"It's been three weeks since we talked to Ross, why haven't we heard anything?" Bobby asked quietly, after looking around the squad room to make sure no one was paying any attention to them.

"Well look at it this way, at least they didn't make a rash judgment. They're taking their time to think it over."

"Thinking's good. I'd just like them to do it a little quicker."

"So what's the rush anyways?"

"I'm not in a rush, exactly. It's just that it's like waiting for the other shoe to drop."

"One of yours or one of mine?"

Bobby just looked at Alex, confused.

"Don't look at me that way. Your shoe makes a bigger thud when it hits the floor."

"And?"

"My shoe, they just change our partner assignments. Your shoe, they transfer one of us out of Major Case." Bobby looked like someone stole his library card. "Or," she continued. "On the other hand. You know what they say. No news is good news."

"That's what you have for me? Shoes and no news is good news?"

"You know what Bobby? It's lunch time, I'm going out." Alex grabbed her jacket and headed for the elevator. Bobby watched her walk away before he jumped up to follow her.

"Hold up Eames. I'll go with you and we can go reinterview the florist afterwards."

They went to a small restaurant they had found early on in their partnership. The atmosphere gave patrons a feeling of privacy without the food costing a small fortune. They didn't talk much while they looked at the menus. Privately they both wondered why they even bothered to look anymore. They had eaten here so often that they knew exactly what was on the menu. After they gave their order to the waitress Alex returned to the subject they were discussing back at the station house.

"What's your problem?"

"What do you mean?" Bobby looked at her with an innocent expression but Alex wasn't buying it and she just glared at him. "OK look, I'm stressing out about what the brass is going to say and you give me philosophical crap like no news."

Alex reached across the table and placed her hand over his. "Are you having regrets or doubts?" She was silently praying his answer was no. These last few weeks have been the happiest she had been in too many years to count.

"What? No!! How can you even think that?"

"Your the one that is overly stressed about this."

"You're not worried?"

"No I'm not. What ever the brass says in the long run, really doesn't matter to me. I love you. That's not going to change whether we're partners or not. And it's not going to change if one of us gets transferred."

"It doesn't matter?" Bobby didn't sound convinced.

"Alright look, I'm not saying that I don't want to stay your partner. Believe me, that is what I am really, really hoping for. I can't keep my eye on you and see that you don't take too many unnecessary risks if I'm not with you. But, if I have you to come home to at night, I can live with what ever the brass decides. So quit being paranoid."

"You're right."

"Of course I am" They were both laughing when the waitress put their food in front of them.

When they finally got back to the office. Ross stopped them before they could sit down. "Detectives, you're wanted upstairs." Ross motioned towards the elevator and headed that way himself.

"Hold on to your shoes." Alex said as they followed him.

When they walked into the conference room, Bobby had a feeling of Deja'vu. The last time he was in a room with this much brass, was when he was put on suspension. Once they were seated the Chief of D's stood and walked to the end of the table before beginning. "Detective Goren, Detective Eames, your captain has made it clear that you understand that having a personal relationship outside of the job is contrary to department procedure." He paused and waited for either of them to comment. When they didn't he continued. "We have looked over both of your records. Detective Goren, you seem to have a problem keeping parters. Prior to Detective Eames that is. Would you care to explain why?"

"People don't want to work with the department whack job?"

Alex rolled her eyes at his answer. She didn't figure that kind of attitude would help them very much.

"Sir, if I might?"

"Go ahead Detective."
"Detective Goren has a unique style that his previous partners didn't understand. If they had given him the same chance I did, then I am sure they would have stayed."

"As I recall, Detective you, yourself put in for a change of partner with in a short time."

"Yes I did and I regret that momentary lack of trust. As I stated for the court on the record, I withdrew the request and came to realize what a good cop my partner is."

"Yes of course that is also in the file. Now then Detective Eames, it is noted in your file that over the last five years you have been offered promotions to Lieutenant three times. The last was just a few months ago. Yet you have turned them down each and every time. Would you like to answer why?"
Bobby looked at her with shock. He had no idea she had even had the offers, let alone that she had turned them down.

"I am doing what I love to do, solving the cases and putting the criminals behind bars. Major Case is the top gig for a detective. I don't want to ride a desk and tell other cops how to do their job. I want to do the job, and I am happy doing it right where I am at."

"Well said, Detective." The Chief said. "However, you should bear in mind that the offer will only be made so many times. You may want to rethink. Not however the reason for why we are here. I'll admit that we," he said motioning to include the other brass around the table, "are all impressed with the solve and conviction rates you and your partner share. We have spoken at length not only with Captain Ross but also with your former Captain, James Deakins. I think you would agree that by allowing your partnership to stand would in all likelihood be setting a precedent. Male-female partnerships throughout the department...Well, I am sure you get my point." The chief paused and looked at the rest of the brass sitting around the table. They all nodded. "Detectives, we'll be watching. Now get out of here and get back to work."

Once Bobby, Alex, and Ross were all out in the hall, Alex asked Ross, "What does this mean exactly?"

"It means Eames, that you two are still partners. Keep it professional at work and don't let it effect your solve rates and it will stay that way."

"Can we buy you a celebratory drink after shift Captain?" Bobby asked.

"Thanks but I'll have to take a rain check. It's my night with my boys. You two enjoy yourselves."

For once in his life Bobby was sure happily ever after could happen but first there was Alex's nightmare to be dealt with. They had only seen Dr Olivet twice. It was decided that there really wasn't much else she could do to help them. It was up to Alex's subconscious to deal with. The nightmare was still being kept at bay by them sleeping together every night, but Bobby knew that was only covering up the problem. He had a few ideas but putting them into action?

a/n: I'm thinking 1 maybe 2 more chapters