TRAUMABEANS AU

[conning]

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[conning]

Neal leans over and kisses his besuited shoulder, voice low enough to be just for Malcolm.

“You’d make a good dad, Malcolm Bright. You would.”

[abrightboy]

Malcolm looks at him. Really looks at him.

“You believe that. You really, really do. You’re sure.”

[conning]

Neal scoots closer to him, seatbelt more or less ignored so he can rest his head on Malcolm’s shoulder. “Of course I’m sure,” he says softly.

Gil eases to a stop at a red light. “Do you two want me to take you to… somebody’s apartment, or back to the precinct?”

[abrightboy]

Malcolm gives him an almost irritated look in the rearview mirror.

“We’re working on the case,” he says. Because it seems like Gil is asking whether he wants to drop the case.

[conning]

Gil holds up a placating hand, pulling forward again as the light turns green. He glances pointedly at Neal. “I know that, but it’s late and you’ve had a hell of a long few days, if the water cooler talk is even half true.”

“We’ll be fine,” Neal says, sitting up again. He’s not going to risk falling asleep on Malcolm’s shoulder and proving Gil’s point.

[abrightboy]

Malcolm’s brow creases.

“What ‘water cooler talk’?” he asks suspiciously.

[conning]

“That scuffle with Kramer after the commutation.”

Gil glances back, not sure if he should be amused or concerned. “What did you think I meant?”

[abrightboy]

“I don’t know what people talk about,” Malcolm points out. “They don’t talk to me. But, if you want to know what happened, I went down to the FBI office and handed Kramer his ass in front of all of his subordinates. I’m not sure ‘scuffle’ is the word I would use,” he explains almost haughtily.

[conning]

The way Malcolm declares his isolation like it’s obvious makes Neal want to put bees in every desk in Major Crimes. Gil doesn’t seem to notice. He chuckles.

“I wish I could have seen that. I wonder if the CCTV has sound.”

“Unfortunately, no,” Neal says.

[abrightboy]

Gil’s amusement makes Malcolm crack a smile.

“You might be able to see the look on his face,” he suggests.

[conning]

"I could see if Mozzie can get his hands on it," Neal says, only half joking.

He heads straight for the terrible coffee when they reach the precinct, mixing in his chosen additions and then staring at it for a moment as powdered creamer drifts under the surface. He can't get that image of Raylan out of his head now, walking toward him, face either half gone or half covered by darkness. Neal shakes his head, taking a deep breath and straightening up.

[abrightboy]

Malcolm comes to stand beside him.

“What’s wrong?” he asks quietly. “Is it… what I said about being a father?”

[conning]

Neal twitches in slight surprise, looking at Malcolm in confusion for a moment before the question parses itself out in his head. "What? No! No."

He takes Malcolm's hand lightly. "Just. Had a dream I can't shake."

[abrightboy]

That's a relief. He was worried his hesitance would be a deal breaker. Neal's a natural with them.

"What was it about?" he asks gently.

[conning]

He turns his attention back to the coffee, just to have something to look at. Somewhere to rest his eyes while he remembers. "Mathias. It was sunny, warm, almost like summer, but it was empty. Even more empty."

His grip on Malcolm's hand tightens a little. "I can't explain why it was wrong. It was always quiet there, always had that... vacancy, but it was like..."

It was worse. Somehow it was worse. He draws in a breath. "I saw Raylan walking toward me, and he was shedding shadows. I only saw him for a second before you woke me up, but I can't stop thinking about it."

[abrightboy]

“Is it because we were talking about Raylan? If he comes across as a sinister figure in your dream, is it because you feel threatened by him somehow?” Malcolm asks.

[conning]

Neal frowns, brow creasing. "I don't know. Maybe? It wasn't just his presence though, it..."

He shudders lightly. "It felt real. For a second I thought I was back there."

[abrightboy]

"Minor psychoses are common side effects of unprocessed or protracted trauma," Malcolm assures him sympathetically. "Do you want me to set you up with my therapist?"

[conning]

Neal shakes his head silently. He's still not ready for that. He probably should try, but he really doesn't want to.

[abrightboy]

"Well, when it happens... you can talk to me," Malcolm offers.

[conning]

Neal manages a tiny smile in Malcolm’s direction, but JT draws his attention as he, Dani, and Gil all converge on the coffee station.

“You’re going to love this,” JT says. “Our vic withdrew a hefty stack of cash from the bank about a week and a half ago.”

[abrightboy]

Malcolm raises his eyebrows. “Blackmail?” He gestures for Neal to join him in heading towards the door. “I need to talk to Alessa,” he tells them.

“Now? It’s almost ten o’clock,” Dani protests.

Malcolm pauses at the door and half turns to answer. “Her baby feeds every two hours and her husband was just murdered. She’s up.”

[conning]

Neal goes with him, of course. Gil sends Dani along with them, but the interview is interrupted by the near-theft of Nina.

When they see the au pair on the camera, starting to pick up Nina, Neal’s heart hits his throat.

He’s running for the stairs as Alessa says, “She’s stealing my baby!”

[abrightboy]

Neal’s legs are longer, but Malcolm sprints into the room not far behind him. The window is open. No. No.

Then there’s a noise. The quiet, unmistakable babble of a baby from the bassinet beside the window.

[conning]

Neal darts over, scooping Nina up very gently and holding her close, like somehow that will make the attempted theft less horrifying. He backs away from the window, looking at Malcolm.

“Why would she do that?” It’s quietly horrified. “Why would she try to do that?”

Alessa sweeps into the room, and Neal gently hands Nina over.