Alex POV

By Monday, things were back to normal.

And I don't mean they were back to the way they were before Bobby and I started sleeping together.

I mean they were back to the way they were before we thought we were caught.

For a little while, on Friday afternoon, I was worried that he wouldn't snap out of it.

And I get that he was concerned because Lord knows I was sweating bullets while sitting in Ross' office, but still…we're responsible, consenting adults.

And I'm not about to let Ross dictate my love life.

There's nothing that says two detectives in the same department can't fraternize. Relationships are just discouraged between partners.

And like I told Bobby in the car, the worst case scenario is that we'll have to stop being partners, and even though I'd much rather keep working with him so I'll do everything I can to avoid having that happen, what I'm not going to do is let it be a bucket of cold water on our relationship.

Friday evening, we had a nice dinner together, and then I sent Bobby off to meet up with Logan while I paid my sister a visit.

"So what's his name?"

That's what she asked me once my nephew was tucked into bed and my brother-in-law wandered to the living room, leaving the two of us alone in the kitchen. She handed me a glass of wine and looked at me expectantly.

And yeah, I knew she'd sniff me out, but that doesn't mean I was going to cave easily.

"What do you mean?" I replied coyly.

"Oh, come on, Alex," she said with a dramatic eye roll. "I was just telling Jimmy a couple of weeks ago that you need to get laid more than any person I know."

"Why would you say that?" I asked, working hard not to be embarrassed by the fact that my sister and her husband were discussing my sex life, or lack thereof.

"It's true," she answered unrepentantly. "Although…it's not anymore, is it?"

She leaned over the island counter and waggled her eyebrows at me as she added in a hushed tone, "And it must be good because I don't remember ever seeing you this happy, so I need details."

Of course, I didn't give details. Or at least, not many. But we talked like we were sixteen again and polished off the bottle of wine and it was the most fun I've had with her in a long time.

But I still didn't cough up his name.

I guess I was a little nervous about what she'd think.

I mean, she knows Bobby and she knows it's not a good idea for partners to get involved with one another and she knows how upset I was with him during his suspension, so for the moment, I didn't say and she didn't ask again after that first time.

At ten-thirty, I pulled out my cell phone. I was hoping to have a text from Bobby, letting me know he was done with Logan, but there were no messages. Although knowing him, he wouldn't want to interrupt my time with my sister, so…

I typed him a quick message, mindful of the possibility that Ross might read it.

How did it go with Logan?

"You're texting him now? Are you going to see him when you leave here?"

I set my phone down and flashed my sister a smile as I picked up my wine glass.

"I've been staying at his place," I admitted, and then I steeled myself for her response as I said, "It's Bobby. He's who I'm seeing."

"Well, yeah," she replied as though my admission were about the dumbest statement I could've possibly made.

"You knew it was him?"

"Alex," she sighed as she shook her head at me. "This is the first time in years that we've talked for more than five minutes without his name coming up once, so I figured it was either because you cut him loose, which we both know you'd never do, or it was intentional because it's him and since you said you're spending the night at his place…well, you wouldn't do that unless it was someone you really trust, which means it has to be Bobby."

"You should've been a detective," I said smartly.

"Yeah, well it doesn't take a detective to see how much you care about him," she answered, setting her glass down and coming around the island to give me a hug.

"I do, a lot," I assured her. "I'm in love with him."

"And he makes you happy. I think it's great, Alex."

"Really?"

"Did you honestly think I'd care about that don't-fuck-your-partner rule?" she asked, her bluntness catching me off guard and causing me to burst into laughter.

"No, I guess not," I said.

"That's right. You're happy. He's happy. And you're getting some on a regular basis, so…good for you."

After that, I got a text from Bobby telling me that he was already back at home, so I said goodbye to my sister and hopped the subway back to his place.

A split second after I knocked on the door, he had it open, pulling me inside and into his arms.

"I'm sorry about today," he said as he hugged me.

"There's nothing to be sorry about."

"I panicked," he pointed out. "I almost messed things up between us."

"We're fine," I insisted confidently, moving my hands down to his butt, sliding underneath the waistband of his sweatpants, and that's when I discovered he wasn't wearing anything else. A jolt of excitement rolled through me as I remarked, "No underwear?"

"I'm ready for bed," he responded reasonably. I pulled back just enough so that I could look up at him and found him smiling playfully at me. "Hey, if you can do it, then I can do it."

Then he brought his lips down to mine and it was so nice…almost as if the near-miss with Ross was bringing us even closer together. And maybe it did because now Bobby knows for sure just exactly how important he is to me and that whatever happens with our jobs isn't going to change us.

He also knows that I'm not going to quit on him just because he has a moment of insecurity. I'm not going to quit on him at all, ever. I think he's been worried that he's going to make a mistake that'll send me packing, and he really needs to let go of that fear.

I don't think he's quite there yet, but he's making a lot of progress.

That night, we made love right there in the foyer, and then we went to bed and we rehashed the day's events, in regards to Ross, just to make sure it was all out in the open.

And then he told me about his conversation with Logan.

"So now he knows about us, huh?"

"He knew anyway."

"Yeah, but now you've confirmed it. What'd you say?"

"Not much. Just that you're an insatiable nymphomaniac with kinky, dominatrix tendencies…"

That was all he managed to say before I pounced on him, holding him captive beneath me on the bed.

"Are you supposed to be scary?" he teased, and I was thrilled to see the mischievousness in his eyes.

"You're going to see scary if that's really what you said to him."

"I didn't," he said, and then his laughter trailed off as he said, "Actually, we talked more about how I might screw things up."

"You won't."

"You're more sure than I am," he said with wonder as he traced random patterns along my thighs.

"If you stop talking to me, things might get difficult," I said earnestly.

"So you want to hear about every worry and doubt that rolls through my head?"

"Of course, because most of the time, your subconscious is full of shit," I answered with a smile. "And it's my job to point that out."

He smiled briefly and then said, "Okay, so…tell me what your sister said. I mean, you told her about us, didn't you?"

"You're worried she might not approve?"

He shrugged, but held my gaze as he continued caressing my legs.

"Well, for the record, I didn't tell her because I was seeking her approval, and whatever her opinion is of you doesn't change mine."

He nodded, but didn't say anything as he waited for me to tell him what he wanted to know.

"She guessed that it was you. In fact, she guessed that there was someone before I even said anything. And she's excited. She actually pumped me for details."

"And you said…"

"What else? You're an insatiable nymphomaniac…"

I couldn't get the whole sentence out before he grabbed me and flipped us over so that he was pinning me to the bed, and neither of us could stop laughing.

So yeah, we definitely had a great weekend, spent working and talking. And of course, we're also plowing through that box of condoms. I'm thinking about starting an alternative method of birth control. I mean, now that I'm having regular sex, it makes sense. Besides, the thought of not using a condom, of being able to really feel him…yeah, I'm going to schedule an appointment with my doctor.

Anyway, on Monday, we were out for most of the morning, re-interviewing some of the classmates of our victim, Paul Phillips, and then we headed back to 1PP.

"Coffee?" Bobby asked me as we got off the elevator.

"More strings?" I replied with a smile.

"Maybe," he said with an innocent shrug.

"Then yeah, I'll have some."

He waggled his eyebrows at me and then stopped off in the break room while I went into the squad room. I glanced around as I took off my jacket and I saw Logan sitting at his desk. There was a mound of paperwork on top of it and to the untrained eye it might seem like he was hard at work, but he wasn't.

He was in another world, and I'm guessing it's one that includes the mysterious girlfriend, and his expression was resigned and forlorn.

"Chained to a desk?" I asked as I meandered to his vicinity.

"Looks like it."

"What'd you do?"

"I went undercover in a strip club without telling anyone."

"Funny. You could've just said you don't want to talk about it."

I was being snippy, I know, but for some reason, his comment had my hackles up.

And I don't know why. I'm not still mad at Bobby.

But maybe it's because I'm worried about what other people think about that whole incident.

Do they think I'm a doormat because I forgave him so easily?

And really, I didn't forgive him easily, but we just kept the public spectacle to a minimum.

And why am I feeling so defensive about it?

"No, I'm being serious," he said, and now he looks remorseful, like he knows he's brought up a bad memory for me.

But I still find it hard to believe.

"You went undercover," I clarified. "In a strip club."

"Yeah."

"Because…"

"Well, you know that fairy tale I mentioned?"

This has something to do with a woman?

He risked his job for a woman. Bobby risked his woman for a job.

"A woman. I should've known," I replied cynically. "Bobby does it to get away from a woman. You do it to get one."

As soon as the words were out of my mouth, I felt like a bitch because I know better. How many times has Bobby told me that he felt like getting his badge back was the only way he could get back to me?

"He did it to get one, too," Logan admonished. "You. You have to know that, especially by now."

I do know that. God, why does mention of that undercover still send me into a tailspin?

I mean, it's obvious that even Logan gets why Bobby did it.

To be with me, because he thought the job was the only way he could be close to me.

If he only knew…

And maybe that's my issue.

It's with me.

Because if I'd just been honest with him sooner, we might've avoided that whole mess.

Even afterwards, it took him being honest about his feelings before I got the nerve to speak my mind.

I've really got to let it go.

"You're right, I know," I admitted in a hushed tone. "I don't know why I have such a chip on my shoulder about that."

"Because he hurt you, and even though you're together now, you're still wondering if he might hurt you again."

Is that it? Am I afraid of being hurt?

Maybe. I've certainly given Bobby the power to do so.

"When did you get to be so smart about relationships?" I asked him, trying to lighten the tone of our conversation.

"I didn't sleep at all last night. I had time to think about things."

"You didn't sleep, and so you were thinking about me and Bobby? That sounds a little creepy," I teased.

"I was alone," he said with no small amount of sadness. "I had time to ponder life's mysteries."

"How the pyramids were built? The truth behind Stonehenge?"

"No, although I have some theories," he joked, finally breaking into a grin. "But seriously…I want you guys to meet this girl I'm seeing. And I think it'll be good for you two to do something other than work and…well, that other thing you're doing."

My face flushed without permission at his subtle reference to our sex life, but I ignored it and instead asked, "Are you moonlighting as a relationship counselor now?"

Because it's kind of strange that he's worried about the health of our relationship. Sweet, but strange. Although I am curious about his girlfriend. And it would be fun to go out and be normal.

"Is that a yes or no?" he replied.

"To what?"

I heard Bobby's voice behind me and a wave of anticipation rolled through me. I'm not sure why because we're in 1PP for the love of God and yet I can't help it. He's so unbelievably virile and intoxicating. His idea from last week, of us having a quickie in the supply closet, is sounding better and better, especially since we're going to be working through lunch today.

"Logan's asking me on a date," I stated.

Logan rolled his eyes at me and then looked at Bobby and explained, "With my girlfriend. And you."

"The elusive girlfriend," he replied as he smirked at me. I love that he looks so happy, but it makes me feel even more guilty for my earlier reaction to Logan's undercover talk. "I'm in. Eames?"

"It has to be somewhere…"

"Away. I get it," Logan promised. "A week from Sunday?"

I wanted to ask why not this coming weekend, but then Wheeler called him over to her desk, so Bobby and I went to ours and everyone got to work.

But my guilt was still niggling.

"I overreacted to a comment Logan made," I said after working for a few minutes in silence.

He glanced around the room briefly and then sat back and put his full focus on me.

It's a powerful thing, being the object of his attention. His gaze is so strong and unwavering and…well, loving. And I think maybe he looked at me like this before, too, but I just didn't recognize the emotion. Or I was too much in denial to admit it. But whatever the case, I love how me makes me feel like the world revolves around me.

"How so?" he asked quietly.

"I asked him why he's on desk duty," I explained. "And he said…that, um…he was working undercover in a strip club. And he didn't tell anyone."

"Oh. I guess that explains a lot about what's been going on with him. So what did you say?"

"Well, at first I thought he was poking fun at our situation, so I got defensive."

"He wouldn't do that."

"No, I know. And…well, I'm sorry. I don't know why I responded the way I did."

He leaned forward and his gaze softened and call it ESP or whatever but I just know that he's dying to touch me right now.

And that makes two of us.

I'd really love to pull him into my arms and show him that I'm sorry for still carrying a grudge. Albeit a small one, but still...

"Because I hurt you," he said, his voice nearly a whisper. "And the reminder of it still stings."

I nodded thoughtfully, thinking about how far we've come since that day in the back hall, when Bobby was in a holding cell and he looked at me sheepishly before asking Ross if he could fill me in. God, I was so mad.

But looking back, I realize it doesn't sting anymore.

It's just something that happened, and now we're so much better than we were before.

"You know, it doesn't," I told him. "I think it was more a knee-jerk reaction."

He sat back again, a smile playing on his lips, and he said, "Are you sure? Because if it'll make you feel better, we can go in an observation room and you can tell me off again."

Now it was my turn to look around to make sure no one was listening before I replied, "If we go in an observation room, it won't be so I can yell at you."

"No?" he asked playfully.

"No, I'm thinking of a different four letter word."

"You want to…cuff me?"

I laughed at his unexpected reply and then I shrugged and said, "Yeah, that, too."

We both chuckled as we went back to work, but then he said, "Hey, Eames?"

"Yeah?" I asked as I met his gaze again, and this time I get that tingling feeling in the pit of my stomach and I can't think about anything except for how much I love him.

"Thanks for telling me."

I smiled back at him, and then he asked, "So wait, Logan was undercover in a strip club? And Ross didn't know? Why? What's that all about?"

"Something to do with the girlfriend," I answered. "I'm not sure."

"Huh," he responded as he looked past my shoulder, in the direction of Wheeler's desk. "He and Wheeler seem to be getting along a lot better these days. Are we sure it's not her?"

"The girlfriend? No, I saw the fiancé in here the other day."

"That's right," he agreed with a nod. "Well, I don't know about you, but I'm looking forward to meeting her, whoever she is. He's different lately. Better different."

"So are you," I said with a smile. "I think I am, too. It's called being happy."

TBC...