"You haven't seen me taking the Pill because I'm not on it…"

Oh, SHIT…

"…because I use the contraceptive injection."

And suddenly, I can breathe again. Sienna was smiling, both her small hands stroking his large hand, entwining her fingers through his. He dropped his free hand across hers, holding both her hands cupped between his, warming them gently.

"I use it because you don't have to worry about forgetting it in the morning. I know a couple of girls who got caught out with different time zones; there's always the risk you'll forget to take the pill at the right time. With this, all I need to do is get to the doctor every few months. I don't have periods because the jab stops them; you don't get any at all. When you travel as much as I do, that's a big bonus, believe me."

"That doesn't bother you?"

"Nah. I know women who've had babies after coming off it… I'm really sorry I didn't tell you this before, Bobby. I know I should have done, but I just didn't think…"

"Why didn't you tell me the first time?" He thought back to the army warehouse, Sienna pulling herself free of his embrace for just a few seconds, her legs still wrapped round his waist, to tell him she used birth control – and reassure him that this was what she wanted. He'd thought at the time that he really appreciated her understanding that he needed to hear that from her, that he didn't need to worry that afterwards she'd accuse him of taking advantage. Then he'd kissed her again, and she'd started undoing his jacket, and after that all forms of rational thought had flown out of the window…

"Most men haven't heard of it, but you've all heard of the Pill. Having to stop for a minute and explain what the injection is can really kill the mood, believe me." She grinned. "Should have known you'd know what it is. Guess I just didn't know you that well back then."

"So, you have no periods at all? You're not pregnant?"

"No. I had my last injection a month ago." She smiled ruefully. "I really am sorry about the misunderstanding, I should have realised you'd notice something wasn't quite right."

"It's okay. So, you won't be moving in with Juliet."

"No."

"Would you like to move in with me?" He nearly added It can just be temporary while you look for somewhere to live, if you like, but stopped himself in case it sounded like a hint. Let her decide what she wants to do, he thought.

Sienna's eyes lit up. "I'd love to, Bobby. I really would. I start my new job next month – I'll take leave, start bringing some of my things over, it's going to take quite a while to pack everything up and move from the Ukraine, but I don't own my flat there, I'll get Elena to find someone to take over the lease, it shouldn't take too long. Oh… wow!"

She was smiling, a full-on smile that made him want to reach across the table and kiss her, in fact he'd like to sweep her straight up into his arms and kiss her properly, and hug her, and curse the wretched table that was keeping them apart… He suddenly realised that his smile matched hers, and then closed his eyes for just a second. In the past few minutes, he'd gone from worry, to panic, to being in love, to more worry, then overwhelming relief and now everything looked like being all right.

Sienna was still speaking. "How much do you want in rent?"

He started to say I don't need your money, but recognised in time that she was wearing her this-is-not-negotiable expression. Fair enough, he supposed. Doesn't want to be a kept woman.

"We'll… work something out. I don't need much."

"I appreciate that, but it's important to me." She shrugged. "Tell you what, work out how much you think is fair and we'll put it into in a savings account, if you like."

He nodded, and then inspiration struck. "Do you want to go on vacation together? Some time around Christmas, maybe? We could use the money for that."

"Yes, that's a great idea. Any parts of the world you haven't seen? I quite fancy somewhere warm and sunny…"

She was interrupted by the waitress bustling over to ask if everything was all right with their meal. They both nodded, and he asked, "Could we have some wine please? Cabernet Sauvignon if you've got any." She nodded cheerfully and was back with a bottle and two glasses in what seemed like only a few seconds.

He filled their glasses, raised his, and was about to propose a small toast, when suddenly his cell phone went off. Sienna chuckled as he frantically searched for it, finding it in his pants pocket. The beeping turned out to be a message from a number he didn't recognise: Bobby, you have the spare key to my apartment – could you go there & pick up papers for Nantwich fraud case for tomorrow morning? Thanks! Eames. PS my cell battery's gone flat, borrowed a friend's. He frowned at it for a minute, then an idea slowly began to form.

"What is it?"

He passed the phone to her to show her the message. Sienna fiddled with it until she saw the number. She retrieved her own cell phone, checked something on it, then began laughing. She handed his phone back to him, still grinning.

"You recognise the number?" he asked, though he had already guessed the answer.

"Oh, yes. Remember Stephen Vallis from when we had that meeting a few weeks ago, before you started the undercover work?"

"The consultant?" He did remember the man, an urbane expatriate Englishman in a sleek grey suit, who had been introduced to the assorted law-enforcement personnel as an expert on Russian and US business law, and in particular on what anyone working in on cases relating to Russian organised crime needed to be aware of. Sienna's new department had organised the meeting, having retained Vallis on a consultant's contract to provide advice as and when required. Well, it looks as though the four of us have been doing our bit for friendly inter-agency relations…

Bobby had been struck by three things about Vallis; one, that he was capable of presenting a lot of information in a short space of time without boring his audience to sleep, two, that anyone wearing a suit that well-cut was obviously doing very well for himself indeed, and three, that he was the sort of man whom women would undoubtedly remember; pleasant face, short brown hair, and very unusual blue-green eyes behind designer steel-rimmed spectacles. Hmm. Had that been the odd connection between himself and Eames at work again? They often had moments where they were aware of each other's thoughts without speaking… had that been his subconscious picking up on her reaction?

"That's the one. I must say I'm impressed." Sienna raised her eyebrows. "I know at least three women who've been chasing him without success. I wonder how long that's been going on for?"

"Probably since just after that meeting," he replied, finally making the connection between Eames' recent distraction at work and her new 'friend', who presumably was rather more than a friend if she was staying over with him. He sent her a quick reply to say he'd get the papers for her, then remembered the other puzzle he'd been meaning to solve. "By the way, how did you get that tip-off about the con artists?"

Sienna smiled enigmatically. "I have my little ways." To his frown, she replied, "Oh come on, Bobby, I don't expect you to tell me the details of your informants. Allow me a little mystery." She yawned and stretched. "We'd better be getting back to your apartment soon, if you're going to be up in time to get those papers for Alex."

Interesting quick change of subject there… Well, as she'd said, he couldn't tell her everything about his job, and he realised he'd have to accept that the same would sometimes apply to her. Besides, getting back to the apartment sounded like an excellent idea, although sleep did not feature in his plans for the rest of the evening, and he was sure he could persuade Sienna that it shouldn't feature in hers, either. He smiled and raised his wineglass. "Okay. Well, to Eames and Vallis, then… and to us."

Sienna raised her own glass. They drank, and continued eating. He noticed now that the risotto was tasting a lot better. Much like the restaurant itself, if you took it for what it was, rather than for what it was trying to be, it was just great. He could identify chicken and little bits of bacon, and tomato, and pepper, and hmm, something soft was rubbing along the inside of his leg… he glanced up, to see Sienna smiling, with just a hint of wickedness in her eyes. He gave her his most seductive smile in reply, and was gratified to see her little intake of breath. This was going to be a very, very good night.

As they left the restaurant a little while later (being sure to leave a generous tip for the waitress), he suddenly realised that although Sienna had said she loved him, he hadn't said it in reply. Nevertheless, he thought, she didn't seem to be harbouring any doubts about his feelings for her. Then suddenly her lips were on his, and it went flying out of his mind…

…until, much later that night, looking up into Sienna's beautiful eyes, he realised why she didn't mind that he hadn't yet said it out, because if his eyes looked anything like hers, she already knew. But still, he thought, it was important to say these things, and so, in the end, it was really just a matter of saying aloud what his eyes had been saying all night and probably for a long time before that, "I love you, Sienna."

FIN