Chapter 26

Captain Danny Ross was not going to be a desk jockey. He was going to be out there with his detectives as much as possible. He also wanted to make sure that they knew he wasn't a "9-5'er" as well. Now, with three of his top team members currently in the hospital, he knew morale was low so he had decided to get caught up on paper work and let the night crew see him, meet with him and just show them his support, that and make sure everything was getting done.

He was on his way to the coffee machine when his cell phone rang. When he saw that it was Robert Goren, he couldn't help but think the worst. Two am calls were almost never good.

Quickly, he flipped the phone open. "Ross. Det. Goren, is everything all right?"

"Captain, I – I hope I didn't wake you."

"No, no," Ross assured him. "I'm at 1PP." He almost smiled imagining Goren's surprise.

Goren recovered quickly though. "Eames regained consciousness about an hour ago."

Ross let out the breath he didn't realize he'd been holding. "Thank God. Is she all right?"

"Yes and no, sir," came the cryptic reply.

Ross grit his teeth. "Report, Detective."

"She has no memory of the past eight months." Goren dropped his bombshell then wisely kept silent, letting his Captain absorb the news and process the ramifications.

Ross stood frozen, as his mind raced through the time line. So Eames would know Logan, Goren, her family but not Wheeler, himself, the cases –"Her previous capture by Jo?"

"No, sir."

"The news about your mother?"

"I don't see how."

"Is it permanent? Don't some amnesia victims get their memory back?" Ross tried not to sound too hopeful.

Goren sighed. "Some do. Up to a point. It is – conceivable – that she could start remembering but not – probably not all the way to the accident."

"Everything else is all right?"

"Yes, sir. Although she'll need a while to get her strength back and the other injuries will heal. It'll just take some time."

"Tell her not to worry – she can have all the time she needs. I'll come in and – uh – reintroduce myself to her."

"We – uh – she'll need to go slow. She's a bit overwhelmed right now."

"Understandable. Get some sleep, Detective. I'll let Logan and Wheeler know later today."

"Yes, sir."

Ross hung up and rubbed his eyes. "What a mess," he thought tiredly.

Chapter 27

Although he didn't think it was possible, Bobby did manage to get some sleep. He figured it was due to his relief that Eames was out of the coma. That and the doctor had told him that he would be officially discharged today, but he was not cleared for active duty for another two weeks.

Wheeler would also be going home and would be facing several weeks of rehab to get her leg back in shape as well.

As for Eames, he was extremely grateful that she'd only lost eight months worth of her memory, but they had been eight very emotional months. He tried to figure out what would be the best way to get her through this time of adjustment without either one of them pushing her to remember.

He was just finishing getting dressed when Logan and Wheeler arrived.

"Hey Goren – I hear you're getting the boot today," Logan said with a grin.

Wheeler just rolled her eyes. "The Captain called and told us about Eames."

Goren tried to reassure her. "It doesn't have to be a permanent condition."

Logan turned serious. "What do you think, Goren? Should I see her? I mean, I don't want to make things worse."

Goren pulled at his chin. "I'm sure she'd – but she's –" He sighed. "I don't know yet."

Logan nodded. "I'll tell you what – let's be safe. You let me know – have her give the word, okay?"

He and Goren shook hands. "Take care of yourself, Wheeler. I'm sure Logan here is going to get burned out doing all our work for awhile."

"Oh, I don't know, I think I'll stretch this out – I'm way overdue for a vacation." Wheeler said with an impish smile.

Logan was in her face. "Try it, Wheeler, and I'll be at every one of your rehab sessions, making your life a personal hell, you got it?" he growled.

Wheeler laughed.

Bobby managed a weak grin at their antics – he knew his fellow detectives were trying to lighten things up a bit, and while he appreciated the effort, he just wanted to get back to Alex.

Wheeler noticed Goren's distraction and not too subtly elbowed her partner and suggested that they take their leave. They passed Goren's doctor on the way out and Logan turned back to give a thumb's up. Goren saw it and acknowledged it with a raised hand.

It was after 10 o'clock in the morning before he was finished with his own discharge instructions and paper signing and then he called Alex's family. They respected his assessment that Alex should decide when she would see them and to let her get through the initial shock. He promised to keep them updated and pass along their love and concern.

Chapter 28

Alex spent the next two days trying to convince the doctors, her family and even her partner that she was perfectly capable of taking care of herself – with or without the memory of the past eight months.

Of course, the fact that she could barely walk unassisted after spending almost five days unconscious and having brain surgery wasn't about to deter her in the least.

Bobby sat back, letting her fight her battle, torn between feeling pride in her fierce independent spirit but frustrated by her stubbornness and refusal to acknowledge her own limitations.

On the eve of her discharge, she was obviously hurting but she wasn't about to give it up and he decided that he'd heard enough. He stood up and held both hands up as he stepped between her and her attending doctor.

"Dr. Banister, Alex – please. Truce."

Dr. Banister, who reminded Bobby of an older version of the TV detective Columbo, ducked his head, admitting defeat. Alex just glared up at him and Bobby decided to focus on his partner.

"Alex – this isn't going to be permanent."

"I know that, Bobby, but I am not moving in with family. They'll completely smother me as you've seen the past couple of days. They did it to me every time I got hurt in Vice, no matter how minor it was. I'll be a basket case telling them to back off – they'll get offended – I'll be apologizing and not mean it –" She was getting progressively agitated, gesturing with her hands and raising her voice.

"So stay with me."

"What?!" That stopped her. She jerked her head over; winced at the pain the movement caused and stared at him in disbelief.

Bobby sat down next to her, ignoring the doctor who was now watching them with a bemused expression on his face.

Alex shook her head, regretted the move, and brought her hands up to massage her aching head. "Bobby – are you crazy?" She moaned.

Bobby wisely kept his concern hidden for now, concentrating on his first goal which was to make his partner see reason. "Alex, I wouldn't smother you. I would respect your privacy -"

A though struck her and she eyed him suspiciously. "Uh – did something happen that I don't remember that would make me more comfortable with this proposal?"

Bobby let out a snort at the unexpected question and was secretly pleased that feisty Alex was alive and well.

"Is that a yes?"

Bobby shook his head and waved her off with a laugh. He debated telling her about the night he spent at her apartment but he knew that there was history that led up to that. History that she didn't remember – yet.

"Not, really, Alex. It just – I think it makes sense. I've been – we've worked together for a long time. I – know – you can take care of yourself – when you're 100."

"But-"

"Wait – let me finish. Have I ever babied or coddled you before?"

"Not if you still wanted to walk normally," Alex muttered.

"Okay, then. Look – I want you back to work – maybe I'm being a little selfish."

Alex quirked her lips. "Don't play me, Goren."

Bobby threw up his hands, backing off, but watching her with growing concern. She was pale and sitting stiffly, holding herself carefully.

"Come on, Alex. It'll be for the best."

"All right," she relented wearily. "I can't fight you all. But my place, okay? I don't want an elevator or stairs to contend with."

"Deal," Bobby agreed with a grin. "Now, why don't you take your meds and get some rest?"

"Don't start already," Alex groused, but she let Dr. Banister call the nurse and willingly took her medication. Bobby stayed with her until she drifted off to sleep, then went to discuss Alex's home care instructions and break the news to their Captain and her family.