RELEASE TO OBLIVION

Alex cautiously poked her head into what was at least foreign territory and possibly hostile. She had spent very little time in Bobby's apartment, and the few visits had allowed her only a glimpse into what she had come to view as his batcave.

"Bobby?" she asked tentatively, and walked into the living room. Alex peered around the darkened room, and then moved into the short hallway. Through the dark she could see the bathroom at the end of the hall. "This," she thought as she stood before a door,"must be the bedroom. Duh, detective, it's the only other room in the apartment..." Alex knocked softly on the door. "Bobby," she called, "you in there?" Taking a deep breath, Alex pushed open the door.

Bobby's bedroom contained a large bed, a small end table, lamp, and several stacks of books. It did not, both to Alex's annoyance and relief, contain Bobby. She sighed, returned to the living room and turned on the overhead light. "All right," she thought, "let's use those First Grade Detective skills." Alex checked the kitchen counter and Bobby's desk, and concluded that, in addition to Bobby, Bobby's cell phone, keys, and wallet were missing. A check of his hall closet
revealed that his dark heavy coat and black leather jacket were also gone. Alex sat on Bobby's couch and considered the evidence.

"Ok," she thought,"the last time I talked to him he was at the cleaners, so that's where the coat is. He's probably wearing the black jacket...he looks really good in that jacket..." Alex shook her head. "Keep your mind on the case, girl...Where is he? He's hurt, he's exhausted...probably hasn't thought about eating.." Alex gnawed at a fingernail. After calling
Bobby's apartment and cell phone and getting no answer for an hour she had decided this was the emergency for which Bobby had given her his extra key. "I'll wait...just for a while..." Alex thought. Within a few moments, Alex's own exhaustion overcame her anxiety, and she fell asleep.

Bobby stumbled stiffily to his door and shakily unlocked and opened it. "I didn't leave the light on," he thought, and his radar moved to full alert. He moved as quietly as possible into the kitchen, and reached up to the cabinent where he stored his guns. Bobby winced in pain as he unlocked the padlock, and he slowly drew out the small pistol. He took a soft, ragged breath, and, gun in hand, stepped around the wall to his living room.

Alex Eames lay curled in a ball and sleeping on his couch. Bobby carefully placed the gun on his desk and walked over to the couch. Wincing again in pain, he slowly knelt beside Alex. Her face peaceful and serene, Alex looked like a young girl. Bobby's long fingers tentatively reached out and gently swept several rebellious strands of hair away from her fluttering eyelashes. A small voice in Bobby's head spoke, "She's beautiful. She could save you." Bobby
shook his head. "No...she's my partner...I'm not allowed...she wouldn't want..." He stood up quickly, too quickly, and nearly bent over from the pain. His suppressed cry caused Alex to stir, and Bobby held his breath. He released it when she settled back on the pillow.

Bobby went to the bedroom and returned with blankets and pillows. He draped a blanket over Alex's sleeping form and tucked it in. Bobby then used the pillows and blankets to create a cocoon in his overstuffed reading chair. He checked the door, turned off the light, and settled in his makeshift bed. The pain of his body reminded him of the penance and absolution he had just received. Calmed by the release and by Alex's face, he fell into the oblivion of sleep.

Alex woke to the pleasant combination of the smell of coffee and warm sunshine in her face. She smiled and started to snuggle deeper into her bed when she realized she wasn’t in her bed. She sat up suddenly and winced at the pain in her shoulder. The knife wound, fortunately, looked worse than it was, but it still hurt.

“Good morning, you criminal.” Bobby appeared before her bearing a cup of the sacred, caffeine supplying liquid.

Alex gratefully took the cup and sipped the dark, strong beverage. Bobby was the only person who ever made coffee strong enough for her tastes, and this cup also bore the pleasant smell and taste of a touch of cinnamon. As her brain cleared, Alex surveyed her surroundings. Bobby was gathering several pillows and blankets from a chair—she guessed he had slept there.

“Why not his bed,” she pondered silently. “Did he think I was going to steal his set of encyclopedias…or did he want to watch me…?” Alex shook her head—the great question was not why Bobby slept where he slept last night, but where he was before he slept.

Bobby returned from the bedroom. “There’s an extra toothbrush, if you want,” he said. “And I’ve put out some clean towels if you want a shower.”

“I look like I need cleaning up?” Alex decided to avoid any major questions until she could gage Bobby’s mood.

Bobby tilted his head and considered the question. “No, actually, you look good…not at all like someone who spent the night on my lumpy couch.”

He seemed to be in a good mood. “You don’t look like a guy who spent the night in a chair, either,” she answered. “Although you’re moving a little slow and you look a little like you might have come out on the short side of a fight.”

Bobby’s stance took on a tinge of wariness, but his tone was light. “Yea, well, I’ve had a shower and some coffee already—you look good just waking up.” Bobby walked over to the window. “It’s a beautiful day—get a move on and I’ll buy you breakfast. I’m starving.”

“Good,” Alex thought. “He’s hungry—that’s a good sign.” She took another drink of her coffee, handed the cup to Bobby, and threw off the blanket. He winced as he reached for the cup, and she looked up at him.

“You ok?” she asked.

“Yea,” Bobby was annoyed with himself for showing any pain. “Just the arm—little stiff and itchy.”

“Ok,” Alex said. “I’m going to brush my teeth and run a comb through my hair. You owe me a really good breakfast.” She paused at the bathroom door. “And don’t think this gets you out of buying me those margaritas.”

She was brushing her teeth when it struck her that it seemed it wasn’t Bobby’s arm that was giving him pain, but his back.

They had breakfast at a diner on the same block as Bobby’s place. Brunch, really, since it was close to noon. The staff knew and liked Bobby, and the older woman who seated them gently scolded Bobby about the bruises and cuts on his face. The food was good, and Alex realized that her recent dining habits were almost as bad as Bobby’s. They dined in companionable silence, but Alex couldn’t get a grip on Bobby’s state of mind. He was more relaxed, more comfortable than she had known him to be for a long time, but he also seemed ready to move into full defensive mode at any moment.

“We do have the day off, right?” Bobby said.

Alex grinned. “Just getting around to asking that, uh? Although I guess you used your great deductive skills to figure out that since Deakins hasn’t called you…”

Bobby sipped his coffee. “Nah, don’t have my cell on…Should I check it?”

“No, we’ve got the day off,” Alex answered. “And as much time as we need.” She took a deep breath. Now seemed as good a time as any to deal with the elephant seated at the table with them. “Your cell phone was off last night…where were you?”

Bobby deflected her question. “And what were you doing in my apartment, Ms Eames?”

“I asked first.” Alex’s tone became serious. “C’mon, Bobby—I was really worried about you—you had a concussion and you’re wandering around New York City…”

“So you broke into my apartment. I may have to arrest you.” Bobby maintained a light voice, but Alex detected the strain in it.

“I didn’t break in—I used the key you gave me for emergencies.”

“Not answering my phone constitutes an emergency?” Bobby had raised the DO NOT TOUCH and DO NOT ENTER signs.

Alex made one more attempt to violate the signs. “When you’ve just been put through the physical and emotional wringers it does.”

Bobby put down his cup and looked at Alex. “She deserves better than oneliners,” he thought. “Look, Alex,” he said forcefully, “I appreciate your concern…I really do…I just…had…had to do something. Please…it was nothing…I’m sorry I worried you…”

Alex studied Bobby for a moment. “Ok,” she said quietly. “I’m not pressing…”

Bobby tried not to let his relief be too evident. “So,” he said searching for a subject, “what are you going to do on this lovely free day.?”

“My Mom and Dad are babysitting my nephew. I’m going over and give them a hand…see them.”

Bobby remembered that Alex’s mom was recovering from a stroke. “How is your mom? Doing better?”

Alex’s face lit up. “Yea, much…the physical therapy has really helped, and her speech is nearly back to normal. She still misses a word occasionally, but it doesn’t bother her—she thinks it’s pretty funny and Dad thinks she’s started substituting words on purpose. What are you doing? You should get some rest.”

Bobby turned his fork over and over. “I need to go see my Mom…”

Alex looked at Bobby. “That’s not usually restful for you…”

Bobby kept twisting the fork. “She’s …I need to go…” He picked up the check and waved at the waitress. “I probably need to go now…”

“Ok.” Alex realized all the fences were up and the gates locked around Bobby. “Thanks for breakfast, or brunch, or whatever this is…” She stood up. “Listen, Bobby, give me a call when you get back in town—maybe dinner, pizza, something?”

“And if I don’t call or answer you’ll invade my home again?”

Alex smiled. “You bet.”

Bobby smiled back. “I may have to change my lock.”

Alex stepped forward and gave Bobby a quick, gentle hug. He gave a soft cry. “Did I hurt you?” Alex asked quickly.

“No, no, just surprised me.” Bobby dismissed her concern.

“You’re a good son, Robert Goren, and a good man. You take care of yourself.”

Bobby watched her go. “Well,” he thought, “at least it was a good morning.” He braced himself to deal with the rest of the day.

END Chapter