How the hell could he do that? How? Just ask, like there was nothing wrong between them, “I’ll see you tomorrow?” All she could say was, “Yep.” And the sick thing about it, what she hated most of all, was that it would be good to see him again, to work with him again after six months alone. That’s one reason she didn’t just cast him off like he deserved. It was better to be working with him than alone or, for that matter, with anyone else. It stank, but there it was.

She’d never known he could be so selfish. She’d never even guessed, as their partnership had grown, that he could be so ruthless toward his friends, his partner—

She never knew, or else she never would have stayed with him so long. Now, though, now it was too late. She couldn’t even say the things she wanted to say to him. She might lose him for good. God knows, he didn’t need her to be happy. He was happy just with his shield, partners come and go. She’d miss the jerk, was the problem. But, oh, how it galled, to need him after what he’d just done to her.

I wish I’d never met you. There. In the privacy of her own head, she could voice it. I wish I’d never seen you. I wish you had died. Well, maybe not the last one. Still, it would have been cleaner; she would have forced herself to do what she couldn’t do while he was alive. There would have been more grief than anger. There would have been happy untainted memories, rather than memories now seen through a kaleidoscope of betrayal. Mourning could sometimes be the final act of loving. But Goren, the bastard, obviously didn’t need her love. It was her needing to love him.

But, she couldn’t bring herself to wish him dead. No. Death by her own hand (dear God, even now, dear God no) or someone else’s, was not to be thought of. Still, the need to disown . . .

Bobby, I wish I’d never ever met you.

Wow! That was shocking. The reality is, I think Eames could have very easily been feeling exactly that way after the events of Purgatory. She even had that look on her face when he came back. As for Bobby, he does give the impression that she doesn't matter, that any partner would do, but we all remember how he was when E was on maternity leave -- he needs her as his partner more than he realizes and would be so totally lost without her. She is the rudder for his boat. Maybe someday the writers will have B come to realize that, and have him be able to tell E how important she is to him and how much he values having her as his partner. More than just "we have complimentary skill sets."

Nice job getting inside Eames' head, unsteady!

Sometimes, though, I wonder if Leight and the others remember the Bobby we had under Balcer, the one who was lost during her maternity leave, who said "I'm lucky you withdrew your letter." Looking back on old episodes, Leight et al sure was willing to hurt their partnership for the sake of some good melodrama and angst. That's no way to run a show, or a friendship, IMO.

Both this and "What If She Didn't" were very thought provoking pieces, Unsteady. I liked Eames having a conversation with Leight, and then this battle within herself. And I have to agree with you regarding the episodes under Leight. I miss Balcer, and have quite frankly grown a bit impatient and disappointed with where they have taken the series. Here is what I see as a light at the end of the tunnel:

1. They gave us "Vanishing Act" - It wasn't completely old school, but they were having fun, and they were in sync, especially as they worked together to get the confession. Granted, when the perp kept "reading" Eames and bringing up betrayal, Goren did appear very uncomfortable, which tells me that he learned something from "Purgatory," but Eames reaction seemed to be more at the perp than about the betrayal. Her reactions to the perp's "readings" seemed to be more along the lines of, "Oh you think you're so smart . . . give me a break."

2. In "Frame," she was ultimately behind Goren, and she was his number one supporter. When Gage accused her of being angry, and she said something to the effect of "I am, but not at my partner," I'm like "woo hoo!" At that point, they knew that it was Gage, and I'm thinking she was thinking, "I am angry at you (Gage) . . . you little weasel."

I'm hoping that while as sick and twisted as it was in the context of the story, Gage's comment to Bobby, "You're free," will mean that this coming season Goren and we will be free of the angst and the darkness, and we can get back to doing what Goren does best . . . solving crime. Hey, and maybe that's the reason for continual delays of the season premier . . . Goren is still healing. It's as good a reason as any, even if he is a fictional character.

Nah, that's not the reason. He's too busy with all the wives and girlfriends and kids we have him hanging out with in fanfic land, not to mention the 132 and counting wives over on the ship/no ship debate thread........poor man's in hiding -- doesn't know whether he's coming or going, or in trouble, or just what!

No wonder he's getting so gray and looking so tired. The truth comes out!

Well, said, DetectiveC! I was so happy at the end of "Frame" when Eames said she wasn't angry at her partner (in between being on the edge of my seat and feeling horrible for Goren). I think she really meant it. I'm going to be an optimist and look forward to them getting past the angst and getting down to business (catching bad guys, that is).