It had been childish.

She knows it but couldn't resist putting the rat in his desk. A rat and a Stoat: weasel like vermin crawling on their bellies through the cesspits. They deserved each other. But instead she was stuck with him. Oh, he was trying, keeping a low profile, deferring to her, seeking her opinions and generally sucking up to her. Sometimes he made an effort with his appearance but more often than not, he was bearded and wearing jeans and that felt like contempt, like disrespect.

But that level of anger, of hurt is hard to sustain. Weary resignation and cynicism taking its place as old patterns re establish themselves amidst the daily routine of business as usual. Her humour has less spite and they fall into step again as partners. But nothing more. She is charmed, delighted watching him play with the magic tricks, joins in hamming it up to trap that "mind reading" magician. But even without the reminders of lies and betrayal, she doesn't forget how he easily he can transform, how he can bewitch, entice, deceive... Fool me once, Detective...

Then his brother is murdered.

He hauls the slender blonde off the table, lifting her clear and shoves her against the wall. The sensation of her squirming body, the physical exhilaration a rare treat in what has become a rather drab existence.

He feels like he is walking on eggshells, trying not to offend, seeking endorsement, approval. His mental checks and balances are working overtime to minimise the chance of hurting her further, of letting her down again. He had thought he had broken through as he played the magician, a brief flashback to those glorious days when she had revelled in his outrageousness. But, like a dream, it had been beautiful and fleeting, impossible to hold on to.

Although he has already checked with her that it is OK to leave early to visit his mother's grave, he can't help but asking if she's sure. This need for reassurance bothers him; he feels a lack of confidence, emasculated somehow...

This inability to reconnect with her is what led him to reach out to his brother, led him down those steps, led him here to his brother's body. As he pulls back the cloth, he recalls an earlier time when he had been disappointed that his brother was not dead, a time of rage and hurt. But now it was a time of sorrow and regret.

A scavenger hunt with Nicole as the prize. And it's bringing out the worst in Bobby. His pig headed determination, his blatant denial, his defiance, his anger. She is not sure which disturbs her the most; when he is icy cold or boils with fury. And to add to the tension, the reappearance of his insufferable mentor and the wild accusations.

She may have her difficulties with Bobby, but that's between them. He is still her partner, and just as siblings may fight with each other but will valiantly defend each other against outside attack, her loyalty and her honour will not let her stand by as Ross voices his suspicions. Voices them and acts on them. She hates seeing them pick over the details of Bobby's life, it feels like an intrusion. Admit it; you wanted to be the only one privy to his secrets...

The door to the office flies open, revealing Bobby in a state she has not seen in a long time, not since that dreadful Thanksgiving.

Oh, the irony! To be suspected of murder now, now he had stopped. Suspected of a murder he didn't actually commit. They haven't even the guts to confront him. Outrage drives him to the Captain's office.

He challenges his partner and his Captain in turn, receives nothing but confirmation in reply. He can feel that long forgotten rage returning, and he paces the office trying to contain it. When his father is mentioned he loses it, barely managing to rein it in, the desire to punch Ross in the face is that strong. With iron will, and carefully measured speech, he regains control.

He stalks up to Ross, raises himself to his full height, feels the power and the menace within himself. He stares into his accuser's eyes, his small smile and raised eyebrow daring, provoking. He makes a blunt declaration of truth.

"Yeah, I'm a killer."

He had scared her. She was terrified of what he might do, what he might have done. She pushes that thought to the back of her mind, dismissing it as a by product of her fear. She vents her frustration on Ross, and realises amidst her fear, there is still care. Acknowledging this, she finds a way forward, even if it has to include Gage. He manages to irritate within minutes and she storms out, unable to listen to his pretentious prattling any longer.

What a fucking awful day and a violent, raging Bobby in the morgue is the last straw. This state of affairs is intolerable, she has to cut through his rage, bring him back to his senses. She has to re engage his brain. Using clear calm exposition, she lays it all out for him. Watches as he begins to think, to problem solve, to work things through... She breathes a sigh of relief.

He watches Declan wind up his partner, is grateful for her statement about feeling no anger toward him. He is resentful of the comparison of his mother and Nicole to her and cuts Declan off with a blunt declaration. "It's not Eames."

He listens with sadness as Declan tries to give him the absolution he has been seeking for so long, finds his voice is choked with emotion as he acknowledges the effort. Taking a deep breath, he shuts the feelings away, draws out the professional, the profiler from within and turns on his mentor. "You're good."

This is like all those confrontations with Nicole and Brady rolled into one; the thrust and parry. But this time it is tinged with bitterness as he realises this man he so admired for his brilliance, had felt closest too, didn't really know him at all. He flounders, lost, as emotion after emotion engulfs him.

Hatred: as Declan describes the death of his brother.

Despair: if Nicole the monster is incapable of love, what hope was there for him?

Disgust: as he shuns the touch he had once so welcomed.

Horror: as he realises the magnitude of what has been done for him, the twisted demonstration of love.

"You're free now, Bobby. You're free."