Name of God...
Eames was seeing her pieces disappear before her eyes.
And there was nothing she could do about it.
She had never been beaten by anyone at checkers...
She should have known that even in this game Goren would beat her.
It really wasn't fair.
Was there anything he wasn't good at...
In addition...
If Eames had known that it was a losing game...
She would have refused to play.
Because at this rate...
Goren would be all over her...
And she...
Nothing about him.
If she had agreed to play, it was to discover things about Goren.
And not the other way around.
And above all...
What was with the questions about Sheriff Hops.
Every time she told the truth...
Goren asked her about Hops.
Trying to find out if she liked him...
And why.
Eames didn't understand Goren's insistence on Hops.
What was he trying to find out...
- Action... or truth.
At his words, Eames snapped out of his thoughts, to see Goren stealing his second to last pawn.
He placed it on his left outside the board, right next to all the other pieces he had already stolen.
Goren rested his elbows on the coffee table, put his face on his hands, looked up at Eames and stared at her, looking innocent.
- So you've made up your mind...
No but oh...
There was no rush.
Why was Goren in such a hurry...
And above all, it was you who looked so innocent...
As if he didn't know he was going to win on his next turn.
But even though he had only one pawn left.
Eames would fight to the end.
And that didn't mean she couldn't catch up.
And see...
Win.

But Eames who tried to convince herself...
Knew that she had no chance to win.
And that on Goren's next turn...
He would take her last piece.
Name of God...
Eames hated it when he was the know-it-all.
The one who always won.
And who was modest.
Which, at that very moment...
He was.
Eames bit her lip, restraining herself from sending the checkers board to the floor with all of Goren's remaining pieces, and hers alone, and telling him where he could stick the game.
But she held back from saying what she thought.
And tried to take it easy.
Not revealing that she was a pretty bad loser
- Truth.
At this bitter word, a big smile appeared on Goren's lips.
So Eames didn't like losing at checkers to him.
It was a pity.
Because he was already enjoying the idea of winning.
And especially if she said action.
He already knew what to ask her.
Goren was as excited as a flea.
As if he was a little boy again.
And that he was going to get the treat he coveted so much.
But he had to keep control.
And above all, not let anything show.
Because if he did, Eames would understand that if he had proposed this game...
It was not really to play.
But to get something from her.
- If I were not your partner... He crossed his brown eyes in her hazel eyes. Could you be attracted to me.
Pardon.
Attracted to him.
Eames almost choked.
She had expected all kinds of questions.
But not this kind.
No...
She must have heard wrong.
It was simply impossible.

Goren would never have asked her such a thing.

But from his brown eyes that stared at her intensely, shining with a strange flame that she had never seen, Eames understood that he had indeed asked her that question.
Name of God...
But what was taking him to ask her that.
First of all...
He was asking her about Hops.
And now this was it.
In addition...
She had never thought of Goren in those terms.
Yes...
Goren had a mysterious charm.
But to be attracted to him.
That was another matter entirely.
It was better if she dodged the question.
Because what could she tell him...
And knowing him...
He was going to insist until he got his answer.
So it was better to choose action.
Because Eames was sure that Goren would not dare to ask her anything and everything.
At least...
She hoped that he would keep it simple in the action he would ask her.
- I change my mind... Action.
Pardon...
Eames preferred not to answer him and have a token.
Oh... Oh...
But it was perfect for him.
For what he had planned to ask her.
But on the other hand...
He was a little disappointed that he didn't know if Eames could be attracted to him.
He would have liked so much to know.
Maybe on the next round...
He could ask the same question...
But in a different way.
So very well...
He already had a little idea about the token he was going to give to Eames.
- A kiss...
What.
Eames had trouble hearing.
Goren wanted...
A kiss…

No...
It was impossible.
He wouldn't dare ask her such a thing.
- You heard me right... A kiss. That's your token.
My God...
But then...
At the thought...
Eames blushed violently.
My God...
But she couldn't do that.
To her...
Goren was like an older brother.
She could never do such a thing.
A small mischievous smile appeared on Goren's lips, seeing Eames' confusion.
The little lady's cheeks were flushed at the very thought.
And God knows she was adorable with her colorful cheeks.
If he listened to himself, he would throw the checkers set on the floor, push that coffee table between them, and pull her to him for a kiss.
But he would never dare to do such a thing.
Strangely...
Eames intimidated him.
She was the only woman who made him this effect.
Despite her small size...
He didn't dare to try anything with Eames.
One, because he respected her too much.
And two...
Because he was afraid she would reject him.
And that...
He couldn't handle that.
So maybe this pledge would help.
Proud of this resolution...
Goren brought his finger to his lips, and slid it to his cheek, as an Eames looked on, not leaving the path of his finger, and her face turning red.
- Here... The kiss.
Eames opened his mouth to close it again, stunned, by this request.
Goren wanted her to give him a kiss on the cheek.
He couldn't be serious.
She would never do such a thing.
From a...
It was too embarrassing.

And of two...
She didn't want to break up their friendship.
So it just wasn't possible.
She wouldn't do it.
My God...
How funny it was to see her blush at the mere idea of a kiss.
To think that he wasn't so indifferent to her after all.
And the more she blushed...
The more he took pleasure in torturing her.
Savoring her excitement.
In addition...
Who knows.
Given the reaction of Eames.
Maybe there was some hope for him.
And that Eames would forget about that damned Sheriff Hops.
- It's just a simple kiss on the cheek.
A simple kiss...
Eames had never kissed Goren on the cheek in the five years we'd been partners.
And she wasn't planning to.
In fact...
She'd never even thought about it.
And if she had done such a thing.
The whole station would have gossiped about them.
Imagining that there was more than a partnership between them.
And that...
She wouldn't have stood for that.
In addition...
A kiss on the cheek was something very intimate for her.
It showed that the two people were intimate.
And she and Goren were not at that stage.
They got along like brother and sister.
But there was no more.
And there would never be more.
But on the other hand...
It was a way that friends had of saying hello or goodbye to each other.
So where would the harm be.
If it was just a simple kiss.
But for Eames...
It wasn't just a simple kiss.
She was sure it would break something between them.

And that...
She didn't want that.
- Alex... Stop thinking.
Stop thinking...
But he wasn't serious.
How could she think of anything else.
After what he was asking her.
- We're friends... So what's the harm.
Friends...
Good God...
Goren was right.
Why was she already imagining the worst.
- Alright...
So since it was like that...
She was going to give him that damn kiss on the cheek.
- I'll do your stupid kiss.
Her stupid kiss...
Oh no.
It wasn't just a stupid kiss to him.
And he was looking forward to it.
For five years...
Goren had been saving everything he felt for Eames.
So if for once, he could enjoy it.
He didn't hesitate.
Eames leaned on the armrests of his seat, stood up, and leaned his face towards Goren's, brought his lips close to his cheek, brushed it.
At this kiss, Goren blushed violently, his heart beating wildly in his chest.
- Happy.
Happy...
Goren, still under the emotion of this kiss on the cheek, remained silent.
He had no words to express what he had felt when her lips had touched his cheek.
At this memory, his heart raced even faster.
My God...
Eames had such soft lips.
What would it have been like if she had put them on his mouth.
Eames didn't waste a second, and let himself fall back in his seat, crossed his arms, biting his lip, sulking.
Strange...
Eames looked at Goren.

Goren was silent.
He stood there, not saying a word, as if absorbed in his thoughts.
But the detail that attracted him was his red cheeks.
But Goren was blushing.
How could a simple kiss on the cheek put him in this state.
Could it be possible...
But no...
It was impossible.
Goren couldn't...
And would never have a view of her.
And yet...
Her reaction spoke volumes.
- Bobby...
At her name, Goren snapped out of his thoughts, meeting two large hazel eyes, looking at him, questioning him.
He turned totally scarlet.
Good God...
He absolutely had to pull himself together.
Or Eames would figure it out.
Besides...
Now that Goren had gotten a kiss on Eames' cheek.
And that he knew her lips were soft too.
He just wanted to...
To have another kiss.
But in a different place.
And much more intimate.
- You're playing... Or you're still daydreaming...
At the annoyance in Eames' voice, Goren smiled.
She shouldn't be in such a hurry to lose.
Especially since he knew what to ask her next time.
And that he wasn't sure she would agree with his idea.
Given all the circus that she had done for a simple kiss on the cheek.
So where was he going to ask her next time...
And most importantly...
If Eames knew what he was about to ask her...
She would rather take her time...
Rather than him hurrying.
Or maybe...
She would rather cancel the game, and forfeit.
But Goren didn't want that.
He wanted Eames to lose.
And that he would give her another token.
Especially...
If she dodged his question of course.