Author's note: Seriously. I updated. Wow. I'm thinking I should put this on hiatus until it's complete and then post it all…what do you think?

To my reviewers: Thanks so much for sticking with me. You are the reason this story continues, never doubt that. Thanks to the ones who didn't sign in: Jenn (awww…you're too nice!), KendraC (I love the term "pickle" and I think it's a perfect one for them!), Talifiney (sorry about failing to meet that Turkey Day deadline!), Elizabeth (thanks! You're so kind!), Smee1602 (Wow! Thank you so very much!), Monz (Thanks! I appreciate it!), TheSpirit (I will! Thanks!), Audacious (yes! I'm here!),

Isabelle, you get a line to yourself. Thank you so much. Your enthusiastic review had me smiling for days. Thank you for being so effusive with your praise, it means the world to me.

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Alex was thankful to find she was alone in the elevator. She hit the button for the parking garage and leaned her head against the wall, closing her eyes as the elevator began its descent. She was being ridiculous about this whole thing, really, she told herself. It wasn't as if she and Bobby were an item or anything like that, so who was she to say who he could and could not go out with? And didn't she herself have a date with Shang? She snorted at the thought. The difference was clear. Her date was for the case…wait. Maybe Bobby's date was for the case, too?

She shook her head. That was pretty unlikely. She practically had to date Shang, seeing as it was the quickest means to an end…the end of the case. But what could Shelia tell Bobby? How could she possibly help Alex and Bobby close the case? No, the sad truth was that Shelia was an attractive woman who was attracted to Bobby. And unlike Alex Shelia had recognized a good thing when she saw it and had made a move. Alex tried to comfort herself with the knowledge that she couldn't have made a move, even if she wanted to. They worked together—worked well together—and for her to try to change the entire nature of their relationship was dangerous and foolish, not to mention cocky.

Who was Alex to say that Bobby was even remotely attracted to her? Sure, there was the whole Halloween thing but she could chalk that up to unusual circumstances, and she was still suspicious of the green makeup. Outside of that had Bobby been displaying any signs that he was attracted to her? What had he said or done that indicated that he wouldn't be completely opposed to Alex making a move? She scrambled her brain but came up with only one answer. Nothing. More likely than not he would be horrified and disgusted if Alex even brought up the idea of them dating.

But for one fleeting moment she allowed herself to imagine what it would be like to date him. Truth be told it probably wouldn't be much different than it was now. They did spend an inordinate amount of time together as it was. No, not much would change, she mused. Although there was the physical aspect to consider. Mmm…she smiled as she gave in to temptation and indulged in thoughts of being physical with Bobby.

There was no question in her mind that Bobby would be a phenomenal lover. If he applied even half the thought and concentration he displayed at work then the woman he was with was in for an unforgettable night. She could just see him randomly spouting off facts about the sexual practices of aboriginal tribes in the Sudan or somewhere equally exotic between kisses.

Hmmm…where to start? Alex mused. What body part did she want to get herself hot and bothered over first?

She loved his hands. There was of course plenty about Bobby for her to drool over but she had a thing for his hands…she wanted them on her. She loved how he used his hands to make a point, how he would allow one of them to rest on the small of her back when she preceded him into a room or out a door. She nearly swooned every time he held her hand to assist her out of a car or a freshly dug gravesite.

She could only imagine how talented those hands were in the bedroom. She thought back to the night of the museum party. The way his fingers felt in her hair, how each strand seemed to register the sensation differently. How softly he felt for her pulse, already on to her game. She groaned as she recalled that look in his eyes. That look that told her that he wanted that kiss, wanted her, but not if she was only playing a game. He wanted her to be the one to tell him yes or no. How she now wished that she had indeed damned the consequences and kissed Bobby with all she had.

She unconsciously tilted her head back and hit the wall of the elevator. The jarring motion was more than enough to pull her out of her musings. Her cheeks burned as she rubbed the spot on the back of her head. What on earth was she doing? Just because she had developed feelings for Bobby didn't automatically mean he had any for her. Just because she felt like ripping Shelia's hair out strand by strand didn't mean anything other than she seriously needed to get a grip. Just because—ding!

The sound interrupted her venting and she snapped out of it and quickly strode to her car. Once inside she checked her voice mail in case her sister had needed to cancel and as she played through her messages she searched the glove compartment for the piece of paper with the restaurant's address.

Bobby raced down the stairs, cursing himself, Deakins, and even Shelia but mostly himself as his feet pounded the surfaces. He didn't know why it was so important to clear this whole thing up with Alex before she left…it just was.

But his conscience refused to allow him to play that game. He knew damned well why it was so important that he find Alex, why it was necessary to make her understand that this was a big misunderstanding. He simply couldn't allow her to believe for a moment that he wanted to be with Shelia—even though his heart nearly stopped at the thought that admitting that meant he was really admitting that he wanted to be with Alex.

Why was that such a hard thing to grasp? He reflected and decided that maybe it had to do with the aftermath of the Halloween party. Although aftermath really wasn't the right word…that implied that there was a whole traumatic event that preceded the aftermath. And it wasn't traumatic, really, unless you thought that knocking the world off its axis was traumatic.

Because that's just what that night had done. Bobby had come within mere inches of changing his and Alex's relationship forever. And he would have, had Deakins not chosen that moment to demonstrate that his timing sucked. Instead of feeling relieved that the kiss had not happened and that they could go ahead and gloss over the near-miss, Bobby had felt an almost crushing sense of disappointment that had dogged his every thought since.

What would it have felt like, to kiss Alex? Would she have held back at first, the pressure of her lips tentative on his as she took stock of what they were doing? Was she the type of woman who would let him hear how he was affecting her? He could vividly imagine her breath catching in her throat, causing his name to be uttered in a soft moan as he blazed a trail of kisses down to her pulse point where he'd feel how much she wanted him.

He shook his head and willed the thoughts away, reminding himself that he was trying to catch up with Alex for the sole purpose of explaining why he went out with Shelia. By the time he made it to the parking garage he had a whole conversation worked out in his head. It started with him gently bringing up the subject of Shelia and how there was nothing going on. Alex would hopefully ask why he didn't want to date Shelia and thus present him with the opening he craved…the one that allowed him to suggest that the reason was Alex herself.

There was no reason at all why this conversation couldn't kill two birds with one stone, he surmised. He could kill off any doubts Alex may have about his interest in Shelia and confirm his interest in Alex herself.

But as he came to a stop next to her door his carefully crafted conversation flew out of his head. She looked hurt, and more vulnerable than he could remember seeing her. He frowned as he realized that a fragile state was not what she needed to project during the upcoming assignment. He ended up blurting out the first thing he thought of.

"So when is this date with Shang?"

Alex looked up in surprise. No wonder she's surprised, Bobby thought with a grimace. Could he have sounded any more jealous? Or random?

She quashed the bit of hope that had flared when she saw that Bobby had pretty much chased after her to the car. But she couldn't help but wonder at both his tone and question. It was probably her imagination that the jealousy she had longed for was now present. But why would Bobby care? Maybe he needed to clear the night with Shelia, she thought with a depressed sigh before addressing him.

"Date? Bobby, you know better than that. It's not a date…it's an undercover assignment."

No, Bobby, you're the only one of us dating. Bastard.

"Why the interest, anyhow? Hoping we could double with you and Shelia?"

She couldn't believe she had just said that. She slid her sunglasses on before she faced him again. It wasn't much of a shield but somehow she felt better. Why not profess your eternal love to the guy, Alex? She quickly back-pedaled.

"I'm sorry, Bobby. That was uncalled for. I have no right to interfere in your dating life."

But I want you to interfere in my dating life, he thought. And he planned on telling her as soon as she gave him the chance.

"I don't know her well or really at all but Shelia seems like a nice person. And I know she thinks you're attractive."

That comment broke Bobby's train of thought.

"She does?" he asked, unaware that by displaying even the mildest amount of interest in the answer he was dooming his agenda.

Alex sighed and pasted a strained smile on her face.

"She told me she thought you were a hunk."

A hunk? What did that mean? Did people use that expression anymore? As Bobby got caught up in analyzing the word usage he inadvertently gave Alex both the wrong idea and ample time to make her escape. He came to in time to see the tail lights winking at him as she drove away.

"Alex! Wait!"

But it was no use. Alex had driven off, and Bobby cursed himself ten thousand kinds of a fool.