One more or so chapter should wrap this up ... I almost forgot about it! Disclaimer as usual. Also, Nurse Ratched belongs to the creators of, One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest. Thanks for coming inside!

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CHAPTER 24

There Are No Small Parts, Only Small Actors

Bobby was back in his ICU room after the recovery room and he could feel a hand on his arm. Still very weak and sleepy, he smiled at the feel of Alex's soft touch.

"Hi baby." His eyes were barely even a slit and getting those two little words out were a strain.

"Hi lover, welcome back to reality."

His eyes shot open … that wasn't his Alex's voice.

"Jim! What the fuck?"

"Sorry Detective, he turned his head to left, where he could just make out Nurse Cloe. Your brother insisted on being by your side when you woke up."

He looked back toward Jim. "You're my brother now?"

Jim leaned in. "I have an audition tomorrow for a soap. I would be the troubled brother to a Priest, it's a small part but it could turn into a regular gig. I only have sisters so, I thought if I could get past Nurse Ratched … it would be good practice."

"Oh no you didn't just call me Nurse Ratched … I saw Cuckoo's Nest you know!"

Bobby had a pain killer drug induced smile on his face. "You better run Jim!"

"He needs his rest and now I know your not his brother so don't let me see you back here!"

"Hey, I am so his brother … from another mother."

"Detective, where do you find these people?"

Two floors up, Alex and her father were sitting by Jack's side trying to keep him calm.

"How's Bobby, how's Maria … is the baby alright … does Annie know what I did? Alex, Dad … I'm so sorry , I , I embarrassed everyone. Did Scoop get in trouble because of me? What the fuck did I do to my life?"

"Son, just concentrate on feeling better right now. You'll have time to make things up to Annie and everyone else once you feel better."

"Lexie, you look so mad … I'm really sorry sis."

"You should be! Because of you, Bobby is fighting for his life right now because Jake shot him! All because you couldn't keep it in your pants. I hope Annie cuts the fuckin thing off!" With that, Alex stormed out of his room leaving him feeling like he was just kicked in the stomach.

Jack looked over at his namesake and then hung his head in shame. John went to his side and placed a fatherly hand on his shoulder.

"You're her brother and she loves you. You scared us, you had us all worried but you're okay. The man she loves has been rushed into surgery twice now and he's in ICU … she needed to blow off some steam, I'm sorry that it was directed at you."

"No Dad, she had every right … it's all my fault. Wait, man she loves? … how long have I been gone?"

She hit the elevator button to go see Bobby … she was crying … partly out of relief from finally finding her brother and partly because she was pissed off at him for causing Bobby so much pain and aggravation.

As she was walking in his room, she heard him ask Cloe were she was.

"I'm right here Bobby." She rushed to his side so he wouldn't have to strain to see her.

A feeling of relief overwhelmed him. He couldn't understand why he woke up to Jim and not her. It exhausted him, he closed his eyes and a tear escaped. She let her fingers lace through his hair and he sighed deeply. She placed a small kiss on his lips and whispered what he wanted to hear her say.

"I'm right here, I love you and I'm not leaving."

Barely audible, "Okay." He fell back asleep.

"I think he's been waiting for you Detective, I'm glad you're here. See these numbers, Cloe points to his vital signs on the monitors, they all go down when you're with him … that's a good thing."

"How did the surgery go?"

"Very well but he's been through a lot the past few days, his body is tired. No more visits from his brother, okay?"

"Excuse me, his brother?"

"Yes, his brother was here just a little while ago."

"Lewis or Jim?"

"Jim and he called me Nurse Ratched."

Eames started to laugh. "Sorry, Cloe …"If Mr. McMurphy doesn't want to take his medication orally, I'm sure we can arrange that he can have it some other way. But I don't think that he would like it." Now, they both started to laugh. Oh boy … I needed that!"

"Me too Detective … and I didn't think police officers had a sense of humor."

"Bobby's really funny once you get to know him."

"You love him a lot, don't you Detective."

"Yeah, God help me, I do and could you please call me Alex?"

"Hey!"

Cloe and Alex turn to look at Bobby.

"I must be crazy to be in a loony bin like this."

"Why would you say that Bobby?"

"It's a line from the Cuckoo's Nest."

"See Cloe, even after surgery he can be funny."

"Well look at you, awake and alert, a matching set. I was just getting ready to change your IV nutritional needs for the night. Pastrami or Corn Beef flavored?"

"I was kind of in the mood for Veal Parm."

"Yum, Veal Parm it is. Coming right up Detective."

"Hey, that wasn't an option."

"He's special Alex, if he wants liquefied Veal, then, he gets liquefied Veal!"

"Ya know, when you put it that way, lets just call it that light brown crap that goes directly into my stomach that I can't taste at all, okay?"

The Doctor walks into Bobby's room.

"Wow, didn't I just fix a tear in your resection?"

"I told you he would try you patience Doc."

"No, not at all. He's going to recover quickly. Detective, it was nothing that you did. There was a tiny hole caused by some shrapnel that we didn't pick up in the first operation. It worked it's way up and caused the tear. We are certain that we've gotten everything now. You should be out of here in no time."

"I will be able to eat again though, right Doc."

"Yes, I predict the real veal in about a month. It will be a liquid type diet for a little while but I do see solid foods in your near future. Not Thanksgiving but definitely Christmas … well maybe closer to New Years but the most important thing is, you have a future."

"Right, thank you Doc … for everything."

"Alright you two, I'm going to leave you alone for a little bit but, he needs his rest so, not too long."

"Okay Cloe, thanks. Alex turns to Bobby and gives him the smile that she reserves only for him. We found Jack, he's okay … for now."

"The old man had him. He came here and told me."

"Yeah but, Jack must have gotten away from him. I don't know what happen exactly. My dad is with him and Annie is on her way."

"You should go and be with your family Eames."

"What part of, I love you Bobby, don't you get?

"Honestly? All of it."

Bobby manages to cross his arms over his chest and cross his ankles and begins to stare at the ceiling of his hospital room.

"Are you not thinking again!?"

"Oh, I'm thinking! and there's the Goren smirk, he looks over at Alex, About how much I love my Partner!"

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Next: Put Richard behind bars and Jack's in hot water. Thanks for reading, please hit that review button ... pretty please:) ... Judeey **please note** quotes from One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest, are bold and underlined.