Free Fall: Chapter 4

By: The Confused One

A/N: Special thanks, as always, goes to Sassy for the beta. I rather liked this chapter, and I hope you all do, too. Please enjoy and remember to review. Thanks.

Mike immediately shook his head. "No. Bobby, you have to stay here right now. You have to get better first."

Bobby glared at Mike. He would not take no for an answer. Shaking his head, he insisted, "I'm going one way or the other. You might as well help. I won't be kept away from her, Mike. I won't. I need to see her." The more determined he became, the stronger his voice got.

Carolyn sighed. She understood and appreciated the sentiment, but she backed Mike up. "It's just a very bad idea for you right now, Bobby. You're not strong enough."

Bobby was tired of arguing about it. If they wouldn't help, he'd find another way. "Fine. Leave. Just go." He had to find a way to Alex, and he wasn't wasting time trying to convince them to help.

Mike and Carolyn exchanged looks. Mike tried to sooth Bobby. "They'll let you see her soon. Just not today, man."

Bobby sighed and persisted, "You don't understand. I need to see her."

Mike met his eyes. "We heard you. And you're going to get to see her. It's just not a good idea for you right now."

Bobby let out a frustrated sigh. "I was serious before. Help or leave, both of you. This isn't negotiable, and I have to do it today."

Mike wasn't about to let him do this alone. He'd kill himself, and if that or something else happened to him, Alex would never forgive them. He quietly agreed, "OK. OK. We'll see what we can do. Just stay here."

Bobby relaxed. "Thank you." He impatiently waited as Mike and Carolyn left the room.

Carolyn still thought this was a horrible idea. Walking out of the room, she said so, "What the hell are you doing? We can't let him out of that room."

Mike sighed. "You heard him. He's determined to leave anyway. And I for one would rather be with him and make sure doing this doesn't kill him than let him do this on his own."

Carolyn nodded. With a frustrated sigh, she finally asked, "Alright. What's our next move?"

Mike shrugged. Wearily, he reminded her, "We find a way to get him to Eames' room."

Irritated, Carolyn asked, "And how are we going to do that?"

Mike shook his head. Ignoring her tone, he answered, "I'm not sure yet." Looking around an idea was forming though. He spotted the nurses and then a wheelchair. He looked at Carolyn again. "Look, I'll get the wheelchair, get him in it, and get him into the elevator, to Alex. You distract the staff."

Carolyn arched her eyebrows a moment before nodding. If this calmed Bobby down and got him to stay put and rest so he could get better, she'd do it. "OK. Just make him promise to stay put and do as he's told afterwards. He can't go back up there until he's allowed."

Mike nodded his agreement. "I'll get his promise. Now you figure out a way to distract them."

Carolyn sighed, as she turned around. How am I supposed to do that? Thinking quickly an idea came to her. Walking over to the nurses' station, she watched Mike walk over to the wheelchair. She spoke quickly to the nurse, "I'm looking for a Mr. Pennereki. I was told he was on this floor. Can you look him up?"

The nurse looked at her for a moment and nodded. With a fake smile, she replied, "Sure. First name?"

Carolyn tapped her fingers on the counter as she answered, "Raul."

The nurse nodded. After a moment, she looked at Carolyn. "I'm sorry, but there is no one with that name on this floor."

Carolyn sighed. With a nod, she replied, "I was afraid of that. Can you check and see if he's on another floor?" She put her hand to her head and grabbed the counter with her other one, like she was steadying herself.

Looking at her with concern, the nurse asked, "Are you alright?"

Carolyn nodded. She persisted. "Yeah… I'm fine. I just…" She shut her eyes and let herself fall to the floor. She just hoped Bobby appreciated what she was doing for him.

Alarmed the nurse stopped and came over to her. The others followed her. They all started fussing over her, trying to figure out what was wrong.

Mike slipped back into the room with the wheelchair. He had to suppress a smile at Carolyn's theatrics. Looking at Bobby, he replied, "Alright. I'm taking you to Alex, but we have to hurry." He met Bobby's eyes. "And you have to promise that when you get brought back, you'll stay put until they say you're well enough to go back."

Bobby swallowed hard. Watching him, he reluctantly nodded. He conceded, "Alright. I promise."

Satisfied, Mike nodded. Walking over to him, he sighed. "Good. Let's get you up and into this thing…"

Bobby swallowed hard, bracing himself for the pain. He did his best to help Mike help him into the wheelchair. He grunted against the pain, concentrating on his ultimate goal: Alex.

Getting him into the chair, Mike gave a tired sigh. "There. Alright, let's get going."

Bobby didn't protest. He was going to ask where Carolyn was, when he saw her on the ground and the nurses around her. Concerned, he looked up at Mike. "Is she OK?"

Mike smirked. With a nod, he assured her, "Yeah. She's fine." He hit the button for the elevator.

Still confused, Bobby looked up at Mike. "She's distracting them?"

Mike nodded. "Uh huh." The doors opened, and Mike slipped them inside.

Carolyn hoped they had had enough time. They were about to move her and start poking and prodding. She wasn't about to let them. Opening her eyes, she groaned. Pulling away from the nurse, she innocently asked, "What happened?" She tried to sit up.

One of the nurses kept her down. She explained, "Just relax and sit still. You passed out. We need to take you down to the Emergency room and let you get checked out." She looked at one of the other nurses. "Eden, grab a wheelchair please."

Carolyn shook her head. She was not about to let them do anything. She was perfectly fine. "No. No. That's alright. You don't need to do that."

The first nurse looked down at her. "You passed out, dear. Something is wrong. People don't pass out for no reason."

Carolyn sighed. Forcing the nurse to let her sit up, she assured them, "I'll be fine. I'm refusing treatment."

Frowning, a third nurse asked, "Are you sure?"

With a nod, Carolyn stood up. The staff was still gathered around her, wanting to make sure she didn't fall. She looked at them. "I'm really OK. I just need to eat. I haven't eaten anything all day."

The original nurse sighed. She finally nodded. "Do you still need me to look up at that name?"

Carolyn shook her head no. "That's OK. I think I'm going to eat first…" She walked to the elevator. Pressing the button, she impatiently waited for the doors to open. She didn't want to be there when they realized Bobby was gone. She slipped inside immediately. With a relieved smile, she hit the button and headed to Alex's floor.