DISCLAIMER: MR. WOLF STILL HASN'T GIVEN ME BOBBY ... DANG IT!

I HAVE NO CLAIM TO L&O CI

CHAPTER 19 ... ONLY BECAUSE I DIDN'T FEEL LIKE WORKING TONIGHT (I HOPE IT'S OKAY!)

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A Long Road To Recovery … In More Ways Than One

The following morning, Eames anxiously awaits the ICU staff to finish their morning rounds. They check his vitals, ask him some questions and the Doctor answers some of his. The patient is already on the road to recovery. The only thing he, or shall I say person, he asks for, is his Partner, Detective Eames. Eames is pacing a rut in the hallway outside of his room, he can see her because the ICU rooms have glass wall enclosures … it makes him smile.

The Doctor leaves his side and gives Eames an update on his condition before she goes in to see him.

"Detective Eames, nice to see you this morning. My patient is asking for you."

"How is he Doctor?"

"He's doing remarkably well. He's uncomfortable but the pain medication will help if he would just push the button. He has IV nutrition right now due to the resection of his small intestines but as he heals we'll introduce liquids … broth first, then jello."

"How long will he be here?"

"About a week … maybe … we'll see. Then we can move him out to one of the floors."

"More than a week in the hospital!? No, no, no … he'll try you patience Doc … you'll end up kicking him out."

"Don't you worry … we can handle him."

"Okay, good luck with that."

The Doctor smiles and walks off to tend to his other patients. Eames turns to walk in to see Bobby and finds him staring at her. She gives him a hesitant smile and walks into the room.

"Hey, how do you feel?"

"Like I got shot … I did get shot this time … right?"

"Yes Bobby … you did."

He starts feeling around down near his groin area and finds what he's looking for.

"Oh thank God, he swipes the back of his hand along his brow, it's still there."

"Ya know, I cried all night over you and you're making jokes! Aren't you suppose to be sedated or something?"

He was in a lot of pain but it was clear to him that she was too and he was trying to spare her any more pain, he's already caused her enough. As foggy as his mind was, he thought of nothing but how to make up all of his indiscretions when it concerned Eames, whether it was mistakes made during their Partnership or more recently, their new found relationship. He survived a drug over dose and a bullet … it's not everyday you get a second chance at life, he figures he's on number five in total … he wasn't going to screw it up this time. Really … well … maybe.

He reached up and stroked her hair, he had a tear in his eye.

"Bobby, should I get the nurse."

"Only if you need her."

"Will you stop."

"I'm sorry. Alex, please don't spend another day crying over me … I'm fine."

"Yeah, you look it. Yum …Total parenteral nutrition … liquid food … yup … you're great."

"It's pastrami flavored."

Alex can't help but laugh, she was trying not to let him make her smile, she knew by his tone and his condition of course, that he was hurting. He, however, was trying so hard to entertain her. She didn't want to encourage him. He laughed when she finally did but that hurt him and caused him to push the button. In minutes he became very sleepy.

"Eames, we have to talk about Maria, she was laid by her father … no, paid by her … I'm tired."

"Bobby forget about …"

He cuts her off, tears are coming down and he is very sleepy now.

"His mother was like mine, Alex and I could have been like him."

He falls asleep from the pain meds and Alex is standing there with her mouth open. She knew from the day before that Jake was schizophrenic, she also knew, that alone was going to hit Bobby hard … this revelation was too close to home. They would have a lot more to deal with when he got out of the hospital. There was also the matter of being shot with his own gun. That never set well with the brass. IAB was going to have a field day with that, not to mention the fact that Alex wanted out of Major Case, she's had it with Ross and Moran playing Russian roulette with Bobby's life. She was done. When Captain Ross opens his e-mail, he would find her resignation … she cried for Bobby all night long and typed away through tears, she pressed send and cried herself to sleep.

As she watched Bobby sleep, all of these things whirled around in her head. She thought about all the years that they've wasted, not loving each other, but she scoffed at that thought … they had loved each other … they just never … well, they just never. He told her not to cry over him anymore but she started to cry … was it over him, for him, for her … she didn't know, she wanted to rewind the last few days and go back to their paint fight. If only life was that simple.

Her cell phone buzzes in her pocket and the caller ID reveals that her father is calling.

"Hey Dad."

"Lex … where are you? I called 1 PP, they said you called in."

"Bobby was shot, Dad. I was going to call you. He's in the ICU."

"Is he okay Lexie? I'll be right there."

"He's sleeping. He's going to be fine … we need to talk. I have to find Jack."

"That's why I was looking for you. Ann hasn't seen him in two days and he missed roll call … Jack's missing."

She looks over at Bobby, sighs heavily and is transformed into that tough cop, Detective Alexandra Eames, once again.

"Okay Dad, I'll be right there."

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WE STILL DO NOT KNOW WHERE JACK IS ... WELL ... I DO ... HOPE THIS CHAPTER WAS OKAY ... I HAVE THE SNIFFLES ;( THANKS FOR READING, PLEASE REVIEW ... YA KNOW I DIG UM ... JUDEEY