Safest Place to Hide

Chapter 3

Worries

The statements took the rest of the afternoon as well as the beginning of the calls they had to make to track down alibis. The Moss women were clear but the father's alibi was sketchy at best. However, Alex and Bobby saw he was standing by his words. It wasn't worth holding him until they had the forensic evidence to back it up.

Thus, Deakins had directed them to go home for the night. Half way to his apartment, Alex pulled off the highway wrinkling her nose in remembrance. Bobby saw the movement.

"What?"

"We need to go shopping," she reminded him. He wondered why she was so bend on shopping with him but managed to curb his curiosity.

At least until they picked up the cart. Alex patiently explained that if she was going to stay with him, she could at least find some way to earn her keep. It was going to start with a half-decently healthy meal. When he'd tried to protest, Alex had pointed out that it was always better to cook for two rather than just one. So they worked their way systematically through the aisles of the supermarket, pulling things off of the shelves for various breakfasts and dinners including Alex's chocolate. Bobby had only smiled as she wandered back to the cart with a package of chocolate chips in her grasp.

It turned out to be a rather domestic trip and one that was much more enjoyable than either had originally thought. They had the same "shopping style" when it came to the way they went about getting everything they needed – one end of the store to the other – and similar tastes in foods.

Finally, Alex deemed it time to leave. The woman that rang up their purchases, an elderly woman, smiled kindly as she worked. Alex and Bobby walked away with a distinct feeling that the woman thought they were more than just friends and colleagues. To her surprise, Alex found herself wishing it was true, especially when Bobby's hand went to her back.

Once back at his apartment, Alex unloaded only enough to begin dinner, leaving the rest on the table. Bobby watched from the door as she went about cooking. She stopped for a moment to meet his gaze.

"You don't have to stand there you know. I don't mean to ruin your routine." He couldn't help the smile that her words brought to his face.

You already have, he thought to himself, but he couldn't find it in himself to actually care. She looked at home in his kitchen. Unbidden, his thoughts took a turn towards the woman currently cooking dinner as he went to change out of his suit. She looked incredibly comfortable in his space and he'd had a hard time getting the image of Alex in his bed out of his mind. He wandered back into the kitchen, taking over for Alex while she changed.

I was easy to fall into such a domestic relationship with his partner. It wasn't the first time she'd been over, it was actually a fairly normal occurrence. Her hand on his shook him out of his thoughts as she gently extracted his wooden spatula from his grip. She smiled as he took a seat at the table and couldn't curb the impulse to play up their domesticity.

"So honey, how was your day?" The question took Bobby by surprise and Alex laughed at the look on his face. On his end, he wondered why she'd asked. After all, it wasn't as if she didn't spend her entire day with him, but he played along anyway.

"Not as stressful as usual, but my partner and I managed to uncover a few interesting developments in our case. It should make for a fascinating next couple of weeks. How was your day, sweetheart?" Alex couldn't hold in a giggle. Turnabout was fair play and she'd started it.

"Much the same, though my partner got a little too wrapped up in the case. It's actually no problem but he tends to forget to take care of himself, especially his stomach." Her words were said with a smile to soften the sting. He looked guiltily at the table top knowing she was completely right. Thank goodness for Alexandra Eames.

The exact woman he was thinking about laughed as she watched him. Something warm sparked in his heart at his partner's obvious comfort and knowledge of his space and of him.

"Looks delicious, Alex," he complimented as she set a bowl on the table between them. He ate carefully, chewing thoughtfully as Alex watched apprehensively.

"Fantastic," Bobby said in praise, meaning it from the bottom of his heart. Contrary to popular belief, Alex was a fantastic cook, a skill she proved to him constantly. She blushed lightly and turned back to eating though with a smug smile on her lips. He couldn't help but chuckle at her obvious self-appreciation. Her eyes met his with amusement, even if her face showed annoyance. Her next words weren't a surprise.

"Shut up."

The eyes followed her as she ran. She couldn't get away from the eyes. The door she was running towards opened and she breathed out a sigh of relief. However, her apartment – or what she assumed was supposed to be her apartment since she'd recognized the door as hers – wasn't as safe as she'd thought. It was as clean and neat as it usually was but it still felt like someone was watching her. Sure enough, a hand grasped her around her neck and waist, holding her no matter how hard she struggled.

"Alex…" The voice was distant and the gun was pointed at her head.

"No!" Alex pleaded as the arm around her throat tightened. "Please no!"

She couldn't understand why she was so scared, so helpless, and didn't know where her heart of a cop had disappeared to in her time of need. She was a scared, shivering mass, cowering away from the gun and the arms around her. She was shaking horribly, rocking back and forth, and her knees felt like rubber. She could hear the safety on the gun being cocked and she began to sob in earnest.

"Alex!" This time the voice was closer and louder, and a little bit familiar.

"Please," she choked out in tears, "don't shoot me." The gun went off. Alex screamed… and woke up with tears streaming down her face.

It took her a few minutes to remember where she was and what had happened. She looked around as best she could through the tears and found her partner sitting beside her. Instinctively, she threw herself at him, wrapping her arms in a death grip around his chest. His arms cradled her body gently, pulling her into his lap. The words he whispered were just as incoherent as they'd been the previous night but neither particularly cared.

Alex's scream had shaken Bobby to the core. The pure horror in the sound turned his blood to ice and had him rocketing into his bedroom where he'd insisted Alex sleep. He found her tossing and turning, but didn't move from the door. Now, she clung to him like he was her only safe haven, the warm cocoon of his arms the sturdiest of castle walls. He was humbled by the trust she put in him.

Alex felt Bobby settle them against the pillows, pulling blankets around them and adjusting her so she lay at his side, the same way as the night before. Finally, knowing she was safe and unconditionally protected, Alex drifted off to sleep.

Bobby was the first to wake up the next morning, much to his surprise. As gently as he could he slid out of bed, leaving Alex to sleep. In all honesty, it scared him how shaken Alex was over this obvious nightmare. It pushed him to want to get this case over with much faster than they were.

He made it out of the shower before Alex woke up, pleased to see she was sleeping peacefully. She'd rolled into the spot he'd vacated and buried her head in his pillow. He grinned at the innocent picture she made, and watched her for a little while longer. Then, knowing Alex would be out of bed quickly if she smelled the brew, went to put on coffee and start breakfast.

Alex woke up to the smell of coffee. She stretched in the spot, smelling her partner. She took her time getting out of bed. Her head hurt, painfully, but she managed to pull herself out of her partner's bed and stumble into the kitchen. Bobby was already pouring two mugs of coffee. If she looked like hell, he didn't comment on it. Instead, he handed her a gently steaming mug.

"Good morning, and thank you," she said quietly.

"No problem," He paused. Alex braced herself for his inevitable questions or great "I'm-sorry-but-I'm-losing-sleep-by-staying-up-with-you-after-a-nightmare"…

"Alex?" She realized she'd missed the question. He was around her face her, setting his mug on the counter.

"Are you okay?" Her face contorted in confusion.

"What?"

"Two nights where you woke up in tears, Alex."

"It's just a nightmare, Bobby. I'll go stay with my parents if it's a problem."

"No!" His immediate response shocked both of them in its enthusiasm. "It's not necessary." Alex sighed, not particularly wanting to fight with him.

"It'll pass, Bobby," she assured, brushing past him and setting her own mug by his. Bobby sighed as she left to have a shower. He hadn't wanted to put her on the defensive, and definitely hadn't wanted her to think he wanted him to leave. He was worried about her and this nightmare's effect. He'd always had a hard time discussing his feelings, especially when it had to do with his partner. He had this habit of treading on eggshells with Alex to make sure she stayed. He valued her input, her opinions and her ability to balance him completely. She fended off rumours, protected his reputation and grounded him. He wasn't prepared to lose that.

Bobby hadn't realized how deep into his thoughts he was until Alex settled a hand on his arm. She smiled in apology to her previous comments.

"Come on. We'll stop somewhere on the way."