Chapter 6

Thankfully, the morning had passed quickly. The hospital staff decided to move Alex out of intensive care and so there was much to distract her from her troubles.

Once in the new room, Bobby stood by the window and described the details outside that she couldn't see. Her sister arrived before lunch, providing yet another distraction. After lunch came the long awaited medication, which had the side effect of making her sleepy.

Liz and John senior went to get something to eat, leaving Bobby with Alex. Before long, he was asleep in the chair, head propped against his hand, which was pinned between the arm of the chair and the backrest.

The Eames family gathered in the hall outside her room. Both Alex and Bobby were visible through a window to the hall.

Johnny saw Bobby and stiffened. "Why is he here?"

"She asked for him," Liz explained, keeping her voice soft.

Johnny didn't try to hide his displeasure.

"Johnny," his father warned, "No matter how you feel about it… she's been better since he's been here. Set your feelings aside. We have to do what's right for Alex."

The younger man frowned and folded his arms. "She's been better?" he asked, finally.

"She hasn't been as angry," Liz said. "Or as weepy."

"And she stopped complaining about her aches and pains every five minutes," John senior added.

Johnny looked back and forth between his sister and his father, wondering if he should share what was on his mind. "Is there somewhere we can talk?" he asked them, uncomfortable in the bustling hallway.

"There's a waiting room, over here," his Dad pointed. The group moved down the hall. His father and Liz sat on the couch, and Johnny pulled a chair close to them.

"I asked around… I found out… more… about what happened." His family looked at him expectantly, braced for whatever horror he might reveal.

"They thought it was a serial killer… named Sebastian. He was known for torturing and sexually abusing his victims before brutally killing them." He shared a few of the details he knew, and Liz held her hand over her mouth. "The one who got Alex was a copycat. Alex is… is lucky she's still alive. The other victims…" He paused. He knew Liz and his father were having a hard time hearing it. At last, Johnny shared the details he knew of how Jo had maimed and killed the others, and how Alex had listened while Amanda's life had been stripped away.

"My God," Liz gasped.

Their father sat stone still. His lips were pressed tight together, but he showed no other signs of disturbance.

"Dad?" Johnny asked after a long silence.

"We have to do what's right for Alex," was all he said.

For the first time, she awoke without fear. Alex blinked and attempted a stretch before pain cut it short. She saw Bobby's sleeping form twisted uncomfortably in the chair, and her heart ached for him.

With some effort, she raised up on one elbow and reached for the remote that controlled the bed. The motor whirred and she fell back as the mattress rose, elevating her head.

He was up and alert at once. Bobby stood by until she clicked the motion to a stop. He reached back and adjusted her pillow for her. His eyes asked, and she nodded. Yes. It was good.

"You're tired," she told him.

Bobby gave her a crooked grin. "At least I don't look like hell anymore."

Alex smiled too, for a moment. "Bobby, I want you to go home tonight. Get some rest."

His expression sobered. To be honest, he wasn't sure how he felt about that. And last night had proven that being home wasn't any guarantee of rest. Before he had the chance to reply, the door opened and Liz came in, followed by the others. They exchanged cheerful greetings. Bobby went to stand by the window.

He didn't go straight home. He managed to eat a light meal, and before long found himself in a jewelry shop just off the main drag. He stuck his hands in his pockets and meandered around, half looking in the cases and equally distracted by the glitter and shine that seemed to pop at him from everywhere in the room.

"Can I help you?" The shopkeeper was Indian, and wore an oxford shirt buttoned all the way to the collar. Bobby unconsciously rubbed the nape of his neck before he answered.

"I, uh… I have a friend. She's in the hospital. I wanted to get her something… maybe religious? A cross or something?"

The man nodded and hurried over to a case by the far wall. Bobby took a few steps and joined him. He scanned the items in the case and pointed to a Greek cross in the back. When the man pulled it out, he took it out of the box and examined the length of the chain. Bobby held it to the neck of the partial mannequin that sat on the glass. Satisfied, he nodded. He handed it to the Indian man and watched as he wiped it down and replaced it in the box. As the man placed it in a bag, Bobby pulled out his wallet.

Goren opened the door and didn't have to stoop to look at his guest. "Logan."

"Hey, I was in the neighborhood. How is she today?" he asked, following Bobby into his apartment. He passed to shut the door behind him.

"I guess every day she gets a little better," Bobby said. "They moved her out of the ICU."

"Fantastic." Logan glanced around, noticing the evidence of Bobby's meltdown the night before. There was an untidy mess of books on the hall floor, and the broken answering machine was peeking out of the top of the trash can.

Bobby offered him a beer.

"Sure, thanks," Logan said, twisting off the cap of the bottle and taking a swig. "Everything okay here?" he asked, eyeing the hall again.

"Yeah, sure." Bobby's eyes followed Logan's and he realized he needed to explain. "That… that was yesterday."

"Cap wanted me to ask you, uh… how much time you need."

Bobby cocked his head and seemed perplexed.

"We've picked up a little, and with both of you out, you know…"

"Tell him I don't know."

"Will do."

Logan pulled out a kitchen chair and sat down, taking another swig of his beer. Bobby sat down across from him. "They're giving me a new partner."

"Lucky you."

"Thrilled, I tell you." Bobby popped the cap off his own beer and took a sip, waiting for Logan to continue. "Her name's Wheeler. She looks like a kid."

"Yeah, I think I saw her, last week or something?"

Logan nodded. "She came in for the introductions, the orientation session."

"I guess I haven't got enough tenure for a more experienced partner."

"Or maybe Ross trusts you to bring her up to speed."

Mike scoffed. "Yeah, that'll be the day."

Bobby raised his bottle again and shrugged. "Just trying to put a positive spin on it."

The other man finished his beer, making easy conversation about office politics. At last, he scooted the chair out and stood. "I've gotta get going. Look, Goren, uh… keep me posted on Eames."

"Sure, Logan. Good luck with Wheeler," he said.

After Mike left, Bobby took the box out of the bag and studied the necklace again. Pleased with his purchase, he closed the top of the little box and headed to his room, stepping over the mess of books in the hallway.

For the first time in over a week, Bobby Goren slept all night.