The Fake Date: Ch. 10

By: The Confused One

A/N: Finally this chapter is finished and ready to post. It was like pulling teeth to get it done. This chapter did not like me at all. My muse wanted to go one direction, and my head wanted to another. I'll let you decide which one finally won. LOL Special thanks to Sassy for the beta job. I really appreciate it. Please enjoy and remember to review. Thanks.

Watching Alex sit down, Bobby took his plate from her. The sandwich was pastrami on rye, and the chips were regular. Meeting her eyes, he couldn't help but smile. Something about this felt so different, felt so right. There was certain ease between them. There were benefits to already knowing each other as well as they did. He finally broke the silence. "I didn't think you even liked pastrami."

Alex smiled. Grabbing her own plate, she sat it down so that he could tell it was turkey. "I don't. You said it yourself. I planned this."

Bobby grinned in return. Meeting her eyes, he swallowed a bite of his sandwich. "Alex, I'm still really sorry about…what happened."

Alex put her turkey sandwich down. So he wants to do this now. We can do that. That's fine. She never lost eye contact. She reached over and took his free hand. "I know you are, Bobby. I guess it comes down to several things. I love you. I know you love me, and I would really like to just start over and forget the last few days."

Bobby met her eyes. He gave her hand a squeeze. Something inside him settled and relief took hold. He easily agreed, "Yeah… I'd like that." Despite her declaration of love and reassurance, he was nervous. He had to do this. He had to ask the question. Searching her eyes for a moment, he ventured, "Are you busy tonight?"

Alex smiled. She shook her head. "No. No, I'm not." She gave his hand a soft squeeze to encourage him.

Bobby grinned. His eyes never left hers. "Good. I'd…like to take you out."

Alex gave him a broad smile now. She nodded emphatically. She was struck by how cute he was when he was nervous. "I'd love that."

Completely relaxing, he offered, "I'll pick you up at seven?"

Alex relaxed. She gave him a smile. "Sounds perfect." Eating a chip, she let go of his hand. She was completely happy. She was getting everything she had wanted. "You know, I called Julie last night. She said we're both idiots and think too much."

Bobby laughed at that. He nodded in agreement. "She's right about that, at least when it comes to me. I am an idiot who thinks too much. I made this a lot more complicated than it should be." He leaned closer to her.

Searching his eyes for a moment, she tried to assure him, "It's really OK. It's in the past now."

Bobby reached out and cupped her cheek. "I want this to work. No running away. I promise."

Alex nodded. She leaned closer to him and smiled softly and whispered, "Good." She reached up and took his hand from her face. She gave it a light squeeze.

Never breaking eye contact, Bobby was hyperaware of how close he was to her now. Swallowing hard, he closed the distance. Kissing her, he felt his world spin. It was unlike anything he had ever felt before. Putting his hand to her cheek, he deepened the kiss.

Breathing hard, Alex finally pulled away. It had been everything she dreamed of and then some. Meeting his eyes, she whispered, "Wow…"

Bobby smiled. He stroked her cheek. "Yeah…"

The spell was broken by a knock on her door. With a frustrated sigh, she pulled away. "Stay here." She got up and walked to the door. Opening the door, her face fell. She was surprised. "Danny…"

Daniel looked her over and smiled. "Alex, I'm glad you're home. I really need to talk to you."

Alex raised her eyebrows. She still couldn't believe he was even there. She didn't even want to waste her time. "We have nothing to talk about, Daniel. Go home to your wife, Elizabeth. We were over when we ran into her at the restaurant. I told you that."

Daniel would not be deterred, "It's over, Alex. I left Elizabeth. She never made me feel like you do. I need more excitement, and I want to be with you."

Shaking her head, Alex stood her ground. "That's fine. Leave her if that's what you want, but not for me. We're done."

Bobby was listening to this from the kitchen. He didn't like any of it. Getting up, he approached the kitchen door, so he could hear better. He didn't feel even a little embarrassed about it either.

Daniel pleaded, "Come on, Alex. There is nothing stopping us now."

Passing irritation and bordering angry, Alex snapped, "Nothing besides I could never trust you." She couldn't believe he had the gall to show up here. Taking a deep breath, she tried to soften her tone a little. "I should never have been with you to start with, Danny. I'm in love with someone else, and we're making it work now. There is no hope for us. You're wasting your time."

Angered by this, Daniel grabbed her arm and pushed her inside. He followed her inside.

Caught off guard by this, Alex momentarily faltered. She allowed herself a moment of fear before steeling herself. Her eyes blazing, she pointed back to the door. "Get out! Get out now, and I don't want to see you again!"

Daniel wasn't listening anymore. Grabbing her wrists, he pinned her to the wall. Before she had a chance to react to him, strong hands wrenched him off of her. Bobby stepped between them. He stared Daniel down and growled, "Don't ever touch her again."

Daniel glared back at him. He refused to back down and he shot back, "You don't tell me how to talk to her."

Looking up at Bobby, she noted that it looked like he had grown ten feet. She could sense what was coming. She reached out and put her hand on his arm. She could feel how tense he was. "He's not worth it." She could feel him relax just a little bit, and she was relieved.

Never taking his eyes off of Daniel, he snarled, "She said get out."

Looking at the two of them, Daniel decided to cut his losses. He finally nodded. "Fine…" He left the apartment, slamming the door behind him.

Relaxing, Bobby pulled away from Alex and turned to face her. His face softened, and he watched her gingerly rub her wrist for a moment. Concerned, he carefully took her arm into his hand. Examining her wrist, he looked up and caught her eye. "Are you OK?"

Alex nodded mutely. Looking back at the door, she sighed. She finally commented, "I certainly know how to pick them…"

Bobby almost smiled. Letting her hand go, he looked up and studied her face. Reaching up, he stroked her cheek. "Are you sure you're OK?"

Meeting her eyes, she placed her hand on his to still his movement. "I'm fine, Bobby. I promise." She tried to smile.

With a soft nod, Bobby pulled his hand away. He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her into a hug. With a soft sigh, he breathed in her hair and whispered, "I love you."

Alex grinned. Completely relaxing she melted into his arms. Closing her eyes, she rested her head on his chest. She murmured, "I love you, too."

Bobby rubbed her back softly. No words were needed. He was just content to hold her. He just needed her with him.

Alex sighed. She finally forced herself to pull away and out of his arms. Looking up, she met his eyes. "We should finish lunch…"

Bobby reluctantly nodded. "Yeah, we should." He hesitated for just a moment before following her into the kitchen.

Sitting back down, Alex was intent on getting this lunch back on track. She watched Bobby sit down. She was about to speak again when her phone rang. Irritated, she rolled her eyes. Reaching over, she grabbed her phone. "Eames…"

Sitting down at his desk, Deakins answered, "I know you two finally went to lunch, but your serial has struck again. The body was found in West Central Park this time."

Alex closed her eyes. Leaning back in her seat, she nodded. "Alright. We'll be right there. Thanks." Looking up at Bobby, she closed her phone and sighed. "Looks like lunch is going to have to be cut short." She hesitated, knowing how he was going to take the next part. "Another body was found in the park."

Bobby nearly winced. He was frustrated by this case. The bodies were piling up, and they were making no headway. He finally nodded. "Alright. Let's go…" There was no need to tell her how this case was starting to affect him. She didn't need that.