This was the toughest chapter yet to write. I've written, rewritten, and written it again. Hope it does them justice. Please review. All suggestions welcomed and appreciated!!

Chapter 10

Alex was on the couch reading a book when she heard Bobby's key in the door. Her stomach began to churn, but she was relieved to have him home. She looked at the clock, 9:46 P.M. "long day," she thought. She turned to greet him as he walked into the den. Bobby stopped just inside the room. He looked weary as he stood with his hands in his pockets.

"Hey" he said.

Alex silently held her hand out to him. He moved toward her and gladly accepted her invitation. He sat on the coffee table across from her and focused on their joined hands. "I… I'm sorry… for today. I blew it"

Alex nodded sympathetically and ran her free hand through his curls. "Yes. You did."

He looked up at her with a fleeting glance and back down at their hands.

"Where've you been all day?"

"I've been working on a way to get to Donny," he said slowly, apologetically.

"You want to fill me in?"

"I'm going to Tates… I have to make sure he's alright."

"And how exactly do you propose to do that?"

Bobby looked at her again. He opened his mouth to speak, but closed it again before forming any words.

"Bobby?" It was a question, but it was delivered with a stern warning. Alex feared his answer.

"I'm going to get myself thrown into Tates," he said, very matter-of-factly, as if he was telling her he was heading to the super market.

"No. No. Bobby it's too dangerous. Besides that, it'll never work. You can't be sure that you'll even end up at Tates."

"I have to do this Alex." His voice conveyed quiet resolve.

She threw his hand away and jumped to her feet. "That's bull shit Bobby! Up until three days ago, you didn't even know Donny existed. No," she shook her head, "you don't have to do this!"

Bobby was on his feet as well. "I do have to do this Alex. He's my nephew!"

"You don't even know him, Bobby" Her voice had reached a feverish pitch.

"It doesn't matter, Alex. He's family! He's the only family I have left."

"What about me?" He could see the anger and the hurt in her expression.

"You know what I mean. He's a good kid. He's in trouble. You said yourself he got screwed."

"Yes, Bobby. I agree. He got screwed. But you are not responsible for him. And how are you so sure he's a good kid? I should have never told you I talked to Frank."

"You had to tell me. Frank didn't leave you any choice."

"Bobby," Her voice was steadier, calmer, "Please Don't Do This."

"Alex.. I can't… I can't just... not do anything to help. He's at risk."

"You will be too, Bobby." There was so much anguish in her voice. She could barely speak above a whisper.

He took a small step toward her. "I'll be fine… I will."

Alex stood, defiant, with her arms crossed over her chest. "You don't know that."

Bobby rubbed the back of his neck. "I have to do this, Alex." He shrugged and let his hands fall to his sides. "I don't know what else to say."

She dropped her head and growled in frustration, a little louder than she meant to. She ran her hands through her hair and let them fall to her sides as well. It didn't matter how much she screamed or cried or begged. She could see in his eyes that his mind was made up. Alex surveyed the man standing in front of her, the man she loved with all her heart. He was such a conundrum. Why he felt like he had to champion every hard luck case, she would never know. She did, however, understandd family, and she knew that Bobby did, in deed, have to do this. It was one of the many reasons she loved him.

She drew in a deep breath. "I'm gonna' take a shower, calm down, and then we're gonna' talk about this. Your not going to Tates completely untethered. We need a plan, a good plan. But, right now, I need a shower."

Bobby nodded and let her go. He sank into the recliner and started rubbing his eyes. He hadn't even considered how his plan might affect her. He had hurt her by not considering her feelings. Her reaction, just as it had been when he re-opened Joe's case, was clouded by emotion. He had expected it then. Joe was her husband. He should have expected it this time, but he was simply too self-absorbed. With Joe's case, he had pressed forward in his search for the truth without thinking of the damage he could cause in the wake of his pursuit. When he decided to go to Tates, he hadn't planned on her being involved at all. "That's the problem, isn't it?" he thought. "She is involved, no matter how hard I push… I can't do it without her… I don't want to do anything without her." He rubbed his eyes harder. "I'm a selfish ass."

Bobby crawled into bed, put his hands behind his head, and stared at the ceiling. Still deep in thought, he didn't hear Alex enter the room. She stopped to study him for a moment. She had decided while in the shower that if he was determined to do this, she was determined to get him there and back in one piece. He looked so tired, his eyes weary. She settled on top of the covers to sit and face him. She put her hand on his chest in a gesture of love and comfort.

"Hey"

"Hey," he said and covered her hand with his.

"So, tell me what you have so far." She was all business. The wall that separated personal from professional was up and the edgy sarcasm that kept her grounded was firmly in place. He knew it was just her way of coping with their present situation.

"I'm gonna' take the bus up to Truvey where Donny was arrested and have a chat with our car dealer judge."

"That's probably the straightest route to Tates."

"I'll call you as soon as I can. According to your research, inmates get a phone call every 48 hours."

She nodded. "Did you create an identity today?"

"Yeah," he hesitated, "I've got that covered."

Alex caught his hesitation. "What are you not telling me?"

"Nothing… I just… I'm a history teacher from upstate."

"And your name would be?"

Bobby bit the inside of his lip. "William Brady"

"Brady" she said flatly. "Really, Bobby?," she snipped; her tone was rich with snark. She rolled her eyes and shook her head. "Anyway, don't forget to take care of your prints on the way."

"Right"

"Bobby?" The wall came crashing down. "Are you sure about this? Are you sure there isn't another way?"

He could see the anguish in her eyes. He hated that he was the cause. "Alex, I'm sorry," he whispered. "I just don't see one… There's gonna' be hell to pay when this is done, you know. You don't have to be involved... I don't want you going down for this with me."

"Don't even go there Bobby. I'm already involved. There is no way in hell I'm letting you go up there without, at least, a contact."

He started to protest. She held up one finger to effectively silence him. "The subject is closed."

She curled up next to him and buried her head in his chest. "I'm scared for you Bobby."

He squeezed her tight.

"Just promise me you'll stay under the radar. Don't draw attention to yourself."

When he didn't answer, she rolled over onto her stomach to again face him.

She knew he would never make her a promise that he didn't intend to keep. It just wasn't in his makeup. "At least promise me you'll be careful."

"I will." He pushed a runaway strand of hair away from her face.

"I guess that just leaves one more thing."

He furrowed his brow into a question.

"You need to make love to me. You know, for luck," she grinned.

Bobby chuckled and flipped her onto her back in one easy move. He pulled her in close. "Thank you."

She rubbed her hand over his scruffy cheek. "Just come home safe, OK?... I love you, Bobby."

He couldn't hear it enough, yet some small part of him was still surprised every time she said it. He responded in earnest, "I love you too Alex. You're the reason my heart is finally whole."

Moved by his sincerety, she pulled him down into a long, hard kiss. He responded with passion, deepening the kiss. He wanted her to feel, to know, that he needed her, that he loved her with everything he had.

Alex spotted his bus first. "There it is, 106. Looks like they're loading"

She turned to face him and put her hands on his chest. "Call me when you get there, and call me as soon as you can after. I promise you, Bobby, if I don't hear from you every 48 hours, I'm going to Ross." She stood on her tiptoes. "Or, if I think somethin's not right, I'm going to Ross. You understand?"

"I understand."

She fell back on her heels. "You just get there, take care of business, and get home. Alright?"

"Alright," he nodded.

She threw her arms around his neck and held him close. "You're the reason my heart is finally whole."

When she pulled back, he could see the tears welling up in her eyes. He kissed her quickly but firmly and headed for his bus. It was going to be a long trip upstate.

TBC

I already have the final chapter mapped out and should wrap this thing up soon. Please let me know what you think! Thanks!!