Bobby POV

"Tell me, Captain…are you in the habit of torturing your detectives?"

"You're going to need to clarify that one. Torturing?"

"By being so incredibly sexy that concentrating is nearly impossible."

Alex laughed while I simultaneously attacked her throat and unbuttoned her blouse.

"Just one detective in particular," she answered in a husky voice.

"Good answer."

"I'm getting good at giving good answers," she replied. "And you're…very good at what you do, too."

By this point, I'd pulled off her blouse and I'd started moving my mouth downward, kissing a trail over her exposed skin.

It was late, pushing midnight, but we just got home a few minutes ago.

The discovery of a sixth victim had brought an increased amount of pressure on Logan and me to come up with a suspect, so we spent all evening at 1PP scouring through the histories of our known victims.

Alex had stayed late, too, and after she got a handle on her own responsibilities, she'd come out into the squad room and pulled up a chair next to our desks.

"Where are we?" she'd asked.

"The deeper we dig, the more the victims seem random," I admitted in frustration. "We know that two sets of two girls knew each other, but that's it. There's no connection to the others, and since we still don't have names on numbers five and six, it's nearly impossible to determine any kind of pattern beyond the one-three, two-four theory."

"Which would indicate that five knew Sally and Erin, right?"

"And six knew Kaleigh and Samantha," Logan said with a nod. "But we haven't been able to find anyone missing in their lives, so to speak."

"So even if it was someone they knew, it was probably only as a casual acquaintance."

"Right. Like Kaleigh and Samantha. Their paths crossed at the soup kitchen."

"Have you pulled the volunteer logs to see who else might have worked there at the same time they did?"

"We've asked for it," I said. "We don't have it yet."

"If they don't give it up tomorrow morning, let me know."

"Are you going to put on the pressure, Cap?" Logan teased.

"Do you want the log or not?" she asked him with a grin. "Oh, and tell me the deal on Detective Coleman."

Logan looked at her skeptically until she added, "The business card in the victim's pants. Not…you know…you and her."

"Well, for the record, there's no me and her," he said quickly. "Eight hours of time spent while highly intoxicated doesn't count as…anything."

"Sally went to see Coleman on Saturday," I jumped in since Logan had gotten off track.

"And she didn't deem that important enough to tell you?"

"Trust me. We let her know she screwed up," Logan replied.

"Sally went to see her…why?"

"Because her friend was missing."

"Wait, so Sally reported Erin missing? Then why did we have to wait to hear from Albert the perv to get an ID?"

"Coleman never took the report," I explained. "She convinced Sally that it was probably nothing, and that if Erin wasn't back by Monday, she should come and see her, and then they'd file the paperwork."

"Only by Monday, Sally was dead," Logan added.

"Oh, that's great," Alex said smartly, sitting back in her chair and shaking her head. "So a victim reached out to the cops and no one helped her. I can't wait until Channel 7 gets a hold of that one."

"I don't know that it would've made a difference," I said. "Even if the report was taken, and they were able to ID Erin from that information, it probably wouldn't have stopped Sally from being killed."

"He's right, Boss," Logan added. "And the fact that Sally didn't mention anything about feeling in danger herself suggests that these girls aren't stalked beforehand."

"The killer is just snagging them off the streets without warning," she stated.

"Uh huh. And Liz says the time span between pre-mortem bruising and TOD isn't long…maybe a couple of hours at the most. I don't think it's about torture, and it's definitely not about sex. None of the girls were raped."

"Which leaves us with what? A statement of some kind?"

"Or killing for the fun of it. If it's two guys, maybe they're in some kind of sick one-upmanship."

"And they're accelerating their timeline," Alex pointed out. "We've had four in four days."

"Maybe they've brought another competitor into the mix."

"Or maybe they're just feeling invincible. Maybe we've already looked past them," I suggested. "If it's someone we interviewed and now they think they're in the clear…"

"So re-interview," Alex directed. "Maybe you need some help on this, someone to do some of the leg work."

Logan and I glanced at each other, neither of us thrilled with the prospect of outside assistance.

"Give us a couple more days," Logan bargained. "We'll get it."

She looked hesitant for a moment, and then she nodded her head.

"I can give you through the weekend. After that, I'm going to have to bring in more help.

We both quickly agreed, appreciating the courtesy she was offering and knowing that if we didn't make significant progress, it would be her head on the block.

"Have you heard any more from Ross?" I asked after another moment.

"No," she answered. "What did Liz have to say?"

"You called it," Logan said, his voice full of venom. "He went after her."

"And I'm sure she deftly and efficiently rebuffed his advances," Alex said with the beginnings of a smile. "Mike, you know you don't have anything to worry about."

"Just like you don't have anything to worry about," he replied. "And yet you still are worried, I'm sure."

"What happens with my job is beyond my control. What happens with you and Liz…that's between the two of you. It's different."

"I'm going to tell her to go on a date with him," he said suddenly, and then he looked at Alex quickly as though he wanted to gauge her reaction.

I could've told him what it would be, and she didn't disappoint me.

"Have you completely lost your mind?" she asked, her voice sounding loud in the mostly-empty squad room.

"No," he said defensively. "But I need her to be sure."

"She is sure."

"How can she be? He just got back. I don't want her wondering…"

"Yeah, okay. Sure, Mike. You tell Liz to go on a date with Ross. Just let me be in the room when you do it, okay? Because then I won't have to wonder how you ended up back on light duty."

"Alright, so I'm not going to tell her. But I'm going to suggest it. I don't want her to feel like she's stuck with me."

Alex sighed and shook her head and then looked at me for help.

"What is it with you guys?" she asked rhetorically, then she turned back to Logan. "Have you ever known Liz not to speak her mind?"

"Well…no."

"Then why would now be any different? You're trying to play the martyr, and in the process you're discrediting her feelings for you. If I was her, it would just piss me off.

We'd let the topic drop and then the three of us spent a few more hours going through the latest missing persons reports, in addition to everything we could find on the personal lives of our four known victims, and then we'd called it quits and headed for home.

"You know, what if it's some kind of online thing?" I asked suddenly.

Admittedly, my timing was bad since I was presently dragging Alex's underwear down her legs, but for some reason, the thought had popped into my head.

"Some kind of…what?" she asked breathlessly, and then she looked down at me and rolled her eyes. "Oh my God, Bobby, are you thinking about the case?"

"I…yeah. I'm sorry."

I forced the revelation from my mind and instead redoubled my efforts at making her feel good, but she sat up in the bed and said, "Go ahead."

"No, Alex, it's…"

"It's on your mind. Tell me."

So I moved up beside her and pulled her into my arms and then I began absently stroking her skin as I told her my theory.

"What if the killers met each other online? You know, there's a history of killers in the past wanting to impress each other, and there are communities for everything these days…what if one plays to the fantasy of murder, and some of its participants are taking it a step further?"

"So then they have something to blog about, only theirs is the best because it's real?"

I love the deftness of her mind. Even though I'd had her halfway to the promised land, she was still able to follow my logic.

"It might explain the quicker timetable."

"Because more people are joining in the fray," she said thoughtfully. "Wow, I sure would love for you to be wrong about this one. If we can't connect the dots…"

"But maybe we can, if we can find the community."

"Okay, so…we need to get the techies on it."

"First thing in the morning," I agreed.

"Which means you have eight hours to make it up to me," she said as she turned in my arms and brought her lips to mine.

I raised my eyebrow and looked at her questioningly.

"I mean, you've got me thinking that I'm not sexy enough to keep your attention," she explained, her tone slightly teasing, slightly challenging.

"You know that's not true. I was just telling you a few minutes ago how hard it is for me to concentrate when you're around."

"Well, you didn't get specific, Detective," she said with a smile as she pushed me onto my back and then moved on top of me. "How hard is it?"

I spent the next however long proving to her just how hard it can be, and I'm happy to say that the case never once entered my mind.

But after we finished and we were settled in the bed for the night, my mind began to wander back over the day.

"I can't believe Ross isn't dead," I said, my voice a near-whisper in the darkness.

"I know. Even though Maas told me ahead of time, when I walked into Moran's office and saw him sitting there…it was so surreal."

"Maas had your back," I stated. "I like him more and more every day."

"He was afraid I'd defer to Ross, since he used to be my boss. But you know…I don't get why Ross was so surprised to see that I was the captain. I mean, supposedly he made Moran promise that he'd move me up."

"Yeah, when he moved up. Maybe he figured everything had come to a screeching halt when he died his fake death."

"Well, he also mentioned that he didn't think I'd leave you behind," she said quietly. "You don't think that, do you? That I left you behind?"

"Don't let him get in your head. You know I don't think that. We talked about this last summer, out on the pier, remember?"

"I remember," she said on a sigh as she snuggled even closer to me. "I just…he got me with that one. I guess he knows where my buttons are, even now."

"You know, I hate to say it, but…I'm not glad that he's back. Whether it's related or not, look how much better our lives have been since he's been gone. Of course, I think that, and then I feel guilty because what's the alternative? That he's really dead? What kind of person does it make me to wish another person back into his grave?"

"There's nothing wrong with having mixed emotions about it. The last year of our lives happened like it did because he was dead. Without that event, where would we be?"

"I'd like to think we'd still be right here."

"Me, too, but would we? Or did living together undercover push us to be honest with each other? I mean, I know it did, but would we have still reached that breaking point if we were only just working together?"

"So I'm supposed to thank him for faking his death?"

"No. We're just supposed to…roll with what life throws at us. And don't feel bad for whatever you feel about him being back. They're your emotions, and it's your right to feel them. And trust me, I'm not going to feel sorry for him when I keep my job and send him to the unemployment line."

"That's my girl," I said as I started running my fingers through her hair.

"You think Logan's going to be okay with all of this?"

"Right now, I don't think he knows if he's coming or going. I'm just hoping Liz straightens him out tonight."

"Has it effected his work?"

"No. He's still as sharp as ever," I answered immediately. And then his words from earlier today came back to take residence in my mind.

"What is it?" she asked.

"What is what?"

"I could feel you tense up, as though you're thinking about something you'd rather not think about."

"Logan and I were talking earlier…he was explaining why he wants Liz to explore her options with Ross."

"Which is crazy, by the way."

"Maybe yes, maybe no."

"You think she should go out with him?"

"I can understand why Logan wants her to maybe spend some time with him. He's worried that she's wondering how he might have changed, and what he's like now. If there's any question in her mind, then it might create a rift between the two of them."

"I don't know…I say if she loves Mike, and I know she does, then it doesn't matter if Casanova himself strolls into town and asks her on a date."

"So…" I began hesitantly.

"Ask," she encouraged, clearly knowing I still hadn't gotten around to the thought that had made me anxious.

"If Joe hadn't died…"

"Would I still be with you now?" she asked in surprise. "Bobby, please tell me you know the answer to that one."

"I…think I do, yeah."

"Do you know what might have been different if he hadn't died?"

I shrugged, even though we were in darkness, and waited for her to continue.

"You and I might have gotten together sooner because the idea of dating another cop wouldn't have been so scary for me."

"So you're saying…"

"I'm saying I'd be getting alimony checks and we'd be three or four years into our relationship instead of not quite one. Other than that, nothing would be different."

"Okay. And what if…"

"What if he was to suddenly show up, having been in the witness protection program for the past decade?" she finished for me, and then she sighed heavily. "You know, I'm not sure if you and Logan being partners is such a good idea. Professionally, there's no one better for you, but if his personal insecurities are going to start igniting yours…"

"It's a valid question. And you're wrong, by the way."

"It's not. And how so?"

"It is," I argued lightly. "And because professionally, there is someone better for me. You. And I can't blame him for feeling insecure right now. Other than her ex, Ross was probably the longest relationship of Liz's adult life, so it stands to reason that he's feeling a little bit like he's walking through quick sand."

"And you always like to empathize with the plight of others, don't you?"

"He's not others. He's Logan."

"I know," she agreed with understanding, and then she reached up and kissed me slowly. "If Joe came back into our lives, yes, I'd probably want to have a conversation with him. But only out of curiosity, not out of any kind of interest. It's just you, Bobby. You're the only one I'll ever want again. If we could go public without losing our jobs, I'd sell my apartment, I'd marry you before the ink could dry on our license, and I'd be Alex Goren for the rest of my life."

A rush of warmth flooded through me at her declaration, and even though I'd thought moments ago that I couldn't possibly ever love her more, I suddenly do.

She'd want to marry me?

"Wait a minute," I said, unable to resist teasing her because my mood had immediately lightened. "Who said anything about us getting married? I thought we were just together for the great sex."

She laughed and then kissed me again, this time putting even more passion into it and I wrapped my arms around her and rolled us over so that she was stretched out on top of me.

And while she kissed me, I had the craziest idea.

The scariest, most wonderful crazy idea.

"So," I said when she eased her lips away from mine. She kept her gaze locked on mine and as I looked into her eyes, I almost forgot was I was going to say.

But not really.

"If Maas gets his wish…" I continued.

"For the abolishment of the ban on inter-departmental relationships?"

"Uh huh. That one. If Moran signs off on it…" I said, and then I trailed off and kissed her again, thinking that maybe I should've practiced this first.

But then I decided that it didn't matter.

"If that happens," I continued. "Alex, will you marry me?"

TBC...