"I didn't think you'd be making it here tonight," Benny said after tossing a dart. It was still early Saturday evening and the crowd at the bar was still light, so he didn't have to even raise his voice to be heard.

"Why wouldn't I be here?" Bull asked and took a sip of whiskey. The psychologist had accompanied the team out for pizza and beer on Friday after leaving TAC and the entire team had spent a good portion of Saturday at the office before calling it a weekend.

"Thought you might have a date," the lawyer said with a smirk. Benny had assumed that Bull would spend some time with Ashton instead of going out again.

"Ashton didn't want to interrupt our bromance," Bull told him wryly. He had spoken with Ashton earlier that afternoon to see what her plans were for the evening.

"She didn't say that," Benny protested. Bull looked over the dark frame of his glasses at the lawyer. "True; you wouldn't come up with that," Benny admitted after some reconsideration.

"I've learned that it's better if I stay out of the way when she's packing," Bull said.

"Where's she going?" Benny asked as he retrieved the darts from the board.

"Conference in Atlanta. She leaves tomorrow," Bull replied and took aim at the board.

"Aren't you going with her?" the lawyer asked even though he already knew the answer. Benny just wanted to needle his former brother-in-law while he had the chance.

"We're in the middle of a trial," Bull reminded him.

"It's well underway. You don't think we could handle things without you?" Benny asked.

"No," Bull replied unequivocally.

"And here I thought you hired us because we were competent at our jobs," the lawyer declared with a grin. "So, since you're not taking a little vacation, do you think you'll survive on your own until Ash gets back?"

"Why wouldn't I? She's been attending these things– alone – since I've known her," the psychologist told him seriously.

"Now, I understand. Ashton doesn't want to you go along. It's her vacation from you," Benny said mischievously as Bull was tossing a dart. His assertion caused the psychologist to miss the dartboard completely.

"This isn't the way home," Ashton said as Bull navigated the SUV through the city streets after they left the restaurant. He had been waiting for Ashton at the airport when her flight arrived in New York and they decided to stop and grab a bite to eat on the way home. Bull had also dropped her off for her outbound flight to Atlanta on Sunday. He had spent the spent rest of the weekend with Ashton after finishing darts and another drink at the bar.

"Not your home, anyway," he replied off-handedly.

"What are you up to, Jason Bull?" she asked him and turned her head to look at him.

"Nothing. I don't always have some ulterior motive," Bull told her.

"Yes. You do," Ashton stated good-naturedly.

A short time later, Bull was unlocking a door to an apartment. He reached in, flipped a light switch, and gestured for Ashton to enter. She hesitantly took a few steps inside the unfamiliar entry.

"I take it this is your place," she said and looked around as Bull followed her inside. Seconds later the large room fully illuminated revealing the luxury modern apartment.

"This is it," he replied as he put down her suitcase and removed his coat. Bull then extended a hand to take Ashton's jacket.

"At first glance, it's very you, especially the cactus," Ashton mused as she looked around and took the space in. What furniture there was in the room was sparse and austere looking. In fact, what she could see looked more like something out of an advertisement than a lived-in space.

"How so?" Bull asked not passing up an opportunity to analyze her answer.

"The overall atmosphere is a bit clinical and reveals nothing about its occupant. However, the view more than makes up for any seeming lack of personality," Ashton said marveling at the city lights through the windows. Then, she walked over to the cactus and looked closer at it. It was a tall solitary growth and was the only plant in the room.

"And the cactus?" he inquired watching her inspect the plant. Ashton reached out and carefully touched one of the stickers gently with a fingertip.

"Like you, it's prickly and can appear intimidating," she continued with a grin.

"I like it," he said considering her reply.

"It's perfect for you, Doc," Ashton went on to say. "You don't need to take care of a cactus like you would a person…or a pet. It doesn't demand much of your time or attention."

"I see," Bull said as he switched on the fireplace.

"But, if you navigate past those stickers and take a second glance, you do warm up," she said warmly with a pointed glance towards the flames as she walked towards the couch and closer to him.

Bull headed out of the room after giving Ashton an amused look. He returned carrying two glasses of whiskey and offered one to her. She accepted and took a sip as she looked up at the climbing wall with interest.

"Only you would put a climbing wall in your living room," she told him.

"It helps me clear my head," Bull related. "Want to have a climb?"

"I'll pass," Ashton said as she walked over to take a closer look at the wall.

"It's perfectly safe, Quince," he said as she tugged on a low grip.

"I'm sure it is. I'm still not climbing tonight," she responded and walked back to the couch, sat down, and slipped her shoes off. Suddenly some unpacked boxes stacked in a corner caught her attention. Ashton recognized them from when Bull packed and moved out of the apartment they once shared.

"Jason, why are you living like this? A single cactus, unpacked boxes in a corner," Ashton asked intensely while staring at the boxes with their contents written on all sides with black sharpie.

"I didn't get to the boxes yet," he explained following her gaze. "I've been busy and haven't been here that long; it takes a while to install a climbing wall."

"It's been years," she stated. "Weeks, I understand; months okay maybe, but years?"

"You know I get caught up with work," Bull reasoned as he sat down beside her.

"I know you are an intelligent, very successful, funny, handsome, and charming man when you choose to be. That man should not be living with unpacked boxes tucked in a corner of his home," Ashton corrected him. "Although, it almost explains why haven't found someone else. This would scare most anyone off."

"Did it ever cross your mind that the reason I haven't found someone else is because they aren't you?" he asked quietly and brushed her hair away from her face before leaning in to kiss her.

"Maybe once, very briefly," Ashton told him after their lips parted, her grey eyes taking in his face before getting lost in Bull's blue-eyed gaze. She pulled him close and kissed him slowly enjoying the warm presence of his body and familiar scent of his skin mixed with a faint trace of cologne that emanated from him. A few seconds later, Bull's cell phone rang. He reluctantly disengaged from their embrace and pulled out his phone.

Moments after answering, Bull walked away and into another area of the loft. Ashton watched him go and took another sip of whiskey. After sitting and watching the fireplace for ten minutes she got up and took in the view of the city from the apartment's large windows. After another ten had passed, she silently chastised herself for expecting Bull to give her his undivided attention that evening no matter what he had told her in the car. Ashton stepped into her shoes, grabbed her large travel purse, and hastily strode towards the door. She was just about to open it when Bull came rushing up to her.

"Where do you think you're going?" he asked.

"Home," Ashton replied shortly. "You're working and by time you finish, there'll be just enough time for you to shower, dress, and make it to court. That doesn't really leave time for me."

"I didn't think I was going to be on that long," Bull apologized. As the words came out of his mouth, he realized it was the same thing he had told her many times during their relationship.

"If I only had a dollar for every time I heard that," she said.

"I'm sorry, Quince," he replied.

"Jason, don't. If you can't remember what you said in the car only a few hours ago, I can remind you," Ashton said icily.

"Ashton, give me a chance. I'm trying…even if I'm not doing it well," Bull entreated.

She was torn; her first instinct was to turn and walk out the door despite knowing it could end any chance of a reconciliation between them. Ashton looked up at Bull with cold eyes and her jaw set, trying to read his expression and his mind in order to determine if there was any sincerity in his request.

"Please," Bull said. Pausing to reconsider, she exhaled slowly and as Bull watched Ashton's grey eyes soften and her jaw relax he reached for the bag slung over her shoulder.

Ashton let him take her tote bag and asked, "Do you ever take a night or even few hours to yourself these days? We didn't have a climbing wall because we got away for a weekend and went to climb one. Don't you miss that?"

"Yes, but my clients need my help," Bull told her and placed her tote down by the suitcase before walking towards the living room windows.

"Jason, I know your work is very important to you and while I find your passion very attractive, you need to decide whether or not you can put the job aside and dedicate time to us, too," Ashton said as she walked up behind him.

"Didn't take long for me to get the or else, did it? How much time do I have?" he asked focusing his gaze on the city.

Ashton shrugged, "This is us, not a NASA launch countdown."

"I always did find the most exciting part of walking on thin ice to be never knowing when I might slip and fall through," Bull said with an edge in his voice as he continued to stare out on the window.

"Don't get upset because you're not controlling the situation or the outcome," she told him as she stood beside him also looking out the glass.

"That doesn't bother me," he replied.

"You realize who you're speaking to?" she asked.

"Yes. I'm speaking to the person who was ready to run out of here a few minutes ago when things got uncomfortable and reminded her of the past," Bull stated and watched out of the corner of his eye as a wry smile formed on Ashton's face. He then went on to say with a sly sideways glance, "For the record, I have no problem with you being in control. In fact, I rather like it."

"I haven't forgotten that," Ashton said with a wink and reached up to run her fingers through his hair. She let her hand rest gently on the back of his neck for a second or two as she continued, "Let your hackles down, Jason. I'm on your side. I always have been."

Bull finally turned to look directly at her, although he remained silent as he considered her reply. Ashton tilted her head slightly and smiled up at him.

"I've always held you to your word. I'm not about to start letting you off the hook. You said tonight was gonna be just you and me," she continued and slid her arm around his waist.

"It still can be," he said. Bull then took his phone out of his pocket and turned it off as Ashton watched. "I won't be letting you get away with anything either."

"I didn't think you would," Ashton said as his arms encircled her.

"Truce?" Bull asked.

"Truce – and apology accepted," she replied and gave him a quick kiss. Ashton followed it with another kiss, this time slower. "Why don't you show me the rest of your apartment now?"