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It started with Maggie Thatcher.
Her husband called the EMTs after she dropped to the floor and he couldn’t wake her up.
Nathan and Audrey walked into the hospital side-by-side.
“The hospital stated that it was a coma. No discernible cause.” Audrey looked over the files while walking. Nathan opened the door and allowed her to walk through it.
“It definitely sounds like a trouble.” Nathan responded, pulling his lips tight and ducking his head.
“Well, lets interview the husband and see if it's him. Maybe they were fighting? If it is him and he's upset, we don't want him in a crowded hospital,” Audrey shook her head.
“He is in room 407,” Nathan glanced at his texts and pressed the elevator button. They stepped in when the doors opened. Nathan and Audrey flashed their badges when they passed the nurses station on the 4th floor heading to the room.
“Mr. Thatcher...may we have a word.” Nathan asked, pausing when he saw the man clutching his wife’s hand with his young daughter in his lap. The man nodded, whispering in his daughter’s ear before getting up and leaving her with the mom.
Audrey looked at the pair as he walked through. The man was middle-aged with kind, dark brown eyes and salt-and-pepper hair. He was a couple inches taller than Nathan. The daughter was around 8 years old, small, with brown hair and green eyes. Audrey thought she must have gotten her eyes from her mother. She glanced sadly at the family.
“Mr. Thatcher…” Nathan started.
“Please, call me Cal.” He said, hands stuffed in his pockets and worry etched into his face.
“Cal, what was happening when your wife fell?” Audrey tried, letting concern and empathy resound in her voice.
Cal teared up. “We fought. My wife recently told me she had feelings for someone else. But we were trying to work things out.”
“Do you know who the other person is?” Nathan asked.
“No. Someone from work. We never talked about it because we were going to try for our daughter, Hailey. My wife never cheated. She just fell out of love with me.” Cal was close to sobbing now.
“Cal, go back to your daughter. We will get her work information from the file. We will call if we need anything else.” Audrey put a hand on his shoulder and walked with him back to his family. He bent down and swooped his daughter into his lap, crying.
Audrey looked to see a frown on Nathan’s face, his arms crossed. He had moved further into the hall and she walked to join him. Nathan’s blue eyes met sad green ones; he did always have a soft spot for children and hated to see a child so young go through so much hardship. Nathan clutched his arms a little tighter as he remembered being with his mother when she passed.
“If he did it, he didn’t mean to,” Nathan stated as they walked back out of the hospital. Audrey saw the shift in his demeanor and walked a little closer to him, hoping it conveyed support.
“We should follow up with her work. Maybe the other person was unhappy with their decision?” She suggested, looking to her partner as his phone rang.
“Wuornos.” Was his clipped response. Audrey recognized Duke’s voice over the line but couldn't make out what was being said. Nathan smiled a small smile at whatever was spoken. She was happy those two were working things out. It certainly makes my life easier. She thought with an eyebrow raise.
“Good news then?” Audrey questioned, raising her eyebrows in a mischievous smile.
“What?” Nathan gave a distrusting look.
Audrey climbed into the Bronco, “You just seemed a little happy,” she shrugged.
“Yeah well, Duke is throwing a party at the Gull and we have been invited. A….pancake party.” Nathan spoke nonchalantly looking at the road as he pulled away.
“A pancake party? Seriously?”
“He said he hasn't finalized the name yet but wants to do like, a pancake-bar with different unique pancakes. He's charging entry then using it to help out some of the people who have suffered from the troubles this year.”
“Well that is nice of him,” Audrey stated, looking back forward.
“I know. It is very...un-Crocker.” Nathan shook his head with a chuckle. Audrey watched his blue eyes dart at her before settling back on the road.
The drive continued in comfortable silence.
Audrey still hadn’t figured out her relationship with Nathan. She knew she loved him. She was fairly certain he loved her. Yet, so many things kept interfering.
“Is it meant to be?” The thought snuck in, like a memory once forgotten. Those phrases that you know are cliché that you read about as children. She knows life isn’t really like that. It's more complicated, more gray.
Audrey doesn't believe in a “one true love”. She thinks back at her past lives and wonders how many times she fell in love and lost it. She believes firmly that you can have many true loves. That true love is sticking with someone when, even for the moment, that feeling is gone.
She was nursing a red dessert wine in the corner of the Gull, recalling the case that day.
Her and Nathan went to the workplace and found the someone that the woman loved. It was another woman in her department, Leslie. She was distraught when she learned of Maggie's condition. She remembers Nathan holding her as she sobbed.
When questioned about the relationship between them, it seemed that Leslie truly respected Maggie’s decision to stay with her husband and Audrey thinks that maybe that is also true love. Loving someone else so much that you let them go to be happy, for their daughter.
Audrey was brought out of her thoughts when she heard Duke approach the table with an easy smile. She watched as he strided over, leaning on the back of Nathan’s chair. “How’re the pancakes Audrey? Nathan seems to like them.” His eyes met hers then made a gesture at her partner.
Nathan was seated next to her eating pancakes with blueberry syrup. Audrey glanced at her empty plate, “Well, they’re gone! Wild strawberry and nutella.” Her stomach had that bloated feeling you get when you are full.
“Good turnout.” Nathan remarked, eyes scanning the many patrons in the room.
Duke placed a hand on Nathan’s shoulder, “Well, the dinner rush is over. Wanna have some wine on the porch after I get cleaned up?”
Nathan nodded, “Sound good.”
“I think I will stay. However, I can’t stay long. That case won't solve itself.” Audrey placed the napkin in her lap on her plate.
“What happened now. Is it a trouble?” Duke questioned, expression turning serious.
“Not for sure yet, looks like it but there is only one victim affected.” Nathan wiped his mouth and also tossed his napkin on his plate. Audrey made a mental note of his half eaten short stack.
Audrey watched as they talked. Duke was gesturing animatedly while Nathan was just looking up at him with his arms across his chest. It was not difficult for Audrey to see the friendship they had. She smiled as she looked at them, joining the conversation as the night winded down.
When it was time to leave, she walked into the cool night. Her face and body were warmed with the familiar buzz alcohol left behind.
The trio stumbled out of the Gull together, laughing and spirits high.
“God, you are heavy.” Duke grumbled jokingly, throwing his head back in laughter.
Nathan’s cheeks were flushed as Duke had him under his arm supporting him as they stumbled out.
“He is such a lightweight.” Audrey chuckled. Her head was swimming and she felt like floating. She may be a lightweight as well but she wouldn’t let those words leave her mouth.
“I only had like 5 drinks.” Nathan ducked his head, smiling. His blue eyes were glassy and bright. Duke hauled him upright. “Time to go home,” Nathan sing-songed.
“No can do big guy. You are staying on the Rouge tonight.” Duke waved back at Audrey, “How did I get stuck with babysitting?” He griped with no heat behind the words.
Audrey pulled her jacket closer to her body and shrugged, closing her eyes and letting the salty breeze fill her lungs. “Got lucky I guess!”
“Yeah, yeah” Duke grumbled, keeping a hand on Nathan’s shoulder as they continued the walk towards the boat.
“He’ll feel that tomorrow. Somehow,” She bemused, heading up the stairs to her apartment.
Audrey couldn’t believe it when she saw Nathan pull up to the new crime scene the next morning. Nathan was wearing clothes that were obviously not his. Audrey put a hand over her mouth to hide her glee as she took the sight in. He was wearing a plaid shirt and khakis. If you didn’t know Nathan, you wouldn’t know any difference as they fit well enough. Nathan almost always wore jeans and the slightly too large khakis looked awkward on his frame. The plaid shirt could pass if she hadn’t seen Duke in that same shirt last week.
“Don’t say anything.” Nathan grumbled, a tiredness in his posture, as he noted her expression.
“About what?” Audrey feigned ignorance, she looked anywhere but him to keep herself from laughing. “Late night?” She asked, not being able to help herself.
Nathan did nothing but glare at her, ducking under the yellow crime scene tape.
“Another victim. Tomas Morgan. Early 20s. Male. African American.” He spoke, reading from the file.
“Completely different from the last victim.” Audrey murmured, switching to detective mode with the earlier glee gone.
“Same story. Dropped to the floor out of nowhere into a coma.” Nathan stood in the living room of the home. Bay windows with board and batten paneling lined the room. There was a single couch and end table with a TV in the corner. Books lined the back wall and several looked worn and loved.
“No partner or kids?” Audrey wrinkled her brow. Her mind was trying to piece together the commonalities between the cases. Tomas Morgan and Maggie Thatcher didn't even know each other. Not well enough anyway. Different jobs, different parts of town.... Audrey looked where the victim fell, cones marking evidence on the floor.
Nathan looked at the file, “No, but a sister on Glendower”
Audrey turned towards the first officer on the scene, “Was he the only one home?” Audrey questioned.
“Yeah. As far as we can tell. The neighbor, Grant Ellis, came over to check on him after he never responded to his texts.” The officer used his pen to point to another man sitting on the steps leading into the home.
Audrey walked to the man while Nathan continued to take in the scene.
“Hi. Grant, right?” Audrey waved, taking a seat on the stoop next to him.
“Yeah.” Grant gave a shaky greeting.
“Can you tell me a bit about what happened when you got here?” Audrey asked.
“Yeah. His nephew is on the same little league soccer team as my daughter. He usually comes to the game with his sister to watch but wasn't there today. I asked his sister and she said that he had a girlfriend that he was supposed to be going to dinner with. I saw his car in the drive when we got home and went to ask how the date went and I saw him through the window.” Grant let his head drop into his hands.
Audrey thought back to the first case. “Did Tomas and his girlfriend fight often?”
“Not that I know of. They just started dating a couple of months ago but I could already tell he loved her. He just couldn’t figure out how to tell her and now…” Grant trailed off, eyes going back to the home.
“Thank you, Grant. You can head home now just check in with the officer over there on your way out.” Audrey pointed, giving Grant a nod before heading back inside to Nathan.
“Find anything?” Audrey asked, moving next to Nathan who was crouching on the ground.
“I think he was on his phone. It was found under the couch. The last number was an out-of-state number so I will have them look it over to find out the caller.” He stood back up, Audrey coming with him.
“He was supposed to be going out with his girlfriend tonight. Something happened and the Thatcher’s were fighting too.” Audrey placed her hand on her chin as she spoke.
“How much do you want to bet he was talking to his girlfriend?” Nathan asked.
“Seems like a love trouble or a fighting trouble?” Audrey pondered. “ I haven't found the connection between the two. Tomas didn’t know Cal or Maggie.”
“Someone was near both of them.” Nathan shrugged, his brows creased, “We need to talk to the girlfriend.”
Audrey agreed. She looked around the scene one last time before heading back to the car.
“We should talk to his sister as well. Let's head there before going back to the station.”
Audrey climbed in the passenger seat of the car and scooted in to close the door. The door made a dull thump when it closed.
“So….Duke’s clothes?” Audrey asked hesitantly, a smirk covering her features.
“We got the call early. I didn’t have time to go home. It was what he had clean and available.” Nathan let out a sigh tugging the pants further down his legs.
“Mmmhmm sure.” Audrey teased. She loved the way she could frustrate him. A slight blush colored his cheeks at the implication and teasing.
Nathan ducked and cleared his throat, “Anyway, I will just grab clothes when we get back to the station. I have spares there.”
“Helen Croft.” Nathan said, pulling out a picture of a young female. She was fair-skinned with dark hair and a pixie cut.
“The girlfriend.” Audrey responded. After interviewing the sister, they got her name and number which matched the last call made on Tomas’ phone.
“She isn’t home but just moved into town.” Nathan hung her photo on a little board. “We have officers waiting for her to get home.
“She wouldn’t know the Thatchers either.” Audrey kicked herself off the chair she was propped on before motioning to the board.
Before Nathan could respond, Duke walked in the doors.
“Crocker.” Nathan stated in acknowledgement.
“What are you doing here, Duke?” Audrey asked.
“Just a tax-paying citizen making a friendly visit to the police station. That allowed?” He asked, never pausing before planting himself behind Nathan’s desk and kicking his feet up.
“You don’t pay your taxes.” Nathan huffed.
“Woah, I think I would check whose pants you are wearing before making accusations.” Duke said, eyebrows raised.
Audrey had to do a double-take when Nathan shook his head and rolled his eyes, blush dusting his cheeks again.
“There is definitely more to this story.” Audrey thought, choosing to drop it this time. Audrey loved both of these men and she was starting to think they may love each other too. Her heart felt full at the thought. They had come a long way from when she moved into Haven.
Another officer popped his head into the room. “Hey, Chief. Is this a good time?” He looked around.
“Yeah Stan. It’s fine.” Nathan placed another file on his desk.
Stan looked unsure when he responded. “The victim, Maggie Thatcher. Her vitals have dropped at the hospital. Doctors think she won’t make it but a few more days if it continues to decrease.”
Nathan held a grim expression as he nodded Stan’s dismissal.
“So there is a time period for this trouble. We need to find out who this is.” Audrey stood and gathered her belongings. That all too familiar adrenaline rushing through her veins at the prospect of losing someone.
Nathan didn't feel much better himself. His palms were sweating and he rubbed them down the front of his pants. He always felt pressure when lives were at stake and he didn't think he would ever get used to it.
He caught Duke’s expression and was going to gesture for him to come with them. They could use the extra set of eyes when they headed to the girlfriend’s frequent locations. However, Nathan hated risking Duke; this trouble just became deadly. Nathan was a cop. Duke was not. Duke did not sign up for the risk that he and Audrey frequently put him in.
Guilt and apprehension pooled in his stomach. “Actually, Duke, go back to the Gull.” Nathan called out over his shoulder.
“Nathan, I want to go.” He rushed to join them.
“No, Duke it’s too dangerous.” Nathan dismissed. Nathan could not stand the thought of losing either of them but at least Audrey was trained. The past year has been hard; there have been too many close calls. Nathan shook his head to clear his thoughts and walked out the door. There were now two people in the hospital for this trouble and he didn’t want anyone else to go.
“Audrey…” Duke asked, urgency in his voice.
“Nathan, we could use him.” She suggested. Duke did a celebratory gesture with his hands and climbed in the backseat.
Nathan stopped and gave her an exasperated look, “Audrey, he isn’t a cop...”
“I know he isn’t, but he is a lot of help and wants to go. He is good at this too and we don’t have time. Maggie is dying and we have no leads.”
Nathan knew he was beat and tried to ignore the sense of dread curled around his chest.
Duke hopped out of the car when they had arrived at the park that Helen liked to frequent. The sun was shining on the white pebbles lining the walkways, the birds sang, and the oceans waves sounded in the distance. He could see why she liked this park.
There were several people at the park. Couples and families and friends. Everyone seemed happy. Duke’s thoughts drifted to Nathan. Their relationship had gotten better recently. He knew, however, that the feelings he felt were not reciprocated and they would never have what they had in the past. Nathan loved Audrey and Duke was honestly just happy to have him back in his life. There were a lot of mistakes made in the past and maybe, just maybe, their relationship wouldve been different without them.
Duke couldn’t deny that he was a sucker for those blue eyes; seeing the man in his clothes also didn’t hurt. He almost thought they had a moment last night. When they stumbled on to the boat and Nathan hugged him like he used to. When they were just teenagers looking for better horizons...before he became the trauma that triggered Nathan’s trouble.
Duke looked at the man. Nathan had seemed worried instead of frustrated at the station when he asked Duke to stay behind. That in itself was enough to make Duke’s stomach knot in return and that was what decided, for Duke, that he was tagging along.
Duke caught Audrey casting a worried look over at Nathan when he looked away, this confirmed for Duke that he wasn’t the only one to hear the shift in Nathan’s voice at the station.
Duke searched the park again, distracting himself from his thoughts. The faster they caught the troubled person the faster he could forget those worries.
Duke called a mental picture of the girl forward, scanning the crowd. He almost thought he could see her when Nathan called out.
“She is over there!”
Nathan strided to the vendor stands at the edge of the park. Audrey and Duke followed closely behind. Duke could see her now. She was standing with a paper bag of produce from the vendors.
“Helen?” Nathan asked.
“Yes. That’s me.” She responded, obviously caught off guard.
“Do you know Tomas Morgan?” Audrey asked.
“Yes. He is my boyfriend. Did something happen?” She appeared genuinely fearful and Duke felt his chest clench. He hated this part.
“He was found today in his living room. He is in a coma at the hospital.” Nathan said, though it looked like it pained him as well.
Helen’s groceries fell from her hand and she covered her face. “What happened?” She rushed, tears streaking down her face.
“We don't know. Did you two talk today?” Audrey questioned.
“Yes. We were supposed to go to dinner but we got in a stupid argument. I cancelled our dinner tonight and he hung up on me. I couldn't get a hold of him again. I just thought he was ignoring me and needed space. He sometimes needs that.” She had a far away look in her eyes.
“I would like to see him. Please.” She asked desperately. “I should've known. He never ghosts me this long.”
“You can see him. But before you go can you tell me what you were arguing about?” Audrey inquired, rolling her shoulders back.
“It was stupid. I didn’t think he was being open with his feelings towards me. I told him I loved him and he hadn’t said it back. I know we weren't together long and I didn’t mean to say it so soon. It just slipped out and he didn’t say anything back. I was embarrassed and angry…”
“Thank you Helen. You can go visit him.” Nathan bent to help her with her groceries and walked her to her car.
Audrey looked to Duke, “This is the second time a fight has dealt with someone loving someone or someone else. Both times the couples fought.”
“So it’s a love trouble right? This is why you never fall in love!” Duke announced in that self-deprecating, humorous way.
“Or a fighting trouble…” Audrey mumbled in thought.
“I’d like to go with love for 1000,” Duke said in a game-show host voice.
“Alright. I guess we will figure it out then. If it’s a fighting trouble then you owe me a “free drink” pass at the Gull.” Audrey snickered.
“Deal. And if it’s a love trouble then you have to let me teach you to cook something.” Duke grinned. His eyes fixed to Nathan’s approaching figure. Duke opened the door and slid in the back as Nathan and Audrey climbed in the front.
“Where to, Chief?” Duke chirped from the back, fastening his belt. He looked to the rear view mirror where he knew he’d catch Nathan’s eyes.
Nathan maintained eye contact, glancing between the two, “I have no idea. Two victims and neither seem related.”
“We can go back to the files and see if we missed anything, “Audrey suggested. Duke could see how defeated she felt in the moment; Nathan too if his soft sigh was anything to go by.
“Yeah…” Nathan uttered, putting his car into drive.
Duke gazed out of the windows on the way back. The drive was silent, each person contemplating what they could have missed. Duke watched the colored leaves with the sun shining through them, dancing shadows on the car as they drove.
A drive like this was the only peace they could get recently. It was never a dull moment in Haven and here they all were trying to save people from things most would never understand. Duke had great respect for Audrey and Nathan….and Dwight (he begrudgingly admitted) because of that.
He could see that struggle on the faces of those he loves. Audrey’s eyes were more tired and her shoulders more slumped. It’s harder to get her to loosen up. She carries a weight that wasn’t there when she arrived.
He sees it on Nathan, probably more than anyone. Duke may be biased in that assessment due to the length of time he has known the guy, but he doesn’t think he is too far off. Duke remembers when he used to laugh and his dimples weren't framed with lines. He carries himself with a distance between others, like he is so unsure what is going to hurt him or not. Duke has seen the sadness thinly veiled behind ice blue eyes. His chest aches.
Duke wants to reach forward and rest a hand on their shoulders. It would help Audrey, but...touch has become something very personal for Nathan. There’s manners Duke tries to use with Nathan as he knows Nathan prefers to initiate contact. Duke wouldn't feel right offering comfort to one just to deny it to the other.
So, Duke just continued looking at the fall leaves.
That evening there was a third victim, Lucy Pemwell. She dropped into sleep after her and her husband fought. They argued about something as trivial as where to go for dinner. He was the elementary school principal and she was the elementary school art teacher.
These were the first victims to connect. Mr. and Mrs. Pemwell knew Mr. and Mrs. Thatcher through the school. They had attended PTA meetings together.
“But, how does this connect with Tomas Morgan?” Nathan had his feet on his desk clutching a file in his hands. They were running out of time.
Duke could feel the tension in the room. Audrey and Nathan wore grim expressions. Duke was awaiting an order from the Gull. He was going to surprise them with it when it arrived at the station. He knew neither of them had eaten today. Duke certainly hadn't made breakfast when Nathan stumbled into his clothes and off his boat that morning.
“He is the missing link,” Audrey squinted at the pictures. Three people in two days. Duke knew the first victim wasn't doing well and her vitals were still lower than they should be.
They were at a loss.
“So, the Thatchers and Pemwell knew each other from Haven East Elementary. Maybe it’s another teacher? Or a student? Morgan had a nephew.” Audrey pointed out.
“Yes, but the nephew went to West Haven,” Nathan responded. “No overlap with teachers or students and the schools are 25 minutes away from each other.”
Duke’s phone pinged. “Hey guys, I’ll be right back,” he announced. Neither Nathan or Audrey looked up at him, still focusing on the case.
He walked through the dark halls of the police station to see Bill outside, illuminated in the lampposts outside the station.
“Don't worry. I didn’t cook any of it.” He smirked handing the food over.
“It's the small mercies,” Duke replied with equal mirth.
“Duke Crocker. Willingly hanging out at the Haven PD.” Bill chuckled, looking at the station and around him in an overexaggerated manner.
“I know. It's a crazy time we are living. What was on the menu, man.” Duke peered in the bag.
“I figured the order was for you, Audrey, and Nathan so I picked out the chicken and rice for Nathan, the boiled shrimp and hushpuppies for you, and the fish tacos for Audrey. I asked for 3 waters just in case.” Bill mentally tallied the items in his head.
Duke smiled at the choices, “Perfect thanks man.”
“Yeah, no problem.” He turned to walk away before spinning back around, “I saw Nathan leaving your boat this morning…” Bill trailed off, a knowing sly grin spread across his face.
“It’s not like that, Bill.” Duke spoke, softer than intentional.
“I know man, but I know how you felt about him. Maybe this is a second chance.” Bill smiled around the words, knowing their meaning.
Duke’s hesitant smile was a give away for Bill. Duke knew that and his heart clenched at the thoughts and memories he held for Nathan. “A second chance for friendship!’ Duke said with too much nonchalance, cheering a water bottle at him as a dismissal.
“Alright, Duke. Enjoy!” Duke saw Bill wink at him. He WINKED at him. Duke rolled his eyes and fondness bloomed for his dear friend. He was glad Bill was assisting at the Gull while his troubled staff had taken a break. The restaurant needed all the help it could get since Duke was away so much assisting in cases like these.
Duke heading back inside with the warm food cradled in his hands and water bottles stuffed between his arms and torso.
Nathan was pacing back and forth, he was obviously worked up about something. Audrey too, was on her feet, animatedly talking back and pointing at the board.
“What’d I miss?” Duke announced, holding the food in front of him like a peace offering. Audrey’s face lit up at the take-out boxes while Duke noticed Nathan’s small grimace. The expression was quick enough that if you didn't know him, you would have missed it.
Duke shrugged it off, knowing how Nathan got in cases like this, keyed up and ready to go. Duke knew, however, that sometimes proper nutrition and a break are the key to solving cases. He divvied up the boxes and took his seat by the door. Audrey clutched her box and sat at her desk, picking up a chip and munching while continuing to look at files.
“Thank you, Duke.” Audrey stated
“Yeah. Thanks, Duke” Nathan mumbled, face in a file.
“What was that? I must’ve missed it?” Duke teased, cupping his hand behind an ear to pantomime listening.
“Don’t push it, Crocker.” Nathan retorted. Lacking his usual fire but teasing all the same. Ice blue eyes glared at warm brown eyes. They were opposites in cold and warm Duke thought fondly before turning his gaze towards the food in his lap.
When Duke glanced up, he saw Audrey looking up at him with a mischievous smile. Duke felt his cheeks warm under her gaze.
“Are any of the bus drivers the same?” Nathan asked from his hunched position over the file, completely oblivious to the silent exchange taking place in the same room.
“No. We already checked that.” Audrey shook her head and picked up another file.
“Damn.” Nathan leaned back in his chair with his head resting on his palm.
“Nate, you should eat before it gets cold.” Duke remarked.
“I won't be able to tell anyway…” Nathan started”
“Yeah but it will taste better too.” Duke replied, biting into a shrimp.
Nathan didn’t respond, but opened his box and took a couple of bites.
“Maybe we can check out the school tomorrow. See if we recognize anyone?” Duke suggested.
“Audrey and I can do it. Thanks” Nathan bit out in response.
“I started this journey and I intend on completing it!” Duke was a little heated in his response. He was getting frustrated with the constant fight to let him help. They usually ended up asking eventually and he was more often than not helpful. He was tired of pushing this.
However, it seemed his frustration was reflected in Nathan. “Duke, for the last time, you are not a cop!”
“A consultant then.” Duke flashed a smile he knew would rile Nathan up. He didn’t want to fight, not really, but it was their repertoire; it was easier.
Nathan stood and came around to the front of his desk, standing in front of Duke. Duke knew that tactic well and brought himself to full height, knowing he was just a hair taller.
“No. Not a consultant either. That means you would’ve had a contract with the PD and you don’t. Maybe you should go…” Nathan nearly shouted.
“Boys! Let’s not fight.” Audrey cut in before being interrupted.
“No. I don’t have a contract. Maybe you two should stop needing me to save your asses! I might not be there next time.” Duke matched levels.
“We don’t need some low-life criminal saving our asses. Maybe we were in that position in the first place because you got in the way! You are a liability!” Nathan spoke, no longer yelling but his voice was laced with venom. Duke thinks that maybe he preferred the yelling.
Heat pooled in Duke’s stomach and he felt the urge to throw a punch into Nathan’s smug face. He felt the anger sweep over him like an old friend; a familiar dance with Nathan that they had been doing for a long time.
Then, something unexpected happened.
Duke watched Nathan’s face go slack and ice replaced the fire in Duke’s veins. “Nate…” Duke started. He felt like he was watching the scene in slow motion. Audrey was making a move to get up but she wouldn’t get around the desk in time. Duke took a large stride forward just as Nathan's eyes rolled back and he dropped like a puppet with cut strings.
Duke just barely managed to catch him under his arms. Nathan’s face was against his chest, similar to the time Audrey tased him on Duke’s boat. Duke thought he heard shouting but it was like there was cotton in his ears.
Duke brought a hand up to cradle the back of Nathan’s skull as he lowered and rotated him onto his back on the floor. Nathan was thin, but he certainly wasn’t light.
Duke crouched down and placed two fingers on his pulse point, a steady rhythm thumping under his skin.
“Oh God.” Audrey stated, with barely concealed panic. Duke was sure his panic was nowhere near concealed.
“Nathan. Nathan.” Duke called his name, shaking him, hoping he could feel the movement if not the tactile sensations. Duke's heart was in his throat. He stroked Nathan's hair away from his face. Audrey took up a crouching position on his other side, grasping his hand in hers while yelling for one of the overnight officers to call for help.
Duke took his head into his lap and settled under him. “So much for not needing his ass saved,” Duke joked. It came out weaker than he intended.
Unshed tears glistened in Audrey’s eyes as she did a basic medical check up. She checked his arms, legs, chest...she watched his breathing. “Duke, can you roll him on his side?”
Duke kept his head supported as they rolled Nathan on his side so that his back was towards Audrey. “What are you doing Audrey?”
“Checking for injuries. Just in case. He wouldn’t know if he had them.” She lifted his shirt to find unblemished skin, just like everywhere else.
“I think it’s the trouble Audrey. Is he dating someone?” Duke was perplexed. All the other victims were arguing with their significant other. Nathan was arguing with him.
The guilt was going to eat Duke alive.
“No. He isn’t. Not that I know of.” Audrey helped Duke roll him back onto his back. She stroked her thumb over the skin on the back of the hand she clutched.
Duke moved Nathan’s head back into his lap as they consigned themselves to waiting for the ambulance.
Like this, Duke could almost pretend Nathan was sleeping. Duke thought of how happy he’d been when Nathan was asleep at his place the night before. When he woke up at 3:30 in the morning to get water and Nathan was curled up on the couch, skin flushed from intoxication.
His skin was not flushed now, it was pale and cool. There were tinges of blue around his lips, eyes, and hairline, same as the others. He looked dead already and if it weren’t for the steady rise and fall of Nathan’s chest...Duke didn't want to think about it.
The ice in his veins hadn’t left. Duke had been in this position too many times; he was tired of worrying about Nathan. He was constantly putting his life on the line for reasons he thought were noble, caught in the crossfire of a trouble, or acquiring any number of the injuries that are more likely with his condition. His body bore the marks of this town, theirs all did.
A weariness settled over him, weighing him down like a blanket. He stood in a daze when the paramedics lifted Nathan onto a stretcher; the white blanket highlighting how pale he had gotten.
Audrey grabbed his arms and snapped him from his daze. “We have to solve this Duke. Nathan is counting on us.”
Duke nodded, taking one last look at Nathan’s unconscious form rolling out of the station, “Okay. We have, what...3 days?” Duke felt sick even saying it. “One of us should be with him.”
“No, Duke. We have to work together. Nathan is not going to get better unless we find the troubled person.” Audrey was adamant in her statement and that made Duke feel a little less lost. Duke knew deep down that both of them loved him--even if Duke found that easier to admit than he would have liked--and they would solve this for him.
“How does Nathan connect? He must’ve seen the troubled person or interacted with them.” Duke tried to think back.
“We’ve only seen the three victims…” Audrey mumbled in thought. “We should go back to the first victim, there must be something we’ve missed.”
Duke nodded. “Why me?” Duke asked, “Why did this happen when he argued with me” Duke felt bewildered. Maybe Aurey was right about the trouble being a fighting one.
She shook her head, “I don’t know, Duke.”
Duke did the only thing he could think of at that moment. He gave Audrey a hug, “We will figure it out.”
“We have to go in the morning. Can’t do anything tonight. Get some sleep.” Audrey wiped her eyes and stepped back out of Duke’s embrace.
“We will go in the morning, but I don't think either of us will be able to sleep.” Duke didn’t want to go back to his quiet boat, Nathan’s clothes still strewed on the floor. Maybe he will just sleep at the hospital, at least Nathan would be there.
Duke awoke with a crick in his neck, the scratchy hospital blanket pooled around his waist where it had slipped down off his shoulders. The fluorescent lights were dimmed so Duke knew it was still fairly early.
He checked his watch: 6:37am. He had barely slept 4 hours. It had only been 5 hours since Nathan collapsed into his arms. Duke was simultaneously not tired and exhausted, nerves on edge.
He looked to the bed where the only sound was the beeping of the heart monitor. Nathan was exactly how he was at the station except for the hospital gown. It was so surreal. Duke had seen for the second morning in a row with two vastly differing emotions. He thought about how it was his own shirt they had cut off of his best friend. Duke remembered how animated and frustrated the man had been hours ago and how still he was now.
Duke took one of Nathan’s pliant, thin wrists into his hands. He thought that if Nathan were awake and could feel that he would be cold. His skin was cool to the touch. Duke watched the heart monitor roll across the screen. His heart was beating at 54bpm and Duke knew it was going to drop lower today.
He absentmindedly stroked his thumbs across the back on the arm he held, knowing the man could not feel him like he could his partner. Duke felt inferior in that moment. “Audrey would be a better candidate for this...” The thought washed over him and he let his head fall onto the unresponsive arm below his.
Duke stood on shaky legs and gently set Nathan’s arms under the covers, pulling them up to his shoulders and tucking them under. Nathan was ashen and peaceful, like a painting. Duke smoothed his brunette hair over to the side how he knew his long-time friend would want it.
Duke walked into the small bathroom tucked in the corner and started to smooth his own hair out. He looked exhausted and his hair was unkempt. Duke’s clothes were wrinkled and sweat from the previous day clung to the fabric. He wasn’t so sure he didn’t smell.
Once Duke deemed himself “good-enough,” he walked back out in the room, taking a glance over at the prone figure in the bed. Nathan wasn’t a small man, thin but had an imposing height. Duke had never seen him as small and vulnerable as he was now. Duke wanted to cry but rolled his shoulders back and forced himself out the door.
All three, now four, victims were at the same end of the hallway. Duke popped into the room to the right and found Lucy and Maggie, the first and third victims. Lucy’s husband was in the corner but Maggie’s family was out, and from what Duke had heard, that was a rarity.
Lucy’s heart rate was nearing the 30s at this point. He didn’t know how long that would work. He had heard the doctors and nurses considering life support for the victims but it was uncharted territory. The troubles weren’t a secret and the staff were aware. Duke imagined that the team would try it at some point, sooner rather than later. Maggie’s vitals were in the 30s fully.
When Duke walked by, the husband looked up. “How are you holding up?” Mr. Pemwell asked, his was clutching his wife’s hand.
“What?” Duke was caught off guard, not expecting anyone to say anything to him.
“It’s your husband in the next room isn’t it? It hasn’t been easy for me…” The man’s voice was full of emotion and he lifted his head to blink tears from his eyes.
“He’s not my…..yeah it’s been hard.” Duke didn’t feel like explaining why it may have happened to Nathan and what he was to him. The situation was a difficult one and he could definitely understand, regardless of his relationship with the brunette next door.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to assume…” the man quickly backtracked.
“No,” Duke interrupted. “It’s okay.” He shook his head and outstretched his arm in a placating gesture.
“It’s early isn’t it?” Duke spoke, hoping the man would go back to sleep.
“Yeah, but I couldn't sleep. I don’t want her to fade away or wake up with me not here. I promised her once, many years ago, that she would never be alone. Not with me.” Mr. Pemwell looked sadly at his wife but spoke with so much conviction.
“Let this be a lesson, son. If you have something to say to someone, say it. You never know when the chance could be gone.” The man’s voice had gone softer and was tinged with regret.
“Was there something you didn’t get to say?” Duke almost didn't want to know. He didn’t want to think of all the things he never said to Nathan.
“I wish I had told her how I really felt when we argued. We argued about dinner and I know she knows I love her but, in that moment, after this was the third argument this week...I said some things I regret and words I didn’t mean. The words were meant to hurt when I never wanted to hurt her.”
“Wait…” Duke's body felt alive when the thought clicked into place. All the victims were people who were arguing instead of saying what they truly felt. The first couple argued about whether the other still loved them, the second about why they couldn’t say “I love you” back, and the third was a couple who loved each other but didn’t reflect that love in the words. These were all people who hid their true emotions behind arguments.
Duke certainly argued with Nathan when other words were on the tip of his tongue, tucked far enough in the recesses of his mind that he didn’t even bother trying to find them. “I have to tell Audrey.”
Duke jogged out of the room and dialed her number, her name appearing on the screen as the phone rang.
“Detective Parker.” Her voice was clipped and tired.
“Audrey, I think I was right. I think this is a love trouble.” Duke was frantic, glancing at the white and blue walls of the hospital.
“These were all people who weren’t saying what they truly needed to be saying. These were all people who needed to say they cared instead of arguing.”
“That makes sense. We still don’t know who is troubled though, Duke.” Audrey’s voice was breaking up but understandable.
“Where are you?” He asked, clutching his phone in his hands and pressing it harder into his ear like that would improve the reception.
“I am walking into the hospital now. I wanted to talk to the first victim’s family.” Audrey was hurrying and Duke could hear her short breaths.
“They aren’t here.” Duke spun around, frustrated.
“I just spoke to the father, he and his daughter will be here around 7:30.” Duke heard the elevator ding as she spoke and he moved towards the elevator to meet her.
“See ya then.” Duke clicked his phone shut and waited, bouncing on the balls of his feet.
She was looking about as good as he was. She had changed, but had clearly not showered or slept. “You okay?” Duke was hesitant with his question, suspecting he already knew the answer.
“Fine as I can be. I was up all night trying to retrace our steps.” Audrey dug around in her pockets and pulled out a list of everyone they had talked to or even passed by in the last two and half days.
“Okay. I guess we need to go through that list..” Duke didn’t look forward to the task but knew he would do anything at this point.
Duke moved to look at the list when the elevator doors opened and the Thatchers stepped out. The dad was resting his hands on his daughter's shoulders and leaned down to talk to the girl when he saw Audrey and Duke.
As soon as Audrey saw the girl her mouth dropped open.
“What? What is it?” Duke asked, looking between the two trying to figure out what was going on.
Duke looked at the girl again. She looked like a normal girl, nothing special as far as Duke could see. She was a cute kid with her wide green eyes. She was clutching her dad’s hand and was wearing a soccer uniform. They had obviously just come home from practice.
“Your daughter is on the soccer team?” Audrey had a wild look in her eyes.
“Yeah… I told my daughter that her mom was going to be okay so we just had to keep doing what we normally did.” The man maneuvered his daughter towards the room and she ran, climbing onto Maggie’s hospital bed.
“Is she on the team with a young boy, last name Morgan?” Audrey’s wheels were turning as the understanding finally settled in Duke’s mind.
“Yeah. Henry…” He trailed off.
“That’s the link. It’s the girl.” She looked at Duke, “I need to speak with your daughter. I think she is troubled.” Audrey was walking towards the room.
The father followed closely behind, “We don’t have any troubles in our family. Not that I know of.”
“What about your wife?” Audrey cut in.
“I don’t know. We’ve never talked about it…” The man was panicked.
“Hey. Hailey right?” Audrey sat on the edge of the bed next to the girl. The girl didn't respond but nodded. Hailey was coloring in a book.
“What are you drawing?” Audrey asked.
“A picture for my mom.” The girl handed it to Audrey.
“Is that you?” Audrey pointed to a small stick figure in the corner. Duke watched Audrey talk to the child. He was hoping that he could walk out of this place with Audrey and a conscious Nathan.
“Yeah. That’s my mom and my dad.” Audrey looked over at the parents. The parents in the picture were holding hands and smiling.
“Your parents look happy.” Audrey stated. Duke was getting impatient.
“They used to be.” Duke saw the father, Cal, step back upon hearing his daughter say that. He wore a pained expression.
“What happened?” Audrey leaned closer.
“They started fighting. A lot. Mom loved someone else. I think she still loved my dad too.” The girl looked sad and started coloring in the tree in the background.
“What do you wish was different? What did you think about before your mom got sick?” Audrey asked.
“I just wish my parents said they loved each other. My parents tell me they love each other but they never tell each other that. Like in my stories.” The girl shrugged and continued coloring.
“What stories?” Audrey questioned.
“The stories my mom read to me. The prince kissed the princess and she knows he loves her.” The girl looked ready to cry.
“And Nathan, my partner, the other cop, did you wish something about him too?” The girl nodded.
“He seemed sad. I wished he could be happy and found his love too. Like my art teacher. She was sad this week and my friend's uncle…” The girl trailed off. “But it doesn’t matter now because they are all sick.
“Cal. Come here.” Audrey called. Duke’s mind was spinning and he thought he knew what needed to be done. Mr. Pemwell was silently watching from across the room.
“Cal. Your daughter has been putting people in a sleep waiting for their true love.” Audrey looked at him.
Duke saw the light click on for the man too, “A true love’s kiss. A fairytale?” He seemed bewildered, “That’s crazy.”
“Worth a shot.” Audrey shrugged.
Cal hesitated before leaning over his wife and giving her a gentle kiss on the lips. The room held its breath. Mr. Pemwell was peeking out from behind the curtain.
“Nothing happened?” Cal broke the silence, his cries echoed across the empty space. His head fell into his hands and he cried openly. Duke felt his heart clench. He looked at the stricken faces in the room. When Duke’s eyes landed on Maggie’s he swore she looked less blue.
“Wait. Guys.” Duke gestured towards the woman. He heard her heart rate monitor accelerate before she uttered a small sound.
“Hi, Honey.” Maggie spoke, small and quiet.
Cal cried in joy this time and bent over to clutch his wife while his daughter cheered and joined in on the hug.
Mr. Pemwell promptly stood and kissed his wife, relishing in seeing her eyes open.
“We have to tell Tomas Morgan’s girlfriend. She is in the next room!” Audrey jumped up and jogged out the door to the next room. Duke followed hearing as she spoke to him.
Duke was anxious to get to Nathan’s room and jogged in there to wait for Audrey. Nathan was just how he left him not even an hour ago, blue and still.
Duke was clutching his hand when Audrey walked in.
“You gotta do it.” Duke announced, trying to get to the other side to accommodate her.
Duke clasped his cold hand bringing it to his lips before settling down and looking up at her.
Audrey walked forward and placed a gentle hand on Nathan’s face before planting a kiss to his lips.
Duke felt a weight fall off his shoulder and he released a breath he didn’t know he was holding. Duke listened to the heart rate monitor for the increase only for it to never come.
“Did you kiss him?” Duke shouted, gesturing at him.
“Yes. I did. It isn’t working!” Audrey cried, shaking his shoulders and brushing his hair back. “It’s not me! It’s someone else.” Audrey was shaking now.
“Fuck it” Was the thought that echoed in Duke as he stood. He looked at Nathan’s lips and unconsciously wet his own. Duke didn’t know what he was doing when he pressed his to the other man’s.
Duke would’ve been able to say it was the happiest moment of his life if the situation was different. He always hoped when he kissed the blue-eyed man that he would kiss him back, Nathan being in a coma was certainly not in the plans.
Duke let his head fall into Nathan’s lap as blush colored his cheeks. He felt like an idiot. Duke was about to cry in frustration when he heard a gasp from Audrey.
Duke looked up to see Nathan struggling to open his eyes. Duke’s heart soared and he took his friend's face gently in his hands.
“Nate, you with me?” Duke tapped his cheeks and laughed when the blue-eyes met his brown ones.
“Wha..What happened?” Nathan wet his lips and tried again.
Audrey rushed over and grabbed his other hand.
Nathan gasped as she touched his and jerked his hand away, “sorry...too much”. Duke saw Nathan try and relax to not upset her. Audrey grabbed the blanket and held his hand in hers with the blanket buffering them.
“Thanks” Nathan whispered.
“You needed your ass saved again.” Duke replied in response to the shorter man’s earlier question.
Nathan’s fingers brushed across his lips, “Did you kiss me?”
Duke ducked his head and nodded.
Audrey laughed, “You were asleep and only true love’s kiss would wake you!”.
“And it was me apparently…” Duke felt vulnerable, maybe it still worked if it was one-sided. Duke was scared to meet Nathan’s eyes.
“Duke, you gotta look at me, I’m too tired to move.” Nathan was quiet and sounded distant.
Duke looked up, just happy to see color flush Nathan’s face. Despite the man being asleep for almost a day, he seemed exhausted.
“Duke, it's okay. I’m sorry you had to do that. I understand, my feelings are complicated and I would like to move past this. I am sorry…” The sentence alone seemed to drain him of his remaining energy.
“You love me?” Duke’s head whipped around.
Nathan gave a small nod, “I have liked you since we were kids. I didn’t even know it was love until today.”
Duke was baffled and looked to get support from Audrey. He felt light and scared and happy. The blonde was smiling and bouncing on her feet. “Go for it, Duke!”
Duke didn’t waste a second, he slammed his lips against Nathan’s before he could doubt himself. He kissed him for a few seconds before Nathan started returning the kiss. Duke was scared until the man in his arms started returning the kiss, that he had pushed Nathan’s personal boundaries and had run him off. Little did Duke know that Nathan’s sluggish mind was just still trying to catch up.
When Duke pulled back, Nathan was smiling a sleepy smile before tucking his head on Duke’s shoulder and relaxing into sleep.
“Ooooo hot.” Duke heard Audrey whisper, trying not to wake the man. Duke was too happy to give in to the comment and smirked. Duke awkwardly shuffled into the bed to keep Nathan’s head on his shoulder. He ran his fingers through the short hair, wondering how different his life was going to be when the man in his arms recovered.
Audrey patted Duke’s shoulder, “I am going to talk to the nurses to see if we can get him home.”
Audrey walked out of the room. Duke’s face hurt from the smile that threatened to split it in half. Nathan’s breath was soft on his neck and Duke wrapped himself around his friend (lover?). He could deal with those bigger questions tomorrow.
When Audrey came back into the room with a wheelchair to take Nathan home, she found a mess of limbs tangled in the bed and Duke’s back facing the door, as if he was shielding the other man. She couldn’t even see Nathan’s head in the pile. She smiled with the knowledge that if anything were to happen to either of them (and herself included she assumed) there would be hell to pay.