- What do you say we go for a drink, now that we've had a good meal.
At Logan's words, Barek and Eames nodded in agreement, but Goren was more reluctant.
Not that he didn't want to go with them, but he would have preferred to finish the quiet evening and in the company of Eames.
Thinking about Eames, he looked at her.
Her back was to him, walking alongside Barek and Logan, chatting.
But at that very moment, Goren realised that there would always be a gap between Eames and him.
That no matter how hard he tried, nothing would ever bridge that gap.
He had thought that this rehabilitation might well have turned into something more serious.
But would that really be the best thing for Eames and for him.
Wasn't he going to spoil Eames's chance of a good life.
Oh sure, Goren loved his little intimate moments with her, the tenderness she showed him.
But what could he bring her.
He was already finding it hard to hold her hand in public.
A young couple walked past him, snapping him out of his thoughts.
The boy was holding his girlfriend by the shoulder, hugging her gently, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
But then why...
If it seemed like the most natural thing in the world...
Why was it impossible for him to make even simple gestures, like holding Eames' hand, when he wanted to.
- Where's Goren.
At the worried voice of Eames, who had just stopped and looked behind her, Barek and Logan did so, but there was no Goren behind them.
Logan turned to Eames.
- He was behind us.
Behind them...
Really.
Then why wasn't he there.
Besides, Eames had found him strange throughout the meal, and she'd told herself she was probably imagining things.
When in fact she should have taken Goren's change more seriously.
She absolutely had to find him.
- I'll look for him.
With that, Eames left Barek and Logan behind she and set off to find Goren.
Goren couldn't have gone far.
They had left the restaurant a few minutes earlier, and all she had to do was walk in the opposite direction.
He couldn't be far away.
And if by some misfortune she didn't find him, she'd go straight to his house.
- What are you doing here.
At Eames' shout, and the hand she placed on his arm, Goren snapped out of his thoughts, realising that he hadn't moved from where he was since they left the restaurant.
- You're fifty-one years old. And you manage to get lost. She slipped her little fingers over his wrist and pulled him along, forcing him to follow. Let's go.
Yes, he was fifty-one years...
And no, he hadn't lost his way, or at least not the way Eames thought he had.
He had been lost in thought when he saw this young couple, and that's what had made him lose track of time.
- It's your birthday today. She stopped, let go of his wrist, but remained from behind. I didn't understand why you wanted it to be the four of us.
Yes, it was her birthday.
But that was the one thing she didn't care about.
As a rule, nobody wished him his birthday, except the little blonde woman standing in front of him with her back to him.
In addition, Eames told him he hadn't understood why he had wanted the four of them together.
Could it be a reproach.
Eames seemed to resent his initiative.
Even though he had done it for her.
So that she could finally see Barek again and spend some time with her.
And he'd seen that she'd been happy to spend time with her.
So why was she reacting like that.
- I don't understand what you're thinking.
At her words, Goren's heart stopped.
Eames didn't understand what he was thinking.
My God...
But he was in the same situation himself.
He too never knew what Eames was really thinking, and maybe that was why he didn't dare take the first step, or do certain things.
- Do you want to go home...
Go home...
Eames she wasn't serious.
Did she already want them to separate, when they hadn't spent a moment alone.
No, he didn't want to go home.
And for once Goren was sure of one thing...
He wanted to spend a little more time with Eames, if she wanted him too.
Even if he still had doubts, he knew he needed Eames in his life.
- Tell me right now. I can understand.
Understand what.
That he was acting like a complete idiot.
So for once, just once, he was going to let go of his doubts, and his fears, and take his courage in both hands, and tell Eames what he really wanted.
So he moved towards her, and when he was right behind her, he put his arms around her neck and drew her against him, squeezing her gently.
At this gesture, especially in public, Eames turned violently pink, her heart beating wildly in her chest, ready to explode.
Goren had never done that before.
Still shaken that he could have done that, and in public, she put her hands to her heart.
Goren had just held her close.
- Alex... I don't want to go home. He lowered his head to the back of her neck, burying it there. I want to stay with you a little longer.
Was it true.
Goren didn't want to go home, and he wanted to stay with her.
It was the first time he'd said such a thing to her.
And it upset her completely.
Did this mean that Goren was beginning to get attached to her, and to have feelings for her.
- Let's go to the hotel.
To that barely audible whisper, Eames felt her heart miss a beat.
Had she heard correctly.
Had Goren really just said that to her.
He was always very shy in that respect, and he had never taken such an initiative.
He was offering to take her to a hotel.
- You want to... She turned her face towards Goren's, to see that he was all red, that he was keeping it buried against his neck, not daring to look at her. Go to the hotel.
He nodded, still keeping his face down.
- I...
- I agree Bobby. Let's go to the hotel.