A/N: We are moving across the country this week and I can't promise anything, but once we get settled, I will post more...and I should have another fic or two done by then. Sorry for any delays. I tried to get this and Seal of the Confessional done before we moved, but that's just not happening. I'll post when I can!

When they got back to Goren's apartment building, they got out of the car. Goren looked at his partner, but said nothing. He lightly touched Barek's arm and managed a smile for her and Logan. "Good night. See you guys in the morning."

He walked off. Barek called after him, "Thanks for dinner, Bobby."

He just waved and kept walking. Logan shook his head. "I hope you can get this straightened out. Deakins will have a cow if he's like this tomorrow."

Barek looked toward the building. "Go talk to him, Alex. Don't let him get away with being moody. If you have a chance, call me later. Otherwise I'll see you tomorrow."

"Thanks, Carolyn. Good night, Mike." She started to walk away, then turned back. "Mike, thanks."

"For what?"

"For not being an ass."

He nodded. "Sure…I think."

She smiled and headed toward the building after her brooding partner.

Logan walked Barek to her car. His was still parked down the street from the night before. "Eames is right, Mike. You did a good thing tonight, helping them out."

"Yeah, well, Goren's hard enough to deal with when he's not moping."

She smiled. "He's not so bad. He's really a nice guy…just like you once you get past that jerk you hide behind." She took out her keys and unlocked the car door. "I guess you earned this." She turned to him and gently kissed his cheek. "Good night, Mike."

She got into the car and drove off. He watched her until she was out of sight. Then he smiled and walked down the street to his car.

When she got to the lobby, he was already gone. She rode up the elevator and walked down to his apartment. Taking a deep breath, she knocked. "It's open," he answered.

She entered the apartment. His jacket was draped over the arm of the couch, tie off, first few buttons of his shirt open, and he was pacing. "You lied to me," she accused.

He stopped but didn't turn toward her. "I…told you what I thought you wanted to hear."

"You've never done that before, Bobby."

"No." He resumed his pacing. "I don't want this tension between us. I know how I feel and I've kept a handle on it. But I have no idea how you feel and if you don't feel the same way I do, trying to move forward will destroy everything, including me."

"Tell me you've never been rejected before."

"No…no…it's not about that." He was agitated, and the volume of his voice reflected that. He rested his hand on his head and looked at the wall. Finally he looked at her. "It's about…us." He moved his hand from his chest toward her. "I've been through too many partners, Alex. I don't want another one, or two…or twelve. I just want…you."

"As your partner," she said with finality.

"Of course," he said. "And my friend. Anything more…not if you don't want it."

"It's not just about me, Bobby. You have feelings, too." She sighed. "Maybe I had too much wine."

"You're not drunk. Besides, I've seen you drunk plenty of times and you've never attacked me."

"Attacked you? Bobby, I put my hand on your back."

"Yeah…under my shirt" He turned away. "That wasn't fair, Eames."

"You deserved that."

He looked at her. "I…how do you figure that?"

She crossed to him and looked right into his eyes. "You lied to me," she said again.

"I'm sorry. I was giving you an out."

"An out I never wanted."

"I didn't know that," he said, a little more loudly than he intended.

"You never asked. It was as simple as that."

"And open myself up to losing you? No way. I couldn't do that."

"You honestly have no idea how I feel about you?"

"I wouldn't say that. But I would say I have had no idea if kissing you would have gotten me slapped."

She put her hands on his chest, pushing him backwards until he stopped against the wall. "We're partners," she said as she pressed against him. "We're best friends. And, damn it, Goren, I do love you." Pushing off from his chest, she stepped back and stared right at him. "So what the hell are you going to do about it?"

He stood there for a moment, just looking at her. Finally, his face relaxed into a smile. "Are you daring me, Eames?"

"You're damn right I am."

He stepped closer to her, and she didn't move, keeping her eyes on his. He stopped right in front of her, so that he had to look down to see her face. "What do you want me to do?"

"I want you to be honest with me and with yourself."

He laid a hand on the side of her face. Sliding both hands beneath her hair to the back of her head, he kissed her. She slid her arms around him, pressing her body into his. He moaned softly as he lowered her onto the couch.