Disclaimer: I don't own these characters or this world. I just like to be a part of it sometimes
Author's Notes: For the most part, these are all written spoiler free, but occasionally I will use spoilers that were seen in the preview for next week, so not sure if that qualifies as spoilers, but, if you're super anti-spoiler, I'm warning you now. I used the word "spoiler" a lot in that sentence…
Also, this has only gone through a light beta, so any dumb mistakes are entirely my own.
Everything up to the end of 523 applies.
Alone Again
As he drove in a crisscrossing pattern back and forth across town, he kept twisting his fists up and down on the steering wheel, trying desperately to stay calm. He knew now how terrified Audrey was when he stepped through that thinny, not knowing for sure if he would come back or not. He told her just as long as she kept telling him to come back to her, he would keep on doing it. But he had not been given the chance to tell her to come back to him, and as ridiculous as it sounded, he felt as though that simple missed gesture would prove to have costly effects.
Why did these things keep happening? Finally he had her back, and once again, she was taken from him. Finally he had Duke back, and once again, he was taken from him. For a brief moment, life was back to normal. Audrey was Audrey, Duke was back helping them, and as a team they were working to solve the Troubles. He and Audrey were in the absolute high of their relationship, and nothing could be better. He and Duke had just that day sat down and bonded over shared memories, and he had been able to see how much closer they were than he ever realized when Duke admitted to giving him the case which would convince him to stay with the Haven PD. He had the girl of his dreams, he had his best friend. Even if the town was crumbling around him, at least his personal life was finally, for once, completely intact.
The respite however, had been much too brief.
As he drove by the ruins of the Gull, he couldn't help but think about the awful moment when he walked in on Audrey's apartment to find she had been kidnapped – and his instant anger at thinking it was Duke. But once he had managed to calm down, he realized it wasn't Duke, and it was Duke who stayed with him to find her. The feeling of her running into his arms was a moment he would never forget. He needed to feel her in his arms again.
The empty field where the Barn once sat soon rose into view, and he was assaulted by his worst memory of all – kneeling in the field, looking at where the Barn once was, as he realized his two best friends were gone, and he was alone. He was lost for months, and it was only Duke's return which brought him back from the brink. He knew with Duke back, Audrey was out there too, and for the first time in months, he had felt like living was worth it again.
As he continued to drive, the empty ache he felt then was once again taking root in his stomach, and this time it was tinged with fear. When Audrey had been kidnapped, he knew deep down he would find her. He was wild with fear the whole time, but he knew he would get her back. When she had left with the Barn, though he may have been despondent, at least he knew she was safe in the Barn. And while he would live a lifetime before he saw her again, he knew he would see her again. This time however, even though he was certain he would find her – he always did – there was the added element of Croatoan. He had very clearly possessed Duke, and it was doubtful he had intentions on keeping either Duke or Audrey alive. Yes, this situation was much more dire, and the gnawing sensation he had been feeling the past few weeks that an end was coming started growing stronger.
When he passed the post office for the fifth time, he slammed his hand on the steering wheel, and Duke's warnings of him mistreating his body immediately floated back to him. But driving like this was useless, and he felt useless. Audrey was out there – she was out there and in trouble – and he couldn't find her, and didn't even know where to start. As the police station rose into view, he sighed. All he could do at this point was return, and hope a clue about Audrey had come in while he was away. He wasn't sure how long he could stay sane with her gone.