Grow 5x1

This is one more thing you've taken from me.

Goren rubbed his thumb over his brow, hiding his face in his large hand. The short but painful message from his archenemy continued to ring in his mind. She would always blame him for her sickness, and he knew this would drive her to forever torment him. Goren suspected some part of him enjoyed the promise.

From the corner of his eye he could see Eames at her desk hanging up her phone. She hesitated, looking towards him uncertainly, then sat in her seat. She instantly began typing, outright refusing to check up on the conference room that now housed her emotionally drained partner. Alex was giving him space. Bobby wasn't sure how he felt about that; on the one hand he was grateful he wouldn't have to conjure up any conversation, on the other he adored the delusion that she cared.

Goren sank into the nearest chair, a familiar wave of weariness overtaking him. His fingers pressed the phone's play button of their own accord. The voicemail repeated, Nicole's lilting voice filling the room with it's ice.

He didn't know how long he sat deathly still after the venom faded to silence. The next thing he became conscious of was the form of his concerned new co-worker Mike Logan approaching through the glass. Probably to question why the loss of one more fugitive had him so withdrawn. But he never got a chance.

"Logan! Get me some more coffee!" The man paused at Eames' barked order. He sent Goren another worried glance (which he patently ignored). Seeming to come to the decision the admittedly frightening woman knew what was best for her partner, he turned on his heel and strode obediently to the squad's coffee maker. Goren could see Alex look innocently up at the petite brunette with wavy hair, who had been observing the exchange with a mixture of amusement and confusion.

Despite the door, he could hear his partner say matter-of-factly, "I like making the newbies work for it. You can bring me a danish, thank you very much." The other new arrival smirked and simply walked away, recognizing the joking dismissal. Eames accidently met his eyes, and her hands instantly froze over the keyboard. She gave him a tight smile before bowing her head to return to her work, looking heavily embarrassed to be caught protecting him. Goren twisted one of the curls at the base of his neck contemplatively. Deciding there was nothing more he could glean from the call, he deleted the message with a lighter heart.