Chapter 36

"He never gave up on finding my son's killer. Even after all these years…" A teary-eyed Mrs. Hopkins was speaking to the camera. Half of New York City was watching it on three channels.

The reporter finished the story. "And so, the officer, a man with no family of his own, put his life on the line to bring justice to the family of a man he never knew. Our thoughts and prayers are with you tonight, Detective," she said, nodding to the hospital as the camera panned up sixteen floors and was covered by wet drops of snow.

He thought he wasn't breathing, and inhaled quickly, desperately. The sudden inflation of his lungs caused a deep, searing pain in his chest. Bobby yelped and blinked rapidly. He squeezed his eyes shut and took shallow breaths, wishing the pain to recede.

He heard her before he felt her hand. "…okay, Bobby, you're okay. The doctors are taking good care of you."

The pain was still there, but it was just a nagging ache now. He opened his eyes, and another weak yelp escaped his lips. Somehow, his eyes met hers. She smiled at him, and he felt the warmth of her hand over his.

"You just need to rest, Bobby. Relax, and rest. I'll be right here with you."

His eyes closed, and he did rest. It still hurt, but he rested.

"You look like you can use this," Ross said, offering her a tall paper cup filled with coffee. She took it gratefully, and burned her tongue on the first sip. "How is he?"

"Something happened this morning, and they ran in there and… I don't know, Captain. They say he's stable again."

"You could use some sleep."

She scoffed. "I'll sleep when I can."

Ross sipped from his own coffee cup, then skirted around her and into Goren's room. He looked at Bobby, then at the monitors, then walked back out to join Alex in the hall. He drank more of his coffee and buried one hand deep in his pocket. "News picked up the story. It was on at 11 and replayed again at 6 this morning."

"They didn't—" She began, worried that they released his name.

"No, they just referred to him as 'Detective,' and 'Officer.'" Ross turned his head to look down the hall. He continued. "They did know something, though. They said he had no family."

Alex sighed. "That's my fault. They came here, and would have been in the room with him… I guess I let that slip."

Ross nodded. "At least they're on our side this time. The whole city's pulling together to support the hero."

It might have been sarcastic, but it wasn't. Alex knew Ross well enough to know he respected Bobby.

He put a hand on her arm. "At least get some breakfast. I'll stay here."

Alex didn't believe the knot in her stomach would allow her to eat anything, but she knew she should try. She nodded, glanced once more at Bobby, then walked down the hall.

The call hadn't been easy to make. Alex had only met her once, after all. She did it for Bobby. She knew he cared about Bella and her family. He would want them to know.

Alex saw her hand was still wrapped from the incident with the boys' father. She shook it gently, then stepped into the hall while Bella visited him. A few minutes later, Bella was in the hall with her, tears filling her eyes. They hugged.

This time, the pain didn't come as a surprise. Bobby listened, eyes closed, using his other senses to get his bearings. Hospital. Yes, it was a hospital. He remembered the last time he'd awakened. Alex. "Alex?" It was barely a whisper.

Instantly, her fingers twined with his. "I'm right here, Bobby."

He squeezed her hand. The pain was constant. Every breath burned. This was quite possibly the worst he'd ever felt. He tried to concentrate on her touch instead.

Alex watched him. His eyes were closed, but she could tell when he was awake, and she saw it, too, when his face relaxed and he drifted back into sleep. She looked down at his hand, wrapped in hers, and with the other arm, wiped her tears on her sleeve. She swallowed, forced them back again, and sat back in the chair, reluctantly letting go of his hand. She looked at all the monitors and bags and tubes and then at his face. He was better than yesterday. That was something.

The flowers had started to arrive before noon. The first was from Annabelle Hopkins. The next, from Mrs. Kohl. The nurses put them on the windowsill. Logan stopped by with a bunch of balloons from the squad. Haskell hadn't confessed, but the evidence in the other murders was becoming more and more damning. More cards and flowers came, from the ADA's office, from the families of the other victims. Alex didn't even know who some of the people were.

By evening, there were so many cards and flowers that they wouldn't fit on the sill anymore. The nurses put the larger ones on the floor by the wall. Alex stood in front of it all, in wonder.

"Hello, Alex," Bella said.

Alex turned, and gave her a smile. "Hi."

Bella handed her two homemade cards. "Cisco and Felipe."

Alex opened them and read them. The boys had drawn pictures to go with their "get well" messages. Bobby playing football with them. Bobby holding their hands. She smiled. "He'll like this," she said. She put the cards near him, on the tray that held his empty water pitcher.

"You're tired," Bella said.

Alex nodded.

"Maybe you can rest while I'm here," she offered. She gestured to the cushioned chair in the corner. Alex was going to protest, but seeing that she wasn't being asked to leave, she nodded. She went to the chair, got herself as comfortable as she could, and within minutes was sound asleep. Bella sat next to Bobby's bed, silently fingering the rosary she'd pulled from her pocket.