Bare with me on this chapter. I am going off script a little bit but I am setting up for another story to come soon... hope you like the teaser...

The unexpected relationship

Erin was going over the witness statements of tomorrow's witnesses in her case. She was struggling with this one witness as there seemed something to be wrong with their statement, but she couldn't figure out what. Maybe Alex would figure it out. Oh who was she fooling, she really didn't want Alex over to talk about work.. ding. Her phone went of. "we on our way back, be there in 20".

"k" she texted back.

She has not really be able to concentrate on her case since Eddie injury. Life's mortality has been at the front of her brain since it happened. She made Nicky promise to call more, she made a lunch date with Linda and now she is thinking about making something happen with Alex.

Erin looked down and what she was wearing. She had changed out of her court outfit into comfortable jeans and a Columbia t-shirt Nicky had gotten her. Was this to casual. Should she change. Buzzzzzzzzzzz. To late. She heard her door buzzer go off.

"hello" she said just in case.

"it's me" Alex said.

"come on up".

She opened the door and waited for Alex to get off the elevator. He was holding a bag that had one of the most famous New York bakery's logo on it.

"what's that?"

"desert?"

"come on it" Erin said.

Alex entered and looked around. Noting seemed to change since the last time he came here. He took off his jacket and put in on the back of one of the chairs. He looked at the table and saw all of Erin's reading material scattered all around.

"still working I see?"

"yeah. There is something about Mr. Paphos statement that is not right. I don't know what it is".

"here let me take a look at it".

Alex read the statement as Erin cut the cake he brought into two pieces and poured him a cup of coffee.

As Erin set the plate and cup down, Alex grabbed her notepad and started making some notes and then started drawing a picture.

"can you pull up google maps? He asked her.

"sure". Once she pulled it up he took the laptop from her and started typing an address. He made some additional notes and then gave her back the laptop.

"look here your witness said that the suspect Mr. Larnca was walking up from 3rd ave north and then cut across to laker avenue, but he couldn't have done that because laker was under construction and that whole sidewalk was blocked off. Plus if you look at the wound trajectory it appears that the shooter should have been coming from the south or that Mr. Protar back was to him. But all of the other witnesses say that Mr. Protar was facing the street because he was talking to some customers."

"So Mr. Paphos is lying" Erin said.

"that would be my guess, but why. Let me take this and run with it. You weren't planning on calling im until the afternoon right?"

"yeah. Thanks. I think everything that is happening with Jamie and Eddie has affected my consentration. I should have figured that out."

"don't beat yourself up. Now I will take off so you can get some sleep." Alex said, but it came out like he was disappointed that he had to go.

"no…..wait..can we…. Can we talk for a minute." Erin struggled to get out.

"sure. What about?"

"us?" Alex seemed a little confused.

"yeah us. Are we good? I mean you are not still mad about me for reopening your mothers case are you?

"Erin. I never blamed you or was mad at you in the first place." Alex said. He took a couple of steps toward Erin and was just inches away.

"why do I feel that there is this barrier between us and we can't get over it then?" she asked.

"because there is a barrier, just not the one you are thinking of." Then he went for it. It was going to be now or never. He slightly touched her lips with his and he tasted the slight chocolate mixed with coffee test. That is not his new favorite taste.

Erin didn't shy away. She deepened the kiss and Alex backed her up until her back hit the refrigerator.

Alex was the first to break away. "I think we just jumped over the barrier" Erin said. "you think" Alex connected their foreheads together as he tried to catch his breath.

"Can you stay" Erin asked.

"not tonight. You need your sleep and if I stay you won't. Mr. Protar needs you at your best." Alex said.

Erin just had to have one more kiss. This one was just as sweet but it held a silent promise of what was to come in the future.

Alex broke the kiss off, grabbed his jacket and headed for the front door. "see you tomorrow counselor."

"see you tomorrow, detective." Erin locked the door and started cleaning up. As she headed for her room she got a text "sleep tight, A."

She just smiled and headed for bed.