CI is not mine and never will be. Bummer...

One glance from Alex and he knew where she was headed: the interview room. And he knew he had no choice but to follow her and hope that she wasn't completely furious with him for having put her in the current situation.

"Bobby, what the hell is wrong with you!" Alex yelled as soon as Bobby closed the door.

"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I never meant to put you in that position. It was wrong of me, and I'd never suggest that you do something that you're uncomfortable with," Bobby began as he pleaded with his eyes.

"Uncomfortable with! You know I'm just fine doing undercover stuff, Goren! You don't need to protect me!"

Protect her? From me? What?

"Okay wait. Eames what are you talking about?" Bobby asked, his face skewing in confusion.

"What the hell do you think I'm talking about? What just happened back there? I always thought you saw me as an equal. I mean I know you're the man and people always look at us and assume that you do all the work. I'm okay with that perception of us as long as you don't see me as some weak sidekick who needs to be sheltered and protected!" Alex said sharply, eyes burning.

I can't BELIEVE he just tried to pull me from an undercover operation just because he's afraid… afraid of what? That I'll get hurt? That I can't do my job? Well I've got news for you buddy. I'm pretty competent, and I certainly don't need you deciding what I can and cannot do when it comes to my job!

Bobby was physically shocked, his eyes opened wide and he turned a very sickly white color. He couldn't breathe.

"No! No, how could you think that! Al- Eames, I've never seen you as anything less than an equal… if not the superior! You're even technically the superior in the partnership. I would never try to keep you from doing what you need to. I mean… don't get me wrong, I'd give my life to protect you. But I'd never insult your ability as a detective, I know what you're capable of and it's more than anyone even imagines," Bobby pleaded, eyes wide and desperate.

I can't believe people think I can do this on my own. I'm a mess without her. I need her… without Eames… I just can't hold it together. I can't communicate with other people, and no one else follows along with me like she does. She's so much better than me… she can adapt and excel from there. I just have to do things my own way and hope someone can compensate for my shortcomings.

"Then what's wrong with you? Why'd you try to get us out of the job? You know no one can do it as well as we can," Alex asked as her eyes softened and the sharp sting to her voice died away.

"God- Eames… I don't… Okay. Think about it. What links the cases? Why did this guy choose the couples that he chose? Why did he do what he did?" Bobby prompted, fearing her response.

Understanding dawned upon Alex's face, and she slowly looked up to Bobby's dark eyes.

"They were all overtly sexual in their relationships. They were all over each other in public… so for us to be the bait, we'd have to be all over each other. All the time. In public. For days," Alex stated timidly trying to make eye contact with Bobby as he stared at his shoes.

Bobby began pacing around the room, rubbing the back of his neck and retreating into a corner. Suddenly, Alex had a thought.

He doesn't want to even think of me in that way. He's disgusted by the idea of us pretending to be in love, pretending to be together in a romantic relationship. He backed out because he doesn't want to have to touch me or kiss me or even pretend to think of me as something other than his "one of the guys" partner. But now what do we do? I was so insistent on being a part of the investigation. Guess I'll just tough it out. Pretend like I don't have feelings for him, WHICH YOU DON'T, by the way Alex. You just need to get out more. This will be as close as you ever get to having a relationship with Bobby, make the most of it. Just don't appear too excited about it, make him believe it's just another necessary part of the job.

Alex straightened up slightly and pulled her shoulders back, moving to the other side of the table and putting on her best professional appearance. She would get through this, no matter how much it killed her to know that it wasn't real.

Bobby looked up at his partner now standing quite rigidly in front of him: his fears were confirmed.

At first she didn't understand, but she sees the big picture now. She knows that this is going to entail us being close. Very close. Look at her. She's disgusted by the thought of you. Can't stand the thought of your hands on her, Bobby thought as he fiddles with his thumbs. You can't let on that this is anything other than the job, she'll be revolted by you and you'll probably even scare her. If she thinks you're enjoying this, she'll get freaked out and she'll leave. She'll leave you Goren. Please don't leave me Alex. I can't help loving you. But I can do my best to shield you from my own feelings. Okay. Just do your job and you'll be okay. Try not to remember that she's disgusted by you… this is the closest you'll ever get to having Alex for your own. The only time she'll ever reciprocate your feelings… even if it's not real.

"So are you… are you okay with doing this?" Bobby asked as he studied Alex's blank face, trying desperately to read her.

"Sure. It's part of the job, and we've gotta get this guy off the streets," Alex said simply as she stared into Bobby's dark eyes that were carefully guarded, and yet there was something there. Pain? No. It couldn't be.

"Alright. Well you head to your house and pack a bag or two… I'll do the same. We can meet back up here at… three? From here we can head over to JFK… we've gotta fly in."

Both detectives walked out of the room and went their separate ways, both looking at the coming few days with mixed emotions. In one way, it was a dream come true. To have the chance to be in an open relationship… to hold each other and be with each other. But both knew that when that dream ended, reality would kick in and it would be even harder to continue knowing that the feelings were not mutual. That they would never be. That they would continue to spend every day with the person they loved, and yet still be so alone.