IC contact post.

[gamma_effect]

As Bruce is perpetually on the run, he does not use phones. ICly, the only way to contact him is through his throwaway email address, which you can assume he's left up somewhere for DDD. :)

Edited to add, while he's at Elektra's you can call him there on the land line.

Comments

[phone]

[creepyshitking]

[ringing ringing ringing god Dexter pick up]

[phone]

[gamma_effect]

[Dexter moves out onto the terrace, slowly pressing 'talk' when he sees his own number. That's - something he'll never get used to.] Hello?

[phone]

[creepyshitking]

[That's definitely his own voice. It sounds odd from the other end.

Bruce is too paranoid to say what seems to be his own name out loud, so he suffices with,] It's me. Then this really happened.

[phone]

[gamma_effect]

[Dex is feeling the same disorientation, but he breaks through it enough to ask,] Bruce?

[phone]

[creepyshitking]

Yeah. But try not to say my name out loud, especially in Virginia. I'm serious - you need to be very, very careful. Betty might still be being monitored.

[phone]

[gamma_effect]

Oh - right. Sorry. [This had to be the single most surreal moment of his life.] What do I tell her? Betty.

[phone]

[creepyshitking]

[It was definitely up there. The question causes a definite pause in the conversation.]

I don't know. I just-- woke up and called you. It's not even 6 AM here. [Bruce compulsively wakes up early, what can he say.] Okay, wait, no, she doesn't need to be involved. You need to get out of Culver as soon as possible, anyway, and head to New York. She gave me the data last night, it's the flash drive around your neck. Try not to lose that... please.

I don't mean to read you marching orders, but you know how important this is.

[phone]

[gamma_effect]

She's kind of-- I'll be right there! [he calls to someone in the room.] Here. With me.

[He lowers his voice, cupping his hand around the phone.] Do you really want me to just leave her and head up there?

[A beat.] Did you check on Harrison?

[phone]

[creepyshitking]

He's right here. I'll take care of him, don't worry - and I'll call Deb. [Not that he ever wanted to have kids or even remotely thinks he'd be good with them, but despite his opinion of himself he probably makes a pretty good caretaker.

But back to the other end of things. He speaks quickly.] Betty knows I need to leave. Just ask her for some money and a ride to the bus stop. [He wouldn't even ask for a ride, but Dexter doesn't know where it is.] Try not to let her know what's going on - she doesn't know about the community, and I'd prefer to keep it that way.

[His mind is racing across a thousand other things he can't control. How is he supposed to instill a lifetime of obsessive paranoia into Dexter? He already has it, of course, but focused on different things. Bruce's voice lowers reflexively.] I can't emphasize enough how dangerous things are for you right now. You need to be on high alert, and you need to monitor your heart rate. Above 200 and you'll change. But more than anything else, if you see the military, run.

[phone]

[gamma_effect]

[Deb. He hadn't even thought - of that. But he's nodding at everything Bruce says with his voice, like the other man can see him.]

You can trust me. [He didn't know if it was a lie but it would seem he had no choice.]

You should probably tell Deb's what's happened. And call out of work - unless you can pull a degree in blood spatter out of your ass.

[phone]

[creepyshitking]

Good plan. Hopefully this won't last longer than a couple days, or you might have to mysteriously come down with something more serious. At least I have Deb to collaborate.

[Bruce automatically makes himself take deeper breaths, calming down. He belatedly realizes he doesn't need to do that anymore, not for the reason he's used to. It's such an odd thought, he can't quite process it.] Call me if anything else comes up, or if... if anything. I do trust you. I wouldn't trust anyone else in my-- in this situation.

[phone]

[gamma_effect]

Tell LaGuerta Harrison is sick. And don't forget to call Sonya and tell her to take the day off.

.. I will. I'll get the drive to New York. [Because under all the self-serving he did understand how important this was to Bruce. His very life depended on Dexter's actions. And while he wasn't in the business of saving lives, usually, he would have to make an exception.]

[phone]

[creepyshitking]

[Bruce is scared that Dexter's going to get caught and captured and stuck in circumstances that were of Bruce's making, that were his bed to lie in. He can't stand someone else taking the fall for that, even hypothetically or temporarily.]

Alright. I'll do that. [Now that the conversation is at a natural end, he's strangely reluctant to get off the phone.] Thank you, for... thank you.

[phone]

[gamma_effect]

You too. [Slowly Dexter hangs up as well. It's like ending a lifeline, but he knows what he has to do now.]