Chapter Twelve

Evil At The Door

Monday Morning

The Hospital

Bobby looks up as he hears the door open, "Alex you're here early, good morning."

"Good morning, they took you off oxygen?"

"Just for a respiratory test, they take you off for a few minutes to test your lung capacity."

Within minutes, the test is preformed, and the technician leaves the room, "I have been meaning to ask Patrick but I keep forgetting, maybe you know."

"What?"

"Whatever happened to my bike?"

"I asked Patrick that question and he told me it looked like a pretzel."

"Oh that is sad. Well," he exhales, "I'll have to get another one."

From behind Alex comes a voice. "Are you out of your mind?"

"Why do you say that, Mom? Do you have any idea how much time and money I put into that bike," he looks at Alex and smiles, "I wonder if Scott would want to buy it now."

Eileen walks closer to the bed. "This isn't funny Bobby, you almost………." He cuts her off, "From what I heard it wasn't my fault and the same thing could have happened if I was in my car."

"That's true but you wouldn't have gone flying through the air if you were in a car." Eileen says.

"What? What do you mean flying though the air? What are you talking about?"

Alex interjects, "That's right Bobby, when you got hit you were thrown off your bike into another car."

"Ouch. That must have hurt."

"I can't believe after all that you have been through that you would even consider getting another one of those killing machines." She shakes her head in disgust. "I think you should get rid of the other one."

"Come on Mom don't……………." Bobby notices the look of sadness on her face and just shakes his head.

"How about, we drop this subject for awhile, alright." He looks at both women as he says in a whisper, "There is now way I'm gonna win this argument anyway."

Alex and Eileen smile and nod their heads.

Tuesday Afternoon

The Next Week

Alex has volunteered to take him home and spend the day with him. When she arrives, he is pacing around the room.

"Well you certainly look anxious to go home."

"Nineteen days in one room, is more than I can take, come on let's go." He grabs his overnight bag and starts to walk toward the door when Nurse Gibson enters the room with the wheelchair. "Come on Bobby get your butt in here."

"I can walk I don't need that."

"There isn't going to be a discussion about this Bobby, hospital rules, now get in the chair."

"I am perfectly able to walk out of this hospital on my own two feet."

The nurse looks at Alex, "Gees he does debate everything, doesn't he?"

"Pretty much," Alex says.

"In!" the nurse says.

"Ok, Ok, gees."

Bobby's House

The house is quiet. Bobby had asked the Caseys to send the boys to school today. When he enters through the front door that familiar feeling of comfort goes through him, "Man it feels good to be home." He walks through the house, "When do you have to get back to work?"

"I don't, I took the day off."

Bobby says, "Really?"

"Yeah, you are stuck with me for the afternoon," she smiles.

"Thanks."

"No trouble, are you hungry? Eileen told me yesterday that she went food shopping and filled up the refrigerator," Alex opens the door, "Wow that's an understatement."

He walks into the kitchen and touches her shoulders. Alex stands up and slowly turns around. She looks up at him and he flashes that smile. "This really sucks," he says as he lightly touches her face.

"What?"

He looks around the room, "There's no one here and let's just say that the mind is able but the body is" he exhales, "forget it."

She grabs his hand, "There's always tomorrow."

He shakes his head and chuckles. "How about the day after," they both laugh and then embrace. She can hear a moan from him, "I'm sorry, too tight."

"Just a little, but you feel so good." He steps back, "You know what I need? Food, I need food."

"Go sit down and I'll fix you something to eat."

"Thanks," he grabs her hand and lightly kisses her cheek, "Damn."

She pushes him lightly, "Go on sit down."

Later That Morning

"I can't wait to get back to normal, silly little things that you take for granted and I can barely do them."

"Patience Bobby, you have to be patient. Remember what the doctor said. Don't try to do too much too soon."

"I know, I know. That is easier said then done. I feel so guilty just sitting around the house doing nothing."

"The time will go by quicker than you think and you'll be your old self soon, besides what do you want to do, paint the garage?"

"I can't paint the garage it has aluminum siding."

"Have we lost our sense of humor?"

He smiles, "No but I…………." He looks around the room. "Things have been changed around."

Alex looks around the room, "Like what?"

"I can't put my finger on it but some things are missing." He pauses, "My magazines for one but there is something else, but what?"

"Maybe Eileen put the magazines in your office, I'll go look, be right back."

Alex returns with a stack of recently published magazines. "Here you go, you know when you'll remember what else is missing, probably around two in the morning."

He smiles as he reaches up and takes them from her, "Yeah you're right, thanks."

"You're welcome," she says as she sits down next to him on the couch.

That Afternoon

"Thank you for hanging out with me today, I really appreciate it."

"Actually it was a very relaxing day. I enjoyed having a day off in the middle of the week. I was glad to help. If you don't mind, I'll be by tomorrow afternoon."

He takes her hand in his. "Why would I mind. Will you come before or after the boys get home from school?"

"Before, Eileen and I have worked up a schedule. You see Bobby, we don't want you to be alone."

"Why?"

"Because we don't trust you, we both know that if you are left alone that you will try to do something that you shouldn't, am I right?"

He nods his head, "Probably."

"I know it's hard but you have to take it easy, you don't want to re-injure those ribs, it will be even more painful the next time."

"Come here," Alex sits down next to him and he grimaces as her puts his arm around her shoulder, he kisses the top of her head, "I love you."

She reaches up and kisses his cheek, "I love you too." They both turn their heads as they hear the school bus outside. "The boys are home."

Sunday

Alex and Bobby are watching the Jets lose to the Colts. The doorbell rings, Alex moves to get up to answer the door when Tommy says, "I'll get it."

"Good afternoon," Says a female voice. Alex takes a quick glance at Bobby and he looks pale, he turns his head toward the door and gets up from the couch as quickly as he can. "Son of a bitch," he exclaims as he walks toward her. Alex follows his movements with her eyes.

Nicole.

Tommy is at the door holding it open as the woman enters the home.

"What the fuck are you doing here?" Tommy looks up at his father with a puzzled look on his face, "Dad?" He pushes his son away from the door. "Be quiet!"

"An old friend can't come to visit?"

"An old friend, you've got to be kidding me and you didn't answer my question Nicole, what are you doing here?"

"I came by a couple of weeks ago, to visit and was greeted by an elderly woman. She told me that you were in an accident. I hope you are feeling well, I take it she never mentioned my visit."

"No she didn't. I guess you didn't make a memorable impression on her."

Nicole just smiles at the comment, "I would have come by sooner but I had some business to attend to," she walks slowly into the room, "Very nice, the place looks very nice Bobby. You have made many changes since I was here. My, that was so many years ago."

"Yes it was, so why come back now?"

"Not even an inquiry as to where I have been for the last…………let's see, oh my fifteen years."

Tommy asks, "Where have you been?"

Nicole smiles at him and the young man smiles back. "I've spent the years traveling in Europe and Asia."

Bobby takes a hold of his son's arm and pulls him away from her, "Why didn't you stay there?" he says as he closes the door. Alex has since gotten up from the couch. Nicole walks toward her, she turns to Bobby, "What happened to your manners Bobby? Aren't you going to introduce me?"

Nicole extends her hand and Alex accepts it. "I guess Bobby has never told you about me, I'm Nicole, Nicole Wallace."

Oh, he has told me about you. "Alex, Alex Eames."

"It's very nice to meet you Alex." She turns to face him. "And who is this young man?"

"I'm Tommy."

"Hello again," Tommy smiles at her and says. "Hi."

Bobby puts his hand on his sons shoulder. "Tommy, why don't you go downstairs and hang out with your brother." He lightly pushes his son forward to get him to start walking toward the basement door.

"Ok." He turns to face Nicole and says, "Goodbye." Nicole reaches out and grabs him by the arm. "I think he should stay here and your other son should come up stairs."

"What the hell for?" Nicole grabs Tommy from around his neck and points a gun to his head. Alex's first reaction is to go for her weapon but she is not armed. Bobby takes a few steps forward. "Move back Bobby, the time for pleasantries is over. We have business to discuss. So, listen carefully and do exactly what I say and no harm will come to you or your family."

TBC