Brother's Keeper: Ch. 11

By: The Confused One

A/N: As promised, here's the next chapter. Please enjoy and remember to review. Thanks.

Walking towards David's room, Carolyn could still see the anger on Mike's face. Worried, she grabbed his arm. He turned to look at her questioningly. She quickly reminded him, "We need information from him. You can't go in there and start off angry. It'll make him defensive. Take it down a couple of notches."

With a nod, Mike took a deep breath. "I know. You're right. He just… This is Bobby he screwed over."

Carolyn nodded. She completely understood. "I know. Tell you what…you can yell at him a little bit after we get what we need from him."

Mike smiled. "You promise?"

Carolyn smiled in return. She started walking to the door again with Mike when two men walked out of David's room. It caused her to stop suddenly. Looking beside her, she realized Mike was already marching towards the two men. With a sigh, she followed.

Glaring at them, Mike reached them, and pulled out his badge. "Major Case. Detective Logan." Pointing to Carolyn, who had just reached his side, he continued, "Detective Barek. Who are you two?"

Pulling out his own badge, Dillan introduced them, "Detectives Mullen and Harrison."

Trying to avoid a scene, Ken took over. "We're investigating an assault on a Detective Goren. We were asking his brother some questions. Can I ask what you two are doing here?"

Mike continued to eye them carefully. He covered, "Goren is a friend of ours. So we stopped by to check on David for him, say hi, and see how he's doing."

Not quite believing Mike's story, Dillan piped up. "I don't suppose you two could tell us where we could find Detective Eames."

Arching his eyebrows, Mike asked, "What? You still think she could possibly have anything to do with this? Didn't David tell you what happened?"

Carolyn shot Mike a wary look. If he was going to act like an ass, she was going to play it up. "Logan, back off."

Refusing to let Ken get another word in, Dillan pushed, "Look, I'm not accusing Eames of anything. It's looking like she was right. Kane attacked both Goren brothers, but we still have a couple of questions for her."

Mike just stared at Dillan for a moment. He didn't trust this guy as far as he could throw him. "She's probably at home or at 1PP."

With a curt nod, Dillan replied, "Thanks."

With a sigh, Ken watched as Dillan walked away. He quickly followed after him. He really needed to rein his young partner in.

Carolyn sighed when Mike turned to look at her. Exasperated, she asked, "Why didn't you tell them where she really was?"

Opening the door, Mike announced, "Cause I don't trust Mullen."

With a nod, Carolyn couldn't argue with that. Following him inside the room, she locked eyes with a visibly agitated David. She introduced them, "David, hi. I'm Detective Barek, and this is my partner Detective Logan. We work with Bobby, and wanted to talk to you for a minute."

Watching her, David swallowed. With a nod, he sat up and softly asked, "Do you know how he is? The two detectives that just left didn't have much information on how he's doing."

Carolyn locked eyes with Mike for a moment. Relieved that he was letting her take the lead, she continued, "He's still…unconscious at the moment. The injuries were pretty bad."

Nodding again, David whispered, "I…I didn't want him hurt. I never meant to get Bobby hurt."

Nodding, Carolyn tried to be understanding. "We know that. We need to know what you know about Kane, starting with his first name."

Confused, David pointed to the door. He quickly asked, "I thought…they had the case? Mullen and…Harrison. Why are you asking?"

Mike finally spoke up from the corner. "Your little brother is a friend of ours. We want to make sure this is done right. We don't want anyone involved getting away. Do you?"

Closing his eyes, David answered, "Joseph…Joey. Joey Kane. He's a…collector for Alan Stryker out of Atlantic City. That's…who I owe the money to."

Carolyn watched David carefully. She finally asked, "We think Kane has at least one accomplice. Who would he send to work with Kane, David?"

Shaking his head, David sighed. He struggled with his voice. "I-I don't know. I owed him money. I didn't hang out with him."

Mike's irritation level peeked. "Listen to me, these guys almost killed your brother, a very good friend of mine. You put him in this position, so you're going to cooperate and be nice about it or I'm going to get nasty."

David swallowed hard. Meeting Mike's eyes, he quietly insisted, "I'm sorry. I'm telling you the truth though. I don't know who his people are. All I know is Stryker and Kane."

With a sigh, Mike looked at Carolyn. "We're wasting our time." When she nodded and stood up, Mike turned his attention back to David. "As for you, I don't want to hear that you've been near Bobby again. If I were you, when this is over, I'd leave the city, and stay away. Forget you even have a brother or a mother."

Mike could feel Carolyn's eyes on him as they left the room. He cryptically explained, "I don't like it when friends of mine nearly get beaten to death."

Carolyn nodded. She tried to assure him, "We'll find Kane and his guys."

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Lewis had understandably made his way out of the room so they could talk, and Deakins had assured Alex that nothing was going to happen to their partnership. Relieved, Alex had taken her seat back at Bobby's side. Holding his hand again, she found herself completely forgetting Deakins was behind her. She was lost in thought about Bobby. It was Deakins shifting in his seat behind her that brought her out of her thoughts. She could feel him watching her, again. A small smile tugged at her lips. "If you figure out exactly when it happened, let me know. I can't even put my finger on it. It just happened. Snuck up on us both."

Deakins smiled softly. The one thing he appreciated about Alex Eames, more than anything else, was her ability to get to the point. With a nod, he replied, "Love does that."

Smiling herself now, Alex agreed, "Yes, it does. I really never thought I'd find it again." With a soft sigh, Alex sadly added, "And I don't think Bobby believed he'd ever find it to begin with. He doesn't think it's possible that anyone could love him."

Deakins nodded in understanding and acceptance that she was right. Bobby Goren never thought he was good enough for anyone. Deakins chose to blame Bobby's childhood for such a misguided assumption. "Unfortunately, I'm sure you're right."

Shaking her head, Alex let a small affectionate smile play across her face. Reaching out, she let her fingers play across his cheek. "Even after last night, I'm sure he still doesn't think anyone could possibly love him, including me. Idiot."

Deakins smiled again. "Probably. Don't worry about that though. He'll get it figured out."

Alex grinned now. With a nod, she assured him, "I know he will. I'll kick his ass until I get it through his head if I have to."

Deakins chuckled. "Good. That's what I expected to hear."

Still smiling, Alex let go of Bobby and turned to face Deakins. Meeting his eyes, she quietly replied, "Thank you."

He gave her a quick nod, and was about to speak when a voice from the door drew both of their attention. "They have nothing good in that cafeteria."

Alex smiled at Lewis. Watching him claim the third seat, she teased, "I thought we scared you off."

Lewis laughed. Shaking his head, he assured her, "Nah. Just went to check out what they have to eat."

Alex smiled. She teased, "And there was nothing good, huh?"

Lewis shrugged. "Well, I did find something edible. I wanted to stick around a little longer and see if he wakes up." Pointedly looking at her, he suggested, "I'm sure you haven't eaten all day. You should really go down there and have something."

Turning back to her partner, Alex sighed. With determination in her voice, she insisted, "I'm not leaving him. I don't want him to wake up without me."

Shaking his head, Deakins replied, "You're not going to do him any good if you let yourself starve. If he were awake right now, he'd insist you go eat, and you know it. If he wakes up while you're gone, we'll come get you. Go eat, Alex. Don't make me order you."

Alex closed her eyes for a brief moment and took a deep breath. She knew they were right. If she were honest, she'd admit she was hungry, and Bobby would definitely want her to go eat. Getting up, she finally relented, "Fine. You two win, but if he wakes up come and find me, please."

With a nod, Deakins met her eyes and assured her, "Don't worry. Go."

With a nod, Alex left in search of the cafeteria. She realized she should have asked for directions from Lewis. God, she hated hospitals. They were too big, too impersonal, and way too sterile for her taste. Getting in the elevator, she decided to try the main floor and ask someone when she got down there.