Mercy General Hospital
Eames fidgeted in the elevator, mentally swearing at the slow speed the elevator seemed to be moving. Logan stood next her, rocking on his heels, trying to keep his own nervous energy under control. Once the elevator stopped, they both darted out and practically ran down the hallway to Goren's room.
Alex opened the door and stopped dead in her tracks. The room was empty. The bed was made, with the white sheets pulled tight across. Black monitors screens reflected Alex's image back to her. The green painted walls gave the entire room a sterilized appearance. There was no sign that Robert Goren had spent the past week fighting for his life in that room.
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Logan put his hand on Alex's shoulder, and then stepped into the hallway. Stopping a blonde headed nurse, he quickly asked, "Do you know where the patient that was in this room is?"
The nurse gave Logan an irritated glance and shrugged her shoulders. "He's gone." Then she stalked off down the hallway.
Blood drained from Alex's face. Gone. One simple word, yet the impact of it crushed her. Tears began flowing down her face. Looking at Logan, she tried to speak, but the words felt choked in her throat. She began to shake and tears streamed down her face. Bobby gone? It didn't seem possible. This was the man who stood in front of death numerous times, and walked away each time. He had outsmarted more criminals than she could count, and they all faced justice, save one. He had descended into to hell, and then walked out of Tates Correctional Facility alive. He had faced the lion, only now to fall on his way to dinner?
Unable to stop them, sobs escaped Alex's throat. The world seemed to stop. Logan reached out and grabbed Alex, and held her close while she cried. Tears fell from his eyes, as the loss of the detective hit him as well. Time seemed to stand still; moments went by like hours, the pain ripping through them. Logan tried to say something, but there was nothing that he could say. No words would ease that pain.
After appeared to be an eternity, a voice brought them both back to the current moment, "Alex? Mike?"
Turning, they saw Rena. Alex pushed Mike slightly to the side, and reached for Rena. "Rena, what can I say?"
Perplexed, Rena looked back and forth between the two detectives. "What?" Then understanding crossed her face. Her expression turned into compassion and understanding. "Didn't they give you my message? Alex, Bobby's fine. He woke up a few hours ago. The doctors took him downstairs to run a few more tests on him. He's fine; he's going to be just fine."
Mike Logan's eyes darkened briefly. "I'm going to kill Price. He should have told us the full message."
Alex appeared stunned. "Goren's ok? He's not . . . ?"
"No, he's fine. A bit groggy from the medication, but he's already campaigning to leave the hospital."
Alex grabbed Rena's hand, "He's ok?"
Smiling, "Yes, he is. He'll be back up here in a few minutes. I know he'll want to see both of you."
"Good. Then I can kill him for scaring me half to death." Alex replied.
At that moment, nurses and orderlies wheeled Goren back into his room. Alex, Logan and Rena followed him into the room. The orderlies left while the nurses worked at getting him resettled. Goren opened his eyes, blinking several times as if he was trying to focus on the people around him.
Alex spoke up first, "Good to see you still with us partner."
"Eames," Goren managed to whisper.
size"3" Logan leaned over Alex's shoulder, "Hey Goren. I see that you've managed to get some of the prettiest women in New York at your bedside."
Goren grinned, "Too bad I couldn't skip the getting shot part."
Logan grinned and gripped his shoulder, "You'll be back in next to no time, Goren."
Rena moved over to the other side of the bed, holding his left hand. "I'm just glad you're back with us."
The nurse interrupted them, "Ok, you've all gotten to see him. Visiting hours ended over an hour ago. Now, he'll be here in the morning. Gone on, scoot!" Goren raised a hand in protest, to which the nurse shot him a sharp glare.
Logan raised his hands in surrender, "We'll see you tomorrow, Goren."
Alex nodded, and squeezed his shoulder. "See you tomorrow."
Rena settled into the chair next to Bobby's bed, pulling a blanket into her lap. The nurse narrowed her eyes at Rena, "Miss, I believe the name tag here says Abby Ryan, RN. This means I am the nurse here. You are not a patient; you are a visitor." She shook her finger at Rena, "You haven't been home since he got in here. Go home, get a shower and sleep in your own bed. He'll be here in the morning, probably giving us hell and trying to get out of the hospital before he's ready."
Rena's stunned expression made Goren chuckle. He didn't doubt for one minute that she had stayed at the hospital the entire time he had been unconscious. He clasped her hand, "Go home, sweetheart. I'll be waiting for you in the morning."
"But. . ."
"No buts about it. Go home, missy. Get some real sleep." The nurse's Cajun accent deepened slightly, "Heaven's sake child, you look a mess from sleeping here the past week. Get some sleep and make yourself pretty for this young man here. He's too good looking to let him slip through your fingers."
Rena narrowed her eyes. Goren grinned and squeezed her hand, "Go on. I'll be here waiting for you come to come back."
"I love you, Bobby Goren."
"I love you back, Rena Reynolds."
Two Weeks Later, Goren-Reynolds Residence
Bobby slowly made his way around the kitchen. After two weeks in the hospital and a week at home, he was slowly regaining his strength. The doctors planned on keeping him off work for another three weeks. Three long weeks in Bobby's opinion. He was itching to get his hands on some of his case files, yet Eames refused to bring any of the cases they were working on by his apartment. After two weeks, he was getting restless.
He rubbed his left hand through his hair. Tomorrow, he and Rena would be flying to see her family in Nashville. He almost wished that Ross would call him in. Nervous didn't seem to fully describe what he felt, but it was darn close.
Slowly stirring the sauce, Bobby took a small taste. Satisfied, he turned the temperature down on the stove, and opened the oven to check on the chicken. While he preferred veal parmesan, Rena favored chicken. Tonight, he wanted her favorite. He wanted everything to be perfect. Just as he pulled the chicken out of the oven, the doorbell rang. Throwing his oven mitts down on the counter he went to the door.
Alexandra Eames stood on the other side of his apartment door with a sly grin on her face. "How are you doing, Goren?"
"A lot better if you're bringing me some case files to work on."
Grinning even bigger now, "No, I brought something better."
"Better?"
She handed him a sealed brown envelope. "Ross asked me to hang on to this, but I haven't had a chance to bring it by to you."
Bobby opened the envelope, "oh, um . . . um . . . I thought that . . . I thought that this was stolen."
"Ross was given your belongings right after you were shot. He told me to hang on to it, so you could ask in your own time. I think he was scared to tell Rena what you had planned that evening."
"Eames," Bobby paused momentarily, "Did you ever think that our friendship would ever. . ." he left the question hanging in the air.
Alex softly smiled at Bobby, "Only once, and I woke up screaming and in a cold sweat." She then pointed behind her, "I've got to get going. Mike's taking me out for a couple of drinks."
"Eames, thanks."
"See you when you get back, Goren."
