Goren and Logan were halfway through a game when Barek and Eames arrived at the pool hall. Eames stood by the door for a minute, watching them. Barek looked at her. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing. He looks…relaxed."

"He and Mike come here a lot. Come on."

Goren was bent over the table, ready to take a shot, when a hand came to rest on his back. He turned his head, surprised. He set down the cue and propped his head on his hand, elbow on the table, grinning at his partner. "What are you doing here?" he asked, clearly pleased to see her.

"I couldn't let your birthday go by without seeing you, could I?"

"I'd have understood," he said softly.

"I know you would have. That's another reason I came." She leaned over and gently kissed him. "Happy birthday." He just smiled at her, and she wondered what he was thinking, but she wasn't brave enough to ask. "Go ahead and take your shot, Goren," she said with a smile, moving over to stand by Barek and Logan.

Logan groaned when the ball slid into the side pocket. "You're killing me, Goren."

He missed the next shot, and Logan picked up his cue stick. "I never know if you miss those shots on purpose or not."

"You're not supposed to know."

He leaned against the wall next to his partner and crossed his arms. Logan looked at him for a second before turning his attention to the table. Eames leaned closer and softly asked, "Do you really miss on purpose?"

"Sometimes."

She smiled. Logan sank his shot and then two more. "You're on a roll," Goren said.

Logan pointed his cue stick at him. "You jinx me and I swear I'll knock the shit out of you, birthday or not."

Goren didn't look worried. Barek shook her head at her partner. "Competitive much, Mike?"

"I need an edge to keep up with him."

Three shots later he sank the eight ball. Goren handed him a few coins and racked the balls for another game. Logan pointed toward the cue stand. "Ladies, choose your weapons."

Barek grinned. "Do we get to hit you with them?"

"Very funny. For that you can choose sides."

She looked at her partner critically. "I guess I'll try teaming with you. I can't make your game much worse."

"Ouch, Barek."

She turned to choose her cue and Logan smiled at Eames. "You have any preferences?"

She smiled. She was simply glad to be there. "I'm game for whatever."

He raised his eyebrows slightly and said, "Glad to hear that."

Goren and Eames easily won the game. Logan stared at the petite cop. "You play almost as well as he does. Where'd you learn to play like that?"

"I have four brothers, Mike. I can play just about any game."

"I'll bet you can." He chalked his cue as Barek set the balls up. "Let's make this interesting. How about playing for shots instead of quarters?"

Goren raised his eyebrows. "Last time we did that I had to carry you home."

"That's why I want Eames as my partner this game."

Goren looked at his partner. "It's up to you."

"Okay. Are you ready for a challenge?"

He smiled, and she was pleased to see the challenge in his eyes. "You're on."

Logan set up the shots and leaned toward Eames. "I'm really gonna be upset if I have to go in to work hung over tomorrow."

"This was your idea."

"Yeah, but I'm counting on you to whip his ass."

"I don't think I'm that good."

"I guess we'll see."

Barek said, "Quit plotting, you two. By the way, Einstein, how the hell are we going to get home if none of us can drive?"

"I don't live far. We can walk to my place. How do you think Goren and I get home half the time?"

While Logan took the breaking shot, Goren leaned against the bar and watched his partner. Laughing and smiling, she looked relaxed and happy. It was almost possible for him to convince himself that she was happy. It never occurred to him that, when she was with him, she really was happy, and so was he.

A game and a half later, Eames decided to mess with her partner. She was tired of having to down more shots than he was. So she walked behind him when he was lining up a shot and gently bumped his cue stick. He looked at her, but she just smiled at him. He went back to his shot, and she drew his attention from the game by laughing as he drew his stick back. Again, he looked at her, and she smiled. Logan and Barek just sat back and watched. The smiles and laughter, the playfulness…it was like old times. Neither had seen Eames this happy in way too long. Goren, too, was relaxed and smiled easily.

The third time she interfered with his shot, he slammed down the cue stick and chased her down, catching her on the far side of the table, near the cue rack. He backed her against the wall and trapped her there. "Are you going to let me take this shot?" he asked.

She was laughing too hard to answer, so he waited. Finally catching her breath, she looked into his face. "You can take your shot anytime," she answered innocently.

He hesitated for a moment before he leaned closer and kissed her. Surprised, she raised a hand and gently laid it on his cheek, allowing his kiss. He smiled before turning back to the table. He missed the shot anyway.

When Goren woke up in the morning, he was alone, hungover and entirely uncertain of how he ended up in Logan's bed. He got up and showered. He had spent enough nights on Logan's couch that he kept a clean suit there, so he dressed and went into the kitchen to make coffee. Asleep on the couch, Logan woke up to the noise in the kitchen and groaned. "What the hell are you doing out there?"

"Just making coffee."

"Damn. Do it quietly, will ya? I didn't want to go in to work like this."

"Hey, it was your idea to play for shots."

"Next time I suggest that on a work night, shoot me." He looked at Goren. "Look at you. You have to be hung over."

"I am."

"I hate how you can function like that." He got up and headed for the shower. "Where's Eames?"

"I don't know. She wasn't here when I got up. Did she leave with Barek last night?"

Logan came back down the hall and looked at him. Well, damn, he didn't remember…or was he just blocking it out…to protect himself? "She must have. Give me twenty minutes and I'll be ready to go."

On they way in to the squad room, Goren asked, "How did I end up in the bed?"

Logan considered how best to answer. Finally he said, "That's where you passed out and I wasn't about to try moving you, so I just left you there."

The big cop accepted his answer. "Sorry," he said.

"Forget it." Whether Goren remembered it or not, last night had been worth it. Logan couldn't remember having more fun together like that in a very long time. And seeing Goren and Eames together…well, everything had seemed just right.