Chapter 2
She dozed on Bobby's couch, trying to stay awake to be of help to him, but too tired from a long day running, cleaning house for her Dad, and then caring for her partner. She awoke to the sound of him retching and almost got sick, herself. Alex checked the time and went into the kitchen to get him another dose of medicine. Maybe, with luck, he could keep it down. She poured him a soda and brought the pills and the drink into his room. It was quiet, and he was nowhere to be seen. She sighed. He must have stayed in the bathroom. She shifted her items to one hand and knocked on the door. "Bobby?"
"Ugh…" was all he said.
"Can you come out now? I have more medicine for you."
"Come in," he said.
Alex really didn't know what to expect. She slowly eased the door open, and saw his foot slide out of the way so she could open it wider. He was sitting on the floor, his head pushed up against the cool ceramic of the bathtub.
"Here," she said, holding out the drink. She watched him take a sip, then two, and then she handed him the pills. He swallowed them and managed a big enough gulp to wash them down. Then he handed the glass back to her. "That porcelain feels good, doesn't it?"
He closed his eyes and nodded, the skin of his face clinging to the cool white side of the tub.
"If you can make it back to bed, I have something that will feel even better."
He opened his eyes and stared at her.
"C'mon, stand up," she told him, offering him a hand.
Bobby wearily got back to his feet and made his way back to his bed.
She let go his hand and came back a few minutes later with two ice packs in her hands. She laid one against his neck, and he moaned. Bobby opened his eyes and took the pack in his hand.
"There are two of them; you decide where you need them most." She handed him the other one and waited until he was comfortable. Then she tucked the sheet over him, but he pushed it away.
"No."
"You have a fever, Bobby. Humor me."
"Too hot."
"Sheet only, no blanket."
He was too tired to fight. He simply closed his eyes with a groan of defeat. Alex tucked the sheet around him again, and gave him a kiss on the side of his head. "You're pretty stubborn, you know that?"
He didn't answer. He was asleep.
In the morning, he slept in. In fact, he slept almost until noon. When Alex went in to check on him, his fever had broken. She ran a hand over his sweat-dampened hair, and smiled at him. "Feeling better?" She asked him.
He nodded. "Tired. And hungry."
Alex's smile widened. "What would you like to eat?"
"Pizza," he said, then raised his hands in the air. "I know, I know. Take it easy." Bobby thought a minute. "Maybe some toast?"
"You got it," Alex told him. Before she left the room, she straightened his covers and tucked him in, with more than just a sheet this time.
He only ate half of a piece of toast, but Alex was encouraged. She looked over at the stinky laundry hamper. "Bobby," she said, "does your building have a laundry? That thing's got to go."
"Uh, yeah, there's a couple of machines in the basement," he said. "I don't usually use them; they're kind of small."
Alex smiled at him. "You get some more sleep and I'll go downstairs for a while." Looking at his nightstand, she grabbed the water and handed it to him. "Drink this."
He nodded wearily and sipped the water. Alex grabbed the basket and her keys and headed out of his apartment.
"Eames," she said as she watched the clothes fall as they tumbled in the dryer.
"How's he doing?"
"He's better, Mike. The fever broke last night."
"You need anything?"
"Besides some sleep and a shower?" she joked. "I'm fine."
"He's lucky to have you."
"You would have stayed with him, and you know it."
Mike shook his head. "I don't do vomit."
Alex grinned. Mike was a big liar.
"I'll call you later. Tell him I said hello."
"All right."
When the dryer stopped, she tossed them into the freshly cleaned basket and carried them back upstairs. She set the basket by the couch and went back to his room to check on him.
"How are you doing?" she asked.
He rubbed his eyes and rolled over. "I threw up again."
"Oh," she said. She sat on the edge of the bed and laid her hand on his cheek. "What can I do for you?"
"Nothing."
"Have you been drinking?"
"Yes."
"Your fever is still gone." He grunted an acknowledgement. "Just get some rest. I'll make you some soup in a while."
"Now?"
"Do you want it now?"
He thought for a moment, and then shook his head.
"Later, then." Alex leaned down and kissed his temple, and Bobby took her hand in his. She held his hand a few minutes, then tucked him in and left the room.
"Soup!" She said cheerfully. He struggled to sit up in the bed. Eagerly, he took the bowl from her hands. She smiled. "Hungry, eh?"
Bobby stirred it and tasted it carefully. Then he gathered up a large spoonful and stuffed it in his mouth.
"Slow down, there… you'll regret it," she warned.
He chewed with his eyes closed, like this soup was the greatest thing he'd ever had in his life. "Eames," he said after swallowing, "what day is it?"
One side of her mouth curled. "You have been out of it, haven't you?" He looked at her expectantly. "It's Sunday," she said.
He ate a few more bites of soup, lost in thought. As he handed her the bowl, he said, "I don't remember Saturday at all."
"You don't remember Logan being here?"
"Logan?"
"He's the one who called me."
Bobby just shook his head, and she handed him his soda from the nightstand. Bobby drank about half the glass in two sips and gave it back.
Alex was pleased to see him eat and drink. She reached out and ran her hand over his hair. "You're feeling better."
He smiled, a tiny spark in his eye.
"I'll get this cleaned up," she said.
"Thanks," he replied.
After Alex cleaned the dishes and put away the soup, she went back to his room. Bobby was curled up under the covers, sound asleep. She gathered the things that had accumulated on his nightstand and straightened up. Then she got him a fresh drink and set it on the bedside table.
Alex yawned. She really hadn't slept well on his couch. The other half of his bed was clean and inviting. The second pillow looked soft. Without making a sound, and careful not to shake the bed too much, she laid down next to him.
Before she fell asleep, she stared at him. His hands were relaxed on the mattress in front of him. Some of his color had returned, and even with two days' growth of beard, he had the innocence of a little boy.
Bobby's growling stomach woke him. He opened his eyes and threw off the covers, getting up to search for something to eat. He was on his feet when he realized the covers had unveiled an arm. Goren turned his head and saw the arm belonged to Alex.
With a twinge of compassion, he reached out and folded the covers back over her, careful not to disturb her sleep. Then he headed out to the kitchen.
Her hazy mind couldn't place the strange whine she was hearing. Alex thought hard, but couldn't quite figure it out. Finally she blinked until her eyes were no longer glued shut. Glancing around the darkened room, she realized it wasn't hers. It was Bobby's bedroom. The whiny hiss continued, and she realized it was the shower. He must be in the shower. She sat up and gave a mighty stretch. She slipped out of bed and went to the kitchen, where she saw evidence that he'd already eaten. Alex smiled and opened the refrigerator.
She was halfway through a sandwich when he padded into the kitchen, wearing a smile under his dripping wet hair. He had shaven, and he was wearing pajama pants with a t-shirt.
"You almost look human again," she said.
"I'm thirsty," he announced, and pulled a gallon of orange juice out of the fridge.
"Slow down, there," she warned.
Bobby stared at the jug and after a moment's thought, put it back. Instead, he got a glass out of the cabinet and filled it with water. He drank two sips, and then downed the rest.
"How much did you eat?" she asked him.
"I don't know. Half a bowl, maybe. And some crackers."
"So far, so good?"
"I feel fine."
She smiled. "I guess I should get home, then," she said.
Bobby's smile dropped. "Maybe I'm having a relapse."
"Goren… you're not trying to get me to stay," she said, with a grin.
He dropped into the vacant chair beside her. Reaching out with one hand, he pulled a stray lock of hair from her cheek. "Thanks, Alex."
His use of her first name made the sentiment even more meaningful. Alex granted him a shy smile. She patted his hand. "I'll head on home, then. I still have some laundry waiting to go into the wash at home." she said. Alex gathered up her things. Bobby walked her to his door, and she turned, giving him a quick kiss on the cheek. "I'll call you tonight to check on you."
"I'll be fine."
"I know." With that, she turned and left.
