My knowledge of court procedures isn't extensive. I apologize for any mistakes in my handling of it.

Chapter Six

Donnie and Bobby both fell asleep quickly that night. At some point in the early morning, Donnie woke with a start. The young man stared around the room for a moment, and remembered that he was safely inside his uncle's apartment. He stood and moved as quietly as he could to the bathroom. As he returned to the living room, a sound from his uncle's bed stopped him. He watched with growing fear as Bobby murmured and twisted.

"Don't," Bobby cried. "Don't put me there…No…"

"Oh, God," Donnie thought. "He's thinking about his time at Tate." He shivered, and thought about running from the apartment. "No…I gotta be a man…He's done too much for me…" He stepped closer to the bed.

"No," Bobby muttered. "Please…Mom…Don't put me there…I…I'm not possessed. I'll be good…Please…"

Donnie took a deep breath. "Bobby…"

"No…I'm not like you…No!"

Donnie had heard and seen terrible things in his life, and not just at Tate. But he'd never seen anyone in as much torment as Bobby. The young man swallowed his fears and moved closer to the bed.

"Bobby…Bobby…It's ok…You're not there…You're safe…"

Bobby jerked, and the violence of his movements caused Donnie to take a step back. Bobby finally escaped from the dream and sprang up in the bed. He stared wildly around him.

"It…It's ok, Bobby," Donnie said shakily. He remembered how his mother and other kind people had treated him in similar situations. "You're safe. This is your apartment, and you're safe."

His shoulders heaving, Bobby rubbed his fists in his eyes. He struggled for several minutes to catch his breath.

Donnie cautiously stepped closer to the bed. "Bobby…You ok?"

"Ok would be an exaggeration," Bobby softly said. "But…Better…" He couldn't look at his nephew. "I…I'm sorry I woke you up…"

Donnie shrugged. "It's ok…I was already awake. You sure you're ok? Can I get you anything?"

Bobby finally looked at Donnie and saw how frightened the young man was. "I…I'm all right," he tried to reassure Donnie. "I shoulda warned you. I get bad dreams sometimes."

Donnie felt embarrassed at seeing Bobby's obvious shame. "I…I can get you some water or milk or something…"

"Yea," Bobby said. "Milk would be great."

"Ok…I'll be right back." Donnie left with an eagerness that didn't escape Bobby's attention.

"Poor kid," Bobby thought. "I've scared the hell out of him…"

Bobby rose shakily and stumbled to the bathroom. He splashed cold water on his face and stared at his reflection in the mirror. The haggard, stubble ridden face scared him; he could only imagine how it affected Donnie.

"I keep hoping," he thought. "That the nightmares will ease up. But other things keep feeding them…" He moved back towards his bed and found Donnie waiting for him with a mug of milk.

"I warmed it up," Donnie said. "I hope that's ok. I've read that warm milk helps you sleep…"

"Thanks," Bobby said and took the mug. He gratefully sipped the warm milk.

"I'm sorry," Donnie said hesitantly. "If going into Tate gave you those…"

Bobby sat on the bed. "Don't worry," he said. "I had plenty of nightmares way before that. Plenty of material. Thanks for the help. I'll be ok now. You can go back to sleep."

"You sure?" Donnie asked.

Bobby nodded. "You…You did the right thing. Thanks."

Over the next weeks, Donnie and Bobby got used to being awakened by each other's nightmares. If the dreams were bad enough to intrude on the other's sleep, they'd provide glasses of water or milk and a few awkward words of comfort. Donnie's dreams grew less in intensity and frequency as his medication and sessions with the psychiatrist helped him. Sheer exhaustion also helped him sleep. Determined to prove himself, Donnie worked long and hard hours for Lewis. He started with the garage's worst jobs, but performed them well and without complaints. He did anything Lewis asked of him, and Lewis responded by giving Donnie more and better jobs.

"The kid's good," Lewis told Bobby during one of the latter's frequent checkups on Donnie. "He listens, he works hard, and he's got a natural turn for this work. I may have taken him on as a favor to you, but I'm glad I did. I'm encouraging him to get certified. I'll even help him pay for the classes."

When he returned to the apartment in the evening, Donnie frequently cleaned the place—"After all," he told Bobby. "I have experience as a janitor."—and fixed dinner. Some of his initial cooking efforts went badly—Alex and Bobby arrived one evening to discover the windows open and Donnie frantically trying to wave smoke out of the apartment—but Donnie developed into a more than decent chef with a talent for dishes that could be quickly reheated.

"You know," Alex said as she joined Bobby and Donnie for a late dinner—an increasingly happy and familiar occasion. "You could be a chef or a mechanic. Either a useful job."

"Yea," Donnie said with a smile. "Maybe I could open a combination restaurant/garage." His mood darkened. "But everything depends on what happens….What they do to me…"

"Listen," Bobby said. "Your lawyer says things are good. We know whatever happens, you won't get sent to a place like Tate. And there's a good chance you won't see the inside of a jail again…"

"I…I know," Donnie said. "It's just…Everything is going so well. I got this great job. I get to see my Mom regularly. If I can get it together, I'm going back to school. But there's this huge shadow." He looked at Bobby and Alex. "And I don't know how I'll ever be able to pay the two of you back."

"Every day you go to work," Bobby declared. "Pays me back. Everything you do to help yourself, pays me back." He stood and began collecting the dishes. "No," he said as Alex and Donnie moved to help him. "I got them…It was great, Donnie, although…" Bobby surveyed the kitchen. "You could've used a few less pots to make it."

"You're good for him, Donnie," Alex said softly. Her voice could just be heard over the sound of Bobby's dishwashing.

Donnie stared at her. "I…I'm helping him? You gotta be kidding…Everything he's doing for me…"

"Donnie," Alex said patiently. "Bobby's only really happy when he's helping someone. Helping takes him away from his own troubles. Away from himself."

"I still don't understand," Donnie said. "He's a terrific guy…He does terrific things for people…He has great friends. How can he be so down on himself?"

"He's never had anyone in his family on his side," Alex explained. "Except for you."

"God." Donne shook his head. "That's a lot of responsibility."

Alex smiled. "Yea…But you've done a good job so far."

Donnie blushed. Alex had learned that the young man accepted praise about as badly as his uncle did. "Thank you," he said shyly. "I just wish I knew what was going to happen to me…The waiting…It's really hard…"

Bobby appeared from the kitchen, and there was no additional talk about troubles and court dates that night. When Alex left, Bobby, as he always did, accompanied her to her car.

"I have some news," Alex said tentatively as they entered the elevator. "Although I don't know if it's good or bad."

Bobby looked at her apprehensively.

"It's about your car," Alex continued, and she noted Bobby's relief. "My brothers and brothers-in-law…Several are very interested. All of them more than willing to give you more than the blue book price. They know you're taken good care of it, and some of them know about Lewis' reputation. And they're all so competitive that you could probably get an even better price by letting them bid on it."

Bobby rubbed the back of his neck as they stepped from the elevator. "I…I don't want to take advantage of your family, Eames…I just want to make sure it goes to a good home."

"It's hard for you to give it up," Alex said.

"Yea," Bobby admitted. He held the front door open for Alex. "It…Lewis and I worked on it so long…And…And I paid for it…It was the first really big thing I ever bought for myself." He followed Alex to her car. "But it's ridiculous to keep a car in Manhattan…especially a classic. Especially if they need money. If you could just let them know I want to sell, Eames. I'll take the best offer."

Bobby handed the keys of the Mustang over to Alex's youngest brother the day before Donnie was scheduled to appear in court. Sensing Bobby's hurt at giving up the car, Alex acted as the go between, driving the Mustang to her brother and delivering the check to Bobby. She didn't know if giving up the car helped take Bobby's mind off Donnie, or if Donnie helped take Bobby's mind off giving up the car, or if both combined to increase Bobby's troubles. But for whatever reason, Bobby was quiet and grim the next morning when Alex arrived to pick up Donnie and him for court. In contrast to his uncle, Donnie was nearly hyper and spoke constantly.

"I'm sorry," he said in response to Alex's exasperated look. "I'm really nervous. Scared, really. I'm not in a manic phase. I swear. I had a session yesterday. It's just I've always talked too much when I'm nervous." Donnie fidgeted with his tie. "I'm not used to wearing these things."

Alex reached up to adjust his tie. "Well, you look great. You'll make a great impression. Just do what your lawyer tells you to."

"Thanks," Donnie said. He wore the Navy blue jacket and khaki pants Alex had supplied, matched with a pale blue shirt purchased on one of their shopping expeditions. The dress shoes she'd insisted on buying gleamed on his feet, and Donnie wore one of Bobby's best silk ties, a dark Navy one that matched the jacket.

Bobby emerged from the back of his apartment. His hair was neatly cut and his beard newly shaved. He wore one of his best suits, but dark circles surrounded his eyes. "Eames," he said softly. "You don't have to…"

"Donnie may need a character witness," Alex declared. "And, as Ross told me, I'm not that productive when you're not around."

Donnie calmed slightly on the drive to the courthouse. He sprawled across the back seat of Alex's car. "My lawyer…Eck…Mr. Eckstein…He told me to call him Eck…He thinks things will go well…He got…A change of…What is it?"

"Venue," Bobby said softly. He was a large, tense lump in the front passenger seat.

"Venue." Donnie fingered his tie. "He got it moved to the state court here in Manhattan. He says the judge is fair. That people in charge of Tate now…and the county where I was arrested…They're not eager to revisit the case. He's told me that only the judge, the prosecutor, Eck…me…will be there. He says the fact I've got a job…A place to live…People to speak for me…It'll help my case….Like you said."

"Even we're right sometimes," Alex said.

As they neared the courthouse, Donnie became as quiet as his uncle. They parked and made their way to the assigned courtroom. There was a small group clustered outside the room, consisting of Lewis, Donnie's psychiatrist, Donnie's mother, Mr. Eckstein, and Captain Ross. Another man, wearing the dark blue suit and red power tie lawyer uniform, skulked several feet away. Alex guessed he was the prosecuting attorney, and from his expression she guessed he didn't anticipate a good day in court.

"Donnie," Evelyn said as she approached her son. "You look wonderful."

Donnie smiled and hugged his mother. "Thanks, Mom…Thanks for being here."

"I wouldn't be much of a mom if I hadn't come. Besides, your uncle made sure I could come. Sent me some money and talked to my boss to let her know how important it was that I get here." Evelyn looked over Donnie's shoulder at Bobby. "I owe your uncle a lot…Including an apology."

Bobby shifted uncomfortably.

"I've just met your boss, Donnie," Evelyn said. "He told me how well you're doing."

Lewis blushed at the compliment, and Alex fought against smiling.

"Your doctor and your lawyer say you're doing well too," Evelyn added. "I'm really proud of you, Donnie."

"Thanks," Donnie said. "Thank you all for being here." He turned to Ross. "But…You're Bobby's boss, right? Why are you…"

"For help, if you need it," Ross said.

Donnie studied Ross for a moment. Bobby rubbed the back of his neck. "Captain," Bobby said softly. "You didn't…Don't…"

"It's something I should've done a long time ago," Ross said calmly.

Mr. Eckstein placed a reassuring hand on Donnie's shoulder. "It's time, Donnie. Remember, just tell the truth."

Donnie looked around at the circle of his supporters and squared his shoulders. "Ok."

As they walked into the courtroom, Alex thought that Donnie and Bobby looked like men being led to their executions.

END CHAPTER SIX