It had been a long evening. Goren sat alone at the table, jacket off, tie untied, the top two buttons of his shirt open. The dinner dishes had long been cleared and he leaned his arms on the table, playing with the swizzle sticks. A half empty glass sat in front of him.

He didn't notice Eames approach the table until she grabbed his arm. "Bobby, come on."

He looked up at her, confused. "What?"

"Don't think about it, dammit. Come on."

She yanked his arm, and he got up, letting her drag him across the room. A small group had gathered around two men who were facing off. One of them was Logan. Between the two men was Barek, the only thing preventing punches from flying. Eames shoved her partner toward them. Barek looked relieved when she saw the big detective break through the crowd, backing off to let him take her place. "What the hell is going on here?"

Eames watched her partner. He was slightly unsteady on his feet, but he still carried the proper air of menace she knew he had inside. He would defuse this situation.

Goren looked from one cop to the other. Logan, face red with fury and alcohol, stood there with his fists balled. The other cop, shorter and stockier, light hair cropped into a crew cut, was also angry and drunk. "Back off, Goren," Logan growled. "This is between me and Henderson."

Goren didn't move. "Shut up, Logan," he replied.He looked at the other cop. He didn't know him but he got the feeling Logan did. Hearing the big cop's name, Henderson took his eyes from Logan. He looked at Goren. "I've heard of you."

So had most of the department, he was sure…the big, unstable cop from Major Case who had a knack for reading crime scenes and interrogating suspects using decidedly unorthodox methods. "Yeah, well, I work with him," Logan said. "And he has no business getting between us here."

Goren looked at his fellow detective. "You know what, Logan? If you don't back down, you're going to lose that distinction and find yourself back where you don't want to be…if there's anything left of you after your partner and Deakins get done with you."

Logan's eyes narrowed. "Don't you even want to know what this is about?"

Goren shook his head. "No. I don't care." He lowered his voice. "This is not the place," he rumbled, looking from one to the other. "You want to beat each other up,that's fine. But you are not going to do it here."

The two combatants looked at each other, then at Goren. Logan looked around them at the small crowd of mostly men that had gathered. He was sober enough to listen to Goren. He pointed a finger at Henderson. "This isn't over."

He pushed his way through the crowd and walked off, Barek following him. Henderson looked up at Goren, but he didn't say anything. He pushed his way through the crowd in the opposite direction from Logan. Eames stepped to her partner's side. "Thanks."

The crowd was dispersing. He looked at her and smiled. They headed back to the table, where Logan and Barek were sitting silently. Goren lowered himself into his seat and returned his attention to the swizzle sticks. Eames sat and looked at Logan. But she didn't say a word. Beside him, Barek was seething. Eames could see the anger in her eyes and decided she did not want to exchange places with Logan for anything in the world. Finally, Logan leaned forward. "Look, for the record, he needed to have his ass kicked."

Goren raised his eyes to look at him. "Maybe so. But not here."

"Yeah, well, sorry about that. And thanks."

The big detective nodded and returned his eyes to his game. Eames looked at Logan and asked, "What was so bad that you wanted to start a fight in the middle of a gathering that includes the police commissioner, the chief of police and the chief of detectives, and their wives?" She emphasized the last three words.

Logan looked down at his hands. "He was mouthing off, and he said some things he shouldn't have said. I hated Staten Island, and I'm grateful Deakins got me out of there. I like Major Case." Goren raised his eyes again but said nothing. "Henderson was spouting off about the squad and I didn't like the things he said, particularly about my partner…and about you two. So I told him to take it back and he wouldn't. Barek came along and jumped between us, then Eames brought you over." He looked at Goren.

Goren said, "People have been talking about me all my life. I've learned not to care."

"Yeah, but you do care about what they say about her. That's who I was defending."

Goren nodded and dropped his eyes again. "Then thanks," he muttered.

Eames and Barek exchanged looks. Finally Barek smacked her partner. "I can defend my own honor, thanks. I would appreciate it if you'd curb that hot head so we can stay partners, you ass."

He looked at her, but she wasn't mad any more. He grinned…she was beginning to like that mischievous look. "I'll try."

Then Eames laid into him. "Look. I've been his partner for five years. People talk, and I hear what they say. But it's all just words, and words don't make it so."

He leaned over the table toward her. "I doubt you've heard this one."

"It doesn't matter."

"It might if the COD hears it."

Goren looked up again. "What are you talking about?"

"Rumor has it that the only reason you stay is because he's…" He stopped, trying to think of a way to word this that wasn't going to get him punched.

"Good in bed?" Goren offered.

Logan looked surprised. "Uh, yeah."

He sat back and laughed. Eames stared at him, angry. "I'm glad you find this so amusing."

"Relax, Eames. It's…old news. Those rumors started when you didn't leave after the first six months. Deakins and I…worked it out. You never needed to hear it from one of us."

She stared at him, trying to decide if she needed to be mad at him. "I'll deal with you later."

Logan looked from one to the other. He raised a hand. "I don't want to know. I don't care why you guys stay partners. I just don't like hearing about it from scrubs who have no business talking about it."

Goren leaned back over the table. "Let it go, Logan."

Logan watched the big detective turn back to what he was doing and he looked at Eames. He couldn't tell if she was still angry or not. Then he looked at his partner. She grinned at him. "Not mad any more?" he asked.

"No. But don't let it happen again."

That grin again. "I'll do my best."

Eames sat back and studied her partner. He and Deakins had worked it out? What the hell did he mean by that?