(no subject)
They are in a room that smells of death.
Death doesn't smell dirty or fetid. It's harsh. Acidic. Hospital Cleaner and Fire. Or Burnt flesh.
"I dunno what happens if you shoot me." The man in the beard tells them both, "Maybe I explode huh? Take out the city block and then some? One way or another-" Theodore Sprague grabs for the nurses arm. The woman let out a scream as a handprint marked her flesh. Marked deeper then she'd know. Four years from now she'd die of cancer. Because of one man.
He looked ready to cry, "I killed her. I killed her."
Audrey's eyes don't leave the suspect, but Matt's mind wanders downward to the prone woman on the bed, feeding tube sustaining her.
"It started out small-"
He's talking but he's not really listening.
Teddy?
"...And this man with glasses came and-
I'm dying baby, don't do this.
Matt stared down in horror. No.
This wasn't right. This woman was dying.
I'm dying. Teddy-don't. Please.
I don't want this. Matt whimpered, Make it go away. Please god, jesus, everybody make it go away-
He didn't need to hear her dying thoughts. They wouldn't leave-like a song stuck in your head that you wanted to forget. dear god. I'm comparing a woman's last words on earth to the macerena.
Were they even words? He'd proven he hadn't been imagining it right?
I don't blame you Teddy. He could practically feel her smile, My Teddy Bear.
"She wants you to stop."
The room stopped for Teddy Sprague as he looked up, "...huh?"
I don't blame you. Don't do this.
"...She-" His revulsion split itself down the middle, "She doesn't blame you for this." He paused, "Teddy Bear. That's what she calls you right? You're her teddy bear." Janice never called him anything like that. Nothing except Hero and-
...Tell him to stop hurting.. She choked, No. I'm okay. Tell him I'm okay.
In death, Barbara Sprague gained a measure or connection to something she'd never seen in life. Her vitals clicked away with the beep, beep, beep of the machine. There were the people in the room-and the thing.
It's glow was palpable. Warm and soft, like the pictures of the angels she and Teddy'd see in church. Teddy had that glow too. He'd do good work.
As long as he stopped.
Tell me
The second glow murmured, Tell me. I'm hear. I'm listening.
Matt was thinking none of these things.
Instinct beyond his control compelled him to plant his feet firmly on the ground as he winced, the thoughts loud and clear. "She says to go on. Don't do anything stupid. Bobby loves you."
"You can-"
Theodore sprague let the nurse go, "You can hear her?"
"....She loves you. She loves you more then ever. You're her teddy bear."
I don't want this.
Tell me More.
Please. I shouldn't bear witness.
It's my job.
I didn't ask for this, this isn't right. Her last moments should be with him.
I'm a cop, and I'm here to serve and protect.
The room of death is filled with life as Theodore Sprague embarasses his wife one last time and her soul vanishes.
Matt's stomach uncoils. There's...Nothing there. The radio's been turned off.
"...Barbara, Barbara-"
He's mumbling it as they take him away.
Audrey pats Matt on the shoulder, her look both sympathetic and fearful. A dying woman's thoughts who'd want that on their conscience?
It's not as if he can take it way.
An Hour later, Matt's on his phone, "Hey-I know you've been trying to call me-"
Oh god, How did he find out?
"I had...a weird day at work but-I'll be home soon."
How'd he find out?
"...I love you."
------------
"I talked to your CO about getting you an interview."
Matt's still absorbed in the dying thoughts of Barbara Sprague, "-What?"
"...I talked to your CO." Audrey said, "To get you an interview. Another shot at being a Detective."
His own dreams seemed so small and trivial for that moment, "...You-"
"...Yeah." Audrey shrugged, nonchalantly, "I'll give you a call tomorrow and let you know when to report Parkman."
He can't wrap his mind around it, "Wait a second, you called my CO? To get me another interview?"
"...Yes."
He related this all to McHenry. He and Hank had come up through the force together. The best of friends, better then friends. He'd been Hank's best man.
"...So I heard you got an interview huh?" Hank grinned, "That FBI gal's smart."
Matt feels like the stupidest man alive right now, "...I didn't even know interviews were an option." reality hits him like a slap in the face? Why didn't he ask?
"...Eh. They don't make it clear."
[Dumb fuck]
"Want to go get a bear?"
Hank is smiling, and Matt is trying to match the smile to what he's just said. (Did he say it?)
"...What?"
[Is he deaf too? Deaf and Blind I guess.]
Hank grinned, "A beer. I'm buying. C'mon, celebrate you working with the FBI huh stud?"
[Probably why you haven't noticed me screwing your wife.]
Eye Witnesses weren't entirely sure what happened next. The world dropped out of focus, as Matt Parkman, the goofball, threw a right hook that knocked McHenry over the bench and dropped him on the floor.
"You sonnuvabitch!" Matt bolted forward, "You bastard! You fucking Bastar-Let go of me! Let GO of me!" He'd just been witness to spousal faith.
[Stupid Bastard attacked me!]
"What the hell is wrong with you?"
Hank was one of the guys that Matt would always avoid in High School, apparently with good reason.
"-You dumb bastard! You fucking-Get OFF!"
Brooks and Dunn and Stevens were dragging him out of the locker room.
He hates his CO's office. He's seen far too much of it lately.
"...Tell me you had a good reason." His CO tapped the file against his thigh, "And even then it won't excuse it."
Matt said nothing.
"I mean it. You stupid fuck. After Agent Hansen went to bat for you?"
Matt remained tight lipped. His hands clenched into fists.
"What the Fuck were you thinking?"
"...The actual question sir, is what the fuck he was thinking."
"...I don't care what the fuck he was thinking Parkman." The Captain leaned across his desk, "You slugged a superior officer. And a friend as I was given to understand. One Month's suspension. And you're gonna go before an investigating committee."
He sighed, "...Dammit Parkman. She really went to bat for you. And you fuck it up the ass with a baseball bat."
[I know you can do this you stupid shit. I know you can.]
"Thank you sir."
The captain frowned, "That wasn't a compliment you dumbshit."
"....Badge and Gun."
Matt surrendered his badge and gun, watching the chief slide them across his desk. Standing automatically, he shoved his hands into his pockets and walked to the men's restroom.