Title: Bounce

Author: elfluvr

Summary: It all probably started on day one when he noticed how attractive she was and then discovered she was also bright and sharp-witted. Sequel to "Sexual Kinetics" and "Chanel No. 5."

Disclaimer: See previous stories.

Archive: Anywhere else, just ask

Feedback: Always welcome.

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A/N – So fluffy I had to name it after a dryer sheet. Actually, the title does somewhat relate to the story, and to quote Bobby Goren, "It's nice … how that worked out." This is a lot of writing (2 chapters) about nothing, so I'm not sure what I've accomplished here other than to get my muse to shut up for awhile.

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Bounce –Chapter 1

As soon as he opened the door to the club, the sheer volume of the music was enough to knock Bobby back on his heels. He decided to risk permanent hearing impairment because he knew he'd find her here. This was where she came when she needed to burn off nervous energy – or wanted to blot out the world with mind-numbing sound.

Some rap song was playing. He thought it was the one by that kid … what did Eames call him? M&M? Whatever – she liked to blast it whenever it came on the radio, before Bobby had a chance to change the station.

You better lose yourself in the music, the moment
You own it, you better never let it go
You only get one shot, do not miss your chance to blow
This opportunity comes once in a lifetime yo

He spotted her on the crowded dance floor with a group of women. Eames enjoyed dancing, but in this mob the most anyone could do was bounce up and down. During the hook she'd pump her fist in the air then – in a move he always loved to watch – she would place her palm flat on her pelvis and slide her hips in time to the beat. Something about that always got to him.

Standing there watching her, Bobby debated whether this was such a good idea. Eames had a pretty wicked aim with her knee.

In her other hand was her drink. Small glass with a swizzle stick. Figures it couldn't be something a little more tame, like beer or wine. Bobby ended his debate. It still may not be a good idea, but he was going to get her out of there and make sure she got home safely.

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"I was having fun in there! Why'd you pull me out?"

She'd been shocked when he walked up behind her and put his hand at the small of her back. But Eames' surprise quickly turned into a tug-of-war between them – her trying to get him to dance, him trying to get her to leave. The game had him grinning and her laughing until two of her dance friends decided to try their luck at tempting Bobby to stay. Eames abruptly gave up and headed toward the bar, draining her glass on the way.

He caught up with her before she reached her destination, placed his hands on her shoulders and steered her toward the door. She turned to say something he knew was a protest, but thankfully in all the noise he couldn't hear her. Bobby snagged the glass out of her hand and dropped it on the nearest table.

All of which left him standing here on the sidewalk trying to gauge what level of shit he was in – he thought maybe it wasn't too deep. On Eames' anger scale, he would say anywhere from 'slightly annoyed' to 'irritated.'

"I didn't 'pull' you out of there."

"Alright then … pushed." She crossed her arms in front of her and Bobby allowed himself the space of a heartbeat to appreciate the extra display of cleavage in the vee of her sleeveless sweater.

"I didn't push either," he objected, but when she raised her eyebrows and gave him 'that look,' he had to admit he didn't have a leg to stand on. "Okay, okay … maybe I … I pushed a little," he conceded. "You could use some coffee instead … you have work tomorrow."

"And? Who appointed you my keeper?" Eames was grumbling, but she didn't really sound all that pissed.

"You seemed … upset … when you left work."

For a moment he thought she was going to try to deny it – she had that stubborn set to her jaw. But then her eyes softened in defeat. With a sigh, Alex stuffed her hands in her jeans pockets, outlining just how well they fit. Her navel peeked above the waist and Bobby wondered briefly how many times he'd imagined licking that sensitive dimple in her flesh.

Alex leaned against the wall of the club and tipped her head back to the bricks. "I told David I didn't want to see him anymore."

He'd thought maybe it was something like that. "Was that before or after the flowers?"

A huge vase filled with a riot of colors had been delivered that morning. One look at Alex's face as she was reading the card told Bobby not to ask. When he walked back into One PP after lunch, he'd spotted the vase on the front reception desk.

"Before."

"Ah," he nodded. He had a sinking feeling about where this was going. "And now he's trying to win you back."

"Hardly," she gave him a wry smile. "The card basically said, 'I understand. Have a good life.'" Alex pushed off from the wall and started walking, luckily in the direction of the coffee shop he had in mind.

Bobby fell in step beside her. "I'm sorry," he lied.

"Really? 'Cuz I got the distinct impression you didn't like him very much."

He hesitated a moment, surprised she'd caught on to that. "But you did."

"At first." She angled her eyes toward him briefly then looked straight ahead.

They walked in silence and it gave Bobby time to think. When had he first started having these thoughts about his partner? Sure, it had gotten worse the past couple of months, but it started long before that night in the conference room. It was hard to pick a point in time because it had been such a gradual process, building on little things. Like realizing how sexy she looked wearing red. Or being aware of the curve of her hip when she stood beside his chair reading a case file on his desk. Maybe it was the first time he'd seen her in snug-fitting jeans at an inter-city softball game.

And maybe a more important question was when had he started having these feelings for his partner? Was it when he first realized that she understood him, and vehemently stood by him anyway? The first time they clicked so well in an interrogation you'd have thought they rehearsed the whole thing ahead of time. Maybe it was the first time he'd seen her cry – at Officer Davis' funeral when his widow collapsed beside his coffin in the church and sobbed out her grief.

Hell, it all probably started on day one when he couldn't help but notice how attractive she was and then discovered she was also bright and sharp-witted. Right then and there he should have requested a new male partner. It might have been worth the discrimination law suit.

TBC …