Disclaimer: I don't own Law and Order Criminal Intent, but I have concocted a grand scheme to meet Chris Noth. He happens to own a club over in New York and he hangs out there a lot...

Author's Notes: I dunno. I kinda like this story. I'm working really hard to make this a good case file thing. I just want to take a moment to thank FluffyCSI. She is my favorite Law and Order CI fanfic author of all time. I want to thank you, FluffyCSI, for writing. It rocks.

Cows go moo, or something.

Robert Goren trailed behind Mike Logan as the two headed to the M.E.'s room. Eames, who was currently angry with her partner, had sent him off with Logan so she could spend some time talking to Barek. Both females had claimed they needed some 'girl time', and the boys couldn't argue with them.

"So Goren," Mike began, hands shoved in his pockets as the two men walked side-by-side down the long tiled corridor, "what do you think?"

"About?"

"The case...and Deakins. Y'know, stuff like that." he answered almost timidly.

"I really don't know what to think actually." the larger detective answered, sighing audibly. "Personally, I don't think Deakins should be assigned to this case. He's too emotionally attached."

"We are too y'know."

"But not as much. You never met Jennifer and even Eames and I had minimal contact with her over the years. She was a sweet kid, and I feel bad she had to die like she did, but I'm able to detach myself from it," he paused, "as long as Deakins isn't hounding me. It's him I'm worried about, him I'm attached to..." he sighed once more and scratched at his chin idly.

Logan nodded slightly and the two fell silent as they entered the M.E.'s room. Two pairs of eyebrows rose at the sight before them. The red haired M.E. was hovering over a body with a tool that resembled a...saw. She didn't seem to notice the two as she turned on the saw, but shut it right off as she miraculously heard Goren clear his voice. Taking off the mask she was wearing, she set the tool and the mask on a nearby counter.

"Detectives." she greeted, seeming slightly annoyed since she had been interrupted.

"Nice to see you too. Do you have anything on Jennifer?" Logan inquired, moving so he was leaning against one of the counters, trying to ignore all the different things littering the counter top.

"I don't think there is anything I found that you didn't already know." she answered, her back to the detectives as she tried to locate a file. "She was raped, but the rape kit came up negative for any fluids, positive for spermicide though."

"He used a condom...how considerate." Logan muttered, a slight frown crossing his lips.

"Yeah, a latex condom. Anyway, he used a .38 caliber Smith and Wesson revolver to kill her, as you also knew, but you'll have to talk to the ballistics guys for more information on that. I don't label bullets, I just pull them out of people's bodies." she stated, allowing a satisfied smile to play upon her lips as she finally found the file. Turning around quickly she padded over to Goren and held out the papers. "Here's my report."

"Thanks." Bobby answered, taking the papers and putting them into the portfolio he had brought along with him. "But, did you find anything unusual or anything that could point us to who did this?"

"Nope, not really. Then again, you might see something I didn't when you look through my report." she seemed a bit antsy as she slowly inched back over to the counter where her mask and saw was.

"Alright...thanks." Goren murmured, watching as the M.E. happily got back to work. Mike and Goren left the room.

"She really doesn't get out much does she." it was a statement, not a question.

"Well...I really don't know." Bobby answered, shrugging.

"I'd hate to have her job." was Logan's last statement before the two fell silent, leaving the building.

"So what's the plan Alex?" Barek asked, her voice soft as she sat across from her co-worker.

"I really don't know. I'm worried about Deakins...so is Bobby, but I don't want to fight to bump him off this case like my partner does. I don't think he needs that right now...he needs to be here watching us catch this guy and throw him in jail."

"It must be hard...to lose a child. I don't think I could ever imagine the pain he must be going through."

"Yeah, really. I wish we could bring her back to life y'know?"

Barek simply shook her head, propping her elbows up on her desk, resting her chin on her hand.

"What, you don't sometimes wish you could bring someone back to life?" Eames inquired, seeming slightly surprised.

"Well, I do wish sometimes I guess, but not very hard. Life wouldn't be life if you could just bring people back from the dead." she answered softly.

"I...I guess, but still. If you could, wouldn't you bring her back to life? Just to end the pain..."

"No, I can't say I would. Everything happens for a reason Alex."

Eames stared at her for a moment, waiting for Barek's serious mask to break. When it didn't, she made a noise of displeasure and stood. "Life sucks that way." and without another word the petite woman walked towards the break room, frustrated.

"Where's Eames?" Bobby inquired as he and Mike wandered over to Barek's desk.

"I thought you and her were having some 'girl time' and that's why Goren and I had to go and deal with the creepy M.E." Logan stated, plopping down in his not so comfortable office chair at his desk across from his partner's.

"In the break room. I think I might have made her a bit mad..." Carolyn admitted, frowning.

"What did you say?" her partner asked, leaning forward, emerald eyes inquisitive.

"Well..." she cast a glance at the break room where Eames was, sitting at one of the tables, her head in her arms. Sighing audibly, she shook her head. "You don't need to know."

"That bad huh?" Mike questioned, leaning back in his chair and crossing his arms over his chest. He shrugged, "Whatever then." his gaze switched to Bobby who was staring at the break room, observing his partner. "Why don't you go talk to her B-dog?"

"Call me that ever again and I will be forced to take you out back and beat you." Goren stated dryly.

"Heck, if you ever call him that I'll help him beat you up." Barek added.

"Point taken." Mike replied, holding up his hands as a sign of surrender. Then both him and his partner watched Bobby walk away from them towards his partner.

"How much you want to bet there is something going on between them?" Logan inquired.

"Pfft. Why do you keep looking for something that's not there?" his partner replied, brows raising.

"Because there must be something there!"

"Yeah, they are partners. Two people who have been working together for more than five years. Best friends."

"Lovers."

Barek beamed him in the head with a crumpled up sticky note.

"I'm serious Barek!" he exclaimed.

"Keep your voice down." his partner hissed, beaming him in the head with another sticky note.

"Sorry..." he answered, his voice softer.

Carolyn leaned back in her chair, eyes closing for a moment.

"I still think there is something more than just partnership between them..."

"Oh shut up Mike."

"Fine fine...I was just saying..."

"Shut up."

"Okay, shutting up." and with that another crumpled up sticky note collided with his head.

She was lost in thought and almost jumped out of her skin as a warm hand came to rest on her shoulder. Bolting up in her seat, Detective Eames tilted her head backwards slightly, her hazel eyes meeting the dark chocolate eyes of her partner.

"Hey." he greeted softly, offering a slightly sheepish smile. "I didn't mean to scare you."

Alex shrugged lightly, "You didn't scare me, you just...startled me."

"Well, none the less, I'm sorry for 'startling' you." he took a seat beside his partner, watching her. "Are you alright?"

"Yeah, why wouldn't I be?" she asked, throwing on a weak smile.

"I heard Barek said something that upset you...and got worried."

"Well, you don't have to worry about me Bobby, I'm fine." she answered.

"Oh come on Eam--"

"Alex." she practically snapped.

"What?"

"Call me Alex, it's my name after all." she muttered.

"Oh, sorry...Alex." he offered her a slight smile as she seemed to relax when he used her first name.

"What's bugging you?" he asked, head tilting to the side slightly.

"This case." came her answered as she crossed her arms on the table and once more rested her head on them, eyes closing. "We haven't even been at it for a day and I'm already starting to feel stressed. I feel so bad for Deakins...I mean, to lose his kid..." she paused, exhaling slowly. "I wish there was something I could do for him."

"I know how you feel Ea--" he froze as she shot a glare in his direction. "Alex." he watched her close her eyes. His hand returned to her shoulder as his thumb gently rubbed the curve of her neck, working out a knot. "But there is something we can do for him y'know." he stated softly, smiling at his partner who was practically purring from the slight contact. "We can solve this case quick and easy."

"Easier said than done."

"We are the legendary Goren and Eames, partnered with Barek and Logan, we are unstoppable. This will be easy."

"What if we don't catch the guy?"

"We'll cross that bridge when we come to it." he stated softly, and blinked as Eames sat up. Their eyes met for a moment, before Eames pitched forward into his arms. Goren instinctively wrapped his arms around his partner's small form, holding her against his chest. He gently rubbed her back in a soothing manner, feeling her relax against him.

"We'll get the guy Eames, I promise." and I only hope I can live up to that. He thought to himself, simply holding his partner as his thoughts drifted.