They returned to his apartment after a nice long walk. He took her coat and hung it up, then he hung up his own. She sat down on the couch and flipped on the TV. "Oh, look…Times Square."

He sat beside her, looking at the countdown. "Fifteen minutes til midnight? We were walking for a long time."

"Thank you for that. It was a nice walk."

"No need to thank me. I enjoyed it, too."

She snuggled back into the couch and watched the scene at Times Square on the television. He hesitated for a moment before he leaned back, sliding his arm along the back of the couch behind her. She was fully aware of his arm and his hesitation. She wondered again what was going through that brilliant mind of his. But she didn't ask. If he wanted her to know he would tell her. So she simply moved closer to him and rested her head against his shoulder. She felt him tense initially, but then his body relaxed. Reaching up, she pulled his hand down and entwined her fingers with his. Again, he tensed, but after a moment, relaxed. She tipped her head back to look at him. "Are you comfortable?"

"I'm fine," he replied.

"Bobby…"

"What?"

"You're supposed to welcome the new year with someone special to you."

"Is that why you're here?"

"Would you really have spent the night alone?"

"Yes. And you?"

She nodded. "Are you glad I came over?"

"Of course. What's up with you? Since when do you play twenty questions with me?"

"I should know better by now, shouldn't I?"

"No, that's not what I meant."

She twisted around to face him, to see him better. "I'm not playing games. I'm not teasing you."

"Then what are you doing?"

She leaned closer to him. "I'm offering you an opportunity, Bobby." She glanced at the time. "Happy New Year."

She closed the distance between them, pressing her mouth against his. He caught his breath, uncertain for just a moment before he slipped his arms around her and pulled her close against him.

He pulled back suddenly, reluctantly. "Eames…" he whispered. "You're my partner. I…I don't want to…destroy that…"

"Do you think this will?"

"Deakins…"

"Bobby, do you think, in all honesty, he would split us up, even if he did find out?"

He studied her face, turned his mind inward toward his heart, and answered her by pulling her close again and pressing his lips to hers. He agreed with her, in his rational mind, that the captain would not split up his best team…the team that enhanced his reputation and made him look good. As long as they continued to work well together, if he ever found out, he would turn a blind eye. Hell, half the department thought this had happened a long time ago. There was official policy, and there was Goren and Eames. But in his heart, none of it mattered. The only thing he cared about as the new year turned was the woman in his arms, and the fact that she finally was where he had always wanted her to be.