Most people you ask, with the exception of a few cops in vice and a handful of haters at 1PP, would say I'm not a violent woman. But the thought of grabbing Nicole Wallace by her stringy blond hair, dragging her across the floor and kicking her repeatedly in the kidneys, gives me some twisted sense of contentment.

I keep my cool though, because it's my job as Robert Goren's partner. To keep my cool while I try to preserve his. Try is the operative word here. I try all the time. I try because I'm a loyal partner. Loyal to a fault, some have said. I try because I care about this fragile, intelligent man. A man who has always fought for the greater good, despite life handing him shit when it came to his family. And of course, I try because I love him.

I've loved Robert O. Goren for a long time. So long, I'm not sure anymore when I started calling it love. I know I wrestled with myself over it. Long lonely nights, when I chastised myself for using thoughts of he and I, being intimate, to lull myself into peaceful sleep. If I had to guess, it was not long after I was kidnapped by Jo Gage, that the L-word started becoming part of my mental repertoire where Bobby was concerned.

But my instincts have told me all along to keep this love buried deep. To only express it through undying loyalty and concern. But both of which, Bobby has tested like never before this past year. And while I don't love him any less. But the strength and trust that binds our partnership has diminished a little. That saddens me, but with time, Bobby and I always heal.

Lately there just hasn't been enough time.

"Let's head back to the airport and see when the soonest flight rolls out to Massachusetts." Bobby implored, gripping the picture of Donnie that Nicole sent to Gwen.

"Um okay." I nodded in agreement. There was no arguing with Bobby's logic right now. I turned the rental car in the direction of the airport. It was approximately 6pm on Wednesday. In one day, we've been traveling by air for over five hours and by car for almost one. I felt like wrung out wet laundry. I needed a square meal and a shower. My partner, who was starting to resemble the Unabomber, seemed content to never, eat, shower or sleep again. I too hoped for Donnie's safety, but I said a small prayer that the next available flight wasn't until tomorrow morning.

********

"Damn!" Bobby stated as he thumped the ticket counter with his fist. First available flight to Massachusetts wasn't until 7AM Thursday morning. I looked over his hulking frame, trying to find the right words to ease King Kong into a square meal and a hotel room for the night.

Bobby turned in the direction of the car rental counter. "You know Eames if we drive….."

"We might get there by the weekend!" I replied emphatically. "7 AM tomorrow Bobby. That's it! Let's get a room and some food. You need your rest."

Bobby stared ahead, then down at me. "You're right. You need to rest too…. I'm sorry."

"Don't apologize, just by me some dinner. C'mon" I grabbed his arm and pulled him toward the outside of the airport. There were abundant hotels and theme restaurants to meet our needs.

*********

After a painfully quiet dinner, Bobby and I found two adjoining rooms in the hotel right next to the airport. Bobby grabbed my bags in some weird chivalrous gesture. I let him, too tired to even think about arguing. We each entered our respective rooms for the night, knowing they had a door between them if we needed anything.

Not that we would need anything……

I was asleep about an hour when I heard something smash next door.

Bobby!

I reached for my piece and stalked toward the adjoining door.

"Damn it!" I heard Bobby shout. He sounded more annoyed than scared.

"Bobby, are you alright?"

"Uh, yeah Eames, go back to bed!" His tone was stern. There were still noises coming from the room. It sounded like furniture moving.

"Bobby….I hope you're decent, cause I'm coming in." With my gun at my side I gave Bobby about a second to get "decent" then I opened the door.

There stood Bobby, in boxers and a t-shirt. Papers strewn about the floor. A chair overturned. My guess was that the table had been also.

"Bobby, for chrissakes. With all that's going on lately….. You scared the shit out of me! I didn't know what could be going on in here."

"Well now you know." Bobby had a very cold tone to his voice. :Your wack job partner was just losing it again, that's all."

"You know Bobby, I don't think you're a wack job I was just worried something was wrong….somebody broke in…you know…" I bent over helping Bobby retrieve his papers off the floor. Suddenly I became all too aware that my wardrobe consisted of shorts and a tank top. Very short shorts and a tank top that allowed my midriff to lay bare. This was brought back to my attention by the fact that Bobby was staring at me, opened mouth, whilst I bent over picking up his notes.

I guess if Bobby's other head was somewhat engaged, he must be feeling better. My face reddened but I took my opportunity.

"You can't sleep can you?" I inquired.

"No."

"As senior partner, it's my duty to make sure you're well rested. I'm bunking in here with you Detective Goren, since you can't seem to sleep without me on this trip." I prayed my words wouldn't cause further violence toward the furniture or anything else in his room.

"Fine." Bobby was apparently a man of one word answers this evening. He plowed around the room toward the bed. Yanking back the covers, he plopped down and replaced the covers over his large frame.

"Happy?"

"Yes, I am." I avoided eye contact as I made my way around the other side of the bed. Instead of pulling the covers back I decided to lay on top of them. Staring up at the ceiling, I reached downward blindly for Bobby's hand, forgetting it was under the covers. He yanked out his arm closest to me.

"Looking for this?" He placed his hand in front of my face like it was some sort of foreign object instead of a body part.

"Yes." I grabbed his hand, interlacing my fingers through his.

"Eames……"

"Goodnight Bobby." I rolled away from him to turn off the table lamp, then rolled back. I over shot it a little and ended up bumping my head against Bobby's chest. With that he let go of my hand and raised and opened his arm.

"Eames…."

He didn't have to ask twice. I curled into his body, wrapping my free hand around his chest. His embrace felt like a million moments all wrapped up into one. He squeezed me a little, but not too much. The twinge in my belly was back about a thousand fold. Bobby's breathing was a tad labored for slumber. I closed my eyes and concentrated on sleep, hoping as I relaxed, he would as well. The last thing I remember before the alarm clock rang, was I never wanted to leave that bed.