A/N: I had emailed some of you and stated that the 'secret' would be revealed in chapter nine, it will be revealed in chapter eight. So hang in there one more to go.

Chapter Seven

Different Directions

Alex remains motionless as she stares at Jonathan's lifeless body. The sound of the gun hitting the floor brings her into focus. She takes a quick glance at her partner and he is staring straight ahead, she hurriedly slips on her pants and blouse.

She kneels down and reluctantly searches Jonathan's pockets for the keys to unlock the cuffs. "I'll have you free in a minute, Bobby." She has to roll him over to get at the other pockets, she curses under her breath. Nothing, she exhales. Suddenly she remembers his coat. Quickly she searches and finds her cell phone, which she clips to her pants pocket and the keys. "Finally," she turns to face him, jingling the keys. "I found them." She kneels down and catches the bloodstain on his shirt. She makes a motion to touch it, "I'm sorry Bobby." As fast as she can she unties the rope around his ankles, then unlocks the handcuffs. Bobby has yet to speak.

She throws the last set of cuffs across the room, she kneels down in front of him, she calls his name but he says nothing. She puts her hands on his face. "Bobby what's the matter?" She stands and places her hands on his shoulders, "I'll be right back, I'm going to the bathroom to get a cloth to put on the wound."

She half expected him to be standing or sitting on the couch when she returns, he has remained in the chair. "Come on Bobby let's sit on the couch." She grabs him by his arm and pulls. "Come on," her voice strains as she pulls as hard as she can, "get up." He does not move, "Fine," she lets go of his arm. "If you don't want to move," she unbuttons his shirt and places the towel on the wound. "Hold it there." He remains still; she picks up his hand and places it on the wound, "Hold the towel, Bobby." His hand slips down. With one hand holding the towel she unclips her phone from her pants pocket. "Thank God for speed dial," she says as she punches in two numbers. "This is Detective Alexandra Eames, unit 229, my partner," she pauses and closes her eyes. "And I have been assaulted. I need an ambulance at 27 Beach Crest, Rockaway," she looks up at him. "Now!"

She tosses the phone and it lands on the table, she sits down next to him, "Help will be here soon." She continues to hold the towel against the wound to his abdomen. "Bobby, please say something you're freaking me out." She changes her position and links her arm in his, nudging him to get his attention, he does not respond. With fear in her voice she exclaims, "Goddamnit Goren, say something." She lightly shakes him again. "I don't understand this, what's happened to you?" she says slightly sobbing.

She can hear the sirens but does not leave his side. Four police cars along with Captain Ross arrive at the scene. She hears them at the door. "It's open!" she screams.

Ross is the first to enter, his attention is drawn to the man on the floor, "I….I heard the call come in…" he walks closer to the lifeless body. "Fletcher?" he lifts his head, turns his attention to Goren and Eames. "The only thing I can think of is…. What the hell happened?"

"What the hell do you think," Alex says harshly.

He steps back, holds up his hand, "Sorry, I'm sorry Alex."

Alex remains by Bobby's side as she tells them part of the tale. "Bobby distracted him for a second and that's when I got my chance and I shot him," she says impassively. Alex takes a tighter hold on him.

The captain walks in front of him. "He's awfully quiet." As he bends down to catch his eye the door opens once again, the paramedics have arrived followed by three EMT's. One of the paramedics tends to Bobby while the shorter of the two focuses his attention to Alex. She pushes the man away, "I'm fine take care of him."

After a quick examination the taller of the paramedics, says. "He's in shock."

Saint John's Hospital

While Alex is being examined, which she feels is a waste of time; Bobby is being prepared for surgery. After numerous phone calls Ross starts pacing the distance of the waiting room. Doctor Gray meets up with him and informs Ross that he has admitted Alex for the night and that an ultrasound was taken of Goren's abdomen and it revealed that there was blood in the lesser sac.

"What is that?" Ross asks.

"It's a cavity in the abdomen. The knife may have penetrated the anterior and posterior wall of the stomach, piercing the peritoneum. I have contacted Doctor Benjamin Marcus and he will not only close up the wound he will perform an exploratory laparotomy to see if there is any other abdominal disorder."

"Did he lose a lot of blood, is that caused him to go into shock."

The doctor frowns, "I don't know if the loss of blood is severe enough to have caused it." He takes a step forward then stops. "Captain I have notified Doctor Vincent and he is in speaking with Detective Eames."

"I take it Doctor Vincent is the resident psychiatrist."

Doctor Gray nods the doors to the ER opens and lying on a stretcher is a sleeping Bobby. Over the PA, "Doctor Gray, Doctor James Gray please call extension 3738."

"I have to go, the procedure on Detective Goren should take about two hours, I will speak to you then."

"Thank you Doctor." Ross finds an empty spot to sit in the waiting room; minute-by-minute family members and colleagues start to arrive, first through the doors, John and Sara Eames. Ross is very sketchy in his recap of the events that caused their daughter to end up in the hospital. Next through the doors, James Deakins. Moments after him, Ron Carver followed by Detectives Logan and Wheeler.

Ross asks, "How, I mean who told you?"

"We heard it over the band and I called Mister Carver and the Captain."

"I'm not a Captain any longer Logan."

"Yeah I know but I just can't call you Jim, Ok?"

Ross fills them in on what occurred at Alex's. "I don't know the whole story but Jonathan Fletcher was there," he clears his throat. "Dead when I arrived. Goren was stabbed and he is in surgery now. The prognosis looks good."

"Have you spoken to Alex since she got here?" Mike asks.

"No, right now she has a visitor, the resident psychiatrist."

"Captain Ross," he turns when he hears his name. "Yes Doctor, how is he?"

"He's gonna be fine, as we suspected the knife penetrated the anterior and posterior wall of the stomach, piercing the peritoneum. With blood mainly in the lesser sac, he cleaned it out and closed the wound. He found no other abnormalities. He's in post-op now."

"Can he have visitors?"

"Tomorrow, not tonight. He'll be asleep till morning."

"Doctor Gray, this is Mister and Misses Eames, Alex's parents."

"You daughter will be spending the night her only injury was a superficial wound to he face but the trauma she endured I thought it best for her to remain overnight. You may go up and visit her." He looks at the faces of the five other people. "Two at a time."

Alex's Room

"Detective Eames," a tall brown haired blue eyed man says as he slowly opens the door, knocking simultaneously. "I'm Doctor Philip Vincent the resident..."

"Shrink, who called you?" she says curtly.

"Come on Detective you should know better than most that it is a normal procedure for a psychiatrist to be called in after an assault of this nature."

She nods her head, "Yes I know, so what do you want me to do?"

"Do, Ok I can be blunt, you killed a man, who….."

"A man," she waves her finger at him. "No, I don't think so." She pauses. "How about an animal, no that's insulting to animals," she pulls down the covers and swings her legs off the bed. "I'm fine, you should talk to Bobby, he's the one who's going to need your help."

The doctor sits down on the chair closest to the bed. "Why do you say that?"

"He, he seemed so out of it."

"From what Doctor Gray told me he was in shock."

"Maybe, but to me, after working with him for almost seven years now, I know that it was more."

"Tell me."

"He seemed like he was in another time, as if he closed his mind, afraid to face what was happening."

"Does that bother you?"

"No….maybe….I don't know."

The doctor sits back in the chair; Alex can see by his eyes that he is not buying that answer. Suddenly the door opens; John and Sara Eames enter the room.

Alex expels a sigh of relief, "Mom, Dad."

The Doctor stands and moves to the end of the bed. Alex does the introductions. Doctor Vincent, points his finger at her, "I'll see you later."

As he grabs for the door handle, Alex calls out, "No, it doesn't bother me. Why should it? It's my fault that he was hurt, not his."

Sara sits down on the bed next to her daughter taking her hand, "How? What?...Captain Ross told us that someone came into your house and assaulted you."

Alex impersonally tells her parent the events.

The elder Eames remain silent throughout the story. "Dad can you pour me a glass of water?"

"Huh? Yeah sure," He takes a glance at his wife and shrugs his shoulders. She returns the gesture. He pours the water and hands her the cup.

"Thanks," she takes a sip. "The doctor told me that Bobby had to have surgery but he's alright."

"Yes he is."

"I hope I get a chance to visit him tomorrow." She puts the cup on the stand next to the bed. Expels a long breath, "I need to lie down."

Sara stands as Alex gets under the blanket. "That's a good idea sweetheart, get some rest. We'll be back later."

Alex holds her hand out, "No, no stay. Please stay till I fall asleep."

Without hesitation they agree.

Less then twenty minutes pass and Alex is asleep. "What do we do John?"

"Just be there for her that's all we can do."

Bobby's Room

Early Sunday Morning

Bobby wakes to a dark room, trying to remember how he got here and amazed that he is here, from the smells he knows that he is in a hospital. The door opens; a middle aged, red haired nurse enters. She is humming a song, a familiar song. He watches her intently as she checks his IV bag. Suddenly the humming stops and she starts to sing.

God looked down and smiled on me.

Took my hand and led me to the sea.

Wanted to show me the world through his eyes.

A soft chuckle is heard from him, she looks down, "Oh you're awake." She continues changing the bag. "I'd ask, how do you feel, but I think I'll pass on that."

"My mother use to sing that song. My God I can't believe I even remember."

"Mine too, my Granddaughter is visiting for a few days and when she woke this morning she wasn't feeling well and I sang it to her, now I can't get it out of my head."

His smile is genuine and she smiles in return, the opening of the door cause them both to look up. Doctor Gray nods at the nurse. "Glad to see you sitting up, Detective," he says as he approaches the bed. "The surgical procedure showed that the stab wound penetrated the anterior and posterior walls of the stomach, you were bleeding internally. Doctor Marcus cleaned it and closed it. You will be sore for a while, which in plane English means you have to stay in bed." He says with an authoritative tone.

"How long do I have to stay here?"

"No longer that seven days. As always with any piercing wound we have to monitor for infection. So take it easy."

Once again the door opens and Doctor Vincent enters, he nods at his associates. Bobby takes a long look at the thirty something man that just entered his room. Doctor Gray does the introductions, "Detective this is Doctor Vincent."

Vincent holds out his hand, "The resident shrink, how do you feel?"

Bobby shakes his hand, "Fine." He turns his attention back to Gray, "How about food?"

"No, no food for another two days. You have to give your stomach walls some time to heal. Tomorrow and again on Wednesday ultrasounds will be preformed to check the healing process." He picks up the chart, "Your vitals are normal; you are running a slight fever but nothing to worry about." He sets the chart back on the hook. "Get some rest," he turns toward Vincent. "Not too long," he says as he passes his colleague.

The red-haired nurse lightly pats Bobby's arm, "I'll see you later."

He smiles as he watches her leave.

"Detec….Bobby, can I call you Bobby?"

"Sure," he finds the remote and pushes the up button on the bed.

The doctor stands at the foot of the bed. "How did you get here?"

"What an odd question." He tries to sit up and move his pillow but the wound to his abdomen halts that feat.

Vincent moves to the side of the bed. "No, it's not," he adjusts the pillow. "How did you get here?"

"Ah….an ambulance?"

"You have no idea, do you?"

He turns his head toward the window. "No….I don't know."

"What's the last thing you remember?"

He rubs his eyes, "Ah….I remember Alex was sitting on the floor and….oh man." He pauses, bolting up in the bed, "SHIT," he tentatively touches his wound. Gasping for air, "Alex, where is Alex? Is she alright?" he asks excitedly.

"She's fine; I had a little chat with her," he checks his watch. "A few hours ago."

"How, how is that possible?" Bobby asks sounding confused.

"What do you mean?"

"Jonathan, he let us live I don't understand that."

"Jonathan is dead, Bobby. Alex shot him." He lifts his head, the doctor studies his face. "You look lost."

Atta girl is his first thought, "I…." he shakes his head. "I don't remember that, why don't I remember that?"

"You were in shock."

He bows his head, a memory flashes. She wasn't sitting….she was kneeling, kneeling in front of me. He covers his face with his hands. No….God….No…. did she? God please no. Alex, I'm so sorry.

"Bobby, you remember something? What? Tell me."

Bobby turns his head quickly and the Doctor steps back. "No I didn't remember anything. I just felt a sharp pain." He lowers the bed. "I need to lie down." With that said, he turns his head toward the window.

Vincent smirks, yeah. I believe that one. "I'll be back later, try and get some sleep."

A nod from Bobby is the doctors' answer.

Why can't I remember, he holds his head. "Alright," he says aloud then looks around the room, somewhat embarrassed. He rubs his forehead in the hope that it will jar his memory, nothing. His first instinct is to get out of the bed and pace around the room, he pulls off the blanket and when he lifts his body, PAIN, he lets out a shriek followed by an array of curses. He falls back into the bed. The memory of yesterday's events are very clear, the last thing he remembers is Jonathan asking him, "What do you think of that idea Bobby?" He keeps reliving the events in the hope that he can get past that part. 'Nothing.' The further he reflects on what occurred yesterday, the more frustrated and fearful he becomes. Could it be I don't remember because she….and I don't want to remember. He imagines her face, first on her knees. He shakes his head to get that thought out of his mind. Then he sees her face, sitting at her desk. He smiles. Comfort, but not for long, the last words he remembers spoken by Jonathan go through his mind, once again. He rubs his eyes then his face. Come on think.

His heart rate starts to increase; his breathing gets heavy and he starts to sweat. A childhood memory of a hospital stay many years ago, filters through his mind. He reaches for the button to call for help. He finds it and presses it more than once. The door opens and Doctor Gray and the red haired nurse arrive at his bedside. The nurse takes his pulse, and then wipes his sweaty forehead. He hears them speaking but it sounds muffled. "He's having a panic attack. Relax Bobby, try and steady your breathing." The doctor administers 0.25 milligrams of Alprazolam. Within minutes, his heart rate slows to a normal pace. He closes his eyes from mental and physical exhaustion and falls asleep.

He sleeps for close to four hours and wakes to a nurse checking his vitals. He watches her as she replaces two bags on the pole. He clears his throat then asks, "What's that for?"

A little started she responds, "This one has morphine," she holds up a tube with a small button on it and places it in his hand. "When you feel pain, just hit the button and the prescribed amount of morphine will be administered." She points again, "and this one is, your lunch."

"Your vitals are normal. Here," she hands him the remote to the television.

After clicking for about ten minutes, he finds CNN. Tosses the remote on the bed, closes his eyes and listens.

Bobby has made a request, much to the dismay of Doctors Gray and Vincent, no visitors. The red haired nurse, Nurse Sherman, also tries to change his mind. He remains firm and they obey his wishes.

For the rest of the day and into Tuesday morning Bobby remains quiet. Vincent does indeed visit him but Bobby is unresponsive to all his questions. Once again he says, "I'll talk to you later," as he leaves the room.

Saint John's Hospital

Cafeteria

Picking at his lunch is Doctor Vincent. "Hey Phil," Doctor Gray says as he approaches his table.

Vincent looks up, "Hey Jim, what's the good word."

Gray sits down, "You tell me." Vincent gives him a puzzled look.

He leans forward, "Goren and Eames."

He sets down his fork, "They're running….in different directions."

One Police Plaza

Tuesday Afternoon

Alex has to repeat the events to a small committee, consisting of the Chief of D's, Captain Ross along with Detectives Johnson and Franklin of IAB.

She is asked to leave the room; Ross accompanies her to a small waiting area. "Detective," Ross stands over her. "Alex, I'm sorry." he says sincerely.

"Thanks," she says tersely.

Fifteen minutes pass and she is asked to rejoin them. Johnson the IAB Detective speaks. "Detective after hearing your story and the evidence found at the scene you were," he lifts his eyes from the paper. "Within your right not only as a police officer, but a citizen of New York to defend not only yourself but your partner. Your shooting resulting in the death of Jonathan Fletcher has been ruled justifiable. If and when you are ready, you may return to work."

She stands, holds out her hand and proceeds to shake hands with the panel. "Thank you." She turns to leave, Ross follows her. They enter the elevator; Alex pushes the button for the eleventh floor. Ross waits for her to push the button for the lobby. She does not. The doors open and she brushes past him and straight to her desk. He has to jog to catch up. "No Detective not today. Take some time off."

"To do what?"

He shrugs his shoulders, "Use your imagination, now I want you to go home."

Shaking her head swiftly, "No."

Ross leans down speaking low. "That wasn't a suggestion Detective that was an order," he straightens up. "Until you speak to Olivette you are on leave."

In a huff, she stands and her chair rolls back and hits the desk behind.

TBC