Author: SilentG
Title: Begin as You Mean to Finish
Fandom: LO:CI
Pairing: B/A
Rating: K+ for obscure & cheesy sexual metaphors
Spoilers: Nope
Archive: Anywhere – no need to ask – just attribute, and let me know if possible
Disclaimer: Not mine
Summary: Pre-B/A drabble, S10 compliant. Again, Bobby tries not to tell Alex how he feels about her, this time while getting her advice about bicycles & project management.

A/N 1: I just can't get away from that sidewalk outside Gyson's office! I might add to this, but no promises.

~.~.~.~.~

CHAPTER ONE: MIXED METAPHORS

Once again, Alex picked Bobby up from his appointment with Dr. Gyson.

"Well, how was it?" Bobby's only response was a grimace as he hopped into the department-issue SUV. "That bad, huh? I thought your sessions were going well?"

"They were," he said.

They drove in silence for a few blocks before she pressed him. "Until?"

"Hmmm," he said, looking out the window.

Hours later, they were sitting in her car outside his place. She'd parked, expecting him to bolt, but her partner of 12 years had lingered.

"It really wasn't – what I'd expected," he said.

Alex felt her breath slow, then stop, as if telegraphing her presence would have disrupted his narrative.

"I have a – project. Something Dr. Gyson's helping me work towards," Bobby murmured, fiddling with the snap on his portfolio. "I didn't… even realise it was possible until she pointed it out to me, but now, it's the main reason I'm still going to see her."

Alex couldn't speak, but when she swallowed, he looked over at her, and suddenly she had a notion of what he was trying to tell her about. Feeling a bit dizzy, she cleared her throat.

"So what does Dr. Gyson think of your, erm, project?"

"Yeah, um. I dunno," he replied. "I thought she was on board with it, but she, ah, gave me some weird advice on Sunday." Bobby started jiggling his foot, not an easy feat in her compact car. She heard his knee thumping against the underside of the dashboard as he continued. "She thought it would be good for me to, diversify."

"What?"

"Work on, other projects. She thinks I don't have enough – recent experience for this one."

Alex scowled at nothing in particular and heard herself exclaim, "Well that's just ridiculous."

"Is it?" He asked glumly. "She's at least half-right. I don't have any recent experience."

What were they talking about? Should she spell it out? She was tired of the pussy-footing and picturesque speech, but she was afraid that if she gave in to her earthy side, it might blow his mind. "I think, ah, projects, are just like riding a bike, huh? You never forget."

He looked at her without a trace of humour. "Alex," he said, as if speaking to a child, "I've ridden lots of bikes, but I've never – loved a bike before."

She almost laughed. Half with relief, and half with the ridiculousness of their conversation. But it was no laughing matter, not if she failed to talk him out of this hare-brained idea. "Do you plan on – loving – any of the, erm, temporary bikes?"

"No!" His hot denial was almost comical.

"So it's riding just for the sake of …riding."

He sighed and nodded.

"That doesn't sound like you, Bobby. Is it what you want?"

He shook his head.

"Then I think you have your answer. Begin as you mean to finish, as my dad likes to say."

~.~.~.~.~

Complete, I think. Please review (don't wait for Chapter 2).

WORDS: 608 UPLOADED Tuesday, March 6, 2012