Fic: Crystal Rain Book I: Whatever Happened To Melvin Purvis? (17/19)
Title: Crystal Rain Book I: Whatever Happened To Melvin Purvis? (17/19)
Author: BradyGirl_12
Pairings/Characters (this chapter): Steven Cawley, Teddy/Chuck, Jeremiah Naehring, Teddy/Dolores
Series Notes: My notes grew too voluminous for the header, so you can find them in a separate entry here.
Fandoms: Public Enemies/Shutter Island
Genres: Angst, AU, Drama, Hurt/Comfort, Mystery
Rating (this chapter): G
Warnings (this chapter): None
Spoilers: For Shutter Island, some scenes were tailored by me to fit this story. Nothing in this story references the major plot twist of the book or movie. I used the same settings and characters, but in a very AU way. For Public Enemies, nothing except for the ultimate fate of John Dillinger, and that’s historical fact, anyway.
General Summary: U.S. Marshals Teddy Daniels and Chuck Aule are sent to Shutter Island on a unique assignment, and while there, discover shocking answers to a decades-old mystery.
Chapter Summary: An old chapter of Teddy’s life closes while a new one opens.
Date Of Completion: April 19, 2010
Date Of Posting: August 9, 2010
Disclaimer: I don’t own ‘em, Dennis Lehane, Paramount and Universal do, more’s the pity.
Word Count: 734
Feedback welcome and appreciated.
Author’s Notes: This is a story that started running through my head as soon as I left the theater after my first viewing. Like the patients on Shutter Island, I can’t escape! ;)
The entire series can be found here.
XVII
ASHES
Let you go,
With fond remembrance,
As ashes blow away
In the wind.
Crawford Paxton
"Ashes"
1944 C.E.
Dr. Cawley went all out for the farewell dinner with fresh haddock dripping from the sea, hand-cut French fries and homemade coleslaw.
“I can promise good, old-fashioned apple pie a la mode for dessert.”
“Sounds good, Doc.” Teddy sprinkled pepper over his French fries.
“As American as apple pie, eh?” Naehring asked.
“That’s right.”
“I’m glad you were successful with Rachel.” Cawley cut a piece of fish. “Poor woman. She’s at peace now.”
“The Simmons family will be happy to finally find their loved ones’ bodies after all these years, and give them proper burials.” Chuck speared a piece of haddock. “This is excellent fish. So fresh!”
“It’s always good to have a closing of such things.” Cawley sipped his wine. “As for the fish, we got it fresh off the boat. Our local fisherman stopped by today. His brother will be by with lobsters tomorrow. A pity you gentlemen will be gone.”
“We’ll regret missing that meal for sure!” Teddy smiled. His expression sobered. “As you say, it’s always good to have a closing of such things as the Solando case.”
“I agree.”
“Sometimes closing things means you can start new ones.”
“Very philosophical, Marshal.”
“Well, Doc, it’s been my experience in law enforcement that tying up loose ends helps get you ready for the next case. Open-ended cases are a bitch.”
“I applaud your way of thinking.” Cawley sighed. “All too often we in psychiatry have very little in the way of finality. Unfortunately, the closing of a patient’s file is often the way it was with Rachel: death.”
Chuck felt a little shiver. Was that the end for Mel and Johnny’s case? Death on Shutter Island and burial in that sad little cemetery?
“I understand, Doctor.” Teddy sipped his ginger ale. “It’s tough to cure the illnesses you have here.”
“You’ve seen the difficulties.”
Teddy nodded. “Unless you’ve spent time here at Ashecliffe, it’d be hard to understand the work you’re doing here.”
Chuck sipped his own drink. Teddy was laying on the charm. His partner liked the image of tough guy cop, but the man could bring out the sparkles and smiles when he wanted.
Cawley beamed. “You’re quite astute, Marshal.”
Chuck noticed the little smile on Naehring’s face. Damned German.
Cawley lifted his wineglass. “To stimulating companionship.”
Chuck and Teddy lifted their glasses, as did Naehring, and the toast was echoed.
As Chuck drank, he wondered how stimulating it would become this evening.
& & & & & &
The evening was crisp, stars twinkling in the clear night sky. The clouds had lifted during the afternoon. Dusk was falling, deep purple as streaks of the sunset glowed orange, red, and yellow across the horizon. Teddy and Chuck strolled the grounds in their warm greatcoats and jaunty fedoras, glad of the mild weather. A light burned in the lighthouse at the far end of the island.
The sound of the waves crashing on the rocks below was soothing. The sea was in Chuck’s blood, generations of fishermen his family heritage. He was glad to share that with Teddy, whose own family had seawater in their veins, too.
He glanced up at the infirmary windows. “Glad they’re together again.”
Teddy followed his partner’s gaze. “Yeah.” He looked at Chuck, a smile playing around his lips. “They’re really devoted to each other.”
“Us against the world, eh?”
“Yep, because their love is considered…sick.”
Chuck shrugged. “People will think what they want to.”
Teddy’s hand brushed his partner’s arm. “Sometimes we can only rely on each other.”
“That’s true.” Chuck smiled softly, turning to go back to the main building.
“Baby, why are you all wet?”
Teddy turned, seeing a drenched Dolores standing a few feet away.
“I’m not wet, baby,” he answered softly.
Her face was sad. “You’re letting me go, aren’t you, Teddy?” A wisp of ash blew away gently from her hair, twilight melting into evening.
He nodded, sad but firm as he said, “Yes, Dolores.”
She nodded slowly, approaching him with her usual grace. She brushed her lips against his. “Be happy, Teddy.”
She turned and walked away, disappearing into the dark.
Teddy watched her go, staring into the darkness for several seconds, then turned and watched as Chuck disappeared into the building. He smiled and followed.
Author: BradyGirl_12
Pairings/Characters (this chapter): Steven Cawley, Teddy/Chuck, Jeremiah Naehring, Teddy/Dolores
Series Notes: My notes grew too voluminous for the header, so you can find them in a separate entry here.
Fandoms: Public Enemies/Shutter Island
Genres: Angst, AU, Drama, Hurt/Comfort, Mystery
Rating (this chapter): G
Warnings (this chapter): None
Spoilers: For Shutter Island, some scenes were tailored by me to fit this story. Nothing in this story references the major plot twist of the book or movie. I used the same settings and characters, but in a very AU way. For Public Enemies, nothing except for the ultimate fate of John Dillinger, and that’s historical fact, anyway.
General Summary: U.S. Marshals Teddy Daniels and Chuck Aule are sent to Shutter Island on a unique assignment, and while there, discover shocking answers to a decades-old mystery.
Chapter Summary: An old chapter of Teddy’s life closes while a new one opens.
Date Of Completion: April 19, 2010
Date Of Posting: August 9, 2010
Disclaimer: I don’t own ‘em, Dennis Lehane, Paramount and Universal do, more’s the pity.
Word Count: 734
Feedback welcome and appreciated.
Author’s Notes: This is a story that started running through my head as soon as I left the theater after my first viewing. Like the patients on Shutter Island, I can’t escape! ;)
The entire series can be found here.
XVII
ASHES
Let you go,
With fond remembrance,
As ashes blow away
In the wind.
Crawford Paxton
"Ashes"
1944 C.E.
Dr. Cawley went all out for the farewell dinner with fresh haddock dripping from the sea, hand-cut French fries and homemade coleslaw.
“I can promise good, old-fashioned apple pie a la mode for dessert.”
“Sounds good, Doc.” Teddy sprinkled pepper over his French fries.
“As American as apple pie, eh?” Naehring asked.
“That’s right.”
“I’m glad you were successful with Rachel.” Cawley cut a piece of fish. “Poor woman. She’s at peace now.”
“The Simmons family will be happy to finally find their loved ones’ bodies after all these years, and give them proper burials.” Chuck speared a piece of haddock. “This is excellent fish. So fresh!”
“It’s always good to have a closing of such things.” Cawley sipped his wine. “As for the fish, we got it fresh off the boat. Our local fisherman stopped by today. His brother will be by with lobsters tomorrow. A pity you gentlemen will be gone.”
“We’ll regret missing that meal for sure!” Teddy smiled. His expression sobered. “As you say, it’s always good to have a closing of such things as the Solando case.”
“I agree.”
“Sometimes closing things means you can start new ones.”
“Very philosophical, Marshal.”
“Well, Doc, it’s been my experience in law enforcement that tying up loose ends helps get you ready for the next case. Open-ended cases are a bitch.”
“I applaud your way of thinking.” Cawley sighed. “All too often we in psychiatry have very little in the way of finality. Unfortunately, the closing of a patient’s file is often the way it was with Rachel: death.”
Chuck felt a little shiver. Was that the end for Mel and Johnny’s case? Death on Shutter Island and burial in that sad little cemetery?
“I understand, Doctor.” Teddy sipped his ginger ale. “It’s tough to cure the illnesses you have here.”
“You’ve seen the difficulties.”
Teddy nodded. “Unless you’ve spent time here at Ashecliffe, it’d be hard to understand the work you’re doing here.”
Chuck sipped his own drink. Teddy was laying on the charm. His partner liked the image of tough guy cop, but the man could bring out the sparkles and smiles when he wanted.
Cawley beamed. “You’re quite astute, Marshal.”
Chuck noticed the little smile on Naehring’s face. Damned German.
Cawley lifted his wineglass. “To stimulating companionship.”
Chuck and Teddy lifted their glasses, as did Naehring, and the toast was echoed.
As Chuck drank, he wondered how stimulating it would become this evening.
& & & & & &
The evening was crisp, stars twinkling in the clear night sky. The clouds had lifted during the afternoon. Dusk was falling, deep purple as streaks of the sunset glowed orange, red, and yellow across the horizon. Teddy and Chuck strolled the grounds in their warm greatcoats and jaunty fedoras, glad of the mild weather. A light burned in the lighthouse at the far end of the island.
The sound of the waves crashing on the rocks below was soothing. The sea was in Chuck’s blood, generations of fishermen his family heritage. He was glad to share that with Teddy, whose own family had seawater in their veins, too.
He glanced up at the infirmary windows. “Glad they’re together again.”
Teddy followed his partner’s gaze. “Yeah.” He looked at Chuck, a smile playing around his lips. “They’re really devoted to each other.”
“Us against the world, eh?”
“Yep, because their love is considered…sick.”
Chuck shrugged. “People will think what they want to.”
Teddy’s hand brushed his partner’s arm. “Sometimes we can only rely on each other.”
“That’s true.” Chuck smiled softly, turning to go back to the main building.
“Baby, why are you all wet?”
Teddy turned, seeing a drenched Dolores standing a few feet away.
“I’m not wet, baby,” he answered softly.
Her face was sad. “You’re letting me go, aren’t you, Teddy?” A wisp of ash blew away gently from her hair, twilight melting into evening.
He nodded, sad but firm as he said, “Yes, Dolores.”
She nodded slowly, approaching him with her usual grace. She brushed her lips against his. “Be happy, Teddy.”
She turned and walked away, disappearing into the dark.
Teddy watched her go, staring into the darkness for several seconds, then turned and watched as Chuck disappeared into the building. He smiled and followed.