Late: Chapter 7
By: The Confused One
A/N: Well, you can all blame the nice USA marathon on Memorial Day that I got to see at a friend's house for this chapter. "Cold Comfort" left me with some food for thought with Alex. She had some interesting lines in that ep. Anyway, please enjoy. Special thanks, of course, goes to InfinityStar for her beta job. Please remember to review, and thank you.
Alex walked into the apartment with a bag. Walking into the kitchen, she sensed Bobby walk in and watch her. She smiled slightly and assured him, "I promise I took a cab. I got some paint and wallpaper samples for us to look at tonight. We need to make some decisions."
Taking a deep breath, Bobby watched as Alex unloaded the bags and changed the subject, "I'm sorry. I have to go out for a little while."
Confused, Alex stopped and turned to look at him. She suddenly saw the pain and wear on his face. Worried, she asked, "What's happened? What's wrong?"
Bobby sighed. He knew he could never hide from her. They read each other too easily. He confessed, "My mother. She…had another…episode. They had to…sedate her. I need to go up there."
Alex nodded in understanding. Assuring him, she replied, "The samples can wait. Let's go."
Bobby shook his head. He quietly began to protest. "Alex…"
Taking a deep breath, Alex was expecting his resistance. He always resisted her help when it came to Frances Goren. She took his hand and reminded him, "We've done this before."
Bobby sighed. He tried to give her an out. "You don't need to come. Not right now. It's not good for you or the baby. I can handle her."
Alex sighed. Squeezing his hand, she found his eyes and insisted, "I know, OK. I know how much you hate it when I have anything to do with this part of your life. It's like this part of you…that you can't bring yourself to share. You think it contaminates me or something, but this is what I signed up for, the good, the bad, and the ugly. I didn't just go into our marriage with my eyes wide open about this, Bobby, but I went into our relationship like that. You know that. I'm coming with you. It's not going to hurt me or the baby. We're really having this argument again?"
Bobby sighed. He agreed, "Yes, we are. I don't want to put you through this. I love you too much."
Taking his hand and putting it on her stomach, Alex asked, "I know you do, and I promise you…me and the baby will be fine. See. We're both fine. I thought I had finally gotten through to you about this."
Bobby studied her for a moment. He took his hand away and replied, "It's just…a reminder of what might happen."
Alex shook her head. Finding his eyes again, she insisted, "To you? As much research as you've done on pregnancy I've done the same…"
Bobby cut her off. "Not just me."
It took a moment, but she suddenly understood what he was getting at. "We had this conversation, too, before we even started trying. What did I say then?"
Bobby nodded. He agreed, "I know. It's just…times like these make it real for you."
Alex shook her head. Giving him a confused look, she replied, "It's always real to me, Bobby. Just like it's always real to you."
Bobby pulled his hand away from her. With a sigh, he relented, "Alright. We need to go."
Alex nodded. She started heading for the door and suggested, "I should drive."
Shaking his head, Bobby insisted, "Uh, no."
Alex shook her head, too. She argued, "You are in no shape to be driving right now. Believe me; we'd all be safer if I drove."
Bobby shook his head. He emphatically refused to budge. "No."
Alex shook her head as he got into the driver's seat. Getting in beside him, she teased, "Fine. Have it your way, but once this baby is born though, the car is mine again."
Smiling slightly, Bobby started the car. As long as she was cracking jokes at his expense, things were going to be OK. A part of him was extremely grateful she was insisting on going. As much as he hated dragging her up to Carmel Ridge, he never liked doing it alone. Apparently, no matter what was going on, she'd always insist on coming. He liked that idea.