CHAPTER EIGHT

Alex hovered as close as she could to the rescue workers. Her heart finally resumed something approaching its normal beat soon after the firemen announced they'd found the boy and the police officer alive. She watched anxiously as an EMT guiding a small, dust covered boy emerged from the flock of workers.

"I'm all right," the boy insisted. "Bobby…the policeman…He saved me…I have to wait for him…" He pulled against the EMT's firm but gentle hand. "Please…I have to talk to one of the other police officers…Detective Eames…Alex Eames…I have to tell her something…"

Alex rushed to the boy. "I'm Detective Eames."

The EMT tried to get Ben to the ambulance. "Please," the boy said. "I gotta talk to her…I promised him…"

"All right." The EMT relented. "But you need to be quick…We need to check you out…"

Ben studied Alex for a moment. "Bobby's right," he said. "You're pretty."

Alex blushed; a lump formed in her throat. "Thank you," she said softly. "What do you need to tell me?"

Ben closed his eyes in thought, and opened them. "Bobby said," the boy spoke deliberately. "To tell you he was sorry and to thank you."

Alex fought the tears that appeared in her eyes.

"Detective Eames…are you ok?" Ben asked.

"Yes…Yes…I'm fine…It's just the cold," Alex answered. "Bobby…Detective Goren…Is he ok?"

"He…He kept saying he was ok," Ben answered. "And he tried really hard not to show he was hurt…But he was…The robbers hurt him…And the explosion…" Ben tried not to cry.

"Don't worry," the EMT said. "They've almost got him out…We'll take good care of him…A man that good and brave…We'll take care of him."

"Ben." Alex touched the boy tenderly on his shoulder. "Thank you…Thank you very much…I'll tell Bobby that you told me what he said…"

"I…I want to tell him…Thank him," Ben said.

"I'll tell him," Alex promised. "As soon as it's possible, you can visit him…I promise."

"C'mon," the EMT said kindly. "Let's get you checked out and back with your Mom."

Ben reluctantly left with the EMT. Alex turned to discover Ross standing behind her.

"That's a brave kid," he said admiringly. "The rescue workers say it looks like Goren shielded him from the blast."

"That sounds like Bobby," Alex said.

"They think they'll have him out soon," Ross said. Alex sensed he tried to convince himself as much as her.

"We've got him!" one of the firemen yelled.

He saw and heard things through a haze of pain. The voices pleaded with him to stay awake and talk to them, but he hurt so much. He was so tired, exhausted on a level he didn't think possible. He wanted to sleep. If he could sleep, the pain would end. But he heard Alex. Bobby blinked, and looked up into Alex's beautiful but worried eyes. Her cheeks were red and her blonde hair, blown by the bitter wind, streamed around her face. Her eyes glistened.

"She's cold," Bobby thought. "She still hasn't got her hat on."

"Bobby…Please…Try to stay awake…Please…" Alex stared down at Bobby. Dust covered him, giving his features the eerie quality of a photo negative, the grey punctuated by splashes of red. Pain clouded his large, dark eyes, and Alex thought he appeared terribly cold. "He doesn't have his coat on," she thought. "What happened to his coat?"

Alex managed to get next to Bobby's stretcher. She clutched his left hand, one of the few spots on his body that didn't seem to be hurt.

"Al…Alex," Bobby whispered.

"I'm here…I'm here…"

"Ben…the boy…" He spoke in a series of painful gasps.

"He's all right…All of the hostages are…"

"Ben's Mom…the little girl…" Alex could just hear Bobby's voice over the whipping wind and the chaos.

"Everyone is ok." She smiled wryly. "You're the only one who got hurt…"

The EMTs began to move Bobby to a waiting ambulance. There was no question about Alex accompanying him to the hospital. As the doors were about to shut, Ross appeared and called to her. "I'll be there as soon as I can, Alex. Hang on…"

His words barely registered on the edges of her mind. Bobby's hand was terribly cold. An EMT started to place a restraint on his arm, and Alex felt Bobby stiffen and saw the fear in his eyes.

"Please," she said. "Does he have to have that? He…he…had a really bad experience recently…"

The EMT looked at Alex sympathetically. "No," she said, and turned to Bobby. "But you need to stay as still as you can, Detective…"

Alex felt the tension seep from Bobby's body. He blinked, and some of the fear left his eyes. Alex leaned forward so that her face was near Bobby's head.

"Ben…He told me what you said…" She hoped that Bobby heard her over the sirens and traffic. She thought he did. Bobby blinked and turned his head towards her. "I don't know what you're apologizing for," Alex continued. "I thought we settled all that…And I don't know that you're so grateful for…But it's ok…And you're welcome…" She gently squeezed his hand.

She clung to his hand through the ride to the hospital. From the occasional squeeze Bobby gave her hand Alex thought he was conscious, but it was hard to tell. An oxygen mask obscured his face, and as much as he fought to stay with her, Bobby seemed to drift in and out. When they arrived at the hospital, the doctors and nurses finally forced Alex and Bobby to separate. She saw his left hand clutch at the empty air as he rolled away from her.

Inside the ambulance, Bobby desperately tried to focus on Alex's voice and face. Her hand felt wonderfully strong and warm in his, and she gave him hope. She told him all of the hostages were safe, and relief all too briefly banished some of his pain and fear. He wanted to ask about the Maguire brothers, especially Rye, but the pain returned before he could. Alex told him that Ben had relayed his message, that she forgave him and accepted his gratitude, and Bobby received another reprieve from pain and fear. He fought to stay conscious, and as long as he had Alex's presence to help in the battle, he won. When their connection was cut, his defenses collapsed. His last thought before the cold, painful darkness took him was that he wished he still held her warm, strong hand.

END CHAPTER 8