BLIND SPOT: Missing Scene

She woke with a jump, a scream starting in her throat.

"No," she thought. "That's what he wants…No."

She blinked and realized she wasn't in that horrible place. Her shoulders ached dully, but she wasn't hanging from a chain. There was no horrible smell of blood, no terrible screams.

Alex turned her head slowly to lessen the pain. "Hospital…I'm in the hospital," she thought. She saw him—bulky, rumpled, unshaven, looking as if the world had rolled over him after it paused to rest on him for several minutes. He slumped in the chair in front of the window.

"My God," Alex thought. "How long has he been there? How long have I been here?" Dim memories of talking to Bobby just after her arrival seeped through her mind.

She reached tentatively for the water on the table and received several jolts of pain for her efforts. The pain was bad, but not in the same league with what she suffered in that terrible room. She found the call button; a nurse appeared with assuring speed. In the chair, Bobby stirred slightly but didn't wake up.

"How are you feeling?" The large black woman's voice was soft, deep, and warm. She lifted a cup of water and tipped its straw to Alex.

Alex sipped the water gratefully; it cooled and soothed her throat. "Thank you," she whispered. "I'd be lying if I said I'm well," Alex added. "But not bad considering…" She smiled weakly.

"You have a bad dream, honey?" The nurse was clearly experienced; she managed to comfort Alex and take her vital signs at the same time.

"Yea…" Alex nodded. "I…I feel so groggy…"

"It's the pain medication…It would be good if you could get back to sleep…"

Alex looked at Bobby. "Please…could you tell me…my partner…how long has he been here? Is he ok?"

The nurse smiled benevolently and almost maternally at Bobby. "That's one stubborn man…He got here about ten…insisted on staying here with you…And he's been there all night, in spite of the fact he looked like he's not far from needing a hospital bed himself…He finally fell asleep about an hour ago…"

Alex felt sleep pressing at the edges of her mind. "Thank you," she murmured. "For not sending him away…"

The nurse began arranging the covers on Alex's bed. "He said they caught the person who hurt you," she said gently.

Alex studied Bobby. "That," she whispered. "Probably cost him a lot…He…He looks cold…"

"I'll take care of that," the nurse responded. Alex, her eyelids drooping, watched the nurse pull an extra blanket from a closet and gently tuck it around Bobby. It was a measurement of his exhaustion that he barely moved as the nurse placed the blanket over him.

"Now," the nurse said. "Please try to get some sleep."

Alex watched as Bobby, streaked by the light from the window, slept. "We'll be all right, Bobby," she thought. "We'll take care of each other. You help me heal my body; I'll help you heal your head." Blessed, dreamless sleep claimed her.

End