[ TEXT MESSAGES ]

[legalistic]

TO JARED
We need to talk. It's going to have to wait.

TO RHETT
You don't need to worry. Gabe's going to be okay. Have a good trip x

Comments

[officerbeaumont]

Is everything okay, dude?

[legalistic]

Besides wanting to defib YOUR heart into arrest? No, not really.

[officerbeaumont]

What's going on? And I'm really sorry about Harley. I'd like to apologize to the kid at some point.

[legalistic]

Gabe's... sick. You lot are going to have to write the warrants in blood before I let you near him in an official capacity again. Off the record, though, Julian's forged a connection with him.

[officerbeaumont]

Sick? Dude, I'm already on good authority from my boss and wife that I'm not allowed to touch this case. But I owe Harley an apology, and if you're willing, and he's willing, I'd like to give it to him. Hell, I'll go in with cuffs on so he knows I won't hurt him if it helps. I got it all wrong.

[legalistic]

Gabe has depression. It's been rearing it's ugly head. I need to stick close to him until he feels better. He's got a worrying history. I'll lift the restraining order if you sign a statutory declaration swearing to stay out of the investigation. You can't be both a brother and an impartial cop.

[officerbeaumont]

Everything he's been dealing with, it's no wonder he's struggling with that. I'll sign whatever I need to sign. My wife threatened my manhood if I stuck my nose into the case itself again.

[legalistic]

He had it before the shit happened, they just didn't really see it. It would be enough to send even a perfectly well person crazy. So she should. He thinks no one is going to listen to him now, even if he's telling the truth, and he's destined for jail. It wasn't entirely you. The good cop/bad cop was already freaking him out.

[officerbeaumont]

I think I'm losing it some days... I don't even know what the fuck my life is right now. But she won't let me near it, and I'll sign on the dotted line or whatever. Dude, I had no idea he was so sick. Annie showed me his file, and I read over the facts of the case, and... Right now, I believe the kid.

[legalistic]

Yeah, it's kind of crazy. There I was thinking I just figured it out too. I don't know how many sick people you've been around, but some don't want to have it shouted from the rooftops so they're not treated differently. What would you have done if you had been told he had a heart condition? Human nature says you probably would have assumed he was playing on it to cover his tracks. Come on, I'm an attorney. I know how cops think.

[officerbeaumont]

You do... A little too fucking well. I guess that's why you kick ass at your job, dude. But I can't lame the kid for not wanting it broadcast to the whole world what he has.

[legalistic]

He's the biggest lead the case has. That's something pretty heavy for Julian, too. He seems to want to keep Harley close to him, maybe because Harley knows what he went through.

[rhettbutnotabutler]

Going to be? Why don't you start by telling me why it's "going to be okay" and not just okay?

[legalistic]

Gabe took on too much too quick. I don't think he slept the last few days he was alone. He wasn't doing good when I got home.

[rhettbutnotabutler]

Fuck. Do I need to come home?

[legalistic]

No. No, you don't need to come home. He's sleeping. It usually helps. You guys need to just have a good time.

[rhettbutnotabutler]

You know you're the only person in the world I trust with him when he's like this.

[legalistic]

Well, I wasn't here. He got into a mess. But he'll be okay. I'm taking the week off. They owe me an epic fuckton of sick leave.

[rhettbutnotabutler]

I know you had to be away. But you're with him now, and nobody else being with him would be enough for me not to come back home. I'm so glad you're gonna be my bro in law.

[legalistic]

It as out of my control. I've been away before, and he was fine. But with you gone too, and two clients really fucking with his head, it just got too much.

[rhettbutnotabutler]

I know it was. I'm not blaming you. I just hate that all the shit lined up at the wrong time. Thank you for being the dude my brother fell in love with, Ash. He deserves someone like you.

[legalistic]

Dude, there is something else you need to know. But you don't need to feel like it's a reason to cut your trip short either, because there's so much shit connected to it right now, there's nothing you can do. I'm the lucky one. Being gay is the easy part. Finding your mate is something that doesn't make sense until you're holding them and something in your gut, or your heart, or your soul suddenly goes 'Don't let go'.

[rhettbutnotabutler]

What else do I need to know? And... shit.

[legalistic]

Julian Beaumont. He was gay bashed in Tribeca, and they they took him unconscious to Coney Island and beat even more living shit out of him.