Eames took it upon herself to visit Bobby the following day, and upon arriving, found his door closed. She went to the nurses' station, where Bonnie informed her that some doctors were in with him; she was welcome to wait though.
After what seemed forever, finally two men emerged, closing the door behind them (which only partially closed), both shaking their heads. Alex' heart jumped into her throat, immediately she came to the conclusion that something was terribly wrong. She practically ran to Bobby's room, stepping in, then stopped. She could hear voices, angry voices, one of them Bobby's, the other obviously still another doctor.
"…So damn smart!" is what she picked up first, from none other than Doctor Painter. "That's the second time you've contradicted me and humiliated me in front of my colleagues!"
"So next time get your shit right!" Bobby said angrily. "Especially when it concerns me!"
"You arrogant son of a bitch!" Painter was furious. He looked like a rank amateur, compared to Bobby, in front of the other two doctors, one of whom was his superior. "You know, I can fix you good. I'll claim you attacked me, and I'll have you sedated and ship your ass right off to the psyche ward. You'll never get out of here! I'll—"
"You'll what?" Alex demanded, no longer able to listen to this.
Painter froze, then turned to face Alex. "Who the hell are you?" he practically screamed. "And by the way, get out! This is a private counseling session!"
"Sounds more like a private abuse session," Alex continued. "I'm Detective Alex Eames, and you just threatened my partner—"
"He's a dangerous man! To himself, others, me…"
"He's dangerous?" Alex asked incredulously. "I think you are the dangerous one! And if you attempt to sedate him, or touch him physically in any way, I'll see to it that you lose your license."
Painter stood there with his mouth open, not sure what to make of Alex or the situation.
Bobby was at first surprised by the exchange, then amused.
"In fact," Alex went on, "It might be better for all concerned if you removed yourself from his case, entirely."
Painter was angry again, and stubborn. "No fucking way! He's my patient, and he'll remain my patient till I say otherwise! He's threatened suicide," he lied. "I'm only trying to help him!" This quack neglected to say Bobby was also his perceived ticket to the big time, when he writes his big expose on the effects of rape on males in a predominantly male work force. And specifically on a certain NYPD detective.
"You know I just told you I was a detective, and I'll bet if I put my mind to it I could come up with a few more patients you've abused…"
Painter stood there with his mouth gaping, then finally said, "We…uh, we'll see about that." He stalked past Eames right out the door.
Bobby and Alex both watched Painter leave, then both laughed, and Bobby said softly, "Thank you."
"You're welcome," Alex replied. "Not that you can't take care of yourself."
"I know. It's just…nice."
Alex looked a little embarrassed, then said "Wow! Is that guy for real?"
"Pretty much so. Usually he's worse."
"Has he ever done that to you?"
"What?"
"Sedated you for no reason?"
Bobby grew quiet. Alex waited, and finally she said, "He has, hasn't he? Oh my God, Bobby!"
"It wasn't that often. Since he couldn't win an argument he figured he'd shut me up one way or another. He only did it when I contradicted him or pointed out some gross unimaginable inaccuracy."
"In other words, all the time."
Bobby smiled. "I did piss him off a lot. The thing is, it seems it's getting harder and harder to come out of it…the sedatives. I think he may be upping the dosage."
"Bobby, why didn't you say something?"
Bobby's eyes took on a steely look. "Oh, don't worry, this guy is going down. Him and a few others."
Eames nodded. "I'm right with ya."
For a moment Alex thought it was almost like things were back to normal. Bobby coughed a little, and she asked, "How have you been feeling?"
"Not too bad. Still the low-grade fever, and a little cough."
Things got a little awkward again. They talked a little, small talk, and after a bit Alex left, saying she'd be back again. Bobby didn't protest, which she took as a good sign.
XXX
When James Deakins went to visit Bobby again the next day, he expected him to be even better.
But Bobby didn't look so good. He was sitting on the side of the bed, drawing in a deep breath.
"Hey, Bobby, how ya feeling?" Deakins asked.
Bobby coughed. "Like shit. Think I'm coming down with something." He coughed again, hard.
"That doesn't sound good," Deakins said. He didn't like the sound of the cough. "Damn, Bobby, that's a nasty cough you've got there."
"I know. It'll be okay," Bobby said. It wasn't easy to tell whom Bobby was trying to convince, himself or Deakins.
Deakins watched Bobby for a moment, frowning. "You take care of yourself, Bobby. That's an order."
Bobby smiled slightly. "Yeah, I will." He started coughing again.
"I assume your doctors and nurses know about this little 'something' you're coming down with?"
"Well, they upped my antibiotics a little."
"Okay," Deakins said, satisfied.
Deakins visited with Bobby for over an hour. "Well, guess I'll get going before Angie starts thinking I got lost. Remember what I said, okay? Goodnight Bobby."
XXX
If there was one thing Jimmy Deakins hated, it was those middle of the night phone calls. It was either bad news or a call to a crime scene. Tonight was no exception. So when the phone rang at four a.m. Deakins groaned and reached for the phone, still lying in bed half asleep. He almost knocked it off the nightstand.
"Deakins" he answered.
"Hello, Mr. Deakins? This is Cindy Towers, I'm Robert Goren's nurse at Mt. Sinai. I understand you are the family contact for Robert Goren?"
Deakins shot up in bed. "Yes! What? Is everything okay? I—"
"Jimmy…who is it?" Angie murmured sleepily, turning over.
"Honey, just a second…Ms. Towers, is Bobby alright?"
"Mr. Deakins, I'm afraid Robert's condition has deteriorated."
Deakins was surprised, and said. "What the--I just saw him yesterday! What's wrong with him?"
"Robert's fever escalated dramatically, and he has developed an infection that has led to pneumonia."
Deakins mind shot back to Luke, and the fate that befell him.
"He's going to be alright, though?"
"Actually, Mr. Deakins, I think perhaps you should come in…"
Deakins was stunned, he didn't say anything for a moment. "Of course. I'll uh, be right there." Deakins fell back against his pillow, and Angie sat up.
"Jimmy…"
"Jesus, Angie! I just saw him yesterday! He was doing fine! I don't understand what—"
"Jimmy, get up. We've got to go," Angie said, getting out of bed. Deakins looked at his wife, grateful that she was going to accompany him. Both of them dressed quickly, and Angie said, "Jimmy, maybe you should call Alex."
Deakins hesitated. "I don't know, maybe I should wait to see for myself how he is. I don't want—"
"Honey, why do you think they called you?" She let that sink in for a moment, then said softly, "Call her, Jimmy."
"Alright," he agreed, "But on the way. I want to get there as soon as possible."
As they were driving, Angie dialed Alex's number ant gave it to Deakins. Waiting for her to answer, he took a deep breath.
xxx
Alex wasn't any more happy about a middle of the night phone call than Deakins was.
"Eames," she said groggily.
"Alex? This is Deakins."
"Yes?'' she asked, although she knew it was another call out. She sighed.
"Alex? Get dressed. It's…it's…Bobby."
Alex's heart skipped a beat. "W-What?"
"Alex, Bobby's taken a turn for the worse. You better get down to the hospital--now. We'll meet you there."
"Okay," she whispered, then set the phone back down. Oh, God! she prayed. Please don't let anything happen to him. Please God…
xxx
Arriving at the hospital, Alex caught up with the Deakins.
"Well?" she demanded, visibly upset. "How is he? Have you heard anything?"
"He's in intensive care," Deakins said. He appeared to be very down. They were taken to Bobby's room in the ICU, where they waited outside. A somber looking doctor came out and spoke to them.
"Robert—Bobby—is not doing well at the moment. I won't lie to you. Despite our best efforts, he's developed a severe infection, leading into pneumonia. His temperature shot up to 105 degrees. In addition, he's having extreme chest pain, and he is on oxygen. We're giving him pain medication for his chest, and we have started him on a new super-antibiotic."
"Chest pain? Why?" Alex asked, very scared. "Why would he be having chest pains?'
"Chest pain," the doctor corrected. "His lungs are totally congested right now, he's having difficulty breathing, and it is very painful, so much so that he required the pain medication."
"What's the bottom line, Doctor?" Deakins didn't want to, but he had to ask.
The doctor shook his head, and Alex gasped. Angie also appeared to be in shock. Deakins knew he had to be the strong one.
"It's all up to him," the doctor said. "We're doing everything we possibly can."
"Can…Can we see him?" Alex asked softly.
"Yes. Just one of you at a time, of course."
"Go ahead, Alex," Deakins and Angie both encouraged her, knowing how badly she wanted to be in there with him.
Alex walked in very tentatively, actually a little frightened at what she might find. Bobby was lying in the bed, and looked every bit as bad as the doctor said he was. His lips had a bluish tint to them, and picking up his hand, she saw that the skin under his nails was blue, too. His lungs were very congested, and the doctors had him on oxygen. His fever was so high, he seemed to be in and out of delirium, and his body was glistening with sweat.
"Bobby?" Alex whispered, picking up his hand and gently stroking it. Oh my God he is so hot! She thought. At first he didn't seem to realize she was there; finally he seemed to recognize her.
"Bobby, I…I…" Alex could hardly speak through her tears and the big lump in her throat, and Bobby didn't have the strength. He was in and out of consciousness again.
"Bobby, please , you've got to pull through this…" she was crying softly, her tears falling on the hand she was holding. "If you have anything in you at all, please just… pull through. I—I love you Bobby, and I'm just so sorry…" Now she was outright weeping, and Bobby's body seemed to jerk in reaction.
She continued sitting with him, her fingers stroking back his damp curls over and over. "Bobby, I-I promise you…I will get McFadden. That son of a bitch will not get away with this, I swear to God, Bobby, " she was sobbing, "If it is the last thing I ever do on this earth I will get him." She looked at him sadly. "Bobby, can you ever forgive me? I am so sorry… Please say you forgive me…" The tears just rolled down her face, and she was caressing his hand with her wet cheek. "Bobby?" She watched him again, For a moment she thought he had woke up and squeezed her hand. She looked at him, but other than his chest moving steadily up and down, she could see no other movement. But he had squeezed her hand, she knew it! Somewhere in her she knew that Bobby had forgiven her.
tbc