Patching Wounds: Chapter 10

By: The Confused One

A/N: Well, this chapter, like the one before it, is a mixed bag for me. I'm not very sure of it. So, please, let me know what you think and enjoy. Thanks.

Arriving at the hospital, Bobby felt guilty. It had taken him nearly an hour to pry himself away from the scene. He didn't want her to even sort of get the idea that she can second to anything, especially the job.

Sitting in the waiting room, she smiled as he walked in. Standing up, she met him halfway and was relieved to see him smile too. He leaned down and kissed her. Pulling away, she greeted him, "Did it go OK?"

Bobby sighed. He turned and walked beside her to the car. He explained, "They want to talk to you tomorrow." Pointing back to the hospital, he asked, "How did it go?"

Getting into the passenger's seat, she assured him, "They gave me some pain pills, but everything is fine. No damage done."

Starting his car, Bobby nodded with relief. He hesitated slightly, before bringing it up, "I thought I'd drop you off at 1PP to pick up your car, so you can drive to my place. I can go by your apartment and pick up some things for you."

Alex straightened in her seat some. Her antenna was up. She asked, "You think she knows where I live?"

Bobby sighed and admitted, "Well, not for sure, but I don't want to take any chances. But I am sure she's not going to be staking out my place. It will keep you safe, and it gives me an excuse to have you at my apartment, something that appeals to me."

Alex smiled now. She teased, "Ah. I see. This is more about sex than my protection. I hate to bust your bubble but you're not getting any for awhile. I'm way too sore."

Bobby smiled now too. He shrugged and conceded, "There are other things we can do."

Alex smirked. She shook her head and could only imagine what he had planned. She finally relented, "Fine. But if you are the one going by my place, I'm making a list of things for you to get. I don't trust you in my closet."

Bobby laughed again. He easily gave in, "That's fine, just as long as things aren't just described by the designer."

Alex laughed now. She promised, "I promise to write real descriptions." Getting serious, she studied Bobby for a moment. She finally asked, "What are we going to tell Deakins?"

Bobby parked and offered, "I'm not sure. I guess, that one of is going to sleep on the couch."

Alex sighed and shrugged. That was probably about as creative as they were going to be able to get. Getting out of the car, she responded, "As long as we're just saying that."

Bobby chuckled and guaranteed her, "Trust me. We're both sleeping in my bed."

Alex smiled slightly. She was just relieved that none of their colleagues seemed to be in ear shot in the garage. The ride up in the elevator was in silence. Getting off, Alex suggested, "You should check in with Deakins and tell him your little one of us on your couch scenario, and I'll make my list of things for you to grab from my apartment."

Bobby nodded. It was a sensible plan. With a sigh, he headed for Deakins office, to explain he hadn't talked to Alex yet about a vacation and to tell him their plan for her to stay at his place.

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Arriving at his apartment, Bobby grumbled as he lifted her suitcase from his trunk. He couldn't believe the amount of things she had asked for. He was fairly sure it was about half her closet. He sighed, knowing she had at least given accurate descriptions of what she wanted.

Sighing, he opened his door. The smell of cooking food greeted him. He smiled with the knowledge that he could get used to this. He called out to her, "Alex, I'm home."

Walking out of the kitchen, Alex smiled. She explained, "I got bored and thought I'd cook us dinner. I found some chicken and vegetables in the refrigerator."

Bobby smiled. Taking her face in his hands, he gave her a real kiss. Pulling away after a moment, he pulled away and whispered, "It smells good."

Alex was happy. If wasn't for the fact that she was at his place, partly because someone had tried to kill them, she would have felt like things were pretty much perfect. She had been relieved that they both had pretty much skirted the issue, but she knew they were going to have to confront it soon. She wasn't looking forward to it. Taking the bag from him, she offered, "I'll take this off your hands if you want to watch the food."

Bobby nodded and headed for the kitchen. He watched her take the bag to the bedroom and silently decided he'd convince Alex to leave some of those clothes here, at his place, for when she stayed over once Jillian was caught and it was safe for Alex to go back to her apartment.

Leaving her suitcase unopened in Bobby's room, Alex headed back into the kitchen. She smiled as he handed her a plate of food. Sitting down, she watched him serve himself. She waited till he sat down before breaching the topic, "Obviously, Deakins knows what's happened, and I can tell you've been avoiding talking about this. What's going on?"

With a sigh, Bobby explained, "He suggested that maybe you should take a vacation somewhere till we find her. I think he's right Alex. You shouldn't stay in the city. Lord knows you had me pack you enough clothes, you could leave tomorrow."

Alex blinked at him. His last comment would have gotten a smile from her, if it hadn't been for the rest of what he said. Trying not to get angry, she asked, "Under what circumstances do you think I'd actually do that?"

Bobby sighed, again. He knew this was coming. Cutting his chicken, he tried to stay calm too. He offered, "I figured you wouldn't want to go. It's that or me as your twenty-four hour personal bodyguard."

Alex did laugh now. Desperate to lighten the mood a little, she teased, "I thought you already were."

Bobby smiled a little too. Getting serious again, he explicated, "I'm serious. I'm talking from here on, you don't leave my sight, if that's the one you chose."

Alex was worried now. She shook her head and argued, "You're serious. You want to follow every move I make, run my life, and possibly end up jumping in front of bullets for me. No. That's not happening either."

Bobby's frustration was building. Standing up, he started pacing and finally snapped at her, "Damn it Alex! We, more specifically, you, were shot at today! Your head was in the direct path of that bullet if I hadn't gotten you down! This woman took a good shot at you in the middle of a crowded restaurant. I'm trying to keep you alive! Stop fighting me!"

Alex stared at him startled. She hadn't expected the outburst or the information about the bullet. It shook her a little. Taking a deep breath, she closed her eyes. After a moment, she whispered, "I'm sorry. You're right. Something needs to be done."

Sighing with relief, Bobby sat back down. Meeting her eyes, he admitted, "Nothing is going to happen to you. I won't let it. I can't allow it, because I can't lose you. We just. We have to figure this out."

Focusing back on her food, Alex nodded. She offered, "No. It's fine. I'll do whatever you want."

Bobby reached out to her again, "You know better than that. I want you happy, and I want something you can live with. I want you to have input and a say in this. I don't want to make decisions for you. You know that. I just want you to actually work with me, not against me."

Meeting her eyes, she confessed, "I don't know what to do Bobby. I don't know what to tell you."

Bobby shrugged. He assured her, "Well, that personal bodyguard option is still open."

Alex sighed and tilted her head slightly. She started to speak, "Bobby…"

Tired, Bobby interrupted, "Alex, listen to me. This is, about you, not me and not us. I'm trying to keep you safe, and you're too stubborn to take a vacation or go to a safe house. You want to help find her. You know I get that. But you're the one she's after. Me worrying about you while you're worrying about me doesn't work here. We're cops. This is part of the job. Let me do this, please."

Alex smiled slightly. Shaking her head, she agreed, "Alright, if you're insisting on doing it this way. I just don't want to find out you have uniforms and snipers everywhere ready to take her out."

Bobby laughed. Pointing at her, he teased, "That wouldn't be a bad idea."

Alex quickly argued, "It would be an incredible waste of manpower and you know it."

Bobby put his hands up in surrender. He caved, "We'll talk about it later. Can we please actually eat?"

Alex laughed. She agreed, "Yeah. I still don't like it though."

Bobby sighed. He quickly responded, "You don't have to like it."