CHAPTER SEVEN

Alex preferred to meet troubles head on, to face and deal with them. For all of his intellectual skills, Bobby also favored the direct approach. He'd learned the cost of hiding from and ignoring dangers could be very high. But both of them knew the importance of knowing when and how to fight their battles. Neither wanted to fight an unknown enemy, especially when one of them was severely handicapped. Bobby was still physically and mentally hurt. His shoulder was usable, but still weak; he underwent physical therapy for his battered knee while the doctors debated whether it would need surgery. The bandages were off his back, but the scars were frightening. He spoke with psychiatrists, largely because Alex encouraged him, but he still had plenty of nightmares and moments when he woke thinking that he was in that tiny, dark cell. It wasn't a difficult decision for Alex and Bobby to lay low and wait for dangers instead of riding out to meet them.

The hospital was refuge for both of them. The FBI kept its word and oversaw Bobby's care. The Bureau was happy to know where he was, and Agent Stahl was happy to repay Bobby's services. The FBI's protection included Alex, because Stahl recognized Bobby was one of the keys to the case against the drug and gun runners, and that Alex was the key to keeping Bobby happy. Their relationship was symbiotic one, but Alex and Stahl shared the bond of female law enforcement professionals, and each woman thought she might like the other even without that bond.

Stahl quietly approached Alex one afternoon outside Bobby's hospital room. "I need to talk to you, if you have a moment."

"Problem?"

"Maybe. You probably know there's an ongoing investigation into corruption in the upper levels of the NYPD."

"I read the papers," Alex said calmly. "You probably know that if you cut me, I bleed blue. My family's been in the department since they stepped off the boat from Ireland."

"I understand that," Stahl said with a hint of a smile. "I suspect the cops in your family have told you some things about what's going on. I can tell you that the Bureau is part of this investigation. You have no reason to trust me, Alex. I promised to keep Mr. Goren safe, and I didn't."

"You tried," Alex said. "And you've taken very good care of him—and me—since he returned."

"Thank you," Stahl said warmly. "The agents involved in the investigation of the NYPD would like to speak with you and Mr. Goren."

Alex frowned.

"Neither of you are under any suspicion or have any obligation," Stahl added. "I think one of the reasons they'd like to speak to you is because there's so much interest in the two of you from the people who are the objects of the investigation."

Alex sighed. "Bobby and I have talked about that. Neither of us were darlings of the Brass, especially Bobby. We discovered a fake email that was part of a conspiracy to get our former captain to resign. But we couldn't think of anything else that we might know."

"That's one of the incidents that sparked the investigations. A lot of people in the NYPD seem to think former captain Deakins is something of a hero," Stahl said.

"We'd be two of them," Alex responded. "He saved the department a great deal of trouble. Looks like it's going to get it anyway."

"Well, it's one thing these agents would like to talk to you about, preferably before anyone from the NYPD does."

Alex frowned. "I'll talk with them. But I'm not sure Bobby is ready to be questioned about anything. We'd both definitely be hostile witnesses for anyone defending Moran."

"We're pretty sure that your department knows that we know where Mr. Goren is," Stahl said.

"They want you to give him up?"

"Yes," Stahl said. "The Bureau, as you might guess, is reluctant to do this, because of Mr. Goren's importance to the gun running case. I'm reluctant to do it because I know he's in no shape to deal with an interrogation. And because there are members of the NYPD who are acting like, well…"

"Jerks?" Alex suggested.

"I was trying to think of a more polite term," Stahl said. "But jerks works."

"It's payback." Alex sighed. "From some of the Brass. Some of them are prime examples of the jerk species."

Stahl smiled. "Between you and me, Alex, there are plenty examples in the Bureau."

"Like I said, I'd be happy to speak with your agents," Alex said. "But I'd like to have my lawyer with me. I trust you, but I've seen enough cases of people who got in trouble because they didn't have their lawyer around."

"I don't think you'll need a lawyer, but I can't argue with your reasoning. I'll let the agents know, and tell them they'll need to wait for Mr. Goren's statement." Stahl looked at her watch. "I have to go now, Alex. The agent standing guard is on a break right now, but I think you'll be ok. If you need me, give me a call."

Alex watched Stahl walk away. "I think she means what she says," Alex thought. "I hope she can keep her word."

She turned, gently knocked on Bobby's door, and opened it. Bobby sat up in bed. The blinds were shut against the sun, and the only light in the room came from a soft light over the bed. Bobby was engrossed in a copy of the TIMES, and Alex started when she saw he was wearing glasses.

"Hey," Bobby smiled.

"Hey. Where'd the specs come from?" Alex stepped closer to the bed.

"One of my doctors thought they'd help with the light. I can actually read now. Truth is, I may have needed reading glasses for some time. Stupid male vanity."

He was relaxed and cheerful in a way Alex hadn't seen for a long time. "You look good in them. Very distinguished."

"Distinguished. Sound like a code word for old." Bobby said wryly. "But if it lets me read without a headache, I'll take it."

Alex glanced at the newspaper. The TIMES' headlines weren't as lurid as those in the POST or speculative as those in the LEDGER, but the story was just as clear.

"Maybe," she said cautiously. "You shouldn't be…"

"Alex," he said gently. "I appreciate you're trying to protect me. And that you're good at it. But I want—have—to know what's going on. And remember—you know as well as I do that we always work better together. It's always better when we face things together."

"You finally figured that out," she said softly.

Bobby slowly reached out his left hand to her, and he tentatively touched her hand. "Took me long enough."

"Ok," Alex breathed. "I gotta tell you."

Bobby's hand tightened slightly on hers.

"It's about this investigation of the Brass. I'm not leaving you or angry at you or anything like that. But like I told you, someone from the Department is looking for you."

Bobby's grip eased, and Alex felt the tension ease from him. "You and Stahl are trying to protect me."

"Yea. Stahl's been protecting me too. Doing a good job," Alex said. "The FBI is part of the investigation. The agents in charge of that case want to talk to us. Stahl and I don't think you're ready to talk to them, but I told them I would."

Bobby's eyes grew stormy.

"I'm bringing my lawyer," Alex continued. "Although I really don't think I'll need her. I trust Stahl."

"I trust her," Bobby said softly. "But I'm not so sure about the Bureau." His eyes narrowed. "I'm going with you."

"Bobby. You're in no shape…"

"I'm going with you. Or we'll have it here." Bobby sat up and winced.

"You're still healing," Alex said. This was just one of several reasons why she hadn't wanted to discuss this with Bobby. "Even Stahl doesn't want you to answer questions yet. You're not physically ready yet. And mentally…"

"I'm the whack job," Bobby said bitterly.

"Bobby, no one thinks that…"

He waved his hand to dismiss her words and winced again.

"I'm sorry, Bobby. I didn't mean to upset you or hurt you. It's why I didn't want to tell you. But I felt like I had to tell you. Like you said, we're always best if we stick together."

"That's why I have to be with you," Bobby insisted. "We have to face this together. Or are you afraid I'll be a weight around your neck?"

Alex stared at him. The clear, open look in Bobby's eyes was gone, replaced by fear, pain and anger. "No, Bobby. No. I don't think you're a weight. Not at all. That's the last thing I think. I swear. I only want to protect you."

Bobby leaned back against his pillows and closed his eyes. He opened them after several moments. "You're probably right," he said wearily. "Just this has left me exhausted. And hurting."

Alex knew Bobby must be horribly tired and in great pain if he admitted feeling anything.

"Bobby, I don't know what to do here," she said. "I don't think that you're ready for any kind of confrontation. I don't doubt your abilities. But you've been through so much." Her heart pounded as if she'd just run a mile.

Bobby gazed at her, and Alex saw that, while he was still exhausted and in pain, the fear and anger had left his eyes.

"I understand," he said. "I trust you." He shifted uncomfortably on the bed.

"I promise you, Bobby," Alex said. "I won't do anything without talking to you. And if your doctors say you're up to it, and you still want to talk to the FBI, then I'm with you."

Bobby yawned. "You gotta a deal."

Alex carefully picked up the paper. "I'll be sure to get you plenty of these."

"No POST," Bobby mumbled. "Can't trust Murdoch."

"Noted," Alex said warmly. "And I'll bring you some magazines and books." She lifted the glasses from Bobby's face and gently placed them on the bedside table.

"Alex. Could you stay until I fall asleep?"

"Of course." She reached for his hand.

"Thank you. I…It's easier to fall asleep when you're here."

She stayed and held his hand long after she was sure he was asleep. There were moments when she needed to touch him just to be sure he was alive and that he'd returned to her. She finally released his hand, stood, and made sure he was covered and warm. She brushed her lips across his forehead. He didn't wake up, but made a soft, gently sound something close to a contented sigh. She turned off the light over his bed and walked to the door.

She heard faint voices before she opened the door, but the door was thick enough that the voices were garbled. As she carefully opened the door to protect Bobby from the bright light in the hall, Alex could see out to the nurses' station. She recognized the two men standing there. Detectives Jahnke and Rosario were arguing with the nurses.

END CHAPTER SEVEN