I'm sorry it has taken me forever to update.. and when I finally do it's barely a chapter, again I'm sorry. I guess I'm thinking in the lines of something is better than nothing ;)
Anyway, I hope you enjoy.

The elevator ride up to her apartment felt too short. Hector was already there installing the security system on her door. Things were getting worse around her and Abruzzi was beginning to get a little too close, so I want to make sure she's safe. But since I won't be able to stay at her side 24 hours a day, making sure myself that no one gets their hands on her, a security system hopefully will be the next best thing.

This was also the time to talk to her. I'd kept pushing it up and avoiding it ever since that night.How do you tell someone to go back to a person you don't even want to seethem with yourself? I just had to get a fucking grip and do it. I had got myself worked up over nothing, she's not really emotionally attached to me... I basically forced her into sleeping with me. She won't be hurt, she will probably be relieved. I can't do relationship and she has another man on her mind, why am I even making a big deal out of this?

I greeted Hector and quickly looked over the system before turning to say hi to Steph. When I met her gaze my stomach tvinged. I could see the anxiety in her eyes and couldn't bring myself to even open my mouth. Our eyes held for a few long moments before I turned back to Hector. He explained how the system worked and how she was supposed to use the keypad. Suddenly he changed the subject.

(In Spanish)

'So that's her huh?' he asked. He kept gesturing like he was still talking about the system, I guess he knew that I wouldn't be too happy if Steph understood what he was saying.

'That's the bounty hunter if that's what you mean.'

'She's hot! I can see why you're so obsessed with her.'

'I'm not obsessed with her, we work together.'

'Yeah, but you're not installing thousand dollar security systems for every woman you've ever worked with.' he said with a smirk. I didn't answer him but gave him a look that could kill. 'Whatever boss, but than since you don't have a thing going with her, then I guess you wouldn't mind me setting her up with my brother, I'm sure he would love to get it on with her.'

'If your sleazy brother goes anywhere near her, I swear to god I'll kill you.' The words came out before I could stop myself. Why did I say that? I knew that he was just fucking with me, this is exactly how he wanted me to react. Way to go Manoso. I quickly glanced over at Steph to make sure that she hadn't just understood what we said. By the bored look on her face I could tell that she hadn't.

Hector smirked at me. 'So it finally happened, a woman actually managed to twist Ricardo Manosos mind.'

'You better be very careful Hector, or you might find yourself without a job very soon.' I said in a calm but serious voice. Hector didn't take it too serious though. He knows me well enough to know that I won't fire him, he did however take the hint and lay off.

He handed me the remote and left. I waved Steph over to my side.

'This is your remote. It's a keypad, small enough to hook to your car. You have a four-digit code to open and close your door. If the door has been violated the remote will tell you. You're not attached to a watchdog. There's no alarm. This is designed to give you easy access and to tell you if someone's broken into your apartment, so you have no surprises. You have a steel dire door, and Hector's installed a floor bolt. If you locked yourself in, you should be safe. There's not much I can do about your windows. The fire escape is a problem. It's less of a problem if you keep your gun on the nightstand.' I explained to her.

She looked down on the keypad. From the way she shifted her wait restlessly from one foot to another, I could tell that she felt the need to say something she didn't really want to say. 'Does this go on the tab?' she finally asked in a small voice.

There they were. The words I'd dreaded to hear. 'There's no tab. And there's no price for what we give each other. Not ever. Not financial. Not emotional.' I wanted to make everything easy and simple, but instead the words came out harsh and quick. 'I have to get back to work.' I said before Ihad the chance to makesthings even worse and stepped back to leave.

She stopped me by grabbing the front of my shirt. 'Not so fast. This isn't television. This is my life. I want to know more about this no-emotional-price thing?'

'It's the way it has to be.' Come on Steph, I know this is what you really want.

'And what's this job you have to get back to?'

'I'm running a surveillance operation for a government agency. We're independent contractors. You aren't going to grill me on details, are you?'

She released my shirt and blew out a sigh. 'I can't do this. This isn't going to work.' She said quietly, staring down at the floor.

'I know... you need to repair your relationship with Morelli.' I didn't like saying it, but it's what needs to be done.

'We needed a time-out.' She said, biting her lip in an insecure way.

To see her bit her lip sent flashbacks from our night together into my head and suddenly I didn't care too much what the hell happened with Morelli. 'I'm being a good guy right now because it suits my purposes, but I'm an opportunist, and I'm attracted to you. And I'll be back in your bed if the Morelli time-out goes on for too long. I could make you forget about Morelli if I put my mind to it. That wouldn't be good for either of us.'

'Yeesh.' She said in a pitched voice, looking me in the eyes.

A smile tugged at my lips. 'Lock your door.' I said before I left her apartment.

Now that things were clear I felt that things needed to go back to the way they were before that night. I still want her around and I don't think I can take things being awkward between us. Therefore I will treat her like I did before, with all that comes to it. She will just have to live with the innuendos and teasing. I don't really know where my last words came from, but I do know they're true. I am an opportunist and I take the chances I get. That night did leave me wanting more and if she's available for too long, I don't think I can keep my hands to myself. And that wouldn't be good, I've tried being emotionally involved before and it never ended well. This is what's best for both of us.

What worries me is that I can feel that a small part of me wants the Morelli time-out to last.