At Arms Length. Rating: PG13 Author:suzyh Disclaimer: I don't own the characters here and I'm making no money. Eve is mine. Darien was perched on Eve's desk. He had been bored so he had sought out the one person who always listened to him. Truth be told, Eve listened to everyone, they all came to her with their problems and gripes. In the three months she had been there, Eve had become everyones favourite agony aunt. "So, you see what I'm saying? It wouldn't kill Bobby to admit that he was wrong for a change." "Darien, why do you need him to admit it? Just take the moral high ground and be done with it." "But that's no fun." Darien grinned and poked at Eve's sandwich. "Is that chicken? It looks good. How bout a little bite." Eve sighed and handed the sandwich over. Darien looked like a schoolboy who had just conned someone out of their lunch. Eve shook her head. "I have work to do, go see Claire or something." "She's busy, besides I'm talking to you." Darien finished his lunch and peered at the file that was open. "What's that about?" Eve closed it up quickly and smiled sweetly. "Run along and play." Darien pouted and pulled her hair gently. "Spoilsport." He waved and disappeared down the hall. His next stop was Bobby. Darien was concerned that his partner didn't seem his normal flirty self. Even Claire seemed put out that he hadn't hit on her as normal. He suspected the reason was Eve. For whatever reason though, Bobby was keeping her at arms length. Darien rolled his eyes. Probably that silly no fishing rule again. Well, thank god that he was there. Darien opened Bobby's door. Dr Love was about to operate. "Hey Bobby, guess who I've just seen?" "The tooth fairy?" "No. Eve. She was looking mighty fine partner." "Fawkes, don't start." "I don't see the problem. So it would be fishing, so what?" "Bobby Hobbes does not fish off the pier, my friend." Darien sighed with frustration. Okay, time for phase two. Wake the savage beast that was Hobbes. "Mind if I ask her out?" Bobby looked up sharply. "You're not her type Fawkes." "We get on great, she's hot and I happen to be everyone's type." Bobby stood up his fists clenched. "Stay away Fawkes, I'm warning you." Darien backed off, a little suprised by Hobbes reaction. Bobby calmed down and rubbed his face. "Sorry, it's just, well, I like her okay? But we work together. It's awkward. We'll just be friends and no more." Bobby sat back down and picked up the report he was writing. He couldn't concentrate though. Darien had struck a nerve, the same nerve he thought had died when Viv left him. His feelings for Viv paled to what he felt for Eve. It was ridiculous, he had only known her for a short time but he knew that he wanted to protect her and keep her safe. He had started coming in early just to see her before anyone else. They had gotten into a routine of sorting out the day's business and schedule then going out for breakfast. Eve was funny, smart and very shy. After about a week however, she had come out of her shell and no longer blushed all the time. Bobby had grown possessive of his time with her and he was eager for every day to begin. He thought about Eve. She had what his dad called Strawberry blonde hair and very gray eyes. She was also very pretty. Bobby sighed. Maybe it was time to keep his distance a bit more. Eve tapped her foot. Bobby was late, people would be arriving any minute and she still had the reports to pass out. She looked at her watch and sighed again. Deciding she couldn't wait she started her work wondering where on earth her friend was. When she was done she walked to Bobby's office where she was astounded to find him already there. "Hey, what happened? I thought we had a breakfast date?" "Eve, I can't spend all my time with you. Besides, I'm sure you coped." Eve blinked at the hostile tone he was using. "Well, I'm sorry you feel that way Bobby. I gather you won't be helping me from now on?" "No, I don't think so." "Right. Okay then.." Eve's voice trailed off as Bobby turned his back on her. She blinked back tears as she left the room bumping into Claire as she ran down the hall. "Whoops, careful Eve. Hey, what's wrong?" Eve shook her head. "Nothing, dust under my contact lens." Claire watched as she walked away. She turned to see Bobby watching from his doorway. He looked shaken and upset and a muscle was moving in his cheek. She met his eyes with a questioning gaze. Bobby smiled sadly and closed the door leaving Claire wondering what on earth was going on. Darien was being to get worried about his partner. He had spent the entire day with a scowl on his face and snapping at everybody. Claire had filled him in on the scene she had witnessed that morning and Darien suspected that Bobby had done something stupid. As he valued his life he opted to get the explanation out of Eve. "Honestly Darien, it was nothing. Bobby just decided not to help me anymore." "Claire said you looked upset." "Oh that, just dust under my lens. Why are you making a big deal out of this?" "Because he is my best friend and he likes you and I know you like him. Why don't you just admit it and move on?" "I don't date co workers, you know that. I've told you at least fifty million times." Darien threw his hands up. "Okay, I give up. If you ask me you're both insane and made for each other." Eve patted his arm fondly. She really liked Darien, he was like her big brother and was very sweet, although sometimes he didn't know when to stop. He had been trying to matchmake her and Bobby from day one, sometimes she wondered if he needed a hobby. Their conversation was halted by Bobby returning a file. "Hey, umm, Eve? Can I have a second?" "Sure Bobby, what's up?" Bobby frowned at Darien who was watching them with a big grin on his face. "Alone, Fawkes." Darien tutted and sloped off, Bobby turned back to Eve. "Look, I'm sorry about this morning. I was an asshole that's all I can say." "No problem. I have been taking up your time lately." "It was time well taken. Eve, we need to talk about what's going on here." Eve held up her hand. "Don't say it. It isin't a good idea for us to be involved. I never date in house." Bobby let go of his breath. "Me neither. So friends?" "Absolutely. Good friends." They shook hands, trying to ignore the electricity that flowed between them. Eve looked at the file he was holding. "That for me?" "Oh yeah, I forgot. Let me carry that for you." Bobby picked up the box by her feet and took it down the stairs. He noticed that it was full of his files. Eve noticed his glance. "Could you help me sort those out?" she asked. Bobby nodded. Who else knew his files better than him? "Sure." They rolled up their sleeves and got to work. After about an hour, Eve stretched. "Phew. I don't know why you saw all these shrinks, you seem stable enough to me." Bobby stayed silent. Eve clapped her hand over her mouth and blushed. "Oh...that was rude. I'm sorry, it's none of my business." she blushed and buried her head in the boxes. Bobby smiled. She did that so easily, it made a change from all the hard women he was used to. "The Agencies thought I needed help so I went." he said softly. Eve looked up. "Did it help?" she asked "Nah, they just gave me a headache and more pills to take." Bobby explained. "Yes. They do have that effect don't they?" Eve grimaced." My shrink was no help." Bobby blinked. "You had therapy?" "Oh yes, for three years. After my husband died I had a meltdown. He said that I was angry with Matt for leaving me. Ground breaking stuff." "How did he die?" Bobby asked. "Brain Hemmorage. I found him." Eve changed the subject not wanting to talk about it. Bobby sensed the change in the mood and stood up and stretched. "Anything else I can help you with?" Several thoughts popped into Eve's mind as she saw his shirt stretch across his chest. She shook herself and remembered her rule. "No. I think I'll manage." She smiled at Hobbes. Just then an alarm sounded. The door automatically locked behind them. "What was that?" Eve was breathing hard and looked up at Bobby with wide eyes. "We have to get out of here, that alarm means lockdown." "Lockdown?" "If the agencies failsafe is damaged or affected in some way then the entire building is locked down. No-one gets in, no-one gets out for twenty four hours. Come on, we only have five minutes to clear the building." Bobby dragged her up the stairs and tried the door. It was solid. Bobby drew his gun and shot at the lock. After much barging with his shoulder, the door gave and they stumbled through. Racing down the halls they arrived at the exit just in time to see the safety door come down and Darien's face disappearing from view. "Aww, crap!" Bobby swore and kicked the wall. His cell rang. Eve bit her lip as Bobby listened grim faced. He hung up the phone and sighed. "It seems the computer that runs the security system blew a fuse. So, we're stuck with each other." They looked at each other longingly before Eve broke the spell. "Let's explore." Bobby nodded grateful for the distraction. Twenty four hours alone with the object of his desire. How would he keep his hands off? This was going to be a challenge. The End?