Chapter 7

"You actually told Janice not to call you again?" Bobby looked across the cab of the SUV to where Charli sat.

"I did." She nodded, obviously proud of herself. "She started about how you only want to be with me because of the babies. I told her that I knew you were in love with me and that she would just have to leave us alone." Even as she spoke, Charli shook her head. "It was like I saw her for the first time today – she's a very sad, lonely woman who doesn't want me to be happy."

"I can't say that I'm sorry she won't be upsetting you anymore," Bobby reached across the cab to cup her cheek with a gentle hand. "But I know you – you're going to feel guilty – you're going to worry that you hurt her feelings."

"I'm fine, Bobby," Charli assured him, covering his hand with hers. "I needed to make a choice and you're more important to me than anything or anyone."

"You look like you're ready to pop," Mike Logan smiled at Charli the following evening. He stood in the doorway of the kitchen. He took a sip from the bottle of beer he held, watching as she turned to smile at him.

"I think I could single-handedly sink the Titanic at this point," Charli laughed good-naturedly, laying a hand on her stomach.

"I didn't say that – you look great. All pregnant women are beautiful," he told her. "Are you uncomfortable?" He walked into the kitchen to lean against the counter.

"Not too much, actually. At night, I need to sleep on my side – if I try to lie on my back it's hard to breathe. Getting up and down is a challenge," she reached for the potholders to take the lasagna from the oven.

"Let me get that." Mike set his beer on the counter and took the potholders from her. He set the lasagna on the counter, inhaling the aroma. "I may need to talk to your husband about all the benefits of getting married."

"I love what you've done with the babies' room," Alex came into the kitchen, followed by Bobby. "It's so bright and cheerful."

"Bobby's done all the painting," Charli smiled across at her husband. "He plans on doing the kitchen Saturday."

"Which reminds me," Alex looked from Bobby to Charli. "Are we going shopping and having lunch so you're not here with the fumes?"

"If you're available," Charli replied. "I'd love for us to spend some time catching up."

"Need help with the painting?" Mike looked across at Bobby, reaching for his beer.

"Sure – I'm not going to turn down the offer." Bobby accepted easily. "I don't want to take you away from your day off, though."

"If I had a social life at the moment, that might be a problem, but if you want me – I'm all yours." Logan replied with a crooked smile.

Dinner was thoroughly enjoyable. The men kept the women amused with their good-natured banter. Charli and Alex discussed their plans for Saturday as they cleared the table. Carrying a stack of plates into the kitchen, Charli saw Bobby already at the sink with his sleeves rolled up and Mike had located a towel and volunteered to dry.

"You go relax," Bobby smiled down at her, taking the plates from her. "Mike and I'll do the dishes." He leaned in and kissed her gently. "You've done too much today as it is."

"Are you sure you don't mind?" Charli looked at Mike, flushing softly.

"Of course, not," Mike shook his head. "It's the least I can do. As long as I get an invite back," he smiled.

"Anytime," Charli assured him with a warm smile. When she had left the room, Logan looked at Goren and said:

"You do know that you are the envy of half the guys at the squad."

"Am I?" Bobby set the dishes in the sink, offering Mike a relaxed smile. "I know I'm one of the luckiest guys at the squad."

"Well, if anyone deserves it – you do," Mike stated. "She's a great lady and it's obvious how much she loves you."

"The feeling's mutual," Bobby replied. "It's – amazing how one person can change – Charli's amazing." Bobby seemed almost embarrassed to be revealing his thoughts to Logan. "I – I don't even want to think about my life without her."

"Well, I've never even been close to getting married," Mike replied. "The two of you make me think it might not be such a bad deal."

"If you find the right woman, you'll never regret it." Bobby spoke with a certainty that suddenly made Logan feel as if he were indeed missing out on something wonderful.

Charli and Alex were relaxing in the living room when the men located them. Alex was explaining about Paul's inability to come to dinner that evening due to work. Bobby settled on the sofa alongside Charli while Mike claimed an armchair that was a twin to the one Alex occupied. As they fell into an easy conversation, Alex couldn't help but notice her partner. He was more relaxed than she had ever seen him before. He laid his arm along the back of the couch and his long fingers brushed absently against Charli's shoulder as he spoke.

Alex took in the scene before her and knew that she would always be grateful to the younger woman. Charli loved the man unconditionally and had no desire to change him.

"When do you start childbirth classes?" Alex asked.

"Two weeks," Charli replied. "Dr. Hawthorne warned us that she might advise a caesarian as we get closer to the due date, but if at all possible, she'd recommend natural childbirth."

"You're going to be in the delivery room?" Mike asked Bobby, startled by the fact.

"I – I can't imagine not being in the delivery room. Wouldn't you want to be?"

"I guess I never thought about it before," Mike replied honestly.

"There's no place else you should be," Alex stated. "If you are in love with the mother of your children, the very least you can do is be there for her when she's giving birth."

"First I have to find that right woman," Logan chuckled.

Bobby and Charli stood on the front porch to bid their guests good-bye. Mike waited for Alex's car to pull away from the curb before following behind her. Charli turned to go back in the house, but she noticed Bobby's eyes scanning the street.

"You aren't still looking for that car that you saw at the Home Depot, are you?" she wanted to know. Turning his attention to her, he said:

"I'd rather be wrong than get too complacent and have something happen." Sliding his arm across her shoulders, he directed her back inside the house, closing and locking the door behind them.

"You working on anything right now?" Bobby approached Logan's desk Friday afternoon.

"Not really. I just finished up some paperwork. This being in between partners sucks. I can't wait for Wheeler to get back so Ross doesn't keep pairing me with anyone whose partner is off sick or needs to leave early," Mike replied, closing a file he'd had opened. "What's up?"

"Well – Eames had to go back to the dentist and I wanted to run by St. Gregory's to talk to Janice Fletcher," Bobby answered. "If – if you'd rather not, I'll go on my own."

"Who's Janice Fletcher?" Mike hadn't heard the name before that he was aware of.

"She's a teacher that Charli was friends with. She's been trying to cause some trouble – saying things to upset Charli. I just want – I want to meet her – talk to her," Bobby rubbed the back of his neck, meeting the other detective's gaze.

"Why do you want to talk to her? If she's been causing trouble, Charli's better off without her, don't you think?"

"I – I just need to talk to her for myself," Bobby's head tilted to the side, catching Logan's attention.

"Do you think she's the other person in the whole Dresden mess?" Mike was on his feet and reaching for his jacket.

"I don't – I'm not sure but I need to talk to her. If only for my own peace of mind." Bobby seemed hesitant before admitting: "Charli might not like that we're doing this."

"Which is why you aren't involving Eames," the other man stated with a knowing smile. "I won't tell if you don't," Logan pulled on his jacket as the two men walked towards the elevators. "Your wife scares the hell out of me. I'll bet she's got a mean temper when you piss her off." Mike chuckled when Goren said nothing in response, but rather smiled at Logan as he pushed the 'down' button.

"May I help you?" the woman at the reception counter studied the two men as they entered the main office of St. Gregory's.

"I'm Detective Robert Goren, this is Detective Logan," Bobby showed his badge to the matronly-looking woman. "I need to speak with one of your teachers."

"Who would you be looking for?" she questioned, eyeing the men suspiciously.

"Janice Fletcher." Bobby slid his badge back into his jacket pocket. "Would you be able to ask her to come to the office or can we – go to her classroom?"

"Excuse me, one moment. I'll get the principal." The woman left the men standing at the counter. Logan met Goren's gaze, raising a curious eyebrow. Bobby shrugged his broad shoulders before turning his attention to a group of photos hanging on the wall, studying them while they waited. He easily found Charli in several of them and smiled at the sight of her with her students.

Mike joined him asking:

"Why'd Charli leave here?"

"They fired her – the church didn't want an unwed mother teaching their students," Bobby recalled the conversation he'd had with Jacob all those months ago.

"What a line of crap," Logan shook his head. "Just looking at these kids, you can tell they loved her."

"Detective Goren?" Bobby turned at the sound of a male voice. "I'm Jim Halloway, the principal. What can I do for you?"

"Mr. Halloway, I – we need to speak with Janice Fletcher. Is there any way that you could call her out of class?"

"May I ask the reason that you need to see her?"

"It – it has to do with Charli Donovan," Bobby began.

"Ms. Donovan no longer works here," the principal replied with a coolness that caused Mike to look to Goren for his reaction. "She was not worthy of St. Gregory's standards."

"I didn't ask if Charli still worked here," Bobby's own tone told of his distaste for the school and its principal. "I need to see Janice Fletcher. Are you going to get her down here or do I need go room to room to find her?"

Goren took a step towards the gray haired man and Logan hid a smile when Halloway took a step backwards.

"She – she's no longer here, either," the man stammered.

"What do you mean, she's no longer here?" Bobby demanded.

"She took a leave of absence several weeks ago. Does this have something to do with the reason she left?"

"We're not at liberty to discuss the reasons at the moment," Mike spoke up, aware of Goren's mind going into overdrive. "Do you have a home address on file?"

"I don't know if I should be giving that out," the principal began but Logan stated:

"We can do this one of two ways – you can give us the address willingly and with a smile or my partner and I can get our superiors involved. They can call your bosses and let them know that you hired a woman the police want to question. It's up to you. Me? I'd like to do it this the easiest way possible. I really hate paperwork."

The principal looked from Logan to his partner. Something in the larger detective's gaze moved Halloway to turn to the sour looking woman behind the counter and instruct her to retrieve Janice's file. The woman returned several minutes later empty-handed and motioned for her supervisor to join her at the counter.

Mike and Bobby watched a whispered exchange that ended with the principal running a hand through his thinning hair before turning to face them.

"Is there a problem?" Bobby questioned.

"It would seem that Ms. Fletcher's file is missing."

"What?!" Mike demanded. "How the hell does a file go missing?"

"Do – do the teachers have full access to the office?" Bobby asked softly.

"Of course they do. They use the copier and computers to prepare their assignments."

"Thank you," Bobby nodded to Logan then and the two men turned to leave the office. Pausing in the doorway, Bobby opened his leather binder and pulled out the photo of Janice Fletcher that he had obtained from the New York State database. "Excuse me, Mr. Halloway. Do you know this woman?"

Halloway studied the photo Bobby held up for several seconds before shaking his head.

"I've never seen that woman before."

"This isn't – this isn't Janice Fletcher?" Bobby clarified.

"I don't know who that woman is, but no, it's not Janice Fletcher."

Leaving the school, Mike watched Bobby's slow burn. Charli's husband swore hotly as he walked towards the SUV, then turned to go back towards the school before turning back to the vehicle.

"Calm down, Goren. Halloway said he'd come into the station first thing Monday and do a composite of Janice Fletcher."

"The woman in the photo I have is Janice Fletcher. I pulled it off the New York State database. Whoever – the woman that was teaching here – that was pretending to be Charli's friend is who we need to find," Bobby studied Logan across the hood of the SUV, slamming his fist on the hood. "Damn it all to hell! When she didn't come to the wedding – or dinner – I should have – known that something wasn't right!"

"Are you going to tell Charli?" Logan asked when they were on their way back to 1 Police Plaza.

"Not right now, no," Bobby shook his head. "She told Janice not to contact her anymore – she'll be with me or Eames this weekend. I don't – I'd rather not put her under any more stress than necessary right now. Once I have Halloway's composite and I have more to go on, then I'll tell her."

Molly Flanigan was helping Charli collect test papers that had been left on the desks when Bobby arrived. He stood unnoticed in the doorway, watching as the child chattered happily with his wife. Charli was smiling down at the little girl and Bobby couldn't help but picture her with her own children. Despite her own history, she would be a loving and nurturing mother, of this Bobby had no doubt.

"Hi," Charli's soft voice drew his attention. She was happy to see him, her smile lit up her green eyes as she walked towards him.

"Hi," Bobby leaned in and kissed her gently. "Hi, Molly."

"Hi," the child replied, offering the detective a shy smile. "My mommy had car trouble."

"We're waiting for her mom to get here. Do you mind?" Charli asked even though she already knew the answer.

"A chance to spend time with two pretty ladies? No man would mind that," Bobby winked at Molly and the child giggled. "How about we wait outside at the playground?"

Molly was in full agreement and collected her backpack and light jacket. Charli retrieved her purse from the desk drawer and straightened, wincing at the pain that shot through her back. Hurrying to her side, Bobby asked:

"Are you OK?"

"I'm fine – just too much time on my feet this week," she was quick to assure him. "I just need to get home and relax." Seeing the concerned expression on his handsome face, she laid a loving hand on his cheek. "I'm fine, Bobby. Really."

"Mrs. Goren?" Molly stood uncertainly, watching the exchange.

"It's OK, Molly. Just a backache and Detective Goren worries about me," Charli offered the little girl a reassuring smile. "Let's go outside and wait for your mom. Some fresh air will do me good."

Charli sat at a picnic table while Bobby pushed Molly on the swings and kept a watchful eye on his wife. Bailey Flanigan arrived ten minutes later, extremely apologetic.

"I am so sorry – I just had the car to the shop and they said everything was fine. I don't know what happened, but I had to wait for the tow truck and it took forever. And try getting a cab on a Friday afternoon in this city."

"It's fine, really. Molly helped me collect test papers and Bobby's been pushing her on the swings," Charli replied. "Sit and relax for a minute."

"I don't want to keep you any longer. You were nice enough to keep Molly for me," Bailey began, running a hand through her shoulder length hair.

"Molly's an angel. You're very lucky. Please sit. If you try to separate them now, you'll have a fight on your hands." Charli nodded to where Bobby followed Molly to the slide. "Besides, he needs the practice," the younger woman chuckled, laying a hand on her swollen belly.

"Twins – I can't even imagine." Bailey sat across from Charli. "Do you know their sex?"

"One of each."

"When are you due?"

"I've got another 7 weeks give or take a day or two. Of course if you listen to my husband, he thinks I could go into labor at any minute," Charli smiled.

"You're very lucky," Bailey watched Bobby wait at the end of the slide for Molly. He caught the little girl and her laughter floated on the air as he swung her under his arm and carried her towards the table.

"I am," Charli agreed easily, smiling at her husband as he deposited Molly safely alongside her mother. Bobby said hello to Bailey, settling alongside Charli. He joined the conversation as it turned to an apartment hunt.

"I just need a decent two bedroom. If you know of anything, I'd truly appreciate it," Bailey told them. "We have this great place right now but I was subletting from someone who needs to move back in."

"I can ask around the station – someone might know of a vacancy," Bobby offered. "Give Charli your number and she can give you a call if one of us hears of anything."

"That would be great. Thank you so much," Bailey dug through her purse for a slip of paper and pen. She wrote down the three telephone numbers she could be reached at and slid the paper to Charli. "We need to be out by the end of the month."

"I think you've got a little girl with a crush on you," Charli smiled across at Bobby as they drove home.

"Molly's a cute kid," Bobby replied. "You and Bailey seem to have hit it off."

"She's a nice lady. Single mom just doing the best she can," she added.

Charli walked into the kitchen the following morning wearing khaki trousers and a pale green maternity top. In one hand she carried a pair of tennis shoes, in the other was a pair of socks. Bobby was laying drop cloths on the floor but stopped when he saw her in the doorway.

"Good morning again," he smiled, his eyes moving over her. "If Logan sees you, he'll be sure to comment on me having you barefoot, pregnant and in the kitchen," Bobby chuckled.

"Well, unless you help me, this is exactly how he is going to see me," Charli stated, tears filling her green eyes.

"Chuck? What's wrong?" Bobby came to stand in front of her, leaning so that he could meet her gaze.

"I – I can't even see my feet anymore, let alone put my shoes and socks on!"

"Is that all?" Bobby laughed, taking her shoes and socks from her.

"Is that all?" Charli shot back. "I'm a competent, relatively intelligent adult and I've just spent 20 minutes trying to put socks on my feet!"

"Let's go in here and you can sit down," Bobby slid his hand along her back to caress the back of her neck.

"This isn't funny!" She warned him when she saw his barely disguised smile.

"I didn't say it was," Bobby assured her as she sat on the sofa. Sitting on the coffee table facing her, Bobby lifted her left foot onto his thigh as he unwrapped her socks. "But you are pregnant," he reminded her. "You've got to expect a few setbacks."

"I haven't needed help getting dressed since I was 3," she wiped at her eyes with the back of her hand. "And I'm so damn emotional. I'm not liking this at the moment."

"It's too late to turn back now," Bobby pointed out needlessly. His hands were gentle on her skin as he slid her sock on over her foot and ankle, his fingers caressing. "I'm sorry." His eyes met hers. He set her foot on the floor and lifted her right foot on this thigh.

"What – what are you sorry for?" she wanted to know, wondering at the same time when her ankle became an erogenous zone.

"That you're upset about what – what's happening right now." He focused his attention on her shoes, not looking at her. "I am responsible."

"Yes, you are," she watched him tie her sneaker. "And I'm very grateful that you are. I'm not sorry that I'm pregnant – I don't like that my hormones are out of whack – or that I can't touch my own feet, but I wouldn't give up having your children for anything in this world."

Bobby finished tying her second sneaker and set her foot back on the floor before meeting her gaze. Charli reached out a hand to touch his unshaven cheek.

"I wouldn't want to be doing any of this with anyone else but you. And if I can't cry for my missing feet with you, who can I?"

Leaning forward, Bobby kissed her soundly before he said:

"I love you, Chuck."

"I love you back," Charli whispered. Before she could press her lips back to his, the sound of the doorbell drew them apart. Bobby swore under his breath as he rose to his feet to answer the door.

"We'll be going to Richmond's," Charli told Bobby as she dug into her purse to make certain she had her wallet and checkbook. "I'd like to get some curtains for the nursery and maybe a few outfits for the babies."

"I need to run into the dry cleaners," Alex added, glancing at her watch. "Is there a specific time you want to meet for lunch?"

"Let's shoot for one o'clock," Bobby replied. "When we get home, if the fumes are still too strong, we'll go to a hotel for the night." The latter was said to Charli.

He walked the two women to Eames' car and opened the passenger door for his wife. Charli turned and laid her hand on the front of his T-shirt.

"Be careful," he instructed as he kissed her lightly.

"I'm shopping – the only thing in danger is the credit card," she teased, coming up on her tiptoes to capture his lips with hers. "I'll see you soon."

Bobby stood back to admire their painting. Mike finished up some trim work and joined Goren at the counter.

"Looks good," Logan stated.

"I really appreciate the help. Thank you."

"Not a problem," Mike shrugged. "Painting is one of the more domestic talents I have."

"You wouldn't know of any apartments for rent, would you?" Bobby asked, pulling open the refrigerator to retrieve two cans of Pepsi, handing one to Mike.

"You just bought a house. Charli kicking your ass out already?"

"No – there's a mother of one of Charli's students that's looking for a two bedroom apartment," Bobby popped the tab on his soda.

"There's a place in my building. Two bedrooms, one and a half baths. I don't know the rent but I can give you the landlord's number."

"Can you give it to Charli at lunch? She has Bailey's number and can give her a call." Even as he spoke, his cell phone began to ring. Picking it up off the counter, he checked the 'ID screen', smiling when he read: 'Charli'. "Hey, Chuck. You found your cell phone."

"Hello, Bubby." The voice on the other end caused Bobby's blood to run cold and the color drained from his face.

"Nicole?"

"You were expecting your naïve little wife? Please, give me a little credit for some imagination, won't you?" Nicole Wallace's voice purred through Charli's cell phone. "Do you know where she is right now? I do."

"You do anything to her and I swear -," Bobby's tone was hateful as he spoke. Logan's full attention was trained on Goren.

"You'll what, Bubby? You've never been able to do anything to hurt that 'sparkling little girl' you see in me. You never will. But you'll remember everything you've ever taken from me when you're making funeral arrangements."

The call disconnected and Bobby swore hotly, grabbing for his keys off the counter before heading for the door. Logan followed behind him without a second thought, asking:

"Nicole – as in Wallace? What the hell does she want?"

"Ch – Charli. She's going after Charli," Bobby said, running out the front door and across the yard to his SUV. "Call Eames and find out where they are."

Logan pulled out his own cell phone, dialing Eames' number as the two men got into the SUV. Goren dialed his own cell phone as he put his keys in the ignition and brought the engine to life. He spoke with Captain Ross and he backed out into the street, unconcerned for any oncoming traffic. If Logan noticed, he said nothing, other than to curse when Eames' phone went to voicemail.

"Damn it – she's either on the phone or doesn't have it with her," Mike told Goren.

"Keep trying," Bobby ordered. "Ross has black and whites headed to Richmond's – we'll have to start a search from there."

"We'll find them," Logan replied, hitting the redial button on his phone.

"Those curtains you picked out are going to go perfectly in the nursery," Alex said as the women left Richmond's, turning left to go towards the parking lot located behind the store. "I never even knew that store existed."

"Aunt Maggie used to take me and my sisters there all the time for clothes when we were little," Charli smiled at the memory.

"Have you heard from Maggie and Jacob?"

"They called the other night. They're having a wonderful time but definitely want to come home for a while when the twins are born. Oh, and Maggie has already informed us that we are not to name our daughter Margaret," Charli chuckled. "Which shot down Bobby's choice for a girl's name."

"Have you seen this woman?" Bobby held up a photo of Charli that he'd taken from his wallet.

"She and a friend were just in here," the elderly gentleman behind the counter responded. "Charli Donovan – been coming in here for years."

"Which way did they go?" Bobby spoke over the man, needing only to find Charli and Eames.

"I wasn't paying attention -," the man began but Goren and Logan turned and left the store without waiting for him to finish.

"I'll go this way," Logan turned right and headed down the sidewalk. Goren turned left and jogged up the street, his heart racing at the thoughts going through his mind.

"Oh, no," Charli mumbled as she saw a woman crossing the empty parking lot.

"What?" Alex followed Charli's gaze.

"Janice Fletcher."

Her blonde hair had been dyed dark brown and rather than hanging loose, it was secured behind her head, but Alex recognized her immediately and laid a hand on Charli's arm. The other hand was reaching into her purse to retrieve her 'off duty' weapon kept in a zippered pocket.

"Don't do that, Detective Eames," Nicole Wallace approached the two women, aiming a gun at them.

"Janice – what are you doing?" Charli was certain that this was some sort of sick joke. But Alex shook her head, removing her hand from her purse as she said:

"You might know her as Janice Fletcher but her name is Nicole Wallace, Charli. She's a cold-blooded killer."

"Nicole Wallace?" Charli looked from Alex back to the woman she had one time considered to be a friend. "Bobby's mentioned you - ," she shook her head. "Is that what this was about? Some sort of revenge against Bobby? Gaining my trust, trying to cause trouble – and now that you found out you can't -."

"This was never about gaining your trust – this has always been about your death," Nicole stated. "From the moment I saw you at Mummy Goren's funeral, I saw that he had feelings for you – What better way to make him suffer? Take you and his partner away all in one fateful moment."

"You'll never get away with this," Alex drew Nicole's attention away from Charli. The detective needed to keep the focus on her and away from Charli. "You know that Goren won't rest until you're caught – or dead."

"You've never been able to keep me incarcerated before. What makes you think that will change? Or that I'll even still be in the country in the next few hours? My biggest decision right now is whether to kill you both and let Bubby deal with the guilt of both of your deaths or do away with the wife and kiddies, let you walk away and know that he'll despise you for letting his family die."

Bobby spotted the alleyway and had almost passed it by. The sign that read "Richmond's Parking" caught his attention and he backed up, heading down the narrow street at full speed. Emerging, he saw Nicole with a gun trained on Eames and then Charli. He took in the situation without a moment to consider the consequences of his actions. There was no time to call for Logan or to alert Eames as to his intentions, he simply needed to react.

Nicole saw him before Alex or Charli realized what was happening. Aiming the gun at Charli, the sound of the gunshot filled the air even as Bobby's large body tackled the pregnant woman to the ground. Alex seized the opportunity to charge Nicole and knocked the gun from her grasp even as she brought the felon to the ground.

Bobby moved off his wife and came up on his knees. His forehead was gashed from where he had hit it off a curb stop, and blood ran into his eye. Charli laid on her back, the front of her blouse covered in blood.

"Charli!" Bobby's voice was a ragged whisper, the terror in it drawing Eames' attention.

"Bobby! Is Charli alright?" Alex held Nicole with effort as the other woman struggled to free herself.

"Chuck, please," Bobby's hand trembled as he reached out to touch her face. She opened her eyes slowly, in an effort to clear her jumbled thoughts and to determine how exactly she had wound up on the ground. "Thank God," he whispered. "Just lay still, I'll call for help."

"I'm fine, Bobby," she insisted, struggling to sit up.

"Don't move," he cautioned, trying to find where the bullet had made contact.

"I'm fine," she repeated with more force this time. "You're hurt." She reached out to touch his forehead.

"Damn it, Charli, you've been shot!" He swore and she looked down at the front of her shirt, paling at the sight of the blood.

"I don't think so," she replied, shaking her head as if in a dream. It was then her gaze fell on his right arm. "You're bleeding, Bobby. You've been shot!"

Bobby reached for his cell phone and made two calls, one to Logan to alert him of their location and the other to Ross for an ambulance and a black and white. Helping Charli to her feet, he saw Logan running down the alleyway as Eames got Nicole to her feet, holding the woman's arm.

"Is everyone alright?" Logan asked, seeing Charli's shirt.

"Bobby isn't," Charli replied.

"Let me see," Mike began but Bobby shook his head.

"It's nothing – I'm fine. I – I want Charli looked at," he didn't even look at his arm and wiped the blood from his eye with the back of his hand. Even as he spoke, the ambulance pulled into the parking lot from the opposite side.

"I don't need an ambulance," she began but Bobby shook his head again.

"I hit you pretty hard. We need to make sure the babies are OK – that you aren't hurt."

"What a touching little scene," Nicole spat hatefully. Mike moved forward, taking a rough hold of her arm and dragging her away from the group.

"You'd be well advised to shut your mouth," he growled at her. "Or I'd be inclined to leave you alone with the big guy!"

Before the paramedic could touch Bobby, he pulled back and instructed the man to examine Charli. Shaking her head, she replied:

"You're bleeding, Bobby – let him take care of you first." He opened his mouth to refuse but closed it again at the look of determination he recognized in Charli's eyes.

Sighing, he sat on the back of the ambulance, his feet on the ground while the paramedic bandaged his arm and cleaned the wound on his forehead. Once a gauze bandage had been applied, he helped Charli inside to sit on the cot. Before he could climb in alongside her, the paramedic stopped him.

"There's not enough room for both of us right now – let me get her hooked up to the fetal monitor and take her vitals first – Once we're ready for transport, I'll let you know."

Bobby met Charli's gaze and she offered him a soft smile. He winked at her but he knew that she saw the concern in his eyes. He turned at the feel of a hand on his back to find Alex.

"Are you alright?"

"I'm fine," he glanced down at the bandage on his arm, as if it were a nuisance. "They're – going to put a monitor on Charli before - before they take her to the hospital." He rubbed a hand across the back of his neck looking into the ambulance. The paramedic's back blocked any view Bobby might have had of his wife. "What the hell is she still doing here?" he demanded when he turned to see Nicole standing with Logan.

"We're still waiting on a transport vehicle – an accident has traffic tied up. Bobby!" Eames called after her partner as he headed purposefully in the woman's direction.

"Goren – don't!" Logan moved so that he blocked Bobby's access to Nicole. Rather than being frightened, Wallace smiled up at the detective.

"You won't be so lucky next time," she stated, smugly.

"There won't be a next time, Nicole. You're going to prison this time – with no possibility of parole," Bobby stated. "What – what the hell possessed you to try this? To go after Charli of all people?! She was your – your friend. One person who honestly wanted to like you."

"Oh, Bubby – she was a means to an end. When I read that your mother died, I couldn't help but attend the funeral – although I stayed far enough away not to be seen. It was obvious that Charli meant something to you -," she nodded her head towards the ambulance. "It was so easy – get a job at St. Gregory's, make friends with her."

"By assuming Janice Fletcher's identity? You killed her, didn't you? Just like you did Elizabeth Hitchens? And what about Phil Dresden? You knew he was ill. You used that against him – you knew he was obsessed with Charli – you used him as a pawn in your twisted game."

"Withholding his medications worked wonders in my favor," Nicole replied.

"You manipulated him – controlled his thoughts, his delusions and when he had been caught – when he might implicate you, you murdered him. The potassium injection."

"I was worried at first that you might put two and two together then," Nicole replied, thinking back to the last time she had seen Goren and Eames. She had murdered Larry Chapel, the brother of Dr. Evan Chapel by using an injection of potassium under his tongue to mimic a heart attack. She later framed Dr. Chapel by leaving the potassium in his office for Goren and Eames to find. "But the fact that you're so enamored with the thought of having a family played right into my hands."

"I told – you not to count me out," Bobby reminded her of a conversation they had had years before.

"You think she's in love with you – that you'll live happily ever after?" Nicole's laugh was harsh. Bobby took a threatening step towards her, causing Mike to lay a hand on his friend's chest.

"Don't do it, Bobby – she sure as hell isn't worth it," Mike stated. Taking a step back, Bobby was aware of Eames coming to join them.

"They're ready to take Charli to the hospital, Bobby. Go with her," Alex laid a hand on his back.

"Do go, Daddy – mustn't keep your family waiting." Nicole's gaze moved to where Charli watched anxiously from the ambulance.

"If I were you lady, I'd keep my mouth shut," Logan growled.

"He'll never hurt me – he still believes I'm harboring a sparkling little girl," Nicole spoke with an air of certainty. Bobby looked at her, his eyes moving over her in a dismissive gesture before he turned to go to the ambulance. He had only gone a few steps before he turned on his heel and came back towards her.

He stopped in front of her, his hands at his sides but it was obvious Nicole was becoming concerned by his behavior. Leaning in so that only she could hear him, Bobby whispered something in her ear. Eames and Logan watched the woman's expression change from one of confidence to fear, the color drained from her face. Bobby straightened and studied her for a moment before turning his attention to Logan.

"Don't – don't let her out of your sight."

"I'll ride in with the black and white and take her straight to holding myself. She so much as sneezes, I'll shoot her," Mike assured him. "Go on, get Charli to the hospital."

"Eames -," Bobby began but Alex was already shaking her head.

"Don't worry, Logan and I will take care of Nicole. You take care of your family."

A black and white pulled into the parking lot as Bobby climbed into the ambulance. Alex watched as Charli reached out to touch Bobby's bandaged forehead before the driver closed the doors. The ambulance pulled out, without sirens, which was a good sign, and Alex turned her attention to Nicole as Logan held out his hand for a pair of handcuffs from one of the officers.

"Nicole Wallace," Alex walked towards the woman. "You have the right to remain silent, anything you say can and will be used against you…."

Nicole knew Eames was speaking but she didn't hear the words. Instead, Goren's words echoed through her mind. The words that he had whispered in her ear – words that no one would ever believe the man had said.

"You come near my wife or my family ever again and I'll make sure there's not enough of you left to identify."

It wasn't the words that had frightened Nicole. It was the certainty with which they had been spoken. She was in no doubt of the fact that Goren would, indeed, take whatever steps necessary to dispose of her. Whatever hold she had once believed she may have had over the man was gone, erased by the woman in the ambulance.

Alex walked quietly into the hospital room. Charli's eyes were closed and two monitors sat on a stand alongside the bed. Wires led from the monitors and were attached to two black boxes on her stomach covered by the sheet, one for each of the twins. Based on Alex's experience with her own pregnancy and that of her sister-in-law, the numbers were indicating strong heart beats for both babies. Sighing in relief, her gaze moved to the man sitting in the chair alongside the bed. Bobby held Charli's small hand securely between both of his – his head rested on his left forearm and his eyes were closed. Alex wasn't sure if he was resting or praying, or maybe a bit of both.

"Bobby?" she spoke softly, not wanting to awaken Charli. Bobby's head lifted immediately, his gaze focusing on his wife where she lay sleeping, thinking it was her voice he heard, before turning to focus on his partner. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to startle you," she apologized. "How's Charli?"

"She's fine," Bobby replied, his deep voice husky as if he'd been crying. He looked exhausted and the white gauze bandage on his forehead hid the nasty gash from where he'd banged it off the curb stop when he had moved to cover Charli's body with his own. "The doctor gave her a very mild sedative to help her rest," he explained. "The babies were – the babies are fine – they're OK but Dr. Hawthorne wants to keep Charli overnight for observation," he looked from his partner to his wife as if assuring himself she was still in the bed. "I – I don't know that I've ever been so scared in my life – I thought for sure -," he began but broke off as if saying the words aloud might somehow make them come true.

"Everything's alright, Bobby," Alex wanted to ease her partner's guilt. He had been through so much in his life, more than Alex was sure she would ever know, but he needed to know that he had done the right thing in this instance. "We're all safe – it's over and Charli's out of danger."

Even as Alex spoke, Charli shifted slightly, her eyes fluttering open before she whispered:

"Bobby?"

"I'm here, Chuck," he was on his feet in an instant and sitting on the edge of the bed. "It's OK," he assured her, brushing a strand of hair from her cheek. Alex moved forward, smiling at the younger woman:

"Hi Charli."

"Alex," Charli returned her smile. "Are you alright? I didn't get to see you after – everything happened so fast."

"I'm fine," Alex confirmed. "I just stopped in to check on you both before heading home."

"I wish they'd let me go home. I'm fine really." It was obvious that Mrs. Goren did not relish the thought of spending the night in the hospital.

"This is the best place for you tonight. Let the doctor keep an eye on you," Alex advised.

"I know," Charli admitted on a sigh. Looking at Bobby, she laid a hand on his chest and said: "Why don't you let Alex drop you home? You need to get some rest."

"I'm not going anywhere without you," Bobby stated in a tone that left no room for discussion.

"That's silly," Charli had never backed down from him and wasn't about to start now. "I'm too groggy to know if you're here or not. All I have to do is push a button for the nurse – Let Alex take you home."

"I am home," Bobby replied, uncaring that Alex would hear what he was saying. "My home is where you and our children are." Unseen by her friends, Alex smiled at her partner's words and nodded silently to herself. Charli said nothing, simply studied her husband's face before resting her hand on his stubbly cheek and gracing him with a beautiful, sleepy smile.

"I'll be happy to give you a ride, Bobby," Alex offered even though she knew what his response would be. Charli moved her hand back to the bed, shifting slightly into a more comfortable position.

"Thanks, Eames, but I'm not going anywhere," he stated over his shoulder.

"I'm going to head out then," Alex approached the bed and laid her hand on Charli's stomach, between the two boxes. "Take care of my godchildren," she smiled at Charli. "I'll stop by tomorrow, once you get home." Turning her attention to Bobby, she said: "Call me if you need anything. I'll let Ross know that you'll be taking a personal day tomorrow and then you can let him know from there."

"I – I'll walk you out," Bobby knew they needed to talk. He had to clear the air. Eames was his partner – he considered her one of his closest friends even though she didn't realize it. Leaning down, he kissed Charli's cheek. "I'll be right back," he told her.

Smiling sleepily up at him, she said:

"Take your time. I'm not going anywhere." She waved to Alex even as her eyelids drifted shut again.

The detectives walked just a few feet from the doorway of Charli's room and Alex knew Bobby was struggling with what he wanted to say. He rubbed the back of his neck as he always did when something troubled him.

"You don't have to -," Alex began at the same time Bobby said:

"Eames, I need to explain -." Both of them fell silent for a moment before Bobby began again. "I owe you an explanation about what happened."

"No, Bobby, you don't," Alex shook her head, a knowing smile on her lips.

"I had to make a decision – either way I risked one of you dying -," he continued on as if he hadn't heard her. "I just - I couldn't face losing her," his gaze strayed back into the room where Charli lay in the hospital bed. "I never knew I could love someone this much."

"I know," came the soft reply. "And I understand. Better than you maybe," she couldn't keep the smile off her face.

"I don't get it," Bobby's own confusion was evident on his face. He was exhausted and worried, relieved that they were all safe and unable to give his partner his full attention, his thoughts on his wife just inside the room. "You could have died over the choice I made – You should be mad as hell right now."

"If you and Joe were in the same situation as Charli and I were – I know that beyond a shadow of a doubt, I'd have chosen Joe, Bobby – so I understand what you did. I would have done the same thing – So you don't owe me an explanation or an apology. I'm your partner – and your friend. That's not going to change anytime soon. Charli is your wife – she's the reason that you've gotten on with living. You have a family, Bobby – for the first time since I've known you, you're content with where you are and it's because of her," Alex looked past her partner and nodded towards the room where Charli rested.

"I never knew that I could be this happy," Bobby admitted quietly, almost as if embarrassed by the depth of his feelings.

"You deserve to be happy, Bobby – don't ever feel guilty or apologize to anyone for that," Alex smiled up at him. "Go on, get back in there and let me go home. I'll see you both tomorrow."

"Thank you," Bobby returned her smile and she saw the light of it reflected in his eyes. His smiles were coming easier these days. She'd noticed it since the first day that she'd learned he was the father of Charli's baby. He laid a hand on her arm. "I'll call you when they're discharging her." He turned and left her standing in the hallway.

Alex watched him return to Charli's bedside with a smile that told of her happiness for him. He had been searching a long time for what he now had. Something he hadn't been able to identify, even to himself. Bobby returned to the chair, dwarfing it as he sat down. Alex saw Charli smile at him and heard him chuckle at something his wife said. The sound drifted along the hallway and Alex turned to leave. He'd found what he was looking for – a home, a family – a safe haven for his heart.