Chapter Sixteen

The ten-year-old wanders through the house and without asking, no one is awake to ask, she enters the room with the large desk and computer. The very room she visited the first night she arrived here. Being alone is familiar to her, she has spent many an afternoon by herself, her father never permitted Rachel to have friends visit, her mother either. She remembers the crying and the bruises; her Mom never knew that she had seen her arms and back. Yet she can hear him say so many times how much he loved her, she wanders behind the desk. "I don't understand."

She hops into the large chair, knowing that it is Bobby who sits in this chair. She powers up the computer and begins searching, she settles on browsing through her favorite fan fiction site, Anime.

Later that Day

Alex feels something on her hand and brushes it away, she feels it again. She bolts up and the toddler cries immediately being frightened by his mothers' response. She pulls up the quilt that is draped around her and watches as Bobby picks up his son, kissing his forehead, "It's alright Robby," he looks to his wife. "Mommy's not feeling well." He frowns at her lack of compassion and concern for her son.

Her only response, "Sorry," as with every child, who has attention spans of gnats, runs to his pile of toys after Bobby sets him down.

Rachel has left the computer room and with Bobby's permission, she had gone to the neighbors' house to hang out with Hailee. When she returns she is slightly surprised at the anger being shown. She knows who is the cause of this turmoil, her father. He has ruined another family. She watches intently as Bobby tries his best to talk to Alex.

He stands over her, "Are you hungry? Want anything?"

She ignores his stare and returns to her original position of lying down, shaking her head, "No...no thanks." She pulls the quilt up to her neck.

The ringing of the phone clearly annoys her. "Who the fuck is that?"

"I'll find out," he reaches for the phone, "Hello."

"Bobby," the voice is low and familiar.

Bobby he thinks, that sounds weird, "Captain," Bobby says as he walks away from her into the kitchen, for that she is grateful, she lies back down and closes her eyes.

She is awakened once again, by the ringing of the phone, "Jesus Christ turn that fucking thing off!" She exclaims as she pulls the quilt up over her head.

Robby, who was playing with a pile of Legos abandons them and runs to his father, crying. Rachel sits in wonder at Alex's unusual display. Bobby picks up his son as he answers the phone, "Hello."

"Bobby, it's Laurie, how is she?"

Bobby kisses his son on the top of the head, "Laurie could you hold on a sec." He covers the mouthpiece, "Rachel could you please take Robby into the office and put a DVD on."

"Yea," Robby says as he claps his hands, "Sponge Bob."

"Sure," she takes a gentle hold of the toddlers' hand, "Come on Robby." More than happy to leave the room.

"Sponge Bob?"

"Yes, we can watch Sponge Bob."

"She's lying on the couch, hold on. I'll put her on the phone."

Alex removes the quilt from her head, "Why can't you just tell people that I'm sleeping." She sits up, "Can't you ever do anything…." She crosses her arms in a defiant sneer.

He continues to hold out the receiver, "Take the Goddamn phone." She hastily takes it from his grasp, holding it up, "Go on throw it, it might make you feel better," he pauses, "For a second." She stares into his eyes, his expressive sad eyes.

She immediately looks away then snaps into the receiver, "Hello."

"Hey Alex, I'm sorry to bother you, I just wanted to see if there is anything that I can do to help."

"No thanks, everything is fine I just need to get some rest."

If she spoke three words to her family and her friends daughter the rest of the evening it was a great deal. Bobby takes control of all the household duties from preparing dinner to a bath for his son, reading a story to not only Robby but Rachel as well. Alex remains on the couch and he decides to leave her be….for now.

The Next Morning

As in the evening routine, he takes charge of the morning one as well, Rachel wanted to return to school today and Bobby takes Robby to his day care provider, Miss Wendi. Wanting to keep things as normal as possible for them. Rachel of course is more aware of the problem then the two and a half year old.

When he returns home, he is not only surprised, he is relieved to see that Alex has abandoned the couch. He finds her sitting on the floor at the foot of the bed. Knees up to her chest face in the crook of her arm. From the sound, she is crying. As he positions himself next to her, she lifts her head.

"Who am I?" she asks recalling her actions toward her baby. He places his arm around her shoulder; she snuggles in, his smell, and touch that has been missed.

"Tell me what happened." He says softly but firmly.

"I just laid there," she looks up and he is staring straight ahead, she is thankful for that. "I let him, I didn't fight him. I thought if I did he would kill....not just me but Rachel as well. I remembered what he said," she pauses as she moves in closer feeling his warmth and his strength. "If he couldn't have me, no one could." She waits for a reply from him, he remains quiet. "I froze….I let him touch me all over and I did nothing!"

Bobby smiles to himself, that's it get angry, let it out.

"He didn't seem to notice that I didn't kiss him back or touch him," she exhales as a thought of her friend enters her mind. Jackie must have acted the same way when he touched her, he never knew the difference. "Oh my God," she exclaims as she covers her mouth. Alex stands and it gives her the strength to continue, "I just laid there and let him fuck me." She looks to her husband who is still sitting on the floor. "Did you hear what I said?" She asks knowing full well that he did but wanting him to display some anger at her, Charlie, Jackie for involving them into this madness maybe all of them.

He nods, "Yes I heard you, what else did he do?" Bobby stands and she turns her back to him. He places his hands on her shoulders, turning her slowly to face him, "What else did he….make you do? Tell me?" he asks imploringly. She remains silent, "Did he force you to have oral sex with him?"

"No," she falls into him and he holds her gently, rubbing her back. The thought of staying in that position for the rest of her life is a comfort to her.

"There is something else, tell me."

"I….he…." she pushes away and turns her back to him.

"You are always the one to tell me to…."

She turns abruptly cutting him off, "I....he," she lowers her gaze. "He made me come," she says obnoxiously. "Alright you got what you..........." Bobby catches her before she meets the floor.

She wakes in his embrace, lying on the bed. She expels a long breath, she speaks softly, "I kept saying to myself, I can't….I can't....not with this monster inside of me, I tried, I'm sorry."

"You have nothing to apologize for."

She smiles through tears, "Hold me tighter." He does and she feels safe in his arms. "I need to see him."

"Huh? What? No you don't." He states firmly.

"Yes I do, I want him to know….he must know by now that I wasn't Jackie."

"I doubt it," he kisses the top of her head. "Charles Spangler doesn't know anything anymore."

"He's that far gone," Alex lifts her head but remains in his arms. "When….when you shot him, he died?" she asks surprisingly.

"No," he shakes his head. "He survived his gun shot wound, he was killed yesterday." Bobby's says with a monotone voice. "Orderlies were taking him to an ambulance to transport him to Rikers; he broke away and ran like a crazy man….he was hit by a truck. That first phone call yesterday was from Ross." He looks down at her, "How do I tell Rachel?"

"We'll tell her," they remain in each other's embrace, silent comfort. Simultaneously they lie down continuing to hold one another, soon after they are asleep, a much needed and peaceful sleep for both.

Embarrassed though Hannah was by her sons' recent actions the sympathy and support she received from her assortment of friends was overwhelming. She relished in the attention. She planned a funeral for her only son on Monday, the 29th day of September.

"Rachel, I'll take you if you want to go." Bobby states plainly.

"I should feel something? Shouldn't I?" she asks not looking in his direction and not looking for an answer, he remains quiet as she continues, "I know he loved my Mom, but me….I don't know, he never said." She lowers her head as her eyes fill with tears.

Not wanting to force himself into her space he remains seated he holds out his arms, "Rachel come here," he says softly, she walks slowly toward him, her head bowed down. He takes a gentle hold of her hands and pulls her closer, "My father ignored me too," he says softly. "When I was your age I would sit in my room and try to figure out what I did wrong." He tilts his head to catch her eye, she slowly raises her head. He wipes away the tear that is running down her cheek with his thumb. "It wasn't until I was older that I realized that no matter what I did or didn't do he wasn't going to treat me any differently."

She pulls her hands away and wraps her arms snuggly around his neck resting her head on his shoulder.

A/N: Still like it? We didn't get many reviews for the previous chapter, but we did get many, many hits so we're going to assume people are reading. Should we continue?