Chapter 20

She was crying when he arrived. Bobby went around to the other side of the bed where she could see him. He picked up her hand, careful not to bump the IV tubing. "Mom, I'm here," he said, only to hear her whimper louder.

"They're horrible, Bobby! Horrible, horrible people!"

He held his breath and nodded, as his face twisted with anguish.

"I didn't—I never thought you'd come."

"I came, Mom. I'm here." He bit his lower lip, wishing somehow his presence would make her feel better.

"They think I'm an imbecile, Bobby. They think schizophrenic is a synonym for stupid."

"Now, Ma, I doubt that."

"You weren't here! You didn't hear how they spoke to me!" She sobbed, and he bent down to hold her in his arms. He drew in a ragged breath as he realized just how thin she was. The illness was taking her away from him. If he stayed away much longer…

At last, she quieted. He released her, laying her gently back against her pillow.

"I love you, Ma," he said.

She did not respond, only turned her head and stared at the equipment beside her bed.

Bobby folded his hands in front of him. Elbows on knees, he pressed the knuckles of his thumbs against his lips and sat in silence with her for more than an hour. Eventually, she fell asleep.

Bobby got to his feet, then, and folded his arms. He looked out the window of the hospital room, and imagined what it must have been like for her. His mother was no fool. The staff probably had misjudged her intelligence. They probably had seemed condescending. He could feel his anger swelling again, and he rubbed one hand against the back of his neck.

He wondered if he still had a job.

"Yeah," he said with a frog in his throat. He cleared it with a grunt and spoke again. "Eames, hello."

"How is she?" Alex asked.

"I, uh… not good. I… I should have been here sooner, Eames."

Alex wanted to ask more, but she couldn't think of the right words. She sat in silence and waited for him to continue.

"Anyway, she was… very upset when I got here. It- it didn't seem to help."

"And now?"

"She fell asleep. I'm gonna… I'm gonna stay here with her, Alex. At least until she's released from the hospital."

"Okay."

"Are you…? Ross didn't take it out on you, did he?"

"No, Bobby. He left me alone."

"Good," he said, relieved.

"I took care of the paperwork," she announced. "Take as much time as you need."

"I, uh… I still have a job?" he asked, half-joking.

Alex smiled. "I think so. The Captain knows this hasn't been easy on you."

Bobby nodded. "That's good. I, uh… I need to, uh… to pay the bills."

"Bobby?" he was quiet on the other end of the line. "Is there anything I can do?"

He closed his eyes and ran his teeth over his bottom lip. "You're already doing it," he said.

"I'll call you tomorrow," she said. "Good night, Bobby."

"Night, Alex." He hung up the phone, and for a split second, he wanted her desperately. Just as quickly, he turned to his mother. Alex had no idea what his mother was really like. She had no idea, and he needed to keep it that way. He needed someone to understand the love and respect he had for the frail woman on the bed in front of him. If Alex knew more… how the schizophrenia manifested… she'd be just as bad as the hospital staff, and he couldn't allow that.

He needed Alex on his side, and to keep her on his side, he had to keep her at arm's length.

It was a week before she was back at the home, and Bobby was finally starting to sleep again. He'd called Eames every night, and she could hear the change in him, gradual though it was.

"Look, I'm, uh, checking out now," Bobby told her, zipping his bag shut. "I'm coming home."

"I'm glad, Bobby. Stop by when you reach the city. I'd like to see you, if you're not too tired."

Bobby grinned and spun around, glancing out the window at the lake. The heat of the day was rising off the water in great wisps of steam. "Okay," he said quietly. "I'll do that."

He hung up the phone and dropped it into his pocket. Bobby grabbed his bag in one hand and dropped the room key card and a tip on the top of the dresser. Then he picked up his coat and hurried out to the car.

In her mind, Alex knew he was better, but when she saw him in her doorway, her heart was full. Without a second thought, she held out her arms. He stepped inside and dropped his bag on the floor, taking her into a full embrace.

"Oh, God I missed you," Alex breathed against his chest.

"I missed you, too," Bobby said, his voice muffled, and his lips pressed into her hair.

Finally, with a smile, Alex pulled away and shut the door. "You want some wine?" she asked, and he nodded with a smile.

Bobby followed her into the kitchen, and they sat for an hour, talking. They emptied the bottle.

He made the first move. Alex couldn't. So much had happened, and he was the one who had pulled away, so he had to be the one to bridge the gap. She accepted his kiss without hesitation, and felt his hand drift behind to slide up her back.

"I'm sorry," Bobby whispered, pulling her into another hug.

"No. Don't do that. We agreed that this would be… whatever it needs to be…" Alex kissed him again. "Don't be sorry, Bobby. You were there for your Mom, that's what matters."

His mouth was greedy, and she felt her own body yearning for more. Alex wriggled closer until she was out of the chair. They rose to their feet together, with only a few breaks in the kisses.

In the bedroom, she pawed at him, loosing a button here, a zipper there. She worked on her own clothes, as well, and before long they were diving for the bed, for the warm comfort to be found there.

He stopped himself several times. He wanted to make it last… for her. She wore a smile as she pulled a nightgown over her head. He slipped back into his boxers, and she held him, curled beside her, his face against her chest as they both succumbed to sleep.