I wish this was I book I was reading. With an ending; that's written in black and white. But now, it's up to me.

On the one hand, I could just let her go. Let her slither back out into the darkness. Waiting for her to come back into my life. Or I could, arrest her...breaking and entering. Still a crime. She'd be behind bars for the evening at least. And at least then, I would know where she is.

Always the hard choices.

Which one. This choice. Would be easier if I didn't feel her lips against my neck. I'm half expecting her to bite me and try to drain the life out of me. Little does she know, she's already done that for the most part.

"Don't."

"What Bobby? Stop?"

I'm. I'm speechless. "Well. Not what I was going to say."

"Then...tell me what you'd like me to do."

"Nothing. Nothing at all."

And that part of my brain that's all male has now taken over. I don't want to. But...I feel myself press my lips against hers. Remember when I said she was the sweetest poison. I was right.

It's like I've been waiting for this moment ever since I met her. Even now, as I push her back and run my fingers over every curve...I want to stop. But. I just. I can't. I just can't stop myself from kissing her.

Perhaps this is what she wanted all along, for me to realize that this thing between us, it's love. As twisted and sick as that sounds, Nicole and I. Forever bound by this emotion. Stuck in this tango of love and hate; desire and despair. No hope of either of us ending the dance. I believe that one of us would have to die for that to actually happened.

As I take a moment to come up for air, I can finally pull myself away. And I'm still plagued. What to do with her?

"Something wrong love?"

"Everything. Everything is wrong. You...Me. Never...We can't."

"Sure we can. Do you need a map...or I'm sure I could instruct you in the proper..."

"Nicole. Stop it!...Just find your clothes." Never thought I'd say that to her...

She looks...well, pissed off and yet, calm all at the same time. There's that sly grin that usually makes me very nervous, "As you wish love."

I watch her saunter to my bathroom. She offers that assured look before she shuts the door.

I'd better think of something and soon...wait, my own words come back to me.

"Nicole wouldn't dangle herself in front of me unless she felt completely safe."

That's it. She came her...Full well knowing that I would catch her. And so sure that I would just let her go. So she can win. Well, we'll just see about that. But. Now the fun is...not letting on.

"Better?"

"Yes. Thank you. Uh. Let me see you out."

She looks relieved, "You're just going to let me go? No questions...no wondering."

"Nope."

"Bobby...come now. I know you better than that."

Lay on the charm thick. Or else, "Well, just one more kiss..."

I wrap my arms around her and kiss her just as passionately as I did the first time. Just long enough to throw her off balance. Thank God she pulled away.

"Anything else?" That smile, really starting to piss me off.

"A question. Have you ever read a short story called The Lady or The Tiger?"

"The one with no ending. Where you decide."

"Yes...well, which did you pick?"

"To be honest, I always thought it would be his lady. I'm sure you think the same thing."

She was so close to me, she didn't even notice me reach in my pocket for my handcuffs. I smile and push her back towards a chair. She sits in some subconscious response to my body language. I lean in and whisper in her ear...

"Sometimes. I surprise even you."

She tries to stand back up. "You bastard. Un-cuff me."

"I don't think so."

"What now, Detective?"

"Oh, now I'm back to Detective. I'm hurt. Nicole."

"You said you were going to let me go!"

"I lied. Deal with it."

I call for the local precinct to come and pick her up for the b and e. I wonder if they heard all of it with her screaming like an idiot in the background. All of a sudden, I have this flash of having to explain this to Eames in the morning. I'll never live it down...

"But didn't it mean anything? You told me you loved me...I know you weren't lying about that."

"You're right. I do have these feelings for you Nicole. But your not exactly..."

"Your type?"

"No. That's the trouble. You are my type. And if you weren't a complete psychopath, I would continue on with you. But, it's just not in the cards."

"Bobby, I know you. I know you felt the fire between us when we kissed. Don't deny it."

"Yes. I did. And now I'll have to slaughter a pig and possibly sacrifice a virgin to get it out of my mind."

"Wow. That's a bit extreme."

"Extreme? You want to preach to me about extreme? You stalked me; broke into my apartment; used my shower; and wore one of my shirts. Just to try and gain some advantage over me. I must admit. You get points for creativity."

"Thank you. Always thought of myself as an original."

"Well. You don't have to be orignial to kill seventeen people. And stalk a detetive. List keeps getting longer and longer Nicole..."

"This is ludicrous. You know I'll be back out on the streets in an hour."

"No. You won't. See, you don't have all that money to get you an intelligent lawyer. As a matter of fact, I'm almost certain that we can find you the dumbest one on the city payroll. And you'll sit in jail until morning. And believe me, these charges. Will stick."

"We'll see. Are these handcuffs really nessecary?"

"For my protection."

"Afraid of me are you? Afraid that one more touch will make you change your mind?"

"Me. Afraid of you. If you weren't serious, I'd laugh. Nicole. You just sound desperate. Come on. You allowed yourself to get caught; convinced that you could charm me into letting you go, and you were wrong. I'll admit...you don't make mistakes often."

Ahh, a knock. I open the door and show the officers to the prisoner. They make sure and give me back my cuffs. She looks hurt.

"Aren't you going to take me in Detective?"

"No. I'll get my statement to them. We have officially twenty four hours to arraign you. With that being said, good night Nicole. Sweet dreams."

"This wasn't a mistake Bobby."

I watch them escort her out and close the door behind them. I can finally breathe a sigh of relief. But this place. She'll haunt it. I'm positive whenever she can walk away from this, so won't come back. She already knows she owns this place.

But I can always try and sleep. I walk back to my empty bedroom. After I change I realize that my blue shirt is still on the bathroom floor...I entertain the thought of burning it.

If I didn't like that one, it wouldn't be a problem. But I will just have to endure it. It looks good on me. And fantastic on her...have to stop doing that.

I crawl in between the sheets and close my eyes...I can still feel her hands against my face. Feel her lips pressed on mine. Then, my mind drifts to thoughts of her...taking a shower...

OKAY! I give up...I have to get out of here...where is that damn phone...

"Eames...yeah, it's me...Look, this is going to sound strange but. Can I come over...I'll explain when I get there...Okay, thanks."

Get dressed. And prepare for the eventual speech. Oh well, at least I'll be able to sleep.