Deakins was almost back to the city when one of the phones in his pocket began to ring. He pulled off onto the shoulder and began pulling out phones. The third one was the ringer. It was Goren's. "Hello?"

There was a hesitation, then a woman's voice, "You're not Bobby."

Deakins felt his gut clench. He knew the voice. "No, I'm not."

"Is this the captain? Are you protecting your boy?"

"Yes, this is the captain, and no, I am not protecting him. Detective Goren is perfectly capable of protecting himself."

"Really? Then what was he doing five months ago in that Seaside motel, besides bleeding all over his sweet, little partner? Was that protecting himself?"

Deakins frowned but refused to take the bait. "What do you want, Nicole?"

"That's simple. I want your detectives. You can't keep them hidden forever."

That much was true. But he wasn't planning to keep them hidden forever. "They aren't being hidden. They're on a case that took them out of state."

See if she took his bait. "How fun for them. A field trip. Are you sure you trust Bobby with that adorable partner of his? He seems…taken with her." Again Deakins failed to take the bait. He remained silent. "What, no comment on that? It's against the rules, but I'm sure you know that. Is Bobby really that special, that you would bend the rules, just for him?" She laughed, and it was an evil, mirthless sound. "I really should let you know that I will find your detectives."

"Since their assignment is classified, I kind of doubt that."

"Don't underestimate me. Look what happened to Bobby when he made that mistake. I'll be in touch again. When you talk to him, tell him I said hello. Good bye, Captain."

Deakins closed the phone and rubbed his face, waiting for his gut to slowly unclench. He sighed. He wasn't going to tell Goren just yet. Let him relax for a little while. If anyone needed to unwind, it was Bobby.

He slipped the car into gear and pulled back onto the road.

---------------------------------------------

The door to the cabin opened and closed. Logan came out onto the porch and stood by the door for a moment, watching Eames. She was on the far side of the porch, looking out toward the lake. Puzzled, it took him a moment before his eye caught what she was looking at.

He walked up behind her. "Kind of a loner, isn't he?"

She sighed. "Not really a loner, Mike. Just lonely."

Down by the lake, they both watched as Goren walked, stooping occasionally to pick up a rock and skip it across the water. "He's not upset or anything, is he?"

"No. Just thinking."

"Does he ever not think?"

She looked back at him. "Not usually."

The cabin door opened again and Barek joined them. She looked down toward the lake. "What's he doing?"

Logan looked at her. "What do you think he's doing?"

Eames had been undecided about whether or not to head down to the water and talk to him. She wasn't sure exactly what was going on, but she was afraid she had an idea. "I'll be back," she said, finally deciding he'd been alone long enough.

Goren looked up as she approached. He smiled at her, but there was a haunted look in his eyes that prevented the smile from reaching them. She sighed. "Penny for your thoughts?"

He just shook his head and continued walking along the water's edge. She fell in step beside him. "No?" she asked. "So is it because a penny's not enough or you're just not willing to share?"

"I'm just not willing to share."

She walked along beside him in silence for awhile. He was surprised that she didn't push it. But she didn't have to. She knew where his thoughts were. "You're thinking about Nicole," she said. His silence was all the answer she needed. She remained quiet a little while longer. "You're wondering what she's up to, who she's going to hurt next, when she's going to…find us."

He looked at her. "You…you worry about that, d-don't you? That…that she's going to find us."

His hesitancy told her that it really bothered him that she worried. "Yes," she answered. She looked up at him. "What else worries you?"

"You know what I worry about."

"Yes, I do. But I want to hear you say it. I want you to put your fears into words."

He stooped over to pick up a stone, skipping it across the water. "I…I worry about you…about Barek and Logan. I…I don't want there to be…any more victims. Not one of you asked for this." He wouldn't look at her. "But all three of you got…drawn in by her…because of me."

"Can you change any of it?" He shook his head. "Then quit brooding. The best we can do—the only thing we can do—is be ready."

"'We…'" He picked up a stick and turned it over in his hands. "That's just it. She's turned 'me' into 'us.' She knows me, Alex. She can only…hurt me so much with my past. But my present?" He finally looked at her. "She can destroy me with that, and she's figured that out."

Eames knew that nothing she could say could change what he'd just said. She also knew how very true it was. Softly she said, "I'm not going to let her destroy you."

He snapped the stick in half. "Five months ago she nearly did."

"But now we know."

He shook his head. "How can I put you—and them—at any further risk?"

She stepped in front of him, placing both hands against his chest. "It's out of your hands. Do you care about me, Bobby?"

"Of course I do."

"So you care about how I feel…what I think?"

"Yes."

"Well, then, listen to me. You aren't the only one who worries. I worry, too… about you. I know you are concerned about Nicole hurting me. But I want you to bear this in mind. She can hurt me and she never has to touch me. She can devastate my life by taking you from it. I know you understand that. I want you to keep that in your mind. Remember, it's not all about you and how you feel." He looked down between her arms at the ground. That was something he truly wished she hadn't said…because it changed things. At some level, he had always know she felt that way, but unspoken it had been easier for him to discount it.

"I wish you hadn't said that," he said softly.

"I know. That's why I said it."

"Damn it, Eames…"

"I know you better than you realize, Goren. Sometimes it scares me." He finally raised his eyes to meet hers. She saw the smile there. "You don't have to like it. Just accept it."

"I don't have a choice, do I?"

"No, you don't."

"Just like you won't give me a choice about letting you watch out for me."

"Exactly." She touched his cheek, sliding her hand behind his head and drawing him closer. She teased his lips with hers. Groaning softly, he pulled her close and kissed her firmly.

When Eames stepped into his arms, Barek stepped away from the edge of the porch. She grabbed Logan's arm and yanked him with her. "Give them some privacy, you pervert."

"Hey, it's not like he's gonna…"

"It doesn't matter, Logan. Come on. Let's see about getting dinner on."