Chapter 8

"Bobby, what the hell?" Lewis climbed onto the empty barstool beside him.

"Did she call you?!" Bobby asked in a flash of anger.

Lewis was surprised. "Who, Alex? No, man. I saw the 'stang out on the street. I thought you said you two were working it out!"

"We are," Bobby said, and sipped from the glass of water in front of him.

Lewis shucked off his coat. "Is she here somewhere?" He asked, looking around.

"She's pregnant, Lewis. She's not drinking."

"Then what the hell, Bobby?"

A silence settled over the big man. He rested his chin in both of his hands. "This is never going to work," was all he said.

The bartender walked by and pointed a finger at Lewis, but he waved him away. He folded his arms and waited for his friend to continue.

"D'you know… while I was gone, she's been seeing Logan?"

"Who's Logan?" Lewis asked.

"Another guy in the squad." Bobby said, waving one hand in the air. He pulled back and stretched. "All I did was tell him we were together and to back off."

"And she didn't like that."

"What the hell is wrong with that, Lewis? You'd do something like that, wouldn't you?"

"Bobby, I don't know what the hell I'd do. Now tell me what the hell you're doing here."

He spoke through a gritty smile. "I sat here until I got drunk, and now I'm staying until I sober up."

"No you're not. Pay your tab, Bobby. I'll drive you home." Lewis got up. He waited for Bobby to accept the idea, and then he waited for him to square up with the bartender. Then he waited while he visited the john.

Finally, the two men were outside in an icy wind. "Give me your keys, I'll drive the mustang."

"What about your car?" Bobby asked, shivering.

"I'll come back for it."

Alex had finally ended up watching television to get her mind off of things. She fell asleep on the couch and slept there until ten minutes ago, when her morning sickness kicked in again.

Now she was climbing into bed, and the thoughts were reeling again. Maybe she could live like this. She knew he wasn't out cheating on her or anything. He was just… Bobby. He was too wrapped up in his own head. And it wasn't fair to be angry, she'd told him to go. If she'd told him to stay, he probably would have.

She hated to think what the evening would have been like if she told him to stay.

Voices were at the door and the scraping sound of someone who couldn't get the key quite right. He must be drunk, she thought. She didn't want to talk to him drunk. Alex burrowed into the covers and pretended to be asleep.

The door opened and the winter wind blew the two men inside. Bobby accepted his keys back from Lewis, who'd finally taken them from his hand and gotten the door unlocked before they both froze to death. He slapped them on the counter along with his wallet and change and then he tossed his winter gear over the nearest chair.

"Look, stay here tonight, Lewis. It's too cold out there."

He was tempted, but he thought the addition of an unexpected houseguest couldn't make things better between Bobby & Alex. He shook his head. "I'll just warm up a minute, and then I'll go. I have to get my car, anyway."

Bobby clapped his shoulder and spoke through sleepy eyes. "Thanks. Thanks for the ride, Lewis."

"Bobby," he called, gaining his friend's ear one more time. He was on the verge of giving him advice, but he couldn't bring himself to do it. He and Bobby never told each other what to do. It was why their friendship had survived all these years. They just accepted each other: whenever, wherever, whatever. "Never mind," Lewis said. "I'll see you around."

They gave each other the obligatory hug, and Lewis was out the door. Bobby walked down the hall and flopped into the bed beside her. He didn't even bother taking off his clothes. He was out like a light.

Alex lay in the darkness beside him, wide awake. She had heard Lewis' voice, and she was glad he'd brought him home. Finally, after a long time, she reminded herself that tomorrow was a new day and gave herself over to sleep.

The morning brought a quiet awkwardness. They got ready for work, only speaking enough to get things done: "hand me a towel"; "can you reach my mug?"; "where's the butter?"

Alex, determined to keep her focus on the new day, resolved not to mention anything about last night. She sipped her tea quietly in between spoonfuls of oatmeal.

Bobby tried to eat his breakfast, but her silence hit him harder than her words could have. He finally tossed down his spoon with a clatter. "I'm s-sorry about last night," he said.

Alex fought not to roll her eyes. Another apology.

"I went out for a drink, and then I had too many and I couldn't drive home like that…"

"I thought I heard Lewis," she said without thinking.

"He ended up bringing me home."

"You called him?"

"No, he just… found me. Dumb luck, I guess."

She tried to smile, and began to eat again.

"Uhm, how are you feeling?" Bobby asked.

"Okay. Tired. I got sick again last night, I'll be glad when that part's over."

"Uh, uh… sorry."

Alex couldn't bear to hear him apologize any more. She shoved her bowl away and got up. She walked back to the bathroom to check her makeup and hair.

Bobby sat at the kitchen table, feeling like he'd failed again.

Three days went by, and they finally were getting back into their groove again. Work was sailing by. Even Logan was staying out of their way. And at home, they'd managed a few laughs together.

Bobby finally felt comfortable again. "Alex," he said. "Have you talked to your family yet?"

"You mean Liz?"

He nodded. He knew how close the sisters were, and it bothered him that they weren't talking. He knew from his own experience how painful it was to be estranged from family.

"No, not yet."

He was silent.

"You want me to call her."

"She's going to find out sometime, about the baby. About us."

It was Alex's turn to be silent. Ever since she found out how Liz felt about Bobby, she didn't want to talk to her. Especially now that she and Bobby were back together. Especially now she knew she was pregnant.

Alex swallowed hard. He was right, though. She would find out soon enough. "I'll call her. Maybe if Johnny's there, too, it won't be so bad."

He smiled, gave her a wink, and threw his arm around her.

A/N I know, I know you're all not liking Bobby very much in this one. I wonder if he's ever going to *get* it?