Warden poured them both a coffee. “I think we need this.”
“The super kinda hijacked us at the prison,” Gunnar said. “I wasn’t happy about Bryn doing another job so quickly but he insisted he was okay.”
“Bryn knows his limitations, Gunnar, and believe me I know how difficult it is to convince him not to do something he’s already set his mind on. Stubborn doesn’t begin to describe him. I’ve met less obstinate granite boulders.”
“For him, it’s a strength.”
“I agree. It’s unlikely he would have survived his training if he was weaker. That doesn’t make him infallible, nor does it make him Superman. Doing what he does has significant physical consequences. He doesn’t want to accept that, but it’s the truth. I think, on this occasion, you were right to let him carry on. I will, however, be writing to the prison superintendent to express my disappointment that he didn’t follow correct channels in requesting our assistance.”
Gunnar decided he was glad he wasn’t going to be on the receiving end of that email. “But what about the market? I should have made sure he was wearing his gloves.”
“That’s his responsibility, not yours. You’re not his babysitter, you’re his partner, though inevitably keeping him safe is going to be part of your job.”
“His head hurt but he was excited about going to the store. He was distracted and I should have reminded him. I didn’t even notice and that’s on me. That contact must have been one too many.”
“It’s only been two days, so let’s mark it down to experience. I’m sure it won’t happen again. Did you see anything that made you suspicious about the people in that line?”
Gunnar shook his head. “I had my card out, I was paying… I didn’t take any notice of the people in the line behind me. There weren’t enough staff on the checkouts, so even though the store wasn’t that crowded, there were lots of people in line, jostling and impatient. When Bryn came to join me, he had to push his way through maybe a dozen or more people. I don’t think he’ll know who it was he touched that triggered such a strong reaction.”
“Well, we’ll see. We can debrief him together once he’s rested and been cleared by the doctor.”
“Yeah, I guess he needs to sleep a while.”
“Word about you two is already getting around. I knew we wouldn’t be able to keep him a secret, but law enforcement is a small community and the worst for gossip. You would not believe the number of requests I’ve already had for your services.”
“Fuck, we’ll have to be careful he doesn’t burn out.”
“Yes, we certainly will. What happened today might actually play in our favor, strange as it seems. All right, you’ve had a long day too. Write up your report then we’ll reconvene once Bryn is fit to talk, probably in the morning.”
As Gunnar climbed the stairs to the apartment, he mused on Warden’s reactions. He’d expected a much harsher dressing down but Warden had been fair.Maybe he’s not so bad after all. Shit, this gig will either kill me or make me. The kid is going to give me gray hairs. Except he isn’t a kid at all.He loosened his bun and shook it out. “First stop, shower. Second… Think I need to steal a Twinkie.”
When he got to the apartment, the doctor was just leaving. “Detective, we put Bryn in his own bed, there’s no need for a hospital. I’ve given him a sedative and some stronger pain meds so he’ll be out for a while. He needs rest more than anything.”
“Okay, tell me, Doc, these headaches he gets, are they dangerous?”
“We’ve been scanning his brain every month for several years now and there’s no sign of any damage. Think of it as muscle strain. You chase down a criminal and maybe your hamstring aches or you get a sore knee. What Bryn does utilizes parts of his brain that we have very little understanding of. If he does too much it’s like a muscle strain, but a hell of a lot more painful.”
“Good to know. Thanks, Doc.”
“When he wakes up, he’ll be hungry. Try to limit his sugar intake and get something healthy into him. Strap him to a chair if you have to.”
Hmm, that has potential.“I’ll do my best, Doc.”
The doctor left and Gunnar snuck a peek into Bryn’s bedroom. Even in the dim light his skin was pale, but he was breathing softly and seemed at peace. Gunnar left the door open a crack in case Bryn called out then went to take a shower.
An hour later, Gunnar was in the kitchen putting the finishing touches to his homemade mac and cheese when Bryn appeared in the doorway. He had on black cotton pajama bottoms and a ratty T-shirt. His feet were bare and his hair tousled from sleep.
“Hey.”
“Hey, yourself. I thought you’d be out a while yet. The doc told me he gave you the good stuff.”
“You have such pretty hair.”
“And…I can see the meds haven’t worn off yet.” Gunnar put his dish of noodles in the stove. “Dinner is prepped. Just needs thirty minutes or so to finish off.”
“Homemade mac and cheese? I think I love you.” Bryn ambled over and rested his forehead on Gunnar’s shoulder.
“Oh, you really are out of it, aren’t you? How about we get you onto the couch?”
