--

"You've been up for a while, why don't you lay back down and I'll put the new bandages on you." Alex was trying to break the tension and she thought a change of scenery would do them both good. She led him back into bed, then sat on the edge of it as she got out the fresh bandage. I have to do something to get my mind off of touching him.

As she tended to his wound, she spoke, "You know, Goren, when you were in the operating room, there were a lot of people who came to check on you. Ross stayed the whole time. Everyone from Major Case came by. There were guys from narcotics, detectives, patrolmen; some I knew or recognized and some I didn't. CSU techs came in. Even the Chief of D's was there for a while." She was almost done with the bandage.

"I bet he was there hoping for an entirely different outcome."

"Leave it to you, Bobby, to focus on that one negative person instead of everyone else who were there because they care about you." She stood up once she was done. Goren already missed her touching him.

"You're right, Eames. I'm sorry. That was really… nice of everyone." He continued. He wanted to ask her about what Logan said about the waiting room. But he didn't think the time was right yet.

"So, do you want to watch another movie?" Alex asked. "You can pick something out while I get you some breakfast."

"I'm not hungry, I usually don't eat much in the morning. But go ahead and get something, I'll be fine here with my book."

He wants to be alone, Eames thought. "Okay, I'll be in the living room if you need anything. She went to the kitchen, grabbed a yogurt, then went to the couch. She watched the news for a little while, then Regis and Kelly. Nice, mindless TV, just what I need. Then she got up and went to check on him. She was going to take a shower.

Goren put his book down when she came in the room. He watched her dig through her suitcase.

"Hey Eames, listen. I don't use the bottom dresser drawer. Why don't you put your stuff in it."

"I don't know, Goren." She was about to say more but he jumped in.

"You're gonna be here for a while, so you might as well stop living out of a suitcase and settle in. I mean, it just make sense." He suddenly realized how much he wanted to entrench her further into his world.

"Well, since it makes sense, okay." She turned from him so he didn't see the smile that she couldn't help from forming.

"There's plenty of room for your stuff in the bathroom, too."

"Alright, I'll unpack then take a shower. You don't mind if I'm in here with you for a little while?"

"No, not at all. Oh, if you need to hang anything, feel free to use the closet, too." He had picked up his book again, trying to make it look like it's no big deal.

Eames set out unpacking her things. She put her clothes in the dresser. She put her sneakers in the closet. She grabbed her toiletries and brought them in the bathroom. She didn't have too many things. She put her shampoo and conditioner in the shower, her lotion on the counter, her makeup and brush in a drawer, and finally put her toothbrush in the glass that Goren used to hold his. She looked at the two toothbrushes next to each other and smiled. It just looks so right, having my stuff in here. Then she went back to the bedroom. She took out a book and a small pouch and put them on "her" nightstand. When she was done, she slid her suitcase under the bed. All the while, Goren kept an eye on her. His heart was filled with happiness. Now, if I can just get her to stay.

"Okay, I'm gonna take a shower." She got out some new clothes and left the room.

A short time later she returned. She was in dark jeans and a white v-neck t-shirt. Goren noticed immediately that he could see her bra through her shirt. That revelation was followed by an immediate stirring in his groin. She went over to her side of the bed, sat down, and picked up the pouch. She pulled out her earrings and put them in.

Just as she stood up, there was a knock on the door.

Eames answered the door, it was the nurse. She let the nurse in.

"Good morning Mrs. Goren, my name is Wendy Campbell. I'm the nurse who will be coming to check in on your husband. I hope I'm not too early."

"Hi, I'm… I'm Alex." Eames didn't correct her. "Bobby's right in here."

Eames led Wendy into the bedroom. "Honey, this is Wendy. She'll be your nurse." Bobby looked very confused. Eames continued, "Wendy, this is Bobby."

"Hi Bobby, how are you feeling today?"

"Uh, good. Better." He was still looking at Eames, searching for an explanation as to why she called him 'honey'.

"Glad to hear it." Wendy went to work, taking his temperature, his blood pressure, and listening to his lungs. "Good. Now let's check out that wound." She lifted his shirt and carefully removed the bandage. She leaned in for close inspection.

"Very nice. You're healing perfectly. Your wife is taking excellent care of you."

The light went on in Bobby's head. So, the nurse assumed Eames was my wife, and Eames didn't correct her.

"Yes, my wife is taking wonderful care of me. I couldn't ask for more." Eames blushed and Goren had to stifle a laugh.

"Alright then. Here are some fresh bandages. If you are all set, I'll be going."

"Yes, Wendy, I think we're all set." Eames started walking her to the door.

"See you in two days, Mrs. Goren. Bye!" With that, Eames closed the door and went back to see Bobby.

"Mrs. Goren, huh?" He was laughing at her.

"Well, she just assumed it and I felt bad correcting her." Eames was blushing again. She was suddenly feeling bold so as she started to walk out of the room she added, "besides, kind of has a nice ring to it."

Goren stopped. "What?"

She didn't reply. She stood outside of his room and grinned to herself.

He laid there in disbelief.

--

"…and that's how we got the nickname "Hurricane Alex and the Wind Sisters."

Goren was laughing out loud. He had asked Eames about her high school friends. He was trying to pull out the young Eames again. So he asked her about her old friends and that turned into story after story of their escapades.

She had him in stitches about her high school glory days.

They finished out the remainder of the afternoon with lunch and another movie.

The movie turned into a nap.

Then, Alex got the paper, and they lounged around in the afternoon quietly reading the paper.

Alex was lost in the paper, but Goren had another agenda.

--

"Who calls you Lex?"

She was puzzled. "Where did that come from?"

"I want to know, that's all."

"Bobby, for someone who can't even call me Alex, why do you care about who calls me a nickname? It's not like you're gonna use it!"

"JUST TELL ME." He growled. His impatience was growing exponentially. His tone made her realize that her answer meant a lot to him.

"Geez, alright. My family and old friends. Which really means just my family these days; I've lost touch with most of my old friends since I've been at Major Case." He picked up on her wistful tone. He would remember to ask her about her old friends again.

"No one else?" He was now using his interrogation voice.

"I don't know who you want me to say, Bobby. Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny? Yeah, okay, they call me Lex, too." Now she was aggravated.

"Eames!" He took a deep breath. "Don't be snarky, just tell me, does anyone else call you Lex?!"

"What the hell, Bobby? What's gotten into you?" She was now past aggravated and is officially pissed.

It dawned on him that by getting so demanding, he now had to give her an explanation as to why it mattered to him. Shit, How do I tell her why I want to know?

"You now what, never mind, Eames. Just drop it." He noticed she was mad and was giving him a look that let him know she wasn't going to let him off the hook.

"No way, Bobby. You asked, I answered. But for some reason my answer wasn't good enough for what ever you have goin' on up there", she pointed to his head, "so now you have to tell me why. What's so important about my nickname?"

He took a deep breath. She knew him too well, he wasn't going to get away with anything but the truth.

"Okay. I heard your sister call you Lex. I never heard anyone call you that before. So, it got me thinkin'."

"What doesn't get you thinkin'?"

He gave her a look that said shut-up. "This is hard enough without your sass."

"Sorry...by all means... go on." She said sarcastically as she rolled her hand out to gesture him to continue. She knew behaving like this was making it worse for him but she didn't care; he pissed her off.

"Anyway." He closed his eyes for the next part. "Hearing her call you Lex got me thinkin',". He waited for her to say something again. She didn't. He continued. "I started wondering who else calls you Lex."

"And I told you."

"Do your boyfriends call you that?" The words spewed out of him like venom. Man, Goren, talk about laying your cards on the table! He kept his eyes closed.

Alex was stunned by his words and his anger. She let it sink in before she replied. So that's what gotten him so cranky. When she did reply, she spoke softly so he knew she wasn't judging or teasing. "No, Bobby. No. But Joe used to. We met when I was called that a lot so he picked up on it. As I got older and I was on the job, people started calling me Alex. Or... Eames." She was hoping he would open his eyes. She wanted him to see her when she said what she needed to tell him. He kept them closed. She leaned closer to him and touched his arm. "Bobby, I don't miss being called Lex." She paused so he could take in what she meant. Then she continued, "And as much as I tease you about it, I like it when you call me Eames."

He opened his eyes and found her smiling at him. He felt himself relax.

"Except, of course, when we're in bed. Then, I do insist on Alex." Her smile grew larger and his heart pounded at the sight of her.

He laid there for a few minutes taking in all that she just said. He didn't really know what to do next. So he went with the safe thing; changing the subject.

"My mom, I should call her."

Eames followed his lead.

"Well, I asked Lewis to call her. He ended up going to visit her. He told her that you were on an assignment and that you wouldn't be able to call or visit for a couple of weeks. He said she was so happy to see him that she didn't seem upset that it wasn't you. I know he was plannin' on going up to see her again over the weekend."

"Good, good. So she's doing alright."

"Yeah. I mean, you can call her anytime, but I wanted to give you some time to heal, I didn't know if calling her would be too upsetting."

"No, that's good, Eames. I think I'll wait a few days then call her. I don't think I could take it if she started in on me and I can't get there to see her. Thanks." He was relieved she gave him the freedom he needed from his mom. He just needed some time to get better before dealing with her right now. Eames knows everything I need. She really is incredible. How did I get so lucky with her?

--

Alex made another delicious dinner. She cooked some tilapia with baked asparagus and a salad of baby romaine and grape tomatoes. The fish was light, the vegetables hit the spot. After dinner, Bobby settled back into bed. Eames once again, cleaned the kitchen then made herself comfortable on the couch. She flipped though the cheesy magazines she brought with her, then turned on the TV to catch the news.

Bobby was in the bedroom, missing Alex. He knew she was purposely leaving him alone. He knew she thought he wanted to have time to himself. But really, he missed her. While it's true he does enjoy the time he can spend alone; when faced with the alternative, he would choose her any day over being without her. He wanted nothing more than to have her in bed with him. In his bed. He found himself thinking about what it would be like to have her there all the time. He imagined them together, married or just as a couple. He was driving himself crazy.

Finally, she appeared in the doorway.

"Bedtime, let's go." She moved over to him and helped him up. He got himself in and out of the bathroom. He wanted to change into something he was more comfortable wearing. He usually slept only in his boxers. But with her there, he had to change that. So he picked out a pair of jogging shorts and a new t-shirt. She had to help him get out of his sweats and into his shorts. She handled the exchange exactly the way she did for the shower. "You really sleep in a t-shirt?" She was skeptical about that. He didn't seem the type.

"Well no. Actually, I usually only sleep in my underwear, but that hardly seems appropriate."

"Goren, I'm all for the shorts, but feel free to lose the shirt."

He hesitated, then he folded the t-shirt back up and dropped it on the floor.

Once he was done, she tucked him in bed. After he was all set, she got herself ready for bed. She changed into her pajamas. She wore a pair of black shorts and a black tank top. He nearly stopped breathing at the sight of her. Now, here he was in shorts…laying with his partner looking sexier than ever.

"Okay, movie time. Goren, your choice tonight." She handed him the case.

"You sure, Eames? I think my taste in movies is different than yours."

"Go for it, Bobby. Anything you want." Careful what you wish for, Eames.

He chose The Shining.

Eames hated scary movies but she couldn't tell him that.

As soon as it started, she inched closer to him and wrapped her hands around his arm. As the movie progressed, her whole body came in contact with his. Hmmmm, scary movies… I'll have to remember this. Bobby silently congratulated himself as Eames snuggled up next to him.

He doubted sleep would come easy for him tonight. And he was right.

--