CHAPTER 41

Alex woke to the sound of water running and the smell of coffee. She turned in the bed and found an empty spot instead of Bobby.

"He's up," she thought. "He's got the coffee going. He's taking a shower. All of this is very good." She stretched and slipped out from beneath the covers. She walked to the half bathroom, and then into the kitchen. The water stopped as she poured a cup of coffee. She was seated at the kitchen table savoring the coffee—Bobby always had some of the best—when she heard his cry.

"Alex! Alex! Where are you?"

She jumped from her chair and ran into the bedroom. She almost collided with Bobby as he rushed from the room. He wore a clean T-shirt and boxers, and his wet hair spiked on his head. He seized Alex by her arms, and she winced in pain. He released her.

"I…I'm sorry…" He looked at the floor. "I…I got back…And you weren't there…" He looked and sounded like a lost, little boy, which, Alex though, he was in many ways.

"I just got a cup of coffee," she said, trying to keep her voice calm.

Bobby leaned against the wall. "Of course you did. You woke up…I probably woke you up…And you smelled the coffee and you went to get a cup…which is exactly what I wanted you to do." He shook his head. "It's just…Sometimes I'm not sure what was…Is…Real…And when I went in the bedroom and you weren't there…I freaked…"

"You don't plan to go in, do you?" Alex touched his newly shaved cheek.

"I…Yes…I promised…If I get tired or anything…I'll go home…I promise…"

"It's important to you?"

"Yes."

"Did you sleep at all last night?"

"Uh..Yea…And for me…A lot and well…The pill…It helped. And I didn't feel groggy this morning."

Alex smiled.

"I know…I know…Both you and Huang told me. I'll consider the pills more often."

"Ok." Alex felt a small sense of victory. "I'm going to get a shower. If you want to go into work, we'll go into work. If not…" She looked out a window. "It's a nice day…We can hang out in the park…"

She had some hopes that Bobby might opt for the day off, but she wasn't surprised when she emerged from the bathroom to find him dressed in a suit and tie. He had his own cup of coffee and stood looking out the kitchen window. He was quiet as Alex drove her car into Manhattan.

"I…I have to admit," he said at one point. "This has its advantages."

"You don't get to study as many people as you do in the subway," Alex said.

"I get to study the one person I really want to study," Bobby said softly.

Alex's heart leaped. "That's one of the best lines I've ever heard."

"Maybe because I mean it," he said.

Alex concentrated on the road for several minutes. "What do you think we're going to find at the office?"

"I…I don't know…I have a terrible feeling that the Brass may want to show off their victory…"

"At least they like you," Alex said.

"For now…"

Alex thought they were early, but the Major Case Squad was buzzing when they stepped off the elevator. Curious eyes followed her and Bobby as they walked through the bullpen. Ross met them before they reached their desks. "Please," he said. "My office…"

Alex frowned. "This is bad news, isn't it?" she asked as Ross shut his door.

Bobby flopped down in a chair.

"The Brass and FBI honchos want to have press conference on the Sebastian case this morning," Ross said.

Alex couldn't suppress a "What!" Bobby rubbed the back of his neck. Ross looked miserable.

"And," Bobby said. "They want me there…"

"Yes," Ross admitted.

"What are they thinking?" Alex asked, her astonishment briefly greater than her anger. "It was just yesterday…And…And now they want to put Bobby on display?"

"Will…Will I have to answer questions?" Bobby asked.

"I hope not," Ross said. "I'm afraid you're right, Alex. They want him there for the PR."

Alex stood quietly seething for several seconds. "Bobby," she said suddenly. "How's your throat feel?"

Puzzled, Bobby looked up at her. "My…My throat?"

Alex saw a gleam in Ross' eyes. "Is Detective Goren not feeling well?" he asked.

"I think he said something about a sore throat as we came in today," Alex said. She walked over to Bobby and placed the back of her hand on his forehead. "He feels warm…Very warm…"

"I…I feel warm?" Bobby blinked.

Ross looked out at the squad room. "Just a moment…"

"What's going on?" Bobby asked as the Captain left his office.

"I think you might have the start of that flu that's going around," Alex said.

"What? I…I don't feel great, but I don't think…"

"Detectives." Ross, followed by George Huang, returned. "We're lucky to have a doctor here."

"I do have my MD," Huang said genially. A smile played on his face. "You don't look well, Detective Goren. How do you feel?"

"Uh…Tired…I mean…" Bobby looked at Ross, then Alex, then Huang. "I…I appreciate what you're trying to do…But…I have to face them sometime…"

"Detective," Huang said patiently. "There's no good reason for you to be at this conference. And I think that given everything…"

"Damn it!" Bobby said sharply. "I…I'm not some fragile…I'm not…" He took a deep breath. "If I'm going to do this job, I can't be babied. I have to face things. If I'm going to do the job." He was lost in thought for a moment. "Except…I'm not going to get to do the job, am I?"

"Bobby," Alex said. "What gives you that idea? You've got your badge and your gun."

Bobby uncoiled from the chair and began to pace. "Yea…But they haven't let me into any situation where I might have to use them."

"Detective," Ross said. "I meant everything that I've said through this case. You're a valuable member of this squad. I have and will fight for you…"

"And I would never have cleared you for duty if I didn't think you were ready," Huang said.

"You're both risking…For me…" Bobby shook his head. "But none of the Brass…"

"I assure you, Goren," Ross said. "Your work on this case…"

"This case…" Bobby repeated. "This case is over, Captain. Where's the next case?"

"Bobby," Alex began.

"Where is it, Eames? Has anyone said anything about our next case?"

"No…But…" Alex turned to Ross.

"Detective…I assure you…Everyone wanted to give you time to recover from this case," Ross explained.

"Detective Goren," Huang said gently. "Think…"

"I am thinking," Bobby said. "You…Not you and Ross…But the Brass…They don't trust me…Other cops don't…The FBI still doesn't…If I don't have the work…" He waved a large paw towards the squad room. "Out there…How many of them trust me…"

Ross stepped closer to Bobby. "I know, Goren…All the members of Major Case were deeply involved in the search and rescue of you…They want you here…"

Bobby leaned against the door. "I…I'm confused…I…"

"I think," Dr. Huang said gently. "Detective Goren has the flu. I think he needs rest for at least…Oh, say, forty-eight hours…"

"Does he need anything else?" Alex asked gently.

"Just what you do for the flu," Huang said. "Rest…Lots of liquids…Watch the fever…Food…That sort of treatment helps a lot of things besides the flu….Detective Goren…"

Bobby raised his head.

"You need some rest," Huang said. "You can do the job…But you don't…You shouldn't…Have to prove that you can do it…"

"Detective Eames," Ross said.

"Yes, Sir?"

"I'm ordering you to escort Detective Goren out of Major Case and back to his home. We can't have him spreading more flu germs throughout the department."

Alex smiled. "Yes, Sir."

Bobby turned to Ross. "But…"

"I'll have a case for you and Detective Eames soon…I'm sure of it," Ross said.

"But…The press conference…The Brass…The FBI…You'll have to deal with them…" Bobby stammered.

Ross smiled. "The Chief of Detectives doesn't have any control over flu bugs."

"You may be enjoying this too much, Captain," Huang said.

"You may be right, Doctor…You may be right," Ross acknowledged.

"C'mon, partner." Alex stepped around Bobby and opened the door. "Thank you for the special assignment, Captain," she said warmly.

"Yes…Thank you," Bobby said softly.

Bobby struggled with his feelings and thoughts as Alex drove back to his home. He was confused. His head hurt. His body hurt. He began to believe that his throat hurt. "Maybe I am coming down with something," he thought.

"You ok?" Alex asked as they neared his house.

"Just…confused," he confessed.

"It'll be ok," Alex assured him.

When they reached his home, Bobby stumbled into the living room and collapsed on his couch.

"I'm going to fix some tea," Alex said. "You want some?"

"Yea…Thank you…" Bobby fumbled with the TV remote.

In the kitchen, Alex heard Bobby flip through different stations. "Guys and the remote," she thought. The flipping stopped when he reached a station carrying the NYPD/FBI press conference on the Sebastian cases. Alex stepped from the kitchen to the entry to the living room. An impressive roster of NYPD and FBI Brass stood behind a lectern with a flock of microphones. The Chief of Detectives was in the front row, but Alex saw Captain Ross hovering in the back. He was one of the few not trying to force his way to the front. The head of the FBI's New York field office was in charge of the conference, and Alex admitted that he spread the credit for the capture and confessions of Mark Caldwell and Thomas Linley throughout the task force. Some of those cops and agents stepped forward at the mention of their names. Alex was about to ask if Bobby had heard his name mentioned when the FBI man said, "Unfortunately the officer most responsible for the capture of these vicious killers couldn't be here today. NYPD Detective Robert Goren has the flu. His work was amazing, especially considering that he was a victim of these men. The success of this investigation is due to Detective Goren's efforts. His interrogations of Mark Caldwell and Thomas Linley resulted in the discovery of the bodies of many victims. I certainly hope Detective Goren recovers soon and can enjoy his well deserved congratulations."

Alex, with no little sense of satisfaction, saw that the Chief of Detectives looked decidedly uncomfortable. She looked at the back of Bobby's head and realized that it jerked with every compliment.

"Bobby…"

"I…I'm fine," he said in a low voice.

Alex stepped closer to the couch. "You should be very proud. High praise…"

"That I don't deserve…"

She was about to respond when she heard Bobby's name mentioned on the television. Reporters were asking questions, and one wanted to know when Detective Goren might be available for an interview. Bobby flinched.

"We hope he can join us for another conference in the near future," the Chief of Detectives said. Captain Ross looked very unhappy.

Alex walked to the TV and turned it off. "Bastard," she spat.

Bobby shifted uncomfortably on the couch. "I…I'm sorry…I should've gone for a nature program…"

"Hey…I was curious too," Alex said. "The Chief his usual self promoting…"

"Sounds like I'll be meeting the press in the near future," Bobby said shakily.

"Not unless I'm with you," Alex declared.

Bobby rubbed the back of his neck.

The tea kettle whistled loudly.

"I'll be back with the tea in a minute," Alex said.

She walked back to the kitchen, pulled two mugs from the shelf, placed a tea bag in each, and poured boiling water over them. She stirred sugar into both mugs. As she picked the mugs up, she thought she heard a faint click.

"Bobby?" she called. There was no answer.

She carried the two mugs into the living room, and stared at the couch. Bobby was gone.

END CHAPTER 41