Chapter 5
Alex jerked St. John the rest of the way up by his collar and stood eye ball to eyeball with him. "You're going down for a long, long time."
He clenched his fist and Bobby was out of the observation room and on his way to the interrogation room. When he opened the door, St. John was huddled in the floor holding his crotch. "Police brutality…" He barely gasped.
"I didn't see a thing." Bobby said to him as he turned Alex to face him. "You okay?"
"I'm fine." She brushed past him. "I'm done here."
Bobby motioned for the uniforms stationed outside to get St. John. "He may need an ice pack." They looked questioningly at him. "I don't know what's wrong with him. He's holding himself. He looks like he's in pain."
Alex smirked at Bobby. "You don't have to cover for me."
"I'm not. I wasn't there so I can't say you did anything." He took her elbow and led her toward the elevators. "Now…I'm taking you home." He pushed the down button. "And I'm staying with you."
Alex looked over at him. "It's not necessary, Bobby. I'm okay. Lydia's killer is behind bars. I can sleep now. Thank you for helping me. For getting him off of me before he…before he…" And her façade crumbled. She nearly collapsed on the elevator floor as her sobs wrenched her body.
Bobby caught her and held her. "I'm not leaving you alone, Alex…I promise." He cradled her in his arms and the parking garage doors slid open. He found his SUV and set her in the passenger seat. "Comfortable?"
"Yeah. Thanks." She whispered as her crying quieted.
He brushed hair back from her face. "You hungry?"
"No…I just want to take a shower." She said as she wrapped her arms around herself.
"But you…" He closed his mouth. He knew she'd already taken one, but he also understood that she still could feel him on her skin, taste him, smell him. He shuddered when he thought of what she'd almost went through. "Okay. I'll get you there as soon as I can."
"Traffics not bad this time of night. We should be there soon." She said as he closed her door. She tried to wipe away the memories of St. John.
They drove in silence and Bobby glanced at Alex every so often. Seeing her this way broke his heart. He reached for her hand. She stiffened but only for a second. She grasped his fingers tightly in hers.
They were outside her apartment for several minutes before she realized it. "Sorry…I'm in another world."
"It's okay, Alex." He squeezed her hand reassuringly.
"Thank you for driving me home." She said as she untangled her hand from his. "See you at work tomorrow."
He got out and met her on the sidewalk. "I told you…I'm staying with you. You shouldn't be alone."
"Bobby, I'm fine." She said clenching her fists.
He touched her cheek. "You're not." He looked deep into her eyes. "And that's okay."
She moved into his touch. "I feel like I'm falling apart."
"Let me catch you." He whispered into the night as she moved into his arms and wrapped her arms tightly around him.