Disclaimer: L&O CI not mine

Chapter seven ... they confuse me in this chappy!

000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000

A Different Dynamic

Bobby was working diligently on cleaning the paint off the walls, windows, door frame and ceiling when he heard the door open.

"Bobby!?"

"In here Eames."

She can't help smiling ear to ear, especially realizing what they have just done, crossed paths needing to see each other only two hours after "the kiss." She's trying to reign in the joy on her face before he sees her. She doesn't want to make it too easy for him.

"Hey, you came back."

"I wanted to … I was thinking about … I … I … I do love you Eames … I wanted you to know and I didn't want to say it on the phone."

Reigning in that smile was history. She didn't know what to do with herself. Falling in love was the last thing that she had planned on, with him or anyone else for that matter. She just wanted her partner back, that's how the evening started, how was it going to end?

"Love … really? I was thinking we just liked each other … a lot."

"Whatever you want Eames." He starts scrubbing the paint off the walls again, turning his back to her and hiding the smirk.

"I want you Bobby."

The smirk is now a full blown smile, in fact, he brings his hand up to his face to feel it. A real smile is a foreign entity on him, he couldn't remember what it felt like. He mused that of course it would be Eames that would put it back on his face. Smile gone, he turns to face her.

"Tell me you love me then."

"Excuse me?"

"Yeah … ah ha … I'm not easy, Eames. If you want me, you have to work for it."

"EXCUSE ME, WORK FOR IT!?"

He hands her a rag with solution on it to clean the paint off the walls.

"We have a mess to clean up, and while we're cleaning this mess maybe we can talk about our little mess."

"Can't I just say, I love you back?"

"No you have to prove it."

"I'd like to … in a different room … if you get my drift."

"Eames, we have a lot to talk about, I've been a selfish son-of-a bitch the past two years, you shouldn't even be looking at me let alone wanting to sleep with me."

"Sleep was not on the agenda."

"Why aren't you taking this seriously?"

She was, but she was also scared, this was Bobby, having sex with him and not a real relationship seemed almost easier than thinking about loving him. That could really ruin their partnership. What if they fell out of love? If it were just sex with no feelings they could both just walk away but love was a different story … someone was going to get hurt. She started scrubbing the walls.

The change in atmosphere worried Bobby. Her smile was gone and her posture was guarded … no more playful banter, in fact, she became silent. She was scrubbing away the paint like it was the past two years, talk about elbow grease. One mess was going to be cleaned up in no time at all.

"Hey … Eames … where did you go?"

"I'm concentrating on my task at hand, do you mind?"

"No, I mean before, you weren't home."

"I went out."

"Yeah, I get that, where did you go?"

"Do you have to know everything, Bobby."

"Well, I am a Detective."

"Good, then, Detective, figure it out."

Bobby walks right up to Eames and circles around her, keeping his hands to himself, he bends and sniffs.

"Stop smelling me!"

He backs off, scratches his head and smiles.

"Did you go back to my place tonight Eames?"

"How do you do that?"

"I don't, it was a guess, you just told me." He starts laughing at the look on her face.

"You're not getting laid tonight Goren!"

"That's not what I want, I want us to make sure that we're on the same page before we ruin our friendship. Is that what you want … just sex, because that's not what I want."

"I don't want to be in love with you Bobby just so you can walk away from me."

"Why would I do that?"

Bobby used to have quite a reputation at 1PP, love um and leave um Goren. He left a trail of broken hearts … she once found that amusing … she wasn't laughing now.

"Do you remember what I used to call you, Bobby."

"Aw geez Alex … that was how many years ago? I never promised them anything, I was square with them right up front … nothing serious … too busy … work, family stuff, not the marrying type."

Eames is smiling again, this time at the use of her first name, that's three. She's keeping count.

"What makes tonight different?"

"Tonight? Not just tonight … we've been together for eight years as partners Eames, I'm talking about pursuing a relationship outside of work for the next eight years and more … how ever long you'll have me. I'm not that same man if you haven't noticed. I've changed … I never loved anyone before … before you."

"How can that be?"

"I mean … yeah, there have been women but I couldn't promise them anything so why fall in love?"

"How can you stop that?"

"Have you met me Eames?"

"I don't know … what does that mean?"

"Frances Goren … I had my hands full … I had my life full. She took up my free time, God forbid I should have my own life."

"So I'm the freedom that you are pursuing … the freedom that Declan Gage so thoughtfully gave to you."

"You're the one that started this … you said you had feelings for me you want to sleep with me. I want to protect our friendship. What is with you?"

"Do you want to have sex with me or not!?"

"Yes!"

"Then stop talking and start kissing, I'm sick of thinking … get back on the floor in your non-thinking position and be prepared … it's been a long time."

"I have a bad knee Eames … do you think we could go into the bedroom?"

After their back and forth, up and down, who knows what just really happened banter, Alex Eames got her man. Would it ruin their friendship? Would it ruin their partnership? They didn't know. They did know that they loved each other and in the throws of passion, she will admit it. It's not just sex or lust for her partner … she was in love with him … he knew it … he had a smirk on his face.

0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000

I know, lots of dialogue ... they needed to "talk." Thanks for reading, I most certainly appreciates the reviews!! Judeey ;)