Author's Note: I had originally intended this to be a one-shot from Bobby's POV, but after reading sell's review, I thought tossing in Alex's POV couldn't hurt. Everyone needs a little more L&O:CI, right?


She knew he was watching her across the desks - how could she not know? But she didn't address it. What did it hurt? She watched him from time to time - okay, as often as she had the chance - too.

She kept her head down but snuck a glance at him through her eyelashes as she pushed her bangs out of her face. Sometimes she wondered why she didn't either pull her hair back or have it cut differently, but she knew it gave her an outlet if she felt she needed a breather from one of Bobby's intense looks. Her hair also provided some cover when she wanted to observe him just the way he was watching her now.

A yawn caught Alex by surprise before she muttered, "I can't take much more of this," in reference to the paperwork that seemed never-ending. Feeling a bit playful, though exhausted, she stood up and stretched, making sure Bobby got an eyeful as her sweater slid up over her belt and flashed a little skin.

Ever the gentleman, Bobby offered to finish up while she took a walk. She felt his eyes on her again as she walked away and she smiled.

After a quick bathroom break, she returned to the squad room where Bobby was waiting. "Ready, Eames?" he asked.

Alex grabbed her coat. "Let's go." She walked to the elevator with him, resisting the urge to rub her eyes. She was so tired, but it had been a good evening between the partners, and Alex was reluctant to see it end.


She had the keys in her hand as they strolled through the parking garage before she heard Bobby say softly, "Let me drive you home, Eames."

Reflexively, she pulled the keys closer to her body and started to refuse, but another yawn hit her and she found herself dropping the keys into his palm. "Okay, Bobby, you drive." Alex knew she would have resisted more strongly had he approached the conversation by saying she shouldn't drive, but Bobby usually knew the way to obtain her agreement.

After settling into her seat, she rested her head against the window. She felt Bobby's eyes on her, but she didn't want to say anything to disrupt the peace in the car. It hadn't been in her plans, but they had only gotten a few miles into their journey before she fell asleep.

She woke when Bobby pulled up in front of her house. Forcing her heavy eyelids to open, she shoved her hair out of her face and thanked Bobby for the ride while reaching for the door handle. Alex wasn't at all surprised when Bobby opened the door to help her from the vehicle, but she said, "I can go inside on my own," anyway.

Of course Bobby protested and walked her to the door. She opened it and gestured for him to come in before it finally registered that he had driven her car tonight, leaving him in need of a cab if he were to head home himself. She apologized profusely and offered him breakfast if he'd stay over.

His sarcastic response - "You're not planning to cook, are you?" - told her he would stay as she had hoped.

"Very funny." She handed over the pillow and blanket she'd pulled from the closet and their fingers brushed lightly. "Thanks, for everything."

Alex nearly lost herself in his dark eyes when he said softly, "Any time." She gave him a sweet smile, then tipped her head so her hair fell into her eyes to give her an excuse to break eye contact.

"Good night, Bobby." She turned to go down the hall to her room, thinking maybe she'd offer to take Bobby to the MOMA tomorrow after breakfast, so she didn't hear the softly murmured, "Night, Alex," from the living room.

~*~The End~*~