CHAPTER FOUR

There was never any question that Alex would accompany Bobby and Donnie on their rounds that day. Bobby offered a brief and feeble protest, but Alex thought it was more for appearances than any real desire to keep her away. Their first stop was a psychiatrist's office. As Alex carefully maneuvered Bobby's car in and out of traffic (both she and Donnie insisted on taking the Mustang), Bobby explained to Donnie that the doctor was an expert in the treatment of bipolar disorder in young adults.

"I met her during a case…Before Major Case, Eames," Bobby said. "Just be honest with her, Donnie. I guess you've had to play a lot of roles to survive, but you don't have to do that any more."

"I'll try, Bobby…I really will." Donnie looked out the car window. "But I've been doing it so long…"

"I understand," Bobby said.

Alex concentrated on the road and hoped Donnie and Bobby couldn't see the tears in her eyes. She waited while Donnie and Bobby entered the psychiatrist's office. The waiting room was empty, and Alex found several new magazines to occupy her time. She was happily catching up on gossip when Bobby returned.

"She wants to talk to him alone, of course," Bobby said. "Without me hovering around."

"You may have saved his life," Alex said.

Bobby rubbed the back of his neck.

"Here." Alex thrust a copy of PEOPLE at Bobby. "Get caught up on the news."

He stared blankly at the cover. "Eames…I don't think I recognize any of the people on this cover."

Roughly an hour later Donnie emerged from the doctor's inner office. He looked, if not entirely happy, calm and reasonable, which was a sharp contrast to his uncle's increasing agitation.

"She's the best doctor I've ever talked to," Donnie said.

The doctor smiled. "Donnie has no problem with me speaking to you about most things, Bobby…and you, Ms. Eames, if you don't mind."

Donnie shrugged. "You trust her, Bobby. And she seems to know most of the bad stuff anyway."

At that moment, Alex thought she could forgive nearly every moment Bobby had tried to protect her by keeping her out of parts of his life.

"I think I can help Donnie a lot," the doctor said. "He seems to have a good recognition of when he's going into a depressed or manic state. He knows that for all of its increased energy, the manic state is a bad thing. That's something some bipolar patients never realize."

"Thank you, Rose," Bobby said. "Thank you…I don't know how I can…"

"I think," the doctor said quickly. "That Donnie would be an excellent addition to a study I'm doing. I've given him a couple of prescriptions that are part of that. He'll come to see me for regular sessions. It won't cost anything. And it'll impress a judge."

"Rose…You don't have to…"

"Bobby…Really…He's perfect for this study…"

Donnie grinned. "Hear that? I'm perfect for something."

The doctor smiled benevolently at Donnie. "I wouldn't endanger the study by letting him in if he wasn't right for it. And I owe you a lot, Bobby."

Bobby stared at his feet.

"Get the prescriptions filled," the doctor continued. "And I've made an appointment for the day after tomorrow. We can check on the medication's results and levels, and Donnie and I can have another session. If you need me to go with you to court or testify about his condition, just let me know."

"Thank you, Rose," Bobby said. "Thank you…"

"Eames," Bobby said as they left the psychiatrist's office building. "We're about to have a very long and very boring meeting with a lawyer. You don't have to…"

"But I do?" Donnie asked.

"'Fraid so," Bobby smiled. "But Eames doesn't…"

"Doesn't mind. I'll wait and make plans for shoe shopping with Donnie," Alex said.

"That sounds worse than the lawyer," Bobby said.

Alex waited with as much patience as she could muster in the lawyer's office, which was considerably older and shabbier than the psychiatrist's. The magazines in the waiting room reflected the age and state of the building, and Alex discovered that the latest copy of NEW YORK LAWYER wasn't nearly as fascinating as PEOPLE. Donnie and Bobby finally appeared a little over an hour later, followed by a man Alex recognized as the lawyer representing a man who was released after Mark Ford Brady's confessions.

"Don't worry," the lawyer said confidently. "We've got an excellent case…So good that I think we could sue the state and county for wrongful imprisonment…Not only am I convinced that Donnie is innocent, I can easily get this conviction thrown out on procedural violations."

"I don't want any money," Donnie said. "I just want to know I won't go back to jail…especially back there."

"Is he in any danger of getting picked up?" Bobby asked.

"Not as long as he doesn't get noticed by the police," the lawyer said. "Just don't go anywhere near that place. And if by some chance you get picked up by the NYPD, don't say anything until you call your uncle and me."

"I don't want to go near there," Donnie said. "And I'll be careful…I won't do anything." He looked at Bobby. "I owe someone too much."

"So," Alex said softly as they left the office and walked into the shabby lobby. "This is one of the guys who owe you a favor."

Bobby looked at the floor. Donnie studied him.

"A lot of people owe you favors, Bobby," he said. "And you're spending them on me."

Bobby rubbed the back of his neck.

"Your uncle's a good man," Alex said firmly, her words meant as much for Bobby as Donnie. "He's done a lot of good for a lot of people."

"From what I can tell," Donnie said. "Frank didn't do anyone any good. Are you sure you were brothers?"

Bobby jerked as if he'd been stabbed, and he spun away from Donnie and Alex.

END CHAPTER FOUR