Eames stood stock still. Even her breathing wasn't visible. "Eames? Hey, Eames. Alex?" She finally snapped out of wherever her head was at and looked at the source of the voice. "Sit down." She hadn't realized Bobby had guided her over to his desk and placed her in front of the chair beside his desk. She allowed him to help into the chair.

"Alex, please say something." What could she say? For years she was able to live without Joe because his murdered had been caught. Now, all of that security was false. She exhaled loudly.

"If Manny was paid to keep quiet, he didn't kill my husband." She chanced a look at Bobby. She was surprised by what she saw, worry. No pity, just plain worry. He considered his words before he spoke.

"No. He knew who did."

"Why kill AnaMarie if he wasn't going to talk?" Alex was trying to get into the professor's head.

"The killer must've got spooked somehow. Thought Manny was gonna talk. They killed her as a warning." He was so matter-of-fact about, Eames had to process what he said.

"I visited him that same morning." The realization dawned on the detective.

"They thought he told you something." He looked away. "Or maybe even everything."

Alex couldn't believe it. As her next words fell out of her mouth, she felt all the anger that she had been bury bully it's way to the surface. "Joe's killer is still out there." Bobby didn't need to answer. It wasn't a question. It was a depressing, soul crushing fact.

In that moment, all of the anger finally busted through her last defenses and gained control. Eames shot up out of her chair with such force that it tipped back and hit the floor. She didn't notice though. She also didn't notice the way Bobby flinched when he saw her reaction. While to the untrained observer, it looked like he was watching Alex trash his office, those who knew the professor would have seen it. Panic. His body was there but his mind had sling him back to seven years old. He didn't just feel his heart, he could hear it pound. Bobby heard her in the distance, or at least she sounded a mile away, pacing and tearing up anything she could get her hands on. Focus, you idiot! She needs you. Alex. Needs. You. Stop being pathetic. Man up!

Alex suddenly felt arms wrap around her. He's touching me. Voluntarily. Wow, I really must be losing it. Her staggered breathing slowed and became even. As they made eye contact, she saw something she couldn't identify. Just as quickly as he grabbed her, he let go. Like he'd been burned. Again. Her distress momentarily forgotten, Eames stared at Goren. What is he thinking?

"I sh-sh-sh-should pp-probably st-str-straighten up." His lips moved but his legs didn't.

"Here, let me help. It's my fault anyway." Alex leaned down to begin the clean up.

"No!" The volume didn't startled her as much as the emotion did. "No. I-I'll get it." This time with his normal level of awkwardness that she had grown accustomed to. "It'll help me focus." Bobby flashed her a smile that was nowhere near his eyes. He bent down and began picking up the papers that had been scattered on the floor.

She felt her eyes squint. Goren must've felt it. He buckled slightly inward but made no move to look up. Reluctantly, she gave in. "Okay. I'll, uh, I'll see you in the morning then."

Bobby nodded but still refused to look up at her. She exhaled audibly and left him to his chore. "What am I going to do now?" She asked no one in particular.

Halfway to her vehicle, her cell phone rang. "Eames."

"Detective, I want an update first thing in the morning." The captain's voice came through.

"Understood." The call ended. Great Hanna wants to see me. My husband's killer isn't really my husband's killer and Goren is acting weird...er than usual. The detective would've laughed if it wasn't her own life.

As she turned the key in the ignition, she remembered her captain's words. "Be careful." At the time, it sounded like a friendly suggestion but now it was quite truthfully a necessity. How can I do that when I am just wrecked? She pulled out and headed for home.

Inside, the professor had all but abandoned his mission. Sitting with his legs crossed and back up against the front of his desk, he worked. Not on the case, but on his resolve. The walls he had built over the years were weakened by his first encounter with Nicole. The subsequent eight years of sheer hell she put him through after nearly destroyed them and him. Then, came Detective Alexandra Eames. He honestly thought he didn't need them anymore. How wrong was I. If I'm gonna be of any use to her, I need to be strong. My emotions make me weak. They'll be temporary. He made a silent promise to himself. Just until she doesn't need me anymore. Yeah. Only for a little while. That's all.

Each time the pain, anger, or self hatred began to rev up, he would lay another brick. The helpless look she tried to hide when she first asked for help. Brick. The way she looked at him when he just wouldn't keep his mouth shut about how Manny didn't really kill Joe. Brick. The return of the ice queen when Joe asked him what I thought. Brick. What had just happened in this very office. Her losing all control. Brick.

With the walls finally in place, Bobby was ready to work. He didn't feel anything. Absolutely nothing. He was nothing so why not feel nothing. Just the way I like it.