Part 6

Realistically, Bobby knew he could probably take her out with one shot. But then again, a mad Alex Eames was not necessarily someone to mess with.

She was certainly angry at the moment. Bobby had offered her time to get changed into something more comfortable and she had growled something unrepeatable at him, before heading off to change into gym clothes.

Now not only was her anger distracting him, but also, her legs.

This is why they don't pair men and women up in the ring, he thought to himself.

In Alex's mind, she was being an idiot. He could take her in one shot. And really, it wasn't Bobby that deserved her anger. But she had to take her frustration out on someone, and he was there.

"When you're ready," Bobby murmured, after pulling on a pair of gloves.

She lashed out, and Bobby got the shock of his life when a sharp jab landed on his stomach. His eyes widened and he looked down at her.

"You said you wanted to fight. Let's fight."

He knew she wasn't herself, but Bobby figured he might as well let her use him as a punching bag. Sure would be kind of fun to play a game that was hot, sweaty and ended up with one of them on top of the other.

The corners of his mouth turned up in a small smile.

Alex saw the smile and stopped for an instant, a curious look on her face. "What is so funny?"

Bobby paused and straightened his face. "Nothing."

Alex held her gloved hands up. "Then let's go."

They circled each other a few times, with both sending out punches, but both being too quick for the other.

Bobby's punches were less than he would usually do…he was terrified of hurting her.

On the other hand, Alex was pissed. Very pissed. So she continued hitting out with whatever she had.

The problem was, knowing each other so well, they could read the eyes, and could therefore predict the movements they were sure were going to come.

So Alex compensated. As the jabs and circling continued, she kept darting her eyes around, not looking at him.

"Cheating, Alex," Bobby chuckled, his breathing heavy.

"That's something you should know about," Alex growled, sending another punch his way.

Bobby sidestepped it. "Wouldn't know what you're talking about." He tried to aim a right hook, but Alex was too quick for him.

"Nicole," Alex said. "Your desire to get yourself killed."

This stopped Bobby's movements, and he stood still. "Huh?"

He didn't get a moment to think however, as Alex took the opportunity and launched herself at him, pushing him back onto the mat. She straddled him and pinned him to the ground, taking the gloves off and pinning his hands above his head.

"I hate you, Robert Goren."

"Oookay," Bobby replied, his heart beating wildly. He wasn't sure whether it was because of their exertion…or because Alex was sitting on top of him.

"You let Nicole get to you. And you let her! And I can't count how many times you've almost gotten yourself killed! I mean god! Have you got a death wish or something? Cause I really wish you'd let me know!" She was panting, her small hands surprisingly strong around his wrists. "I've had a shitty day and you're a jerk!"

Bobby blinked. Alex Eames was on top of him. Sweaty. Panting. Not exactly saying the things he'd expected her to in this kind of fantasy, but he could work with it.

With a quick move, he flipped them over, until his hands held hers above her. He placed a knee on either side of her body, holding himself up and watching her as she struggled.

"First of all, I do not have a death wish. If I did, I wouldn't have come up here to spend time with a cranky and secretive detective."

"I'M secretive?" Alex cried out, still trying to get out from underneath him. "Let me just tell you…"

Bobby stuck a hand over her mouth. "I'm not finished yet. You've had your little rant for this evening…now it's my turn!" He glared at her. "And don't bite me. I'll bite back."

He pulled his hand away and Alex stuck her tongue out at him.

"Real mature, Alex," he replied. "Secondly, what happened with Nicole was important to crack the case."

"Oh, so it was important for you to let her get to you in order that we could shoot her and let her live?" Alex asked. "You need better aim."

"I'm not finished," Bobby said again. "I'm not dead yet. So really, I can't have been too close to getting killed."

Alex narrowed her eyes. "That makes absolutely no sense."

"Thank you."

"Will you get off me now?"

"No."

Alex frowned. "I'm this close to giving you a well placed knee right about now."

"What has gotten into you?"

"Let me go."

"Not until you tell me what is the matter!"

"I said it had been a shitty day. Isn't that enough?"

"Everyone has shitty days. Not everyone ends said day by going into a sparring match with their husband."

"You're special."

"Obviously." He sighed and readjusted his position.

"You know, it might be more comfortable for both of us if you would just get off me."

"Oh, I doubt it," Bobby teased.

Her eyes narrowed for a moment. Finally, with a big shove, Bobby landed on the mat with an "oof!" and Alex got up.

"I'm going to take a shower," she stated, disappearing out of the gym.

Bobby lay on his back, and groaned. "Thanks for that image."


Alex emerged from the shower, a lot less sweaty but no less pissed. She hated that she was letting this kid get to her.

But she was…had been, a cop. And suddenly, without her badge and her gun, she felt helpless.

And Bobby.

It was getting more complicated by the second.

Feeling him pressed against her in that gym had been…well…she smirked to herself. Very, very comfortable.

But they were partners, and there was so much Bobby hadn't told her. Then again, then was so much that she hadn't told him.

Sometimes Alex wished it would be just as easy to push him onto the bed and have at him.

She knew it would be fun…but somehow, that annoying little voice of sense always trumped her.

A timid knock came at the bathroom door.

"Alex? You okay?"

Alex opened the door. "I'm fine."

Bobby smiled at her. "I thought I'd make dinner. You did win the fight after all."

"Are you a good cook?" Alex asked, sauntering past him.

Bobby's eyes widened. He'd half expected her to beg off, saying that it wasn't a fair fight, or that he didn't have to. He certainly hadn't expected this side of Alex…even though it was most alluring.

"I…uh, I hold my own."

"Good. You get cooking then. I'm going to get a drink."

Bobby tilted his head to one side, trying to gauge what was going through her sharp mind. It scared him sometimes, the way her mind worked.

"What would you like for dinner?" he finally asked.

Alex turned around and smirked at him. "Careful, my answer mightn't be what you expect."

He swallowed the lump in his throat, his mind running through all the different ways someone could take her comment. "I'll see what we have in the fridge."


Alex leaned back in her chair. "I could get used to this."

Bobby tried to smother a laugh. "You could not."

A death stare was sent his way. "How would you know?"

"Alex, you're a cop. You can't help being a cop. You hate not being a cop. You could never get used to this."

"I meant being cooked for."

Bobby bit his tongue. "Of course."

"Besides, you could never get used to not being a cop either."

"I never said that I could."

"Neither did I."

Bobby put his glass down. "Look, can we call a truce?"

Alex arched an eyebrow. "A truce to what?"

"To this war that began when you arrived home today."

"It's not a war. It's simply…"

"Yes?"

Alex glared at him. "Give me a moment."

Bobby sighed and reached over, putting his large hand over her small one. "Look, I'm sorry that you were confronted with this situation on your first day at your new job…and I wish that we could just go out there and arrest the son of a bitch. But unless we want to both end up dead, we have to play by different rules, Alex."

Alex glanced at his hand, resting atop hers, and then looked up at him. "I know. And I'm sorry. I just…the game sucks."

Bobby grinned, pulling his hand back. "It's not all bad. There could be worse people to be married to."

Alex chuckled. "That's certainly true." She placed her hand in her lap, missing the warmth of Bobby's.

"Besides…just because we can't go to the cops, doesn't mean we can't bug the Feds until they do."

Alex's eyes jerked up to meet his. "Really?"

"It could be fun."

Alex smiled at him. "Yeah, it could." She got up. "I'll clean up. It's only fair, since I'm obviously much stronger than you."

Bobby arched an eyebrow as he stood up. "How do you figure that?"

"I won the fight."

"Not exactly fair and square."

"And where do you get that idea from?"

"Well you're…"

Alex stared back at him, leaning against the kitchen sink and folding her arms. "I'm what?"

"You're you. A woman. Unfair advantage."

Alex rolled her eyes. "Bobby, just go and sit down."

He grinned at her. "Yes, ma'am."