Eames stomped the snow from her boots and shook it from the shoulders of her coat as she got on the elevator and pushed eleven. She took a deep breath and waited until the doors opened. Walking past the Christmas tree in the corner of the hallway, she entered the clean open space that was the Major Case bullpen. It was Christmas Eve and there weren't many people milling around the room. Only one or two active cases were being investigated by other detectives. She wasn't surprised to see that her partner was already at his desk. She hung up her coat and walked to her desk. He looked up and smiled at her. "How was the drive?"

"Not bad, but it's still snowing. It'll be nice to have a white Christmas."

"If you say so." Christmas never meant much to him, but Eames loved the holiday.

"Are you busy tonight, Bobby?"

"No. Why?"

"I'd like to take you someplace."

He folded his hand together and rested his chin on them, interested. "Where?"

"It's a surprise."

He looked suspicious now. "What kind of surprise?"

She smiled. "The kind of surprise where I don't tell you anything about it until we get there."

"I don't know, Eames..."

"Trust me."

He studied her for a long moment. "All right. But you could have waited until the end of the day to ask."

"Now you're going to wonder all day, right?"

"Right."

She laughed. "A little wondering about something you can't figure out isn't going to hurt you."

He grinned. "But what's it going to do to you?"

"What do you mean?"

"I'm going to try to get it out of you all day now."

"Good luck, Goren," she challenged with a smile and a twinkle in her eye.

He was as good as his word. They didn't have a case, so they hung around the squad, working on the endless flow of paperwork that always filled their inboxes. He spent the day sneaking up behind her and leaning over her shoulder close enough for her to feel his breath on her neck and smell his cologne. Not for the first time, she thought how good he smelled and how much she liked having him close, then she chased those thoughts from her mind. "Come on, Eames. Tell me," he'd whisper in her ear and she'd chase him away.

He tormented her all day, and she enjoyed every minute of it. She had a sneaking suspicion he did, too. Somehow, she managed to hold out until the end of the day, but he hadn't made it easy. He was like a little kid in so many ways, and that just endeared him to her more. At ten after five, she finally said, "Get your coat, Goren."

She didn't have to tell him twice. It had continued snowing all day and she put the car into four wheel drive just to be on the safe side. She headed the car out of Manhattan.

He sat quietly in the passenger seat, watching the snow-covered scenery slide by. He'd been trying to figure out where she could be taking him, but she gave him no clue and he was even more confused now. "I give up, Eames. Where are we going?"

She made one concession and told him their destination. "To New Rochelle."

"Why?"

"That you have to wait and see."

He huffed impatiently and she laughed. He turned toward her. "You're enjoying this."

"Yes, I am."

He looked away to hide his smile. It had been a very good day, and he'd enjoyed himself. It didn't bother him that he hadn't been able to crack her resolve. He hadn't tried terribly hard. He'd just been annoying, and he was pleased that he'd made her laugh over the course of the day. They had both ignored the odd looks Deakins had been giving them all day long. They worked hard and it was rare to have a free day to unwind and relax. The captain knew that and he left them alone. It was just a matter of time before another case came in.

Eames turned into a nice neighborhood on the outskirts of New Rochelle. A few minutes later, she turned into a driveway. He looked at her. "We're here," she announced.

"We're where?" he asked.

"Just come on."

She got out of the car and he followed her up the walkway to the front door. She rang the bell and waited until an older woman came to the door. She smiled at the two detectives on the doorstep. "Hello, Alex, dear. Please, come in."

Eames hugged the older woman. "Hello, Mrs. Carson. This is my partner, Bobby Goren. Bobby, this is Helen Carson."

Helen looked up at the tall detective. "I am so happy to finally meet you," she said. "Come in please. Dinner is almost ready."

Goren eyed his partner warily. They were led into the living room, where an older man, obviously her husband, rose to greet them. "Hello, Alex," he smiled and hugged her, kissing her cheek.

She motioned Goren forward and introduced him to Helen's husband, Fred. Goren shook his hand. "It's a pleasure, sir."

Helen poked her head in the room. "Fred, could you please set the table?"

"Please excuse me. Make yourselves at home."

Goren turned to his partner. "Ok, Eames. I'm way at a disadvantage here. They seem to know who I am, but I'm clueless. What's going on?"

"Be patient. I promise I'll explain in a minute."

"Eames..."

She rested a hand on his chest and shushed him. He snorted in annoyance, but fell silent. After a few minutes, a young woman came into the room, smiling at the two detectives. "Hi, Alex."

Eames embraced the young woman. "Hi, Vickie. How are you doing?"

"I'm great."

She looked at Goren, and she remembered him. He tipped his head, studying her. She looked familiar, but he couldn't place her. Eames touched his arm. "This is Bobby Goren, Vickie. I promised you I would let you know if I ever found him. Do you remember Vickie, Bobby?"

"I'm not sure."

"It was on the streets, in December, five years ago. She was a runaway, trying to make her way on the streets, until an undercover narcotics officer risked his life to save her from her first john." Eames knew the moment he remembered her. He looked at her, then at Vickie.

Vickie smiled at him. "You were that officer. You saved me from more than that man that night. I came here to live with Aunt Helen and Uncle Fred, I graduated from high school and now I'm a psychology major at NYU."

He returned her smile. When she held out her hand to him, he gently drew her into his arms and hugged her. "I was glad to hear you left the streets," he said. "You should never have been out there."

She nodded. "I know that now. I felt trapped, lost, and helpless back then. I can never thank you and Alex enough for what you did."

She stepped back from his arms and he quietly said, "There's no need."

Just knowing she had stepped away from that life and into this one was more than thanks enough for him. Children should be safe and loved. He tried to push away the memories of his own unhappy childhood, where security did not exist and love was rarely expressed. Helen's pleasant voice pulled him from his dark thoughts. "Dinner's ready."

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They sat around the dining table and waited while Fred said grace. Then the food was passed around. Vickie kept looking from her plate to Goren, then to Eames and back. Finally, she summoned her nerve and looked at Goren. "Officer Goren?"

He looked at her. "Uh, you can call me Bobby."

She seemed to relax and Eames smiled. He had a way of setting people at their ease when he wanted to. "There are some things I really need to know. Things that have bothered me all this time."

Helen spoke up before he could answer. "Vickie, darling, let the man eat. This can wait until after dinner."

The girl frowned, and Eames wondered what her partner was going to do to smooth this over. She knew he wouldn't leave it like this. "Uh, do you like the snow, Vickie?"

She looked confused. "Yeah, I guess so," she replied, tentatively.

"Do you mind walking in the snow?"

She hesitated, trying to figure out where this conversation had come from. "Actually, I love walking in the snow."

"When we're done eating, if you'd like to take a walk with me, I'll answer all your questions."

The confused frown vanished from Vickie's face, replaced by a warm smile. "I would like that. Thank you."

He nodded, glancing at Helen, who also gave him a warm smile of gratitude. She loved her niece dearly and hated hearing about those times because she couldn't chase away thoughts of what could have happened to this sweet, gentle girl.

After dinner, Goren helped Vickie on with her coat and looked at Eames. "Come with us."

She started to shake her head, but Vickie grabbed her hand. "Yes, Alex. Please."

Goren lifted her coat from its hook near the door and held it for her. She smiled at him and slipped into it. He grabbed his coat and followed the two women out the door.

They headed down the block, letting Vickie lead since she knew the area. The two detectives remained silent, waiting for the young woman to speak. Finally she did, looking up at him. "I really want to know why. I mean, Alex told me what you risked by stepping out of that alley and taking down that man. And I saw him almost stab you. I...I relive that night often. Mostly it's ok, but sometimes I have nightmares, and those nightmares involve you dying to save me. I never knew if anything happened to you because of what you did for me, and Alex didn't either, until recently. It would have been so much easier, and safer, for you to have stayed where you were. Surely you are used to hookers being on the streets if you were undercover in the same world. I can't believe you did that for every hooker you saw."

He shook his head. "Unfortunately, that wasn't my job. I learned a long time ago that I can't save the world."

"So why me?"

He sighed. "Because you were a baby, Vickie. You didn't belong there. I could tell you'd never done it before, and you were scared. That guy was drunk and probably high, and there was a killer out there targeting prostitutes. I could have stayed where I was. Alex would have been along shortly. But I didn't know that. All I saw was a frightened little girl, and I had to do something. I couldn't leave you there at his mercy." He shrugged. "I have enough trouble sleeping at night."

"How did you know I was scared?"

"I could tell just by looking at you. You were trembling, and it wasn't entirely from the cold. I know people."

"He's right," Eames added. "Bobby can read people like no one I've ever known."

He smiled at his partner's compliment, then looked back at Vickie. "You didn't belong on the streets, Vickie. I am so glad everything turned out well for you."

"Both of you saved my life," she said quietly. "And so did my aunt and uncle."

"What sent you to the street?" he asked.

She was quiet for a while, thinking about the best way to phrase her answer. "I...I couldn't take it at home any more. My parents were alcoholics. They beat on each other, then they beat on me. I was tired of being hurt."

He understood that better than either of them would ever know. His childhood had been much the same. Softly, he said, "I understand that. I never ran away, but I had a hard childhood, too." He glanced at Eames. Her eyes told him to go on, but he wasn't sure he should. "My father was an alcoholic and my mother was sick. I know how bad it can get."

"Do you really?"

He met her eyes. "Yeah, I do."

She believed him, and her eyes filled with tears. He stopped, pulling her into his arms as she burst into tears. He looked at Eames, not sure what to do. She reached out and ran her hand down his arm. He was doing the only thing he could by holding her and letting her cry.

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The black SUV made its way through the frozen slush on the highway as they headed back to Manhattan. Goren hadn't said a word since they'd gotten in the car. Finally, Eames sighed and broke the silence. "Talk to me, Bobby."

Torn from his thoughts by her voice, he looked at her. "What?"

"Talk to me. What are you thinking?"

There was no way in hell he was going to share his thoughts with her, not the thoughts she'd drawn him from. Remembering Christmas Past for him was not a nostalgic stroll down memory lane. It was a voyage into the stuff of nightmares. He turned his mind away from his thoughts and studied his partner instead. "Thank you, Eames."

"For what?"

"For surprising me," he smiled. "It was a great surprise. I'm glad things turned out so well for her."

"So am I." She was quiet for a minute. "What are your plans for tomorrow?"

"I'm just going to visit my mom."

"How about spending the night at my place? The roads are pretty messy."

"I don't want to impose. I can get a cab, or take the subway..."

"Are you saying you don't want to spend the night?"

No, he wasn't saying that at all. He loved spending time with her, probably too much. "No. I just don't want to put you out."

"How are you going to put me out by spending the night on my couch?"

He looked at her. "Aren't you spending the day with your family tomorrow?"

"Later in the day."

Finally, he relented. It was what she wanted..."Ok, Eames."

It took much longer to get home than normal because of the weather. She was glad he'd agreed to stay. When she finally parked the car, she let out a sigh of relief. "That wasn't fun," she commented.

"I would have driven."

"No thanks," she answered with a smile. He smiled back. They headed up to her apartment, hung up their coats and she started for the kitchen. "What do you want to drink?"

"Surprise me," he said with a grin.

She looked at him. "You still trust me to surprise you?"

"Yes, Eames. I trust you."

She held his eyes for a moment, then disappeared into the kitchen. He sat down on the couch, resting his elbows on his knees. When she sat beside him and handed him a glass, he turned his head to look at her. Softly, she asked, "How do you spend your Christmases?"

"Alone," he answered with a shrug.

"You shouldn't have to."

He laughed softly, but it wasn't a happy laugh. "Who would I spend it with? I visit my mom for a few hours, if she's having a good day. My father's dead, and I wouldn't spend any part of the day with him anyway. I can't remember the last time I saw my brother. So I come back from Carmel Ridge and I have a few drinks and I go to bed."

He looked at her as if he expected her to look for a way out, an escape route. What he got shocked the hell out of him. She gave him a sad smile and gently kissed him. It was a friendly, affectionate kiss. "Well, now you have me," she said softly. "I'll go to see my family while you go to visit your mom. Call me when you're on your way back and meet me here. We'll watch a movie and have a few drinks together."

He studied her. "Why would you do that, Eames?"

"Because you are my best friend, Bobby, and I want to."

"Best friend?"

"Yes. We're together most of the time, and I've found I like it. I've always loved my job, but I love it more now because you are part of it. We have a hard job, but we're good at it. You always keep me guessing, always make me think. It's challenging and stimulating, and I like being with you, Bobby. Don't look so surprised. Don't you think of us as friends?"

"Of course, but..."

"You didn't think I did?"

"I haven't really thought about it."

"Why?"

"I haven't had to, I guess. Maybe I just took it for granted."

She smiled. "Well, if you have to take anything for granted, I guess my affection for you is a good thing to take for granted."

Affection? He felt out of his depth here. It really was time to change the subject. He took a drink, then looked at the glass with a frown. "What's this?"

"You tell me."

More games. She'd been in a playful mood all day long, and he loved that...but he was getting uncomfortable now and it had nothing really to do with her. "Chocolate milk? With mint...?"

She laughed. "Peppermint schnapps, actually. It's my holiday drink."

He couldn't help but laugh with her. And the laughter helped relieve some of his tension. "Well," she said. "I'm going to bed. You can watch TV or whatever. I'll see you in the morning."

He nodded. "Thank you, again. Good night, Eames."

She kissed his cheek and headed down the hall to her room. He sighed. It took him a long time to settle down so he could sleep.

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When she came out in the morning, he was gone. There was a note on the table. Alex, I had to go. I'll call you later.

Had to go? She frowned and pulled out her phone. She walked into the living room and stopped dialing. There was a small box under her tree, wrapped in red foil. She picked it up and pulled the card off. Opening it, she read: I've never been much for the holidays, but I know how much you love Christmas. I just wanted to say thanks, for everything. Merry Christmas. love, Bobby

She smiled and opened the box. It was a crystal angel, trimmed in gold. She set the angel on a shelf near the television and finished dialing.

"Goren."

"Hi."

"Sorry I had to leave. Did you get my note?"

"Yes. And your gift."

"Oh."

"Thank you, Bobby."

"You're welcome."

"Why did you leave?"

"I, uh, I just needed some time...by myself."

She understood that because she understood him. "Are we still on for tonight?"

"Sure. I'll call you on my way back from Carmel Ridge."

"Tell your mom Merry Christmas for me."

"I will." She could hear the smile in his voice. "See you later."

"Bye."

She closed the phone and went into the kitchen to fix some breakfast before heading to her parents' house. She was surprised to find fresh coffee in the coffee pot. And she smiled again.

A/N: Shall I end it here, or do any of you want another chapter or two? Let me know what you think, or if you have any suggestions...