they were on the plane, each preparing for the next couple of days in their own way. Elle sat at the back with her eyes closed. She wasn't surprised when she heard footsteps approaching.

"So, a boyfriend, huh?" JJ said quietly. She kept her voice down intentionally, in case Elle didn't want everyone else to know. Even though Elle showed tough behaviour, JJ knew there was a soft side to her. Besides, she knew what the chances of a social life were in this job, and what the chances were of the team not finding out.

Elle opened one eye and looked at JJ, who was leaning into her. She sighed. "Shut up." She closed her eyes again.

"Who is he?" JJ asked, grinning.

"An old friend," Elle said, giving in. She sensed there was no way to escape from a JJ on a mission.

"So how did it happen?" JJ asked, knowing she had cornered her colleague.

"Turned up at my doorstep a week ago," Elle replied, somewhat distracted.

"And…?" JJ prodded.

"And ended up in my bed," Elle admitted.

JJ's face split into a wide grin. Good for you, girl!" she said approvingly.

Elle grinned back, but after a moment her face fell.

"Uh-oh, what'd he do?" JJ asked, seeing the change in Elle's face.

Elle looked around at her other colleagues. When she was assured they were all too far away in their own worlds, she turned back to JJ.

"I don't know what to do about him," she confessed.

JJ frowned. "What do you mean?"

"He got into a fight with his girlfriend. He ran, came to me… He's cheating on her with me."

"Oh," JJ said, downfallen. That wasn't a nice reason for two people hooking up.

"He said he'd wanted to end it with her a long time ago, that this was the right time… It just doesn't feel right," Elle continued, talking more to herself than to JJ, who sensed she wasn't of much use anymore now. She did, however, want to offer her help to her friend.

"Talk to him when you get back," she advised Elle, even though she knew Elle wasn't likely to take advice from her. "Find out what he wants." She paused a moment. "Find out what you want." She stood up and walked back to her original place, leaving Elle with her thoughts.

--

Elle came home in a pretty happy mood. They had saved Kelly Dalton, they had caught Gregory. Women had been killed, but other women were safe from him now. It was a confusing paradox, but Elle preferred to think of the good side for the moment.

She opened the door to find darkness everywhere. Frowning, she turned on the light.

"Bryan?" She yelled. No one answered.

Elle began to get worried. He could've gotten out to buy some groceries, but in her line of work, suspicion was always present. She practically ran to the living room, finding it empty. His coat was gone as well.

Startled, she turned in her room, trying to find some explanation.

It came in the form of a note.

Elle,

Kate called me. She's pregnant. I can't leave her alone with a child. I'm sorry – I enjoyed seeing you again. I hope you did as well. I'm sorry I had to leave like this.

Best wishes,

Bryan.

P.S. Thank you.

She placed the note back on the table, unsure of what to do.

It was good he'd left. They never would've worked out: they hadn't seen each other in too long, he had a girlfriend, a pregnant one at that… It was the right thing to happen.

Wasn't it?