#malcolm goodwin

‘Neagley -,’ you stopped when the larger person stepped into the room, ‘what’s he doing here?’  ‘He was with me when I got the call.’ She told you, you moved in your bed.  ‘Coulda dropped him off somewhere.’ You grumbled.  ‘I would’ve but you know he’s like a stray, always finds you.’ Neagley replied, you arched an eyebrow.  ‘What happened?’ Reacher quizzed.  ‘Pretty sure you’ve already asked the nurse.’ You told him.  ‘Y/N.’ He warned, you glared at him.  ‘Three busted ribs, fractured eye socket, broken nose, serve blood loss and a brand-new scar. It’s like Christmas.’ You replied sarcastically, you lifted your arms and shook them.  ‘Well at least they never took away your best quality.’ Neagley commented, you arched your brow the best you could with the swelling.  ‘Oh wow, tryna piss off the injured, real nice.’ You joked, she smiled and glanced to Reacher.  ‘You know who did it?’ Reacher quizzed, his brows were drawn together, you shook your head.  ‘Wore masks, generic height and build.’ You listed off your attackers.  You watched Neagley and Reacher share a look, you moved in your bed, a hiss escaped your lips. Reacher moved quickly, the space he had kept between you vanished, you raised a hand for him to stop which he did and glared down at you.  ‘I know how to draw them out.’ You breathed out as you got comfy.  ‘We’re not using you as bait.’ Reacher said quickly, you dropped your hand onto his forearm, his warmth spread over your palm.   ‘Good to know that’s where your brain goes but we are, or rather my body.’ You patted his arm.  ‘They’re after the team, so let’s give them the team.’ You suggested, you looked at Neagley who hadn’t moved from the bottom of the bed.  ‘Y/N.’ She said, head tilted as she had a rough idea as to where your thoughts were going.  ‘Pretty sure I was pronounced dead, so someone can work their magic and I can stay dead.’ You suggested.  ‘You’d want to be dead?’ Reacher asked, you sighed.  ‘Being alive hasn’t really lived up to what people have told me is should.’ You leaned back into the pillows to look up at him.    ‘You look like shit.’ Karla commented as she entered the motel room, you chuckled and moved from the bathroom to the chair. Reacher's arm moved at his side, Karla’s brows pinched slightly as she looked at him.  ‘Yeah, nice to see you guys again.’ You grumbled, a hand wrapped around your chest to try and ease the ache.   ‘Been up too much?’ Karla asked, you scoffed and shook your head.  ‘Just dying.’ You commented, you lowered yourself into the chair, she chuckled.  ‘Heard the pair of your got married?’ You said, Reacher looked to her and O’Donnell, his brows furrowed deeply as Neagley chuckled at his shook.  ‘Yeah, he’s had two kids as well.’ Karla commented.  ‘Oft, I'm surprised she’s put up with you for so long, two kids and an adult one?’ You said, an eyebrow arched as you looked at him.  ‘One on the way as well.’ He added happily, you smiled widely.  ‘Well congrats, boy or girl?’  ‘Don’t know.’ O’Donnell commented, he shrugged.  ‘Are they safe?’ You asked.  ‘Yeah, she knows what to do.’ He said, you nodded.  ‘Good, your husband?’ You asked Karla, she nodded which eased you slightly.  ‘He’s safe as well.’  ‘Looks like we’re set.’ You said, they all nodded, ‘Anyone fancy dinner?’ You asked and moved to get out the chair, Reacher held a hand out to stop you.  ‘Reacher and I will get it, you need to rest.’ Karla said, you looked at her annoyed, ‘Still the same toppings?’ She quizzed, you nodded.  ‘Keep -,’  ‘The door locked, we know.’ You, Neagley and O’Donnell said, Reacher looked defeated before he followed Karla out and shut the door behind him. Both their silhouettes walked past the window, Neagley slid the lock over.  ‘They’re the reason we never worked out, right?’ Karla turned to Reacher, who arched an eyebrow, ‘Y/N, you’ve always been focused on them.’ She continued, he didn’t reply.  ‘I don’t blame you, I guess I was naive for thinking anything would show between us.’ She added, Reacher focused ahead of him. 

‘What you doing back?’ You quizzed as he marched into the room, he set the carrier bag onto the small chair that sat at the window, he continued to walk towards you.  ‘I think I might stay awhile.’ He stated, you watched as he lowered himself into the bed next to you, his hand landed next to your knee, his finger twitched slightly.  ‘Reacher settle down? We must be at the end of the world.’ You joked, he looked at you over his shoulder.  ‘Not the end, just until you’re healed up.’ He said, your eyebrows jumped up.  ‘You’re staying for me?’ You asked, your hands moved from your crossed legs to your chest, he nodded.  ‘Shoulda stayed a long time ago.’ He admitted, you shook your head.  ‘I’m capable of looking after myself.’ You replied, his hand landed on your knee before he squeezed it.  ‘You shouldn’t have to be, I’m gonna be here.’ He told you, he didn’t break eye contact with you.  ‘Reacher.’ You breathed, you placed your hand on top of his, your thumb stroked across the back.  ‘Don’t try and convince me, I’m staying.’ He said, his gaze dropped to your joined hands.  ‘I was going to say thank you.’ You informed him, he looked up to you before you both smiled at each other.