This is what my partner thinks really happened in the series, BTW. He says it's more interesting this way than if they were actually together earlier on, and he prefers to think that they just have a really screwed up friendship that's not platonic but also doesn't involve sleeping together.

Basically, UST bunnies everywhere.

Anyway, having just re-watched all 9 seasons with my partner's UST-goggles on the couch next to me made me like this story a lot more than the first time I read it.