A/N: Since Bobby and Alex are experiencing their own trauma in dealing with what Jonathan put them through, I have split up the chapters, covering the same time period. I left Alex on Tuesday afternoon, now Bobby's Tuesday afternoon.

I tried my best to get the secret explained in this chapter but it was not meant to be, so I decided to post this chapter in it self in two parts on two different days.

Chapter Eight

Forgotten Secret- Part A

Tuesday Afternoon

After Bobby's second ultrasound is preformed, Doctor Gray discusses the results with him. "There is no evidence of bleeding and the healing of the stomach wall is progressing satisfactorily."

Bobby asks with a wishful tone. "So, maybe earlier than Saturday?"

Gray taps him on the shoulder, "Maybe," he checks his chart. "I will have the IV removed today and the catheter tomorrow morning, I want you to stay in bed one more day and you're still running a slight fever." He looks to the nurse, "Continue to check his temperature every half hour." He hands the chart to Nurse Sherman. "Oh," he says as he turns to leave. "Get him a dinner menu."

A smile appears on his face, "Food, I can have food?"

"Yes, I hope you enjoy it."

He orders roast turkey, mashed potatoes and a green salad. Around 3 PM, he gets a slight headache and chills. His temperature is taken and his fever has risen to 103 degrees. After a blood and urine test is completed it is determined that, he has contracted a staph infection. Doctor Gray prescribes a series of antibiotic treatments.

His mood was starting to improve, however; the news of the infection causes him to remain unusually quiet and unresponsive, to all.

Nurse Sherman arrives soon after his dinner tray was delivered, "I thought you were anxious for food."

He pushes the tray slightly forward, "Not anymore."

"Bobby please, try and eat something."

His answer, a scowl.

She finishes her duties, "Should I take the food tray away?" He moves the bed tray to the side and lies down. "I'll take that as a yes." She picks up the food tray. "There are some people downstairs wanting to see you." He pulls up the blanket and turns his head toward the window. She shakes her head in dismay then she leaves the room. He lies there quiet and soon after, he falls asleep.

Wednesday Morning

Once again he is awakened by a nurse, "Jesus Christ what the hell is the matter with you people, can't you do anything quietly you have the ……." The door opens and Doctor Gray walks in. "Calm down," he says as he walks into the room. "I could hear you down the hall." He picks up the chart. "What's the matter anyway?"

"What does it say this time, huh? What have I contracted today in this den of disease?"

"Nothing, the infection is clearing up and your fever is 99, so calm down, alright, or I'll…."

"What? Are you threatening me with a sedative?"

The doctor hands the chart to the nurse. "Just calm down and if you feel up to I'd like you to get out of bed."

"Get out of bed and go where?"

"Take a walk down the hall, go to the store, get something to read. Anything you want, Bobby. I want you to get out of bed today." He crosses his arms, "Yesterday you were ready to go home."

"Yeah, all right I'll try," he replies sounding insincere.

His breakfast arrives, after staring at it for a time; he realizes that he hasn't had solid food since lunch Saturday afternoon. He picks up the fork and slices into the short stack of pancakes. He finishes the meal and with food in his stomach, the pain has subsided and the chills and fever are gone, his mood improves a great deal.

Wednesday Afternoon

His catheter was removed this morning, he has no choice but to get out of bed, "Damn, I have to take a leak." His first thought, call for help, he decides against it. Slowly he sits up in the bed; carefully he swings his legs over the side. The pain is not as intense as it was Sunday or even Monday but he is still sore. One good thing about being tall, he thinks. His legs don't dangle….his feet reach the floor. Using his arms, he pushes himself up and smiles with admiration at his conquest.

Doctor Vincent once again pays Bobby a visit, he finds him just as he is exiting the bathroom. "Good afternoon Bobby," he says as he walks further into the room.

"Afternoon," he shrugs his shoulder. "How good it is? That's debatable," he says as he walks slow and steady back toward the bed. He tilts his head, "Weren't you here this morning?"

"No, I see you are mobile."

"Mobile," he scoffs. "Hardly, I didn't have any choice. I had to get out of bed."

"You can't just lie in that bed…….."

"Yeah, yeah I know." He props up the pillow, "Look it takes a lot out of me getting out of the bed, so if you'll excuse me I need to rest."

Vincent crosses his arms, "How long?"

Bobby turns his head away from the Doctors stare, "How long for what?" He says innocently.

"You're an intelligent man, you tell me."

"Games, is that what you're about?"

"No, I'm not. How about the truth, you laid in that bed Sunday and you remembered something, something that you are afraid to deal with. Are you going to deny that?"

With a cringe of pain, he sits on the bed, pointing his finger at Vincent, "See that's where you're wrong." Slowly he lies down in the bed turning his face toward the window.

"You are one stubborn son of a bitch, Goren. You know that?"

Bobby smiles to himself, "Ah get the subject angry ploy."

Vincent has to chuckle, "Have a good rest, because I'll be back."

"I'm sure you will, you stubborn son of a bitch."

Bobby does indeed have a nap; Hours later, Nurse Sherman once again attends to his needs. "There is another group of people here to see you."

"That's nice," he says with a less than interested tone.

"I think one of them was your partner." She takes a glance at him; he has a troubled look on his face. She takes a step forward to say something and two orderly's enter the room to take him to an examination room for his final ultrasound.

Thursday

"I take it Detective Eames never took you up on your offer and came back for a talk."

"You know Jim; I have never met two more stubborn people in my life." He leans forward, "But she was right about something, he does indeed need my help." Gray looks up at his colleague, "His shock at the scene, physiological collapse, emotional trauma. I would say something from his past." He rubs his eyes, "When he was sitting in that chair that afternoon….."

Gray says, "He remembered something?"

"No most likely he felt something. When he was younger the same feeling of helplessness and fear overcame him then and Saturday."

"Like what?"

"Oh it could have been anything," he picks up his coffee cup, taking a quick sip. "Maybe that was the way his parents punished him. Making him sit in a chair for hours at a time, maybe one day he defied them, got up and could have been beaten."

"I did a check of his childhood medical records, Phil. The only time he was taken to the hospital was when he was nine, sever stomach pains, cause unknown. Social services were called in but they could find no evidence of abuse, physical abuse." Gray pours a cup of coffee, gesturing with the pot, "Phil?"

"Yeah sure, thanks."

Gray takes a long sip of coffee, "He's going home Saturday."

Vincent shakes a pocket of sugar into his cup. "Great, I'll never see him again."

Bobby's Room

"I had a talk with Doctor Gray and he informs me that you will be going home Saturday," says Doctor Vincent.

Nodding he says, "Yes he told me no more than seven days and he is a man of his word."

Doctor Vincent sits this time, while Bobby sits on the bed. "So," Bobby says. "What do you want to talk about?"

"Oh you're not kicking me out this time."

Shaking his head, "Nah, I respect your," he snaps his finger. "Man, what is the word, persistence."

"I'll take that as a compliment."

With his head down Bobby says, "I….I had this really weird dream last night and I can't get it out of my head." He looks up at the Doctor; Vincent stays silent, giving him the go ahead to talk. "I was in the house where I grew up and I was going down a flight of stairs into the basement. It was very dark down there and I couldn't find the light switch, it wasn't where it is suppose to be. As I was searching for it I felt as if I wasn't alone. I think there was a woman down there, suddenly I felt frightened and when I turned to go back up the stairs, they were gone. The woman kept coming closer but I couldn't see her face. I wanted to find a place to hide," he lets out a long breath. "I remembered that there was a cubby hole down there. I walked to the spot where it was suppose to be, it was gone, it changed it wasn't my basement anymore," he gazes up at the doctor. "I could smell her, she smelled very sweet, like fruit, oranges getting closer and closer. Then before I could see who it was, I woke up." He rubs his eyes, "Everything seemed so familiar."

"Why don't you come to my office?"

"What for?"

"To talk more, change of scenery, get out of this room." He pauses. "The walk, it will give you something to do. Pick one." He leans forward, "Come on Bobby it's time, it's time." Vincent stands.

"Tell me what it means."

Vincent stuffs his hands in his pockets, "To dream that you are in a basement represents a part of your subconscious mind where you have kept your fears and problems hidden. The fact that you are going down into the basement signifies that you are digging deep into your own past and ready to face your fears. You could have felt comfort in your own basement cubby hole but not anymore. You have to find out who was in the basement, you have to face her."

"So, you think it was a woman?"

"The smell, you made a point about the aroma from her, men," he tilts his head. "Usually don't smell like that."

"I suppose you're right."

"Did….did your mother smell like that?"

Shaking his head, "No," he says timidly. Suddenly Bobby stands and cringes with pain for the sudden movement. Waking past Vincent toward the door.

"Are you kicking me out?"

Bobby looks down at the floor shaking is head, "Come on, let's go."

"What did you say?" Vincent says with surprise in his voice.

"I said come on let's go. I can't do this by myself. Lord knows I've tried." Bobby holds the door for the Doctor to pass. They walk quietly down the hallway, side by side."

TBC