Enjoy!
Bobby & Alex's Apartment
He heard the faint ringing getting louder as he rolled onto his back, away from Alex's sleeping body, and groaned. Without opening his eyes he knew it wasn't time to get ready for work, so why was there a ringing noise? Rubbing at his face, his mind quickly registered that it wasn't his cell phone but Alex's. Reaching across her toward the nightstand, he grabbed her phone and disconnected the charger before flipping it open.
"Hello?" he softly spoke into the phone. His voice was dry and cracked, so he cleared it before asking again, "Hello?" Bobby then heard the voice of Alex's older brother Richard. He sat up in the bed and rubbed at his head as he said, "Calm down, Rich, I can't-" He paused as the words finally sunk in that his brother-in-law was telling him. "We'll be right there."
He shut the phone and sat silently on the bed for a moment as he felt his chest start to ache. "Jesus," he breathed out before he got up and hurried to the bathroom.
Bobby quietly shut the door before gripping the sink counter and shook his head. Everyone knew this would eventually happen, but it was still a shock and heartbreaking. He stared down into the sink as he tried to figure out how to wake Alex. There was no easy way of doing it. Turning the water on, he splashed his face a few times to fully wake up. His head was starting to hurt so he took two pain relievers before heading back into the bedroom.
Alex was still asleep and he was a little scared to wake her but he knew he had to. Sitting on the edge of the bed beside her, he rubbed his hand over her shoulder and kissed her forehead. Whispering into her ear, he spoke her name several times and asked her to wake up.
She moaned and groaned but she was waking as she rolled onto her back and blinked her eyes open. "Bobby, what…?"
Not knowing what to say, he simply told her as calmly as possible, "Alex, your brother called. You're your mom. We've got to go to the hospital."
"What?" she said in confusion as she was still groggy.
He stared down at her and he saw it in her eyes when it sunk in. She nearly looked paralyzed before the tears welled. She pulled him down to her and he barely held it together as she started to shake. All he could think to tell her as she crumbled in his arms was how sorry he was.
Bobby knew Alex held more strength than anyone he'd ever met and it amazed him how she was able to pull it together as they quickly dressed and headed out of the apartment. He drove as Alex stared out of the windshield with her arms wrapped around the hoodie she'd thrown on. Bobby didn't say anything as he gave her the silence and space she needed.
It didn't take long before he was pulling up to the front of the doors. "I'll find a place to park."
Alex looked over at him and nodded. She leaned over and gave him a kiss before getting out and jogged through the sliding doors. By the time he parked and headed into the hospital, Bobby felt more stable and strong enough to handle Alex and her family.
At least that was what he thought before he rounded the corner and came to a dead stop as he caught sight of the whole Eames clan gathered into a waiting area. Alex was holding onto her dad as he sat motionless in a chair while a doctor spoke to them. Bobby leaned against the wall and closed his eyes as he heard the dreaded words and felt his heart sink even more. Just three days prior Emily Eames had been able to see her daughter get married and now, she would be missed horribly.
"Hey, Bobby."
Bobby opened his eyes and saw Richard coming up beside him. "Hey," he said as he straightened off the wall and accepted the hug from his brother-in-law. To say he was sorry over and over seemed pointless so he found himself not being able to say anything at all.
He wasn't sure what to do so he stayed where he was and quietly conversed with Rich whenever he said something. No one seemed to care what was said, if anything, as long as they were all there was what mattered. Bobby noticed that Liz was there with Terry and that he was holding Nathan as she got up. She walked over to him and Rich and gave him a quick hug.
Pulling away, she said, "I'm going outside for a minute. Bobby, come with me."
He was a little surprised by that but went with her as he gave Rich look before following her outside. It was such a nice early morning. There was a hint of dew in the air and Bobby remembered something about how it might rain again today. Liz crossed the street to the corner bodega as she lit up a cigarette.
"I didn't know you smoked?"
"I don't," she said as she took a puff off of it.
Bobby gave a nod as he completely understood. Leaning against a tree, one of the few that lined the street, he stuffed his hands into his pockets as he resisted the urge to bum one off her.
"She was really happy that she got a chance to see you two get married."
He nodded again as he thought about how his own mother had refused to come.
"We all knew this was going to happen, but nothing prepares you for the actual moment when…" Liz trailed off as her body shook and she took another quick puff off the smoke. "I'm rambling, aren't I?"
He looked up from where he'd been staring at the concrete sidewalk and shook his head. "No," he simply said as he pushed off the tree and asked while gesturing to the bodega, "Want a cup of coffee?"
Liz looked over, like she was noticing the store for the first time, and nodded. "Sure, thanks. Sugar, no cream."
"Just like Alex," he said as he opened the door and stepped inside. Bobby got them both a cup and was in and out in minutes. He handed Liz hers while he asked, "Can I get a smoke off you?"
"No," Liz said as she gave him a pointed look. "You're supposed to be refraining from your addictions."
Bobby smirked as he leaned back against the tree. "Yeah, I know. Thanks for reminding me."
Liz shrugged as she said, "Hey, I do what I can, especially if it's torturing you."
He laughed as he looked over at her and said, "I had a feeling that was the real reason."
They talked for a little while longer before Liz quickly put out the rest of the cigarette and cleared her throat. Bobby saw her look and glanced around the tree to see Alex approaching.
He straightened as Alex stepped up on the sidewalk and said, "Everyone's about to leave. There's nothing else until…arrangements are made."
"Okay. Thanks, Bobby," Liz said as she walked by them and headed back over to the hospital.
Alex looked up at him and asked, "What'd you do?"
Bobby shrugged as he said, "I listened." He looked her over and saw how tired she was. "Are you going back to your dad's?"
Alex gave a nod. "I called Deakins and Logan, told them I'm taking the day. They both told me to take all the time I need, so…" she leaned into him and wrapped her arms around his waist and held him for a long moment. "I love you."
He held her back as he kissed her head. "I love you too."
Bobby walked Alex back over to the hospital and said his goodbyes to everyone. The sun was slowly inching over the horizon and he had to get ready for work. John Eames looked like he'd suddenly aged ten years as he helped the man to Rich's car with Alex. She kissed her goodbye and told them he would be over after work before heading to his car.
Halfway to where he parked his car he pulled out a newly bought pack of cigarettes he'd gotten while in the bodega. Refraining for drinking was one thing, but he couldn't stop the urge to smoke. Not today. As he pulled out of the parking lot, gray rain clouds were gathering as a light rain started to sprinkle over the streets as he drove back home.
Apartment of Sara Burke
East 66th Street, Manhattan
The apartment building Sara Burke lived in was above a dry cleaners and coffee shop in a nice neighborhood on the east side of Manhattan just a few streets over from the FDR and East River. He knocked on the door and leaned against the frame as he waited for her to answer. There was a barking coming from inside the apartment from a dog. It sounded like a big dog. From their initial interview with her, Bobby found out that she worked weekends starting Friday at a restaurant while attending classes at a community college for business management during the day. Today she had two classes in afternoon so her mornings were free.
He heard her voice asking in a weary tone through the door. "Who is it?"
Holding up his shield to the peephole in the door, Bobby said, "Detective Goren, SVU." Bobby waited while he heard the chain lock dropped against the door and then the clicking of the deadbolt. The dog was silenced as the door opened and he saw Sara standing in the doorway.
She was wearing a tracksuit with a bandana over her hair. "What's this about?" she asked without even greeting him.
Bobby clipped his shield to his belt as he asked, "First, uh…how are you? I see you got a dog."
She looked down at the German Shepard that was trying to sniff at him through the gap between her leg and the doorframe. "My friend moved in with me after. It's her dog."
He smiled as he let the dog smell his hand as Sara finally moved back so he could come into the apartment. Unlike other witnesses or suspects, he wasn't about to try to force his way past her. Bobby petted the dog on his head as she shut the door and pointed to the hallway.
"Let me get changed. Then you can tell me why you're here."
Bobby waited in the living room; he took in the closed curtains and walked over to peer out the window. Moving the curtain aside, he saw nails hammered into the frame, making it impossible for anyone to break in. Stepping away after a quick glance to the street, he walked into the kitchen and saw a few empty bottles of wine and beer. On the counter he saw notices from the college. Bobby eased the letter out of the open envelope and read it. Sara had been missing classes.
"I don't remember anything else if that's what you're here for," Sara said as she walked back into the living room. At seeing him in her kitchen and reading her mail, she got upset. "Are you going through my mail?! Why would you do that?" She snatched it out of his hand and he held his hands up.
"You've missed every class since last week. You're on the verge of getting kicked out."
"Who are you, my guidance counselor?" she shot back with more anger in her voice.
Bobby stepped away and shook his head. "I'm concerned. Your windows…are they all nailed shut? You know that can be a safety hazard if a fire breaks out."
Sara tossed the mail down on the coffee table as she glared at him. "I was attacked."
"On the street, not at home," Bobby said as he stuffed his hands in his pockets, trying to not present himself as a threat. "Look, I know you feel-"
"Oh, so now you're going to tell me how I'm feeling." She was looking ready to kick him out as she stepped over to him. Bobby wanted to smile a little; Sara had a lot of fight in her. He hoped she kept that up, especially when it came time to confront her attacker. "Just because you work these types of cases doesn't mean you know-"
"I was a victim," he softly said between them. That had the effect he wanted as she stopped mid-sentence and stared at him in confusion. "I was uh…attacked, and raped, several years ago. I know."
Sara suddenly looked like he'd hit her in the gut before her face softened in empathy. "Sorry."
"Yeah, me too," he said as he let that settle before suggesting, "There's a coffee place…downstairs."
It didn't take long before they were seated at a table in the corner with two cups between them. Sara at first was hesitate but then after a little probing, started talking. She at first explained why she was having a hard time attending classes. She didn't have a car and had to rely on either the subway or her bicycle to her to classes, but ever since she was attacked she was having a hard time being around a group on the train or going off on her own.
"That's why my friend moved in. She has a car and was going to start driving me starting next week."
"And what about work?"
"I got fired," she said while twisting a napkin around in her hand. "The men there would get touching after a few drinks and I…" Sara actually looked embarrassed by her behavior.
Bobby nodded as he asked, "You lost it on them? Or froze up…"
She shrugged as she said, "Both I guess. At first I froze then I got angry. Managers don't like it when one of their waitresses smacks their customers."
He actually smirked with hearing her say that. "I bet not." Then he leaned a little forward to get her attention. "It's good."
"It's good that I got fired?"
Shaking his head, he smiled again as he told her, "For you to go through this. You're letting your emotions out and working through it instead of hiding. You're not going numb. That's a good thing."
Sara looked him over as she thought that over and asked, "So how did you deal with it? Being a man, I mean, it must have been difficult."
Bobby looked down at the table as he felt the sudden ache in his heart about how he dealt with it. How instead of dealing with it, he was the one who hid. "I became an alcoholic," he finally admitted. "I refused to um, to accept it for a long time and let it eat away at me. I drank to the point of ruining the only good relationship I've ever had with a woman. Then I drank some more until one day I…I had a serious wake up call. So, now I'm working through it and…and it's getting better finally."
She seemed to understand what he was saying as she smiled slightly and said, "What a sorry bunch we are, huh?" with a hint of an amused laugh.
"No," he said as he shook his head. "It's only sorry if you know you have a problem but don't do anything about it." Bobby knew she hadn't been going to the NA meetings anymore at the A.R.C. building but maybe she was attending them somewhere else. So, he asked, "How are your meetings going?"
Her defiance was back as she told him without a hint of apology, "I stopped going."
"You shouldn't do that. He's winning if you're-"
"I like hating my life," she said bluntly, cutting him off. "My life is worthless."
"Really," Bobby said in disbelief, "because you don't seem like a quitter to me." He stared her down until she looked away. He saw the shame in her eyes and he didn't like it. "You're stronger than you know. Your life, it's only worthless if you let him make it that way. Prove him wrong."
"How?" she said as she stared across the room and out the front windows. "Keep my doors and windows unlocked and tell my friend to take her dog home."
Bobby leaned over and once he had her eyes on him, said, "Help me catch him."
"I told you everything," she stressed again. "There's nothing I know."
"You know who attends those meetings. You have names and their phone numbers."
Sara quiet for a moment before telling him, "None of the guys."
Bobby nodded as he said, "That's fine. We know you're not his only victim."
At that Sara tensed and asked, "There were others? Why wouldn't they tell me?"
"Have you told them?" he asked back while picking up his cup of coffee for the first time. Bobby saw her frown and shook her head no. "Anything you have to help me ID either possible victims or suspects will help."
Again she seemed hesitant but then Sara pulled out her cell phone and a small phone book from her purse. Once Bobby got the names and numbers, they finished their coffee and he walked her back up to her apartment before heading to his car.
There had been a light rain coming down off and on for hours. The sidewalks and streets seemed darker, dreary, and his mood was starting to resemble the day. His mind was getting darker and there was a deep sense of unease he'd had in his gut all morning since waking to that phone call from Rich. He leaned against the passenger door as he lit a cigarette then took out his phone. He made a quick call to West to let him know that he talked to Sara Burke before snapping it shut. After he finished the smoke he made another call, this time to Alex.
She sounded tired and worn down as she answered, "Hey."
"Hey," he said and then nothing else came to mind. Bobby breathed out as he didn't know really why he called other than to hear her voice. He knew that she probably needed to hear his as well. "How's your dad?" he decided on asking because he was concerned for John. He couldn't imagine losing a wife…Losing Alex. Shaking his head, he waited to hear her answer as he ached for another cigarette.
"He's quiet," Alex told him with a pain in her voice. "I've never seen him this quiet. He doesn't know what to do now; how to live. Believe me, I know that feeling."
Bobby closed his eyes and rubbed at his neck. It was tensing as he listened to the pain in her voice, and her words. Alex had been there, having lost her first husband years ago. If anyone understood that pain it was her. "And your family?" he asked after clearing his throat.
"Everyone's starting to leave. I told them I would stay with him tonight, if that's okay."
"Of course," he said quickly. "Do whatever you have to. He needs someone…I know I would." Bobby was quiet again and so was Alex. "I love you."
He thought he actually heard her smile as she said, "I love you too."
"I'll see you tonight. Maybe I can pick something up and bring it over?"
"Please, we have enough food here to feed an army. All I want is you, Bobby."
Bobby smiled at that and nodded. Pushing himself off his car he told her, "All right, uh, so once I can get free I'll be over. Tell John, uh…tell him…" he couldn't think of anything that didn't sound ridiculous at a time of great loss and sighed, saying, "Just tell him I'll see him tonight, and I'm thinking of him."
They said their goodbyes before he shut his phone and got into the driver's side of the car. Before he started it, he rolled down the window and lit another cigarette.
Special Victim's Unit
"Your exhaustion is spreading like a virus. Why don't you take a break?"
Bobby barely took his eyes off the laptop as he said, "I'll take a break when we catch this guy."
He was leaning on his right hand as he used his left to stroll from one possible suspect to the next. It was taking days to filter through all the court appointed criminals who were ordered to attend mandated NA meetings. Then there were the members who weren't appointed to attend the meetings. He was handling that task while West went over the names he had gathered from Sara Burke.
She had a few names and numbers of those she'd befriended in the program; they were mostly women members but hopefully those women were associated with some of the men. Stabler was going through all the non-reported suspected rapes that had come through the ER in the past month and Benson was once again going over her testimony with ADA Novak at One Hogan Plaza.
Next week he had to be on-call for court as well as work this case. He wasn't looking forward to juggling the two while also having to deal with the shift rotation. He was already exhausted and tomorrow they would once again be back on the night shift. The Police Commissioner could go jump off a bridge for all he cared; the lousy son-of-bitch.
"Did you just call the Commissioner a son-of-a-bitch?"
Bobby looked over at West with a frown on his face.
"Yes," West said with an amused smirked on his face. "You said that out loud."
A cup of coffee appeared in front of him and he glanced up to see Stabler standing over him. "Thanks."
"Couldn't sleep last night?" Elliot asked him while handing West a printout.
They had brought a desk out from the basement where they kept old equipment and put it against his, much like how his and Alex's had been at Major Case. Bobby hadn't told anyone about the passing of Alex's mother early that morning, and he wasn't going to. That was Alex's business and if she wanted people to know then she would tell them or have him tell them.
"Yeah, uh, something like that," Bobby said off-handedly as he went back to burning his eyes out over faces, names, and arrest records. Then he told his partner, "Let's go talk to the members tonight." Looking up at Elliot who was still standing there, asked, "You in?"
"Of course," Elliot said before walking back over to his desk.
"I'll tell my wife not to be expecting me." West said as he picked up the phone to make a call.
Bobby realized he should do that too. Taking out his cell, he texted Alex before going back to the staring at the computer screen.
"Brittney Green."
"What about her," he asked as he glanced over at West.
"She's one of the members who Sara Burke listed as a friend, and," West said as he held up the printout Stabler had handed to him. "She was a patient in the ER two months ago."
Bobby looked at him as he remembered how Brittney, "Brit", quickly left the diner and what Jennifer had told him about her caution with new members. "What hospital?"
"Manhattan General," West said as he jumped up like he'd read his mind.
Bobby quickly got up and closed the laptop as he grabbed his binder. They headed out of the precinct as Benson was walking back in. "How'd it go?" he asked her as he pressed the button for the elevator.
"Novak told me to be prepared for a possible race war in the courtroom," she told him before asking, "Got a lead?"
"Maybe," Bobby told her as the doors slid open. "Don't worry about that, I've got it covered."
"I wasn't. Good luck," she called out to them as the doors shut.
It was silent in the elevator then West asked, "Who's driving?"
Bobby looked over at him as he realized they had yet to work that out. "I will."
West nodded then said as the elevator came to a stop, "Guess you better get the keys then."
He sighed and closed his eyes. Shit.
West smiled and left him on the elevator as he called back, "I'll be waiting outside."
Manhattan General Hospital
It took almost an hour for them to finally find out what nurse and doctor had treated Brittney Green almost two months ago. Bobby was tired of getting the run around by the hospital staff but it seemed like no one knew who he was talking about and despite the record of admittance being found in the computer, no one knew who treated her.
They had to start asking around every ER nurse until they finally found a young woman exiting the locker room who actually remembered Brittney Green being a patient.
"Oh, her," she said once Bobby showed her a picture they'd gotten off the Department of Motor Vehicles database. "Yea, I remember. She was attacked or something like a month ago."
"Try two," West said as Bobby put the picture away in his binder. "You know who treated her?"
The nurse wrinkled her head and said, "Megan Sutton was the nurse and I think Dr. Clark Deale. She had to get a prescription."
"For?" Bobby asked as he wrote that down.
"An infection. Could've been an STD, I'm not sure though," the nurse told them before she started to walk away.
"Uh, are they working today," Bobby asked while stopping her from walking past him.
She looked impatient and upset that he'd stopped her and said with a sudden attitude, "I don't know. Check the board."
Bobby looked to West as he let the nurse go and saw the amused look on his face.
"Well, at least she was helpful."
They went to the nurse's desk and checked the board and saw that Nurse Sutton was due in at two that afternoon. Doctor Clark Deale didn't get there until three. Bobby saw it was only after noon and said, "We can get something to eat…call it in?"
As they left the hospital Bobby got a text back from Alex. She was disappointed but understood that work took priority. They settled on a Chinese restaurant after much debate and were able to make it back to the hospital at a half past two. West went in search of Doctor Deale while he went to talk to Nurse Sutton.
She was in the nurses' break room when they arrived. The woman was also young, mid-twenties, and her blond hair was pulled up into a ponytail as she sat at a table and poked at a salad. Bobby walked into the room and she looked up. At seeing him and his shield, she dropped her fork and went to stand when he motioned for her to sit back down.
"Miss Sutton?" he asked as she nodded.
"What's this about?" she asked while sitting back down.
Bobby sat across from her while unbuttoning his suit jacket. Placing his binder on the table, he asked, "Two months ago you treated a woman." He pulled out Brittney Green's photo and showed it to her.
Sutton took the photo and nodded as she told him, "She'd been attacked."
"You ran a rape kit on her?" he asked he took the photo back.
"No, she didn't want us too, but she did let me get a sample."
"To test for infection," Bobby asked as he watched her. When she nodded in response, he said, "And you got results of an STD?"
"Gonorrhea."
"And you reported it to the Department of Health?"
She seemed annoyed that he was asking her the questions, but she answered, "Of course. It's procedure."
"But you didn't report it to the police," he said sounding more annoyed.
"Like I said, she didn't want it reported. She said she wasn't raped and we couldn't confirm that she was."
Bobby rubbed at his head as he asked, "Who performed the exam, you or the doctor?"
"She wanted me too," she confirmed for him as he wrote that down.
"Because she didn't feel comfortable with a male doctor?"" When he only got a shrug in return, he asked, "Did she say she was attacked or did you assume she was?"
Sutton thought back and shook her head as she shrugged her shoulders. "It was so long ago, I don't know if I just thought it or if she told me. I can't be certain."
"Was she bruised, like on her arms, legs, or neck?"
Again she sighed as she thought about it. And again she shook her head, "I'm sure she was. I think her face was bruising around the eyes and her lip. She refused a complete exam. All she was worried about was getting an infection."
Bobby kept thinking about that as he said, "She knew he didn't wear a condom." He thought about the Sara Burke case and knew that her attacker had worn one. There was no DNA evidence. "You said you gave the Department of Health the sample…"
"Yes," she told him as she got up and grabbed her salad container. "Is that all? I've got to get back to work."
He leaned back in the chair as he closed his binder. "Uh, yeah. Oh, one more thing," he said as he got up and kept her from walking out the door. "Did anyone come to get her or did she leave on her own?"
"It was two months ago," Sutton stressed as she waited for him to move from the door. "I think there was a guy."
"Asian?"
Something clicked in her head and she nodded, "Yes. He arrived before we were done. He was here with her and they left together. And there was another woman." Bobby flipped open his binder and nodded as she continued. "She was waiting for them at the entrance. I guess she was their ride."
"What'd she look like?"
Sutton again shrugged but her attitude was gone as she told him, "Tall, brunette. Oh, and she kept messing with her necklace. I remember thinking she must have been a worried Aunt of sister or something."
"Okay, uh…thanks," Bobby told her as he moved away from the door while opening it so she could leave.
He tracked West down and found him waiting on him in the ER. His partner was on the phone so he looked around at the people and nurses until he was off.
"All right, I appreciate it. Thanks," West said into the phone before turning to him. "Department of Health?"
"Looks that way," he said as they left the hospital.
Home of John Eames
Queens
The house was unsettling quiet as Bobby shut the door behind him and slipped off his wet overcoat, suit jacket and tie. The light rain had turned into a downpour right when he was leaving the precinct for the night. He stuffed the tie into the pocket of the jacket and slung it over the back of the couch. There hadn't been many times he'd been in Alex's parents' house, made a handful of times, but he was certain that the front door being unlocked wasn't right. Checking the hallway that lead to the guest room and bathroom, Bobby made sure both rooms were empty before returning his attention to the kitchen. Pushing open the door, he spotted Alex sitting at her parent's kitchen table nursing a cup of coffee.
She had been staring into space until he walked in and when she looked at him, her face nearly collapsed. Alex recovered quickly, being the resilient woman she was, and gave him a tight smile. "You made it."
He walked over and gave her a kiss before going over to the coffee machine. There was a half pot, still warm, so he poured himself a cup. "Where's John?"
"Asleep. He had a lot to drink today."
Bobby looked around but didn't see any empties lingering around. Alex must have cleaned.
"You're not fooling me."
Bobby frowned at her as he walked over and sat down across from her. He didn't think he had fooled her but then again he wasn't trying to. "I-"
She held out her hand and said, "Hand them over."
He tried for a split second to look innocent but Alex gave him that death glare. Sighing, Bobby dug into his pocket and pulled out the remaining pack of cigarettes and lighter. Putting them in her hand, he said, "I couldn't help it," he said, finishing what he was going to say before she had cut him off.
"You probably could've but didn't want to," Alex remarked bitterly and he flinched at her tone.
That felt like a low blow and he closed his eyes as he tried to reason with her. "Alex-"
"Smoking is one of your addictions, Bobby. You slip with this and-"
"And that's it," he said as he opened his eyes to glare over at her. "Smoking isn't a gateway drug to alcohol. I smoked, yes, but I did it so not to drink." Bobby felt his anger start to build and pushed it down as he looked away from her. "Just…cut me a break here. With everything that's going on, I have to have something."
Alex sighed and rubbed her head. She really did look tired, like she hadn't slept in days. Bobby felt the same. Days and nights were piling on and he felt weighed down by it all. "Was it that strong?"
Bobby nodded as he looked at the table; his hand kept sliding the coffee cup around and he had yet to take a drink. It wasn't what he really wanted. He wanted a whole damn bottle of Scotch.
With an air of defeat, she handed the pack over to him.
"Hey, c'mon," he said as he pushed her hand away.
"I rather you smoke than drink," she told him as she slapped the pack and lighter in front of him on the table. Alex down the rest of her cup of coffee and got up.
Bobby sighed heavily as his head started to ache. Leaning over, he buried it in his hands and tried to breathe easier. The last thing he wanted was to get into it with Alex right now. They both were angry and frustrated, grieving and in pain, and they last thing they needed to do was take it out on one another. They needed to comfort one another, get closer, and not push each other away.
Getting up, he walked over to her. She was standing at the sink that was overlooking the backyard, gripping the edge and staring out into the yard. It wasn't too late, around seven at night, but with the rain and dark clouds it looked later. Coming up behind her, he slipped his arms around her and pulled her back into him as he hugged her.
They had been through a lot in the past two to three years to not know each other and what the other needed. Alex was used to being the one to put up a strong front in order to get things done. She would look after everyone else first and then deal with her own grief once she was alone. He had seen her do it over and over for years; even this morning she didn't give in as she made sure she was strong for her father. And tonight she was the one to stay while everyone else in her family went home, or to work, or wherever they had to go and do.
Yet, as he felt her body shaking, Bobby knew her strong front was going to fall. And when it did he would make sure to be there to catch her. Lord knew she'd been there for him more than once. As he leaned his head against hers, told her, "What can I do?"
She was quiet for a long moment as she leaned back into his embrace. Alex had yet to take her eyes off the yard and Bobby wondered what see was actually seeing. "I don't know," she said. "I don't think there's anything you can do."
"Well, I can think of two things," he said as he kissed the side of her face. "I can listen." Bobby saw a faint smile appear on her lips and it felt like a small victory.
"What's the second?" she asked as she turned in his arms and stared up at him.
Bobby stared into tear-stricken eyes as he leaned down. "Be here with you and love you."
With a teasing smile, she said, "That's three," before he took her lips in his.
He felt himself melting into her; mending as they lazily kissed with no real intention other than kissing and staying united. Bobby felt his tension easing as her shaking stopped. He held her closer as he pushed her up against the counter as their kissing deepened. Normally he would have taken it further, but they were in her father's house and he was exhausted.
Breaking a soft kiss that had been lingering, he breathed out but kept her close. Alex was leaning into him heavily; it was like he was the only thing holding her up. Her shaking had returned and it was getting harder as he heard her soft gasps of crying. Then he really was holding her up as he felt her legs give out from under her. "Alex," he exclaimed as he eased her down to the floor as she continued to let her grief out.
He leaned his back against the kitchen island as his embrace tightened around her while her crying got harder. Bobby couldn't think of anything else to do but hold her; so, that was what he did until finally it stopped. Moving her hair out of her face, he saw the mascara that had streamed down her cheeks and the worn look on her face. Alex was beat and half asleep as he lifted her in his arms and stood. His knee and back was hurting from lifting and carrying her but he tried not to dwell on the pain as he took her to the guest room.
Easing her onto the bed, he pulled back the blanket and then covered her as he got beside her and draped his arm over her. Alex let out a deep breath as she took his hand in hers. Bobby didn't get back up until he heard his cell phone go off hours later.
Addicts Rehabilitation Center
It was hot and humid out since it had been drizzling on and off all day. The rain clouds had rolled out from over the city a few hours ago and they were left with the humid heat. He had left his overcoat and suit jacket and tie in his car along with his dress shirt. Sweat was already sticking to his white t-shirt as he sat down and pulled his ball cap down. He figured he would keep the ball cap as part of his outfit. It kind-of fit the presence he was trying to give off.
This time instead of getting up to talk, he sat back and listened to everyone else. He kept tabs on everyone but he was mostly interested in hearing one person speak tonight. Almost twenty minutes in, he watched as the man he knew as Lin got up to share. Bobby sat up a little straighter and leaned forward on his knees as he gave the young man his full attention.
"Hey, you all know me as Lin. I've been coming to these meetings for about three months now and it seems that instead of making me better I'm getting worse. I know it has nothing to do with you guys, it's me. This addiction, it just keeps getting harder and harder to control because I find myself not wanting to stop. I want to, but it's like an uncontrollable force that I can't break out of. I'm trapped. The cravings get worse the more I don't do it…It's all I can think about. Even in my sleep, and even with my girl, with all her love and support, it's like it's not enough and never will be. She can only do so much, and I feel so guilty when…when I give in…It's been seven days since," he paused as he thought about it, before shaking his head. "That's the thing, isn't it? Once you relapse you have to start back at one and then," he shrugged saying, "it doesn't seem like it matters anymore. I mean, what's the point? It's going to happen again and again until either someone stops me or I stop myself, but I really don't know if I'm strong enough to do it. Anyway, that's it," Lin said before walking away back to the chair he'd been sitting in next to Brittney.
The couple shared encouraging smiles as Bobby thought about everything Lin had said. He didn't know if West had caught it or not, but he had. Seven days was how long it'd been since Sara Burke was raped. Bobby also noticed that Lin never once spoke of drugs or alcohol as his addiction. Then his comments about his girl, Brittney, not being enough...He realized that the addiction Lin was referring to was a sexual one.
Bobby looked over at West and saw the cop watching Lin as well. West turned his head to look and him and nodded. And just like that, Lin was at the top of their list of suspects. Neither Bobby nor West got up to "share" that meeting and both left before the Serenity Prayer was recited.
Coffee on Madison Avenue
Bobby slid into the booth and ordered a coffee and grilled chicken sandwich when the waitress walked over.
West ordered as well then turned to him and asked, "You didn't have anything to say at the meeting tonight?"
He shook his head as he leaned back in the booth and stared out the window. He hated having to leave Alex earlier but she was asleep and he had a job to do. "I'd rather turn my focus now to talk to them alone, outside the meeting. We'll, uh…maybe we'll do another meeting. I don't know."
West was staring at him like he didn't know to think. "We're abandoning the undercover assignment?"
"Not abandoning it, just…altering it," Bobby said as he looked up as the waitress sat down his cup and poured in the coffee. "Could you leave the pot?" he asked. "We're going to need it."
"Sure thing, refills are free anyway," she told him as she left the pot.
Bobby looked over at West and saw him watching the waitress walk away. Looking back over at her, he said, "Little young, don't you think?"
West turned back to him and said, "Maybe for you."
"You're married."
West shrugged as he said, "Doesn't mean I'm blind or dead. C'mon, she's hot. If Angelina Jolie walked by I'd look. You're telling me you wouldn't?"
Bobby stared at him before asking, "Can we get back to the reason we're here, please."
He knew that all three of them: Lin, Brittney, and Jennifer would be showing up there. It was going on eleven and he was starting to feel the effects of his lack of sleep start to hit. Tomorrow would be worse as he would either have to stay up all night tonight to be able to sleep, or get some sleep and wake up early and then try to get in a nap before tomorrow night.
The waitress returned with their food and Bobby thanked her. She gave both of them a smile before walking away.
"So, if you weren't married you wouldn't get her number?"
Bobby stared over at West and then looked back at the young woman. Maybe it was his job with SVU, or being married now, or the fact he was going to be a father, but he suddenly felt like reaching over and slapped West upside his head. Granted, his partner was more than ten years younger than him but the waitress looked to be ten years younger than West. "No, I wouldn't. She's like, twenty years old, man."
"More than the legal age of consent."
"Yeah, but sometimes it's more than just about consent. Compared to me, she's practically a child." Bobby looked over at his partner and wondered if, despite his marriage, he had strayed. He really didn't want to think about that, and it wasn't his business anyway. "What're your kid's names?" Bobby asked as he cut his sandwich in half before taking a bite.
"Jonah and Noah," West said with a wide proud smile on his face.
He glanced up at him and asked, "You all have biblical names?"
"Yep. Are you religious?" West asked as he looked over at him.
"Uh, if being a lapsed Catholic qualifies. The only thing I'm putting my faith in these days are my job, my wife, and staying sober."
West smiled as he said, "Three good things to put your faith in. If I were to stop being Catholic, I'd never make it. I don't know, but it grounds me. Everyone needs faith in something. Hell, even Atheists have faith that all of us religious nuts are wrong."
Bobby chuckled at that as he finished off one half of his sandwich. He heard the door open but didn't look as West was facing the door. His partner gave a nod as he picked up his cup of coffee and took a gulp. Bobby looked around his shoulder and saw the three approaching.
Jennifer was the first to speak as they all looked at one another. "You didn't share tonight."
"Uh, I had nothing to share," Bobby said as he saw and heard the disappointment in her voice.
Still seeming highly disappointed, she made an effort to smile despite it as she said, "I'm glad you two are choosing to continue socializing. It's good that we can all support each other."
"Want to join us?" Bobby asked as he slid over to make room.
Jennifer seemed eager to but both Lin and Brittney backed away at the offer. She noticed their hesitation and quickly told him, "Some other time."
Bobby watched as the threesome went to a booth further down. "Why were you checking her out?"
West looked taken back by that as he asked, "What?"
"C'mon, you know what," Bobby said annoyed. "It's the reason why we thought you were our rapist."
Turning in his seat and taking a sip of a glass of complementary free water, West said, "The same reason why I was checking out the waitress. She's fine." He turned back in his seat and looked toward the other booth. "Now, getting back to the case, we're going to have to corner them."
Bobby agreed as he said, "If we go at them with Jennifer there, we'll lose. She's protective. She sees her own, uh…abuse in them." West turned to him in confusion and Bobby cleared his throat before explaining, "It's obvious. The way she always touches her cross necklace, her need to spread the message is nearly compulsive."
"She's dedicated."
"Yeah, but why? No one is that dedicated unless it's to fill their own need or to um…" he gestured around as he tried to word his thoughts right, "to shield them from a truth that they're afraid to address. It's not just the addiction with her though. I mentioned you the other day to her, and she had this look…"
West tensed as he looked over at her and then back at him. "What look?"
"A look like you could've been our rapist," Bobby told him. "She had to have heard by now that there was a rape behind the building that she frequents three times, if not more, a week. Yet, she still chooses to go. She chooses to stay here until well after midnight and hangs around."
"You think she wants to be attacked?"
Bobby shrugged, saying, "I think she has something to prove."
West was quiet a moment then said, "She wants to prove that she's no longer afraid. She was a victim."
"Maybe our first," Bobby said as he looked to the three people conversing at the table down from them.
"Not Brittney?" West asked as he finished his coffee.
Bobby shook his head and said, "Her attack doesn't fit."
"Because he didn't wear a condom?" West asked before saying, "I thought this guy was impulsive?" He refilled his cup with more coffee as he went on, "She could've been his first and it happened so quick that he didn't think about it. He realized his mistake and how he left his DNA. He started bringing protection. And we agree that Lin could be our guy."
"I'm not saying Lin isn't; I'm saying that Brittney's attack doesn't fit." Bobby rubbed his head and nodded but he still didn't think Lin was Brittney's attacker. He couldn't put his finger on it, but there was something about the way they relied on each other that had him doubting it. "I had this case a few years ago, a regular Bonnie and Clyde. The girlfriend, she was so used to men abusing her that they were the only type of men she respected and loved. Because of the abuse, she became manipulative; so much so that she got this guy to murder for her. You know how she did it?"
West shrugged, saying, "Sex."
"No. She gave him something wanted more than sex, she gave him respect. False respect, but it worked. She didn't laugh at him or put him down because he couldn't read; he was dyslexic. And in return, he had given her everything she wanted, which was control. She was the one calling the shots, who had the power over him instead of the other way around. In the end, it was her who had been using him." Bobby looked up at West and said, "Let's think about this as if they were a team, and you're right. He got his first time jitters under control by attacking her; he didn't use a condom because he knew he didn't need to. But, she was a willing participant. That's why she didn't want to report it as a rape."
West narrowed his eyes as he turned to look at the group. "Willing participant or not, she contracted an STD from him. And if this is what you say, then there goes our profile. We don't have a shred of proof either way. Suspicion isn't going to get us probable cause for a warrant for his DNA."
Bobby smirked as he returned his attention back to the couple. His eyes then shifted to Jennifer who got up to head to the back to use the restroom. "We don't need a warrant."
West again was confused as he looked back at him. "I'm not following."
"You've got to learn to be more creative," Bobby said as he looked over at the booth. "Imagine what they're feeling right now. Knowing what they've done to her and yet, here they are. She still trusts them, even protects them, because they've made her believe that they're just like her, but, they're not."
"So…we get her to turn on them?" he asked, still confused.
Bobby shook his head, saying, "She believes. We use her faith in them to expose their lies."
"And how exactly do we do that?" West asked as he was starting to look at him the way Alex used to; in total disbelief.
"Uh…Sara Burke."
"The victim? Isn't that, I don't know, immoral or something. She's already traumatized enough."
Bobby smiled slightly as he told him, "No, it won't be traumatizing. It'll be a relief, trust me. And she wants to. She wants to confront them."
"Trust you. Yeah, okay, I trust you. I don't even know what you're talking about," West told him before shaking his head at him. "I'm still not sure whether to call you brilliant or a lunatic."
"Funny how those two always seem to be my options." Bobby then stood and headed toward the booth. He had seen Jennifer get up from the booth and head to the back, toward the restrooms. As he approached the table, both Lin and Brittany looked up with startled eyes. Bobby pointed to the seat beside Brittany as he sat down while saying, "You mind?"
"Yeah, I do," she said even though he was already sitting.
West followed suit as he sat beside Lin and asked, "How's it going?"
"It's alright," Lin said as he looked over at Brit. "We have to go." He tried to get up but West didn't move.
"So soon," Bobby said as he leaned over into Brittany and asked, "Is he always this impatient?"
She found that amusing as she chuckled. "I can't get him to sit still to…" she paused as she looked over at him, "you know, have a quiet conversation."
Bobby wasn't big on nuances or innuendo, but he heard that one loud and clear. "I bet you like quiet conversations."
She shrugged, saying, "Every once in a while."
"I said we have to go," Lin snapped as he tried to force West out of the way.
Bobby gestured with his head for West to get up. His partner stood and let West move by him as Bobby did the same with Brittney. Lin quickly grabbed her hand and almost dragged her with him out of the diner.
"Cute couple," West said dryly as they sat back down.
He gave a nod as he used a napkin to pick up Lin's glass of soda. Bobby waved the waitress over and asked, "Can I get a to-go cup and a, uh, large zip-lock bag, please?"
She gave him a weird look but did as he asked as she returned with a Styrofoam cup and bag the moment Jennifer returned from the bathroom.
"What's all this? Where are Brittany and Lin?"
Bobby took the cup for the waitress as he told Jennifer, "They had to leave, but...they, uh, said they were sorry." He dumped the soda into the cup and handed it to West before putting the glass in the bag; he glanced up to see Jennifer give him an odd look.
"Don't mind him, he's OCD," West said as he got up from the booth with the cup and smiled at the waitress. "Thanks."
Bobby got up quickly to follow West back to their booth. Instead of leaving the diner, they returned to their food and coffee.
"That was fun."
Bobby laughed a little as he took a sip of his coffee. Jennifer was still at her booth, looking around like she didn't know what to do before finally paying the check and getting up.
As she walked by them, she stopped and said, "I don't know what that was about, but I hope you got what you were looking for."
Bobby watched as she left and knew she now probably suspected them of being cops. It didn't matter. She wasn't a suspect; a victim, and witness, but not a suspect.
"We need to bring her in for questioning. If she was a victim of our rapist, she knows something."
Bobby turned back around in the booth and said, "They always do."
They finished eating and were polishing off the pot of coffee when Went suddenly broke the silence that had descended between them. "I'm going back to the precinct so I'll take the evidence."
Bobby looked over at him and nodded before he downed the rest of his coffee. He tossed money on the table to cover his half of the check plus tip and then got up to leave. "See you tonight."
West smiled as he picked up the check and got out his wallet. "Dark and late, I'll be there."
Bobby waved bye as he left the diner and headed to his car. The rain had left the streets with a light gleam covering them and humidity in the air that made it thick and heavy. He was halfway to his car when he heard someone coming up behind him. Turning, and thinking it was West forgetting to tell him something, he wasn't prepared for the pain that filled the side of his face.
It felt like a sledgehammer hit him as fell into the car. Another blow of something metallic hit his left temple and he went down hard to the cemented sidewalk. A hand was reaching into his right pocket for something and Bobby shook himself aware enough to grab the man's hand and dug his nails in until he drew blood. Another blow cracked him in the jaw and he impacted the sidewalk so hard he felt his teeth cut the inside of his cheek. Then a sharp pain filled his left side as a siren and lights ignited the darkness.
The man was gone and he heard Elliot shouting and shots being fired but he couldn't distinguish where or what was happening as he vision clouded and darkened. The siren was loud in his head that he couldn't hear Elliot who had appeared over him. He was struggling to breathe as the pain in his side spread over his chest to his throat. Silence engulfed the street as someone shut the siren off and he finally heard Elliot's words.
"West, call an ambulance! He's been stabbed!" Elliot turned back to him and pleaded with him, "Stay with me, Bobby. C'mon, keep your eyes open. Don't you-"
Bobby barely registered the words before he lost consciousness.
TBC…