So when I went to bed Monday night, snippets of dialogue began haunting me. This is the result. Spoilers for 47 Seconds and The Limey.

Revision

Kate tapped her pen on the blotter, careful not to leave marks on her paperwork, and willed herself to stop looking toward the elevator every time the stupid thing dinged. Finally, FINALLY, her partner appeared. Holding one coffee. Her patience, stretched to the breaking point, finally snapped. She stood, grabbed him by the wrist, and, ignoring his startled "What-?", dragged him into the stairwell.

"What the hell is going on with you lately?" she demanded without preamble. He didn't flinch, at all, and that was a surprise to her.

"I don't know what you mean," he replied coolly. She glared at him, waiting for something to give, but…

"You've changed."

"People do that."

"Yes, but usually it's for the better. You brought a frickin' date to a crime scene. If Gates had gotten wind of it, she'd find a way to ban you."

He scoffed. "Sorry, but I improved as much as I was ever going to. And it obviously wasn't enough for you, so…" he shrugged. "Maybe I decided to revert back to the guy who got to have a little more fun." After all, he'd stayed, even when he wanted to quit, because she said he made her job more fun. And what had it gotten him?

"What are you talking about?" fear shook her voice. His warmth, his affection, was gone, and it terrified her.

"You see, when we met, people were pretty happy with me. Well, not Gina, but, her opinion didn't really matter anymore. You were one of the few to resist my charms. That intrigued me. As I spent time with you, I started to…revise…myself, like a draft of one of my novels. As time went on, I made more tweaks, more polishes, putting better and better versions out there, hoping that one day, I'd win your acceptance. I realize now, that's never going to happen. So you know what? I'm done trying. I have my pride, Kate." He didn't look proud. He looked…sick.

"Wh-where is this coming from, Rick? Tell me, because I'm really at a loss here." She took in his stony expression. The last time she'd seen him like that was the reporter's interrogation, during the bombing case. That was right about when he'd started getting weird on her. What could have happened? In her mind she began to build a timeline. There was his lunch date, which certainly stung. Before that, he turned down her invitation to go for drinks. Some comments that had a hint of bitterness behind them. The first anomaly was when he'd dropped off her coffee and left, after being home reviewing witness statements. She'd come out of her interrogation of…Bobby Lopez. Suddenly the pieces snapped into place. "Oh. You heard me?"

His whole being radiated defensiveness. "Yes, I did, and the only conclusion I could come to, for why you lied, was that you simply did not reciprocate the feeling. I must say, I was rather stunned, I'd been getting a different message from you lately. So what was all that, anyway? The teasing remarks I can understand, those aren't really new. But the looks, the touches? It was pretty cruel of you, when you think about it, knowing how I felt, how I might interpret moments like that."

Kate staggered back, shaking her head, each sentence like a physical blow. "No. No, no, no. Cas- Rick. You are so wrong. So VERY wrong." She raked her hands through her hair, thinking frantically. God, how could things have gotten this bad? She had to get through to him, and fast. "Do you remember when we were talking, about regrets and opportunities, right before Javier interrupted us? I was about to tell you what I've been working on with my therapist." He looked like he'd rather be any place else. She put her hand on his shoulder, making sure she had his attention. "I've been trying to take down the wall. For US. My job comes with danger, but what that case proved is that shit happens, no matter what walk of life you're from. And I want to make the most of whatever time I have left. Starting now." Her brain registered the lightening of his expression a second before her lips found his.

As always, I value the time and opinion of every reader. Thank you! My review "happy dance" makes the time til next Monday night go faster...