"Eames would have known," it was out of his mouth before he could stop and think about what he was.

It wasn't his fault that some how Alex had managed to become the center of his world. No it wasn't his fault that he couldn't function normally unless she was with him. It wasn't his fault that it hurt everyday that he had to come in and look at the empty chair across from him while listening to Bishop try to tell him something about the case they where working on. He couldn't stand the red head that they had stuck him with, mainly because she wasn't Alex.

He wondered when his tiny blond haired partner had become the center of his world. He couldn't find it for the life of him, and that was what he did best, find things. It was probably gradual, like driving out of a rain storm. You couldn't pinpoint the exact location that the drops stopped falling but there was the inevitable fact they did. What he did know was that he still had a while before she came back, before that red haired devil woman left. He would be able to go back to his old habits of coming in loaded down with coffee and doughnuts just to get the smile of relief from Alex as she stole the ones he always bought for her. He would once more work until his eyes crossed and his head felt like lead just so he would be able to see that little smile of triumph she got when she knew they where close to getting whatever scum of the earth they where chasing. He had realized in this short time that if Alex where to ever leave, to ever change partners, he would probably be checked into a mental hospital. She was the last link he had to the real world.

He cursed her for being so helpful, so caring. Yet that was what made him love her. Okay he admitted it, he loved her. He could only imagine how hard it must be to have something inside of you for nine months only to have it ripped from your arms and placed in your view but out of your grasp. Alex was selfless and this was only showed for what she was doing for her family. She had told him once, after some case involving someone's child, that she wanted to have a baby of her own someday and that she doubted it would happen because if her job didn't scare away the guy she somehow did. He had mused on it the whole night how she could possibly scare guys away, she was perfect… at least to him. Of course he would probably never tell her, she wasn't the type of person to fall in love on the job. He also realize he should probably start paying attention to Bishop and whatever she was rambling about.


She was out of the hospital she had called and told him that while he was at work. And somehow instead of driving home his car had pointed to her apartment, as if on its own free will. He needed to see her, he needed to make sure she wasn't upset at all about this. There was something in her voice when she called, something he had never heard before, an uncertainty. If that wasn't enough to make him bolt from the office the second he had heard it in her voice it was definitely enough to make him rush over to see her the second he got off of work. So for the first time in over two years, Robert Goren left his job at exactly the time he was meant to.

Alex was a little surprised when he bell range and bobby was outside. She hadn't seen him for weeks and now he was at her house with no warning. A little concerned she opened the door and let him in. She was trying to piece together the possibilities of what could have happened to make him come here with that worried face on.

"Are you okay?" they asked in unison.

"Me? I'm fine I thought something was wrong you never get out of work this early," Alex said still looking confused.

"No I was…" But Bobby trailed off knowing that telling Alex he was worried about her would open another subject, one he didn't… rather wasn't sure was safe to get into.

"You where what?" Alex asked knowing if she didn't speak up soon she would lose Bobby in his train of thoughts.

"I wanted to make sure you where feeling okay," Bobby said slowly picking the exact words he wanted to say, the last thing he needed was to anger Alex.

"I'm fine just a little tired," Alex said rolling her eyes knowing there was something he was holding back, she wasn't going to push… not just yet.

"Oh if you want I can…" Bobby trailed off once more as he gestured towards the door.

"No you can stay… god knows I need company," Alex said before heading towards the kitchen, "Want a drink?" she asked disappearing into it.

"Sure," Bobby said before sitting down.

It was a little awkward right now. Sure he had been in Alex's apartment before, hell, he had even slept over, but this was different. There weren't piles of manila folders lying around with the latest case inside of them. No tonight he was here for something that had nothing to do with work, he was worried about her. Of course he knew that if he told her he was worried about her she would kick his ass to New Jersey and back for insinuating she had a weakness.


For the next four hours they talked about everything it seemed. About how Bishop wasn't a good replacement, Alex insisted he didn't like her because she couldn't read his mind. About how Alex was getting bored with not being at work and couldn't wait until she got back, she even admitted to missing his little quirks. And then somehow they ended up sitting on her couch watching some movie with Angelina Jolie and Denzel Washington. Alex had enjoyed herself by throwing bits of popcorn at Angelina every time she went to say something intelligent. Halfway through Bobby noticed that she had stopped. Only when her head fell on his chest did he notice she had completely fallen asleep.

When the credits rolled and the clock struck ten Bobby figured he should wake Alex up before he went home. Reaching over he shook her slightly just to wake her, his only response was her falling back over when he let go. Shaking a bit harder he got a muffled response of "Go away" from what appeared to be the still sleeping Alex. Remembering she had said she was tired when he had gotten there he realized she wasn't going to wake up anytime soon. He had seen her when she had fallen into a deep sleep before, one time on a case when she hadn't slept for three days and she fell asleep at her desk. Shifting a bit Bobby stood up before reaching down and picking up the ever sleeping Alex.

Carrying her to her room he stopped just outside the door so he could shift her in his arms to open the door. He had never been in Alex's room, or even this end of her apartment before so he wasn't sure what to expect. He did a quick survey of the dark room and smiled to himself when he saw her bed, it was a complete mess. He lowered her gently on the bed not to wake her up. He attempted to straighten out the bedspread before pulling it over Alex. He stood up and looked around the room, he couldn't help it, it was habit to look at things and analyze them.

The room was rather bare in furniture, but photos there where an extreme amount. Some where what he assumed was Alex as a child with her family, red haired braids with a large smile plastered on her face as her father held her upside down. Then there was her high school graduation, she was standing in front of her parents holding her diploma with a large grin, the red had faded a lot from her hair leaving it more blond. The her academy graduation, Alex standing next to a man who appeared to have graduated about the same time. Then there was a picture that caught him off guard, he knew she had been married before, but he had never known more than that. Alex in a long white dress kissing the same man from her academy photo who wore a tuxedo. Then the photos became more spread out in time. Alex with some other girl wearing fishnets and boots she often referred to as hell boots, from her time in Vice he figured. Suddenly what caught him by surprise, more so than her wedding photo, was a photo of the two of them. They where standing next to each other, both leaning on their desks holding folders. He couldn't help but smile, he was important enough to be placed along with all her other treasured memories.

"Enjoying yourself, Goren?" Alex's sleepy voice trailed from behind him.

"Uh… I... Uh…" Bobby stammered looking much like the kid who got caught stealing from the cookie jar.

"Relax, Bobby," Alex said as he turned to face her.

She was propped up on her elbow, appearing to have been watching him for a while. He damned himself quietly for not being able to just put her in the bed and leave. No he had to stay and look at photos of her life.

"I was just amazed by how many photos you can fit on one wall," he said trying to think of a way to get out of trouble.

"No you where analyzing my life, Goren. I know that and it's okay I come to expect that from you," Alex said with a sleepy smile on her face.

"I'm sorry," Bobby couldn't help himself from saying, it was the only thing he could think to say.

He was amazed at how she managed to look so beautiful while still half asleep. He was pretty certain her mind was working on autopilot seeing as her eyelids where fluttering shut for longer than a normal blink. But somehow she was still beautiful, not like he had expected anything different from Alex.

"You're staring," Alex said even though her eyes had now stayed shut.

"Sorry," Bobby said before walking forward.

Before he could think about what he was doing Bobby walked forward and pressed a soft kiss to Alex's forehead. "Night Alex," he said before turning and leaving her room and then her apartment and building.

Suddenly Alex wasn't tired anymore.


Ah yes I feel this one is a more appropriate length. Once more I'd like to thank my Beta reader who undoubtedly had a field day with all the run-ons in this chapter. I also would like to thank underarrest39, Caia, flightRN, Secret Phoenix679, bammi1, and The Confused One. Thank you guys for your reviews it's much appreciated, I love getting feedback on my writing. Oh and If I missed anyone I'm sorry!

Also I realized I forgot to do this in chapter One

Disclaimer: Don't own them… if I did do you really think this show would be suitable for

regular TV? Yeah me neither, Dick Wolf… yada yada yada

Oh by the way the movie with Denzel and Angelina was "The Bone Collector" it was running on USA while I was waiting to watch Law & order: CI and so I was forced to watch it… good movie though.

And another thing this may be produced a bit slower because I'm also planning to start a Law & Order: SVU fanfic…. But I'll try to do about even with both