"I'm not running," she denied.

"You are," he said, and swung around to sit beside her. "You've been running from me ever since that night we spent together. Why?"

"I haven't . . .it's . . . no, I'm not doing this. You need to leave now."

"Alex, if you don't want to be with me then all you have to do is say so; stop creating problems and making up excuses and just be honest with me. Go be with 'wonder boy' and be happy."

She laughed, a bitter sound even to her own ears. "He does have a name, you know."

"I really don't give a . . . I don't care what his name is. But I want you to know one thing before you decide. I want you to know that I'm in love with you."

Her heart started thudding painfully. "No, no, I can't do this again."

"Do what?"

"This!" she exploded. "I lost a man I loved more than anything to the job. It almost killed me, but I got through it. And then you come along and make me feel again . . . but I'm not so naïve this time . . . I'm older and wiser and I know exactly how high the stakes are. So please don't sit here and try to convince me that love conquers all, because I know damn well it doesn't conquer bullets!"

"You're running away because you love me?"

"I'm running away because . . . because when you got shot and almost died, it felt exactly like it did before. I can't go through that again."

"If you moved to Boston and something happened to me . . .would the distance make your pain any less than if you were here?"

She looked at him in confusion. "That's not the point."

"That's exactly the point," he disagreed. "I tell you that I love you, and while you imply that you have feelings for me, you tell me that we can't be together because you're scared of losing me. Alex, loss is loss, no matter where you live."

"Stop it."

"I can't . . .you. . . you've crept under my skin and suddenly I can't imagine my life without you in it."

"And I can't stay here and watch you die," she replied softly.

Bobby took one of her hands in his and was buoyed when she didn't pull it back. "Who said anything about dying? Alex, please . . . give us a chance."

"I . . . I can't," she shook her head, but he could tell she was weakening.

"Then at least tell me that you love me," he said with eyes that she couldn't refuse.

"Of course I love you . . ." She reached out and allowed herself to touch his face. "Do you think I would be doing this if I didn't?"

He stood and pulled her to her feet. "You're cheating us both if you don't even try."

She looked into his eyes mutely, torn between what she knew she should do, and what she knew could destroy her. Her heart wanted him, her blood called to him, her body ached for him, and even her head had betrayed her and had stopped thinking about losing him. Instead, it focussed on simply being with him.

Alex blinked as a frightening realisation dawned.

She couldn't run from this man anymore, because he would only follow her.

"Alex," Bobby whispered, as he saw her decision in her eyes. And then suddenly his arms were around her, and the lips that she had been trying to forget were moving gently over her own. She felt herself respond before she could even think about what she had just signed up for, and allowed herself to languish in his kiss.

He knew her decision, but he had to hear the words. "You're not leaving me?"

Alex smiled at him and left his question unanswered for the moment. Wrapping her arms around his neck, she pulled his head down until he was left with no doubt whatsoever what her intentions were. She moistened her lips and gently drew him to her, and kissed him again.

"No, I'm not leaving you."

He grinned in sudden exultation. "Wonder boy?" It didn't really matter; she was his now and that's what counted, but he had to know regardless.

"He was a distraction," she said softly. "I tried to . . . he was supposed to make me forget about you."

"But he didn't?"



"He couldn't," she said simply. "Bobby, we had dinner once. That's all. And he was so impressed with himself that he didn't even notice when I hardly said a word all night."

"Lawyers are like that," he couldn't resist saying.

"Yeah. Fortunately he found a nice legal secretary who is even more impressed with him than he is."

"So there's no lingering interest there?"

"There never was."

"Then," he squeezed her hips purposefully. "I believe we have something else to discuss. There's the matter of that small favour you still owe me . . ."

She laughed as the last of her tears dried. "I think you need to refresh my memory," she murmured, and pulled him down to the bed.

"Can do," he replied, and kissed away the last of her fears.

End.

A/N: Phew! Finally done. I want to thank everyone who stayed with this fic 'til the bitter end. I also want to thank all those who reviewed – all comments and feedback were taken on board, and I appreciate them greatly.

Thanks also have to go to Riverstar for her wonderful beta'ing skills. The same thanks have to go to Traci as well, for the same reasons. I love you guys!

Finally, I know that the title of the fic is no longer relevant, but the plot bunnies took a hold of the story and ran! I did have this whole scenario planned out to tie everything in, but ... *shrugs*... you know those bunnies. ;)

Thanks to everyone again.

Tracy, aka Cyclone