Author's Notes:
10 more drabbles. This batch represents the end of the Goren-Eames ones (at least for a little while until I write a few more. I've got some other non-Goren-Eames CI ones coming soon, though, I hope.

I hope you've enjoyed them! And, as always, I own nuthin' and feedback is lurve. :D

The Drabbles of The Major Case Squad:
Goren/Eames 31-40

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Relationships

Riiiiing.

Alex didn't need to see the ID to know who was calling. And as her cell sounded from across the room, she silently berated herself for giving him her number.

Riiiiing.

It wasn't that the date hadn't gone well. Actually, it had. So if she answered, she'd say yes to a second date. And that might just lead to a third.

Riiiiing.

But, eventually, whatever relationship they might've had would end in disappointment. For he'd never figure out her relationship with her partner.

Riiiiing.

Or he would.

Riiiiing.

And then he'd know why he never had a chance.

Silence.

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Compromise

Alex sat at her desk reading a file. Bobby was trying to read it, too. He bent at the waist, leaning over her shoulder. Straightened, cracked his back, went down to one knee next to her. Stood, rubbed his knee, leaned a hip on her desk and craned his neck. Pushed off and leaned over her shoulder again.

Exasperated, Alex stood, looked at Bobby and pointed at her chair. Bobby considered protesting, thought better of it, then sat.

Alex stood behind his shoulder, one hand on her desk, one on his back and they finished reading the file in peace.

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We Regret To Inform You

The phrase lingers at the back of the minds of every loved one of military personnel, firefighters, and cops.

It's unacknowledged most of the time. But it does exist and sometimes it does come into being. And when it does, its finality cannot be denied.

But finality doesn't have to mean the end of other possibilities.

And it doesn't even have to mean avoiding that possibility again.

It took time, but both of them were eventually able to come to terms with that.

Still, each year on the anniversary of Joe's death, Alex holds on to Bobby a little tighter.

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Humpty Dumpty

Skoda waited patiently, allowing silence to open the detective. He didn't have to wait long.

"Humpty Dumpty."

Skoda raised an eyebrow.

"That's apparently his new nickname. Can you believe that? After all the cases he's closed, after everything he's done... He doesn't deserve to be laughed at."

"Is that what's bothering you? Or are you afraid that means you're 'all the king's horses and all the king's men'?"

Eames wheeled towards the doctor, eyes flashing, "Are you implying he can't be put back together again?"

"No," Skoda paused for emphasis, "But I am asking if that's what you're afraid of."

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Green Light

She thought she was sending all the right signals. Thought she was letting him know how she felt. Yet...

"Uh..."

He didn't seem to notice. Notice her or notice them. How could he not feel it, too?

"Eames?"

So here they were, still at this infernal standstill.

"Eames!?"

"What? Hm?" she looked over at the passenger seat.

Bobby tilted his head towards the windshield, "You, um, have a green light."

She stared at him, still partially caught in her own thoughts. So do you. She shook her head to clear it. "Right," was all she said. She hit the gas.

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They Fit

The biggest surprise was that she wasn't surprised. She wasn't surprised when they finally fell into each other's arms and into each other's beds. And she wasn't surprised that it hadn't impacted their working relationship.

It's not that they compartmentalized, kept the different aspects of their lives separate. It's just that they fit. They fit.

Most of the time, anyway.

"I miss you," Alex whispered, lying next to him, moonlight and city light filtering through the window.

Bobby gently rubbed her arm, "Me, too."

And so she wouldn't be surprised when they found their way through this. Because they fit.

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Just So Hard

After they'd gotten into the car, Bobby spoke, his voice quiet and hesitant, "You're mad at me."

Eames gripped the steering wheel and mumbled, "Gee, what was your first clue?"

There was a small pause and then an answer, just as quiet and hesitant as before, "The way you slammed your desk drawer closed."

She turned and stared at him, mouth agape, fighting equally the urge to scream and the urge to laugh.

"What?" he asked, a little wide-eyed.

Laughter won out. It was just so hard to stay mad at him sometimes, "It was a rhetorical question, you doof!"

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What To Say

When she told him she wanted to leave the hospital, he persuaded the doctors to release her into his custody. He knew exactly what to say to them. He wished he knew what say to her.

When he got her home he busied himself, getting blankets and pillows and water and pills and tried not to look like he still didn't know what to say.

Finally, when he stopped moving for a second, when he took a breath as if he'd figured out the words that might comfort her, she pre-empted him. "Shhh, Bobby. Just... just come and hold me."

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How Gorey

Notes: This was inspired by a friend who is a huge fan of the author Edward Gorey (though not a fan of L&O, shame on her) and probably will make absolutely no sense unless you're familiar with him. You can check out this link . to find out that I didn't just *completely* pull this out of my butt. ;)

Bobby was stumped. "The first victim, Zillah Watson, died of alcohol poisoning. The second, Yorick Borlov, blunt force trauma to the head. No similarities between the victims, no clear MO. All we have is the possibility the killer is choosing his victims in reverse alphabetical order."

Both partners were silent until Eames asked suddenly, "Wait. What kind of alcohol?"

"Gin."

Eames began nodding, "And Yorick's head was knocked in."

Bobby cocked his head at her.

Turning towards him she stated confidently, "Our next vic'll be named Xerxes." She smiled smugly. "He'll be devoured by mice."

Now Bobby was really stumped.

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Close Call

They had gone out after work, just the two of them. And they hadn't talked about work. It was different... and nice. But dangerous.

Afterwards, he insisted on driving her home. When they arrived, Alex met his eyes and opened her mouth speak; to ask him in.

Knowing what was about to be offered, Bobby's heart raced; in terror of all that could go wrong, in hopes of all that could go so right.

The moment hung, the tension mounted.

It broke, however, when Alex closed her mouth, her smile tinged with sadness. Finally she spoke, "I'll see you Monday."

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