Chapter 8

The next two days found Alex Eames out of her hospital room more than in it. There were X-Rays, physical therapy (more like ancient torture in Alex's mind), trips to the visitors' lounge to see her nephews and nieces. (Her surrogate nephew examined her leg wound gravely and kept asking for "Big Guy", his name for Bobby. Alex explained to him that "Big Guy" had been hurt, but was getting better, and she would let him see "Big Guy" as soon as she could.) But most of her time was spent at Bobby's side. Her family was puzzled, even upset, but her father and one of her sister-in-laws seemed to understand at least some of her need to be with Bobby.

Alex had told her nephew the truth—Bobby was getting better. Every day more of the equipment went away and, although he was still terribly pale, he no longer looked like a ghost. Alex read the papers to him, told him how horrible the hospital food was (the nurses soon began delivering her meals to her at Bobby's bedside), and watched baseball games on a small TV. He was still unconscious, but the doctors were beginning to ease him out of his coma. Bobby's doctor encouraged Alex's contact with him. "He probably hears you, is aware of you, on some level," she told Alex.

Deakins was his only other visitor. Alex had no idea if Lewis or any of his other friends knew Bobby was in the hospital, and she had no idea of how to contact his brother. Deakins had let Carmel Ridge know about his condition, but Bobby's mother was certainly not going to come. Deakins came with flowers for Alex, left them in her room, and sat with her next to Bobby. They talked softly and briefly about everything except what really mattered, namely Bobby, and Bobby and Alex.

Early on the evening of the second day Alex drifted off to sleep in her chair next to Bobby's bed. She was still trying to heal herself, and painkillers added to her drowsiness. She stirred when she became aware of another person in the room.

"Hey, Lex," her sister-in-law, the nurse, the one who seemed to understand, said. "Sorry to wake you."

"It's ok," Alex said. "This isn't the most comfortable place for a nap."

"How you feeling?"

"Better...I snapped at the PT guy today and he was very pleased."

Her sister-in-law grinned. "How's he doing?" She nodded at Bobby.

Alex looked at Bobby. "Better...he's been moving a little...the doctors think he'll come out of it tomorrow some time."

Her sister-in-law nodded. "He's got good nurses...they're good in any situation, but they like him." She smiled at Alex. "They like you."

Alex snorted. "Even when I'm in the way?"

"Especially when you're in the way." Her sister-in-law turned back towards Bobby. "They can't understand why he doesn't have more..."

Alex stroked Bobby's hand. "He's been alone...I think...most of his life. I think he thinks it's a choice he made."

"You don't?"

Alex considered the question. "I think," she said, "some choices are forced on us."

Her sister-in-law pulled a chair up and sat. "Look, Lex, this is none of my business, so shut me up if you want. But, well, I told you once I thought you and Bobby were...soul mates...and...well...are you...involved?"

Alex stared at Bobby's hand. "I laughed when you starting on that soul mate stuff," she said, "but...soon after that...I realized you were right. We've always been "involved"...it's just that recently...well, we've been "involved" in the way most people think of that." Alex took a deep breath. "And it's been wonderful...in spite of all of our problems, the pressures, the regulations, his issues, my issues...it's...wonderful." The words came in a rush, and Alex realized how desperately she had wanted to tell someone about her relationship with Bobby.

"Oh, Alex," her sister-in-law knelt before her and took her hand, "do you know what you're doing?"

"If you mean, do I know the potential costs, yes. If you mean, do I know how or why, no."

Her sister-in-law smiled. "Ok, then I'm happy for you...and I won't tell." She looked at Bobby. "He's a wonderful guy, Alex, but he's..."

"Got a lot of problems." Alex said, and thought, "You don't know half of it, girl."

"Yea..."

A movement and noise from the bed interrupted them. Bobby appeared to be moving, and then shaking. Alex gripped his hand tightly, and received a grip in return.

"I think he's...waking up," Alex said tentatively.

"I'll get a nurse," her sister-in-law replied.

Bobby struggled weakly against the darkness. Something was in his mouth, his chest, he couldn't see, no, he couldn't open his eyes. "Alex...Alex...I hear you," he thought, "where are you...please help me...I hurt...chest, shoulder, knee hurt...Alex...are you all right? Please, please let her be all right...So thirsty...Alex..." He felt a hand grip his; he clung to it.

Bobby tried to turn towards Alex's voice. He seemed to be in some distress.

"Bobby," Alex leaned forward and stroked his cheek. "It's all right...you're in the hospital...you're coming out of sleep...you're on a respirator...if you can hear me, squeeze my hand twice."

Alex received two weak but definite squeezes.

"She's alive," Bobby thought, "I can hear her...feel her hand..."

"Hang on Bobby...they're coming...the nurses...They'll help you.

Bobby gripped her hand tightly.

Bobby's doctor and a squadron of nurses arrived. The doctor glanced at Alex, who nodded at her.

"Mr. Goren," the doctor said quietly, "I'm Dr. Sengtupa...I'm going to help you, all right? Can you nod your head?"

Bobby nodded.

"Good, good. The first thing I'm going to do is open your eyes. It's going to be bright...be ready, Ok?"

Alex watched as the doctor gently removed the tape from Bobby's eyes. He blinked in the light, and turned to see her. The sight of his dark brown eyes nearly caused Alex to weep. She had missed those eyes more than she had known.

"Good," the doctor said. "Now, we're going to see if you can do without this respirator...Ms. Eames, could you move over a bit?"

Alex gently disengaged her fingers from Bobby's hand and rolled the wheelchair back. Bobby's eyes followed her. The doctor and nurses stepped around Bobby's bed, and began disconnecting tubes and machines. "All right, Mr. Goren," the doctor said, "I can't promise this won't be uncomfortable. When I tell you, take a deep breath...cough if you have to...all right, now breathe..."

Alex heard a nasty, slurping sound, and then a gasp, followed by several coughs.

"Good, very good," the doctor said. "I bet your throat is sore...we'll get you some nice cool water...don't try to talk too much..."

The doctor and several nurses stepped away, carrying equipment with them. Another nurse gently arranged Bobby on his pillows and adjusted the bed. She nodded to Alex and said, "I'll be back with some water and some painkillers."

Alex wheeled back up to the bed. Bobby stared at her. At first she couldn't make out the look in his eyes, but then she recognized it.

"He's afraid," she thought.

End Chapter 8