Happy noises of friends gathered for a nice meal punctuated the dinner. Eames participated in some of the conversation, but Goren remained withdrawn. Eames tried to get him to join in, but he only offered one or two word answers. The evening's events weighed heavily on him, even though he'd initially been all right.

Halfway through the meal, he excused himself and asked for directions to the closest rest room. Eames looked at his mostly untouched plate and sighed sadly. Melinda leaned toward her. "You care about him," she said.

Eames nodded. "Yes. I do, even though he frustrates me. He trusts me with his life, but he won't trust me with his heart. I don't think he's ever trusted anyone that much."

"He's had a hard life," Melinda said.

Eames tried to swallow the resentment she always felt when anyone found out more about her partner than he had seen fit to reveal to her. "What else did Frank tell you?"

"Not a lot. Just that Robert had a troubled upbringing. He was a screw-up as a child because he had the freedom to be one. He was always in trouble, but somehow, he straightened out his life and made something of himself. Frank said he wasn't able to do that with his own life. He wanted you to know that you could do a lot worse than loving his brother. He has a lot of love in him to give, love that was never given back to him because everyone was always too busy looking past him to return it."

Melinda's words rang true, and Eames felt her heart clench. Every little peek she got into her partner's past made her want to draw him closer, hold him and never let him go. "Thank you," she said.

Goren returned to the table, looking pale. Eames laid her hand on his arm. "Are you okay?"

He nodded. "I feel..." He paused, looking at his plate. "I don't know how I feel," he finished weakly.

"Maybe we should go. You should lay down and rest."

He couldn't argue with her. He felt drained and there was no part of his body that didn't hurt. Eames looked at Melinda. "Dinner was delicious, but we really should be going."

Melinda agreed. "We understand. Stop by the store before you leave town." She looked at Goren. "I still have your things."

"Oh, yeah. We'll drop in before we go."

As he rose, he faltered a little. Eames grabbed his arm and Jim came around to his other side. "Are you sure you don't want a ride to the ER to get checked over?"

Goren nodded. "I'm positive. I just need to rest."

The storm was still raging outside, but Jim walked them to their car. As they passed the place where Nicole and Frank had fought their final battle, Goren faltered again. Jim grabbed him, supporting him the rest of the way to the SUV, and helped him into the car. "Okay?" he asked.

Goren nodded. "Thank you."

Jim looked at Eames, who gave him a grateful smile. "I'll take care of him," she promised.

"Call if you need anything," he offered.

She nodded as Melinda hurried across the lawn and handed Goren a covered plate. "Here. You might get hungry later."

He looked at her wearily, but gave her a warm smile. "Thank you, Melinda."

She returned his smile, then stepped away from the car with Jim. They hurried back to the shelter of the porch, watching the car pull away from the curb. Then they went back into the house.

Goren rested his head back and closed his eyes. Eames glanced at him, then reached out and laid her hand on his arm. "Bobby?"

"Just tired, Eames," he replied to her concern, placing the plate Melinda had given him on the console between them. "Very tired."

She heard the fatigue in his voice and saw it in the way he carried himself. She parked as close to the hotel as she could, surprised that he wasn't asleep by the time they arrived.

As physically and emotionally spent as he was, Goren was too keyed up to rest. Too much had happened, and his mind was racing. They got out of the car and went into the hotel. Eames started for the elevators, but Goren grabbed her arm. "I'll be up in a little while."

She looked at him with concern. "But..."

"Please. I just...I need a few minutes to myself."

She hesitated, but finally nodded. "All right. I'll be waiting in the room."

He touched her cheek tenderly, and she gave him a small smile before she walked away.

Eames wasn't sure how much time he needed to regroup. Actually, she wasn't sure exactly what was best for him at the moment—time alone or time with her. Maybe a bit of both would be best for him. Though he was exhausted nearly to the point of collapse, she could tell he was too wound up to relax. Otherwise he would have been asleep before they got back to the hotel. It wasn't unusual for his mind to usurp his body's need for rest, but she was still worried about him. She waited for a little over an hour before she went searching for him.

She found him sitting alone at the far end of the bar, plagued by what she had no doubt were dark thoughts and probably even darker memories. His past didn't have many bright moments. Heaving a deep sigh, she crossed the room and slid onto the stool beside him. The bartender came over and she ordered a vodka martini. Goren did not react to her, which did not surprise her.

When her drink was delivered, she nodded at the bartender. "Just add it to his tab," she said with a smile.

The man looked at Goren, who nodded. Eames sipped at her drink for a little while in silence, trying to decide the best way to reach him without sending him further into himself. Her martini was half-gone and he'd gotten another refill when she finally spoke. "Bobby, what happened out there, in Melinda's yard?"

He was silent for a long time, toying with the coaster under his drink. Finally, he answered, "I...I couldn't find my way. It was...I was living a recurring nightmare." As he continued to talk, he became more agitated. "I was...uh, you...you were...I couldn't find you. And there were voices...Nicole's...and-and Frank's. She said I was hers but he wouldn't give me up. All I wanted was to find you, but...I...I couldn't. And then...there was pain...a lot of pain...and the only thought in my head was that I'd let you down—again. I'm sorry."

She reached out and stroked his arm, hoping to calm him. "You didn't let me down."

Her attempt to reassure only increased his distress. "Come on, Eames, be honest. That's all I ever seem to do. You...You could do so much better..."

She touched his mouth, silencing him. "You need to let me decide what's right for me in my life."

He studied her face, his gaze moving from her eyes to her mouth and back. He moistened his lips, wanting very much to kiss that mouth, to explore her body...but he forced his thoughts down a different path. "Frank...He told Nicole that I...I belonged to you. What do you say about that?"

She ran her fingers lightly along the side of his face. "Why don't you tell me how you feel about it?" she said softly, bringing her face closer so he could hear her.

"I think..." He closed his eyes, feeling the world spin around him. He was at a crossroads with her, and he finally decided to take that final leap. Either she would be there to catch him, or he would fall, hard and far. "I think he was right...that is, if you'll have me."

She leaned in and brushed her lips over his, which sent his senses into overload. "That's a no-brainer for me," she replied, placing a moist kiss in front of his ear before teasing his earlobe with her tongue. She slid off her stool. "Bobby, I know what you need," she said softly, her mouth close to his ear so he could hear her. She pushed his drink away. "And you're not going to find it at the bottom of that bottle." She gently nuzzled his ear, nipping at his earlobe. His soft groan flooded her belly with warmth. She continued to whisper to him. "I think you've had too much of that and not enough of what you do need, what will do you the most good. I'm not going to tell you what to do. You're a big boy and you can make up your own mind. So it's your decision. Whatever you decide, I'll be upstairs, waiting for you."

She nipped his earlobe again and began to walk away. He reached out suddenly before she stepped beyond his reach and pulled her back, a bit more roughly than he intended. She stumbled back into him, but he ignored the pain that coursed through him when her body hit his. He kissed her softly, as a means of apology, teasing her lips with the tip of his tongue. She parted her lips, letting him in, and he deepened the kiss, but when she pulled away, he let her go. She smiled, catching his gaze with a heated look, and she left.

He stayed where he was for a little while longer, finishing his drink, but he couldn't get her out of his head. Paying his tab, he left the bar.

When he got to his hotel room, she wasn't there, which he didn't understand. Had she changed her mind? He was sorely tempted to return to the bar, but the bed was just too damn inviting. Deeply fatigued, he decided he just wanted to sleep, even though that had not been his intent when he came upstairs. He stripped to his boxers, downed a dose of medicine and crawled into the bed.

Eames had left the room to get a bucket of ice. When the machine by the elevator was out of order, she discovered, much to her annoyance, that the next closest machine was on the floor above theirs. By the time she returned to the room, he was there, sleeping, which surprised her. "Two minutes, Goren," she chided gently. "I was gone for two minutes."

Setting the bucket of ice in the mini-fridge, she changed into sleep clothes, turned off the lights and crawled into the bed beside her exhausted partner. Snuggling into his side, she ran her fingers lightly over his chest and belly.

He stirred. He was used to sleeping alone, so he woke quickly when she joined him in the bed and began to caress him. Her feather-light touch was arousing. With a soft groan, he turned onto his side, toward her, seeking her mouth. She didn't make it hard for him to find it. He made another soft noise that turned her insides into warm liquid, and she kissed him with passion.

He responded with equal passion, pushing his tongue past her lips and his hand into her clothes. With a groan, she arched into him, encouraging him.

He worked off her clothes with her help, desperate to be inside her, and she welcomed him with an enthusiasm that sent his head spinning again. It didn't take him long to bring her to the edge, quivering and pleading with him to keep going. When he backed off, she threatened him instead, and he gave her what she wanted, then satisfied his own burning need.

Breathing hard, she lay in his arms with her head resting on his shoulder. The pain in his body abated with his climax, and he felt better than he had since his encounter with the truck. As she relaxed, she gently stroked his hot skin, kissing his temple and his ear, which relaxed him as well.

"Are you awake?" she whispered.

"Uh-huh," he replied sleepily. Then he opened one eye and looked at her. "Did you think I did that in my sleep?"

With a sly smile, she answered, "I hoped not, but with you I never know."

He chuckled, then groaned. "Please don't make me laugh," he complained, holding his side. "I hurt enough."

Smiling, she softly kissed him. "How's that?"

He slid his arms around her and squeezed. "If you do that every time, you can make me laugh whenever you want."

She snuggled she snuggled against him. "Are you feeling any better?"

"About what?"

"Anything. Everything. I don't know. Don't make me work for this, Bobby."

He sighed softly. "I need to work through some things, to think about them and then sort through how I feel. I'm not where I need to be. I'm not even where I want to be. But I'll get there."

"Can I help?"

"I don't know how, but thanks for the offer."

She kissed him tenderly, lingering as she caressed his chest, and he relaxed. He turned onto his side, pulling her close against his body. He moaned softly, a welcome sound of deep contentment.

"You're coming to terms with what happened to your brother?" she asked.

He nuzzled her hair. "I am, but it's not something I can manage overnight."

She nodded. "It took awhile for you to deal with losing your mother."

"This is different. I...I was at odds with Frank. The last thing I told him..." He was ashamed at the memory of what he'd told his only brother. "It wasn't nice. I never had the chance to make up with him."

"Until tonight."

He kissed her head. "Yes. Until tonight. I'm glad he found peace."

"I'm glad you feel better because he did. So, what are you going to do without that guilt to hold you back?"

He smiled at her teasing tone. "Oh, don't worry. I'm sure something else will turn up."

She laughed, which brought another laugh from him, followed by a soft gasp of pain. She worked her way up in the bed so that her face was level with his. Her hand, soft and cool, caressed his side. He released a soft sigh and closed his eyes. "Better?" she whispered.

He nodded. The burning pain eased when he relaxed under her caress. "That feels good."

She continued her ministrations and asked, "So, what's next?"

He forced his eyes open, blinking sleepily. "Next?"

"Yes, as in, where do we go from here?"

"Uh...back to New York?"

She drew her nails lightly along his side. "I mean with us."

"U-Us?"

She continued to stroke him with her nails, and he shifted closer, easing himself between her legs with a soft groan. He tickled her side, which made her squirm, increasing his arousal. Pushing his shoulder, she coaxed him onto his back and straddled him. "Let me know if I hurt you," she whispered.

He only nodded, already far enough ahead of her that pain was not an issue. What little that did manage to work its way into his awareness only enhanced his release when it came.

Cuddled in his arms again, she continued to caress his side. His fatigue was nearly complete, and he began to drift toward sleep. She whispered, "You never answered me."

"Mmnhm? What was the question?"

"What's next for us?"

"Oh...you wanted a more long-term answer?"

"You're funny."

He tucked her hair behind her ear and caressed the side of her face. His eyes half-closed, he answered, "I don't know what the future holds any more than anyone else does. All I know is that, whatever comes, I want you with me, if-if you'll stay."

She rested her chin on his chest. "What are you saying, Goren, in plain English?"

"In plain English?" He gave it some thought, trying to figure out how he wanted to phrase what he meant. "I love you. I can't be any more plain than that." He didn't know where to look, except that he didn't want to look at her, to see what might be in her eyes. "I, uhm, I need you, and I want you, and I don't know what else to say. All I know is...I want to be with you for the rest of my life, however long that turns out to be...that is, if you can put up with me."

Taking a chance, he glanced at her, surprised to see tears in her eyes. "What? Did I say something wrong?"

She moved suddenly, kissing him firmly. Then she eased the pressure, continuing the kiss more tenderly. He touched her cheek as she drew back. "You said exactly the right thing," she whispered with love in her voice. "God help me, but I love you, too. As much as I tried not to fall for another cop, I did. You just made it so damn hard not to love you, even when I was furious with you. The times that I wanted most to scream that I hated you turned out to be the times when I loved you more than I ever thought possible."

He stared at her, not sure he'd heard her right. "You heard me right," she confirmed. "I love you, too, and the rest of your life isn't long enough."

She settled herself into the pillows and guided his head onto her chest. He made himself comfortable, choosing not to dwell on their conversation. She stroked his hair and his back, and he draped his arm across her. His breathing evened and deepened, and his head felt heavier against her. She snuggled into him and drifted to sleep as well.

Melinda looked up from the arrangement she was working on when she heard the door to the shop open. She smiled brightly. "Robert, Alex, hello. How are you feeling, Robert?"

Goren returned her smile. "I'm all right. We, uh, we're going back to the city today, and we wanted to thank you for your help."

"It was my pleasure. Wait here." She went into the back, returning with the painting and a gift bag containing the snow globe and Hummel he'd purchased his first day in town. "Here you are."

He accepted the wrapped items from her. "Thank you, uh...for everything."

Melinda nodded. "Take care of yourself, both of you."

They left the shop and he walked Eames to her car. She unlocked the doors and he set the bag and the painting in her back seat. At her curious look, he said, "Those...are for you. I wanted to apologize, and to thank you."

"For?"

"Everything. You...I mean, I...I owed you an apology, and you get mad when I try to say the words, so I thought these would be...nice. You'll like them."

She looked at him for a few moments. "You're something else, do you know that?"

"If you say so."

Leaning up, she kissed him, teasing the hair at the nape of his neck. He rested his forehead against hers and asked, "Can I take you to dinner tonight?"

"I would love that."

"Drive safely. I'll pick you up at seven."

"See you then."

She walked around to the driver's side and opened the door. Giving him another smile, she slid into the car.

He watched her drive off and walked to his own car. Looking around the square, he thought about his brother and their mother, both healthy and happy, living in the light. When thoughts of Eames entered the mix, he smiled. For the first time in many years, he felt in control of his life. For the first time he could remember, he was happy.

fin.