Chapter 3

They were all convened in the captain's office at One Police Plaza. The only one still in their clothes of the day was Bobby. Everyone else had gone on to their after work activities and when the call went out, they came as they were.

Bobby updated them on his meeting with Nicole, and her allusions to his sullied reputation. That, along with the evidence that, as Alex had noted earlier in the day, miraculously cleared Croyden, made it clear to them that Nicole had orchestrated the whole debacle. Bobby put it all together for them, laying the puzzle pieces out one by one, showing the house of cards that Nicole had lain out to trap him. And he had walked right into it. His disgust with himself rolled off of him in waves. He started to shuffle out the door while Carter was still talking. It was like he simply stopped hearing.

Alex looked at the two men in the room, shrugged her shoulders, and followed Bobby out. This was one of those times he might close her off completely, or he might need her more than ever. She couldn't tell which it would be, but she wasn't leaving him alone to deal with this on his own. She slowly walked towards the interrogation room where she could see Bobby holding himself up against the mirror.

He felt her presence before he saw her. He knew she would come. He needed her to come.

"She got me. She used a man she knew I wouldn't trust, a man like my father. She got me good," he almost sobbed the last words.

Alex moved closer to him. "Well then, let's get her back." Her confidence helped bolster his somewhat. He took a deep breath and leaned against the glass, his forehead pressed against the coolness of the mirror. She moved behind him, gingerly touching his back, not sure if he would accept her touch or not. His pain spread out from him, filling the room, her cool touch and the coolness of the mirror on his forehead allowing him to reign in his emotions.

"When did you last eat?" Alex asked, knowing he hadn't had anything all day. "Come with me." She took his hand and led him away with her. He needed her strength and care now, to dampen down the intensity that threatened to consume him from the inside out.

As they walked past the captain's office, she nodded to them briefly. "We'll be in early to get started on this. Right now, we need to eat and rest. See you tomorrow." Her tone left no room for either man to object, although both noticed her holding Bobby's hand and leading him away, whispering to him as they left.

She drove the SUV to her apartment. When she parked and started to open the door, it startled Bobby out of his stupor. "Why are we here, Alex?" he asked surprised. He had been completely oblivious to the current situation, instead replaying what could have been done differently and what their next steps should be. His actual current situation was of little regard to him and he was not paying attention.

"I'm going to feed you and make sure you sleep," she said with the authority of a woman who is not to be messed with. "You are no good to us at all and a danger to yourself if you aren't rested and well enough to confront Nicole. She gets to you every time Bobby. This time, we are going to get her. But you have to be at the top of your game to do it. I can't do it alone." She walked around to his side of the car and opened the door. "Bobby, I will drag you up the stairs if I have to."

Bobby started to laugh slightly. "And just how are you going to do that, Alex?" She was glad to see him show some humor after the long day.

"Believe me Goren, if you piss me off enough, I'll drag your sorry ass up the stairs. Move it."

"Yes, ma'am," Bobby pulled his tired body out of the SUV and followed Alex up the stairs to her apartment.

TBC