Thank you to all that have sent reviews and messages of encouragement and advise … it is much appreciated … judeey Once again, they're not mine ( I wish Bobby was!) I'm just ficting them.

Purgatory: AKA Goren's Apartment

Goren's POV

Most men would be flattered by two women fighting over them … I find it disturbing. We're not children. Eames and I are Major Case Detectives and Lake is an FBI Agent for Christ sake, what the fuck? If our superiors get wind of this it will mean our badges! I guess my badge does mean more to me than anything else … a relationship with my partner? What was I thinking? and Alex … I've never seen her behave like a teenager before … she's always so professional. She has saved my ass too many times to count and now she's fighting in the park over me? Over me … WOW … she loves me … she really loves me! Is it worth it Eames? … she said something like that to me my first day out of "purgatory" "I hope it was worth it Detective" … yeah, getting my badge back was worth it, the cold shoulder, the rat, all of it … it was worth being able to catch the bad guys again and doing it with you … my partner and best friend. So here I am in purgatory again, but this time, it's a personal type of purgatory ... or am I in Hell? Do I pursue the only chance I have at actual happiness and risk getting caught or live my life alone and in the comfort of women like Lake? The last thing I want is to do more damage to Alex … she has no chance at advancement because of her association with me. If the brass find out about our relationship it may be the last straw … she could … we could lose our badges. I can't lose my shield again! I can see why she calls me a roller coaster. Fuck it! I love her and … no , I can't … I love being a cop. SHIT!

St. Ann's Hospital ER

Dr. Harris

"Detective Eames … looks like your 7th and 10th ribs are fractured , that kickboxing class must have gotten a little out of hand."

"Ah yeah … well … you should see the other guy … ooh, it hurts to laugh."

"Fractured ribs can be very serious, Detective. You'll need to take several days off and then be placed on desk duty for a few weeks. I'll give you Percocet for the pain and next week we'll switch it to Vicodin."

"Desk duty? I'm going to kill her!"

"Excuse me?"

"I'm Major Case, Sir … I very rarely get physical on the job … we have uniform with us and my Partner's a big guy."

"It will be up to your Department to determine your fitness for duty Detective … I have to give my recommendation as the attending Physician on your case."

"Yes, Sir."

Out in the hall Doreen has Eames' phone.

"Alex?"

"No, Bobby it's Doreen."

"Something's wrong."

"Bobby … Ally has two broken ribs."

"Where are you?"

"We're at St. Ann's but I'm taking her home now."

"I'll meet you there."

Standing outside of Eames Home

Do I go in as her friend or boyfriend? Regardless … I'm here and I hope she wants me here in any capacity.

As he knocks on the door, Doreen answers.

"Hey Bobby, thanks for coming … I really need to get going … Ally's getting changed, she'll be out in a minute."

"Doreen … she knows I'm here … right?"

"Ah …yeah … right …gotta go … thanks again … say bye to Ally for me."

Why do I have a feeling that we're being set up here? By the would be shrink no less.

"Bobby? Why are you here?"

Should have known.

"Doreen called … told me about your ribs so I came right over … I was concerned, upset … I wanted to see you."

"Wanted to see the damage your girlfriend did to me?"

"Jesus Alex, did you listen to anything I said at the park?"

"You left with her!"

"I wanted to make sure she was away from you and Nate … you should know by now what the two of you mean to me. You're the only real family that I have. Damn it Alex, why does this have to be so hard?"

"Nicole, Nelda, now Lake … what is the common thread with these women Bobby?"

"Excuse me … why are you bringing them up?"

"You're attracted to psychos … do they remind you of your Mother Bobby? … is that what it is … you can't be loved by a normal healthy happy well adjusted female that just wants to make you happy?"

"You know what Eames? Go fuck yourself!"

Eames POV

Who's the heartless bitch, now? He didn't deserve that. Why did I do that to him … I have to stop him!

"BOBBY … come back … please … I didn't mean it."

Bobby's POV

Johnny Damon has moved out of left field … taken his bat and just clobbered me over the head!

"Eames, go back inside …we have nothing more to say to each other … and I'm sure you meant some of that."

"Yes I did. The part about the female that wants to make you happy. I'm not really normal … not healthy at the moment, well adjusted is debatable but I do love you and I want to make you happy and if that marriage proposal still stands … I would be inclined to say yes."

"We'll lose our badges."

"That's what you have to say? I pore my heart out to you and … I swear Robert Goren … your badge is more important to you than I am."

"Alex … what am I good at? … Being a cop and I already screwed that up. You want me to be your husband? Do you know the divorce rate in this country let alone that of police officers? We haven't had a civil conversation with one another for days!"

"I wasn't suggesting we run off to Vegas tonight Bobby. I can't have sex anyway thanks to your gir… anyway … can we at least kiss and make up?"

"I'm really getting the concept of the roller coaster. Do you remember talking about couples counseling?"

"Of course I do."

"I think we should try that … but Alex … no sex until we start going."

"Why?"

"We're putting a lot on the line here Alex. I'm not just talking about our badges … we have to watch each others back out there … sometimes other people are involved … there is a lot at stake. We'll be more incline to save each other when we took an oath to protect and serve. There are reasons why it's against regulation for partners to become involved. We both need to know that what we have is strong enough to deal with our jobs and hiding our feelings for each other and most of all … you're still pissed as hell at me."

"Am not."

"Oh my God. What was that remark about my mother?"

"I'm on Percs for the pain … I don't know what I'm saying."

"We have to deal with pointing our guns at each other … we can't do that alone."

"I don't want to talk about that Bobby."

"That's what I thought. When you're ready to talk about that, call your friend Dori … have her find us a shrink that can't report to the department and make us an appointment. Until then, if you need me, call. I'm going out with Lewis … he's happy I sold the Vette … no resentment there and he doesn't even want to kiss me … imagine that."

"I bet he wants to kiss me."

"Ahhh … Detective Alex … I bet he would … do you want me to tell him you're free?"

"Get out!"

"Fine but how about the kiss you wanted."

Goren

I couldn't leave after that repartee, I wish I could tell our future … hell, I wish the ride we were on was the Merry-Go-Round, but it's not … the fact of the matter is, we do love each other, but are we good for each other?

Eames

Kissing Bobby is like having amnesia … I get so lost in the feeling of his lips, the way his tongue and mine do this delicate sensual dance together, that our arguments, the fight with Lake, my broken ribs … they're all forgotten. We're still new at this yet it seems as if we know each others mouths like a road map. I can't help but crawl up his length to prolong the kiss. He's moved on to behind my ear and whispers…

"I do love you Alex … but you're broken … you need your rest and in the last five minutes you didn't make that appointment with the Psychologist … so I'll be with Lewis."

After I take a cold shower

ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Couples counseling next ...