Goren is sitting at Olivia's desk making a few notes. He phone rings and he answers.

"Goren...Eames...what...really?...no, sounds like fun. Nothing to worry about. Do you doubt I would fail you...okay."

He hangs up the phone as Elliot sits down at his desk. Bobby watches as Elliot flips through his messages, "Anything good?"

"Most of them are from my kids. They're staying over tonight and I'm taking them to school in the morning. Since the boss was so inclined to give us the morning off. Sweet of him really."

"Very much so. I've got some reading to catch up on. I guess would should think ourselves lucky to have female partners that need all day to prepare."

"I guess."

"So...your kids..."

"Right, I was supposed to have them all weekend, but with this case...I have to take what time I get with them."

"I'm sure they appreciate all you can give to them."

"Yeah? You sound like a shrink...Kathleen...my second child, she's waiting my twins, not that they need watching,until I get home...which should be pretty soon...," Elliot frowns, "A message from the ex. And it's only a few words. Fatal words."

Bobby nods, "We need to talk."

"Dreaded world wide. Which always means three hours of her screaming at me about my hours...and that I don't care about my kids...and just every little thing that's ever went wrong in her life."

Bobby laughs.

Elliot puts down the messages, "Say...in the mood for one go round of the questions. Before I go home"

"Always."

"Well...you go..."

"You ever. Have that case that won't leave you?"

Elliot smirks, "Just one. I've had a few. I got to watch my victim become my perp. Right before my eyes. Once Maureen, my oldest...saw a body that was dumped, while it was on fire. I once had to arrest a mother who accidentally shook her baby to death. I've also seen a good friend murdered and I was powerless to stop it. Got pulled off one once..."

"Too close?"

"Uh, that would actually be a second question, but fine. A guy was a cult leader. When we found him, he had all these kids. He shut us out and my partner heard shots fired. We finally got inside and all those kids...were. Dead. All of them. Most under eighteen. For no reason other than to shut them up."

Bobby shakes his head in disgust.

"But where was I...oh yeah, and then. I had to face a perp from my past. When I first met him, I was a little over-zealous and threw him through the one way. He still has a scar. Bastard knows how to get in my head. He points out every single flaw I have. I dispise him and yet I wonder, why him. Why did I encounter him in the first place?"

"I know the feeling."

"Really? My turn...what sticks with you?"

"There is this one...well more like one perpetrator; several cases. We could never get her...she just slips through my fingers. Everytime. And I think she knows it."

"Who is she?"

"She. Is my white whale. My Moriarty.."

"Dandy Sherlock...but what I mean is, what's her name?"

Bobby looks away, "I don't want to play this game anymore."

Elliot laughs, "Come on Goren. We've gone to far with this thing to just quit. 'Cause you don't feel like playing anymore. My kids used to do that."

"I don't want to...can't you deal with that."

"Icould but why. I talked about my ex to you forGod's sake...Besides, can't have this relationship with someone who would hide anything from me. Trust is the key."

"Fine. But I'd better be getting something in return. Just understand. It's. She's hard to think about."

"Give it up."

"Nicole. Nicole Wallace."

"Always a woman."

"Sadly she's probably one of the most interesting women I've ever met. And ironically, the most evil. Sometimes I wonder if she exists just to watch me writhe in pain. And then I wonder why it is I look for her everywhere I go?"

"Maybe you love her. I don't know. Hey, look...I've gotta get home, see my kids," Elliot gets his side arm from his locker and grabs his coat, "Maybe you should find this Nicole...settle it. Until show time tomorrow then..."

Elliot leaves and Bobby laughs.

"In love with Nicole...is he crazy?"

He looks down at the file in front of him, it's one of Nicole's. He thinks to himself, "Or maybe he's right. Nah."

He closes the file.