Disclaimer: Sadly enough, I don't own anything. This is written for pure enjoyment only and no profit to be gained!

CHAPTER: 24

Alex woke up surprisingly rested. For a moment, a brief moment, she had forgotten where she was…that is, until the past; the recollection of both good and bad had come back suddenly. She smiled and then rolled over on her right side expecting to find a sleeping Bobby. What she found was an empty bed. She reached an arm out to feel his side of the bed, only to find that it was no longer warm. Alex sat up in bed and looked around but did not see him. She quickly noted that it was 6:56AM and was surprised that she had slept that long.

Almost 9 hours!

Then she remembered.

Where the hell is he?

She listened. Utter silence was the only thing that hovered in the air.

"Bobby?" Alex desperately called out. It was frightening how quiet his apartment was. She felt as if her voice had echoed throughout his apartment for seconds on end.

It's nearly 7:00AM. Where the hell is he? Son-of-a-bitch, he better not have left…or… And then she halted her musings. She was afraid of them, she realized that, but that didn't stop her from going into a total panic mode.

Alex quickly rose out of bed and checked in the bathroom. No Bobby. She then went into the living room and then the kitchen to find, once again, no Bobby. She frantically thought about where he could be when she noticed that the door was unlocked.

"Why would he go outside? Where would he go?" She quickly questioned herself out loud as she threw on one of Bobby's coats that were hanging up on a coat rack next to the door. She bolted for the door; noticing his car keys and cell phone were still on the counter.

Damn him!

Practically slamming the apartment door shut, Alex opted for the stairs; knowing that she could get to the main floor more quickly.

So many things began to flash through her mind at that very instant. What happened to everything we talked about last night? She looked down to notice that she was now taking two steps at a time. She didn't know what he would do, but he was in her care...and he slipped away from her.

While I was sleeping! She screamed inside.

Once she made it to the main floor, she started to run outside when she spotted the landlord. Her legs stopped her short of the door.

"Hello." He spoke softly, noticing that the blonde was looking at him. "You're Bobby's partner, right?"

"Hi…Um, yes. Have you seen Bobby this morning?" She almost pleaded with the man, not even taking the time to introduce herself.

Please, god, please say yes.

"Why yes, he just walked outside about thirty minutes ago. I believe he went to have a cigarette and get some fresh air. That boy's one of the few tenants who actually uses the designated smoking area." He smiled.

Alex quickly thanked him and then pushed her way outside and turned toward the smoking area. The landlord's story was confirmed as relief overwhelmed her veins as she spotted him sitting on a bench, alone, smoking a cigarette.

She stared at him briefly; taking in his still tired form. She could tell by the way his shoulders sagged. He looked like he had aged years in the prior week alone. The horrid events were finally catching up with him; and not just the ones in these foregoing weeks. He was also in desperate need of a good shave, but at least he was alive and well; for the most part anyways. She could tell he had lost about 10 pounds or more from lack of eating ever since he had gotten out of Tates. He looked unhealthy but a whole hell of a lot better than when he was in the hospital.

At least he can get around on his own now.

"Bobby?" She said as she cautiously approached him.

Bobby's head was tilted down, looking at the obscure patters in the concrete. When he heard the sound of her voice, his head shot up immediately and turned in her direction. He blinked and then, "Eames?" He looked surprised. "W—what are you doing here?" He asked as he stood up from the bench almost immediately.

What a gentleman. She thought. She immediately noticed his swaying form briefly and felt like running over to him. Almost.

"Looking for you…you scared the hell out of me, Bobby!" She practically screamed and then, "Sit back down." Right then and there, she had the urge to hit him...and then hold onto him for dear life.

"I…I'm sorry." He said in confusion as he reluctantly sat back on the top of the wooden table. "I was going to leave you a…a note but I didn't think…I didn't plan on being gone for very long. I left you asleep…I…I didn't want to wake you. You were exhausted and…and you looked so peaceful." He cautiously tried to explain. The last thing he wanted was to piss her off.

"It's ok, Bobby." She deeply sighed. "It's just…it's ok." She said as she took a seat next to him.

She studied him…taking a drag, inhaling most of the smoke and then blowing it back out of his mouth. She knew he shouldn't be smoking. She recalled the doctor's specific instructions but…what would one cigarette harm? If it calms him down...

"Bobby, are you a full-time smoker, because I've only seen you smoke…" She paused. "Well, I can count the number of times on one hand." She asked out of the blue.

He looked at her for a few moments and then smiled.

He shrugged. "Um…yes? I guess so." Pause. "Well…no." He struggled. "It depends on how you define, 'full-time.'" He managed.

"But…but you don't smell like cigarette smoke."

"Thanks…I think. I only smoke one a day…if that. It depends on…"

"What's going on in your life?" She finished for him. He nodded.

"I mainly smoke when I'm at home; I'm not a one or two pack-a-day smoker like some people. It just…it relaxes me. It's a bad habit, I know…but, I don't care." He said as he brought the cigarette back up to his mouth to take another drag.

"Well you should care." She sternly told him. He just looked at her and took another puff.

Alex was intrigued by this. She had to admit that he looked sexy as hell when he smoked. I'm about ready to lunge at him right here. She then immediately questioned her thoughts. She blinked. Jesus, Alex, settle down. Baby steps. She told herself.

Then she did something that surprised the both of them. She reached out and snagged the cigarette from Bobby's left hand.

"Alex, what are you doing?" He asked right as she stuck the cigarette into her mouth to take a drag. She didn't answer him right away. Instead, Alex let the smoke linger for a bit and then handed the cigarette back to Bobby.

"What does it look like I'm doing?" She finally answered him and then, "Eww, that taste like shit, Bobby!" She shrieked and then coughed a few times. "When the girls and I go out, they always bring their cigarettes out after a few drinks...I've always wanted to try it, but never did." She swallowed a few times. "And now I know why."

He chuckled briefly and then looked into her eyes. "That's not…you…you shouldn't do that. It's not good for you." He chastised, taking one more puff and then putting it out with his thumb and pointer finger.

She just looked from his fingers to his eyes. He read her like a book.

"No, it doesn't hurt. I wouldn't do it if it hurt, Eames. I just, I don't know, I've done it that way for a while. I...I started soon after I went into the Army..." He shrugged his shoulders and started to get up.

She nodded and accepted his explanation.

"How do you feel?" Alex asked, repeating the same action.

"Better. Still a little sore…and tired, but that's to be expected."

"Well that's good but you know you shouldn't be smoking. The doctor said no smoking for a few weeks while your lung heals." She sternly told him.

"Yes ma'am." He joked.

She rolled her eyes and started to walk back to the building when two large arms wrapped around her waist and halted her in place.

"Bobby?" She asked as she turned around in his arms to face him. She had to admit that they felt large and reassuring. As if nothing could possibly harm them at that moment.

"Um, I—I'm sorry, Alex. I didn't mean to..." He cowered down to her, head towards the ground.

"No!" She practically yelled. She felt him shutting down. "It's ok, it just surprised me." She reached for his forearms and held onto them. "It just…I'm not used to it yet…"

"I…it just…it felt so goddamn comforting…you in my…my arms last night." He admitted, putting his heart on his sleeve. "It's just…it's been so long…and I just…I don't know what…how I…"

Without another word, she pulled him into a tight embrace; it was mainly to reassure him that she loved him and that the contact was ok.

When he released her from his embrace, his hands slipping back down to his sides, she stood straight up once more and looked him in the eyes.

"Come on, Bobby, let's go back inside. It's freezing out here."

He nodded in agreement and headed towards the door. With his Alex by his side, Bobby snaked one arm around her waist to emphasis his thought.

A/N: Hope all is well.

-Snyder-