An hour or so later the two men sat in the hospital room, Javert back in the bed and Valjean in a chair across from him. Valjean had managed to get the ex-inspector to calm down long enough for him to summon a doctor. The man had confirmed that Javert had been partially paralyzed, making walking impossible without a cane. Being mute was yet another side effect of his attempted suicide (although Valjean had told the hospital staff Javert merely fell.) Javert had only to look up at the cross on the wall to understand why.
Neither man spoke for several moments, the tension in the room so thick it could have been cut with a knife. After a few tense seconds Valjean broke the silence.
"I wish I could have been there earlier." He said guiltily. "I'm sorry." Javert scowled at him before scribbling on the pad of paper before him. After a lot of frustrated miming they had decided writing notes would be the easiest way for Javert to communicate. When he was finished he shoved it towards Valjean.
You should have left well enough alone 24601. Valjean winced at the number.
"I think we've gotten to the point where we can address each other by name don't you?" Javert crossed his arms over his broad chest and shook his head like a stubborn child. Valjean gave a long-suffering sigh rubbing a hand across his face.
"I'm afraid this means you probably won't be returning to the force." Javert rolled his eyes.
Irrelevant. I've resigned.
"Resigned?" Valjean asked as though Javert had just said he could sprout wings and fly. "Whatever for?"
You're a relatively smart man. Javert wrote, the words practically dripping with contempt. Figure it out for yourself. Valjean graced him with a bemused smile.
"You know that's the closest thing to a compliment I've ever received from you."
Don't flattery yourself 24601. The silence returned and Javert offered up a silent prayer for small favors.
"You have much to live for." Valjean said at last. "Why would you throw that away?" Javert would have groaned in annoyance had he been able and proceeded to scribble furiously on his pad of paper.
I neither need nor want your pity Valjean, he said. I did not ask you to play the hero and I certainly did not ask you to become involved with my personal affairs. Can you not merely leave me in peace?
"I could ask the same of you. Consider it a taste of your own medicine."
You broke the law.
"You broke god's law." Valjean countered. "You threw away his greatest gift. The only man I can see doing that is a man in great pain." Javert turned his eyes away, glancing at the whitewashed wall and the cross that hung from it.
What would you know of my pain?
"All men have their own cross to bear." Valjean said. "Myself included. I just wish to know what pain could have been so great that it would drive you to such an end." Javert sighed.
Perhaps I am tired. Surely you would understand that.
"Tired of chasing me?" Javert shook his head.
My world is upside down. A week ago everything seemed so clear-cut but now I am not so sure. He paused his lips pressed in a thin line. I saw an innocent child killed. He broke the law, they all did but he did not deserve to die. And you, you saved me. Why?
"Because you are a good man." Javert scoffed at that. "I had no right to kill you."
You had ever right! Javert wrote and he looked very much as though he wanted to yell the words at Valjean. I've hunted you, persecuted you all this time. Are you not tired? Were you not tempted to finally be at peace? Valjean shook his head.
"Not that way." Javert scowled.
Then you are a fool.
"Maybe." A long pause followed.
"Why are you tired Inspector?"
You know I have never been married? He responded. Never loved another person never had a family. All my life I have been fighting against temptation, against distraction. My work has been my whole life. And when that fell through…. He hesitated, scribbled out the last sentence and started again. I see now that I may have been wrong my whole life. All the things I sacrificed, for nothing. I see lonely years stretched out before me working towards something I no longer think is right. I have been alone my whole life Valjean. I grow tired of the solitude.
Javert expected a variety of different reactions at that but what he did not expect was for Valjean to start smiling than laughing heartily. Javert had never seen the former-convict laugh before.
"Oh don't worry I'm not making fun of you." Valjean said quickly once he saw Javert's dark expression. "I was just wondering at how blind you can be sometimes." Javert raised an eyebrow in question.
"How long have we know each other now Javert?" Valjean asked. "Over thirty years I believe. Far longer than my dear Cossette has been alive. In fact," he continued, "You have been in my life longer than you have not. You are, in fact Inspector, the only constant presence in my life. And I feel as though I can safely assume the same is true for you." Javert nodded hesitantly.
"I pulled you out of the river because, although I dearly wish we had met under different circumstances and yes I am tired of constantly hiding, a world with out you in it is not one I wish to live in." Javert blinked at him, unable to form a response even if it was in his power to do so. Valjean smiled warmly laying a hand gently on the ex-inspector's arm.
"You have never been alone Javert."