TITLE: Those Who Burn Twice as Bright Chapter 6
RATING: T or 18+ whatever,
BETAed by: Brynna (beta's rock! Especially this one)
ARCHIVE: Anyone who would like. Drop me a line so I can visit.
SYNOPSIS: A Bar. A match. Two minds.
COMMENTS: Alex listens to a drunk and brooding Bobby.
DISCLAIMER: Everything relating to Criminal Intent is owned by Dick Wolf and NBC productions. Yadda, Yadda, Yadda and Sons

Alex finished dressing and began putting the rest of her stuff in the now dried out duffel bag.

Yesterday afternoon I wouldn't have dreamt I'd be here now. Even more unlikely were the events that happened in between then and now. I have got to admit I had a great time last night. I think we both did.

Remembering her evening she couldn't help but grin. Slinging the bundle over her shoulder she headed down the hall past Bobby's still closed bedroom door. "Bobby, I'm going to take my stuff down to the car. I think I remember where Bishop parked it. And you, you pack enough for a couple of days, alright? No skipping out to some motel." She listened briefly for a reply. "Or I'll have to mop up the floor with you!"

"That's an odd threat, considering that's what you did last night."

"You're incorrigible."

"You can talk me into anything."

"Then get moving, I'll see you down stairs." She was beyond a grin and into a full blown smile as she headed for the elevators.

Upon entering the lobby the early morning sun seems particular bright to Alex.

"Dave, what's up? Are you pulling a double shift?"

Dave shook his head no, smiled and waved her toward the lobby desk he was standing behind.

"Morning." Dave explained. "I let Frank come in late Saturday mornings. That lets me come in later Saturday night. It puts happy hour in my reach." Dave smiled and added, "I have something for you."

"Really?" Alex plops her bag on the counter. "Something from your ever elusive sketch book?" Alex scanned the desk area looking for the portfolio.

"Umm," Dave was caught off guard; he found self pride in the fact that Alex would want one of his doodles. "Maybe, a piece for you next time. Right now, I have something available for you, something that I believe you are in need of."

Alex cast him the Well-what-is-it? Look.

Dave pointed behind the lobby desk to a short hallway that lay between the two office cubicles. "Go straight back turn left, bathroom," Dave wiggled his eyebrows, "with running water."

Alex's jaw involuntarily dropped as she scampered off in the indicated direction. She looked back, "Dave, I could kiss you, you life saver." Smiling she rounded the corner.

Dave felt giddy, like a school boy somewhat embarrassed by her attention. Alex would really like one of my sketches? Wow, I'll have to draw her up something special, what would be perfect for her? She's so, so… Still starring down the empty hallway he sighed out, "For her to be the last vision I have each night, and the first sight I see each day…. Oh how I could die a happy man."

"I agree." Bobby set a satchel down next to Alex's duffel.

Uh-Oh. Or I could just die here, not happy, and soon, very soon.

"I don't recognize that verse." Bobby picked up the paper, aggressively thumbing the pages. "Who are you quoting?" he added, in a very evenly tone. "Keats, Dante, Poe..."

More like Bobby Goren…. At least he's taking it out on the morning edition. "Just my sleep deprived self, Detective." Does he toy with his perps like that? Ugh, got to watch myself. "If you go straight back and turn right, there is a functioning men's room." Distraction, redirection Please, nature's call has got to win over busting my...

"Thanks Dave." Bobby decided to drop the paper and any further inquiry to answer a basic need for the restroom.

Okay, great now the top profiler at the NYPD knows I've got a crush on his partner. Who wouldn't crush on Alex? Smart, tough can handle the major case assignments. Whoa Dave, reality check. Partner, Goren's partner. The woman who Bobby has much more invested in than a crush. These cops have a connection to each other that is deep, much deeper than either one of them will admit. For now.

"Thanks Dave." Alex spotted Bobby's bag next to her duffel.

Before she could ask Dave said, "He's back in the men's room, should be up shortly."

Alex smiled at him as Dave offered her the morning paper. "Any big stories in this edition?" She flipped through the state and local section, scanning the headlines.

"Not this edition, nope." And I win a headline bet with myself.

"You okay, Dave? You sound kind of, maybe sad?"

Dave looked at the two overnight bags in front of him. I Guess that answers where Goren is going be staying. Crushed by reality, yeah that could be sad. He forced a cheery smile. "Just sleepy, really I'm good."

"Well," Alex picked up both bags. "Tell Goren I'll meet him at the car."

"Ok, see you later."

Bobby returned, noticing the lack of baggage on the counter.

"Detective Eames said she would meet you at the car."

Goren nodded, and turned to leave.

"You know I'm, sorry about last night."

"How's that?" Bobby stopped and stepped back towards him. "You couldn't have known about the pipe breaking."

"I'm not talking about the plumbing." Dave waves his hands to indict to Bobby he is on the wrong track. "I mean your friend that came by."

Bobby was knitting his brow, recalling, what he could, of last night.

"I tried to stop him from checking on you, told him you were home and okay and all, reminded him how late it was and he went on up anyway. I figured you be busy and wouldn't want any…"

"I don't recall any visitors. Other than Eames."

Wow, He just spent a night with his amazing partner and he is in professional mode in record time. I wonder if he calls her anything besides…

"Come to think of it," Dave put the back of his hand up, trying to stifle a yawn. "He wasn't gone up stairs all that long. Plus he had been drinking, alot, had a pretty good buzz going on. Maybe he thought better of it, or got off on the wrong floor."

Dave running a little defense for me and Eames? Well probably for Alex, anyway. I'll even up by not crushing the guy with the crush.

"Well thanks for, uhm, doing that for me." Bobby turned to go, then remembered. "Dave, any deliveries last night? Like the pizza guy?"

And add in the Detective mode, always questions… Dave flipped through some papers on his desk, to check himself before answering with a slight shake of his head.

"I don't recall, or see any deliveries last night."

"Did my friend have a name?"

"James."

Bobby processed this information on his way to the parking lot.