Bobby POV


It's been a week.

Seven days.

One hundred and sixty-eight hours.

Okay, maybe not exactly that many hours.

Because the first time I made love to Alex, it was around two a.m. on Saturday morning, and at the moment, it's nine-thirty on Friday night.

"So I say to the guy, yeah, you're right - we'd be real upset if something happened to a piece of crap like you."

Logan paused in his story-telling, laughing as he picked up his bottle of beer.

"And what'd he say?" I asked him with amusement.

No one tells a story like Logan, and I'm in the mood to laugh tonight.

Why wouldn't I be?

The work week is over.

Alex is meeting me here in half an hour.

And as I mentioned, it's been a week since we decided to take a chance and start a real relationship.

A week since we started making love.

Eighteen times so far.

Impressive for a man my age, right?

But even discounting the physical aspect, our relationship itself is working out really well.

In fact, we're as good at being a couple as we are at being partners. Better, even.

And it's possible that at some point, the newness will wear off, and I might be able to look at her without wanting to throw her down on the nearest available surface.

But I don't think so.

Last Saturday night, we went out on our first date.

We didn't go anywhere special. It was just the two of us, having a nice dinner in a decent restaurant.

But that's not to say it wasn't memorable.

Because sitting together at a table for two, without a case to solve or a schedule to keep...it was really nice.

"I don't know what to talk about," she said to me with a slightly self-conscious smile, after the waiter disappeared. "We don't have to do the typical first-date stuff."

"True. We don't need to describe our jobs to each other, or our families, or where we went to school..."

"Favorite music...movies...books..."

"It seems like we've been unknowingly dating each other for years. Maybe we should've stayed home," I said suggestively as I picked up her hand.

She smiled as I brought her hand to my lips, kissing the back of it lingeringly.

"We could do this in reverse," she posed.

"Is that supposed to be a dirty remark?" I teased. "Because if it is..."

"No," she said on a laugh. "I mean...let's see how well we really know each other. You answer questions about me, and I'll answer questions about you."

"Okay. I'm in," I agreed, relaxing in my chair and just breathing in the moment.

She loves me, I thought in amazement. And I think we're going to be really good at this.

"You know if you answer wrong, you're going to be in trouble, right?" she joked.

"What'll my punishment be?"

"Are you afraid?"

"No, I'm trying to decide if I should answer wrong on purpose."

She laughed lightly, and I watched her from across the tiny table...the way the candlelight not only threw shadows across her face but also seemed to set her eyes alight.

"I'll start," I continued. "I know a good fact about you."

"More than one, I'm sure, but I'm supposed to ask a question."

"Then you need to ask me if you're so insanely beautiful that I can't take my eyes off of you. Ask me that, and I'll say yes."

My compliment must have taken her by surprise, because she just stared at me for a moment, her cheeks flushing slightly.

And then she looked like she was going to argue with me about my assessment, because for some reason Alex doesn't seem to think she's beautiful.

I'll have to be sure to keep reminding her of that fact.

Anyway, before she could dispute my statement, I leaned across the table and kissed her. It was slow and gentle...and a promise of things to come.

And when I pulled back, she seemed to have forgotten what she was going to say.

Who knew I'd have that kind of effect on her?

We eventually did get into our game of reverse Q and A, and that segued into each of us recounting stories from our misspent youth.

The hours passed like minutes, despite the fact that we nearly skipped the date altogether due to our overwhelming desire for each other.

It was fun and comfortable and easy, a direct contradiction to how I felt earlier, when I went to pick her up for the date.

When I showed up at her place, I was nearly out of my mind with nervousness.

Because I knew what I was going to tell her.

I wanted to get it out of the way so that I could stop obsessing over it.

And maybe that sounds bad…like I wasn't putting enough importance on the act itself, but in all honesty, I was placing so much importance on it that it was disrupting all other thoughts.

So on the way to her place, I decided that I'd tell her that I love her because I do and wouldn't it be best to start our relationship with all of our cards on the table?

Besides, I was pretty sure she was right there with me.

And if not, she was at least close enough not to have my declaration be a turn-off.

But she was with me, returning the pivotal sentiment without hesitation, and then in true Alex fashion, she followed it up with a joke.

"Really, Bobby…you're the best detective I know, and you hadn't figured that one out?"

I love her sarcastic sense of humor.

It's probably one of my favorite things about her.

In addition to her intelligence. And her ambition. Her honesty. The way she's so attuned to what I'm thinking.

Oh, and her sexiness. Her sensuality. The way she likes to use her tongue to…

"Goren?" Logan said, pulling me from my thoughts.

"What?"

"You're spacing out on me. Thinking about Eames again?"

"Why would I be thinking about my partner, three hours after clocking out?" I asked him as I picked up my beer.

Because see, we still haven't told him yet.

He thinks he knows and I keep denying it and it's driving him crazy.

Of course, the jig'll be up tonight since Alex and Carolyn are meeting us here in just a little while, but for now, I'm still having fun with him.

"Because you've got a thing for your partner," he stated. "You know it. I know it. And Eames knows it because she spent the night at your place last weekend."

"Because you caught me with that grade-school badge thing?" I asked in amusement. "Yeah, that's real damning, Logan. My partner, who came over to apologize after a misunderstanding, may or may not have left her badge on my kitchen table…call the sex police because we must be doing it."

"See, you've even picked up her sarcasm," he said with a grin.

"Okay, see, that makes no sense. I'm her partner. If I were going to pick up sarcasm from her, it'd be at work. If we were sleeping together, which we're not, I'd sure as hell hope that she doesn't spout off one-liners in the bedroom."

Another lie.

Because she does, and I love it.

We've spent more time laughing in bed than…than…well, we do it a lot.

"Just admit it," he said, rolling his eyes at me as he signaled to the bartender for another round.

"Admit what?"

"Forget it," he said at last. "But you know, that hurts a little."

"That I'm not sleeping with my partner?"

"That you are, but you won't tell me, even though I told you about me and Carolyn."

"Yeah, how's that going , by the way?" I asked, changing the subject so that I wouldn't cave and tell him the truth.

Because he's right. He trusted me and now I'm leaving him hanging.

But not because I don't trust him – just because Alex wanted to torment him for a little while. And she'll be here soon, so I'm not going to ruin her fun by letting the cat out of the bag.

Apparently my change of topic was a good one, because Logan smiled broadly and said, "I did it."

"I'm almost afraid to ask, but…okay, what'd you do?"

"I told her how I feel. I told her that I'm in love with her."

"And?"

He shook his head, but he was still smiling, and then he turned to look at me as he said, "You have no idea how great it feels to hear those words back."

I looked down at my beer to keep him from seeing that I was fighting back a smile, because I know exactly how great it feels.

Like no matter how convoluted and screwed up life was up to that point, it suddenly had the potential to be everything I've ever wanted.

And maybe that sounds a little over-the-top dramatic, but it's true.

Before Alex, I never expected that I'd get much more from life than professional gratification.

But now…now I don't mind when five o'clock comes and it's time to punch out.

In fact, I look forward to it because usually by that time, Alex and I have each other so worked up that it's all we can do to make it back to my apartment.

And actually, one time we didn't.

It was two days ago, and after spending the entire day on paperwork, giving each other looks from across our desks, I was one touch away from complete loss of control. And so was she, because as she drove us towards my place, I leaned over and slid my hand between her thighs while working my lips along the side of her neck, and the next thing I knew, she'd pulled into a parking garage and slammed the gearshift into park.

"What are we doing?" I'd asked her with barely-contained excitement.

"You started it," she said as she whipped off her seatbelt and then turned towards me with unabashed desire. "So I think you need to finish it."

And did I ever.

It only lasted a few minutes, but mother of God…the adage of quality not quantity definitely applied.

"I mean, I really took a chance throwing it out there because we haven't been together all that long," Logan was saying, his voice cutting through my thoughts about Alex straddling me in the front seat of the SUV. "But it got to the point where I just had to say it because I couldn't stop thinking it, you know?"

I just stared at him for a minute because it's almost scary, the similarities of his feelings on the matter to mine.

Almost verbatim.

"I know exactly what you mean," I replied before I could censor myself.

"Yeah, I bet you do," he said with a smirk. "So…Eames…"

I chuckled and shook my head as I picked up the bottle and took a drink.

"There's nothing going on," I told him.

"Seriously. You're not in love with her," he stated skeptically.

"No."

"And you're not sleeping with her."

"Logan, let it go, will you? You know Eames. You think she'd give me a second glance?"

"And a third, fourth, and fifth," he replied confidently. "She's got it bad for you, so if you aren't doing anything about it…"

"We're partners," I said firmly, but I couldn't keep from checking my watch as I made the statement because I'm not sure how much longer I can hold out.

Five minutes before ten.

"Uh huh. Just like me and Carolyn."

"Are you going to keep hounding me about this?" I asked him, going on the offensive in an effort to derail the topic.

"I just don't get it," he said, now looking mystified. "You're best friends. Neither of you date anyone else. And I can feel the heat coming off you two from ten feet away, so what gives?"

"It's…okay, you want the truth?"

"Yes," he said emphatically. "It's about time!"

"I hit on her, and she turned me down," I told him.

He stared at me for a long minute, completely nonplussed, and then he slowly nodded.

"Okay, well…then as your friend, I feel it's my duty to tell you that the girl two stools over has been checking you out for the past ten minutes. You should buy her a drink. She has that look about her, you know what I'm saying? I bet a drink is all it'll take."

"All it'll take for what?" I asked him, trying to hide my panic as I turned to glance at the woman in question, since he was nudging my arm and tipping his head in that direction.

She's attractive enough, I suppose, but I have no interest whatsoever.

Because she's not Alex.

"For her to go home with you. You know, so you can release some of that stress from the work week. Take a ride in the Lincoln Tunnel, right? She's a sure thing."

"Um…no, I'm good."

"You sure? She looks like she could use a good pipe cleaning, you know what I'm saying?'

"Yeah, I know what you're saying," I said as I started to laugh. "You got any more euphemisms you want to throw at me?"

"Hundreds. So why don't you send your newfound mambo partner a drink? Because I'm meeting Carolyn in a little bit, and I hate to leave you here all alone."

"She's got a drink. And I don't need a hook-up. But thanks."

"What does it hurt to strike up a conversation?" he pushed. "She might have a personality to go along with her…other assets."

"Not interested."

"Why not?" he asked smugly. "Because you're in love with Eames?"

"You're a broken record, Logan. What'll it take to convince you that you're wrong about us?"

"Go hit on that woman," he said, nodding again towards the girl down the bar.

I sighed and sat back in the stool.

It's no wonder the man's solve rate is so high. When he thinks he's right about something, he doesn't let up.

"Tell me about Carolyn. So she's in love with you?"

"Yeah," he answered with a broad grin.

"And she passed the department psych eval?" I questioned with feigned concern.

He laughed and took a sip from his beer, and then he got serious on me.

"She must be crazy, right? She's way too good for me, but she doesn't seem to know that. But still…I kind of keep waiting for her to figure it out, you know?"

"She's one of the smartest people I know. And you're a good guy. Don't sell yourself short."

He nodded thoughtfully and then said, "It's really good with us. It just blows my mind how much better my life is with her in it. I guess that's why I keep pushing you about Eames. I think she'd be really good for you, and the work thing hasn't been a big deal for me and Carolyn at all, so I know the two of you could work through it, too."

The words were right on the tip of my tongue.

I am in love with Alex. And I am sleeping with her.

Because his sincerity about wanting me to be happy is just about doing me in.

Not to mention that we seem to have so much more in common than I ever suspected.

I know exactly how he feels about his life being better, and how he's a little afraid that she's going to have a reality check one of these days about the fact that she can do better. And how scary it was to put it all on the line and tell her how he feels, but how he had to do it because he couldn't think about anything else…it's almost like he's telling me about my life, even though it's his.

"Okay, here's the thing," I began, and then I heard the door to the bar open, and I don't even have to look to know that it's her.

I just know.

And the accompanying feeling that goes along with the knowledge that any second she's going to kiss me hello and hold my hand in hers and look at me with those amber eyes…

I'm not sure I'm just in love with her.

I think there has to be something more, a better descriptive to capture how I feel.

"I think I changed my mind," I said as I watched Alex over Logan's shoulder. She was weaving her way through the crowd, just ahead of Carolyn, and after watching her for a second, she looked up and her eyes met mine. And if she isn't just the most beautiful woman…

"About what?" he asked me, oblivious to my distraction.

I glanced at him briefly as I said, "I'm ready to make a move on the sure thing."

"Really?" he asked in surprise. "Come on, Bobby. You know I was only egging you on."

"I know. But you're right. I need someone like her in my life."

"Someone like her in your life?" he practically shouted, now sounding worried. "Jeez, Goren, I was only talking about sex. And I was kidding! "

"Maybe you were, but I'm not. It's what I want."

He leaned forward, looking past me towards the girl two stools over, and said, "I don't think…"

"Only not with her," I interrupted.

"Then who?" he asked, his eyes narrowing as he finally caught on to the fact that my gaze was on someone else.

He turned around in his chair just as Alex got to us, and the look on his face was priceless as I took hold of Alex's hand and said, "Her."

TBC...