It was dark when they got home. Eames lifted the sleeping baby from his carseat and looked at Goren. "Do you want me to come back down for Maggie?"

"No. I've got her."

"Are you sure?"

He met her eyes, and she was puzzled by the look she saw there. "I'm sure," he muttered.

Something was deeply disturbing him, and she couldn't imagine what it was. But she wasn't going to start an argument in the car, in front of Maggie. So she settled the baby against her shoulder and kicked the car door shut. "Is Mommy mad?" Maggie asked.

"She's a little aggravated at me."

"Did you hurt her?"

The question cut him like a knife. He undid her carseat buckle, lifted her into his arms and shoved the door closed with his hip. Setting Maggie on the hood of the car, he propped his hands on either side of her and looked into her face. "Why would you think that, mouse?"

She looked down, focusing on the buttons of his shirt. He straightened up, pulling away from her. "Maggie, have you ever known me to hurt anyone? Ever?"

"No, Daddy."

He touched her chin, tipping her face up toward his. "Since the day you were born, you've been my girl. And I've loved your mommy for a long time. Mouse, I would never hurt someone I love. Never."

"Why is Mommy mad?"

"Because I won't talk to her about something that's bothering me."

"Why not?"

He had no answer for her. He leaned his hands against the car again and looked down at the ground. She reached out and touched his face. "That lady told me mean things...because she doesn' like you?"

"Yes. I told you that." He sighed, frustrated. "Come on, mouse. Let's go inside."

He lifted her into his arms and she put her arms around his neck, squeezing. She kissed his cheek. "I love you, Daddy."

He felt a little better. "I love you, too, mouse."

He leaned against the wall in the elevator, waiting for it to get to their floor. The apartment door, halfway down the hall, was open, spilling light into the dim hallway. It was later than he thought it was. The landlord didn't dim the hall lights until eleven. He carried her into the apartment and set her down in the living room, turning to close the door. Maggie ran down the hall to her room, returning quickly with her bunny. "My bunny is okay!"

Goren had asked Logan to get it from her grandfather's house and bring it home yesterday, after he and Barek left Boston. "Of course he is. Go get ready for bed, mouse. It's late."

"Okay, Daddy."

He went into the kitchen, pulling a beer from the refrigerator. When he closed the door, Eames was standing there, hands on her hips. She shook her head. "Not a good idea, Goren. Not until you don't need painkillers anymore."

"Fine," he grumbled, handing the beer to her and turning to the sink. He got a glass of water and pulled the pill bottle from his pocket. It wasn't entirely the physical pain he needed to get away from, but he wasn't going to get into a pissing match with his wife tonight. He dumped a dose of medicine into his hand, swallowed the two pills and drained the glass. She watched him walk to the couch and drop down onto it, not missing the grimace when he hit the cushions. He was still dealing with a lot of physical pain, but she sensed it was serving to draw some of his focus away from his emotional pain, whatever was causing that.

Maggie came trotting out of her room, carrying her bunny and dressed in a pink blanket sleeper with ballerina bears on it. It was her favorite sleeper...because her daddy had gotten it for her. She climbed up onto him and snuggled against his chest. Eames worried for a moment that he would send her away, too, but he didn't. He let her settle into his arms and slide her hand up into his curls. She relaxed. Crossing to the couch, she leaned over and kissed Maggie's head. Then she turned her head and met his lips softly. He didn't pull away.

She straightened up and he asked, "Is Tom sleeping?"

"Yes. It's going to be a race to see which one of you fades out first."

"I, uh, I'm sorry...I didn't mean to make you mad."

"Then quit withdrawing from me, Goren. You don't want me to be mad? Tell me what's troubling you. If it's a real worry, we'll deal with it together. If you're being an idiot, I'll tell you so. Just don't shut me out. I thought you'd gotten past that."

He had...for the most part. But when his pain ran deep, like it did where Maggie was concerned, his first instinct was to withdraw. So that is exactly what he did. It was wrong...to withdraw from her, of all people. No one had his best interests at heart more than she did. But a lifetime of retreating from those around him was hard to overcome. Very hard.

He watched her turn and walk into the kitchen. "Are you hungry?" she asked.

"No, thanks."

He really knew she was troubled when she came out with a carton of ice cream. A bowl of ice cream told him she wanted a treat. A carton told him he'd screwed up royally.

She grabbed the remote from the table in front of him. He was tempted to reach out and touch her, but he fought the impulse down. Behave, he chastised himself. You have a baby on your chest... A kiss or hug was one thing, but grabbing at other parts of her mother's anatomy, well, that was something she didn't need to see.

But he watched her sit in an easy chair and scan through the channels. Her choice of program would tell him more than the ice cream. A documentary would mean she wanted to share with him. A comedy meant she was in a playful mood, which he seriously doubted. A tearjerker meant he was in trouble. He was kind of hoping for a documentary, but she settled on a tearjerker. He was in deep and he'd have to do a lot of digging to get himself out of it. The only thing that let him know he even had a chance tonight was the kiss she had just given him. He sighed and gently rubbed Maggie's back. She snuggled closer into the crook of his neck. Her elbow dug into one of his healing gunshot injuries and he shifted with a soft moan of pain. Eames looked over at him. "All right over there?"

"Sure. Why wouldn't I be?"

"Don't give me that crap."

"Not now, Eames. Please."

She let out a heavy sigh and went back to her movie and her ice cream. It was his own doing. He should never have tried to shut her out. But he couldn't help the insecurities that sometimes plagued him. And the last thing he wanted was to hear her discount how he felt as inconsequential or stupid. His fears were real, and what he saw in Maggie was real. She was better now that they were home, in a familiar environment, a safe environment. But just the fact that she had to ask if he'd hurt her mother still cut him. He kissed her nose and she giggled. His face relaxed into a smile and he kissed her forehead. She sighed softly and closed her eyes again.

When Maggie finally drifted off to sleep, he got up with difficulty and carried her to her room. Settling her into her bed with her bunny, he tucked her in and kissed her again. Leaving the room, he pulled the door closed behind him and went into the room next to it to check on his son. Tommy was sleeping soundly. He let one finger trace the baby's soft head and he smiled. With a sigh, he left the room and crossed the hall to his and Alex's room. He changed into a pair of sweatpants, but decided against a t-shirt because his chest hurt. Both healing injuries were still inflamed. He had chosen not to replace the dressings he had removed earlier in the day; now he was questioning that decision. Well, it wouldn't hurt to let a little air get to them. He returned to the living room, to his spot on the couch.

Eames watched him out of the corner of her eye as he dropped back onto the couch. She hadn't missed his struggle in getting off the couch without waking Maggie, but if she'd offered to help, he would have said no, so she didn't bother wasting her breath. She was surprised he had changed, and even more surprised he had no shirt on. She had to force down a swell of desire at the sight of his strong back, with no shirt, reminding herself that she was mad at him. Until she saw the raw wounds on his chest. She caught her breath and set aside the ice cream. Moving over to the couch, she sat beside him and touched the skin around his injuries. "Why'd you take the bandages off?"

"I didn't put them back on this afternoon."

"Why not?"

"I was tired of them. I thought they could do with some air."

"Did they look like this then?"

"For the most part. They're a little irritated...kind of like you."

She let her hand fall away. "All right, Goren...do you know why I'm mad?"

"Yes."

"Let's hear it."

"You want to know what's bothering me."

"Yes. And why you won't tell me. What did I do to make you start to withdraw from me again?"

"You...? You didn't do anything. It's me, Alex. It's all me."

"But why?"

"I just...I know you're going to think I'm being stupid and I didn't want to hear you say that."

"Why would I think you're being stupid?"

"Because you think everything's okay."

"Is this about Maggie?"

He nodded, miserable. "Before we came up, she wanted to know if you were mad...and if I had hurt you."

"Hurt me?"

"She's having a hard time reconciling a dad who could hurt his son and she's scared. I-I don't know how to fix it."

"She's not afraid of you. She would never have climbed into your lap and gone to sleep if she was."

"She's better now...but...I can't take it if she won't trust me. If her love has been damaged, in any way..."

She touched his mouth with her fingers and he fell silent. "Bobby, it hasn't."

"The way she was looking at me..."

"Most of that is in your head. Of course you see yourself in your child, and you imagine the same fears in her that you had. But she doesn't have those insecurities, Bobby. Why would she believe Nicole over you? Why would the words of a complete stranger undo the love and devotion she's known from you-and for you-since the day she was born? It's not going to happen, and you have to believe that. Trust your daughter. You are the most important person in her life. That's not going to change. Ever." He had looked away and she reached out, guiding his face back toward hers. "I know my daughter, Bobby. She's daddy's little girl. You have given her nothing but love and security all her life. She got over your little vanishing act last year, didn't she?" He nodded. "This was nothing compared to that, believe me." She placed one hand on either side of his face. "You're furious that an evil like Nicole Wallace ever touched her, and so am I. But nothing will touch the love she has for you. Even after I grew up, my love for my dad has remained strong. Expect that from your little girl. She had nightmares about Wallace and the things she said until you talked to her. You said all the right things and her nightmares went away. Have some faith in her, and in yourself. Okay?"

"It-it's hard. Y-you know that better than anyone."

"Do you trust me?"

"Of course."

"Then trust me on this."

She got up and went back over to her melting ice cream. Heading into the kitchen, she put it away, dropping the spoon into the sink. Back in the living room, she switched off the television and grabbed his hand. "Come on, you. I want to sleep in my own bed and I want you right up against me all night long. I've missed you."

With a tug, he pulled her on top of him. "I'm sorry," he said softly.

"For getting shot or for pissing me off?"

"Both."

"Just don't do it again."

"Get shot or piss you off?"

"Either."

He smiled and kissed her. "I'll do my best."

"Feel better?"

"Yes."

"I promise you, if you try to withdraw from me again, I'll mop the floor with you, Goren."

He nodded slowly. "Ok, Eames. I'll try to remember that."

She kissed him, teasing and taunting with lips and tongue, then slid from his lap and hurried down the hall to the bedroom. This time he got up with little difficulty and ran after her.

It was a familiar feeling, the feeling of being watched. Slowly, he opened his eyes. Eames was still in front of him, curled into his body and sleeping soundly against him. It was a good feeling, one that always got a response from him. But that wasn't what woke him. His eyes fell upon the big brown eyes that watched him from under a mop of brown curls. She smiled at him. "It's time for brefkiss, Daddy."

"Is Tommy up yet?"

"Not yet."

He looked at the clock. 4:30. "Mouse, it's not time for breakfast yet. It's not even time to get up yet."

"But I'm up."

"So I see." He sighed. "Go play in your room for a little while. Your toys missed you. I'll be in soon."

She smiled. "Ok, Daddy, but I missed my waffles."

He smiled back. "So have I."

She refused to eat waffles with anyone but him. He watched her leave the room, closing the door behind her. His hand was absently caressing his wife's skin, over and around the still healing gunshot injury in her lower abdomen. He kissed her head and she turned in his arms, reaching up to cover his mouth with hers. Pulling back, he whispered, "Maggie's up."

"Is she in here?"

"No. I sent her to her room to say hi to her toys."

Eames laughed. "See what I mean? She woke up and sought you out right away. She's closer to returning to normal than you give her credit for."

"I hope you're right."

His hands continued to roam around her body, touching, seeking..."Daddy?"

He groaned. "Yes, mouse?"

"My toys are done missing me. But my waffles aren't."

"The joys of parenthood," Eames whispered.

He kissed her, allowing himself to get lost for a minute. "Daddy?"

Crash and burn..."Ok, ok, I'm coming. Go wait for me in the kitchen."

She clapped her hands and quietly said, "I'm coming, my waffles!"

Eames laughed into his chest. "I'm so glad you think it's funny," he whispered into her hair.

"Well, you have to get up before the early mouse if you want to play."

"It's not even five yet."

"She's just like her father."

He played a little longer, just to give her a taste of how he felt. "She'd be happy to hear you say that," he muttered as he got out of bed and pulled on a pair of pants. "Want breakfast?"

"Breakfast in bed?"

"Sure, why not?"

"That sure kills the romance."

"No, Eames, a roaming four-year-old kills the romance."

"Are you complaining?"

"No...well, maybe just a little. What do you want?"

"Surprise me."

He grinned at her and left the room, before Maggie decided to start her own breakfast and destroyed the kitchen.