A/N: Thanks for the reviews. Finally a new chapter and chapter seven is going well. The end is near, I'm thinking seven will be the final chapter, not quite sure though. Not much happening here, we get inside their heads. And my shipper heart made me write a sweet moment. Reviews would be appreciated!

Part six

They spend the evening relatively quiet, watching TV. Despite the revelations from both sides, they didn't feel uncomfortable with each other. There seemed to be a newfound closeness. They were on the couch together, Bobby's arm slung over Alex's shoulder and Alex's head on his shoulder.

Bobby was extremely aware of Alex's small body pressed against his. Not that he mind. In fact, it reassured him that she was still by his side, that he hadn't lost her. Once again he was overwhelmed by the faith she had in him. He'd been pushing her away, trying to see how far he could get before she would walk out. Why? He couldn't quite answer that himself. Maybe he was afraid of his true feelings for her, maybe he was running from his own feelings. Maybe pushing her away had been his only way out. After all the one person who he had loved, was now in her own world where he could not reach her anymore. He never wanted to feel that loss again simply because he did not know if he would recover if Alex walked out of him.

Despite his anger, his stubbornness and his refusal to let her in she'd kept her faith. She had pushed back until he could see the consequences of his behaviour and she had hit the right spot. The one thing that mattered most in his life, her presence. He softly squeezed her shoulder, feeling her presence.

Alex was lost in her own thoughts. She'd never told anyone about the pain she felt from being a surrogate mother. She couldn't share it with anyone from her family because it would upset them. She stayed strong around them no matter how much it hurt her to see Michael in his mother's arms. Today she'd shared it with not just anyone, but her partner, her best friend. There wasn't much she could hide from him. He was an excellent profiler and he could read people like no one else. She'd often imagined what their suspects felt when all of Goren's attention was focused on them.

To have those deep brown eyes looking straight through you, seeing every little secret you'd tried so hard to hide. She'd never known how they felt, until tonight, until he'd focused on her. It had been so much different than expected. She'd expected him to be straightforward, getting straight to the subject matter, provoking her to tell the truth. She should have known he would never do that to her. He'd been gently and careful. He'd known just when to push and when to give her time. In the end it hadn't taken him much effort to get her to talk. Her answers had been in her eyes and he had seen it. He could read her like no other.

She sighed, remember his intense gaze on her. She could get lost in those deep brown pools. Most of the time he was on guard, letting people see what he wanted them to see. She was sure she saw more than the rest. But today, he hadn't hidden from her. His eyes had been open, honest and vulnerable. His eyes said so much. He could convey so much with them. The gentleness in them when she'd admitted her pain, moved her. The raw pain she'd seen when he talked about his mother, had pained her. There was nothing she could do to take that pain away. She could only comfort him and hope that was enough… for now.

Despite Bobby's bulky form and awkwardness, she knew how gentle he could be. She'd seen it many times on cases. To be in his arms, to be surrounded by his entire form, brought live to feelings she thought she had buried a long time ago. He had held her with such gentleness as if she was going to break. She'd felt safe and loved. After David had died she'd never expected to find someone who could make her feel like that again. Yet here she was, with her partner, her friend… the man she had fallen in love with.

It was the first time she had admitted to herself that she loved him. On the job she only showed him she care. She knew he needed to know that, needed to see that in her eyes. Sure she'd been attracted to him, who wouldn't? With his tall frame, his dark soulful eyes, those curls and that stubble he was an attractive man. She wasn't the only woman on MCS that found him attractive. Somewhere on the way, though, she had started to fall in love with him. She couldn't pinpoint the moment, it had happened gradually, but it had happened. That's when she decided to ignore her feelings. She didn't want to lose their partnership or risk their friendship.

She knew Bobby's type and his reputation. Since she wasn't tall or dark haired, she doubted she even made a chance. She knew how he was when he put the full charm on, knew how he flirted with women. For Bobby, she knew, it always was a fling, never serious because that would mean he had to show a part of himself and that left him feeling vulnerable. Something he hated.

He saw other men looking at her. He couldn't stand it when suspects leered at her, treating her like she meant nothing. Or colleagues who would ogle her. He didn't know if she knew what they did. He did however make sure they would not do it again. Alex was to be treated with respect, she deserved nothing less. Okay, so he had to admit that he looked at her too. He would hold her eyes just a little longer than usual, or watch her as she sat at her desk. If he would allow himself he could watch her the entire day. She was so gracious and charming. He loved her witty remarks and the way she made him smile.

Who would have thought they'd fit together so perfectly? He surely hadn't when he first met her. He'd found her attractive since the first day they met, but that didn't mean anything. She hadn't said a word when she'd first saw him work a crime scene. She'd simply let him do his job and she'd done hers. The first time she'd helped him work out a theory was when he decided that she was the one. The only one who could keep up with him. From that moment on, since he knew it was good, he'd started to share more with her, letting her take the lead with interrogations and letting her run her theories. What he and Alex had as partners was solid and good.

He cherished that he could touch her like this. When they were on the job, he sometimes had the urge to reach out to her, to take her hand in his and simply enjoy the feeling. But he never did because it was unprofessional, more importantly though, he didn't know how she would feel if he did just that. Would she let him hold her hand or pull it away? Love, real love, it had always been a somewhat foreign concept to him. Sure he dated women, women who he knew weren't looking for permanent. Some times it was just a one night stand, some times they dated a few weeks, but nothing ever got serious. He made sure of that.

He knew a relationship asked for a level of vulnerability and love that he wasn't sure he could give. He frankly didn't know if he had it in him to have a relationship with anyone. Letting people in was the hardest thing for him, because letting people in meant the risk of scaring them off. He kept people at bay, it was his own way of self preservation. He couldn't handle more people walking out of his life.

Alex's presence in his life made him doubt his beliefs. She'd given him hope that there could be more in his life. Slowly she'd found a place deep within his heart, a place no other woman had held before. Only with her did it feel safe to show his vulnerability for she would not run. Showing her he did love her was another step. He didn't quite know if it was one he should take. Rejection wasn't easy to deal with, certainly not by Alex. However she made it clear she cared for him and would stand by his side. Maybe he should take the chance, maybe it would be worth it.

Yawning, Alex looked at the clock on the wall to her right. It wasn't late, but she was tired and she knew Bobby was tired too. For the both of them it had been a emotional day. They'd shared a closeness together she'd never shared with anyone else before and she wanted to take it a step further. She could easily admit to herself that she didn't want the closeness to end. She'd thought carefully about her next move. She wanted to feel Bobby next to her, to wake up in the morning and have him beside, maybe even feel his arms around her. She wasn't ready to admit to him that she'd fallen in love with him. It seemed too much too soon. She knew she had to thread carefully. She didn't want to chase him away.

This step would take their friendship to the next level. Hopefully it would also show him how she felt. Maybe, with her taking the first step, he would be willing to take the next.

Sitting up, she grabbed his hand. "Come on, we're both tired. Let's go to bed." Without looking at him, she pulled him up with her, cleverly avoiding any awkwardness from her suggestion.

Bobby didn't quite know how to react and before he knew it, he was already on his feet, following Alex out the living room. His mind caught up with them as they walked up the stairs, their hands still clasped together. Standing in front of her bedroom, Bobby pulled slightly on Alex hand, causing her to face him.

The open and unguarded look she gave him, made him pause. He hesitated. "I… I don't know if this is…"

"Bobby." Alex silenced him by placing her finger on his lips. "Don't over think this. Feel." She said, placing her hand above his heart. "I just want to feel you next to me." Taking his hand again, she guided him into her bedroom.

Alex walked to her side of the bed and grabbed her night clothes. Turning around, she saw Bobby still hesitantly standing at the foot of the bed. She gave him a soft smile and turned around. As if it was the most natural thing to do, she changed into her clothes, a black tank top with black sweat pants.

Bobby had turned around when he saw Alex changing into her night clothes. He wasn't sure what this meant. She told him not to think too much. He felt like he had to know what this meant, what it meant to her.

"Are you sure?" He whispered as he heard her getting into bed.

"Yes."

Quickly he changed into the t-shirt and sweatpants he had in his bag. Looking at Alex he saw she was already getting comfortable. Slowly he slid in her bed next to her. He stiffened when he felt her snuggle up against his side.

"Relax, Bobby." Alex said, placing a soft kiss on his shirt clad chest before laying her head back on his chest.

His body seemed to make the decision for him. His arms automatically reached for the woman at his side. "Thank you." He whispered, tightening his arms around her. He placed a gentle kiss in her hair.

"Night, Bobby."

"Goodnight, Alex." He stayed awake until she fell asleep. He cherished holding her in his arms. She felt so right there. Eventually sleep over took him and for the first time in the last couple of days he fell into a peaceful sleep.

TBC...