A/N – The lack of time/date stamps this season makes timing a little hard, but for my purposes, I've assumed that Siren Call only covered about 5 days. Also, I apologize in advance if you're from West Virginia. I kid because I love.

10:21 AM

"What's going to happen to Mrs. Wiznesky?" Beth asked, after Alex had filled her in on the events of the week.

"She has a lot to deal with, but I think her family is coming to help her with her treatments and with her daughter. Hopefully she'll be okay."

"And what about you? Will you be okay?"

"I think so. I didn't like having to draw my gun so soon after going back on the job, but you were right. I didn't let Bobby down." Alex smiled at Beth from her perch on the couch. If you only knew.

"That's important to you, not letting Bobby down, not letting him get hurt. Is that why you got so angry with him for not telling you about his mother's illness? He didn't give you the opportunity to help him?"

"That was part of it. Mostly I was just angry in general, and he was the easiest target." Alex winced at the memory of the pain and confusion in his eyes. She would feel shame about that moment for a long time to come. No matter how it turned out, I struck out at him, hurt him.

"Is he still angry with you about the things you said?" Not since I did that thing my college boyfriend taught me, no. Geez, Alex, mind out of the gutter in therapy, please.

"He understands. He said," Alex lowered her voice in a bad imitation of her partner, "it's okay, Eames. You're allowed." She smiled.

Beth laughed, "You've been partners for six years and he still calls you Eames? That's unusual for two people as close as the two of you are, isn't it?"

Honey, you have no idea how sexy your last name can sound when said in the right tone at the right moment. "Um, I guess it's unusual if you don't know why. It's kind of a strange story, actually."

"Alex, I hate to break it to you, but you're here to tell me your stories, even the strange ones."

"Well, it's not really my story, but if it will keep you entertained, Beth." Alex smirked as Beth sat back, looking very amused. "At first, it was just professional, or so I thought. It's kind of standard in the department for all cops to be called by their last names, especially female cops. Kind of our way of keeping things formal. But about 4 months into being partners with Bobby, he asked me to call him by his first name, and I told him to feel free to do the same. He just said he liked the name Eames, if it was okay with me, and I told him it was fine. But it bothered me that he wouldn't call me Alex, like he was keeping his distance in the partnership, you know?"

Beth nodded, "You wanted to be on equal ground with him."

"Exactly. I asked him about it a few times, but he was very evasive, which Bobby is really good at. Finally, I decided to use my detective skills, and I asked his friend Lewis, who does call me Alex, well, Detective Alex anyway," she smiled. "You sort of have to understand about Bobby for this next part. He is, as you noticed, very intimidating physically, and apparently, grew to that height pretty early. But by nature, he's not a violent person; he doesn't like physical confrontation at all. So, according to Lewis, every bully in school would choose him to pick on, like some sort of proving ground of manhood; beat up the biggest guy in school, and you're the shit. And, Bobby being Bobby, never fought back." Because when he did it at home, things only got worse. Thing number 34 on the list of reasons I hate his father more than he does.

Beth leaned forward, reading an expression of anger and pain in Alex's eyes. "So he got beat up a lot?"

Alex sighed. "I wouldn't say that; he just let them do what they did and walked away. Whatever; it's in the past now, can't change it."

"But you'd like to, if you could."

"Yes," she said truthfully, strong emotion making her voice a little shakier than she'd like. "If I could do that, I would. But that's not the point of the story, Beth."

"Well, to some extent, it is the point of the story for you, Alex, so give me a break, okay? It's clear you feel very protective towards your partner; what's not clear is if you understand that you are not responsible for what happened to him when he was younger. You say you can't change his past, but do you truly believe that?"

Alex was seething. "Of course I believe it, but it doesn't make it any easier to know about. Anyway, the point of the story is that, according to Lewis, there was one kid who, no matter how many times Bobby walked away, just kept coming after him, just couldn't let it go."

"And the kid's name was Alex." Beth wasn't really surprised at this revelation; in light of everything Alex had told her, she and Bobby were very reliant on one another. It made sense that he wouldn't want to associate her with a bad memory.

"Right – you guessed it. Do you get a bonus for that?" Alex's anger still whirled inside her like a tornado. She had no idea what made her even start this story; in a way, she felt like she betrayed Bobby and Lewis' trust by telling it to an outsider.

Beth decided it was time to give Alex a dose of her own medicine. "Of course, Detective, the NYPD is keeping me in furs and jewels out of their great interest in your reaction to something that didn't even happen to you!"

Alex head jerked up in surprise. Though Beth was hard on her, keeping her honest, she had never spoken to her in such a harsh tone before. "If it happened to Bobby, it affects me, Beth, okay? He's my partner"

"He's more than that."

"He's my friend."

"He's more than that."

For the first time, fear hit Alex in the gut like a punch. She knows something. Shit. She may say these sessions are confidential, but if she thinks Bobby and I are a danger as partner, she'll tell someone. Reel it back in, Alex, you can still save this if you think fast.

"He's like my brother." If we were from West Virginia. Okay, that was a bad joke. This is deteriorating fast.

Beth grinned at her. "Your brother, huh? That's the story you're going with?"

Alex looked her square in the eye. "Yup."

Laughing, Beth said, "Okay, if that's what you're selling today, I'll buy it. But we will discuss this further in your next session, Alex."

Great. Time to come up with a good story, and possibly a disguise. "So, we're done here then?"

"Sure. I'll see you next week. And Alex?"

Inches away from freedom, dammit. "Yes?"

"I'd like Bobby to come with you next time. It won't be an official NYPD session, I promise, but I think to understand you, I'm going to need to understand him a little better. Okay?"

Okay? Sure, like root canal is okay.. "I'll ask him."

"Well, if you're the one asking, I'm sure he'll say yes." Beth walked her to the office door. "I'll see both of you next week."

Only if we can't come up with two disguises. "Okay."

Alex walked towards the front entrance as slowly as possible; her original excitement at being free from Beth and her questions had quickly faded into trepidation at having to tell Bobby the shrink wanted to see him, too. As she opened the door to find him, as always, pacing in front of the SUV, a wave of affection for this unusual and complicated man hit her. She nearly flew down the stairs and into his arms. This was Bobby; he would never blame her or be angry; he would understand.

Surprised and delighted by her willingness to be held by him in public, Bobby simply pulled her closer and rubbed her back, kissing the top of her head. "How'd it go?"

Alex looked up at him, so concerned, so loving, and knew that whatever this new development meant, they'd figure it out together. "It was interesting, that's for sure. I'll tell you all about it tonight, I promise." She pulled away, taking the keys from his pocket as she did. "Let's get to work."

Bobby tilted his head to try and read her eyes, then decided to let it go for the moment. "Let's go."

From her upstairs window, Beth watched this exchange with great interest, and no small amount of amusement. Her brother, my ass.