Chapter Four
Disoriented Time Two
She smiles as she watches the color drain from his face. She releases her hold of the doorknob, "At a loss for words, I never thought I would ever live to see the day."
He takes a step forward and she raises her arm, the bathroom light catches the shiny metal and he steps back. "Yes that's right, stay where you are Bobby. When I want you to move I'll tell you." She slowly moves back, motioning with the gun for him to follow; he follows her out of the bathroom and into the darkened bedroom. "Sit down," she says commanding, pointing toward the bed.
Alex is on her side, he calls her name, no answer. With one eye on his nemesis he slowly walks toward his wife, "She's not dead, not yet anyway," he takes her hand in his, raising it to his face. Her hands are cold and clammy, he gently caresses her forehead. "She didn't and won't feel any pain."
"You bitch, why? It's me you want, please let me help her." He makes a sudden movement and she raises the gun.
"It's too late for her but not for you, if you behave."
He sits next to Alex never letting go of her hand, tears fill his eyes, "Alex I'm so sorry," he looks up to the sky, "Oh God, this can't be happening!" He lowers his head and looks toward the door, she follows his eyes.
"Oh he's fine, Bobby." She takes a step back, flipping on the light. His eyes widen as he spies his motionless son on the chair. Nicole pats his head, "He's adorable, and he looks just like you. Oh yes he is Daddy's little boy." She smiles and a sickly feeling goes through him. "I often wonder what our child would look like," running her hand through his dark hair. "Don't you? He or she would be sixteen months old now." He stares at her without responding, "I was hoping for some conversation before I teach you a lesson. A lesson an intelligent man like you should have learned by now. That you will never ever defeat me Bobby," she exclaims, "Never!"
"No," shaking his head, "Not my son!" He makes a sudden motion toward her and the noise and pain come simultaneously. His knees buckle and as he falls to the floor he reaches for her. The pain is excruciating and the room gets dark, he hears Robby's voice, "Mommy, Daddy………."
"NO!" he screams.
"Bobby," Alex shakes him, "Bobby wake up."
He sits up suddenly looking pale and gasping for air, he flips on the light. She wipes his face with a tissue, "Are you alright?" He stares straight ahead nodding. "Mommy, Daddy."
He expels a long breath, Alex lifts up the blanket, he taps her arm, "I'll go." He pulls her toward him, wrapping his arms around her. "I'll never….she'll never ever get close to you, if I see her I won't wait for justice this time, I'll take care of her myself." He holds her face in his hands kissing her on the lips. "I should have taken care of her when I had the chance."
"Bobby…." Holding his finger to his lips, "Shhhh." He helps her to lie down, covering her with the blanket.
He opens the door to his son's room and Robby is standing up in the crib. Picking up his son he hugs him, kissing him repeatedly. He tends to him and when he returns to the bedroom Alex is sitting up. "Come back to bed," she pats his side of the bed.
Stepping into his pants, "What for?"
"Because you need some tender loving care and I am just the one to give you some." Removing his pants he returns to the bed. "What was the dream about?"
"It wasn't a dream it was a nightmare and I don't want to talk about that," they fall into the bed holding each other kissing passionately.
Later That Morning
The alarm sounds and Alex is alone in the bed, she hears voices downstairs, the guys are in the kitchen. She wonders if he fell back to sleep. Intuition tells her, no.
She joins her family in the kitchen, Robby has been feed and dressed and ready for his day, Bobby the same. She holds back her questions about the dream and the morning goes by without incident.
One Police Plaza
"Eames," Ross calls to her. "Your new partner has arrived."
"I thought it was going to be weeks before he was to join us."
"He finished his assignment and he was transferred earlier. I hope you're not against showing him around."
"No, now the two of us can sit and stare at piles and piles of paper work."
Later that Afternoon
The door suddenly opens in the visitors' office and it smashes up against the wall, heads turn. Charles Henry jogs out of the room. "You're incompetent," Bobby says as he wags his finger at her. "That's what it is." He leans forward. "How many times have I told you that when you are not sure of what to say," he hits the table with his fist. "Don't say anything!"
"Bobby…"
"How the hell did you get up here? Huh." He stands and paces around her as if she is a suspect; she refuses to look at him. "I asked you a question, huh? Who did you do favors for?" Seconds later, Danni is up and running toward the ladies room.
Ross along with Alex, Logan, Wheeler and Alex's new partner Mark Lange heard all that was said, Ross walks up to Alex, whispering, "I realize that with Wallace on the loose he must be very worried and…….." Alex holds up her hand, "I'll talk to him Captain." Ross nods and the rest, once again go about their business, except Megan. She has left the room, following Danni into the ladies room.
She turns when she hears the door open. Wiping her eyes. "I'm alright," she blows her nose. "I knew he had a reputation for being unconventional and a little odd but no one ever told me he was mean hateful piece of shit." She pulls out three more tissues. "I worked hard to get here and here I am in the bathroom crying, like a child." She digs in her bag and begins to repair the makeup that was ruined. She turns abruptly to face her colleague, "I actually enjoy working with him, he's very interesting to watch, and he fascinates me. What do I do now, ask for a new partner?"
Megan shakes her head, "Is that what you really want?"
"No," she leans back against the sink. "I did some research on Wallace awhile back and I have tried and tried to talk to him but he refuses to discuss it."
"I haven't known him long but the one thing I do know is, he is a very private man and usually very polite and even sweet. He is going though something that I don't know if anyone of us, including Alex can understand. Danni, you have to go back in there."
He is sitting once again when Alex walks into the room; she closes the door and stands over him. "What the hell is the problem?"
"She's useless, that's the problem," he says with his head down.
"From what I see," Alex sits next to him. "Danni is not the one with the problem Bobby it's you." She pats his hand; he continues to keep his head down. "I have known you a long time, and in all that time I have never, ever heard you speak that way to anyone, especially a colleague or a woman. My God she's not Nicole." Alex feels a twinge of regret as he slowly lifts his head.
Pushing his chair away from the table, "Let's not bring up Nicole alright," he pauses. "Anyway this is none of your business, this is between her and I." Straightening his tie, "Besides you're just upset about last night."
"I am not upset about last night, those things happen."
He stands, "No," stuffing his hands in his pockets. "Not to me. It has never happened to me."
"Let's not talk about last night now, alright. We can do that when we get home." Alex turns when she hears a knock on the door.
Bobby exhales as he turns his back on them, he hears the chair slide back as Alex stands and opens the door, excusing her-self she leaves the room. Once again he hears the sound of the chair, he turns and Danni is sitting in the same seat she occupied minutes before. He rubs his face, "Danni, I'm sorry, I realize how lame that sounds but I truly am. I had no right to speak to you that way and I hope that you can forgive me. I could tell you a line and make an excuse for what happened but I won't."
She opens a folder, "So where were we?"
"We were watching our number one suspect run out of the room." She covers her mouth trying to suppress her laughter. Sitting down he smiles, "It's alright you can laugh, we'll find another way to get him."
Later That Evening
Her cell phone rings, "Eames."
"Alex, Danni and I have uncovered a witness in Connecticut, she seems a little skittish and if we don't talk to her now we…."
"I know, I understand. Be careful."
"I will."
"Bobby…." The line disconnects. She frowns as she replaces the phone in her bag.
"Alex are you alright?" She looks up and Tom Brown is standing next to her desk. "Huh, oh yes I'm fine, thanks Tom."
"You don't look fine."
She rolls her chair back, reluctant to divulge her personal life on him, she stands. "I'm just tired, not use to working." Opening her desk drawer she removes her bag, "Good night Mark, see you tomorrow."
"Night Alex."
Mark watches Tom, watch her walk away. Tom sits in her chair. "Were you here when he went off on his partner this afternoon?"
Mark nods, "Yes I was, hell I'm not sure how I would behave with that psycho women on the loose."
Tom rolls the chair closer, "If you ask me he's not wrapped to tight, never was."
"I've heard that he can be a little odd but you can't over look the fact that the guy is one hell of an investigator."
Tom stands, "I suppose," saluting him, "Later, Lange."
"Yeah sure." Mark shakes his head, "Talk about odd. You're not wrapped to tight either." Chuckling to himself, he shuts down his computer.
The Goren Home
She feels the bed move and taking a quick glance at the clock, "Tell me you're not just getting home."
"No, I've been home for awhile."
Rather then endure another early morning chat about the same subject she rolls over and closes her eyes. Sleep does not return and after she hears a familiar grunt, she is sure that he is asleep.
She gets up from the bed; turning to face him she lightly pats his arm. "Bobby, I'm lost and so are you."
She peeks in on her son and makes her way downstairs, feeling the side of the TV, it's still warm. She makes herself comfortable on the couch and begins to cry.
TBC
