Free Fall: Ch. 2

By: The Confused One

A/N: I'd like to thank everyone for their reviews. If I don't say it enough, I love them and appreciate them. Please enjoy the chapter, and remember to review. Thanks.

Mike gave a loud sighed. This part was the worst. Plopping back down in the chair, he bitterly mumbled, "He's just going to stay asleep forever."

Carolyn reached over and took his hand. A ghost of a smile crossed her face and tried to assure him, "He'll wake up, Mike. Sit still and calm down. You're not helping anyone like this."

Mike squeezed her hand gently. He whispered, "Sorry." After a moment, he added, "I don't know how to tell him about Alex."

With a slow nod, Carolyn promised him, "I know. It's OK. I'll be here with you. We'll both tell him."

Mike nodded, and they fell into companionable silence. He missed Carolyn at work, but he was grateful to still have her in his life, to still have her as a friend. This brought him back to Bobby and Alex. He was tired of having to worry about friends in hospital beds with gunshot wounds. He had lost too many partners and friends that way.

Mike was brought out of his thoughts when the door opened. Captain Ross walked in. Looking at them, he sighed. He should have known Mike and Carolyn would be with at least one of them. The four detectives had been close before he had sent Carolyn to homicide. Feeling guilty enough about it, he was a tad uncomfortable. He finally asked, "Any change?"

Carolyn shook her head. As much as she missed Major Case, Carolyn refused to be bitter or rude. She still had her friends from there, and homicide was more like what she had worked in the FBI. She was comfortable in homicide. She got along with her new partner, and she was making new friends. She quickly answered, "No. He's still out."

Ross sighed. After a moment, he explained, "They're still trying to put together exactly what happened. All they know is Goren got shot first. He fought Wiznesky for the gun. It went off, and Eames got hit. He was found over her, and Wiznesky was dead. It looks like Goren shot him."

Mike nodded and finally looked up at Ross. "He shot the bastard, I guarantee it, and it doesn't surprise me that he was found over her."

Carolyn looked at Bobby and agreed, "They're…more than partners, best friends really. They have an amazing connection. We don't…know how he's going to react when he finds out what's happened to her."

Ross nodded. He assured them, "I'm worried about his reaction, too. I saw him when she went missing."

Carolyn shook her head. "I heard. I went to see her when she was in the hospital and later at home. Still tough as nails."

Mike smiled slightly. With a nod, he proudly replied, "Yeah. Did she tell how she escaped on her own?"

Carolyn smiled now too. "Yeah, she did. No one can say she can't take care of herself."

Ross simply nodded. Watching Mike pinch the bridge of his nose, He sighed. "You two should go, get some sleep. Don't spend all night here."

Mike looked up at Ross. He insisted, "I'm staying till he wakes up. No one else is telling him about Alex. Baker and Jeffries will be by later. If he's not awake, I'll get some air."

Carolyn looked at Mike and replied, "And I'm staying, too."

With a sigh, Ross decided not to push either of them. Relenting, he replied, "OK. Well, I'm going to check on Eames."

With a nod, Mike watched him leave. Turning back to Carolyn, he asked, "You been down there?"

Carolyn nodded. With a sigh, she whispered, "Yeah."

Before Mike could respond, he heard a groan from Bobby. Instantly looking at his friend, Mike offered, "I think he's waking up."

Carolyn nodded. Getting up, she assured Mike, "I'll grab the nurse."

As the world slowly began to come back to him, Bobby eyes fluttered open. The glare of the lights caused him to close them again. He moved his arm slowly. The pain was excruciating. What the hell happened? As it slowly came back to him, Bobby groaned again and forced his eyes open.

Putting his hand on Bobby's shoulder, Mike tried to stop him from sitting up. "Bobby, stop. It's OK. Calm down. You're in the hospital. You got shot. You have to stay still."

Instantly relieved to see Mike, Bobby stopped. Bobby didn't care about the pain, his condition, prognosis, or what hospital he was in. All he cared about was Alex. She had to be OK. He couldn't lose her. He needed her, and he was terrified he had gotten her hurt again. He had to know her condition. His voice was raspy as he desperately asked, "Eames? How is Eames?"