Brother's Keeper: Chapter 7
By: The Confused One
A/N: Finally, chapter 7 is ready. Sorry it took so long. I promise updates will come quicker from here on for all of my stories. I've had a hard time writing the last few weeks, but I'm getting back into my groove. Special thanks, as always, goes to InfinityStar for her beta job. Please enjoy the chapter, and don't hate me too much. Remember to review. Thanks.
Alex focused on the soothing sound of the birds in the trees, as she approached. She had to do this. Alex kneeled in front of Shane's grave. Taking a ragged breath, she traced his name with her finger. She needed to talk to someone. She needed to get thoughts in order, and she needed someone to just listen. She needed to just ramble. She knew the best place to do that was with Shane. After a moment, she finally spoke softly, "Hi. I know I don't visit as often as I once did, and I'm sorry about that. I guess you know it's because of Bobby. Moving to Major case…and working with him helped me start living again. God, it took two years before that happened. I know I've told you about Bobby before, so I'm having a hard time wrapping my head around the idea that you met him. I wonder what you would have said about him after the raid if you had gotten the chance. God, I hope you understand. I hope you saw…some of what I see everyday. Bobby is good to me, Shane. I love him. I know that's what you'd want for me, and I can't…I'm wondering…did you help bring him to me? I'm really struggling here. I'm not sure what to say to him right now. I don't know how to make this right. After last night, I don't know how to make him understand anything, when I'm still trying to process all of this myself. How do I make him understand it wasn't his fault? I can't blame him. I can't even blame David. You…were doing your job, and damn it, you always went for the most dangerous assignments you could find. You had to be tougher than everyone else. I need to go to the hospital right now. I need to talk to Bobby. I need to see him, but I need your help. Just…help me find the words."
Getting up, she wiped away a couple of tears. She had hoped visiting him would help clear her mind and give her strength. She decided it had done neither. Walking away, she whispered, "I miss you."
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Bobby sighed as he finished his coffee. He already knew it was going to be an incredibly long day. He dreaded going to 1PP. He had visions of Alex telling him she was requesting a new partner. He wouldn't blame her. He would never believe it wasn't his fault. He had taken those men, including Shane, into the raid. He was the one who had put them into danger. He was the one who put Shane into danger, and he knew if anyone ever put Alex into danger like that, he'd kill them. No, he wouldn't blame her if she went running for the hills and never wanted to see him again. Despite that, he clung to the hope that he could convince her to stay, but first, he had to check on David. He imagined it would be a tad less harrowing.
Grabbing his things, he opened the door, only to get punched in the face. Stumbling slightly, he was grabbed by two men and lead back inside. His portfolio, phone, gun, keys, and coat were quickly kicked aside. Bobby quickly tried to wrench himself free and received a quick punch to the gut for his effort. Joey followed the men inside and closed the door. Stripping Bobby of his suit jacket, Joey announced, "I think it's time for the two of us to start talking about how you're going to pay your big brother's debt."
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Getting directions to David's room, Alex hoped Bobby was there. She tentatively walked into David's room. She was surprised to see David awake and even more surprised to not see Bobby. Alex tried to be pleasant, "Hi."
David watched her and answered her unspoken question. "He hasn't been by."
Relieved that she hadn't missed Bobby, Alex nodded slightly. Sitting down, she tried to assure him, "He was worried. He'll be here."
David ignored her assurance. He changed the subject, "I should…thank you. You saved my life."
Bristling slightly, Alex wrote it off, "So I've been told."
David, worried about Bobby, continued, "Just…make sure you take care of Bobby…like that. He doesn't know…the whole story, and I can tell. You care about my brother. You're…good for him, to him. I…do love him. You have to…protect him. I…screwed up. Kane knows his name."
Confused, Alex demanded, "What?"
Getting agitated, David's voice got weaker and he tried to explain further, "I really messed up. I was afraid…to tell Bobby everything. I only…owed thirty gs. I was…trying to get Kane to…back off. I promised to double it. Told him I'd get it…from my brother. He followed me…when I talked to Bobby yesterday. That's why he attacked me. I…I told him Bobby's name. He knows he's a cop."
Alex was suddenly on her feet, horrified. A knot was forming in the pit of her stomach. She lashed out at David, "The idea that you give a damn about Bobby is a joke! You've put him in the middle of this, and you didn't even bother to tell him! How could you? How could you do that to him?"
Tears began to come down his face. His agitation was completely visible now. He begged, "I'm sorry. Tell him I'm sorry. I'm really sorry. Keep him safe."
Panic was beginning to set in. Alex knew Bobby should have and would have been at the hospital by then. Something was wrong. Ignoring David, Alex took off out the door. She had to find him. Walking out the door, she pressed three on her cell phone.
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Tied up with a bloody nose, Bobby fumed. He ignored the phone as he bitterly insisted again, "I told you. I don't have that kind of money. I've never had that kind of money."
Throwing a look at the phone, Joey bent down and got into Bobby's face. He demanded, "Then why would big brother say he was getting the money from you?"
Glaring at Joey, Bobby's heart skipped a beat when he heard Alex's voice on the answering machine, "Bobby, I have to talk to you. If you're ignoring me, please don't. Pick up the phone, Bobby. Damn it. Fine. I'm going to try your cell."
Joey, intrigued, stood up straight again. He asked, "The girl from yesterday. What's her name? She sounds like she's close to you. What does she know about your finances?"
Bobby could hear the worry in her voice. He knew she knew something. She knew something was wrong. Now he was worried, too. He was desperate to keep her out of this. He hoped she didn't show up there. Trying to protect her, Bobby was glad Alex wasn't in the room. She'd hit him herself. Biting the bullet, he stubbornly argued, "Her? Please. She's a pest. I fucked her once, and now she's following me around like a lost puppy."
Joey gave him a sadistic smile. He pushed, "Her name?"
Bobby shrugged. He met Joey's eyes and replied, "I don't remember."
John Gibble hit Bobby in the face, again. More blood began to spill from his lip. Looking at Joey, he explained, "He's lying."
Joey nodded. He already knew that. Bending down again, Joey met Bobby's eyes. Bobby's cell phone ringing interrupted him. Curious, Joey looked at Chris Johnson, who handed him the phone. Seeing the name, Eames, Joey met his eyes again and asked, "This her?"
Bobby swallowed hard. He replied, "No. That's a friend."
Chris's hand instantly connected with his face again. He was getting tired of Bobby. Looking at Joey, he whined, "We should just cut our losses and get rid of this guy. He's getting on my nerves."
Bobby decided that with a little encouragement he could maybe get them to leave. He reminded them, "You three do remember that murdering a cop will get you a needle in the arm, right?"
Hitting Bobby again, Chris heard something crack. He smiled evilly. He gleefully announced, "I think we broke something."
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Alex turned her siren on and raced to Bobby's. She stopped short of calling anything in, yet. On the off chance that she was wrong, she didn't want to look like an idiot. She knew something was wrong, though. She just knew. She could feel it. The sick feeling that something terrible had already happened wouldn't leave her. Grabbing her phone again, she pressed two and waited.
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Hearing Bobby's cell phone ringing, Chris taunted, "We could answer that. We could find out who she is for ourselves."
Bobby refused to be baited. He just glared before shrugging. He was fairly sure his jaw was now broken and the pain was beginning to become impossible to hide. A drop of blood dripped past his eye from his eyebrow. He turned the tables on Chris, "Go ahead. I couldn't care less. I told you. She was a good fuck."
Before Chris could hit Bobby again, Joey put his hand on Chris' shoulder. Getting in Bobby's face again, he warned, "We're going to leave and give you a chance to get the money together. We'll be back sometime in the next week. You better have the money ready by then, or I can't guarantee what might happen."
Grabbing Bobby's gun from the things they had confiscated from him, John ordered, "You heard the boss, man. Untie him."
Bitter, Chris untied Bobby. He already decided he hated Bobby, and he wasn't happy, but knew better than to disobey orders. Backing away, Chris warned, "Count to one hundred before you even dare move."
Bobby dared to move anyway. He went for John, who had the gun. Chris immediately got in his way. Chris punched Bobby hard, causing him to stumble backwards unprepared for the contact. He fell through his glass coffee table and didn't move.