Disclaimer: Sadly enough, I don't own anything. This is written for pure enjoyment only and no profit to be gained!
Rating: Going back to T.
Spoiler: Blind Spot.
Special Thanks To: cifan, crazy for loci, di1959uk, D'Onofrio, greeneyesbell1, Gypsy5, jstapny, Medea Callous, Pot of Coffee, rindy713, Serienjunkie 91 and superfelix.

Chapter 4:

Exhausted and unable to hold himself up any longer, Bobby pulls his softening manhood out of Alex and collapses on the bed besides her. They're both panting as they slowly come down from their enormous high that neither of them want to end. Alex feels like she's floating as she rolls onto her side, throws her arm over Bobby's chest and lays her head on his arm. She loves the size of him and finds his warm bulk comforting. She absentmindedly starts playing with the salt and pepper chest hairs that her fingers are gently resting on and a sigh of contentment escapes her lips because she quite frankly can't remember the last time she's felt this good, happy.

"I want you, Bobby," she finally says after a few minutes.

He looks down at her in confusion. "You've always had me," he responds.

She smiles. Her heart soars.

"I want us to be together forever," she announces. "We love each other, we know each other better than we know ourselves and because…because I honestly can't imagine my life without you in it," she discloses. "And I know you feel it," she adds and moves her head so that it's now gently resting on his chest. "This feels so right."

"I want us to be together forever too," he agrees. Now that his arm is freed from her head, he slowly trails his hand up her spine until it tangles in her hair. "And you're right. This does feel right. The only thing I'm sorry for is that we waited this long," he reveals.

"We were stupid," she mumbles and is reward with a laugh from Bobby.

Their words reassure each other and they can't help but beam from the contentment they feel. Everything is going to be okay. As complex as juggling their work and relationship may be, things will work out for them. Everything feels right, there's no reason to worry about anything, and there are truly no words to describe how happy they feel right now.

Completed.

Loved.

They lay in silence for a minute or so until Bobby adds, "And Alex?"

"Hmm?"

"I wouldn't be able to function without you in my life either. I can't imagine what it would be like. I don't particularly want to think about it," he discloses.

Alex looks up in time to see his eyes clench shut.

"I've thought about it," she reveals in a soft whisper. "I've thought about what my life would be like without you in it."

His eyes shoot open; he glances down at her and nods. Her confession really shouldn't surprise him with all the crap he's done, but it does.

I've thought about it too, he thinks.

"Yeah…" he says mournfully. Yeah.

And she knows he has too. She knows of one time in particular for sure he's thought about it.

"Did you really conceive that I was dead?"

He swallows hard. She hears him. She even feels him shake slightly. A few minutes pass without an answer and she's about to let it drop when he weakly responds.

"Y-Yes and no. I…I mean I didn't want to believe it, I never really did. I always had hope, no matter how small, that you were still alive, but people kept taking about it…s-saying that you were…were more than likely dead. D-Declan told me that. I hated him for saying it. I hated that feeling, Alex. I never want to feel that pain again."

"I'm sorry, Bobby. I didn't mean to bring up demons of the past," she says and soothingly rubs his chest. "But Bobby, you know that feeling? That bad feeling you get in the pit of your stomach that aches and you feel like you're about to throw up because the world feels like it's about to end?"

"Yeah?"

"That's how I feel every time you confront a suspect alone and talk him down. And when you go into a different room, alone, and I can't see you, it scares the hell out of me. I can't help but wonder if it's the last time I'm going to see you alive."

"I…I…" he begins but falters way too soon and, fuck, he thinks because he never thought about it that way.

"Bobby, why don't you ever let me go in with a suspect alone? Why is it always you? Do you not trust me?"

He sighs. He hates that she keeps pushing the subject but he isn't going to push her away. He's been pushing her away for far too long, but that all stops tonight.

"Eames…Alex, it has nothing to do with trust."

"Then what is it?" she desperately asks. She has to know. She has to understand where he's coming from because she really doesn't get it.

He tilts his head to the side to look at her. His eyes are full of emotion. "I would never want to see you in that position. I don't want to see you risk your life for one case. It's not worth it."

"But you don't mind doing it."

"That's different," he argues.

"How so?"

Bobby brings a hand up to his face and rubs it up and down a few times. He pulls his hand from his face and points at her. "You," he says with emphasis. "You have so much to live for. You have friends, family…I mean, Jesus Alex, you have your whole life ahead of you. I witnessed first hand some of that when you went missing. I saw what it did and the affect it had on people, myself included. If something happened to you, I would blame myself forever. Don't you see, Alex? I can't risk losing you. You're all I have and if that means I have to talk a suspect down with a gun pointed at me, then I will gladly do it. I'll do anything I can to keep you safe. I try not to be the overprotective partner, but sometimes I can't help it."

"But what about me? Don't you think I'd feel guilty if something happen to you? You don't think it would kill me if something happened to you when I was supposed to have your back?" she asks. "It goes both ways you know."

"Alex."

"We're partners, Bobby."

He dips his head so it rests on the top of hers. "I'm sorry. I just…if I can protect you, I will," he tells her. "I'm sorry. I didn't know it bothered you this much."

Alex quickly sits up. Her sudden movement startles him. He's afraid she's going to run away, but when she turns and straddles his lap, he quickly grabs her by the waist and secures her tightly to him.

"Of course it bothers me. Seeing you go into a room without me, having to talk some psycho man or women down, not knowing what's going to happen," she informs him. "And the only thing you have as a defense is your words, yeah it bothers me. It bothers me a lot. I swear, Bobby, one of these days you're going to kill me."

"Alex…"

"No, Bobby. You have to promise me that you're going to try harder. That you're not going to put your life at risk like that anymore," she whispers. "Because every time you do, a part of me dies."

"Alex, baby, c'mere," he pleads. He leans forward and wraps his arms around her waist. He pulls her to him so that she's now lying on top of him, her legs on either side of his body. He kisses her forehead before he continues. "I promise to be more careful, but you have to understand, I had nothing to lose before. I had nothing Eames…and you? You had the world."

"That's not true."

"It is. And after I lived what it was like to be without you, witnessing the look on your parents' faces, I'd do it all again. I had nothing, Eames, nothing. And knowing you have family out there that love and care for you, I'll die trying to protect you."

His words bring tears to her eyes. "B-Bobby," she begins but stumbles on his name. "You always had me."

"But I didn't know that," he insists. "How was I supposed to know you felt this way? It seems as though the only thing I can do lately is piss you off. But it's okay. I'm an ass."

"You're not an ass," she renders.

"I am. But that doesn't matter…it didn't matter. The only thing that mattered to me was making sure you were as far away from those people as possible. After that, I wasn't too worried about what happened. I'm confident in my abilities to get out of such situations, but if for some reason I didn't, it would have never been your fault."

"But like you, I too would blame myself forever."

He sighs. "I'm sorry," he confesses. "I didn't mean to make you upset or have you worry about me anymore than you already do. But knowing what I do now," he motions between the two of them, "It doesn't change anything. I'll still put your life up on a pedestal compared to mine."

"Bobby, you have to quit thinking that way."

"On the contrary, Alex, my thinking is right where it should be. I love you. That much I know and what man wouldn't protect the woman he loves no matter what?"

She reaches up and caresses his face. She gets it. She may not like it, but she gets it.

"No matter what happens, Bobby, I will always worry about you. Moreover, I will always love you."

"I love you, Alex."

"And I love you, Bobby," she says seductively and leans in to kiss him. His words of love and honesty only fuel her desire for him. She wants him again. She has to have him. Now. "Why don't you prove to me how much you love me," she whispers in his ear and then sucks on it.

He groans. "With pleasure," he responds and slowly rolls them over so Alex is on her back.

They make love again and as the world around them continues on, Alex and Bobby are too busy getting lost in each other to care about anything else but them and the love they feel for one another.

The End.

A/N: Well there you have it. I hope you guys enjoyed reading this. I'm currently working several other stories so keep checking back with me. I hope to post a new story sooner rather than later. Thanks!

Until next time,

-Snyder-