Chapter 10

"Trails To Nowhere"

"I wanted to sleep in today. It's Saturday." Alex said as she sat back and sighed. "It's been a long time since I've had a nightmare."

Their seeming role reversal had Bobby concerned. That much was obvious. He hated seeing her in pain. Placing his hand in hers, he ventured, "Yeah, I wanted you to sleep in today too. You could use it. Alex, what was the nightmare about? Because you're right, I don't think you've had a nightmare once since we've been together."

"If I came back to bed, would you hold me?" Alex whispered.

Almost startled, Bobby nodded mutely. Finding her eyes again, he promised her, "Of course." He stood up and lead her down the hall to their room.

Alex climbed back under the covers. "I don't know why I'm letting it bother me. It wasn't real." She shuddered when she remembered that in her dream Ricky had gotten Bobby killed. She could still see the hole in his chest and the crimson blood, as he lay silent on the floor.

Holding her in his arms, he kissed the top of her head. He assured her, "It felt real. That was enough. What happened in the dream, Alex?"

"He got you killed." She tried hard not to show how scared it had made her as she closed her eyes and let him hold her tighter.

Bobby closed his eyes. This was his worst fear, the last thing he wanted. He finally whispered, "Ricky?"

She nodded unable to speak. Placing his hand under her chin, he guided it up to his eyes. He promised, "That is not going to happen. I promise."

"You can't make me that kind of promise, Bobby. It isn't fair." She closed her eyes for a second. Seeing him again, her eyes opened and locked onto Bobby's alert eyes. "Make it go away." She stroked his cheek. "Make me forget..." She whispered.

Without any hesitation, Bobby claimed her mouth. The only thing he wanted, the only thing he needed was to make things right for her.

Pulling his t-shirt up and over his head, her hands kneaded his flesh hungrily as her mouth found his again.

Their lovemaking was slow and long. She felt herself growing closer as he pushed deeper and deeper inside her with every thrust. Whimpering softly as she released, she urged him to do the same with soft words in his ear. "That's it, baby..."

Seconds later, Bobby released inside of her. Panting, he replied, "I love you."

"I love you too..." She whispered as her tongue parted his lips and kissed him deeply. When the kiss broke, she whispered, "Thank you, Bobby."

Never breaking eye contact, he replied, "I have you, Morgan, and the baby. Please don't worry about Ricky. I wouldn't ever let it go that far." Finally looking away, he admitted, "This is why I was afraid to tell you. I don't want this for you. I never want to add to your fears or worries. I don't want you having nightmares. I have enough for us both."

"You need me." Alex whispered. "Look at what keeping all that inside does to you...does to us...God, Bobby...if you hidden this from me...I don't think I could have forgiven you for that. It would mean you don't trust me..." She held his face in her hands forcing him to look at her.

With a nod, Bobby conceded, "I need you more than you know. You hold my very existence in your hands. That's how much I trust you. I rely on you to make sure I stay on the right side of that line I'm constantly skirting. I could never keep anything from you for too long."

"And I know that no matter how far away you get you always know when it's time to give it up and let me in." Alex whispered.

Bobby smiled. He agreed, "Usually. There was a time when I didn't."

"And where did that get you?" She looked at him. "Got you drunk and calling me at three a.m. to drag your ass home with me to sleep on my couch."

Running his fingers down her arm, he confessed, "The only good thing to come out of those nights was you. Even then and in that state, I called you. I was always amazed when you came, but I reached out to you. I always have. I always will. I didn't realize why then. I didn't realize how much easier I could make things on myself if I would just talk to you from the beginning. You're the one thing that was missing in my life. Sometimes, I don't understand what you see in me, but I'll never stop being grateful that you see it."

Alex laid her head on his chest and sighed. "As long as you know that we love you..." She paused. "And need you."

Bobby smiled slightly. He did know that, and he'd always be amazed and grateful for it. He'd never had love like this, real love, as a child. Lying there, he mused that maybe that was why he had such a hard time believing he deserved his family, that he deserved to be happy. He finally assured her, "I do know that..." He trailed off when he heard footsteps coming down the hall.

"I think somebody is awake." Alex whispered. She reached down, pulled Bobby's boxers from the floor and handed them to him. She pulled on his t-shirt.

Quickly throwing on his clothes, he added, "This makes twice in two days. I think we need to start locking the door."

Morgan poked her head around the corner, checking to see if they were awake. Seeing them, she smiled and barreled into the room greeting, "Morning."

Alex smiled as Morgan clamored on the bed and in between them. "Morning. Did you sleep good?" Alex asked as she tucked the covers around her.

With a confident nod, Morgan informed them, "I didn't have a single bad dream. But I'm hungry."

Bobby was relieved that she seemed mostly over seeing their fight. He asked, "What would you like?"

Morgan instantly answered, "Pancakes?"

"I think Daddy can make that." Alex teased.

Bobby arched his eyebrows at Alex. Picking up Morgan, he replied, "Alright. Let's go make pancakes."

Alex grabbed his hand. "And I'm going back to sleep."

Bobby smiled. Kissing her, he promised, "We'll save you a few."

He then turned around and headed down the hall with Morgan. Everyone seemed calm and happy. Bobby planned to make the rest of the day as stressfree and carefree as he could. There was no way he was going to do any work that would disrupt their day.

LOCI

Deakins dropped a file on Bobby's desk with a thud. "That's all they managed to pull up, Bobby. I hope this helps."

Alex looked up and anxiously leaned across the desk, waiting for Bobby to pick it up.

Alex had finally insisted they tell Deakins, and he had insisted on helping. Now, staring at the file, Bobby was grateful. With a sigh, he looked up at Deakins and replied, "Thank you." One of Deakins old friends had transferred to Cleveland, Ohio. . Ricky's latest brush with the law was two weeks old, a DUI in Cleveland. How had he missed this? Looking it over, the address popped at him. He almost had hope he was still there. Handing the file to Alex, he muttered, "No women this time."

"Well, that's a start." She said looking over the file. With a sudden need for sugar, she stood. "I'm just going to the vending machine...anybody want anything?"

With a shake of his head, Bobby took the file again. Staring at it, he almost jumped when Deakins spoke from behind him, "If you want to go check it out...you have the time."

Bobby shook his head then and replied, "I have a feeling he's already taken off."

"If there is anything I can do, Bobby, please don't hesitate to ask." Deakins said as he picked up his coffee mug and headed back to his office.

Alex placed her can of Coca-Cola on the desk and tore into her bag of Skittles with her teeth. "What was he saying?" She asked as she sat back down, popping candy into her mouth.

Bobby closed the file and rubbed his face with his hands. He needed to find something that just happened. He needed to know Ricky was still in town. Brought out of his thoughts, he shook his head and replied, "Nothing." Looking up, he suddenly realized what she was eating and drinking. "You're not supposed to be drinking that or eating those." He snapped, taking out some of his frustration on her and was harsher than he intended to be.

"Maybe not, but they are what I want and I'm going to eat them. Once in awhile isn't going to hurt anything. I've given up coffee and I'm drinking water pretty much regularly now." She smiled at him as she popped the tab on the Coke and took a drink.

Bobby sensed this was an argument he wasn't going to win and he had no desire to press the point, so he mumbled an apology and pulled the DMV database and began scouring for any sign of Ricky.

She pulled her chair around the desk and scooted him over so she could look with him. "What exactly are you looking for?" She asked, handing him the Coke and the rest of the Skittles.

He smiled at the gesture, and looked at her again before assuring her, "Keep them. You want them, then have them. I do trust you. I'm sorry I snapped at you." Turning back to the computer, he explained, "I'm looking for any sign of him, anywhere." He added, "If he's moved again, he had to get a new license."

Deciding that he was right about the Coke, she left it on the desk untouched, but the Skittles she finished. "Are you thinking he stayed somewhere in the states around here?"

With a shrug, he replied, "I don't know about staying around New York, but I can guarantee he's in the states. I haven't found any evidence that he's left the country." Glancing at the Coke, he found he was thirsty. He finally asked, "And you're really not going to drink that now?"

She shook her head and replied, "It doesn't hold the same appeal as it once did."

With a sigh, he replied, "I'm sorry, Alex. Really, drink it if you want it."

"I read the same information that Doctor Slider sent home with us and I know that it doesn't do good with the low iron. You were right. I don't want it." She pulled her chair back around to her desk and continued working on their current case. The Richards' case was driving her insane. Sitting back in her chair, she read the file yet again.

Bobby wasn't one to let a good soft drink go to waste. Drinking it, he asked, "What are you working on?"

"Richards' case," she said tossing the file back onto her desk with a frustrated sigh. "The LUD's were a bust and nothing else is jumping out at me."

With an understanding nod, he reminded her, "I'm not sure we'll get anywhere till we find the boyfriend, Eames."

She rolled her eyes. Shutting the file, she opened her bottom drawer and dropped it in. "I hate it, but you are probably right." She stood again. "I need to... I'll be back in a bit." She walked off toward the elevators.

Mike ambled over taking up Alex's vacant chair, "Forget to take out the trash again, Goren?"

Giving Mike an exasperated look, he replied, "No." Getting up, he said, "Tell Deakins we'll be back."

Going downstairs, he found her standing against the wall outside. Relieved, he approached her and commented, "I know you want this one. We're going to find him, Alex."

"It's all of this...the boyfriend...Ricky. How do they all disappear and no one knows anything?" Alex asked looking out across the busy street.

With a shrug, Bobby offered, "It's a large country with a lot of people. We'll find them both. It's just taking a little time."

"Victoria Richards doesn't have any more time." Alex commented. The nature of this case is what bothered her, how brutally she'd been murdered, like she was nothing but gum on someone's shoe.

Bobby rubbed the back of his neck. With a nod, he agreed, "I know. I'm sorry. I'm just saying...we're going to get her killer. I promise."

"It irritates me when you promise the families that because what happens the day we don't?" She finally looked up and over at him.

Bobby explained, "It gives me something to strive for. Then, I expect it of myself." He added, "Nicole Wallace is the only one who has ever slipped through our fingers. I plan to let her be the only one."

She reached out and touched his arm. "We'll get her, Bobby."

With a nod, he replied, "One day." He hoped he sounded more confident than he felt.

Alex's phone rang. "Eames." She said as she placed it to her ear. Listening intently, she frowned. "Okay. We'll be back in a minute."

As she closed her phone, he frowned and asked, "What is it?"

"There is a fax coming through for you, a file from the Chicago PD." She said as she pushed herself away from the wall and headed back inside.