Like Eating Glass-Chapter 11
Thanks for reading this much and reviewing hopefully. I've kind of got an idea where I want this next section to go but depending on how it flows it might be in a few sections. The way I see it outlined, there are three more things that need to happen, those things might be broken up into a few more chapters, I don't know, just my attempts to tell you how much more to expect, but since I failed in that aspect let's just move on...I don't own Flashpoint.
"I'm going to make some coffee. Are your clothes wet?" Greg unlocked the door to his apartment and turned on lights as Wordy followed behind him, bundled up in the blanket. He nodded that his clothes were wet with snow, drenched actually, as Greg put the pot of coffee on the burner. "Here," Greg handed Wordy a sweatshirt and walked quickly into the other room before returning with a pair of sweatpants and socks. "This stuff should fit you. You can change in there." Greg pointed to a bedroom and Wordy obediently did as he was told.
As he stripped off his wet, cold, clothes Wordy felt a bit of anxiety leave him only to be pounded by new worries. Can't lie to Greg, he'd know in a second. He put on the warm clothes and felt the odd sensations on his numb skin. The fuzz on the inside of the sweatshirt tickled his skin and he crossed his arms to try and contain the heat that he hoped was building against his body. The sweatpants similarly comforted his icy limbs, though they were a few inches too short for him. Wordy smelt the coffee brewing and knew that it was time to face whatever would happen. He took a few deep breaths before collecting his damp clothes and opening the door.
"Perfect timing," Greg glanced up from the cup of coffee he'd just poured and handed it to Wordy as he approached. The ceramic cup was warm in Wordy's hands as he took a small sip, careful not to burn his numb skin. "Take a seat on the couch, I've got a couple of blankets over there." Greg took the wet clothes from Wordy and hung them in his small bathroom before coming back into the living room with yet another blanket. "Found another one." Greg smiled as he shook out the blanket and placed it on top of the pile that covered Wordy on the couch.
"Thanks, Sarge." He said softly, almost meekly. They sat quietly for a few minutes and both drank their coffee, warming their hands.
"Were you outside since you left HQ?" Greg asked in what he hoped didn't come across as a judging tone. Wordy hesitated a moment before nodding.
"Wordy, incase you weren't aware, there's this thing called hypothermia..." Greg smiled at him but Wordy's expression hadn't changed. "What's up Wordy?" Greg asked more seriously. "It's like you're a totally different person than you were last week...hell, a totally different person than you were yesterday morning...talk to me..." Wordy kept his eyes downcast, focused on the hot coffee before him and the blankets nearly suffocating him with heat. He tried to subtly wiggle free of the blankets, resenting what they symbolized. Warmth, comfort, care, safety, all things he felt he didn't deserve.
"Wordy, you were in sub-zero temperatures for hours, keep the blankets on." Greg said firmly as Wordy continued to shrug a little looser.
"I'm fine."
"Yeah, you've said that a lot the past few days but the more I hear it out of your mouth, the more I doubt it." Greg softened his tone a bit and leaned forward. "This isn't you, Wordy. This isn't you." Wordy took a few deep breaths before pushing the blankets off and, still shivering, getting to his feet.
"Thanks for everything, Sarge but I should-"
"Sit down, Wordy." Greg said firmly as he stood also, blocking his path. Wordy felt his muscles tense and his posture straighten as he automatically associated Greg's tone with a command. "You are not leaving here until we talk." Greg stayed firm until Wordy sat down on the couch again, though he was still obviously tense and anxious.
"Is this about the call yesterday, Wordy?" Greg looked at him and waited for a response but his tense body language was enough of an indicator. "You followed the book and you shouldn't doubt yourself, Wordy. No one doubts you."
"Yeah, well maybe they should doubt me." Greg looked like he was going to interrupt but Wordy continued. "I killed a kid, Greg. I killed a little girl who was scared of her abuser. And then top that all off, I go ahead and sucker punch Ed today, can't even look at my own daughter without...without seeing her eyes... I doubt myself." Frustration and anger was building in Wordy and his muscles were aching between his body's tension and the intense shivering that still persisted.
"Wordy, I know it hurts, and I know it's tough, but you neutralized a subject. That's all you did. We all tried to stop things from going that direction but she showed threat to the hostage-"
"Oh yeah, her abusive father and uncle. Two great guys worth saving, worth killing her over!" He was nearly shouting now as tears began to well in his eyes. He tried to blink them away but Greg had seen them already and had subtly pushed a box of tissues his way. Wordy gave him an angry glare before Greg spoke.
"It's our job to protect the hostages, Wordy, you know that. We are not a judge, we are not a jury, and while sometimes we disagree with what we have to do, we do it anyway. We-"
"We keep the peace, I know that but...but where were we, where was anyone when they were...when they were doing those things to her?" He asked softly as he put his head in his hands for a moment. Greg thought for a moment before responding.
"We were out saving other people Wordy, like we do every single day. You can't second guess yourself here, you can't doubt your actions, and you can't go out there and let yourself freeze to death." Greg had a softer tone, almost fatherly as he leaned closer and waited for Wordy to raise his head.
"I deserve worse than some cold for what I did." He said softly with a flat tone. Greg was a bit taken aback by the sudden statement and quickly shook his head.
"I know you're hurting right now, Wordy-"
"I deserve to hurt right now, and not just in the way you're thinking." Wordy said slightly louder, another shiver racking his body and muscles as Greg internally mused for a moment. Didn't think I'd ever have to go here with Wordy. He took a deep breath before speaking in a calm, even tone.
"Wordy, I feel like I've got to ask you this...are you thinking about killing yourself?" Wordy raised his gaze and looked at Greg, his tough exterior finally looking vulnerable as tears came to his eyes again. He took a breath before looking down and wiping his face with the back of his hand. Greg waited a long few minutes trying to look patient and get himself to be patient like he was every day, but this was different and he couldn't contain the questions and anxiousness.
"Wordy, you've got to talk to me here..." Greg didn't want to sound like he was pleading with him but a slight hitch in his voice gave away the desperation hidden in the practiced calm tone.
"I...I don't know." Wordy looked up for an instant before dropping his gaze again and shaking his head. "I just...I don't know."
Slightly cliffhangerish but not as terrible as some of my stories have been. Alright, I'm tired and going to bed but I'd love feedback. Thanks a lot for sticking with me!