Chapter 3

Bobby stood outside her door, leaning the length of his back against the cool wall, eyes closed and head arched upward. A familiar voice rattled him from his comfortable shell.

"How is she?"

He opened his eyes and stood up straight. "She's uh… there's a physical therapist with her now."

Logan nodded quietly and glanced around. His eyes fell on Goren again. "You look like hell."

Bobby smiled and chuckled quietly. "That's what she said."

Logan grinned, too. "Had breakfast?"

Bobby shook his head and followed his friend. He would have liked to have stayed with her, but he had no idea how long the therapy session would last, and he had been asked to leave while they worked with her.

Before long, they were sliding trays through the cafeteria line. Mike was glad to see Bobby piling his high with food. From what he heard, the man hadn't eaten much in the last week.

Mike paid for both before Bobby had a chance to protest. They walked to a table and sat down.

"Uh, thanks. Next one's on me," Bobby said.

"Sure." They ate a few bites. "How is she?" Mike asked again.

Bobby shrugged. "Tired. Sore. Traumatized."

His expression was sad as he tried to imagine Alex Eames that way. Then a small smile turned his lips. "Still, she said you look like hell. She must be in there somewhere."

Bobby smiled too. "She cursed at me this morning, too."

"Atta girl," Mike said, and they drank a toast to her. "You get any sleep?"

He squirmed and shrugged again. "Oh, you know, some."

"Goren, she's safe now. You need to get some rest."

He shook his head. "But she's not all right. I don't know who can help her when she… when she wakes up in a cold sweat…" His eyes darkened as his voice trailed away.

"Her family?" Mike suggested.

Bobby sighed. He hadn't told her family yet. He was waiting for Alex to give him the go ahead. And he was ashamed to face them, to admit his failure to protect her.

"Goren?"

"I… I, uh… haven't told them yet."

Logan stared at him. "What?"

"I haven't told them."

"Goren, she's close to her family. Every weekend she's doing something with one or the other of them, right?"

He nodded.

"And her brother's a firefighter."

Bobby nodded again.

"Word gets to him from somebody other than you or her, and there'll be hell to pay."

Bobby sighed again and hung his head.

"Look, Goren. I'm not telling you what to do. But if it were me, I'd get her family over here and go home and get two or three days of shuteye. From what I hear, you've both been through hell. You've got some recovering of your own to do."

Bobby listened and chewed on his lower lip. What Mike didn't understand was that he couldn't recover without Eames. He cleared his throat. "I'll… I'll think about it."

"I bet the Captain would be willing to call them if you don't—"

"No. I'll do it." Bobby pushed his tray away, leaving half of it uneaten.

"That's it?" Mike asked, looking at the food.

Bobby shrugged. "My eyes were bigger than my stomach."

She was angry and in pain when he returned to her room. Logan stayed a few minutes and then left her in Bobby's care. He observed her from the chair, and she screwed her eyes shut, blocking both him and the pain out of her mind.

The chair scraped against the floor as he stood, and her eyes flew open. Bobby mentally kicked himself. "Sorry," he said. "I'm gonna, go out for a few minutes."

"You're leaving?" she asked.

"Did… did you need something?"

She closed her eyes again. "No."

Bobby frowned as he stared at her again. Whatever was going on with her, she wasn't about to tell him. He turned and quietly went out the door.

"Hello, Mr. Eames?" Bobby said. "Bobby Goren, here. Uh, there's been, an… an event. And Alex is in the hospital." He listened to the man's surprised questions. "Look, I think it would be better if I could explain in… in person. No, she's not in any danger, now, but it… it was very serious. I think she needs her family."

He could see the family resemblance after he told her story. John Eames, especially, reminded him of Alex. The man was stiff with resolve, and his eyes wore the strength of steel. He turned and entered her room without a word, while Johnny and Liz sat in stunned silence.

"Poor Lexie," Liz said sadly.

Johnny glanced at his sister, but he, too, wore the same look his father'd had. He stood up and folded his arms, imagining the horrors his sister had been subjected to. Then he quietly went inside Alex's room.

Liz looked over at Bobby, and he could swear he saw a glimpse of compassion in her eyes. "You've been through the ringer, too."

He remained silent and only bent his head to look at the swirls in the marble tile at his feet.

"Why? Why did you wait two days to call us?" She asked softly.

He felt his cheeks burning. He scuffed the tip of his shoe against the floor. "When they… found her… she couldn't have visitors long… five minutes… I uh, I was still working, too… looking for the one who… and I guess I was so wrapped up in it that…"

"It's okay," she said, stopping him. "She's okay," Liz said, trying to reassure him.

"I'm sorry. I should have called sooner."

"It's okay, detective."

As she went inside, Bobby sank into a chair in the hall. His eyes remained focused on the tiles, his thoughts swirling along with the lines that curled through them. He heard Johnny come back out, and he could feel the man's eyes upon him. He knew a judgment was being passed, and Bobby couldn't bring himself to look up and face it.

"You don't have to stay," Johnny said. "We'll take care of her, now."

Bobby shut his eyes and took a long, slow breath. His head started to nod before he breathed the word. "Yeah." Sadly, he got to his feet. He looked back at the door to her room. "Tell her," he said, and then glanced hopefully at Johnny. "Tell her?"

Eames didn't really respond, but Bobby acted as if he did and walked toward the hospital exit.