Chapter 14

The next day was spent following through with Mr. Faranski's enemies, crossing them off one by one while the IT department tried to sort out who the heckler was. The weather continued to get cooler, and so did the case.

Alex caught Bobby by the elevators just before he went home for the day. "Bobby!"

He spun around to face her.

"You want to get that drink? Make up for yesterday?"

"Ah…" he held his breath a moment. "I can't, Eames. It's… uh… laundry night." He looked slightly embarrassed. "Uhm…"

"Forget about it, Bobby," she said. "I understand."

Bobby knocked on her door, his new basket beside him in the hall.

Bella opened the door, and the two boys nearly knocked him over. After an exuberant exchange with the boys, Bobby shyly gave his greetings to their mother. He took her basket and stacked it on top of his own as she locked her door. They walked together down the block to the laundromat.

He could tell Bella was wary, but she put on a brave face and carried on as if the man who attacked her last week hadn't been in this very room that night. Bobby set her clothes basket at her feet and gave her a reassuring touch on the arm before going back for his own basket.

He tossed his book on the chair, along with the cheap coloring books and crayons he'd found for the children. Then he took his clothes to the washer and got the machine started. Turning back, he saw the boys were already kneeling on the floor, using the egg-chair as a desk and coloring away. Their mother sat quietly beside them, observing the room as she bit her fingernails.

Goren walked over, retrieved his book, and sat down beside her. Instead of opening it, he stared out at the bustle of people in the room.

His presence was a comfort to her. "They like the books. Thank you," she said.

He smiled at them and told her quietly, "They're good boys."

She returned his smile with one of her own.

Although it felt wonderful to be home, Alex found it a little lonely. As much as her father argued and resisted, it was nice to be around another human being. Now, in her own place, there was no criticism, but there was also no warmth. She sighed and picked up the phone.

"Hello?" his gruff voice answered.

"Dad? How you doing?"

"Elizabeth?"

"No, Dad, it's Alex."

"Of course it is." His voice seemed warmer, now.

"Are you okay by yourself?" She asked him.

"Are you?"

Alex grinned. "You're pretty sharp, you know that?"

"You got it from me, did you know that?"

"Yes, I think I heard that once or twice." Alex walked into the kitchen while she spoke, and started scrubbing the countertop. "What did you have for dinner?"

"Oysters Rockefeller. I had a tv dinner. One of those 'Smart Meals' your sister goes on about."

"I should have cooked for you."

"Sweetheart, I appreciate your concern. And I love you to the ends of the earth. But I think I'm better off with the frozen dinners."

"Dad!"

"Now what's wrong?" He asked her.

Alex paused. It was hard to admit. "I'm just a little lonely, Dad."

Felipe was curled in the plastic chair, sound asleep. Cisco was next to him, coloring, but keeping one eye on the people around him. Bobby and Bella were quickly folding their clothes. Once finished, Bobby stacked the baskets to carry them back and waited while Bella woke her son.

He was a hard sleeper. He whined and shut his eyes tight, reaching his arms out and grasping her neck. She peeled his arms down and spoke to him softly, but firmly. Finally, he opened his eyes. He continued to whine and cry, but he got to his feet.

Bella held her boys by the hand and began the walk home, Bobby following close behind with the laundry.

They arrived safely, and he brought her clothes inside while she quickly tucked her youngest into bed. Cisco yawned, and Bobby tousled his hair. "You should get to bed, too. School tomorrow," Bobby told him.

"Will you come over again?" Cisco asked.

"Sure," said Bobby.

"I like you, Bobby."

He smiled. "I like you too, Cisco. And your brother. And your Mom."

"G'night."

Cisco went to bed, and Bobby heard Bella talking softly to him. He wandered over to the window and looked out on the street as he waited. For some reason, he wondered what Alex was doing.

"Thank you, Bobby," she said, as she returned to the living room. He spun around and smiled politely.

"Next week?" He shrugged as he asked.

She nodded. "I'd like that."

He picked up his own clothes and let her open the door for him as he went back out into the hall, saying an awkward goodbye.

It made no sense, really. He tossed and turned, and found himself dialing.

"Bobby?"

Bobby rubbed his forehead. She sounded sleepy. "Were you asleep?" he asked.

"N-no, not yet."

"I'm sorry."

"Bobby. What is it?"

"I just… it's nothing, it's stupid."

"Are you all right?"

"Yeah, yeah, I'm fine. Are you?"

"Yeah, you know… it's kind of weird being at home again, but yeah."

"I shouldn't have bothered you."

"Goren, just spit it out." Alex rubbed her eyes with her thumb and forefinger.

"I was just… thinking of you."

A small curl appeared at one corner of her mouth. She thought of how he looked at work today, when he read that raunchy story. He was a gentleman about it, but oh, so very much a man. Alex lowered her free hand and kneaded the sheet in her fist. "I wish we could've had that drink," she whispered.

"Me, too," he said.