A/N: A pre-series story from Alex’s POV.
Beta: J.A.B.
Revised Date: April 2, 2008

CI CI Eames CI CI Goren CI CI Eames CI CI Goren CI CI

She didn’t know what she expected when it happened. She had never really given it much thought before, so the idea was reasonable somewhere in the back of her mind.

She truly and fully expected her new and difficult partner, Robert Goren, to be in a suit when he came to the door of his apartment.

It was a shock to see him in dark blue jeans and a black t-shirt. Looking casual in a guy kinda way.

A regular guy kind of way.

Who knew her partner was a regular kind of guy? And why didn’t they inform her before now?

She must have stared too long, because he cocked his head to the side and narrowed his eyes. “Eames?”

She stood straighter and tried to reach for her natural sarcasm, but it just wasn’t there. “Here. The file.”

He gave her an assessing look and then nodded. The weight of the file left her hand and another file was handed over. “Sorry about the mix up. I, uh . . .” He shifted in his black socks and then raised a shoulder. “Sorry.”

After all she’d heard and seen, after all they had been through, and this is what she finds after hours in his apartment. A regular guy.

She suddenly realized she was staring again and her partner was beginning to take notice of her silence. “It’s fine! It’s okay. We were both in a hurry to get out of the office and sometimes I let my stuff creep over to your side of the desk. What can I say?”

Goren gave a small smile as he hugged his file to his stomach. “That you’re a, uh, space hog?”

She spluttered, between laughter and shock.

A regular guy trying to make a joke.

Not ‘Super Cop.’ Not ‘The Genius.’ Not ‘That Crazy Guy Who Smells Dead Bodies.’ Not ‘The Unstable Lunatic Who’s Making Eames’ Life Hell.’

In the short time she’d known him, he’d been all those things and more. He’d been intense, unpredictable, hard and driving. Almost to the point of her just ignoring how big he is and just trying to take him down. Just to plant one of her fists in his arrogant mouth.

Goren was definitely not one to crack wise on her in such a casual and secure manner.

It was kinda . . . nice . . . and she felt a little of her fear and anger melt away.

Maybe this would work out after all.

“Well, I’ll let you get back to whatever you were doing,” she said as she tried to look over his shoulder to snoop. Man, if he was wearing jeans then maybe he had other secret regular guy things going on in there.

He kept his small smile as Eames took an obvious look into his apartment. He knew all she’d see was stacks of dusty books on the hardwood floors and a few magazines in slippery piles on the coffee table.

Well, all that, the open beer, and the empty carton of take out he’d picked up before coming home.

She took in the bachelor clutter of magazines, beer, take out, and smirked.

A regular guy.

“I’ll see you on Monday,” she said firmly. Maybe too firmly because his smile faded a little.

“Uh, sure.” He hesitated. “Thanks for coming over and bringing the file.”

She looked away from the coffee table and gave him the first full smile he’d seen from her since they’d started working together.

“No problem. No problem at all.” She turned away with the smile still in place.

As she heard his door click shut, Eames almost flew back to the street.

She needed to talk to Deakins again.

Soon.

END