A/N: I wasn't planning on posting this yet, but I just found out that my nephew was born two hours ago at 7.5 pounds, 21 inches and I'm really excited. So, here ya go!

Thanks so much for the support of this story. This chapter took me a while to write because it was a little tricky figuring out how Lynne and Bobby broke up. I hope you like it!

Oh, and I keep on losing track so for the record: Bobby and Lynne have now known each other five years.


Lynne watched the water slide off the colorful tattoo she bore on her abdomen as she lay on the dock, her 'guys' swimming and horsing around a few meters away. She was wearing the bikini Madeline had somehow talked her into buying for the weekend trip to Jersey some of the detectives (now currently getting drunk and laughing at each other) had planned with Paul Matthew's help.

The redhead watched the drops of water on the red rose petals evaporate in the heat of the early fall. It was the one year anniversary of her kidnapping. Her rapists were in prison; Billy was long gone; Bobby was as supportive as ever; but after everything that had happened, it was the dog that had saved her.

Sarge, somehow knowing her owner was thinking about her, trotted up to Lynne and laid her body over Lynne's stomach. The woman shrieked at the weight of Doberman. "Sarge!" she cried helplessly as her playful dog proceeded to lick her mercilessly.

Some of the detectives looked over to find out why Lynne was laughing at her dog, only to find the poor woman half covered by the retired police dog that had pinned her owner down and was licking her sloppily.

"Sarge, down!" Lynne squealed through her laughter. The dog immediately backed up so she was sitting next to her person, giving her stomach one last sloppy kiss before sitting on her haunches and wagging her tail.

Lynne caught her breath before she noticed the detectives watching them closely. She leaned into her dog, "Get Bobby." She whispered the order, knowing Sarge would soon proceed to stalk around her prey for about two minutes before pouncing on her intended target: Robert Goren.

Step one: Look like a nice, friendly doggy that is just about to try to beg treats off target.

Step two: Approach target through roundabout rout, making many detours for snacks along the way.

Step three: Make target feel at ease and let down their guard by playing "Nice Doggy" for a few moments.

Step four: Attack and take no prisoners.

It was actually very humorous to watch Sarge stake out her intended targets and step in for the kill. Every single time Lynne told the dog to 'get' someone, Sarge took her own sweet time doing just that … and when she finally got her target it was the funniest sight in the world.

When Sarge finally launched herself at Bobby, she hit his chest hard and sent them both back into the water with a loud SPLASH that sent water everywhere. They weren't too deep in, luckily, and soon Sarge had proceeded to pull Bobby from the water and 'attack' his face with her slobbery dog breath and tongue. Of course, he just had to try to escape, causing the rather strong dog to pin him down with all four of her paws (somehow avoiding strategic areas) a growl and more licking.

Lynne was doubled over in laughter (along with nearly everyone else) by the time Sarge grew tired of 'getting' Bobby and left to chase a Frisbee Emil and Howard were tossing back and forth to each other. The detectives from Narcotics were quite pleased that they had given Lynne the best salve for her broken spirit. Sarge had done so much for their Lynne … she laughed so much more than she had before. Lynne was a different person.

---

Lynne looked at her boss with an unreadable expression, "Are you serious, George?"

George nodded, "Yes, I am. The position would be a great leap in your career, Lynne. You're talent deserves the notoriety that would come from the promotion."

"But … Paris?" Lynne asked, unsure if she should be thrilled at the possibility or upset that she'd have to leave everyone she loved so much. "What would happen to my project, George?"

"The cops?" At Lynne's nod he said, "I was thinking of handing it over to Terry Landing. She has the skill to pull it off."

Lynne snorted, "If all she has on her plate is this. Do you know how much time it takes just to keep their suits in top form? Put her on it with James. They'd make a good pair."

"Does that mean you're taking the job?" George asked.

She furrowed her brow, looking down at her hands where they rested on her lap. What a way to come back to work after a weekend vacation with her guys! An offer for a position in Paris heading the advertising campaign and setting up a few runway shows. But … Paris?

"Can I think about it?" she finally asked, looking up at George.

George nodded, "I'll need your answer by tomorrow."

Lynne nodded once, "I'll give it to you tomorrow morning when I get in."

---

Mechanically Lynne parked her car on the street in front of One Police Plaza. She somehow made it up to the eleventh floor and over to Bobby's desk, where he was still studiously working despite the fact that normal work hours had ended over two hours before. "Bobby?" she said softly, causing him to look up.

"What is it, Lynne?" he asked, closing the file he had been reading, his face clearly showing the concern he felt.

She shook her head slightly, "Not here, Bobby. Come on. It's time for dinner."

"But-"

"No 'but's, mister. It's late and I'm positive you haven't eaten anything all day except a pastrami sandwich filled with trans fat and acid. Let's go."

Bobby's latest partner (of a month and a half) watched in awe as the big cop actually listened to the petite woman and gathered his things together to leave for the night. Deakins couldn't help but chuckle when he saw Lynne walk in and collect her boyfriend – that's just the way those two worked. Now, if only he could find a partner that would stay with Bobby as faithfully as Lynne had…

---

After dinner, the couple went back to Bobby's apartment and he finally questioned her, "Okay, Lynne. What's this about?"

She sighed as she sat down on the sofa, "I was offered a promotion …"

Bobby was baffled, "Th-that's great, Lynne. You deserve it."

Lynne's eyes closed as she said, "In Paris."

Her announcement caused Bobby to falter for a moment, but he soon seemed to regain his equilibrium; "Paris?"

Lynne nodded, her eyes studiously gazing at her hands. "It's a temporary position to try to fix some of the problems the French advertising board has been having. I'd be stationed primarily in Paris, but still doing some work in New York for an estimated two years … and I have to give George my answer by tomorrow morning."

Bobby sat down with a thump, "It's a helluva opportunity for your career."

"And it's in Paris." She looked at him with torn eyes, "Bobby, what am I supposed to do? Everything I care about is here."

He sighed, rubbing his hands through his hair before asking, "What do you want to do, Lynne? If I wasn't a factor … if no one else but you would be effected by it. What would you do?"

Her answer was almost instantaneous, "I'd take the job."

He nodded, his mind decided, "Then that's what you'll do."

"What?" now it was Lynne's turn to be confused.

"You'll take the job and the move to Paris."

"That easy, huh?"

"I didn't say it'd be easy." He started pacing. "Damn it, Lynne. You know I love you …"

She nodded, cutting him off, "I love you, too, Bobby. That's the problem, isn't it?"

"What?" he asked again, trying to figure out where she was going with her words.

Her eyes were full of understanding as she said, "We're not in love anymore. I love you, so much … and I know I always will. But I'm not in love with you anymore. I don't think I've been in love with you for a while now. Ever since …" she trailed off, still unable to fully talk about what had happened to her the year before with anyone but Gina.

He nodded again, "I know. I'm so sorry you got caught in the middle of that."

"Me, too."

"C-can we still …?"

She nodded, "I'd like to still be your friend, Bobby. I'd like that a lot. You're such a wonderful man."

He sighed, sitting again in the chair he had vacated a few minutes before. "Yeah," he whispered, his eyes seeing without comprehending the room around him and the woman before him. Their intimate relationship had been dead for months now … it felt more of a relief to have it out in the open and fully acknowledged than it felt hurtful. It was best for both of them.

---

When Lynne had announced to her friends that she would be moving to Paris, there had been outrage. No one wanted to see her go, but when she explained how not very much was changing – there would still be someone there for them to take suits to when they got ripped … she'd still only be a phone call or email away (only not the internet connection would be traveling a longer distance and the phone call would cost a lot more and require a different country's prefix) they grudgingly accepted her announcement.

After the group had finished eating, the police officers of all different ranks stopped by to give Lynne a hug and wish her well in Paris. When Jimmy Deakins and his wife stopped by, however, Lynne stopped them, "I won't just be staying in Paris, you know. Part of the job is to coordinate with the Armani team at this end, too. And it's only temporary. I'll be back."

Angie brought a hand up to stroke Lynne's cheek with a smile, "Of course you will, dear. We'll miss you too much to let you stay away for long."

Lynne's responding smile said more than her words ever could. She turned to Jimmy, "See if you can't find Bobby a partner that'll stick around for longer than a few months, okay, Jimmy?"

Deakins nodded, "I'm trying, Lynne. Don't worry about that. When do you leave?"

"Day after tomorrow; but I'll be back in a couple months with a preliminary report."

"Good," one of the other detectives (having been eavesdropping on the conversation) said with a grin, "Just enough time to get you good and hung over for your first day in Paris."

"Ah, yes, Stu, because I've been drunk with you guys so many times before."

Stu smiled back cheekily, "There's a first time for everything."

Lynne and Bobby's eyes met over the crowd at those words. That's true. There is a first time for everything … even breaking up and not feeling like crap the day after. It was more of a – a mutual goodbye.

A/N: So? What do you think?