A/N: I just watched Vanishing Act and saw Eames actually smile for the first time since Purgatory. Dean called out her feelings of being betrayed though, and that it was unresolved. Even though it's been a little while, emotions are still running high, and I think Goren needs to talk to Eames and clear the air.

Disclaimer: Don't own anyone!

She had actually smiled during his antics with the magicians. Just like she used to. Before he had put her through hell. Dean, for all his posturing, had hit a chord with Bobby when he read Eames and identified that a man had betrayed her and issues were unresolved. "Not for the first time" he had said. Bobby knew he had hurt her a great deal in the last few months. First reopening her husband's case, then Tates, then the undercover gig. He was surprised she hadn't written another letter requesting a new partner. He was genuinely shocked that she stayed, despite all the pain he'd caused her. She had even stuck up for him to Dean, when the magician had asked if he could even solve this case. She still had his back.

After Dean was booked, Alex was exhausted. She had fallen for Dean's assessment of her, that she still felt betrayed by a man in her life. But she'd recovered and didn't respond, even though he'd hit the nail on the head. Bobby had gone behind her back, not respected their relationship, kept her in the dark…again. How many times was she going to do this to herself? She noticed that she and Bobby fell back into a rhythm on this case. She'd even involuntarily laughed at his childlike excitement over magic. She couldn't help being amused when he did things like that. But he'd hurt her too. Her emotions were confusing and frustrating. Hence, the exhaustion she felt by the time their paperwork was done. She just wanted to go see her family. She'd neglected them lately and she felt guilty for not seeing them in so long, especially her nephew. She packed up her belongings and, noticing that Bobby wasn't in sight, headed out towards the elevators.

Bobby caught himself staring at her from the conference room. He had gone to take a call and now was just watching her. How she tucked her hair behind her ears when she was working on her paperwork. How she chewed on her pen when she was thinking. How she tried to sit up straight instead of slumping over like he did. Not for the first time, he observed how beautiful she was. He didn't realize until this moment how much he had missed her, missed working with her, missed all her little idiosyncrasies. He didn't realize until this moment that relief of his purgatory was not just to get back on the job. It was to get back to her. He needed to make this right. He needed to tamp down his natural tendency to run away from anything that looked like a feeling, his attempts to block her out, his knowledge that he was toxic to everyone he touched. He saw her head to the elevators and initially thought he would just wait for another day. But he knew if he didn't do it now, didn't talk to her while he was having some courage, he never would. He swung the door open.

"Eames! Eames wait", he called. She turned and faced him. She knew she looked tired, and she really wasn't in the mood for a fight. She waited.

Bobby scrubbed the back of his neck but he was determined to be brave. "Do you…do you have dinner plans?" She nodded. "I'm seeing my family. It's been a while since I've seen them so I'm having Liz and Dave and Nathan over for dinner." Bobby inwardly sighed relief. He could be off the hook. Wait for another day. Let her go. The silence was long between them and Alex raised a suspicious eyebrow. "What do you want, Bobby?", she asked wearily. He mentally nudged himself forward. "I just wanted to buy you dinner", he said. It sounded lame to his own ears.

"Why?", she asked. "Because…cuz I wanted to…want to…talk. To you. About…things", he stammered. He cursed himself for being so nervous. This was Eames. He shouldn't have such trepidations. But things were different right now. She was angry and he didn't know how to handle her being mad at him. Usually she was the only one who WASN'T upset with him. And that was just another in the long list of why he needed her.

She was taken aback by his outreach attempt. But he was going to have to do better than that.

"Why?", she asked again. She wasn't making this easy for him. He didn't blame her for being skeptical, but this was too important.

"Because…because I need to make it up to you. I need to let you know about…" He trailed off.

"That ship has sailed Bobby. You did what you did. Now I'm doing what I have to do, okay? Just…leave it."

"I…I can't. I need to.."

"I don't really care what you need", she interrupted. "You're feeling guilty. I get that. But nothing you can say is going to do any good at this point. It's over. I know where I stand with you now." She said it so matter-of-factly. He pinched the bridge of his nose. He had to make her understand.

"It…it's not guilt. It's…I just want to talk to you."

"All the times I tried to get you to talk to me, and NOW, after all this, is when you choose to open the door for me? It's too late Bobby." She didn't want to hurt him. She really didn't. But she couldn't keep doing this anymore. Waiting for him, doing everything on his terms while he disregarded her feelings. But she saw the pain in his eyes as she said the words and without her consent, her feelings softened. She couldn't deny that she wanted to talk this out with him.

"Don't…don't say that", he said. "Just…just give me a chance. Please, Alex." The use of her first name disarmed her. He rarely called her Alex. She flashed back to the last time, when he had reopened her husband's murder. He was so concerned then, so worried about her. So he must be pretty worried now. If she was looking to alleviate pain- hers and his- now was the time. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

Her face had changed. Instead of stoic, she looked guarded but more open. He tried very hard not to profile his partner, but in this case, he needed to read her, to see if she was even considering giving him that chance.

"Fine", she said. "You can come by for dessert." "With…with your family?" "Take it or leave it, Bobby." "Ok…ok, I'll take it." She nodded, then turned and got on the elevator, leaving Bobby in a bundle of nerves.