Oh wow, It's chapter 5 (!) of this story already? Jeez…where has my brain been for all of this so far? I guess the plot bunnies possessed me when I wrote this. That would explain the oddities. Anyway, I hope you enjoy and don't think this story too weird now that I've regenerated it.

Oh, I may take some advice and write "filler" chapters for this story when I have it somewhat resolved (i.e. the night that Bobby and Alex spent together, Alex's pregnancy, the baby, how everyone else felt about it, and where the heck Goren was in detail).

Please Review! It always means a lot to me that people are actually interested in my work. I try my best to keep the story going and to make it interesting to read. Well, here goes…

Journal of Robert Goren

By CJSpooks the Major Spaz

Chapter 5, Part 1: I don't get it!

Eames, Deakins, and Carver drove back to One Police Plaza to talk. After exhuming the coffin, the M.E. took samples to be tested in the lab. Once the three were settled in the Captain's office, Deakins spoke first.

"Is this some kind of sick joke played by Goren?"

Carver took off his glasses and started to clean them with a handkerchief. "It seems that he's pulled off quite the disappearing act."

"What're we going to do?" –Eames asked her boss.

"I guess we have two options, sit tight or try finding him ourselves." –Deakins replied.

"How do you suppose we do that? Where do you start with something like this?" –Eames pushed a few hairs away from her face. She looked stressed by all the new developments.

"He was dead when he went into the coffin. And now he's just missing." –Carver advised.

"I'm going to check around, sir. And I'm going to wait. He's going to try to write me a letter again." –Eames stood up, getting ready to leave.

"How are you so sure that he's going to contact you again?" –Carver asked skeptically.

"He will. I know he will."- Eames said sternly. No one argued with that. Eames nodded and exited the office.

"I hope she knows what she's doing." –Deakins said.

"If he's really alive, he won't be the same man he was." –Carver added as he put his hat back on to leave.

Part 2: Soon is not enough

Eames arrived home sometime after dark. She had dropped off the baby at her parents' for the night. She needed to wrack her brain for awhile. She needed to hear from Goren soon or else she would have nothing to start her "investigation" from.

Eames had nothing to do in the meantime. She paced, ate a snack, watched some TV, read an old file, and wrote in her journal. 'He'll never come back to me. Things will never be the same again.' –she thought. She shook her head to get all the negativity out of her head. She needed to trust that he'd be back. Just then, her cell phone rang from somewhere in her apartment. Eames jumped suddenly at the sound and then ran for it. She dug through her coat pocket and found it at the bottom. Calming herself she answered it, hoping in her heart that it was Bobby on the other end.

"Hello?" –She managed to get out in a croak.

"Alex." –Without a doubt, it was the one and only Bobby Goren.

"Oh my God."

"Is this a bad time?"

"Of course not." –Eames's heart dropped. The voice sounded like him…but it wasn't him.

"I've missed you."

"I've missed you too."

"I need to tell you everything."

"I want to hear it."

"I'm coming home."

"When?" –She tried to keep calm but her voice betrayed her.

"Soon."

"Soon? Soon is not enough of a measurement, Damn it!"

"You're angry." –He sounded a little wounded by her reaction.

"No, Bobby. I just wish you'd come home right now."

"Don't worry. But Alex, I need you to be ready to listen the moment I get through the door. I have quite a story to tell."

"I'll be ready."

"How's everyone."

"Mostly thinking you're dead…or that you have a sick sense of humor. Deakins and Carver are skeptical."

"If I were in their position, I would be too."

"Come back."

"I will."

"Bye, Bobby."

"Bye, Alex."

They hung up at the same moment. Eames held the phone for awhile, thinking. The conversation had no point except to verify that he was still alive. He sounded a little…different. His words seemed too formal and forced. She sighed and made her way to bed.

Part 3: Too Close

Major Case Squad

Captain Deakins's office

Deakins tapped his fingers on his blotter. "He called you?"

"Yes, sir." –Eames replied as she sat up straighter in her chair.

"What did he say?"

"Not much. It seemed a little weird."

"Why is that?"

"He seemed changed."

"Maybe he is. I don't think he'll be the same man we all knew. Especially since he was dead and then disappeared to God knows where."

Eames said nothing. She was suddenly concerned that their relationship, professional and personal, would be completely different from what it once was. 'Great, now you've done it, Alex. You've gotten too close. You're too attached to him now that you won't be able to let the man go when he gets back. The old Goren is probably never coming back.'-Eames thought. At this she began to cry softly. Deakins, being the man he was, went around his desk to comfort her with a hug. He may not know what she was thinking, but he could guess it had something to do with Goren.

Part 4: Found

Alex Eames's apartment

Eames played with the baby in her crib. "You know, you have your father's eyes." –she whispered, "I never noticed that before."

Eames picked the baby up carried her to the kitchen. "We're going to get some milk, okay? You'll love it, very gourmet…straight from a sophisticated cow probably named Bessie." She went into the refrigerator and pulled out a bottle. Then, she stuck the bottle in the microwave to make it warm.

A knock came at the door. She answered it. It was Deakins, looking very worried.

"Sir? What is it?"

"They found him."

"Who?"

"They found Goren."

"Is he okay?"

"Yes. He's just a little disoriented."

"Where is he?"

"At the office. He only wants to talk to you."

"I can't right now. I have to feed the baby and then change her. Then I…"

"No time, Eames. You need to talk to him now."

"All right. I need someone to watch her while I…"

"I'll do it."

"Really, sir?"

"I'm her "uncle", right?"

"Yes. Thank you."

"Go."

Eames smiled to Deakins as she let him take the baby. Bobby and her were going to be reunited at last.

Part 5: Shivering

Major Case Squad Office

Questioning room

Goren sat at the table. 'Wrong side, Bobby. Aren't you supposed to be asking the questions?' –he thought. He hoped Eames would get here soon. He needed to confide in someone quickly…he felt as if he were going to pop. Then, he saw her. She looked as beautiful as the last time he had seen her. She was wearing an old ABBA T-shirt, tight jeans, and sneakers. The "at home" looked good on her. A little too good, he thought, as he restrained himself from listening to his pants which were telling him to take her right then and there. He shook his head waited for her to say something. He had been dreaming of her every night since he had been away…the wait was unbearable, though only a few seconds long.

"Bobby. Are you all right?" –She asked.

"I'm fine. I want to tell you everything."

"I'm listening."

And he poured out his soul. He told her about how the unknown assailant attacked him. Then about when he had died physically and his spirit had left behind his body. He had watched the funeral and he had spent his days wandering and watching over her. And suddenly, life was given back to him by technicality. He wasn't supposed to be dead…not for a long time. He was supposed to stay with Eames on Earth and be her "living guardian angel". God or fate brought him back to Earth a few weeks ago and he had been trying to get back to New York ever since.

Eames listened to the almost unbelievable story in silence. She didn't know what to make of it. It seemed more "out there" than any of the X-Files episodes she had ever seen. She suddenly wished that this were some sort of elaborate hoax or a weird life-like dream. When he was finished and somewhat satisfied with it, he looked into her eyes for something. She returned his gaze and then realized that he was shivering violently.

"Bobby…"

"Alex, there's something wrong with me."

"What are you talking about?"

"I…" –Was all that he could make out before he fell out of the chair, unconscious.

Eames screamed for help and jumped out of her seat to check if he were all right. He was breathing and had a pulse…but something did seem wrong. Before she could speculate, other detectives rushed in with paramedics. They tended to Goren and rushed to bring him to the nearest hospital. Eames said she'd follow soon. She walked to her desk, plopped down in her chair, and sighed heavily. Goren was alive and "home"…why didn't she feel something? Eames suddenly noticed an envelope on her blotter. It was in Goren's handwriting and addressed to her. She picked it up, shocked.

To be continued…

Goren's home but, now there's other weird things going on. Is he behind it all? Or is someone else taking over? And, does his crazy story have some basis?

Stay tuned for the next installment of "Journal of Robert Goren"!

Don't forget to Review!