Chapter 37

"You're really good with him," Greg said, sipping a cup of coffee as they stared out the windshield of their parked vehicle.

Bobby shrugged. "Kids aren't so hard to figure out. They just want to be safe. And loved."

"Still, not many people can pull off what you just did."

Bobby looked out the passenger window. "I know what it's like, I guess." He gave a little scoff. "I didn't have the best childhood."

"Jeremy is so lucky to have you."

Bobby's face grew dark. "But he doesn't have us, yet. I'm starting to wonder if they'll ever let us take him."

"It just takes time. You have to prove yourself to them. They have to know you're committed."

"How much proof do they need?!" He raked his fingers through his hair angrily.

"I don't know, man, but I know you can do it."

The men fell silent, then, and focused their attention on the task at hand.

Bobby still wasn't home when Alex awoke Friday morning. She was tired, but feeling better. Without Bobby, though, she was lonely. She fixed herself a piece of toast and a glass of water and picked up her phone. He hadn't called during the night. He was supposed to call if he was going to sleep at the squad room. Alex dialed his number as the worry started to build.

"Goren's phone."

"Who is this? I'm trying to reach Bobby."

"Captain Eames? It's Pritchard with CSU. They, uh, they had some action in the night, and he left his phone behind. He's at the hospital."

"Oh, God! Which one?!"

"N-n-no, he's not hurt, he's okay. It's his partner, Washington? Washington had to go in."

"Which hospital?" Alex asked again.

"St. Vincent's."

"Thanks, Pritchard."

"Okay, sorry, Captain."

Alex quickly showered and dressed. As she headed out, she checked her phone again. He still hadn't called. Alex dialed. "Murphy? It's me. Yes, I'm back to the living. Listen, I have to stop by St. Vincent's on the way in. I'll be a little late, but I'm coming in. All right, see you then."

She drove to the hospital and parked near the ER. It didn't take long to find him. He was pacing in the corner, with a tiny styrofoam cup in his hand. "Bobby," she said as she closed the gap between them.

He turned and accepted her embrace.

"How is he?" she asked.

"He's, uh… he's waiting for the results from an X-ray, sleeping off the pain meds they gave him."

She searched his face. He wasn't hurt, but he wasn't all right. "What happened, Bobby?"

"We, uh… we ID'd 'em and we went after 'em and they… there was a third man we didn't see. He was up overhead on the fire escape. He dropped something on Greg and it was… it was a little crazy."

Alex squeezed his hand and looked into his eyes.

"I'm okay," Bobby said. He smiled for her. "I'm just wound up."

"You should get some sleep."

"That's what the Captain said," Bobby lifted his coffee cup and gestured to Captain Ross, who was coming up behind her.

"You're still here, Detective?" Ross asked with a frown.

"I'll leave when we find out about the X-rays," Bobby told him.

Alex turned to her former Captain, and they exchanged greetings. Ross then excused himself and went back down the hall.

"You're going in today?" Bobby asked her, tucking his fingers into her hair to sweep it back out of her eyes.

"Yeah, I'm okay," she said.

Bobby smiled at Alex.

"You'll call me when you hear something? Oh, that's right. You don't have your phone."

"I'll call," he said. They held hands and he leaned closer and kissed her. "I'll call," he promised.

Murphy had done a good job of keeping things organized this time. Her squad was really starting to pull it together. Alex spent the first hour reviewing what had happened while she was out and signing off on several reports.

"Eames," she said, not even looking at the display.

"It's not broken, he's just got a lot of deep bruising."

"That's good news," Alex said, relieved. "Where are you now?"

"I'm heading for the subway, headed home."

"Get some sleep, and when I get home, we'll go see Jeremy."

"Yeah."

"Love you."

"Love you, too."

The parenting class was as boring as ever. Bobby took his notes and Alex tried not to yawn too much. On their date afterwards, Bobby took a call.

"How is he?" She asked as he hung up.

"He's okay. His mom is staying with him for a few days."

"Good." They ate a few minutes in silence, and then Alex thought back to seeing Jeremy the night before. "He was so sweet to me last night."

"He missed you."

"I can't believe how much he's saying, now."

"Diane said since he started talking, they've been pushing it a little harder. You know, like he wants milk, he has to say the word 'milk' before they give it to him."

"It must be working. Wow. I think I heard him say fifteen different words last night."

"My favorite is how he says 'I love you.'"

"Bobby wuv," Alex imitated the child, and Bobby grinned.

"Axsh wuv," Bobby said, and took her hand.

Her eyes sparkled as she smiled at him, and then Alex looked down at their hands. "Two more weeks, and then he can sleep over with us."

"I can't wait," Bobby said.

"Maybe we should go shopping today, buy some toys," Alex said.

"And some books," Bobby added, nodding enthusiastically.

The parenting class was completed, and the day had finally arrived for Jeremy to come home with them for a visit. Bobby installed a car seat in Alex's car and they drove over to pick him up.

He was very excited to see them, and he ran to them, shouting completely unintelligible things.

The adults all laughed and smiled. "He's pretty excited," Diane said. "We've been prepping him for it all day."

Bobby had picked up the boy and he grinned at him. "Are you excited to come visit us, Jeremy?" he asked.

"Jermy sited!" He shouted, throwing his little fist into the air with a smile.

"Good luck with the whole potty training thing," Diane said. "He's still not working with us on that one. Maybe you can figure it out."

"We'll do our best," Alex said with a smile. She picked up his little suitcase, and Diane made sure he took the little stuffed dog with him, since he liked to sleep with it at night.

Jeremy spent the first fifteen minutes exploring the apartment.

"He's quick!" Alex said, as they hurried to follow him to make sure he stayed safe.

Jeremy crawled under beds and behind the furniture. Any place that was small enough for him to fit in, he tried it out. They let him explore, but were quick to coax him back out. Finally satisfied that he'd seen everything, Jeremy started running back and forth from room to room, shouting happily.

Alex and Bobby laughed. "What is he saying?" She asked, laughing.

"I have no idea," Bobby replied.