Disclaimer: I don't own Law and Order Criminal Intent or any of the characters.
Author's notes: This is the fic that started my string of one-shots. Good times eh? I've had this idea swimming around in my head for a while, and have just now decided to get it out on paper.
Five years ago today I was a bachelor, a detective, and a guy who didn't have to think of anyone except his mother and himself. I had gone through multiple partners at work, no one wanted to work with me so of course, I closed in on myself. I would only think about my needs and about helping myself, not any of my colleagues.
But then she came, the one who didn't leave. I was amazed that first day when she approached me, held out her hand and said, "Hi, I'm detective Alexandra Eames, but you can call me Alex, never Alexandra or else I'll be forced to kick you." after that threat she had smiled pleasantly as we shook hands. I was startled to say the least.
Though, a month or so into our partnership, she started to drift. It was my fault, always was, because I had allowed myself to fall back into old habits of solitude. I'd look over a crime scene and silently catalogue everything, not bothering to clue my partner in on what I was thinking. But Alex was always ready, notebook and pen out, waiting for the day I would include her in my routine.
Then we'd me in the morgue, or the interrogation room, and she'd give me a look of disbelief or even disgust when I did something out of the ordinary, something unorthodox. I'd just ignore the looks, I was used to them by now. It was when she started heading to Deakins' office at least once a day that I began to get worried. I had watched her hand Deakins a letter one day and panicked, hoping it wasn't what it appeared to be.
It was about that time when I realized she really was different than all my other partners. I didn't know why, but I didn't want to lose her. I wanted detective Alex Eames as my partner, not some other shluck who would judge me and not even give me a chance.
Alex had come back to her desk, and that was when I knew I needed to start changing things. I was able to catch her gaze. It was only for a moment, but the exchange was enough to send shivers down both our spines. I had been the first to look away, cheeks burning a light red color. I felt like she had just caught a glance of my true self, of my very soul.
The days after that I worked hard to keep her busy. I let her in on my thoughts and helped her understand my thought process, which she seemed to catch on to rather quickly. I listened to what she thought about the crime, and even took advice on interrogation techniques to use in certain situations. Her and I hit it off, and began doing everything together. We'd have lunch, and then work late into the night. I worked hard to get closer to her, and when I did, I figured it was worth it.
Our solve rate went up and within a year her and I were inseparable. There were new rumors, not just about me or her, but about us, both of us.
These days I've begun to notice I rarely talk about myself anymore. When talking with Deakins, or Carver, or even the guy at the delly, I never use the word 'me' but instead 'we'. That's how close the two of us have become. Close enough to never think about ourselves as individuals, but as a whole. What makes me smile, is the fact that is more than most married couples can claim.
As Eames once put it, "Always 'we' never 'me'."