As I wrote, this will be a very dark ride. Thanks to the people at Amorous Intent and blucougar who provided the inspiration and courage, although they may not want to take any credit for this thing.
Chapter 2
For a few moments, Alex stared at Bobby, unable to hide her fear and confusion. Sensing his panic, she recovered and gave his arm what she hoped was a reassuring squeeze.
"Your name," she said in a voice sounding far calmer than she felt, "is Bobby…Bobby Goren…and I'm Alex…Alex Eames."
Her voice eased and comforted him, but confusion reigned in his mind.
"I'm…sorry…sorry," he said, and he truly was. Although he couldn't remember her, he hated that he seemed to be the cause of the terrible fear in her eyes. "I can't…don't remember…"
"It's ok." She seemed to attempt to reassure herself as much as him. "You've….been through…" She struggled for a moment. "A lot…I'll get a nurse…"
"No…please." He winced as his body protested at his sudden movement. He reached for her hand and clung to the connection he felt with her. "I…I'm…I'm scared," he admitted.
Alex reached to push the button to summon the nurse. "I won't leave you…I promise."
Within a few moments, doctors and nurses surrounded Bobby's bed. A deeply troubled Alex stood in the doorway to his room where Bobby could still see her. His frightened eyes remained focused on her even as he answered questions.
"Alex." She barely turned to acknowledge the presence of Captain James Deakins. "I came back as soon as I could…He's awake?"
"Yes…but…" She bit her lip. What she was about to say was ridiculous and melodramatic. "He doesn't remember…" She paused.
"What happened?" Deakins frowned. "That would be bad for the case…but considering everything it might be good for him."
Alex shook her head. "It's worse…he can't remember who he is…who I am…anything…"
"He has amnesia?" Deakins asked in disbelief.
"It appears he has a form of amnesia." Dr. George Huang had separated from the flock of doctors and nurses. "He certainly has some severe memory loss…but it's too soon to tell if it's the result of physical or emotional trauma or a combination of both."
Deakins looked at Bobby as he considered Huang's words. He had been impressed both by Don Cragen's opinion of the psychiatrist and the speed with which Huang had arrived at the hospital. "You don't think it's physical," Deakins said. Alex shivered.
Huang replied quietly. "Detective Goren has a lot of injuries…something might have been missed…and more tests will be done…but I…and the other doctors are leaning to this being a reaction to the terrible physical and emotional ordeal he suffered…and is suffering." Huang sighed. "In some ways, it's a natural, logical reaction on the part of a mind…especially an intelligent and sensitive one…It can't deal with something, so it shuts down until it can."
Alex wrapped her arms tightly around her. "How long?" she asked.
"It could be hours…days…weeks…but usually only a few days," Huang replied
"But…it could be…he might not…" Alex couldn't finish the thought.
"It's rare for it to be permanent," Huang said quickly. "And it's rare to begin with."
"Can't we just tell him…" Alex struggled with her desperation.
Huang shook his head. "Telling him too much…too soon…could have very bad results…"
Alex broke her eye contact with Bobby and looked at Huang with pleading eyes. "So, what do we do? What do we tell him when he asks us questions?"
Deakins placed a comforting hand on her shoulder.
"The truth," Huang said quietly. "But not too many details…especially about how he got here…"
"Doctor, we're talking about Robert Goren here," Deakins said. "He will put things together…unless…" Deakins winced at his thought. "He's not…mentally impaired…"
Alex stiffened, terrified at the thought of that brilliant mind crippled.
"That doesn't seem to be a problem." A wan smile appeared on Huang's face. "One of the nurses said something to me in Chinese…Detective Goren responded to it immediately…He even appears to know a fair amount about the condition from which he's suffering…" Huang looked back at Bobby; the doctors and nurses were shuffling away from his bed. "It's quite possible that he'll wake up tomorrow and remember everything…"
"Which would be wonderful and awful," Alex said softly.
Huang nodded sadly. "But we'll do everything we can for him…I promise you."
Huang left with the other doctors; only one nurse remained to adjust Bobby's IV and bed. She paused by Alex and Deakins as she left the room.
"He'll probably fall asleep soon…he's on some very strong painkillers…and he's exhausted." The nursed turned back to look at Bobby. "He seems to be a very good, kind man. We'll take good care of him."
Alex nodded; her voice caught in her throat.
"Thank you," Deakins said.
They moved to Bobby's bed. He was struggling to stay awake, but managed to look at Deakins with some curiosity.
"I'm…sorry," he finally said. "I…I know…I know I should know you…and I trust you…but I don't know who you are…"
"It's all right, Bobby." Deakins' voice was thick. "Just get some rest…things will be better…"
Bobby turned his head to look at Alex. "I…could you…" He blinked.
"I'll stay…don't worry," Alex said. She laid a hand over his.
"Thank you," Bobby said as he slipped into sleep. He was terribly pale, his skin nearly as white as the bandages covering his head and body.
"One of the most brilliant minds I've ever known," Deakins said. "And it's lost inside itself."
"Oh, Bobby," Alex thought. "How did we…I…let this happen to you?"
"Alex," Deakins said as if he could read her mind. "Don't beat yourself up over this. If you'd been there…been hurt…or caught with him…it would be much worse for him."
End Chapter Two
