As Eric watched Nell rummage through her overnight bag, he debated whether or not to say anything. But as he watched his girlfriend toss articles of clothing around the floor of his bedroom in search of her contact rinse, he went against his better judgment and spoke up. "That's what the drawer is for you know. You should try it."

Nell paused briefly, not looking up as she replied, tentatively, "I'll get to it."

She ran the image of the night two weeks ago when Eric excitedly answered his door in the bouncingly happy mood he only shared with her. He told her he got her a present for their six month anniversary and she just had to cover her eyes so it would be a total surprise. He had gently led her to the bedroom as she joked that if his surprise had anything to do with her anniversary gift, newly purchased, lacey, and in his favorite blue, that they would be late for dinner. Eric had just laughed and came to a stop. 'Ready?' She assured him she was. 'Okay. Open!' Nell opened her eyes and saw his bottom dresser drawer, the biggest one, had a large bow on it. She had looked at him at a loss. 'Well aren't you going to open it?' he asked, clearly still excited about getting her the perfect gift. She complied and looked at Eric, dumbfounded. 'It's empty.' Eric nodded. 'Exactly! It's for you! So you can leave stuff here, you know? I also cleared out a shelf in the medicine cabinet but didn't want to give you a present in the bathroom. And that's not all!' He handed her a key. His house key.

Nell found her contact solution and went into the bathroom to take the lenses out now that she was off work and (hopefully) in for the evening. She came back out and saw Eric still nervously perched on the bed, playing with a loose thread in the sheet. "So, umm…when do you think you might get to it? The drawer, the medicine cabinet? You take all your stuff with you; you don't have to do that."

"I know, Eric. I just want to…make sure I guess.", was Nell's annoyed reply.

"We have been together six months and friends for longer. I don't understand what you need to be sure of. I mean, you know I love you, right?" Eric was nervous. If Nell didn't know how he felt about her, he had obviously screwed up and immediately began thinking if he had done the appropriate boyfriend tasks: make her dinner, breakfast in bed, marathon sex sessions, Jell-o and ginger ale when sick, ice cream and a shoulder to lean on when upset, tell her all the things he adored about her, making sure she felt at home with him. It was a yes to all of them and so much more. He was at a loss.

"Yeah, Eric, I know you love me. And I love you. So let's just drop it. Our show's going to be on in a minute."

Just drop it? The fact that she blew off what Eric felt was the obvious next step for people who had been in a relationship six months? Granted, it wasn't a normal relationship. Kensi, Deeks, Sam, and Callen all had surmised that their resident geeks had some sort of combined private life, though they did not know the depth or breadth of Eric and Nell's relationship since they were so careful to keep that part of their life out of the office. Hetty knew-obviously, but she would never say anything about it to the others unless it became absolutely necessary to do so. If one of them was kidnapped, for example.

Feeling the first chest tightening and stomach queasiness of nervousness, Eric fell back on old patterns and kept talking. "Look, Nell if this is too soon, just tell me. I just thought that we were on the same page is all. If we aren't I want to know so we can work it out."

"Seriously, why is it so important to you that I put my clothes in the stupid drawer?", Nell asked, defensive and exasperated.

Eric was taken aback at her response. Shit. We are fighting. He hated conflict. Even the banter of the team made him nervous if it got too heated. He took a deep breath before answering the woman he cherished so much, "Because I want you in my life and now it feels like you don't want me in yours and I don't understand why."

"So I'm the worst girlfriend ever? At least you're the nicest at breaking it to me."

"That's not what I mean, Nell. I love you; you are a great girlfriend."

"One that can't make you happy, evidently." Nell was pulling out all the stops. She was cold to him and knew what she was doing and why- this was the only way to look out for herself so she did it. She had to.

"You do make me happy. Incredibly happy-happier than anyone ever has. I just don't know if I make you happy. I mean, you keep me at arm's length: we never stay at your place, you don't even keep a toothbrush here or a pair of flip flops to go down to the beach at night. And I always am trying so hard to do things you like and go places you want to go even though you don't do stuff I want to do. And…and you only say you love me if I say it first." Eric trailed off, realizing for the first time how much he had kept bottled in in the hopes of making Nell happy so she would stay with him. Maybe they weren't as compatible as he thought

Nell just looked at him, not taking the time to take in what he said. "Well what do you want from me? It's not like this is a huge thing we have going here! Can't you just have fun?"

It was a get-wrenching fifteen seconds of silence. Eric looked as stunned as if somebody had just punched him in the face. He could hardly believe what Nell had just said. If he hadn't been there he would not have believed it. "Is that all I am to you? A sex friend that's just convenient and ready to please?"

Nell didn't say anything. She just looked at him, bracing herself for the inevitable. It's better for him if he hates you. "Not anymore, I guess."

She squatted down and picked up her overnight bag, knowing that this is why she always kept it packed and managed to make it out of Eric's bedroom and front door, tears pouring down her cheeks before his apartment door shut behind her with a slam.