Logan didn't know what he'd expected Emily to be like, but the woman who greeted them with a delighted smile and a warm hug was not her. He'd made up his mind that he wasn't going to like her because of the turmoil she was causing Goren, but dammit, he did like her. She was spunky, funny and smart. He also didn't miss the fact that she was a lot like Eames in build as well as in demeanor. Her wit was not quite as sharp, but she was observant and outspoken. No wonder she had thrown Goren for a loop and he'd fallen so damn hard. After meeting her, and listening to her, he simply couldn't dislike her. One look at his partner told him she was in the same situation.
He looked across the table at Goren, who was sitting between Eames and Barek. Emily was on Eames' other side, next to him. Goren was very quiet, and he wasn't sure what that was about. Logan noticed his gaze kept flipping from Eames to Emily and back as they conversed, but there was nothing in his eyes to betray anything he was feeling.
After Eames had finished her dinner, Goren leaned over and whispered in her ear. She looked at him with a smile, and for the first time all night, Logan saw emotion flash in his friend's eyes. They excused themselves and headed for the dance floor.
It was a slow number, and Eames slid her hand onto his side; he'd left his jacket on the back of his chair. He brought his hand to rest in the small of her back, holding her comfortably close. She smiled at him and he smiled back, his eyes bright. She said, "I'm sorry about last night, that we had to leave so early."
"It's ok." He brought his forehead down to rest against hers. "I miss you. Alot."
She stepped closer into his arms. "I miss you, too."
He didn't take his eyes from hers. "Are you two having fun?"
"Yes, we are. She's alot of fun. I really want her to have a good visit. Would you do me a favor?"
"What?"
"Dance with her."
"Uh, Eames..." Didn't she understand how off balance Emily made him? He was playing with fire, dammit, and he didn't want to get burned.
"Please, Bobby. It's important."
He looked puzzled. "Eames..."
"For me. Just because I asked you to, okay?"
He sighed. He really wasn't understanding her. It wasn't that he didn't want to dance with Emily as much as that he was nervous about it. It just seemed that when he was close to her his damn brain short-circuited and by the time he found the circuit breaker, he'd already done something stupid. Softly he said, "Ok, Alex. If you want me to, I will. But..." He leaned closer. "My first dance is always for you."
He leaned closer and kissed her. She smiled. "Thank you." She rested her head against his chest and he kissed her head. He'd always had a hard time telling her no.
Back at the table, Logan watched Emily. She was watching the couple out on the dance floor. He leaned closer. "You know, he's been in love with her for years, but he hesitated because he never wanted to jeopardize their partnership...and he wasn't sure how she felt. But now he knows."
Emily nodded. "She's very in love with him."
He continued watching her look from him to them. Barek watched him, wondering where he was going with this. "They're quite a team. They complement each other," he went on. "They've always had a connection. They can finish each other's thoughts. They're...in-sync with one another."
She looked at him and smiled. Logan was charmed...she did have a sweet smile. "You can put your hackles down, Detective Logan. I am here because Alex invited me. Yes, I wanted to see Bobby again, but I'm her guest."
Softly, he accused, "You're in love with him."
Another smile. "That has nothing to do with anything. I am not trying to take him away from her. I would never do that. And even if I was of that mind, I would never stand a chance."
Logan leaned back, away from her. Don't underestimate yourself, honey. "What makes you say that?"
"I saw what losing her would do to him, and I could never break his heart by making that happen. He belongs with her, not me." She nodded toward the dance floor. "I could never do that to him."
She watched them for a moment longer...how she held his gaze, how they kept so close to one another, how there was no way anyone could see them and doubt they were in love...
That was how it had been with Chris. And since meeting Bobby, she found herself missing her late love with renewed intensity, as though it had been just yesterday and not seventeen years ago that she had lost him.
Logan's hand came to rest lightly on her shoulder. "Are you all right?"
"Yes, detective. I'm fine."
"You can call me Mike. People who call me detective either don't like me...or I don't like them."
She smiled. "Thank you. Are you sure you like me?"
"Why wouldn't I?"
"You weren't so sure when you got here."
He laughed. She called them as she saw them and pulled no punches. "You must be one hell of a prosecutor. Yes, I'm sure I like you."
"Then I'll be glad to call you Mike."
Logan looked at his partner as he took a drink of his beer. "Gives the term spitfire new meaning, doesn't she, Barek?"
"I'm very impressed. She even makes you seem like less of an idiot, Logan."
"Gee...thanks. I think."
Emily laughed and smiled at Barek. "He suffers from foot-in-mouth disease?"
"A chronic case of it. I'm trying to get him out of it but I'm not sure which is going to happen first--he'll get better or I'll rattle his brains loose."
Logan rubbed the back of his neck as they laughed, relieved to see that the dance had ended. Goren held Eames' chair for her and then sat down, taking a drink. "I, for one, am glad you're back," Logan said.
Goren gave him an almost-smile. "They getting to be too much for you?"
"You know how much I hate being ganged up on."
"What'd you do now?"
"Nothing!"
"He was just being himself," Barek answered.
Eames had leaned over and spoken to Emily and now she nudged her partner. He looked at Emily. "You feel up to a dance?"
She smiled back. "I would love to."
Logan looked at Eames. "What's going on?"
"Nothing. Why?"
"You trust them out there?"
"It's a dance floor, Logan. What do you think they're going to do?"
He didn't know what to say, so, for a change, he opted for silence. He turned his attention to the dance floor, surprised that Eames didn't. She'd begun a conversation with Barek.
Emily turned lightly into his arms and he looked at her. "So what do you think of her?"
"No wonder you were so crushed when you thought she was leaving. I always got it that you loved her, but I really had no idea."
"So you like her?"
"Yes. Very much. She's good for you."
He smiled. "Yeah, she is. I don't think I told you that she went out to Colorado, did I?"
"She did?"
"Yeah. She dragged Mike along with her, almost kicking and screaming."
She laughed. "Why did they go out there?"
"She came after me."
Emily studied him. "I'm very impressed. She knew..."
"Yeah. I had talked to Mike but he ignored what I said because I was drunk. She knew better. So they tracked me down and she came after me. She...knew what kind of state I'd be in. I was better, because of you, but she wasn't wrong."
"You are very lucky. And so is she. I am happy for both of you."
"What about you?"
"What about me?"
"I hope you were serious when you told me you'd keep looking."
"Don't worry about me, Bobby. I found love once and that's enough for me."
"Emily..."
She touched his lips. "Shhh. I promise you, it's fine."
He fell silent, watching her as she moved lightly to his lead. She was a beautiful woman...almost as breathtaking to him as Alex was. He was acutely aware of her hand pressing against his side, and his hand against her back...Was Eames out of her mind? He fought down the urge to kiss her, opting instead to press his fingers into her back, drawing her two steps closer and willing his brain not to shut down.
She took a deep breath and rested her head against his chest. He felt her tremble against him and leaned over to look at her face. "Are you okay?"
"I...think I need to sit down."
"Sure. We can go back to the table."
She held on tightly to his hand as he led her back to the table. Logan was frowning at him, but Barek and Eames were watching Emily. She sat down in her chair and took a drink of water, looking at Eames, who asked, "Is everything okay?"
She nodded. "I just felt like I needed to sit down, that's all. I'm okay now."
Goren had returned to his seat. Eames slid her hand into his lap and leaned toward him. "Thanks, Bobby."
He kissed her cheek. "I didn't do anything."
Emily seemed to be all right, though he was a little concerned about her. Barek leaned toward him. "If you're not all danced out, Bobby..."
He smiled. "Not at all."
He stood up again, meeting Eames' eyes as he led Barek out onto the dance floor. Logan looked at Emily. "Are you sure you're ok?"
"Yes. I'm fine now."
"So would it be too taxing if I took you out for a dance, if Alex doesn't mind, that is?"
"Why would I mind? Go for it."
Emily smiled and nodded. Eames sat back and watched them leave the table. She was very glad that Logan and Barek seemed to like Emily. She didn't like what was happening one bit, and it was going to be a hard blow, especially for her partner. She sighed heavily, hoping that this visit had been the right decision for all three of them.
