"Wherever it Leads"
by Cardinal Robbins
Disclaimer: Munch & Tutuola aren't mine, but I'd like to have them.
A challenge response to the word 'embrace.'
John Munch pushed back in his chair and stretched out his long legs, his feet propped up on the only corner of his desk not occupied by paperwork. He took a sip of Constant Comment and shrugged, his partner having just made a good point in the conversation.
"I'm not sure how to handle it, Fin," he admitted. "Unconditional love isn't exactly in my realm of experience."
Tutuola thought for a moment and turned from his computer. "Bro, you don't have to 'handle' anything. All you have to do is embrace it," he explained. "You're afraid you'll screw it up, aren't you?" He shook his head and tried not to smile, as he saw John's uncomfortable expression. Usually, Munch was able to hide his reactions behind his dark lenses, but this time that defense eluded him.
"If I ruin this, it will be the worst thing I've ever done in my life," he admitted. "Fin, I'd completely given up. I was used to my wretched existence," he said, gesturing widely. "It was almost tolerable." He opened the morning edition of the Times and used it as a shield, keeping out Fin's persistent gaze. He couldn't face his partner at the moment; his feelings were too confused, too chaotic, utterly unlike his usually semi-ordered world.
"John, you're not immune to love. No one is, and no one ever knows how to deal with it," Fin asserted. "It's a choice – you embrace it and accept it, or you reject it. My advice is, walk the path. See where it leads. You owe it to yourself and to her."
"I've been down this road before, Fin," he replied. "It always ends with the inevitable crash and burn at the 'ramp closed' sign. Something…happens, each time I try to love someone." He sighed, wishing being in love and genuinely loving someone was as easy as solving a case. The investigative process, that was something he understood – it was far less mysterious than trying to open his heart again after so many years alone.
"This could be the best thing that's ever happened to you, but you won't know if you don't let it in your life." Fin took a long pull from his soda and turned back to his paperwork. "You're lucky. There are people who would kill for what you have right now." He huffed softly, wishing Munch would lower the damned newspaper. "Y'know, people have killed for it. They do it every day."
"I feel like it's killing me," he shot back. "The elation is almost unbearable. I almost miss my usual bouts of occasional melancholy, but they're gone. At least for now." He abruptly lowered the Times and looked at Fin directly. "None of my exes were like this, Fin. Unconditional love wasn't in their vocabulary. I'm not used to this!" he insisted.
"Then get used to it, John," Tutuola replied. "Before you do something so stupid she has second-thoughts." He laughed, softly but loud enough that Munch heard him. "Man, you are some screwed up cat, John Munch." Fin heard his phone ring and answered it, still listening to his partner as he heard a woman's voice on the line. He replied and put the call on hold for a moment.
"'Embrace' it, huh? Ya think?" he asked pointedly. "Okay… I'll try."
"You better, bro." Tutuola nodded toward the phone. "Now's your chance – she's on line one."
"Thanks, Fin. I'll take it from here." John allowed himself a surreptitious smile as he took the call, wishing he could embrace her as soon as he heard her voice.