Episode 11

Lawmen

This time, it was Martin who sought out his captain because he was worried. Normally, it was the other way around. He knocked, uncertain Avery wanted company. Ever since his boss had confided in Murtaugh about Scarelli, Avery's behavior had been off. Until recently, Martin hadn't realized just how much he relied on the older man to keep him on the straight and narrow. And so he worried about Avery. "Do you want to be alone or…?"

Brooks managed a smile and nodded. "You can come in, Riggs." The last time the Texan had dropped in, he'd told the younger man about framing Scarelli and they'd shared some scotch. Back then, he'd wondered about Riggs' mellow reaction. Actually, he still did. "Another scotch then?"

"Sure!" Martin eagerly accepted. Avery put two glasses onto his desk and poured a small amount. After handing a glass to Riggs, he sipped from his own. "So how are things between Roger and you?" He wasn't sure where the two men stood.

"We talked," Brooks admitted, studying Riggs' expression. The Texan seemed curious, worried even! "I doubt he'll ever forgive me, but we're okay."

"That's good to hear." Martin worried about the two of them, and if the former partners were still friends. "Do you still have plans to resign?" He hoped not; he needed Avery in his life, even though he'd never admit to that aloud. He also doubted another captain would allow him to stay on the team – not with his behavior.

"No, I won't resign. I talked that one over with Roger too. I'll stay and do my job. I want to make this city safer. That's why I became a cop in the first place."

Knowing Roger the way he did, Martin suspected Murtaugh had come down hard on Avery and the older man didn't deserve that. At times, his partner's holier than thou attitude frustrated him. "You did what you had to do. Don't beat yourself up about Scarelli. The scumbag deserved it."

Brooks appreciated Riggs' effort to reassure him and it made him open up. "I don't know why I told you first," he mused aloud. "Roger should have been the first to hear it, but I told you instead." And he wondered why.

Martin however got it. "With Rog a lot is black and white," he explained. "You're guilty or innocent. You did it or you didn't do it." He shrugged and downed the last of the scotch. "In my experience life is far from being black and white. It's not good versus evil. There's a grey area a lot of people are uncomfortable with. I live there," he said and grinned apologetically. "Sometimes you need to bend the rules to prevent worse. That's how it works."

Finally Brooks understood why he'd confided in Riggs first. He'd known the Texan would understand why he'd done it. The younger man knew life consisted of numerous shades of grey and Riggs probably walked a thin line too. That was how the ex Navy SEAL often got his man. "That's it," he mused aloud.

"What's what, cap?" Martin set his glass aside, shifted forward on his chair and watched his captain closely. Avery seemed preoccupied.

"You understand that a lot of times things aren't black or white. You know there's a grey area too. Roger doesn't see things that way."

"Roger hasn't been in your position before, nor in mine." Martin found it strange that their roles were suddenly reversed. Usually it was Avery talking sense into him, now he was doing the same thing for his captain. "You knew a murderer and rapist would be back on the streets again because of some compromised DNA. You didn't want more children to suffer, or get killed, so you helped getting Scarelli convicted. I understand why you did that. I might have done the same thing had I been in your position. In the end, making sure he's off the streets and those kids safe is what matters."

While savoring his last sip of scotch, Brooks finally calmed down. He'd made a mistake, he knew that, but he'd done it for the greater good. "Did you ever do something similar?" He instantly regretting putting that question to Riggs, as he didn't want to drag up unpleasant memories. "Sorry, I –"

"Don't worry about it, cap," Martin said reassuringly. "I bend the rules all the time in order to get the bad guys off the streets. I tell myself that's okay, and most days, I believe that. In the end, you have to decide what matters most; allowing a killer to get away or bending the rules and making sure he goes to prison. It has always been an easy choice for me," he admitted, recalling all the times he'd operated outside of the law.

Brooks understood the point Riggs made, but he still hadn't forgiven himself for framing Scarelli. "I still regret framing him," he confessed, surprising himself. He'd told Roger so, but for some reason telling Riggs was important too.

"That's because you have an oversized conscience, cap!" Martin chuckled and nodded at his boss. "And that's a good thing, considering you're a LAPD captain – you need one. But you also need to shut it up at times. I hate to break it to you, but you're not perfect, neither am I. We make mistakes, we all do, that's life. But you need to forgive yourself and to move on. Scarelli deserved to go to prison. If that DNA hadn't been contaminated, he'd served time too." Compared to some of the things he'd done, Avery's transgression was minor.

Brooks poured them another small amount. Riggs grinned appreciatively and quickly collected his glass again. It was time to change their subject, as Brooks needed time and privacy to deal with past mistakes, so he opted for some humor. "I specifically told you to handle the matter delicately and what do you do? You wreck a house!" Riggs steering that car through the window had nearly given him a heart attack. Not because of the bills heading LAPD's way, but because he hadn't expected it. In hindsight, he realized he should have, after all, this was Riggs!

"Well, it's called taking advantage of the moment, cap!" Martin enjoyed another taste of superb scotch. "And it worked!"

"And you arrested Barton." Brooks knew how Barton had pestered Riggs. "He was badly bruised though. You had to beat him up, didn't you?" At least he suspected that had happened.

"He kidnapped you," Martin stated in a firm tone. "He set Scarelli up to kill you and he was stupid enough to fire all his rounds before I got to him. He made it too easy, cap. But, I was fair! I only used my fists – and feet," he added cheekily. "The poor guy never stood a chance." Martin tried to tone it down, but he enjoyed himself too much. "You don't piss off a Navy SEAL."

Brooks nodded in understanding. "Once a SEAL, always a SEAL?"

"Of course. We take care of our own." The moment Barton had gone after Avery his fate had been sealed. "He got off way too easy," he regretted he hadn't done more damage.

Being honest, Brooks had to admit that Riggs going all protective on him wasn't surprising. He should have seen it coming. He shuddered to think of what Riggs' reaction would have been if Scarelli had managed to kill him. Not even Roger would have been able to keep Riggs from committing murder.

"Well, thanks for the scotch." Martin got to his feet, and after studying Avery for a moment, realized the older man was okay. This time, talking over the case had mostly benefitted Avery and he was happy he'd been able to help. "You okay now?" he asked, just to make sure.

"Yeah, I feel better," Brooks said, realizing it was the truth. "Thanks, Martin."

"You're welcome. Glad I could help." Doubtlessly, the next time Avery would serve as the voice of reason again. "Night, cap."

"Night, Martin."

Martin closed the door behind him and smiled secretly. Being able to help Avery made him feel good. He really liked this – whatever this was – becoming a two way thing.

TBC