First Kiss 29

How many nights can a cop go without sleep and still be able to function? For Eames, the answer was 4. Five days and four nights, with nothing more than a 20 minute power nap here and there, and she was completely exhausted. Even all the caffeine and energy drinks couldn't do a thing to keep her up and going today.

Bobby looked at her, dozing in the passenger seat beside him. She didn't have to keep going today. She'd solved the case.

He was tired, too, but Alex had taken first watch last night and he'd gotten a few hours of rest before it all went haywire. When they brought the suspects in this morning, she'd been the one with the best connection. She'd been the one to coax out the confessions.

It was like that sometimes. Even though Bobby could often profile a criminal and figure them out, without the right connection, you couldn't get them to confess. Alex was great about it, too. The two of them could tag-team against the perps and get what they needed out of them. Their record was solid proof of that.

He stopped at a red light and glanced at her again. Her head was bent uncomfortably, and bumping against the window. He touched her arm, and she leaned her head back against the headrest of the seat.

Finally, they arrived at her place. He parked the car and announced, "We're here, Alex."

She moaned some kind of reply, but it was incomprehensible. He got out and walked around to her side of the car. Bobby found the keys to her apartment and readied them in his hand. Then, gently, he tried to rouse her.

It wasn't going to happen. She'd crossed that line into deep sleep. Carefully, her gathered her into his arms and picked her up out of the car. He cradled her against him and leaned back on the door to shut it. Then he carried her to her apartment door.

Key in hand, he unlocked it. He crossed the threshold with her and bumped the door shut behind him. Then he carried her to bed.

She sighed as he set her down, but didn't wake. He slipped her shoes off and dropped them to the floor. Looking her over, he thought the clothes looked uncomfortable. He frowned. He didn't want to go too far and offend her. Bobby unfastened the buttons at her wrists and left everything else be.

Then he leaned over and kissed her tenderly on the lips. He thought maybe she stirred slightly…kissed him back…but she was soundly asleep as soon as it had happened. He tucked her in and left the room.

Bobby rubbed his hands through his hair and down over his face. He couldn't bring himself to leave her. He paced around, making sure the car and the apartment were locked tight. He found a throw pillow, took his shoes, jacket, and tie off, and crashed on the couch.