Disclaimer: Sadly enough, I don't own anything. This is written for pure enjoyment only and no profit to be gained!

Note: The rest of the chapters will be with both Bobby and Alex.

CHAPTER: 6

It was around 9:00 AM when Alex began to stir. Something invitingly warm was pressed up against her and she didn't need to open her eyes to know who it was. She could smell him; the scent of alcohol, of his cologne, and a scent that was only him. Oddly enough, she loved that combination. She found it intoxicating.

Bobby.

As she awoke a littler further, she noticed the blanket that was covering them and the fact that her head was on his arm. She unconsciously raised one of her hands to grip his arm, but stopped herself short.

I don't remember covering us up. Bobby must have done it sometime during the night.

Surprisingly enough, she slept well; even if it were on the floor of Bobby's apartment. She felt safe. She wouldn't tell Bobby this but she had often thought about calling him in the middle of the night ever since she had gotten home from the hospital, ever since she was kidnapped and asked him to come over. She always refused to allow herself to do so. She was still cautious at night and could feel her body tighten up every time she got into her house after dark.

Her empty birdcage was just another image to remain in her head. She still hadn't touched it. The night's where a windstorm is present is the worst. The slight creaks in her house, the trees swaying back and forth; she hated it. She needed it to be quiet so she could listen, listen and make sure no one was in her house. With the wind, however, it drowned every other sound out.

Alex didn't even realize she was crying until she felt Bobby's hand softly come down and wipe a few tears away.

"Alex, what's wrong?" He asked worried.

He was afraid he had done yet another thing wrong.

You don't know how long I've waited to touch you, to comfort you.

She blinked and then stared deep into the man's eyes that she had known for so long, only to feel lost inside.

Was I really crying?

She tried to recall back to if she'd ever cried in front of him before.

Yeah, when we were investigating Joe's case...

"I'm ok, Bobby." She said as she sat up. She needed to get a hold of the situation in front of her because she knew it could quickly get out of hand.

He just nodded and watched her get up off the ground. He didn't force the issue, so he just kept quiet.

"Bobby?"

He looked up. He was lost inside his head again.

She's gonna leave you now. She's going to leave!

"Yeah?" He asked. He swallowed hard, expecting some sort of yelling match to finally begin now that he was sober.

"You have to find yourself, Bobby, because I can't help you anymore. I can't do this anymore. I can't take it anymore…"

"You're leaving." He mumbled. What he thought was: You're leaving me.

And before she could answer him, he got up and walked into his bedroom and quietly shut the door.

Talk about opening my appendages, pouring salt on my wounds and leaving me to suffer. Bobby thought as he made his way to the bathroom.

Bobby wanted to believe it was real. He wanted to believe he was getting a second chance. He hoped he'd find somewhere to belong; a place that felt right instead of the nothingness he's not even living in, only residing in now. He wanted to sweep all the pieces under the rug and forget about them and just get caught up in the moment of Alex being with him, but he no longer could. Reality suddenly hit him hard and he couldn't help but wipe a few tears away.

She's not really with me anyway.

Alex suppressed a sob as she watched him walk away. She wasn't going to leave him at major case, but she was done with this. She couldn't do it anymore; she couldn't be the one to help him up every time he was down or cover for him anymore. He needed to help himself. She had all the right words down last night; the way she was going to tell him, but now they seemed impossible to say.

I couldn't leave him. I can't leave him.

Not Bobby. Not her Bobby.

Her plan was thrown out the door right then and there along with reality. All rationality was gone and she knew that as she took a step forward.

He needs someone… If only you'd meet me even a quarter of the way, Bobby, I'd meet you the rest. It can't be over. Not yet. Not ever.

She walked into his bedroom, ignoring the fact that he had closed it. She walked in and heard the shower running. She bit her lip and tried to decide on what her thoughts and her feelings were telling her.

What should I do?

And she knew as she felt her feet make their way over to the bathroom door; she felt she had no control of them. The bathroom door was also shut, but she felt her hand rise to open that as well.

It wasn't locked.

Turn back…keep going.

What the hell was she doing? She didn't know.

This could fuck everything up.

She kept going.

He'll think I've lost it.

She continued her journey towards him.

She looked up to see Bobby's silhouette in the shower. He was unaware of her presence.

Maybe he doesn't want this. Maybe he doesn't want me. Maybe he actually wants to be alone.

She continued to take baby steps towards the man she had always wanted and would always love.

No one wants to be alone.

Bobby's form was still. He didn't so much as moving a finger. His head was under the shower head, the water pouring down on top of his head, but his posture was off. His arms were stretched out in front of him and his palms were flat against the tile of the shower with his head down.

He's crying again.

Even through the frosted glass in his shower, Alex could tell by the subtle shake in his shoulders that he was indeed crying. And right then and there she knew she couldn't at that very moment. She never could.

I could never leave him.

In truth, Bobby had already claimed her heart. All he had to do was recognize the fact that she would allow him to have it, but he couldn't.

Alex was revealing so much to him. She wanted him to have it all. She was naked to him with open arms now and she only hoped that he'd accept it.

She was ready after six years. She was ready to face this. She knew she couldn't be without him and she only hoped that he felt the same about her. He was a lonely man to begin with, it didn't take a genius to see it, but she hoped and prayed that he would realize that she wanted to be with him.

Somehow though, she knew that he'd take it as pity.

She looked down at her naked form. She had managed to slip out of all of her clothes without Bobby noticing and mutely began to walk towards him.

Slowly, she reached to open the glass door. Bobby's head was still aimed down towards the drain. She slid the glass door open about two feet and then immediately stopped because of the sight in front of her. Alex's eyes began to immediately scan his muscular forearms. She slowly raised her eyes up as they made their way up to his chest and finally to his face.

And that's when Bobby heard her; as she was taking him in.

He looked up almost in horror and something else. Desperation possibly? She wasn't sure. That is, until he spoke.

"Eames, what the—" His mind was on the fence whether or not to use to word 'hell' or 'fuck,' but he stopped himself short because of what he saw in her eyes.

His mouth was agape. His palms were still flat against the tile in front of him and that's when Alex took a chance and placed one hand on his forearm.

Oh god, what is she doing? And…oh my god is she naked!?

He shook his head and almost stammered backwards. Almost. But somehow he held it together because he knew he couldn't back away from her.

He dropped his hands from the wall and looked at her. His gaze never roamed down past her neckline. He was afraid to. He had no right to without permission. So he just stood there, arms limp at his sides, eyes wide with shock.

The look she was giving him sent his mind reeling. And that's when he knew.

"Alex." He used her first name. It came out so softly that she barely heard it above the running water that was now coming down on his chest.

She was looking into his eyes the whole time because she was afraid that if she were to look away, she would chicken out. She would run away from him, from all of it. So instead of looking away she reached up and softly stroked his cheek. It was Bobby that closed his eyes first. It was then that she stepped into the shower with him and slid the door closed behind her.

Bobby heard the shower door close and then felt her body rub up against his briefly as she shifted positions. That was all it took to have reality crash back down on him. Just for a moment Bobby wanted to believe that she wanted this, but then he remembered how he hurt her and how she hurt him.

She doesn't want this. Not me.

"Alex, what are you doing?" He managed to weakly ask.

Stop this now. For her sake.

Instead of answering him, she stood on her tiptoes and kissed him lightly on the lips. When she pulled away, she saw confusion on his face.

"Eames…" He was back to her last name. "I don't need your pity." And the sentence had come out weaker than he had planned.

And bingo, there it was. He had just played the pity card. She was waiting for it though.

"Bobby…"

"Eames, you're leaving. You said so yourself. Please don't make this any harder than it has to be." He choked out. Finally his brain caught up to the moment and he tried to back away from her but she gripped onto one of his wrist to keep him from doing so.

Alex shook her head lightly side to side. She was surprised how well she'd held it together.

"I love you, Bobby. I can't leave the man I love. I'm just scared, Bobby. I'm scared for you…" She whispered. She didn't dare and break eye contact.

A/N: Hey guys, I'm in finals week now so I've been really busy. Sorry for the delay! I decided to take summer classes this summer, so I start back up June 22nd. Oh yay! I will still be writing this summer though.

Anyway, how is this so far? I'm still debating whether or not I want to get them more…involved… So be patient with me. This was actually two chapters but since you've waited so long, I decided to just combine them. I had to cut a little out of the end since I'm still deciding on their…uh, actions. If you get my drift.

So, guess what? I'm hooked on another show! Ahh. That's all I've been doing is watching…it and trying to get my work done. Ok, so it's an old show from the 90s. I'm not going to tell you though, you have to guess! You guys will never guess this. If you don't want to play along then fine. There was your hint.

-Snyder-