It's been seven years and I still don't quite understand how it happened. We're pretty much polar opposites. I'm brain, liking things to be logical and methodical, and working with properly set plans; he's brawn, preferring things to be quick-paced and action-packed, and flying by the seat of his pants. My idea of a good night is putting on some jazz and enjoying a glass of wine while I work on my next book while he prefers to go out to loud, packed clubs and knock back beers while flirting with every skirt he can find. Sometimes I think that the only thing we have in common is that we want to put away dirtbags.

But that's not such a bad thing to have in common, is it?

Since the day I met him Tony has asserted himself over me as the alpha male. From tricking me into staying at a rancid crime scene all night to more than a few messy mishaps involving super glue, Tony's made it clear where he considers my place to be. Though, through the years I've managed to get mine in there now and then, usually catching him off guard. Like that tattoo I got. I know he never thought I'd have the guts to go through with it and seeing that look on his face was worth the pain it took to get it. He never tried to keep me from getting with Abby again, either. That's one thing I've noticed about Tony; if you prove you really want something, he won't stand in your way.

I've always been used to the relationship between older and younger siblings. There's a good eight year gap between me and my sister and I took on the role of older brother with great aplomb. She would follow me around, trying to be included in the things I did and I would ignore her with a cool confidence, pretending like she was a pest that I didn't want around (and sometimes she was). The truth was, there was a sort of power you got from being an older sibling.

That may be why working with Tony was such a big shock to me. I was so accustomed to being the older sibling, but now he had taken over that role, making me the annoying younger sibling who just wanted approval. His antics and pranks bugged me, of course, but if I were being honest with myself I'd admit that they weren't that much different than some of the things I'd done to Sarah when we were younger. I certainly can't fault Tony for being the same kind of older brother I'd been. Besides, he's played the older brother on both ends of the spectrum. I mean, he's there for me when I really need him.

That's not to say we have the perfect friendship; we're the same as any sibling pair. We argue, exchange insults, take cheap shots when we're really angry. I guess I take some things too seriously. But that doesn't mean we don't both value the friendship; I do, and I think Tony does too. I think he knows I'm helpful, even if he would never admit it. I've helped him in the past, and I don't just mean getting him tickets to closed concerts and working on his computer gratis. I've covered for him when I thought he really needed it, let him vent when something really had him steamed, and I like to think that through the tough times he considered me a means of support. I didn't have to do that for him, but I did. Because he's a friend and that's what friends do.

And Tony isn't without his merits. He did come over to cheer me up during that whole Benedict thing. Sure, he went about cheering me up the wrong way, but his heart was obviously in the right place. Also, when I went down to visit Kate in autopsy, he showed up, ready to give me the strength to say my goodbyes. He may not be the best listener, but when he does listen, he knows what he's talking about Plus, despite my moans and groans, I don't really dislike his constant movie references; he makes me laugh, makes the most depressing situations bearable.

I'd be the first to admit that Tony sometimes annoys me to no end, that our relationship seems a bit malicious. He's not like the guys I've befriended in the past. We don't talk about comic books or the latest Star Trek movie. Sure, we'll hang out now and then (usually with the others) and yeah I've gone to his apartment a couple of times to watch movies and talk, but are we going to go out to try and pick up girls together? Probably not. But we have our own kind of friendship, one that doesn't require us to have so much in common in order to appreciate each other.

Strange, I know, but I prefer this kind of friendship more.