A/N: My apologies for the long wait. I just have a hard time finishing this one. The inspiration for the last chapters is difficult to find. And when I've found it, it's difficult to put on paper/computer and be happy with what I've written. However this chapter will hopefully make up for that wait. Some fluff as they of course also deserved. Next chapter will be the last one and to end this fic I thought it would be nice to have the four detectives get together again. If you have an idea for a activity/sport they could do, I'd love to hear it. I promise I'll try to have the next chapter up sooner than this one, but I don't know if I'll succeed.

Part nineteen

"You don't fool me. I know what you were up too." Alex snuggled closer to Bobby's side.

Smiling at how comfortable she now seemed with him he put his arm around her shoulder and pulled her against him. "What exactly are you talking about?"

"About you refusing truth questions." She felt him shift beside her. "Mike and Carol are your friends. You can trust them. They would never betray that trust. What is said in the room, will stay in the room. I thought you knew that."

It didn't surprise him that she'd figured him out. He knew her words were true, he knew Mike and Carol were his friends.

"How about we play our own game of truth and dare. This time you choose truth."

"And you choose dare, 'cause you didn't take any dares."

"Okay." Alex shifted on the couch so she could look at him. "Am I setting myself up for a disappointment, Bobby? Are you going to pull back again?" These were the answers she feared most. Now that he had showed her how it could be, she didn't want it to change. She knew now that this was what she wanted. She wanted Bobby in her life.

"I'm here to stay, Alex."

"Are you still afraid I'm going to leave you?" She knew his fear of abandonment and knew that it could make him do strange things.

"No… I… you're the one who stayed. You see more, you see me… you want to see me. I need you, Alex and I don't ever want to let go. Maybe…" He took her hand in his. " there's going to be a time when we won't be together and I know that's going to hurt. But I don't want to miss this." He gently kissed the back of her hand. He smiled slyly at her. "It's time for your dare. Ready?"

Was she going to regret agreeing to this deal? What was going through that man's mind? "Bobby…" She tried to warn him, but was silenced by his finger on her lips.

"Relax." He whispered. "All I want is a kiss."

She smiled at him. A kiss, that she could do,… and well the added bonus was that she didn't really have a problem with that dare. Placing her small hand on his cheek, she pulled him towards him. As soon as their lips met, Alex deepened the kiss, their tongues tangling with each other. Sliding her hand through his hair she tried to pull him even closer. Ending the kiss she gave him feather light kisses, from his jaw to his ear. "Was that good enough?" She whispered into his ear, kissing the lobe softly.

"Mmm… I guess you did all right."

"All right, huh? If you keep that up, you might not be getting any more."

"Does it bother you that I admitted I found Mike attractive?" She'd seen his reaction to her admittance. She was surprised by the look of acceptance in his eyes.

"No." He said it with the conviction he felt. At one time he had been jealous of Mike, but now he saw that Mike was only a friend to Alex. "I admit that at one time I did feel jealous, but I know there's no need to be jealous. Alex, you're a beautiful woman and I see how men react to you. At times I didn't feel worthy, I thought you could do so much better than me. Now, I realize that you want me as much as I want you."

She gave him a big smile and a quick kiss on his lips. She needed to know he trusted her and was sure about her feelings for him. She didn't want him to doubt her and what they had. He didn't and it felt good.

Now it was his turn again and he could finally do what he had planned. "Take off your sweater and bra and lie down on the couch, face down."

"What?" Surely she heard him wrong.

"You heard me."

"That's my dare? To take off my sweater and bra? I'm not sure if I want to…"

"Just take off the sweater, unhook your bra and lie down on the couch. Trust me." Giving her one more look, he walked out of the living room, giving her time take off her sweater and lie down.

He had made her a new massage oil. After the last time had not gone right, he'd wanted to give her a massage again. He had made a new one because of the hurtful words he had used before. This time the oil he'd made was called Enchanting Days and he was sure Alex would love it. After heating it up he walked back to the couch where Alex was lying down on the couch.

"Scoot over." He needed some room to sit down. Dribbling some oil on her back, he realized that this time he could enjoy and admire her beautiful back. Not that he hadn't found her back beautiful the last time. It was just that that last time he hadn't know if she would be all right with that.

Alex, realizing what he was going to do, sighed. She'd loved his massages and was sure going to enjoy this one. He had wonderful hands and knew how to use them. "You have wonderful massage hands." She said, feeling her muscles and herself relax.

"They're good in other things too." His hands were on her shoulders, kneading her muscles.

"Really?" She smiled even though he couldn't see it.

A silence settled between them. Bobby kept admiring her skin and Alex closed her eyes and focused on the feelings Bobby evoked in her. Working on her lower back he commented on her beauty. "Do you realize how you beautiful you are, Alex?" Not waiting for her answer he continued. "In my life I tried hard to never need someone in my life. Growing up I learned I could only count on myself. I hardly let anyone get close to me. I protected myself that way from getting hurt. It… it was lonely too. Then… we became partners and I felt less lonely. You… you became my best friend and I knew I had someone in my life who I could trust, someone I could count on. I cherished that. Soon though I realized that I felt more than friendship and I hoped you would feel the same. Alex, you…the essence of your breath is all I need. Everything after that, is an even greater gift. That is how I feel about you."

She had heard his every word. The depth of his feelings shouldn't have surprised her. Bobby's feelings were always very intense and deep to him. That was how he felt things that were close to his heart. Turning over she saw how his hands stilled on her stomach, how his eyes didn't wander over her body, only looked in her eyes. Taking his hands she pulled him closer and kissed him. Her hands found their way to the back of his neck, one wandering lower to feel his back, the other playing with his hair.

Wanting her, yet not wanting to go to fast, Bobby ended the kiss albeit with some reluctance. "Turn back over." His voice was rough with passion.

"Okay." Alex was just as affected by the passion.

Continuing the massage on her back, Bobby took a couple of deep breaths to calm himself and control his body. The movements of his hands were slowing down, not so much massaging as it was soothing. Looking at his watch, he knew it was time to go.

"Alex?" Getting no reaction he called her again, but still didn't get a reply. Looking at her, he saw that she had fallen asleep. He ran his hand over her hair before he hooked her bra, closing it. Leaning in he placed a soft kiss on her shoulder. "Come on, Alex." He lifted her up in his arms. He loved how she snuggled closer to him as he carried her into her bedroom. He pulled back her sheets and lowered her on the bed. As he was taking her shoes off, Alex woke up.

"Sorry." She said with a sleepy voice.

"It's okay."

Standing up, Alex walked over to the chair to get her night clothes. Bobby simply stood in her bedroom, unsure what to do. "I'll… I'd better go."

"Stay."

"I don't know if…"

"Stay." Alex said again. "Please."

Nodding his agreement he was unsure what to do next. But Alex quickly solved that. "I'll go change in the bathroom." Bobby stripped down to his t-shirt and boxers and sat down on Alex's bed. When Alex was ready, Bobby got into the bathroom and Alex locked the front door and switched off the lights in her living room. Getting into bed she waited for Bobby. As soon as he got into bed, she was at his side, her head on his shoulder. Bobby had other plans and rolled her over onto her back. Kissing her passionately he let his hands wander over her body. He wasn't going to make love to her. He thought that was too soon, but he let himself enjoy the moment. Ending the kiss, he spooned her. Placing a soft kiss on her neck, he wished her goodnight.

TBC...