Chapter Eight-Bobby's Proposition

Bobby moved quickly and effieciently down the halls of New York Presbyterian Hospital. He was working a case with Eames when he received a call from Beth D'onofrio. The name didn't sound familiar at first, but once she identified to whom she was related, she had his complete attention. After apologizing profusely for disturbing him, she informed him that Mike had attacked Mary in their apartment and that she was hospitalized. She knew the Major Case Squad didn't handle assault cases, but since he had given Mary his card and told her to call him if Mike caused trouble, she was wondering if he could come to the hospital.

Mary was doing her best to put on a brave front, but Beth knew she was probably scared out of her mind and thought Bobby's presence might soothe her. Bobby agreed to meet them at the hospital and once her explained the situation to Eames, she allowed him to leave. He approached the nurse's station and after presenting his badge, the nurses pointed him in the direction of Mary's room. His long legs brought him to his destination quickly and he entered the room, taking in his surroundings. There were two uniformed officers in the room, along with Beth, Stacee, and Terra, who looked pale and badly shaken.

As dismal as they appeared, he felt even worse for Mary. Her body was badly bruised and her left arm was in a cast from when Mike forced her arms behind her. During the struggle he had broken her arm, but the adreneline was pumping so strongly through her body she didn't notice until after she was hospitalized. In fact, the pain hadn't officially set in until she was safely tucked into the hospital corrodoors, and now she felt every moment of her struggle with Mike. She had deep bruises from where Mike had choked her with his hands and belt, including an indentation of the belt buckle on her throat.

Mary's most noticable injuries were on her face, from where Mike had shoved it through the bedroom window. Plucking the seemingly endless buffet of glass shards from her face and head had been a painsaking, time consuming process, and the stitches weren't exactly a blast either. Once the doctors were finished with their handywork, Mary had asked for a mirror so she could see herself. They had been hesitent at first, but Mary remained firm in her request, so they finally acquiesed to her request. When Mary first saw herself in the mirror, she thought she resembled something between a football and Frankenstein.

Physicians had had to stitch most of her face, as well as the top and side of her head. She also suffered a concussion, but considering how often Mike had slammed her head about, she was surprised she wasn't in worse condition. The attack had badly shaken her, but she was doing to best to conceal her feelings from the girls, not wanting to frighten them further. For one thing, she didn't want to be treated like a victim and secondly, Stacee's never ending stream of tears and apologies were waning on her nerves.

When she looked up and saw Bobby enter the room, she was shocked. The Major Case Squad didn't handle assault cases, so she was wondering what he was doing here and now he found out about her condition. Before she could say anything, she heard a commotion coming from the hallway. Bobby motioned for the other two officers to stay with Mary so he could investigate what was happening. He saw a tall, imposing man racing down the hall, demanding answers from hospital personnel as a middle aged woman, a younger woman and gentleman followed after him.

Bobby quickly realized they were Mary's parents, sister, and her sister's boyfriend, so he walked over to greet them. The women and young man stopped in their tracks, but the older gentleman stormed past Bobby as if he didn't see him. He entered Mary's room and raced to her bed.

"Mary, honey, I got here as soon as I could. How are you, baby?" Stephen asked, lowering himself into the chair next to her bed. Terra, Stacee, and Beth were too jittery to sit, so they were standing in various places in the room. Stephen was afraid of causing his daughter more pain, so he settled for taking her hand in his.

"I feel about as good as I look," Mary cracked, her father's presence doing wonders for her nerves. No matter what was going on in her life, her father had a way of making things right.

"What is being done about this?" Stephen demanded, his expression hard as he shifted his attention from his beloved daughter to the police officers that were doing nothing in his opinion.

"Mr. Alden has been hospitalized and is being treated for his injuries. Once he is discharged he will be areigned before a judge, where it will be determined whether or not he will be released on bail," said Officer Malone, a female officer in her mid thirties.

"'Released on bail?" Stephen repeated, looking at her as if she had sprouted a second head. "that...that...monster beat and almost raped my baby and you are saying there is a chance he will be released? Are you people fucking kidding me? You are waiting for him to kill my daughter before you get off your lazy asses and do something?"

Mary winced at the blunt manner in which he said 'beat and almost raped', since hearing about it made the situation real and she wasn't ready to come to terms with what happened. "Daddy..."

"No, no I will not calm down," Stephen said, waving her off before looking at the other officer, a gentleman about the same age as Office Malone. His badge read 'Officer Richards.'

"What is being done to ensure my daughter's safety?" Stephen continued. "it's bad enough you people endorse the release of violent criminals, but do you at least protect their victims, or is that not in the job description? Does a body have to be present before you'll do anything? Whom do I need to speak to in order to ensure my baby doesn't become another statistic, since it appears the two of you are rather useless."

Stephen then shifted his attention to Bobby, as if finally noticing his existence. There weren't many people in the world that could stare him down, but Bobby was now the newest target of Stephen's intense, dark glare. Stephen's eyes were naturally dark brown, but when he was angry they turned black in color and the rage radiating from them was palpable. If Stephen's rage became any hotter Bobby was convinced he would combust into flames.

"Who the hell are you?" Before Bobby could respond, an idea suddenly struck Stephen and he stormed over to Bobby, grabbing him by the collar of his shirt and slamming him up against the wall.

The women stared at Stephen in amazement and Mary's mouth was slightly gaped. Her father was one of the kindest, most loving people she knew, but when he felt his family was being threatened, well, good times were not in store for the one doing the threatening. Mary could think of several things safer than dealing with her enraged father and poking a rattlesnake with a stick or kidnapping a Grisley Bear's cubs were right at the top of the list.

"For the love of God, you better not be Mike's defense attorney! I swear, if you are here to justify that monster's actions..."

Bobby was wearing a grey suit and solid colored tie as opposed to the uniforms of the other officers, so Stephen hadn't realized Bobby was a law enforcement officer as well. That all changed when Bobby reached into his pocket and produced his badge. Stephen's eyes widened slightly and he set Bobby back onto the ground.

"I'm sorry about that, Detective Goren," he muttered, momentarily looking something besides homicidal.

"It's quite alright, General, your family gone through quite an ordeal today," Bobby said benevonently.

"How did you know I was a general?" Stephen asked, eyeing Bobby with curiousity.

"Detective Goren and I have met before, Daddy," Mary explained.

Stephen turned his attention back to his daughter, who explained her encounter with Mike at Stacee's, as well as Bobby's intervention. Bobby watched as Stephen's face darkened with anger as he heard of how Mike had manhandled his baby and he hadn't been there to rearrange his face. When Mary finished talking, Stephen sat back down beside her and reclaimed her hand.

"Mary, why didn't you tell me what happened? If I had known what that bastard..."

"Exactly, Daddy. I knew how you would react and I didn't want to cause more drama in this family. Besides, you're too old for prison."

"All the same, Mary, you should have told me. I have never liked you taking him on by yourself."

"Technically, Daddy, I wasn't alone that time. Bobby...Detective Goren, let Mike know just how unhappy his behavior made everyone. You would have been pleased-when he slammed Mike into the bar, it was just how you would have done it."

Stephen's lips twitched in amusement and he looked back at Bobby. "Are you investigating this case, too, Detective Goren?"

"No sir, I'm not. I'm part of the Major Case Squad, and they don't handle assault cases."

"Then what are you doing here? Did Mary call you?"

"No, Uncle Steve, I did," Beth said. "Detective Goren told Mary to call him if Mike bothered her again, so I called him on the way to the hospital-after I called you."

"What is being done to ensure my daughter's safety?" Stephen suddenly asked again. "if Mike is released on bail, I think it's safe to assume he will strike again."

"If Mr. Alden is in fact released on bail, the ada will most likely request for a restraining order to be put in affect," Officer Richards replied.

"A restraining order, that's nice, that's really fucking great. I feel so much better now, since we all know a piece of paper is all it takes to stop a criminal in his tracks," Stephen said, sarcasm dripping in his voice. "if it's really that simple, why don't we just have him pinky swear that he'll be on his best behavior? A pinky swear and restraining order are basically the same thing, the only difference being we can save a tree, if not my daughter."

"I want round the clock security for my daughter," Stephen continued, looking at Malone and Richards. "God knows my tax dollars pay enough for it. When can we have that arranged?"

"I'm sorry sir, but that's not a service we provide," Officer Malone said, treading carefully. "we can periodically check on your daughter, but twenty-four hour surveilence isn't provided in assault cases."

"If you want your daughter more closely monitored, I'm afraid that is something you will have to arrange, sir," Officer Richards replied.

"That's it, Mary, you are coming home with your mother and me," Stephen said.

"Dad, no..."

"Mary Theresa Mayfield, don't argue with me. It isn't safe for you to be alone in your apartment, especially if Mike does in fact make parole. After what he's done to you, he has nothing to lose."

"Dad, what happened to me today was horrendous, but I am not going to let Mike, or you, dictate what I do with my life. When I am discharged I am going home with the girls and that is final."

Before Stephen could erupt, Allyson intercepted. "Mary, why don't you and the girls stay with Brenden and me? Our loft may not be as large as your apartment, but there is still plenty of room and it could be fun. Besides, I'm sure it will be a few days before the police are finished searching your apartment for evidence and my place is much closer to the station than Mom and Dad's if they need to question you."

"Allie, that's very nice of you..." Mary began.

"Mary, it's no trouble, really. We would be glad to have you," Brenden added.

"General, I would be happy to check on Mary until the completion of Mr. Alden's trial," Bobby said, wanting to diffuse the situation. "I don't live far from her apartment, so I could stop by after work if you would like."

"Fine," Stephen replied. Suddenly, a light flickered in his eyes so he exited the room, pulling his cellphone out of his pocket.

"Bobby, you don't have to do this. I appreciate you trying to keep the peace..."

Bobby raised a hand to silence Mary. "It's no problem, Mary, really. Your place isn't that far from mine, so I don't mind checking on you for a few minutes."

"Still, this isn't your responsibility, or even your jurisdiction. Your schedule is full enough as it is with your own job, dealing with your own cases, and I'm certain you must have a family to tend to." Mary hadn't seen a wedding band on his finger, not that she was looking, but a man his age had to have children, a girlfriend, a mother, or at the very least a houseplant.

"I don't have any family in the city," Bobby said, his tone neutral. He was uncomfortable discussing his background with anyone, much less someone he barely knew. "so after my shift is over, my evenings are free."

"Thank you, Detective Goren. We appreciate your concern. I feel better knowing someone is looking in on my daughter and I'm sure Mary is relieved she doesn't have to move back home," said Carolyn.

Robert and the rest of Mary's family conversed while Mary and the other officers remained silent. Mary wasn't sure what he father was doing, but somehow she knew it was going to be extreme. She looked up at the ceiling and prayed that he wasn't executing his revenge on Mike. As much as Mary hated what Mike did to her, the last thing she wanted was her beloved father behind bars, so she was relieved when he re entered the room, his clothing bloodfree and his wrists free of handcuffs. Her curiousity was piqued when he leaned against the wall, his eagle eyes fixated on Bobby. Before Mary could speak, Bobby's cellphone rang. He reached into his pocket and retrieved the phone, excusing himself from the room so he could take the call in private.

"Goren," he said once he was out of the room.

"Hi Goren, it's Captain Hannah. I assume you are still at the hospital with Ms. Mayfield."

"Yes sir, that is correct. Did Eames inform you about what was happening?"

"No. I just got off the phone with a General Mayfield, the victim's father. I trust you remember your encounter with him."

"Yes sir I do," Goren said, wondering where this was going. He knew he wasn't the congenial person on the planet, but he was fairly certain he hadn't pissed off Mary's tempermental father.

"It seems that you made quite an impression on him because effective now, he wants you on security detail for his daughter until the case against Mr. Alden is resolved."

"S...security detail? Sir, I know I promised to check on Mary, but I can't abandom Eames and my caseload. Surely there is a security company he could contact. For a man of his resources, his options would be limitless."

"That may be true, but General Mayfield was very specific that he wanted you looking after his daughter. He said you are fully abreast of Mary's situation and she appears comfortable with you. As for Eames, Nichols is now assisting her with your cases."

"Captain...with all due respect..."

"Goren, the decision has been made. You are asigned to Ms. Mayfield's protective detail until the completion of her legal dealings with Mr. Alden. I know this is unconventional, but you have never been one to behave in a conventional manner, so this shouldn't be too strange for you. Think of this as a career bolster-protecting a General's daughter looks good on a resume and would do wonders to redeem yourself in the brass' eyes."

Goren said nothing, so Captain Hannah continued speaking. "I want you to go to your apartment and pack your bags. As of now, Ms. Mayfield is all yours."

"Yes Captain," Goren said, knowing there was nothing more he could do.

Captain Hannah hung up and Goren slapped the lid of his cellphone shut before shoving it into his pocket. He looked back at the hospital room, not knowing how to feel about this situation. He was annoyed at being pulled from his caseload, his opinion counting for nothing. General Mayfield's sense of entitlement also galled him: the fact that he had called Captain Hannah with such demands left Goren annoyed and more than a little angry.

At the same time, he was also intrigued. Mary was an interesting young woman and there were worse things in life than spending time with an intelligent, fiesty young woman. He knew he had little time, so he exited the hospital so he could go home and pack.