CHAPTER ELEVEN
"I think," Stahl said. "You'll both find this place comfortable." She turned in the van's middle seat to look at Bobby and Alex who sat in the back. "We managed to get several of your books, there, Bobby. Alex helped us pick them out and several other things."
Bobby looked across the seat to Alex. "Thank you," he said softly. He stared out the window. "It's weird, being outside again."
"Weird," Alex thought. "Not, "It's good", or "I'm happy"…" She caught Stahl's eyes. The FBI agent was also troubled by Bobby's reaction to his release from the hospital. Alex sensed that Stahl's interest wasn't just that of concern for the star witness in her and other's cases. Stahl had come to admire Bobby. She'd strongly hinted that places with the FBI for both Alex and Bobby at the end of those cases.
"You're not prisoners," Stahl said. "We need to protect you, but we don't want you to feel trapped."
"Thank you for arranging for me to see my family," Alex said. "Will they know where I am?"
"We can't tell them where you are," Stahl said. "But we'll help you reach them." She pulled out two cell phones and handed them to Alex and Bobby. Alex eagerly took hers, but Bobby shook his head.
"I don't need it," he said. "No one is looking for me, except for some members of the NYPD and some bad guys."
"Please take it," Stahl said gently. "You can call people and give them the number. These phones may not be completely untraceable, but we've set them up so it'll be very difficult."
Bobby took the phone and slipped it into his pocket. Alex was busily programming numbers and addresses into hers, but she saw Bobby's move.
"Bobby," she began.
"When do I testify?" Bobby asked, blocking her question. "And for which case?"
"The day after tomorrow, In federal court," Stahl said. "It shouldn't be difficult. Your testimony is just a step in the process."
Bobby nodded. "Then…What will happen?"
"You'll both probably testify in the NYPD case in about a week," Stahl replied. "If there's a trial."
Alex looked up. "I've heard rumors, but there really might not be a trial?"
"Our guys have gotten several people to turn over. Agent McIntire wants to thank you both. That tip about the false email. The captain who's behind that has turned. His resignation should be announced tomorrow. That led to Moran's links to Frank Adair, who turned on Moran and trading for a transfer to a federal facility. Not a country club, but the prisoners aren't as likely to turn on him, and Adair will get a few more chances at fresh air."
"More than Bobby did," Alex choked.
"The secretary," Bobby said after a moment.
"Secretary?" Stahl asked.
"The one who created that email…Forced to," Bobby said softly. "What's happened to her?"
"Oh. She's agreed to testify as well. She was one reason McIntire was able to turn the captain. She was about to retire, and she'll get to keep her benefits."
"I wish she would've thought about what she was doing before that email forced Captain Deakins' resignation," Alex said bitterly.
"She was under a lot of pressure," Bobby said.
"You're very generous," Stahl said.
Bobby stared out the window. "She probably thought she was being loyal."
"We're here," the driver said.
They were on a street of neat row houses in one of Brooklyn's better neighborhoods. As the SUV pulled up, a young man and woman quickly moved down one of the house's front steps. They glanced up and down the street as they strode to the SUV. The driver stepped quickly from the car and also checked the surroundings as he moved to open the door. Alex and Stahl quickly moved out of the car and turned to help Bobby.
"You going to be ok with the steps?" Alex asked. She tried not to hover over Bobby.
"I'm fine," he said, but his voice was flat. He examined the house. "The Bureau must have a better budget than I've been led to believe."
Stahl smiled. "This has been a safe house for a while."
Bobby managed the steps into and inside the house. He and Alex had large, comfortable rooms next to each other on the second floor. As promised, several of Bobby's books and some of his clothes waited in his room. Alex had selected several of his best suits for his court appearances and his favorite jeans and t-shirts for the rest of his time. Bobby sat heavily on the large, comfortable bed. He suddenly felt as if he'd run several miles after working a case for several days. There was a knock on his door, and Bobby thought it took all of his energy to raise his head and say, "Come in."
Alex opened the door. "Hey," she said. Her voice sent warm waves through him. He realized he was still capable of love, that he still loved Alex, and the realization filled him with joy. He couldn't bear it, and he fell back on the bed.
"Bobby…" Alex's worried voice reached him through a long, fog filled tunnel.
"Bobby…I'm going to get some help…"
"No." He managed to concentrate on Alex and speak. "I…I'm all right."
Bobby, you can't even sit up." Alex sat on the bed next to him. He felt her hand on his head.
"I… I just did too much too fast," he said. "Could…Could you help me get into bed, please?"
"Ok." She helped him take off his shoes and socks and shirt and pants.
"You sure you're all right?" she asked as she helped him lift his legs under the covers.
"Yes…Thank you." His voice was thick with his need for sleep. "I…I love you, Alex. I love you very much."
Alex stroked his head. "I…I love you very much, too," she said when she could speak.
"I wish…I wish I could make love to you." He was losing his battle against falling asleep. "That night…The memory…It saved me…It kept me alive."
"It helped me a lot, too. I'd love to make love with you, too. Oh, Bobby…" She leaned forward and brushed her lips across his curls.
"I…I just realized," Bobby murmured. "That I…That I could still love you. Since…Since I came back…I've been so afraid. To feel anything. Because when I let myself feel anything. It was bad. Like pain, or anger, or fear. And, sometimes, even if I wanted to feel something, I couldn't. But a few minutes ago, I felt something. It was good. I knew that I loved you."
His voice grew softer, and Alex strained to hear him. Bobby blinked and closed his eyes. Alex rubbed her eyes and rose from the bed.
"Alex?"
"Yes…"
"Please? Could you stay? Until I fall asleep?"
She sat again on the bed. "Of course. Of course."
She stayed, one hand resting on his head, until she knew he was deeply asleep. She checked the closets and drawers in the room to make sure everything he needed had arrived safely. The room contained a good sized desk and chair. Books filled shelves next to the desk. Stahl and two large, young agents had accompanied Alex on her mission to Bobby's house, and Alex was glad of their presence when they arrived at the house and discovered a large, black SUV screaming "Cops!" parked nearby. Alex thought it might even be one of the vehicles she and Bobby drove. They entered through the back door, and one of the young agents stood guard there while the other stood watch at the front. Alex and Stahl packed as quickly as they could. As Alex filled several boxes with books, Stahl watched.
"Are you sure he'll want all of these?" she asked.
"I've seen Bobby eat peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for a week if there was an expensive book he had to have. These are just essentials. You want to make him happy, ask him what he'd like from the bookstore."
"I'll keep that in mind," Stahl said.
They got away without any incidents. "Were there any signs anyone got or tried to get in?" Alex asked as she looked over her shoulder.
"None," Stahl said. "It's as if someone is trying to harass you and Bobby."
Alex sighed. "That sounds like Kenny Moran."
She thought about the shadows hanging over Bobby as she examined the titles on the shelf. "A few more days," Alex thought. "Maybe less than a couple of weeks. Then it'll be over. We can get on with our lives." She checked on Bobby, who was deeply asleep, and left the room.
Stahl waited for her at the bottom of the stairs. "How is he?"
"Asleep. Just leaving the hospital and getting her wore him out." Alex looked over her shoulder at the door to Bobby's room. "I hope he's ready for all of this."
"His doctors think so. He thinks so. He very much wants to testify," Stahl said. "I think this is good for him."
Bobby slept through the afternoon and evening, even through dinner. Alex checked on him several times before she went to her own bed. She couldn't sleep. So many sounds came from his room, and her thoughts raced. She finally gave up and padded into Bobby's room. A small light was on in the room, and in its pale light Alex could see Bobby was still asleep, but moving restlessly. She gently touched his head. This soothed him, but his eyes blinked awake. For a moment, he was lost and confused, but he calmed when he saw Alex.
"I'm sorry," she whispered. "I didn't mean to wake you."
"It's ok." His voice was thick with sleep. "Uh…I need to go to the bathroom."
"You need any help?"
"I think I'll be ok." Bobby eased out of bed and carefully stood. "Give me a minute."
He moved easily in and out of the bathroom.
"It's the middle of the night?" Bobby stared at the clock. "I've been asleep that long?"
"Yea…"
"I…I'm hungry," Bobby confessed.
His words made Alex very happy. "C'mon. I know where the kitchen is."
Bobby pulled on his jeans and t-shirt and followed Alex to the kitchen.
"Quiet around here," Bobby commented.
"Don't let it fool you," Alex said. "There are a lot of agents around."
"Just for me?" Bobby asked as they stepped into the huge kitchen.
Alex smiled. "I'm here too, you know."
Bobby moved close to her. "Yea…I do know…"
"I thought you said you were hungry." Alex murmured as she faced him.
"Not just for food," Bobby said. He wrapped his arms round her and started to kiss her. A low, steady rumbling came from his stomach. "Ok," he laughed. "Food first."
Alex headed to the refrigerator. "Let's see if there's any of that Italian left."
"Italian," Bobby said warmly. "It seems like forever since I had Italian."
Bobby ate enthusiastically enough that Alex gently warned him against eating too fast.
"I'm almost full," he announced. "But I could eat that cheesecake I saw in there."
"If I get to share," Alex said.
"A full meal in the middle of the night." Bobby shook his head. "My eating schedule is completely whacky."
"I'm not sure we ever had a schedule," Alex smiled. "Although we usually managed breakfast."
"Yea. I wonder if anyone at the diner misses us?"
"I'd be surprised if it's still in business without us." Alex gathered the dishes, carried them to the sink, rinsed them, and placed them in the dishwasher. She turned to find Bobby standing close to her.
"You still move like a big cat," she said into his chest.
He wrapped his arms around her. "I owe you so much. I owe you everything."
Alex pulled his face to meet hers. She kissed him, and he responded by deepening the kiss.
"I'm not sure," she said, when they finally broke the kiss. "That this is the best place for this."
"Too many trained investigators around?"
"You must be feeling good," Alex said.
"I haven't felt this good…Since…Since before…Oh, Alex." He buried his head in her neck. "I love you. I'm happy. And I know I can do this. I know I can."
"Upstairs," Alex said. "Upstairs."
END CHAPTER 11
