Chapter 6

~Eddie’s POV~

 It was 7pm before I could leave the bureau and it would be at least another hour and a half before I would be able to meet up with Sy. I’d called him earlier to let him know I’d be tagging along, but by then he’d already left and was now waiting for me at a gas station just outside of town.

 I turned right at the intersection and let my mind roam as I sped down the practically empty street. Before I’d even exited the office, I’d made the decision to stop by my buddies’ PI firm. It was time Nate knew just what was going on with his family. More importantly, it was time he did something about it.

Sy was tough, there was no doubt about it. He knew how to stand on his own two feet. He could admit when he was wrong and when he needed help. It was a quality that I admired in him—a guy who, despite his general reserved personality, truly never had any qualms about telling the world what was on his mind when he felt the need to.

It was this very reason why I was worried about him now. The news of his father’s illness was affecting him more that he let on, I could feel it. Yet he’d chosen to keep it bottled up.

I turned into the semi-empty parking lot and hopped out of the car. It was time for Nate to forgive and forget. After all, it wasn’t really me who Sy needed now….it was him, the big brother he’d looked up to all his life.

I nodded in greeting to the guard by the door and stepped into the elevator, where I listened somewhat impatiently to the stuffy elevator music that went along with the ride. It had been weeks since I’d stopped by the office and every time I came, there was some new improvement.

It was still hard to believe that the men who had taught me everything I knew about life in the field had given it all up to live their lives behind a desk. It was admirable, but it was insane. When the doors dinged open, I turned left, down the hall, past a few closed office doors and around another corner where I spotted an office that hadn’t been there the last time I’d visited.

In just a year they’d amassed enough success to make a blind man take a step back and look. It was definitely praiseworthy—something I could have been a part of, had I accepted their offer a year ago.

I tried to imagine a life answering calls and investigating cheating husbands and all the trivial shit that went along with a job like this, but if that offer ever reared its head again, my answer would be the same. The Bureau was my home and I wasn’t ready to move out.

At the end of the hall, a light was on in John’s office and another three doors down another light shone from Nate’s. I shook my head. Different job, same work ethic.

I paused when I reached John’s door and glanced in, to see him sitting behind a desk writing something on the sheet of paper before him. In the center of the same desk, not surprisingly, sat his partner Kyle, who was bouncing a small ball on the wall across the room, while talking a mile a minute.

“…And do you know what she said to me?”

“What?” John replied distractedly.

“She said I should do it. Me, can you believe that?”

“Uhuh.”

Kyle caught the ball when it bounced toward him again and threw it hard across the room.

“I swear Johnny, this is it. If I have to deal with her again I’m gonna rip my hair out...or hers.”

I watched in amusement as John pulled on a sheet of paper that Kyle was sitting on and when it didn’t budge, he glanced up at his lover, who shifted to allow him access to it.

 They were one of a kind, these two. You could watch them interact for hours and still find it hard to understand how two people with completely opposite personalities, shared such a close bond, but I figured it worked out like it was supposed to. After all, only a man like John could put up with a guy like Kyle and only Kyle could tame the grumpy beast that was John.

I glanced at Kyle when he sighed. “We should look into her background. See if we can dig up some dirt on her.”

John looked up at him then and I realized that he’d actually really been listening to Kyle the entire time he worked.

“We’re not investigating her.”

Kyle caught the ball and turned to frown at his lover. “Why not? It’s what you do.”

John shook his head. “Don’t start.”

When Kyle opened his mouth to speak, I finally moved on with a chuckle. If nothing else they’d make the trip entertaining.

I knocked on Nate’s open door when I got there and he glanced up from his papers, smiling when he saw me.

“The last time you came here, it was to ask for help with a case. What is it this time?” he said in good humor and I grinned, grabbing a seat across from him.

“Simon needs you.”

The smile fell from his lips and his eyes narrowed. “Is he okay?”

“No.” I began. “He just found out his father is dying.”

He shook his head in clear irritation. “Is that all?”

I sighed. “Come on Nate, I just told you your dad is dying and that’s all you can say?”

“What do you want me to say?”

“I don’t know…maybe something like…what’s wrong with him? Or how’s Simon doing?”

“Alright. How’s Simon doing?” he said drily and I frowned.

“Not so good.”

“Not surprising. You did say his old man’s dying.”

He said it without emotion. Sometimes I wondered how I’d survived his cold heartedness all those years.

“You know how close they were and you know the only reason Sy hasn’t said a word to him all these years is because of how he treated you.”

“Did Sy send you?”

I shook my head. “You know he didn’t.”

“Then why are you here Eddie?”

“Because your brother needs you. Stop fucking around Nate. What happened all those years ago wasn’t his fault. Put it behind you and go help him get through this.”

He fixed me with a cold stare. “I’m not interested.”

He turned his attention to the papers before him and I knew there was nothing more I could do. When Nate made up his mind, not many people could sway him.

I pushed up from the seat and without a word, made my way to the door.

“Eddie.”

I turned to look at him and watched as he pulled the piece of jewelry from around his neck. When he threw it my way, I caught it before it hit the floor. It was the necklace he’d worn for as long as I’d known him—leather cords with an oddly shaped pendant.

“That man hasn’t been my father for a long time. I’m not about to sit and mourn him with my brother.” He turned back to his work and I slipped the necklace into my pocket and left the room.

Those two had more demons between them than even I could hope to cure. It was evidence of just how tense vacationing with the two of them would be this weekend.

 Five minutes later I was in my car and once again on the road, headed out of town to comfort a man who hadn’t even asked for it. Carrying a necklace I didn’t know the significance of and listening to upbeat music that did nothing to reflect the mood of the night.

…………………………….

I made a quick stop by my place to pack an overnight bag and the first thing I noticed when I headed upstairs, was the stack of completed reports sitting in the center of the unmade bed. It was the little things like this that made me feel like an even bigger dick for the things I’d said to him in the gym the night before.

The fact that my words hadn’t seemed to faze him was testament of his forgiving nature. That, or he just genuinely didn’t give a shit. Either way, I’d been wrong and it was time I set it right.

The second thing I noted were his clothes from the night before, bundled up in my laundry hamper and I was surprised at the warmth I felt at the simple domestic act. This wasn’t the first time he’d left clothes lying around and if he had his way, it wouldn’t be the last. I needed to get a hold of myself.

Everything else was pretty much the same as I’d left it, but every inch of the place brought back the memory of the night before; of what we’d done, of how it had felt. I shook my head. Things wouldn’t be like this forever. Eventually I’d be able to move on and the sight of him wouldn’t make much of a difference to me. So for now I’d manage. I’d offer my support and somehow we’d both get through our separate ordeals.

When I pulled into the parking lot of the gas station I didn’t have to search very long to find Sy, who sat onthe roof of his car, legs stretched out before him, with a bag of chips by his side and a laptop nestled between his knees.

I pulled my overnight bag from the trunk and locked the door, before making my way over to him.

“What’re you doing up there?”

He glanced down at me for a second, before refocusing on the screen before him.

“Bad WiFi connection. I’m trying to fix it.”

 I pulled open his rear door and threw my bag in, It would be a three hour ride if the roads were fairly clear and from there, we’d find a room in the nearest inn for the night and rest up before we visited his old man in the morning. I could already feel the bed sheets covering me as I stood there. It had been a long day and I was ready to pass out.

“You ready?’

He sighed. “Might as well… this is hopeless anyway.” He grabbed his bag of chips, locked the screen and hopped off the roof.

I got into the passenger seat of his car, having called earlier to arrange for my car to be stored in the parking lot for a few days, and while he got in, I slipped off my shoes and propped by feet up on the dash in preparation for the journey.

“Here.” I handed him the necklace when he settled in beside me, and he glanced at me in clear surprise.

“Where’d you get this?”

I shrugged. “Nate wanted me to give it to you. Don’t ask me why.”

“You saw Nate tonight.” It wasn’t a question.

“I went by the office. I thought he should know.”

His mouth tightened. “And what’d he say?”

I sighed.  He must have already known the answer to that one, but I could tell he wanted to hear the words anyway. “He’s not interested in seeing your dad. He doesn’t seem to care that he’s dying.”

Sy nodded slowly, as though he’d already expected the answer, then he glanced once again at the piece of jewelry in his hands. I watched him, and for a moment he only stared at the thing. His mouth turned down in a frown and his brows furrowed. I waited for an explanation, wishing to know the significance of it.

He offered none.

Instead, he pocketed the necklace and turned the key in the ignition.

We travelled for a couple hours in silence, where I allowed him the space he needed to sort through his thoughts. I even managed to sleep for at least a good half hour before he finally broke the stillness with a question.

“When were you planning to tell me you were going back to undercover Ops?”

His hands were tight on the wheel, but his expression was calm…almost casual. There was only one way he could have come by that information.

“You went through my shit.” It wasn’t meant to be a question, but he lied anyway.

“I was looking for a pen.”

“Bullshit.”

“You’re evading the question.”

Somehow I didn’t expect to break the news to him this way and so yes..I was evading and I continued to evade.

“You wanna tell me why you hacked into my friend’s files?”

He glanced at me briefly and with a raised brow. “Friends don’t send friends pictures of their dick.”

“So you’re admitting it then.”

He snorted. ‘You call that a hack? I just shifted a few files around. Dick’s got nothing to worry about.”

“His name’s Alex.”

“That’s what I said.” He kept his eyes on the road, face forward, his expression blank.

I cursed. “Sy, when are you gonna stop messing with the law? You’re a FBI agent for God’s sake.”

“I acted within the bounds of the law. Reasonable cause and all that.” He waved me off.

“Bullshit.”

“I think I’m starting to hate that word.”

“You gonna start pulling warrants outta your ass too?”

“I could.” He said without an ounce of humor and I sighed.

“How bout we just cut the crap and you tell me what you’ve been up to Ed.” He said seriously. “I thought you said you were done with undercover Ops.”

“I never said I was back in. The chief brought it to my attention. I never gave him an answer.”

“But you’re considering it.”

“I am.” I answered honestly.

He made no reply.

“If you’re worried about having to put up with another partner yo—”

“I can handle a new partner. I’ve done it before.” he spat, then. “I want in.”

I was too surprised to utter a word, so I just looked at him.

“I’m serious.  I know you think I don’t take shit seriously, but when it comes to watching your back, you won’t have a problem.”

I took a breath. “Look Sy, what I said the other night…it was bullshit. I know you work your ass off. We both know you’re a damn good partner. I’m not worried about you watching my six.”

“Good, then you won’t have a problem getting me in on the job.”

I shook my head. “I can’t do that.”

His eyes narrowed and for a second he cut me a look. “Can’t or won’t?”

“You’re right. I won’t. I can’t concentrate on the mission if I’m worried you’ll be out there getting your ass blown off.”

“Wow, thanks for the vote of confidence Ed. Good to know you don’t think I’m completely fucking useless.”

He was obviously pissed now, but it didn’t change a damn thing. I wasn’t going letting him in on the mission, not when the only reason I was taking it in the first place was to save his sorry ass.

I turned to look out the open window and once again silence descended. The rest of the ride continued that way.

…………………

 We went our separate ways when we got to the inn. At least as separate as we could go when we were sharing the same room.

I dumped my bag on my bed in the corner and he was quick to hop onto his own bed with his two laptops in tow. I watched inconspicuously as he sat cross-legged in the center of the mattress and opened both screens before him. Afterward, he pulled out a pair of headphones. The fancy looking ones with the microphone on the bottom, and began typing away on the thing.

If it was one thing Sy could do well, it was giving me the silent treatment and it never failed to irritate me. I pulled out a clean shirt from my duffel and hopped into the bathroom for a quick shower. When I reentered the room minutes later, dressed and ready to head out, he glanced up from his screen and our eyes met.

“Where are you going?” he asked somewhat reluctantly and I shrugged.

“Out.”

He ignored me again after that and I watched as he fingers danced across the keyboard. I was dead tired, but something told me that trying to sleep in here tonight with the pissed off Simon, would be an exercise in futility. So after stuffing my wallet deep into my pocket and grabbing the spare room key, I left without a word.

I’d take a walk, find a bar, maybe down a few drinks. It would be nice to get out after the long ride we’d just had.

It was dark out. Not the usual darkness of a well-lit city, but dark dark. The kind of blackness that one only found in the country-side, or really small towns. There was a street lamp somewhere far down the road, but from where I stood by the Inn door, to all the way down there. There was only black.

Not very far down the street I saw a soft glow emanating from a place of business. I made my way there expecting to see a well-stocked bar, filled with grumpy old men and guys in their prime relaxing after a tough day’s work. But when I entered the place, it was like a ghost town, and not a bar, but a restaurant.

There was young couple having a meal by a table close to the doors and a man ordering his meal to-go by the cashier’s counter. I wasn’t greeted by the host when I entered, and my guess was that a backwoods place like this didn’t need a host anyway.

I stood in line behind the guy, ordered two meals and went to have a seat after paying.

I couldn’t help but look around the place despite the fact that there was nothing much to look at. Just scratched up chairs, worn table cloths and carpets that must have seen better days.

I wondered how Simon’s dad ended up at a hospital all the way out here—Three and a half hours away from his sons. It got me thinking.

When the food came it was passable. Nothing to write home about, but I had them box up the meal I’d gotten for Sy, before I headed out again.

It definitely wasn’t the most exciting town. Dead would probably be a good way to describe it, but I figured it was a little better during the days. This time when I entered the room, food in tow, Sy was fast asleep. He was spread out on his back, both computers still opened beside him and the headphones still in place.

I placed the food on the table and did what I’d been doing for him since the day we became friends. I closed the laptops and put them on the table beside the food. After which time, I pulled off the headphones, pulled off his boots and turned out the lights.

                                             AUTHOR'S NOTES

ANOTHER CHAPTER DOWN, A MILLION MORE TO GO.

ENJOY AND THANKS FOR READING!

-DoUbLe.A

-unedited.