When they returned to the squad room, Logan and Barek were seated at their desks. Logan had his legs propped up on Goren's desk. "You find her?"

"No. Get out of my chair."

He didn't argue; he knew better. Goren was in a very dangerous mood. "Uh, did you two geniuses actually read that letter, or did your brains shut down after 'Hello, Bobby'?"

Goren sank into his chair. "What are you talking about?"

"First of all, she was apparently at your wedding, Eames. Which is all well and good, I suppose, since we all know he didn't do so well that day. But keep reading...get past the second choice and the afterthought part..." He paused as his words sank in. "She's seen your kids, man."

Logan watched as his words registered. Goren sat up straighter in his chair, a look of near panic on his face. Standing behind Barek, Eames didn't look much better. "Oh, my God, no..." she whispered.

Barek spun around in the chair to face her. "It's ok, Alex. I called your dad, told him what was going on. The kids are safe, and he knows to be on his guard now."

Eames relaxed, but Goren did not. He'd snatched up the letter and was reading it again. Slowly, he shook his head. "No...no..." He looked at Eames. "I will kill her first."

"Calm down, Bobby. She hasn't done anything yet. She's pushing your buttons again."

"Yeah," Logan agreed. "And she's found a whole new set of buttons to push."

Eames nodded. "She's moved on from your parents now. That's gotten boring. You've resolved many of those issues, remember?"

"How could she know that?"

Barek shrugged as she relinguished Eames' seat to her. "She doesn't have to know anything beyond the fact that you have kids now. As riled as you always got about your folks, imagine how much fun she thinks she can have going after your kids."

"Remember," Logan warned. "She likes to mess with your mind. And you give her lots of ammunition, Bobby."

Barek leaned over the desk toward him. "You need to keep your cool and not let her know when she gets to you."

Eames shook her head. "That's easier said than done, Carolyn. She can read him like a book. She knows human nature at least as well as he does. She can tell when she rubs a raw nerve."

Goren muttered quietly, "She gets to you, too, Eames."

"I never said she didn't. She is a master at knowing exactly which buttons to push and how hard to push them. And she always comes in fully loaded and gunning for blood." She looked across the desks at her husband. "Bobby's blood."

Logan sighed. "And she gets you, doesn't she?"

He nodded. "Y-yes, she does."

Eames almost smiled. "But you get her, too, Bobby. You've struck your own blows and you've drawn blood."

Goren got up and walked away. He was done with the conversation. When Logan took a step to follow, Eames stopped him. "Let him go, Mike. He has to prepare himself for this."

Logan looked at the two women. "Do you think she'll go after the kids?"

"I don't see how. They're never unattended. How would she get to them?"

He shook his head slowly. "He'd really snap, you know."

"I don't even want to think about it."

Not even Eames could predict what would happen to Goren if Wallace went after those children. She didn't see how she could ever get to them. God help them both, though, if she ever did.

Late that afternoon, Goren called his father-in-law. "Is everything ok there, John?"

"We're fine, Bobby. Carolyn explained the situation, and I have my back-up on me. No one will take these kids from me."

"I trust you. Uh, we're going to be working late tonight. We'll come out when we're done, but go ahead and put them to bed."

"You don't have to come out, you know."

"Yeah, I know. But I-I have to see them."

"I understand. I'll set the alarm. You remember the code?"

"Yes."

"I'll see you tonight, then."

"Thank you, John."

"No need, Bobby. You and Alex be careful."

"We will."

He set the phone in its cradle and buried his face in his hands. Barek and Eames had gone on a dinner run and Logan was looking over the coroner's reports from the two murders. The phone rang, and another detective grabbed it as he was putting his coat on. "Hey, Goren, it's for you. Line two."

Expecting Eames or Barek, he picked up the phone. "Goren."

"Hello, Bobby."

He froze for a second, then threw a book across the room at Logan. "Ow, hey..."

Goren motioned for him to pick up the phone, which he did, silently, as Wallace continued, "I assume you got my little note. I saw you outside the building." She laughed. "And then you followed her back inside like a good puppy. Has she beaten you down, Bobby?"

He pinched the bridge of his nose. "What do you want?"

"I must admit, I read the transcript of her divorce with great interest. Am I correct in assuming that her children are yours?" He didn't answer. "Bobby?"

"Y-yes. They're mine."

"How hard those years must have been for you," she taunted.

"What do you want, Nicole?"

"I just want to continue our game, Bobby."

"You know, I'm tired of your games."

"I'm sorry to hear that. I'm sure you'll be very interested in this next game."

"What does that mean?"

"Tell me, Bobby, after all the pain she caused you, why did you marry her?"

Logan listened silently, but kept his eyes on his friend, who had rested his forehead on his hand. "That doesn't concern you."

"Oh? Do you like playing Daddy?"

"I don't play Daddy. It's not a game or a part-time role."

"Do your children love you?"

"I-I like to think they do."

"Not sure, huh? Do you think you're a better daddy than yours was?"

"Better than mine...better than yours..."

Her tone changed. "She's a beautiful little girl, Bobby."

Logan saw him bristle, and he grabbed a pad of sticky notes, nailing him in the head with it and giving him a warning glare. Goren waved a hand at him. "Why now, Nicole? You've been gone for so long...why bother coming back now?"

"I missed you, Bobby. I thought that after her wedding you would be able to let go of her, but I was wrong. Now, we are going to see just how strong your bond to her is. Good-bye, Bobby."

The line went dead. He stared at the receiver as Logan set his down and whistled. "That didn't sound good at all."

Goren slowly replaced the receiver in its cradle and sat back, his mind a furious blur. Logan came over to him. "Any idea what she means?"

"No." He looked up at him. "And I'm terrified to find out."

They let themselves in to her father's house, disarming the alarm when they entered, and resetting it when they locked up. He had told her about the call, and she'd reacted angrily. He knew she wasn't angry at him, but he was her most convenient target. He'd reacted by withdrawing; he wouldn't lash out at her.

He went into Maggie's room, standing by her bed and watching her sleep. He heard John in the hallway, whispering to Alex. Leaning down, he kissed her softly, lightly fingering her unruly curls. Just being with her helped to settle his restlessness. He left the room and crossed the hall to check on Tommy. He was ten months old now, and Goren had never known a happier baby. He wasn't sure he'd recognize Tommy's cry if he heard it, he cried so seldom. He ran his hand gently over the soft velvet of his son's blond head. The baby sighed in his sleep. He smiled and quietly left the room, joining Alex and her father in the kitchen. She held a glass of water and John was just saying good night. He looked at Goren as he came into the kitchen. "You look tired, Bobby."

"It was a very long day."

"Get some sleep, then, both of you." He patted his son-in-law's arm. "I'll see you in the morning."

"Thanks, John."

He turned toward the high cabinet over the refrigerator. Eames watched as he poured a large tumbler of scotch and replaced the bottle. She finished her water and headed from the kitchen, but he grabbed her arm. Leaning his head toward hers, he said softly, "I'm worried, too, but this is not my fault. Don't blame me, Alex."

"I..." She closed her eyes, realizing for the first time what she had been doing. "I'm sorry, Bobby. I know it's not your fault. I just...I'm so angry. I'm worried about the kids, and I'm worried about you, too." She patted his hand. "I'm exhausted. Good night."

He hesitated for a moment before he slammed back the drink and went after her. He caught her just outside their door, spinning her toward him and kissing her hard. She started to push him away, but quickly changed her mind as she realized this was exactly what she wanted from him...a reassurance of his desire and need for her. She slid her arms around him and let him back her through the doorway into the bedroom.