My goodness! It sure has been awhile. To be honest with y'all, I had forgotten that I was even writing this fanfic. But here's chapter 4 now.

Disclaimer: I don't own any of these characters.

Bobby Goren was dizzy. He was dizzy, and sick and tired all at once. And while he hadn't exactly enjoyed being shot, he would not have minded at the moment falling back into his coma if it would have meant an escape from this awful nausea he was feeling.

Overhead, he could hear voices. Somebody, a man, was speaking slowly in deep bass tones. Every so often, Bobby would hear the voice stop and a smaller voice, a woman's, would speak, her tones often questioning. After what seemed an eternity, Bobby heard the door to his room swing open and soft footsteps making their way towards him. Opening his eyes, he groggily looked up into several faces, some familiar, others not. But there was one that stood out, shining more brightly and looking more beautiful than any other face. As it came closer to him, Bobby could see the unshed tears in her eyes, and it only worsened the pain he was already feeling.

Nonetheless, he was overjoyed at seeing Alex, and when she enfolded him in a relieved and happy hug, he wished that she would never let go. Bobby could feel her warm breath on his neck and the determined tears that had finally worked their way free of her eyes. Weakly, he brought his arm up around her, feeling her warm body and strong muscled back, and he was glad that she was real.

"I missed you." He heard her whisper.

Bobby sighed and smiled, closing his eyes. "I missed you too, Alex."

After another moment, his partner pulled away and he reluctantly released her. When he looked at Alex, again she was smiling and he noticed that she had not let go of his hand. Bobby looked over at the other three people in the room then. Deakins was back, as was the female doctor who had been in the room that morning when he had woken up. There was also another doctor, a man that Bobby didn't recognize. He had a pleasant face, although it had the appearance of many years of hard living. He introduced himself, and Bobby identified him as the owner of the bass voice he had heard earlier.

"Hello Mr.Goren. I'm Dr.Keyworth. I was your thoracic surgeon last week. How are you feeling?"

Bobby feebly cleared his throat before speaking. "Not too bad considering." His voice was only a little more than a hoarse whisper, and a week of not talking had made his throat sore. "Although I imagine that I've been pumped to the max with drugs, so…" He felt Alex squeeze his hand and smiled.

"That's true enough Mr. Goren. Anyway, this lovely lady here is Dr.Rann."he said, introducing the other doctor.

Bobby nodded at her, trying again to smile. His back was absolutely killing him, and if somebody didn't put out the fire on his chest, he thought he might scream. But looking over at Alex again, he felt his pain ease in a way. Her presence alone was more comforting than any painkiller would have been.

He knew that Dr.Rann was speaking to him, and he knew he was being horribly rude, but her droning voice and Alex's soft, cool hand were dreadfully calming. Nodding slowly as though he were listening to the doctor, Bobby's eyes gradually began to ease close. After a moment or two, the voice stopped, and he heard Dr.Rann quietly ask if he had fallen asleep. Deakins chuckled, and Dr.Keyworth asked him if he would care to continue speaking outside.

Footsteps shuffled slowly away from Bobby's bed this time, and he heard the door swing open.

"Alex, are you coming?" Deakins asked.

Bobby felt her body shift slightly as she turned to face her boss. "No. I'm going to stay with Bobby."

Deakins nodded, and the door closed softly behind him, leaving Alex alone with Bobby.

TBC?

I don't know people…What do you think? I really don't know where the frack this thing is headed. R&R. All suggestions are more than welcome.