Author's Note: This chapter was tough. I had to rewrite it twice to be satisfied with it. But I'm pleased with it now. I hope you like it.
Disclaimer: Property of Dick Wolf, borrowed by me. Please don't sue.
Title: Keeping It Together
By: Marion
Chapter: 13Alex stopped when she got outside of Bobby's apartment. She leaned heavily against the wall and sank to the floor. Tears were flowing freely down her cheeks and she couldn't stop them. She drew her knees up to her chest and buried her head in her arms, sobbing quietly. It was almost 9:30 pm. No one was in the hallway to see her lonely breakdown.
She knew she should be stronger than this. How could he say that? She wept her heart out, ashamed of her tears. When did she give Bobby the power to hurt her like this, she wondered idly.
She heard a crash from inside his apartment and the sound of breaking glass. It was enough to snap her out of her reverie. She heard a few more crashes, then silence. She fought her mounting curiosity. Fuck you, Bobby, she thought when she couldn't shake the worry that he was hurt. She stood shakily and headed for the elevator. The worry continued to nag her.
Alex covered her face with her hand. Am I really this pathetic? She went back to his apartment and unlocked the door.
"Bobby, are you all right?" she called tentatively as she opened the door. No answer and no sign of her partner. She moved down his hallway and saw light pouring from the bathroom door. "Bobby?" She peered inside.
The bathroom looked like a tornado had hit it. The mirror was broken, pieces of glass all over the floor. There was blood everywhere. In the midst of the chaos sat Bobby. He was sitting on the floor against the tub, cradling his left hand to his chest and crying softly. He didn't look up as she entered. She knelt down beside him. What a pair of broken toys we make, she thought.
"Bobby," she said gently. "Let me see your hand."
He gave her a stricken look. "You came back?"
"Yeah, I came back," she said. She reached for his bloody hand. "Idiot. What have you done to yourself?" He winced when she touched him. She was exceedingly gentle as she examined his hand.
"Okay, get up. I'll drive you to the ER," she said, getting to her feet. "You need stitches at the very least. That's if you didn't break your hand."
"Leave me be," he murmured sulkily.
"Not a chance," she said. "You either come with me or I go call a bus."
He struggled to his feet. He gazed at her as if he barely believed she was there. "Alex … I'm sorry," he said.
"I know. Me, too," she said, reaching out to touch his bruised face. "Come on, let's get you to the ER."
He went with her willingly, though he didn't say a word on the drive to Cabrini Medical Center, the nearest hospital to his apartment in the East Village. A nurse showed them to a curtained off area to wait for a doctor. She looked between them, taking in Alex's hand, bruised from the impact with Bobby's face, and the tear stains on her face. She looked over Bobby's injuries. "A social worker will be by momentarily to talk with you, Mr. and Mrs. Goren," she said.
She looked shocked when Eames laughed. "We're partners on the police force," she said. "We're not married."
"Oh," said the nurse, very surprised. "I'm sorry I assumed."
Alex sat with Bobby the whole time while he got x-rayed and stitched and bandaged. He had to get several stitches in his hand and he had broken a knuckle. But his hand wasn't broken and neither was his nose, much to Eames' relief. They got out of the ER around 2am.
As they were leaving the hospital she put her hand on his arm. "Will you come back home with me? Your toothbrush is there. I'm sorry I meddled," she said.
"You have no reason to apologize," he said. "If you still want me as a house guest, then I'll go home with you." They continued toward the car.
"Of course I still want you to be there," she said. "I wouldn't have asked, otherwise." She paused. "Look, Bobby. When I say that I love you, I mean it. It's not lip service. Tell me you know that."
He brought her up short and turned to face her. "I should never have said what I did, Alex. I am so sorry."
"I'm not looking for an apology," she said. "We're fine. Just tell me you know it. That's what's important to me."
"I know." He pulled her into a hug. "I know I don't deserve you."
They parted and continued toward the car. He caught her left hand in his right and held it loosely as they walked. He expected her to pull away. He could tell he hadn't fully undone the damage of his words. She squeezed his hand. "I'm irked Bobby, but I'm not going anywhere," she said, as if she was reading his mind.
Bobby was silent for a while on the ride back to Alex's house. "Was he polite to you?" he asked, tentatively.
"Huh?"
"My brother. Was he polite to you?"
"Oh. Yes, he was."
"What was it you wanted to tell me?"