A/N… I know, I know. I'm very late. But I always planned to finish this story. There is still half the story to go, and it justifies writing the first half.
**With this site going down, I will move this story and re-post (Likely/hopefully to AO3). But I'm posting this chapter to let anyone know who is still reading.
Quick recap: All of this takes place after season 9 and leads into season 10. Bobby and Alex said goodbye in the office after Bobby was fired. That same evening, Eames is abducted and raped, then held hostage for two weeks before escaping her abductors.
Eames is now in the hospital with multiple injuries, including a knee fracture. SVU was on the case, but the FBI stepped in. Malik is the main bad guy, and he, along with his thugs, continue to torment her while she's in the hospital. They suspect a link back to Hassan (Loyalty, parts 1 & 2), and revenge seems to be the key motive. Bobby requested a transfer to Chicago, wanting to stay close to the case and Alex.
This just happens to be a short chapter.
x x x
They moved her one floor up from the post-op recovery wing to the post-delivery maternity ward. At this point, they're just keeping her overnight. It's probably all they have available.
Instead of an NYPD officer, there's a federal agent in the chair outside her room.
A couple of US marshals picked up some of her things from her place and left two suitcases inside the door to her room.
She's glad to be rid of the hospital gown. Tonight, she's dressed in a pair of cotton pants and a sweatshirt. Her cast is another annoyance, but the doctor says she'll have it off in 4 to 6 weeks.
Around 6:30, Bobby enters her hospital room. "Hey."
"Hi," she greets him. A nursing assistant waits as she finishes her dinner, then collects the tray and leaves the room.
"Glad to be eating solid foods again?" he asks.
"That bodega where we arrested Valentino for forgery is better than that," Alex answers.
"Ouch," Bobby smirks.
"That's generous too."
"Did they get an ID on the guy who planted the bomb?"
"It's one of Malik's thugs. I knew him as 'AJ.' FBI has his background, but they won't tell me anything."
"Let's hope he's ready to talk. Maybe he'll give up Malik."
Alex shakes her head, frowning. "They're too loyal to snitch."
"I bet we could break them, Eames."
She smiles. "I'd feel better if the NYPD were still involved. They're more likely to share information."
"I'll stay on it."
She looks toward the guard at the door, then back to Bobby. "Be careful. Don't risk your job."
"I'm good."
A comfortable silence settles between them. A few minutes pass, then Alex swings her feet off the bed and reaches for the crutches.
Bobby stirs out of his thoughts when he sees her moving. "What's up?"
"The doctor wants me to try the crutches before I go to make sure they fit. I thought I'd just walk up the hallway a few times and get some exercise. They want someone with me in case of any weakness, and I don't need another member of the medical staff treating me like an invalid. Would you mind?"
"Yeah, no problem."
He steadies the crutches for her until she's standing. A moment later, they're in the hallway.
Bobby walks beside her while discretely watching her to make sure she's okay. So far, so good. From his perspective, the crutches appear a little uncomfortable, but she's not saying anything yet.
It's official. I'm going to Chicago, he thinks to himself. He leaves in ten days.
He hasn't told Eames yet. He's not sure how she'll react, but his gut tells him this is the right thing to do.
She stuck her neck out for me plenty of times.
Besides, Eames needs someone in her corner. She's not going to be happy just sitting idle, and the feds will keep her in the dark.
The New York and Chicago field offices will talk to each other. He'll figure out a way to stay in the loop.
x
After a few laps, she stops abruptly. She backs toward the wall and uses it to steady herself. She looks a little pale, and her breathing is labored.
"Just…need…a minute," she explains.
He steps back but remains alert in case she needs him.
A nurse coming up the hallway sees her and stops. "Are you okay?"
Alex nods. "Could I get a different set of crutches?"
"You look a little sick, dear. Let me bring you a wheelchair—"
"Just find me another set!" she snaps.
The nurse nods. "I'll be right back."
She sighs and looks back at Bobby. "I hate that I'm like this."
"Don't worry."
She reaches for Bobby's shoulder for support, and he steps closer. For the exception of the occasional hospital staff walking by, they're alone.
After a few minutes, she realizes she's leaning against him and quickly moves back.
"It's okay."
"I don't want—"
"It doesn't mean you need a wheelchair."
She sucks as a patient, and she knows it. Leaning on anyone is not her style. Her back is bothering her too, but she's trying to ignore it.
Bobby shifts his stance to give her more room for her knee. Then, he puts his hand against the wall directly beside her. His arm becomes a leaning post just in case she needs it.
"Thanks," she whispers, breathing a small sigh of relief.
"No problem."
Inevitably, their eyes meet. To anyone in the hallway, it might look like he's getting ready to kiss her.
Bobby blushes and changes the subject. "Umm… Lewis wanted me to say hello. He wanted to come see you."
"I didn't even want my family to see me like this."
"Eames…"
"What?"
"You think it's worse than it is. The cuts you're worrying about should heal nicely. Maybe this one..." She feels the brush of his fingertip against her the top of her eyebrow, just below the cut, "…might leave a very tiny scar, but I doubt anyone would notice."
She gives an unconvincing smile back.
"You have…beautiful skin," he adds softly. "Beautiful eyes too."
Her heart is pounding, and her face reddens. So, maybe she's flattered. She doesn't want to admit it and responds with, "You're blind."
"Why do you say that?"
Alex shakes her head.
"Your eyes sparkle when someone compliments you. It's very flattering."
"Stop…" She lowers her head. There's too much emotion for her right now. Too much going on inside her head. She hates having to leave New York, her family, her friends. She's tired of the physical pain. Her eyes are starting to tear up, and she needs to hold it together just a little longer.
"I'm not saying a bunch of stuff just to cheer you up. You know me better than that."
"It's just…"
Too much, he realizes. "I understand."
They both fall silent for a moment. She shifts her weight just a little, and the pain in her back intensifies. She winces loudly.
"What's wrong?"
"M-my back," is her tearful reply.
"Muscle spasm?"
Alex nods.
Bobby knows she's determined to ride this out, so he doesn't bother asking if she wants to go back to her room.
With her back to the wall and both hands on his shoulders, he tries something to alleviate the pain.
"Eames, take my hands." He offers his hands, and she takes each one.
He lifts their hands so that her shoulders and arms are above her head. He's hoping maybe a good stretch will help.
"Any better?"
She shakes her head.
"Let's give it a moment."
Her knee is in pain, and she hasn't had much exercise on that leg, so standing is getting more difficult.
After a minute. "Anything?"
She shakes her head. "Sorry, Bobby."
He brings their hands back down. "That's okay. I've got another idea. Put your arms around my neck and hold on."
Alex does this. Bobby gently touches her back, making a note of the areas where she feels tense or her muscles are warm. He attempts a massage with the pads of his fingers. Starting with some light pressure, he rubs small circles over that group of muscles.
She thinks it might be useless for him to try, but she doesn't want to stop him.
As he does this, he's thinking about how much that has changed between them. How she never used to let him touch or support her. And all of this is happening at a time when she has very little reason to trust.
It means a lot to him.
Within a few minutes of the consistent pressure, Alex's shoulders relax, the color starts to return to her face, and her breathing is less labored. She meets his eyes with a subtle thank you, keeping a hand on him for support.
The nurse finally returns. "Well, your color has improved," she says while handing her the new crutches. She sees her tear-stained eyes. "You're crying?"
"I'm fine."
"Honey, I can get the doc—"
Bobby cuts off the nurse. "Are these better?" he asks Alex.
She positions herself and tries walking a few paces down the hallway, then comes back. "Yeah, much," she answers.
"Thank you," Bobby tells the nurse.
"I'll stop by to check on you later, dear." The nurse leaves.
x
Minutes later, they're back in the room.
The hospital administrator decided to reinforce visiting hours, so Bobby will have to leave no later than 10:00 pm. They have a few hours left.
Alex gets situated in the bed, and Bobby sets the crutches in the same spot. She shifts over to give him room to sit beside her.
Before he sits, he removes a phone from his jacket pocket and hands it to her. "Here. Take this."
She glances at the phone, then back to him. "What? Why?"
"Take it with you. I've got a second phone. Number's in there."
According to witness protection rules, they're not supposed to have contact with anyone. But she'll be in a locked facility, and Bobby's not going to give away her location.
She wouldn't trust anyone but him.
"Thanks."
He tucks the phone into her tote bag along with a charger. "Mind if I come tomorrow to see you before you go?" he asks.
"That would be great, but I'm not sure if the US marshals will allow it."
He shrugs. "I'm FBI, and I'll work it out with Agent Lewis. I think we're good."
They carry on small talk until Alex's last pain pill kicks in, and she drifts to sleep.
The warmth of her side, shallow breathing, and the quiet of the room finally coax him to sleep.
Around 10:00, the nurse comes in and taps Bobby to wake him up. He hugs Alex once more, then leaves.
It takes her a little longer to fall back to sleep.
x x x
Early the following day, she steps outside the doors to the hospital. The morning air feels cool against her face. A breeze lifts the strands of her hair.
It's been too long since the last time she was outside. She takes in the sights, sounds, and scents. Distant sirens, a couple of horns. Aromas from a bakery that's already making coffee, bagels, and pastries.
She hobbles along on crutches while two federal agents and a US marshal gather her bags and put them in the trunk of the Lincoln Town Car. Two identical cars pull up just past the ER doors. Inspector Fargo and Lewis will be with her, with Agent Kirkpatrick following in the second car.
Bobby said he'd meet her there to say goodbye. Her eyes drift everywhere, and there's no sign of him.
After a couple of quick phone calls to check in with their office, the agents are set to go. Alex limps toward the backseat door on the passenger side.
Dana organizes a few things in her trunk. Her eyes drift around the area, and as someone comes into view, she turns to Alex. "Okay, you've got two minutes."
"What?"
She gestures for Alex to look behind her. When she turns around, Bobby is walking hurriedly from the visitor's lot toward the two vehicles.
She hobbles over to meet him, stopping a little further from the cars so that they can talk privately.
As she approaches him, a light gust of wind blows from his direction, carrying the scent of his aftershave. His presence is a comfort to her, and his scent brings reminders of their lives before things changed so drastically.
She's going to miss him.
Her eyes tear up just a bit, and she hopes that the wind dries them before they're standing face to face.
"I'm sorry I'm late."
"That's okay. I'm glad I got to see you before I left."
She notices the brown paper bag in his hand as he gives it to her. She opens it and peers inside to find a wrapped sandwich.
He winks at her. "Solid food."
Of course, he would. Thoughtful Bobby. She kind of adores this man.
"Thank you. They said we'd stop somewhere later, but I'm starving."
Bobby's eyes drift over to the car. Agents Lewis and Fargo, who wait to take her, are staring in their direction. Probably anxious to get on the road.
"I'd better go," she announces.
She steps toward him, nudges his shoulder down, and gives him a peck on the cheek. It makes her think about the kiss he gave her in the captain's office when she fired him. It seems so long ago.
He wraps his arms around her, and they meet in a hug. She loses her grip on one of the crutches, and it falls to the pavement.
"Thank you," she says when she draws back and meets his eyes.
"Anytime, Eames."
Words hardly seem enough to her, but it's all they have. She doesn't know when she'll see Bobby again.
Dana taps her on the shoulder, and they release one another. Bobby supports her weight while Dana fetches the fallen crutch. Bobby helps her inside and closes her car door.
She meets his eyes through the car window.
He stands back from the curb, watching the vehicles pull away until they're out of sight.
x x x
~Minutes earlier~
While Agent Lewis waits beside the passenger door for Alex to say goodbye to Bobby, US Marshal, Inspector Fargo remains inside the car. He picks up the radio and calls for Agent Kirkpatrick.
"Troy, are you there?" There's no reply. He waits a few seconds then calls again. "Agent Kirkpatrick, pick up!"
"Hold on…" Troy says to the caller on the other line. He tosses his phone down on the seat beside him and grabs up the radio hastily. "Copy, Keith, what do you need?"
"Do you need to stop for gas after we're out of the city?"
"I've got just over three-quarters of a tank."
"Okay. Sit tight, and we should be on the road in just a minute."
"Copy." Kirkpatrick releases the radio and picks up his phone again. "Sorry, sir. I'm back."
"Just stick to the plan, Agent. Let me worry about the details. Enjoy Chicago and keep an eye on Ms. Eames. I'll be in touch." Malik ends the call.
x x x
TBC…
Next, Chapter 12 – Greetings
A/N: Next chapter should be up in about a week.