Chapter 30

To his surprise, he found that quietly sitting with Alex diffused his anger. While he still felt restless, it was only excess energy, and not a bomb waiting to go off. Bobby alternately paced the room or sat beside her. Because of her request, he tried to spend more time doing the latter.

She dozed a little and watched tv. They brought her a dinner, and Bobby ate her scraps. Now he sat beside her, holding her hand, while the machine took its stress readings. Although it was hard for him to sit still, he anchored himself to her hand, and when she looked at him, he smiled.

"Okay," the nurse announced, as she turned off the device. "I'll get these off you, and the doctor will come around later to interpret them and read them for you."

"Okay," Alex said. She held still while the nurse pulled off the sticky leads and soon, she was free again. The nurse left, and Alex turned to Bobby. "I think it was better this time," she said.

He squeezed her hand and kissed her, then he offered a caress for the baby.

"Bobby?"

He turned to her, the hint of a smile still on his face.

"Are you okay now?" She asked, not because she couldn't see the change in his demeanor, but because he was so good at burying his feelings.

"Yeah," he answered, sitting down beside her once more. "All this time I've been… running away… I guess all I really needed was to be with you."

She reached for him and they managed the best embrace they could, given the confines of the hospital bed.

Alex was sleeping, and Bobby was pacing the dimly lit room. His phone rang, shattering the silence. Quickly, he tapped the button and put it to his ear. "Goren," he said quietly.

"How's Alex?" Logan asked.

"She's fine. They redid the nonstress test, and the Doctor said the baby's fine, too."

"Good."

"Yeah."

"We got him," Logan announced.

"You did?"

"He waited until damned near midnight, but he made his move. Simmons and I picked him up. He's in holding now, and I'm going home."

"Did you interrogate him?"

"Oh, hell yeah. We got him, Bobby. Case closed. So tomorrow, when you come back, you get to do all the paperwork."

Bobby grinned. "We'll see about that, Junior Partner."

"Give Alex my best. I'm glad they're all right."

"Sure, Logan. Thanks. And Logan? I'm sorry about… you know, earlier."

"Forget about it."

He was sleeping with his cheek against his fist. He'd stripped down to his undershirt hours ago, and had even kicked off his shoes. Alex scooted carefully to the edge of the bed, but he heard her, and tucked his hand under her arm to help.

"I have to pee," she told him. "I was just getting up to go…"

Bobby helped her to her feet and she walked to the bathroom on her own. When she came back, he helped her back into the bed.

"You should get some sleep," she told him.

"I'm all right," he said. "I'm sleeping in the chair."

"Not very well."

Bobby smiled. "I don't sleep well in a bed, either, remember?" He tucked her in and kissed her. Then Bobby headed for the bathroom, too. When he came out, Alex was sound asleep again. He stretched his back and then rubbed his arms. Bobby slipped on his shoes and went for a late night tour of the hospital.

Bobby had the phone tucked up to his ear. "Yeah, I'm taking her home now. I can be in by this afternoon," Bobby said. "Yes, sir, I'll tell her. Thank you."

He dropped the phone into his pocket and held the door for her. Once she was through, he followed. "Captain Ross said to tell you to take it easy. Come back when you're good and ready."

She nodded and went straight to the couch, where she curled up and moaned in pleasure. "Home," she said with a smile.

Bobby took a minute to sit with her, to hold her. He kissed the crown of her head. "I have to… go in. I'm gonna take a shower."

"I'm fine, Bobby. Go ahead. You still have some clothes here… in the closet," She told him. He kissed her again and hurried off.

While the shower was running, Alex sighed deeply. She ran her hand over her belly. She was glad the baby was fine. Even as she spoke to Bobby yesterday, she wasn't sure. It was good to be sure.

She gingerly touched her bandaged cuts. The glass from the window had caused it. She'd been too close when the perp smashed through it. An accident, that was all… a careless mistake.

Then Alex thought of Palmer, suspiciously absent since she was in the ER. She got up and found her phone.

"Eames?"

"Hey, Palmer. I'm home now. I thought you should know."

"The baby-?"

"The baby's fine."

"Oh, good."

"It wasn't your fault, Palmer. Sometimes things happen, that's all."

"Well, uh, okay… thanks, Eames. I'm glad you're all right."

"Thanks. I'll see you soon."

Bobby emerged, freshly clean and hair dripping. He toweled it off while he spoke to her. "I don't have to stay late, and I'll just be doing paperwork all day. If you need me-"

"I'll be okay, Bobby."

"I'll call and check on you."

"Okay."

He took the wet towel back to the bedroom, combed his hair, and finished getting dressed. He couldn't shave; his shaving kit was at Lewis' place. He went back out to the living room and grabbed his keys. Alex got to her feet. He pulled her into an embrace, and then kissed her. He stared deeply into her eyes. "I love you," he whispered.

She tugged her hand across his whiskers, feeling them scratch at her skin. "I love you, too."

He kissed her once more and hurried out the door. As Bobby turned over the car, he called Liz.

"Hello?"

"Hello Liz, this is Bobby."

"Bobby? Hi."

"I just wanted to let you know—she's fine, don't worry- but Alex spent the night in the hospital last night. She got hurt on the job, and they," he paused as he backed the car out of the driveway, "they didn't like the looks of a test, so they had her stay overnight. They redid the test. She's fine, the baby's fine. I just wanted you to know."

"Why didn't she call me?"

"I'm calling you now."

"Can I talk to her?"

"Look, she's not with me, and I have to get off of here, I'm driving. I just wanted you to know."

"Well. Thank you, Bobby."

"Bye, Liz."

In the next call, he relayed the information to Johnny's wife, and then put the phone away.