A/N - Sorry, Kentucky. Geez, only 48 more states to offend. Anyway, more grown-up stuff, FYI.

9:18 PM

"Both of us? She wants to see both of us? Like couples' therapy?" Bobby paced the floor of his living room, absently running his hand through graying curls. Watching him from her spot on the edge of his couch, Alex was glad she'd thought to suggest coming back here tonight; she knew he would need to pace, and her studio offered him very little room to really get his groove on.

"Well, more like brother and sister therapy, really." She looked up at him, hoping he was going to buy that.

"Sure, if we were from Kentucky." Alex was not quite successful in suppressing a rather loud snort at that comment. Right attitude, wrong state. I'm rubbing off on him. In fact, at the moment, hair all messy, I'd like to be rubbing…

"Do you think she knows?" Her erotic thoughts were interrupted by his genuine concern.

"I think she suspects. She doesn't know anything, but even if she did, these sessions are supposed to be confidential, Bobby. She can't tell anyone."

"Tell it to Mark Fuhrman, Eames. His LAPD therapy sessions ended up on the cover of the Enquirer."

"You're mad. I'm sorry, Bobby, but I'm supposed to be telling her everything; it's really hard to hide something this important."

In an instant, he was in front of her, stroking her hair. "I'm not mad at you, and I don't want to hide. It's just that if the department finds out before we figure out how to handle it, they'll split us up. What if they make me work with Bishop again?"

Alex laughed at his naiveté. "Bobby, that's not going to happen. I think Bishop has the Witness Protection Program holding a spot for her just in case. Every time I see her, she looks at my stomach to make sure I'm not pregnant again."

He chuckled, "Yeah, she did seem a little…intimidated by me."

"She was scared to death of you. And I didn't really help, to be honest."

Head-tilt. "What do you mean?"

She grinned at him. "I didn't want her getting too comfortable, so every time she'd come to me with her little 'Goren's weird' stories, I'd just tell her 'you have no idea'. I think she's pretty convinced she got off easy."

Still stroking her hair, he moved closer. Even at the edge of the couch, she was facing his chest. "Are you saying you were jealous, Eames?"

"Damn right, buddy. You're my brother, and she can't have you."

He laughed. "Well, as your brother, I don't want anyone else to have me. I'm all yours, Eames." He pulled her close, leaning down to whisper in her ear. "Are you intimidated by me, Detective?"

Leaning her forehead to his, nose to nose, she whispered, "A little. The size of your ego alone…oof." She was on her back on the couch, 6 and a half feet of "ego" sprawled out over her. "Jackass," she breathed. "You don't fight fair." Giving him a little half smile, she brought his head to her mouth, and began kissing his forehead, then his eyes, nose, and chin. Finally, she turned his head and took his earlobe between her teeth gently. He groaned, "I don't fight fair? Please. Pleaaasse."

She laughed to herself, enjoying this newfound power over him. In a minute, the size of his ego would be the least of her concerns.

2:34 AM

Bobby's eyes opened, as they almost always did this time of night. While both he and Eames had suffered from far fewer nightmares since they had started sleeping in the same bed, his body still remembered their fear, and alerted him. With his head laid across her chest, he could feel her heartbeat in his ear. It was a beautiful sound.

Alex wakened when he tensed against her. Their new relationship was only a few days old, but their existing connection had already been strong, and continued to grow. She knew that Bobby had his own demons to fight in regard to her kidnapping, and part of her was glad that he would be coming with her to see Beth next week. It hurt her physically to think of the terror he had gone through when she was missing. Feeling him struggle to calm, she whispered, "Bobby? I'm awake."

He looked up at her, regretful that they hadn't made it through this night without this time haunting them. "Eames, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to wake you."

She stroked his hair and kissed the top of his head. "Don't you dare apologize. You have nothing to be sorry for."

He reveled in her touch, and in the fact that her love was given so freely. Silently, he thanked whatever power that had brought her back to him, and allowed him to love her. He knew he was a lucky man; and being so, decided to push his luck. "Eames?"

"Yes?" Her hands were stroking his cheek now, enjoying the feel of rough stubble against her soft palm. Loving Bobby was like owning the world's largest, most interactive and sexy teddy bear.

"I'm glad that I'm going to therapy with you. I think it will help me, too." He hid his face from her, almost like a little boy; honest admissions were never easy for him.

She grabbed his chin and tilted it up towards her, so he could read her eyes. "Me too. I know having you there will make it easier for me. Thank you."

Ah, just the opening I wanted. "So, Eames, can I ask you a favor?" Just to be safe, he began stroking the outside of her thigh gently. I need to sweeten the pot for this one, and she seemed to like that last time.

Man, he's attentive. It's like he knew I liked that, and decided to do it to butter me up. Hey! Eyes narrowed, she looked down at him, now wearing his patented "Who, me?" look that worked so well on unsuspecting perps. If this favor involves handcuffs or leather, I'll just have to…well, that could be…dammit, woman, focus! "What's the favor, Bobby?" she asked, trying hard to sound like her usual jaded and cynical self.

"T-this Sunday, w-will you come with me to visit my, um, my mom?" He hid his head again. I really have to get him to stop doing that, especially since it brings his stubble in direct contact with my…mmm, that's nice, keep doing that, and I'll visit Nicole Wallace with you if you want. Suddenly it occurred to her what he'd actually asked, and the raw need in his request touched her heart.

"Of course. I would really like that, Bobby. Did you think I would say no?"

"No," his reply was muffled against her chest. "I just didn't want you to feel obligated. It's not exactly a fun thing to do on a weekend." He looked up at her, searching her eyes to determine if she really meant what she said. She smiled at him. "I'll be with you, and that's enough for me. Plus, I like your mom. She gives me cookies."

He laughed. "Eames, you're a cheap date. Anybody with a cookie…OW! You goosed me!" His expression of pained astonishment almost made her lose it right then, but she kept her face serious. "Yes, yes I did. Now, what did you call me?" The gleam in her eyes was challenge enough for two men, but she knew he was equal to the task.

"I said that you were a thoughtful, beautiful woman with excellent taste and…ow…I am very lucky to have you."

She grinned. Eames 1, Goren 0. Just the way I like it. "Good answer. Now let me see if I can make you feel better, poor baby." She took his face in her hands and kissed him, feeling the sparks between them ignite once again.

He smiled to himself. Goren 1, Eames 0. Just the way I like it.