Logan pulled the car into the parking lot and stopped it beside Goren's car. "I've got more damn mosquito bites...how come they don't bother either of you?"

Eames shrugged. "I just have one or two."

Goren tried hard not to smile. "Insect repellent."

Logan reached toward him but he ducked out of the way, giving in to his desire to laugh at him. "You're buying the damn drinks next time."

He slid his large frame out of the car and Logan looked at Eames. "You go with him and I'll follow. And if he tries to friggin' lose me I'll ram him."

"Don't worry, Mike. I'll watch out for you."

Goren was oddly quiet as they headed through the mountains toward Denver. Eames watched him for a few miles before she ventured, "Penny for your thoughts?"

She tossed a penny in his direction, surprised when he caught it without taking his eyes from the road. He handed it back to her. "They're about you, anyway."

"What about me?"

He sighed, trying to frame his thoughts into words. "Um, I guess you can imagine what was going through my head."

"Tell me, so I don't have to imagine."

"I couldn't think of what I'd done to make you leave."

"And that didn't give you a clue?"

"I never knew why the others left, either."

"But you could guess. I stayed through all that, Bobby. I came to like your...quirkiness. You're a...fun and interesting partner. You always keep me guessing, always surprise me, and I love that about you. I have no desire to give that up."

"I'm sorry I misunderstood. I would have come to see you..."

"I know. It was a hard case, though, and I just needed time to...recover."

"Were you glad I didn't come by?"

She thought about that. "No. No, I wasn't. I missed you. How crazy is that? I can spend fourteen or sixteen hours a day with you for two weeks, and then I go home for a weekend, and I miss you."

"It's not crazy. I...I miss you like that, too. I never get tired of being with you, Alex. And thinking you were ready to walk away from me...that damn near killed me."

"You should have talked to me."

"That's what Emily said."

Oh, fuck. He bit his lip. She raised an eyebrow. "Who?"

He shrugged, trying to be casual about it. "Another hiker I met on the trail." He frowned when she started to laugh. "What?"

"Leave it to you, Goren. You go running off to hide in the wilderness and you find a damn girl."

He clenched his jaw and kept his eye on the road. He failed to see any humor in it at all. But when her hand came to rest on his arm, his face softened. She reached up to gently stroke his cheek. "It's ok, Bobby. Really. What was she like?"

"Come to think of it, she was a lot like you. A lot of fire in her. She's a prosecutor in Austin. She told me I had to go home and work this out with you."

"So you didn't sleep with her?"

"Why so surprised, Eames? I don't jump in bed with every woman who crosses my path."

"But?"

He ran his hand over his hair and rubbed his chin. She knew him too well. "I...uh, I could have...would have...but I...well, she wouldn't have it."

She laughed again. "You're priceless, you idiot."

He frowned again. "What?"

"She wouldn't?"

"No. It wouldn't have been right, because I love you."

"But you.."

"I was hurting, Eames. I just...I wanted the fucking pain to stop for a little while. Can you get that?"

"Yes, Bobby. I get it. It's ok. She sounds like she has a lot of integrity. Maybe you can introduce us sometime."

"I think you'd like each other. I'm not sure how I'd fare though."

"Is that why you never introduce me to your girlfriends?"

"One reason."

She smiled. "So meeting up with Emily was a good thing?"

"For me, it was. I'm not so sure about her."

"Why?"

"You know how I am."

"You couldn't have been too bad if she liked you."

"Maybe she liked me...too much. That wasn't fair and I didn't mean...to cause her any pain."

"Shit, Bobby. Does everything have to be a guilt trip for you?"

"Thank my mom for that."

Reaching over, she played with his hair. "Eames...don't."

"If you ever start feeling guilty about us, I'm going to hurt you."

His mouth twitched as he suppressed a smile. She continued playing with his hair. "Unless you want me to drive off the road, stop that."

She laughed and sat back, turning her attention to the scenery, glancing back every once in awhile to make sure Logan was still behind them.

They decided to stop in Denver for the night, and Logan was excited when they found an all-you-can-eat steakhouse for dinner. "You're like a kid in a candy store," Eames observed.

"I just spent four days eating beef jerky and trail mix. I'm friggin' hungry!"

He slid into the booth opposite Goren and Eames and looked at them. "I am so not an outdoorsman, but I came out here with Eames because I care. Not because she made me feel guilty. I'm not a total prick. I take care of my friends."

Eames reached out and laid her hand over his. "And I said thank you...several times."

Logan shifted his eyes toward Goren, who said, "You didn't have to come after me. I was on my way back, anyway. But thank you for looking out for Eames. I know she can take care of herself. Hell, if she came face to face with a bear, I'd feel sorry for the bear." He laughed when she poked him in the ribs. "But I don't want her to be alone when she meets her match. So thanks, Mike."

Logan nodded and got up to get his food. As soon as he was gone, Eames laid a hand on her partner's thigh. He raised his eyebrows and looked at her. Gently she ran her fingers toward his knee, then up along his inner thigh. He closed his eyes and trembled. "Eames..."

She leaned closer and brought her mouth to his ear. "What?"

He swallowed. "What the hell are you doing?"

"You know what they say about paybacks?"

"P-paybacks? Payback for what?"

"For scaring the shit out of me."

"Eames..."

Logan returned. "Not hungry?"

"I'm going. Bobby?"

"I'll be there in a minute."

She smiled and left the table. Goren rested his forehead on his hand and sighed heavily. Logan snickered. "She getting to ya?"

"Shut up, Logan." He slid out of the booth and headed off to get something to eat.