Author's Note: First, to thank all my reviewers! Some of you are my fav BA authors and I'm honored you took the time to read my fic. The rest of you rock too, because I love reviewers. Also, I'm not sure about this one. Bobby doesn't seem like Bobby to me, but I'm happy enough with it to post and share. If there is any OOC-ness, please forgive me! And now a disclaimer: CI and related characters aren't mine. Though my bank account wishes they were.

Title: Three Feet
Author: GusTheMoose
Theme/Set: Unrequited/CI
Rating: PG
Claim + additional character(s): Alex Eames/Bobby Goren
Warning: NA
Summary: Oh, he didn't just suddenly realize this all in one day…

To spend the better part of five years with only about three feet of space between him and her was almost a form of torture. Detective Robert Goren found it remarkable that he could withstand that much temptation. Oh, he didn't just suddenly realize this all in one day. But he certainly did want to walk around to Alex Eames' side of their desks, take her into his arms and just walk out of the squad room without ever looking back.

It started slowly, with when he started to respect her as a detective.

She was remarkably brilliant in her own way. She saw past liars and con artists as easily as he did. And while he focused on the tiny details, she saw the whole picture. His details and her picture meshed, contributing to their closure rate. It had taken him a little by surprise that such a straight-laced, by the book detective worked so well with him. The others hadn't been able to take it. Something in Detective Eames worked well, better than the others, with Detective Goren. Once he respected and, by default, trusted Detective Eames, he could start paying more attention to Alex.

What he found was fascinating. Yes, she was undeniably attractive. Lovely blonde hair that accentuated her features to alluring perfection. And those eyes could captivate. The first time he realized any sort of attraction to her as a woman was because of those eyes. He'd just found himself staring into them one day.

And even with all of that, there was more. Beneath the take-no-prisoners-or-bullshit detective was a woman kind enough to surrogate for her sister. A personality that was warm, with a quick wit. She liked to occasionally visit clubs and go dancing, which spoke to a fun loving nature. She was also a romantic. Though if he revealed he knew that, she'd probably lay him out in a second flat. But he'd filed the information away to surprise her with one of these days, because when he got up the nerve to actually admit his feelings to her, he was certainly going for the romantic soft side.

Yes, Robert Goren, fearless detective of the Major Case squad, man who held an incredibly impressive record of bust and convictions for Narcotics was afraid to ask a woman out to dinner.

And he knew exactly why too. This woman was too important. If he screwed up somehow and this perfect partnership fell apart, he'd never forgive himself.

So, he practiced self torture and every morning let three feet separate him and unrequited love.