Author's Note: This one's a little different. I hope you like it.

Disclaimer: Not mine. Borrowing. Don't sue. You wouldn't get much.

Title: Keeping It Together

By: Marion

Chapter 15

On Sunday, Bobby and Alex went to have dinner with her family at her mother's insistence. Sam, Elizabeth, her husband, Fred, and Caleb were all in attendance. Annette Eames out did herself again with a pot roast this time.

Alex hadn't asked Bobby where he went on Saturday. She figured if he wanted her to know, he'd tell her. Bobby had spent Saturday night in her bed, as plutonic as before.

Francis Goren's obituary had run that morning in the New York Times, announcing the time and location of her memorial service the following Tuesday and expressing a wish that flowers not be sent but that donations to fund research for psychiatric disorders were appreciated.

"You look down, Al," said Sam, catching her alone after dinner. The rest of the clan had herded Bobby off to the den to watch some home movies. Alex had offered to do dishes.

"Really?" she asked. "I'm not."

"And you're quiet," he added, taking a plate she'd just finished washing and drying it. "You're never quiet."

"I have layers," she snarked, scrubbing another dish.

"Forgive your loving baby brother for concern," he snarked back.

"Forgiven," she said, flicking water at him. He laughed.

"Is it Bobby?" he asked after a moment.

She scrubbed more furiously at the plate in her hands. "What is this? The Spanish Inquisition?"

"Stop being deflective and answer me," he said.

"Don't you try to boss me, Sammy."

"Alex, please!"

"I have nothing to say," Alex protested. "There's nothing wrong."

"Alex, I've been your brother for 29 years now. There's something wrong," said Sam.

Alex sighed but didn't respond.

"Okay, then I'll guess. You know all the ins and outs of Bobby Goren. He's more than your partner, more than your friend. You're his rock. That's a big responsibility."

"Shut up, Sam," said Alex.

"No, hear me out," said Sam. "You spend all your time worrying about this man. You take care of him. It's wearing on you. Being his emotional stability."

"Bobby takes care of me, too," said Alex. "We're there for each other. Now drop it."

"Clearly, I'm on to something," said Sam. "Look, Bobby is like family. But you are family. If he did something to hurt you, me and Ted and your cousins will go Irish mob on his ass."

Alex snorted in laughter. "No need for that."

"Did you guys have a fight?"

"Sam, it's none of your business."

"I noticed the bruise on Bobby's face. I thought it looked like your handiwork," said Sam.

"It was stupid. He deserved it, but I regret hitting him," said Alex. "We made up. Everything's fine."

"Did he hurt you? Physically, I mean," Sam asked seriously.

Alex stopped scrubbing and turned to look at her brother. "No, he didn't," she said. "And he never will. Bobby would never hurt me." She locked eyes with him. "If you believe nothing else, you need to believe that."

"Okay, I believe you," said Sam.

"Good."

"Are you in love with him?"

The plate she was holding shattered when it hit the floor. She was looking down at it, stunned. Sam took the broom from its corner and began to sweep up the plate.

Annette peaked in the kitchen. "Everything okay?"

"Don't come in, Mom," said Sam. "Ally broke a dish. I'll clean it up. Don't worry."

"Thank you, Sam," said Annette. She went back to the den.

Sam finished cleaning up the shards of china. "Does he know?" he asked, returning to his post and drying the next dish.

Alex was silent as she washed the next dish.

"He doesn't, does he? You spend all your time with him and take care of him but you've never told him."

"He's my partner, Sam."

"So what?"

"So I can't be in love with him."

"Semantics. You should tell him how you feel, if only to get it off your chest," said Sam.

"I'm never going to tell him," she said. "And if you tell him you'll be singing like a choir boy from here on out."

"I'm not going to tell," Sam assured her. "I'm just worried about you. You're wearing yourself thin, and being in love with him is making you miserable."

"I'm not miserable. I'm tired. It's been a rough few days," she said. "Bobby and I are fine. He knows I love him and that I'll be there for him, and I know he'll be there for me if I need him. We've been through a lot together."

"So you told him you love him?"

"Like family. Which is true."

"Did he say it back?"

She was silent for a moment. "He didn't have to," she said, finishing the last glass. "I know where I stand with Bobby." She was looking down at the sink so he couldn't see her eyes.

"It's still nice to hear," said Sam. "I just don't want you wasting your life on him if he doesn't appreciate you. You're a prize catch, sis. Don't forget that."

She sniffed slightly. "Bobby does appreciate me. I see it in all the little things he does for me," she said, keeping her voice even.

"Okay, Alex. Take care of yourself is all…" He saw a tiny splash in the dishwater. "Are you crying?"

"No," she said. Two more little ripple sets started in the still water of the sink.

"Oh, Ally." Sam pulled her into a hug.

Author's Note: It's been an emotionally trying time for Alex, too.