݁ ˖ ✦ GRETA #1

Gabriel walks, still thinking of the choice of words he gave to Cathy, trying to repair the damage he probably did to her psyche.

He doesn’t understand why all of the sudden, he was telling her everything. He has to be more careful around that.

The only positive thing he can rescue out of this is that Cathy will tell the rest of everything he shared with her. It wasn’t every single detail, and he didn’t have to call everyone else to tell the same news over and over again. It could be an opportunity to be more cautious, but he leaves it at that.

He gives a long sigh as he walks through the hall and the many other rooms that the area had. The surgeon was right when he said that they were more than busy. He has never seen this amount of people in the same room. There were at least 3 rooms with 2 or even 3 people in them, with their respective companions, either talking to each other or in case the patient was asleep the companion was either looking at something on the phone or sleeping as well. Each person is in their own little world.

Even if it was shared at the very moment.

Suddenly, he hears an alarm behind him, and a red light appears. A lot of nurses make their way quickly, passing through him. It all happened so fast.

It was one of the rooms where there were two patients. Out of pure curiosity (and nosiness as a core part of his job), he goes back from his steps, and gets close to the door, without looking like he was watching.

One of the patients was losing their vital signs. They were reanimating. Or at least that's what he could hear. He couldn't see much around the whole situation since part of the door slide is taped for privacy. But he could hear.

And what he could hear was just chaos coming from that room, between the yells from the nurses to clear the zone, and the partner’s cries, all of them muffled by the anti-sound door.

He stepped back when he saw the door slide open, as one of the nurses is taking someone out of the room. It must have been the patient's companion, they were screaming that they wanted to come back. Before it could close, he had a like peak of what was happening. Indeed, there was a reanimation machine, and the doctor was clearing the room.

He looked away when it happened, it didn't feel right. His heart started to feel more agitated. Probably because he just saw that. It must be that.

At some point, it stopped. He wants to guess that the patient was regulated given that there's no talk coming through the room.

He could pretend so much that he was walking and trying his shoe to see or hear what was the result. But he knows better than to be extremely nosy, to the point of being creepy. He has enough information to hope that the patient is okay.

So he just continues his walk back to the room. He sees many professionals from many health areas, especially nurses going and coming through the secluded space. They are filing papers, talking between them, and seeing what they can do with some patients. Some were rubbing their heads, with puzzled faces.

Some others were looking at the TV, updating the news, thinking if they would have to apply the evacuation system. 

Even if it was a very silent ambiance, you could sense that there was some tension due to the events.

When he got to Jones' room, he was about to open it, when he saw what was going on inside through it.

Jones was still asleep, intubated, and wired up. All the same, just as how he left it a few minutes ago.

The only difference was that his Chief helped herself by putting a chair beside him and sitting on it. Her face was looking at him. He couldn't see her facial expression, as her head was starting to tilt a little onto his side, he knew that it wasn't the right moment to interrupt.

He just stayed at the entrance for a few seconds, looking at how Parker was stroking his hand. Is like she completely forgot that she was David's leader, and became something or someone else, someone, more emotionally closer. It was a moment he didn't want to ruin by his entrance.

But again, he didn't want to look like a "nosy to the point of being creepy" kind of person, so he just let her have her moment for a little while, taking the opportunity to go to the bathroom. There was one nearby, made specifically for the patient's visitors. 

He didn't realize how messy he looked until he saw himself in the mirror. He looks tired. He could see some eye bags forming.

He doesn't know the time right now, he hasn't checked the phone.

He did everything he needed to do, washed his face to wash away the tired look he had (without much success), and came back to the hall.

When he got to the room, the scenario was very similar. Parker was still sitting beside him, her face looking at him. But this time, she had an open book. The book was big. 

And she was still stroking his hand gently. Very gently.

Gabriel smiled to himself, not wanting to interrupt once again to the moment. But now he couldn't excuse himself.

He tried to slide the door very slowly, so the noise would be almost non-hearable. Sadly, Chief Parker's hearing senses were better than what he estimated, making her immediately get out of her train of thought, her head looking at fast speed at him and taking her hand away to close the book.

- Oh! Gabriel I... - She tried to excuse herself for the moment that was happening. 

But stopped. Both knew that he, out of everyone, would be the one who would understand the most.

- I just... - She again tries to excuse herself after a long sigh. But this time, there was way less panic, and even a small sympathetic smile was coming out of her mouth.

- I understand. Cathy told me that you were worried. - Gabriel gets closer to the pair, voice expressing compassion.

- Are they okay?

- Yeah, I think they are making progress. Cathy was analyzing an USB key. Maybe it has something to do with the Neo-humans…

- I sure hope so.

She corrected her posture, making her body look straight at him, still sitting beside David. She looks back at him, before giggling sheepishly, giving a sigh right after.

- Did you know that he was the first one to offer me a tour around as soon as I got here? - her smile grew a little - I was familiar with precincts and everything, I didn't necessarily need a rundown. But he insisted, showing me every single part of the whole building, and the crew, and a few rules like not letting Ramirez get his heating slippers because that usually causes a blackout problem. In a way, it made me feel more welcomed into the community.

She cannot help herself but reach the side of his hair that wasn't bandaged by his eye, not bandaged by his skull injury, fixing it a little bit. All of it while smiling. The smile was compassionate.

- Funny, he did that with me as well when I got there. - Gabriel starts to remember the first day that he also came to the precinct.

- Apparently, he does it with everyone that was inside, by looking at the records. And he had to do it a lot. The team you met wasn't the same as mine. Little by little, every member started to leave the precinct. The first was Player. Then Ramirez... soon enough was their coroner and lab crew... 

- Oh... it shouldn't have been easy for him. 

- I'm not sure how well he handles the departures of coworkers, but I could see that he was trying to adjust himself to the changes. He is always nice to everyone... always looking after us...

Gabriel finds himself thinking about the last sentences that his boss said. There is a say, that the person who is usually the nicest with the people around them, is usually because they have been in a situation where they needed that assistance, and it wasn't given. He only was able to see how his mental health was getting worse from the events that were happening during the past year, until the made the decision to give it all up.

… Gabriel wasn't there for the ones that he experienced with Player, or when everyone was leaving. He can only imagine the moments through the readings of the case files, and a few pictures and evidence objects there and there, complementing the full story.

And even with that in his hands, it is not like he read all of them. In fact, only recently he knew why Chief Parker became the Chief in the first place. As in how was the former's departure, being similar to a case in which both of them got involved that last year. That sure must have left him in a state that wasn't great at all.

And he isn't accepting any kind of help, as if he thought he could handle it all by himself. Maybe because that's all he had. Or he felt that he had.

He gives a long sigh. He thought about this after the attempt, but not as deeply as now. It was a whole battle with himself.

- I just wish that he would know how much I appreciated the gesture right now... how much I... we appreciate him in general...- a slip in the tongue as she shakes her head. Gabriel giggles a bit. He knows what it meant. He could sense it. With time it was becoming a little more obvious. - I know that we show it but...

- So he could fight more?

- Yeah...

- Well, there is scientific evidence that shows that there's a possibility that someone who is in a comatose state is able to hear sounds and voices, being that you know, our sense of hearing is the last one we lose before death. They are just in a deep sleep of sorts. So, there is a chance that he is listening to us right now.

Both now have their eyes on him. Still sleeping soundly, and a machine giving him the air he needs momentarily... and yet there's a chance he can hear them. It's rather comforting.

- Well... if that's true...

Parker fixes herself so her face is once again looking at him, one of her hands making a move that would make his face look at her a little. Her voice becomes a little less concerning  and more confident.

- Jones. This is Chief Parker. I don't know how real this is… but if this is true, I need you to hear this, and listen carefully: I know how strong you are. And how capable your body is. There's a reason why I chose you to be the leader in that paintball match a few weeks ago. So now you have to show me that I made the right choice. I just know that you will have the strength to wake up and get out of here. And you know why I know this?

Silence. As if she was waiting for the answer that she knew it wouldn't come. At least as a word.

- Because that's who you are. That's who David Jones is. A damn fighter, and a way stronger detective than so many I have seen… not just physically. We all know it, we all have seen it. I know you will make it. Make me proud,  okay?

"Like you always do. I know you can. You have to. Please…" Was something Parker wanted to say as well. But not even she had the strength to do it.  Not out loud at least. She just gets up and puts her forehead next to his. And kept silent, as she closed her eyes. As if he could reach and send the words through telepathy.

Cathy was right. She was way more concerned about this than he thought. That gesture definitely was her forgetting that she was his boss. Here, and now, Chief Parker, the Chief of the Police Department, was just Diane Parker, a common citizen who really wants her coworker (and dare he say friend) to be safe.

None of them will really know if the pep talk Parker gave to him will work. But there was a small chance. And both will believe in their odds.

Gabriel doesn't say anything to interrupt the moment. A small smile crept on his mouth. The scenario was something he has seen in families, as of relatives who were closer one to another. 

He likes to call it "Emotional Support". She was his emotional support. And there was a chance for what he was hers too, in some sort of way.

His thoughts suddenly disappear as he hears a vibration coming from his phone.

1:49 am. That explains the tired look. The explosion happened at 9 p.m. (Or at least that's what he assumes.)

It was Gloria, she just sent a message.

"Gabriel, Chief Parker can be our killer. Apparently, she had the intention for a while. We're not so sure though, we still need some clues. I'll update you."

His face changed from a smiley and pacific expression to a mildly shocked one. He looks back at the Chief, who is still in the same position, whispering something he couldn't hear, fixing his hair once more unconsciously.

If this was true, maybe the out-of-character gesture was more than just the emotional connection. Maybe it was a way to thank everything he did for her, everything he told her, and probably kept to herself.

This could be her way to say goodbye.

After a few more encouraging words and a very small kiss on his head injury, Parker finally separates her face from his. She didn't realize until then that her eyes were tearing up.

She giggles with a bit of shame in her voice as she cleans her face.

- Oh what a mess I am, I'm sorry Gabriel. You shouldn't see me like this right now. - she still giggles, quite embarrassed.

- Don't worry Chief, I understand… I really do. I won't tell anyone - he says it as he "sips" his mouth in front of her.

That makes her smile.

- Yeah… I should get going, this case has been hectic. With all the neo-humans and the evacuation, I'm glad to see you both in a safe place.

- Oh, of course, Chief. I'll inform you if anything happens to him.

- To you both… I'm counting on that.

She was clearly trying to come back to being the Chief.

Before she goes through the door, she took the big book she had in her hands for a while, to give to him.

- I found this while searching for stuff so you wouldn't get bored. - she hands it to his hands - Apparently, Jones was making a photo album of some sort…

- Ah, it's a scrapbook! It’s an album where you get to write some stuff as well, it doesn’t only contain pictures, it can be literally anything he can put on paper. I didn't know that he was doing this!

- I saw him making this thing for a while, after coming back from his leave for Marconi's death, but I guess he never had the chance to show it. Give it a read, it's actually really good.

After Marconi's death… that explains it a bit. He never thought that David would be doing a scrapbook, let alone a hobby around art. It sounds like a mechanism coming from another person. He was taking advice from his therapist.

He gave a short smirk with a huff at the thought of that while looking at the bookcase.

- I'll make sure of that. - He smiles while looking at the title of the scrapbook. This is one of those moments that being this kind of nosy works. In the right parameters of not pretending that he's not, and not being creepy.

- Oh, and Gabriel…

- Yes, Chief?

She walks to him and puts a hand on his shoulder.

- Thank you. For this.

"For this very moment that will not be shared, because I trust that you won't share it."

- Of course. Don’t worry, I'm sure we will catch this killer once and for all.

Parker didn't answer right away. Just a small breath before returning the smile back.

- We will. Be safe as well, and remember-!

- Don't play hero - he answers. She nods with serenity.

With that, both bid goodbye and she slid the door to get out of there. 

The surgeon catches her, telling her to sign something that Gabriel doesn't know at the moment. It was just a visitor registration, to make sure to identify her in case she comes back.

As he sees her walk away after signing, and seeing a nurse take Jones' vitals, he takes the chair that Parker was using. 

- Hi Jones, it's Gabriel... - he speaks on a whisper. - Chief Parker gave me your scrapbook… I hope you don't mind if I read it for you.

Jones didn’t respond. So Gabriel only hopes he allowed it.

Gabriel was glad he brought an alternative charger with him on the way. He was always someone precautious and was almost ready for every single situation. Everyone in his job knows this. This is why they agreed when he offered himself to be the mole to infiltrate himself into a cult that wouldn’t allow you to use a phone (besides being the only one who could profile them). The art of being sneaky he supposes.

Even if he had his phone in hand, he still quite loses the perception of time. He knows that it has just been a few hours (two to be exact) since Gloria and Player left the hospital, and yet, he still feels that it has been more than five. He is not going to be surprised if the next time he looks at his phone, he finds out that it was actually more than five hours of waiting.

Chief Parker called a few minutes back. Fifteen minutes ago if he looks. There was still no positive or negative answer to Jones’ condition, he is still in surgery. Lord knows how much are the surgeons going to be there, by the looks of it, it can take hours until he gets a new one. If he ever gets one.

He still remembers the face… how his chest was all red, almost brown, almost black? His mind is not recalling it well, possibly trying to forget. Some of his clothing still had some burns or ashes and all-

Focus. Focus on another thing more than the TV, that the only thing that it does is to inform that the neohumans are going to the prison area. A lot of people they put in jail were dying by them at that very same moment. Sounds way more too ironic if you think too much about it.

The Nurses should change it for music. Ambiental music. At least that could change the scenario for everyone who is watching. The hospital is at Spring Fields, they are not that far away from the Airport district.

Chief Parker told him to remain calm and to stay in the same place. She will go there as soon as she ends a small paper. He is not sure how long is that going to take. He can only hope she gets safe.

He has to distract himself.

Time for the newest routine.

He gets up for the 12th time, to roam around. For the last hour, he decided to distract his thoughts by doing the one thing he can do and is actually good at; Being with people. Hearing them, giving them advice, telling a story or two. It helps them not develop an even worst mental state than the one they already have, which could affect their anxiety and behavior. He knows that he can try.

So he gets up and gets back to the mother that received kindly his advice on how to calm her baby an hour and 30 minutes ago the first time he got up from his seat, to ask how is she doing, and if he can hold the baby while she goes to the bathroom. That only took a few minutes and she thanks it. Then, he offers to be another kind of help by bringing another blanket to a recently arrived couple who suffered from a concussion and gives another plastic cup full of water to the old man that just woke up from his state, which means that wherever the medicine the hospital injected into his veins, it was working. Gabriel could see his son’s face, full of glee.  It was like he was seeing a miracle.

Maybe it was under that man’s eyes. Gabriel can’t hold the smile from his face.

 He has helped in calming some patients down so they can be given a shot, taught a few kids a song he remembered from when he was in college, and became a crying shoulder for a woman after just losing her young son.

How things change in a matter of minutes, doesn’t it? One moment you’re smiling because an old man is alive living a dream, and now you get punched in the face with the reality of death, in an unnatural kind of death too.

She keeps sobbing, and even when she is little by little looking calmer (More like in silent grief he can’t help but feel sorry for), he’s not letting this stranger go because what can you do when this kind of situation of utter pain happens? Holding her is possibly the most humane option you have. 

After 10 minutes of her sobbing and holding her child, is taken by a nurse inside so she can be given some kind of medicine to get her head a little clean, and follow a cold protocol.

He breathes in, breathes out, gets up, and comes back to his original seat, which is not occupied for some reason.

That has been his only job ever since Gloria and Player left. Get up, help, see the door if the doctor’s call is about his teammate’s condition, seat, maybe receive a call or two, overwhelm himself, repeat.

It’s a crisis routine as how he started to call it. 

At least it’s working.

—-------------------------------

Three hours. Three hours have passed. And nothing.

This time he’s trying to talk with some kids about The Roman Colosseum and how that was used for theater. It’s nice to break the mold for once.

- And it's not all - he says, his body on the cold floor as the round of kids from the made-up station the nurses created for them, and drawing an oval on a paper he borrowed from one of the kids’ mother - this is also the largest theater in the world! Oval in shape, it measures 189 meters long, 156 meters wide, and 50 meters high, about the height of a 12-story building. This ancient sporting arena could easily fit a modern-day soccer pitch inside! - No way! - one of the kids exclaimed, eyes glittering - is that big?! - Yes! - he answers, smiling - imagine how many soccer plays you can have at the same time!

He is still talking, using his hands to express himself. The kids are enjoying the show. That’s good

He just stopped when some familiar voice called.

- You look occupied, huh?

He immediately stopped his talk to see who was it. His face lighted up a little bit more than it already was. It was just a different kind of glow. 

- Chief Parker!

She got closer to the group and bends herself over to the kid’s height.

- I see he is telling you about history. - she says with a smile on her face. - Yes! I didn't know there was such a big thing like the Coliseum! - It’s real, alright. - She puts on a sneaky smile while approaching as if she would tell the kids a secret - Let me tell you, he knows everything about this topic, and about so many other historical facts! So you better believe his words. - she ends up with a playful wink.

The kids’ eyes became a little more sparkly. 

- I wanna go there someday! - the other kid said, clapping their hands. - I'm sure you will - Gabriel replies, in a promising tone. It felt refreshing that he could bring some peace to that catastrophe

Their parents knew that he had to go now that he has his own company, so they tell their children to let him go, also thanking Gabriel for the help he could provide. Gabriel smiles before going with his boss.

- It’s good to see you here Chief - his smile becomes a sympathetic one. - I’m glad to see you safe Gabriel. I see you got an audience. - she says, still smiling at the scenario she saw. - Well, what can I say? Kids love this kind of stuff… and I couldn’t be seated there just… letting them be bored - he says, giggling a little bit. - Yeah, I figured.

Both walked to a spot near the door leading to the entrance of the surgical room. From there, Parker’s smile fades to a worried look as she sights.

- Any news about Jones? - No Chief - now his face turns into a worried pout as he looks at the door where he was ingressed. He sights as well. - I think his surgery is going to take a while… it’s been hours already.

She nods. 

- I see. Mind if I stay with you until the doctor comes? It shouldn’t take long… I hope.

She was holding her arms in discomfort. Her face was showing a clear sense of worry. He could not determine if she was worried about her partner’s uncertain future, or if something external was happening to her, something he didn't know about. Maybe it was a mix of both.

He decided to not ask. This place was already as chaotic as it was to add one more thing to the list.

- Yeah… the company would be nice. - Gabriel nods, leaning himself against a wall.

For some reason, the time went a little faster after she came in. Maybe because of the chatter they provided to each other. Mostly about the clues they found recently, even when they weren’t much, and some other mundane stuff regarding evacuations, how Cathy’s family was still in an uncertain position, and at some point about a Tofu recipe.

Chief Parker decided to not tell him about what Gloria and Player found out about her. Enough chaos already to add a discussion.

It seemed that Parker’s intuition was right. Because at three hours and 28 minutes of waiting on Gabriel’s part, the door opens, and a surgeon comes out of there. He looked quite agitated.

- David Jones?! David Jeremiah Jones! - he shouts at the public, waiting for an answer from someone.

Gabriel and Parker heard it and got up fast, walking towards him at the same fast speed.

- We’re his coworkers, I am his Chief - Parker is the first one to talk - how is he? Is he okay?

The surgeon doesn’t show a smile. He shows a neutral expression like surgeons usually show when they are delivering news. Seeming like everything was okay. Or at least as better as they can be.

But that wasn't what Gabriel's mind thinks. He notices his hand movements through the paperclip, which are rather tense, and the very subtle twitch on his eyebrows. He wasn't neutral. He was worried.

“That can’t be good” he ponders.

Damn his profiling skills.

- Well, I'll be honest with you ma’am - He was steady as he sighs, looking at his paperclip - he came here with life-threatening injuries. We had to bandage and restructure his skull, and a few ribs were broken as well, so that had to be taken care too, as well as we relocated his right leg into position. And that wasn’t the worst part. What we were worried about the most was his burning injuries, due to the molten metal he got attached to his body. He presented severe 3rd degree burns on his chest, legs, arms, and especially in his face, which we bandaged. Sadly, we weren’t able to recover one of his eyes… 

He puts his hand on the back of his neck, scratching it as he gives a long sigh, it was notorious that he was tired. Or more worried. 

Definitely both.

- During the procedure, we had to reanimate him. This probably was due to the electric shock he received, as his heart had an irregular beating. His physical state is extraordinarily fragile at the moment. He’s currently at the Intensive care unit, to moderate his evolution. 

That left both of them in shock. A shock they couldn’t be able to explain. It definitely wasn’t the news they wanted to hear.

- Is… is he going to make it? - Gabriel asks, with a little spark of hope in him. As if with that question, every worry that started to grow on both of them and some external people could visibly see, would go away. - To be frank with you, we are not sure. - The surgeon maintains the eyes on Gabriel, before going back to the clipboard - Only time will tell us if his body will be able to hold on. These next few hours will be crucial to determine if his body is strong enough to handle the consequences of the surgery, and the incident itself.

Both of them now look at each other. None of them are sure what face they are making, but they see the other. It’s just fretting. Raw nervousness, both trying to swallow the pill of the news that they were given. And trying to figure out how to tell the rest about this.

They weren’t sure if he was going to make it.

Again.

- Can… we see him? - Parker asked her voice tone low. It was a concerning one as well. - Yes, you can. But just to let you know, we had to sedate him for a prolonged time due to the seriousness of the surgery. He is still asleep and probably will be in that condition for the next few hours. - We understand. - she answered almost immediately.

The surgeon nodded, inviting them to get through the door and inside the hall, to get to the ICU room where Jones was resting.

Oh, how things changed in almost four to five hours. First they hoped good news.

There are a lot of things a profiler can do. Usually, their job is to take every single detail they can grasp on their fingers of anyone he meets, even if it's a friend, and analyze their behavior coming from those objects, chats, and even by only looks and hand movements. It's both a blessing and a curse.

For example, one thing Gabriel knows now is that when Gloria is nervous, she drives fast. Very fast. Constantly ignoring every driving sign she could encounter.

But, given the context they are in, it's not like the driving signs even matter. And the reasoning is also on par, understandable and valid.

They just saw the Dome explode. And it was a powerful explosion, given that he still has a sensation of trembling in his ears from the sound of it, and the vision of the dust and fire going up is still as clear as day.

They weren't even that close to the Dome and still felt like they were a few blocks away. 

And what's worse, they were informed just a few minutes ago that both of his teammates were in the position the explosion took place. That explains why Gloria was running the car as if her life depends on it. Maybe some lives do depend on this.

That also explains how he hasn't said a word ever since he got in the car, only looking through the window to see if the ambulance is following them.

It took less than half an hour to get to the epicenter of the explosion. The damn Dome. The same place that was full of mysteries, a whole Conspiracy going on, experiments and science, and many, many deaths and trouble for them, now is just reduced into rubble and debris, with a few structures still barely holding up.

- Here, let's start searching... they cannot be that far. - His thoughts were interrupted by the sound of Gloria speaking and her door opening. That led him to do the same thing, almost automatically.

Before she departs, she indicates her whistle. Everyone has one, in case of an emergency. In this case, if they find any of the two.

Now, both have to be careful. Not only were they searching for their friends, but now they have to be on the lookout if any neohuman was nearby, ready to slit them open.

It's incredible how much those two individuals usually get themselves into trouble. Ever since this person who everyone calls as Player reappeared in the city, everything was turned upside down. And that apparently wasn't their first rodeo.

Either they have a magical intuition to let this happen, or it's just bad luck. 

He just wants to think that it is a mere coincidence.

And lately, all the luck has been happening to his closest companion. 

He thinks about this member for quite some time while searching. A lot has happened to this member. From finding and trying to ally old enemies of his that end up dead, to finding out that his girlfriend was without any memory, only to recover it with his help and murder someone. To then be killed.

He sighs. This member is prone to be explosive, no pun intended. His emotions are always extreme. Not that is a bad thing, but he thinks he never learned to keep an eye on them, and those can turn against him, as it did almost a week ago, almost ending with his own life.

Still to this day, he feels that he could have done something. Sure, now he looks better but the process is hard and emotionally draining, he knows that. Especially for someone like him. Maybe he could have made a little more in his journalism to find more stuff to address. Or maybe he could have found a way to...

No. Just find him now. That's your only objective. Find them both. Find them alive.

Both enter the hall and see fire. More fire than the normal they got already used. Debris everywhere, and tons of rubble around.

That was the epicenter.

They observe the place that has the most fire. An electric motor, or at least what remains of it, is destroyed into pieces.

- What on earth... - Gloria asks herself, with a very small volume. Gabriel can't give himself the answer even if he wanted to, he's just as shocked.

They keep advancing. He kept thinking about that as he kept going with a few paramedics near him. Still holding the whistle he was given so the rescue team could find him.

Suddenly, Gloria is the first to whistle.

- I found Player! - She exclaims, as she tries to take rocks that were from a supposed wall out of them. They were unconscious. 

Aside from the bruises caused by the rubble, there weren't major injuries involved.

- C'mon hun, wake up. - Gloria says in a concerned tone as she tries to move Player in order to wake them up, with no positive results.

A few paramedics were already on the way to attend to them, so he didn't get closer.

"Alright, one found. One more to find." Was his train of thought as he kept on walking, almost running. He still can't find him.

- Hey! Is anyone there?!

No answer for the general call. He tries again. Maybe he just reacts to his name. Common reaction under shock.

- Hello?! J-

There is some debris going in one particular place that caught his eye. More than that, there was like an object, a lump of... something, that just fell out to the ground, prompting a sound loud enough to give some attention to it.

He approaches it, hoping it's not what he thinks it is. He even was telling himself to not think about it. It can't be.

"It can't be him. Don't let it be him." He thinks, almost prays.

But as he was approaching the lump, his suspicions were (unfortunately) getting more accurate. The lump was taking more form. He then noticed that the lump had arms.

And legs...

And a face.

A barely recognizable face.

The vision was almost nauseating. The clothes were ripped apart, with the exception of his jacket, which the back and part of his left arm took a bad hit. He can still see the ashes. The body had so many burns, he can't determine if they were second or third-degree... he can even see one part of the body not being in the right place. He can only explain to himself that he was the closest to the explosion.

His face took a major hit. This "lump" had a painful face, unconsciously feeling all that his body went through. Especially on his eyes.

They were bleeding (or at least one of them) as much as the top of his head.

The last time he saw that much blood in a body, was when he found Zoe Kusama in the psychiatric hospital.

"Oh no..."

And she was dead.

- GLORIA!!! - was all he could yell in the chaos that became his mind for a second. He didn't need the whistle, she came really fast. - Are you okay?! What happened?! - She asks while running to the position. - ... I found him.

She covers her mouth as soon as she gets to see the sight. He can tell that her mind became a fog, and honestly, his mind probably wanted to do that as well.

He blows the whistle to keep his brain from doing it. The sound keeps him on the ground.

David wasn’t surprised by a lot of things now, being working as a homicide detective for quite a few years does that to you. Maybe he would’ve been concerned about the lack of reactions on his end but there was always something he was almost thankful for immediately bouncing back through everything. He’d learned it in childhood, don’t dwell on things - there was no use for them, they didn’t change or stop anything and life went on. It would find a way. 

Watching your boss shoot himself in the head - surely, would mess someone up, right? Maybe it did. Maybe he looked at his gun differently now even if it was his own. but he sure wouldn’t let that on, because that was his *decision*. Decisions all fell on the shoulders of the person who chose it and obviously, that was the easy way out. And maybe that’s why David had settled on it himself later. And maybe it’s the stupid fact that he settled on the easiest way out - which was saying something considering it was the easiest way out, or at least that’s what his father had always said. Because no matter how research increased his opinion is unwavering. You’re supposed to stick through it no matter what and if you even have second thoughts you’re weak. And attempting to act on the urge? *Coward*. David couldn’t say his mother was much better, it was taboo and you did not bring it up no matter what. And if you did, if you thought about it. Lock you up and throw away the key. 

He couldn’t even hold the gun right, his eyes shut. His hand would shake and he put it down. And the safety was still on so he wasn’t even that committed to doing it which said a lot of things he didn’t wanna speak about. He wanted to, yet he still couldn’t. It’d do the precinct and everyone else much better. He wouldn’t have to deal with the job and the complications of having relationships in his field of work, it’s the stress it puts on those relationships he’d always bounced back from. David was no stranger to failing relationships - multiple relationships in high school and following into young adulthood failed and eventually so did the longest-lasting one, Charlotte, he’d thought he’d found the one and he did. She loved him, he still thought about her from time to time and it was that love that made Charlotte put her foot down because she was tired of it. Maybe he shouldn’t have ignored it - maybe he should’ve listened and not left his responsibilities — he did that a lot, didn’t he? Not listening. Not taking responsibility. 

Yet, he still didn’t dwell on it and he bounced back. Eventually, he met Zoe and that changed a lot of things, and he was . . . Happy. Grimsburough had changed over the years and maybe it was for the worst. Nathan retired as he Couldn’t continue seeing all the death around him. David couldn’t say he blamed him, he’d wanted out for a while himself. All the death and he only saw the bodies, he didn’t dig into them like Nathan did and that opened the doors for Martine to take the job. She would regret it, and he would regret saying if she wanted to it would be good. Because it wasn’t. None of it ever was. 

None of it was worth it, was it?

what was the job worth if he couldn’t do what he’d joined for? If all the death was continuous and it kept creeping closer and closer and more personal each time. Nathan? Wasn’t that the whole reason he’d left for good, no longer joking about doing so 

. Maybe it was worthless too because he was useless to do any good in the greater scheme of things — look at Zoe, what happened. What he could’ve.. what could’ve he done. What all she’d been saying up until her disappearance and now.. he didn’t listen to her, any of what she was saying. 

She should just stay out of it, and He knew her better than that. Zoe wouldn’t just stay out of something she was upset about - she meant it helping people and now she was in this whole mess and he couldn’t do a whole lot about it .. maybe if he’d listened she wouldn’t have done as much as she did .. wouldn’t have dug so deeply. 

If he’d just taken it seriously and listened rather than brushing her off. 

~ ~ ~ 

It’s cold and the chill of the room isn’t left unknown to David, the silence had settled in the room. Zoe’s arms tightly wrapped around herself, nails pressing into her arms. “David?” Her voice is barely audible, it’s small and soft but he hears. He tilted his head towards her acknowledging her and her eyes flickered to meet his. 

Zoe swallows the lump in her throat. “Do you ever think about what you’re going to do if this… any.. of this doesn’t work out? You must have a backup plan, right?” She questions. 

David’s brows furrow in concern at this, he decides to ignore it though. “What do you mean?” 

“With me,” Zoe croaked, her eyes locked with the ground and she shuffles nervously closer to the wall and her nails dig into her arms even more it doesn’t hit her until skin breaks underneath her nails she notices but she doesn’t pay much mind to it. “All of this.. what happened.. what I did…” 

“What if it doesn’t work out? We have no reason to believe it will… it’s not just going to go away no matter how hard we- I try.” Zoe continues. “You gotta be ready if it doesn’t get better if it gets worse.” She added. 

“It can’t get any worse-“ David says, about to protest what she’s saying. Zoe frowns. He really should take a moment to think about what he was going to say. 

“You don’t know that,” Zoe spoke slowly. “And.. I... I just… I wanna know you’ll be okay if anything happens..that it’ll be okay…” 

“Zoe, please.. don’t..” David reaches out to pull Zoe closer and she hesitates. 

“You can’t just ignore the truth... it’s not getting better, David.” Zoe took a deep breath. “If something happens to me... I want you to keep going... I don’t want that to hold you back… you move on.. because you deserve not to have something holding you back..” 

“Nothing going to happen to you, Darling. I promise.” David gives her a weak smile. “And you act like it’s such a bad thing to think about you, it wouldn’t be a burden doing that.” 

“It’s different now.” Zoe hesitates, as she shuts her eyes tightly. “And it’d be different then too… you can’t say that. I know… I know how you are... how you cling to things you can’t change and it’s bad for you like that..” she reached out grabbing David’s hand in her own, cold one. Zoe’s skin pressed against David’s warmer hand. 

“You have to move on, promise me … promise that you’ll be okay? Just.. no matter what happens… I want you to be okay... we’ll still have our memories. But you need to be able to go on... I couldn’t keep on, so you need to.” Zoe squeezed David’s hand in her own tightly. “For me..”