Title: Clarity
Author: A. X. Zanier
Copyright: December 01, 2013
Rating: PG-13 (Language, violence, mild sexual situations)
Fandom: The Invisible Man
Series: N/A
Pairing: Darien/OFC
Sequel: Follows broken
Summary: Darien tries to fix what's broken
Spoilers: Probably, does it really matter after all these years?
Disclaimer: a) The characters and basic story ideas of The Invisible Man are the property of others including, but not limited to Matt Greenberg, Studios USA, Stu Segall Productions and NBC Universal. Any additional characters or story ideas are mine. I make no money from this intellectual exercise. b) This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any opinions or views expressed herein do not necessarily reflect those of the author and are used for story-telling purposes only.
A/N: each chapter title is also a song title, for the full song list drop me an email.
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Clarity
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never say never
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Darien hadn't really slept once Alyx had left his apartment. Everything he'd done, they'd done, said and, more importantly, not said running through his mind over and over again. He could understand her anger, he supposed, he had made every effort to push her to that state, but he had been making amends... or so he'd thought. Maybe... maybe he'd been kidding himself all along. Maybe there could be no reconciliation for them, no matter how much he wanted it.
He wanted her, wanted to be with her even after everything, but realized he couldn't force her to feel the same. So, what was left to do?
Let it be and watch her walk away?
Not that he had much choice in that; she fully intended on leaving for this new job, and she'd made it quite clear there was nothing he could do that would change her mind.
And that left...
For him to stop being a selfish bastard and focusing on on his wants and needs and instead supporting her and her decisions no matter how much it hurt him personally.
Decision made he had finally been able to fall into a less than restless slumber for a few short hours.
. . .
The morning dawned bright and gorgeous, no fog burying the city on this day, no it had been a perfect to play hooky and go to the beach, which part of him had been sorely tempted to do. To run free amongst the waves instead of facing the heartache he knew would be found at the office.
He stood in the doorway, looking at Hobbes who sat typing vigorously at the computer in front of him, probably finishing up some paperwork... unless the boss had given them a new case, of course.
"Hey, have you seen Alyx?"
Hobbes stopped typing instantly, his head snapping up in surprise, clearly he hadn't heard his partner tromp in and take up position holding up the doorframe. "No, why?" His brows knit together as he changed tracks mentally. "Things not go so hot last night?"
Yeah, Hobbes knew what Darien had planned, hell, if it hadn't been for Bobby Darien never would have known about this other job she'd been offered and then accepted. Would never have known that she planned to end his torture of her by escaping away. Would not have known he'd been about to lose the most important thing in his life through his continued stubbornness and stupidity.
Darien shrugged, not certain how to answer the question.
"She even show?"
Darien nodded. "We talked some, had really hot angry sex, and she left."
Hobbes nodded tightly. "I told you it wouldn't be that easy."
Darien huffed in discontent. "Nothing has ever been easy for the two of us."
Hobbes grunted. "True enough, but this mess you brought on yourself."
Darien wanted to be angry at his partner and friend for that comment, but since he had come to the very same conclusion himself over the last few weeks he could do little more than sigh. He ducked his head. "I know and I need to fix this."
"She's leaving, Fawkes. Moving to DC on some super-secret project that even I can't find info on and that she won't tell me about. She's committed to this and I doubt she could get out of it even if she wanted to." Hobbes got to his feet and walked around the desk eyeing Darien carefully the entire time. "What do you intend to do?"
"The right thing," Darien answered, feeling oddly lighter for saying the words out loud.
Hobbes cocked his head to the side. "And what would that be, exactly?"
Darien shook his head, knowing his response would make no logical sense to his friend. "Help her. She leaves in a week and probably has a ton of shit to do. I want to help."
Hobbes blinked. "You want to help her pack? Are you feeling okay there, Fawkes?"
Darien chuckled softly, realizing just how this must sound. "Yeah, just fine. She wants to leave and I can't make her stay, but I can show that I support her choices..."
"And her," Hobbes finished, then wagged his finger at his partner. "Sneaky little shit. Glad you finally figured it out."
Darien didn't bother smiling back; it should never have come to this and he had absolutely no reason to be happy. "I may not be able to keep her, but this way I won't lose her."
Hobbes snorted. "Like I said, sneaky little shit." He walked past Darien and into the hall. "Well, let's go help her then."
Now he did smile, trailing after his partner as they walked the halls, up one floor and to the office Alyx had taken over way back when.
Hobbes swung the door open after a quick knock to find Alyx seated behind her desk with a mound of files piled to either side of her. Her hair was piled messily atop her head and held in place with a pair of pencils, the Agency computer on with data scrolling past at record speed. "Kid, what the hell are you doing?"
She sighed and lifted her head, eyes shifting from Bobby to Darien quickly, as if truly surprised to see him there. "The Official, in his infinite wisdom, has decreed I must deal with all these cases, before I can be permitted to leave. Not that most of these were my cases," she finished with a wave and look of irritation.
Hobbes shook his head. "Fuck him. Your new job is set, right?"
She nodded.
"Then don't worry about this," he gestured at the piles practically burying her, "worry about getting your house in order."
Alyx sighed. "Easier said than done, I'm afraid."
"You have no reason to feel guilty, Alyx. You made the decision that was right for you. No need to feel like you have to fix everything before you leave," Darien told her, truly meaning the words. "How can we help?"
She laughed though it had more than a touch of bitterness within its depths. "You want to help?"
Hobbes looked from her to Fawkes and back again. "Have to say I was a bit surprised myself, but he means it, kid. Whatever we can do to make this go easier on you, we'll do it."
She shook her head. "I know he means it, that you both mean it, but it's unnecessary. I'm perfectly capable of packing up the few belongings I plan to take with me." She didn't snark, didn't raise her voice, just made the simple statement as if there were nothing between them other than co-workers.
Darien had no idea how to react to that, so turned to his partner for assistance.
"Kid, ever think we're gonna miss you and want to spend some time with you before you go?" Hobbes rolled his shoulders and straightened. The break between Darien and her had put a strain on all of them, with poor Bobby caught in the middle once he'd learned that Alyx had been the break-up-ee as opposed to the break-up-er. Granted she'd spent as much time as possible working loan jobs just to be away from San Diego and Darien's nearly obsessive need to screw anything that moved, which even Bobby had gotten annoyed with after a while, but she'd always come home. And now... now she was leaving for... He wouldn't call it good as her being away from him could never be good, but it would be forever... maybe.
She had said they'd talk more, maybe it would be enough to persuade her that he meant his renewed commitment to her... to them. This... this backing her decision was simply the very tiny first step.
"Bobby, I was never leaving you," she stated, looking up at Darien in clear defiance.
"Duh, I know that, but we haven't really worked together in months. I want my chance to say goodbye too," Hobbes responded, a pleading tone sneaking into his voice to prove it was her friend who said the words and not just her co-worker.
"But I'm sure you have work..."
" 'Fish can wait, you can't," Darien stated, more than willing to blow off the nonexistent work they currently had. Besides, if they could manage to change her mind the Official would be one happy camper. Not give a raise happy, but yell a little less happy, for a while anyway. "So, what say we blow this pop stand, grab some beer and pizza and have a packing party at your place?"
She stared at both men for several long tense seconds, changed her focus to the mounds of useless paperwork before her then shrugged. "What the hell. Not like I really want to do any of this." She got to her feet, grabbed her bag and jacket and headed towards the door. "But I pick the beer and pizza."
"You buy you pick," Hobbes countered with as he turned to follow her.
"Of course," she told them, glancing back over her shoulder at them. "Well, come on, before the Official finds something for you to do."
Darien chuckled and did as she suggested. If nothing else she had great taste in both beer and pizza.