Goren peeked in on his sleeping guest. Good, still sawing logs, he thought. He slipped back into his bedroom and began making phone calls. It was nearly 8:00am. He called a couple of his contacts, one in Narcotics and one, a recent relationship, in Internal Affairs. He then called his Captain to let him know he needed the day off.

Danny Ross was surprised by the request. Goren didn't normally take any time away from the job, but he knew if his detective wanted the day, he had a reason. Ross approved the request, telling Goren to enjoy the day. Bobby's last call, the hardest, was to Eames. Fortunately, he got her voice mail.

"Hey, Eames, it's me. Look, uh, I'm not going in today. I've got some personal stuff I need to take care of. Already talked to Ross, so he knows. You know, you might call him yourself. I bet, since I'm not there, you could probably take the day, too. Okay, talk to you later." He hung up, sighing to himself.

He jumped when the phone rang in his hand. "Goren."

"Everything okay?" came the voice on the other end. Eames. Crap, he thought.

"Yeah, everything's good. Why?"

"Got your message so I thought I'd call back and check."

Goren spared a glance back into the living room. Dani was still asleep.

"Well, everything's fine. Just needed to take care of a few things." Goren replied.

"Want me to drop by later?" Eames asked.

Goren paused before he answered, "Uh, yeah. That'd be fine. Okay, so Eames, sorry to rush but I've got an appointment around 9 so I need to go. See you later."

"Okay, see you later." And Eames hung up.

Goren slipped quietly through his living room, opening the locks to the door as quietly as possible. He spared a quick glance over his shoulder and as he opened the door to leave ran straight into his partner.

"Damn, Eames."

"You said come by later. It's later." She replied, a mischievous grin on her face.

He took her by the hand and led her into the apartment, again trying to be as quiet as possible. He pulled her along the hallway back to his bedroom, but not before she spotted the red head curled up on his couch.

"Damn, Bobby. Why didn't you tell me you had someone here?"

"Because, it's not what you think." He looked at his watch, "Look, long story short is this. She's undercover Narcotics temporarily assigned duty here in New York. I walked into the middle of her op last night by mistake. Once I got her back here and got to talking to her, well, some things just don't add up. I've got a meeting with a couple of friends and I'll know more after that."

Eames nodded as he continued, "Do you think you could be here when she wakes up? I'd like to keep her here as long as possible."

"Do you think she's in trouble?" Eames asked.

"Maybe. I'm not sure, yet, but I'd like to err on the side of caution." He looked at his watch again, "Damn. I've got to go, Eames. Thanks for showing up." He gave her a quick hug and again slipped out through his living room and out the door, past the sleeping Dani.

It was almost 10:30 when Dani began to stir. She stretched and looked around at the unfamiliar surroundings. She stopped herself from panicking as she remembered the big New York detective who had "arrested" her last night. She sat up on the couch and stretched again, this time taking a closer look at the apartment. She was surprised when the petite blonde came out the kitchen.

"Well, at last. Good morning. Did you sleep well?" She asked, politely enough.

Dani was instantly on guard. "Yes, thank you. I got the impression Detective Goren was a bachelor."

"You're right, he is. I'm his partner, Alex Eames." And she extended her hand.

"Dani Cantrell," she replied, returning the handshake. Dani smiled, "What is it about women needing boy names in this business?"

Alex laughed as she sat down, "Guess we think that compensates for other things." She reached over and picked up Dani's boots. "So, are these standard issue for Vice and Narcotics everywhere?"

Dani smiled back, "You do time in a pair?"

"Yeah, several years in Vice before moving to Major Case."

"Major Case? I thought maybe you and your partner worked Narcotics. He certainly had me fooled last night."

"He did work Narcotics. Undercover like you are, so I understand."

Dani glanced at her watch, "Oh, shit. I've been here way too long. I gotta go." She stood as she spoke.

"Well, Bobby wondered if you'd wait until he got back." Eames stopped her.

"Why?"

"I'm not sure. He just asked me to wait with you so you wouldn't wake up alone and see if I could get you to stay until he got back." Eames' answers were all very innocent.

Dani thought for a few minutes and then looked down at her dress. She was still in the tight skirt and net shirt from last night. "I guess I can wait, but what I really want is to get outta these clothes and take a shower. There's only so long you can wear this crap." She gestured to the outfit.

Eames nodded understandingly, "I know what you mean. Come with me." And she led Dani down the hall to Goren's bedroom. "He's got plenty of sweats and t-shirts so he won't mind and the shower's thru there." She gestured towards another door. "Go ahead. I stay here sometimes when I don't want to drive back home so some of my toiletries are in the cabinet under the sink."

Dani hesitated but only for a few minutes, the thought of a hot shower too much to pass up.

"Thanks." She answered simply.

"Take your time. I think Goren might be bringing back lunch, too." Eames called through the door. She made her way back to the living room and called her partner. Goren answered on the second ring.

"She's up." Eames stated.

"Okay. I'm getting us a bite to eat. I'll be there in 15 minutes. Think she'll stay until then?"

"Yeah, she's in the shower, now. It'll take that long to uncake the makeup."

"Speak from experience?"

"Ha-ha," Alex answered no trace of humor in her voice and hung up on her partner.

True to his word, Goren was back and had the food spread on the table when Dani appeared from the hallway, still toweling dry her hair. "Thought I smelled food." She smiled. Goren had expected cute. He wasn't prepared for down right adorable. Without the make up, Dani's face was slightly tanned. The heavy black mascara and eyeliner had hidden the intensity of her green eyes. She may have had Wheeler's hair cut but the similarities ended there.

"Wasn't too sure what Texans eat," Bobby smiled.

"Same thing New Yorkers do, we just barbecue it first." They all laughed as Dani pulled the chair from the table, taking the seat next to Alex. "Chinese is fine." And she began filling her plate. They ate for awhile in amicable silence. Finally, Dani spoke,

"So everything check out?"

Goren looked up from his plate, "Why would you ask a question like that?"

"Because if it's you sacked out on my couch, I'd be checking your story. Make no doubt."

Goren put his fork down and glanced at Eames, "Don't you want to finish your lunch before we get into this?"

Dani followed Goren's lead and put her fork down, too. She became instantly on guard, "With a question like that, I don't think so. What's going on?"

Goren sighed heavily and then turned to take his binder from the bar behind him. He pulled out a folder and opened it. "When's the last time you checked in with your captain?"

"Three weeks ago, when I got here. I told you last night I've been reporting to Detective Nettles and he's been sending information to my CO."

"You're sure?"

"Apparently not," Dani stood from the table, her whole body language changing from passive to aggressive in ten seconds flat, "What the hell's goin' on!"

"Sit down, Dani." Eames replied firmly, grabbing the detective by the wrist and gently pulling her back to her seat, "Let him explain."

Dani sat in a huff, "Well he better do it quick," she pouted, glaring at Goren.

"I called your Captain this morning after I left the apartment. He hasn't heard from anyone since you got here. He wasn't surprised to hear from the NYPD…"

"Well, of course, not," Dani interrupted.

"He was surprised to hear from the NYPD that you were alive." Goren paused to let the words sink in with the agitated cop. Her mouth dropped but she remained silent. Goren continued. "It seems no one in Narcotics knows about you or your op that you're supposedly on. The detective you've been reporting to is being investigated by Internal Affairs." Dani started to interrupt again, but Goren held up his hand to stop her, "Let me finish. To top it all off, you're now on the DEA's radar. They think you're part of a very large trafficking ring involving narcotics officers in about 10 major cities across the U.S."

Goren watched for reaction from the Houston cop. Her eyes widened, almost imperceptibly, before she broke contact and looked down. When she finally made eye contact again, she was completely in control and hiding something, Goren was sure.

Dani stood up from the table, again, "I've got to go." She turned to retrieve her boots and clothes from where she had placed them when she entered the room after the shower.

"You're not going anywhere." Goren's voice was threatening as he stood, drawing himself up to his full six foot frame. The warning in his voice even caused Eames to look up at him.

"I beg you're pardon. You can't keep me here." Dani argued.

"Yeah, actually, I can," and Goren stepped around the table, blocking any exit Dani may have had. "There's no proof to support your story at all. I caught you in the act of attempting to purchase drugs and, need I remind you, solicitation. Take one more step toward that door and I'll have you in hand cuffs and booked so fast it'll make your head spin."

Eames sat back in her chair. It had been a long time since she'd seen her partner appear that menacing. It was almost fun to watch…almost. Except she could see by Dani's entire body language and demeanor, she wasn't going to back down without a fight. She decided it was time for a voice of reason. Before Dani could speak, Alex put herself between Goren and Cantrell.

She pointed her finger in her partner's chest, "Go sit down and quit trying to intimidate her. I don't really think it's working." Goren looked down at the little blonde before nodding curtly and plopping back in his chair.

Eames then turned to Dani and shoved a cell phone at her, "Go check in with your captain."

Dani started to speak but thought better of it after the warning look Eames gave her. She took the phone and stalked off down the hall, back towards the bedroom.

Alex returned to her seat beside a still angry Goren. "My, my. She's really got you in a twist. What's up?"

Goren jerked his head to look at Eames. The little Texan had gotten under his skin and he really wasn't sure why. He sat silently for a moment, mulling it over in his mind. Alex let him think it through. "Her captain says she's a good cop; a little headstrong. I saw how she worked the guy last night, all the time thinking I was a civilian she needed to protect. She's good. I think she's in over her head and doesn't realize it."

"Is she telling the truth?" Alex asked.

Goren thought again before he answered, "I think it's the truth, as she knows it. But I think it may not be the whole truth." He looked at Eames, "I mean, she knows more than she's letting on. Maybe things she suspects or suspected but until I laid it out, the pieces hadn't clicked."

"What do you want to do?" Alex asked again.

Goren ducked his head, looking like a little boy caught with his hand in the cookie jar. "I kind of volunteered to help her out."

Eames' tone was warning, "Goren?"

"She's obviously in the middle of something and the DEA believes she does have information about this ring and Internal Affairs believes Nettles may be the NYPD link in this ring. Regardless, they'd like him taken down and since Dani already has an in they think she just needs a little help. With my history and track record in Narcotics, they want me to step in and work with her. It will be NYPD lead but DEA and IA will provide back up."

"This is sounding very big," Eames replied.

"Yeah, it could be. There are still a couple of small details to resolve. I've got to clear it with Ross…"

"Goren!" Eames was back to the warning tone again.

"And, I want you to talk with Dani. If you don't trust her, we don't do this."

"When did this become we?"

"I'm not about to do anything like this without you as my back up. I learned my lesson. I'm not going under again unless you're there." The reference to his undercover job while on suspension not lost on Alex.

She thought quietly for a moment. "OK. I'm in. Let me talk to her a little and I'll let you know."

"We need to be a 1PP by 5pm. That's when we meet Ross to let him know what we're doing."

Eames shook her head and began to clear the table from the aborted lunch time. Trust Goren to get involved in something without actually ever being involved. Oh, well, it kept life interesting.