Utterson was discussing legal work with Mr. Guest, when he received a note from Jekyll's home, that he was to come as quickly as possible.
He sent a note back, that he was still at work, but would come as soon as he could.
It was already evening, when his work was done and he could go to see Jekyll and Hyde.
When he came to Jekyll's home, the blond and the brunette were waiting in the parlour, sitting on a couch, arm in arm and obviously very happy to be together again. Jekyll was looking a lot better already, even though it looked like it would take weeks, until he had gained his former weight back. But that was fine.
The lawyer wasn't sure, whether he should cry in relief or yell at the two for their stupidity.
"Hello, you two."
Jekyll smiled. "Hello, Gabriel. Come here. We have so much to tell you."
Damn right you do!
But the lawyer didn't voice that thought and sat in the armchair opposite to them.
Even though it was established by now that Jekyll loved both of them to bits, Utterson couldn't help but be surprised, when the blond took his hand.
"I believe, my good man, that I owe you a thousand apologies."
The black-haired lawyer couldn't help but gawk at his beloved Doctor – he hadn't expected that!
The corner of Jekyll's mouth twitched upwards for a second, before he continued: "You only wanted to help me and comfort me and instead you had to listen to me wallowing in my misery and pining for another man. Even though Edward is my other half (and always will be), you must have been so heartbroken. Please believe me, that I love both of you equally, even though it didn't look like it at all during the past weeks. You didn't deserve to suffer like that. Edward told me about your mental state yesterday and I'm taking the full responsibility for it."
Utterson felt his face flush. "I-it's fine …"
"No, it's not. Allow me to make up for the last weeks in the best way I can."
"The best way we can", Hyde corrected, "I caused the entire mess, when I left. So we're both in on this."
The lawyer didn't respond in words.
Instead he stood up, grabbed their hands and pulled them into a bone-crushing embrace.
Jekyll hugged back immediately, while Hyde was as awkward as every time Utterson initiated a hug.
The black-haired man gave up his attempts at not crying and sobbed into Jekyll's shoulder.
"Has anyone ever told you both", he wept, "that you are complete idiots? Well, you are! What am I going to do with you two? Scientific geniuses and you still act like six-year-olds towards each other! Can't you just talk and listen to one another and show consideration like the adults you are?!"
Hyde, whose face was currently pressed against the lawyer's chest bone, giggled: "So far not, but we'll try from now on. Cross my heart – or my brain, if you prefer that."
"Ditto", Jekyll agreed.
"You idiots!", Utterson wailed, cried harder and tightened his hug. "What am I going to do with you?!"
Jekyll chuckled lowly: "Well, if you want to, you could go to a restaurant with us. I'd make reservations and invite you both. What do you think?"
The older man smiled. A relaxed date with these two fools was just what he needed after three weeks of anxiety. "Sounds good. As long as the restaurant isn't too crowded. You know I loathe large crowds."
"As much as you hate great heights", Jekyll recalled. "Don't worry, I would never forget about that. Besides, Hyde doesn't like large crowds either."
"I really don't", the brunette confirmed. "But that's mutual. I'm sure they would love to give us the most hidden table in the facility."
The three men laughed.
Feeling happier than he had in almost a month, Utterson leaned into Jekyll's broad shoulder and stroked Hyde's with his other hand.
"Can we stay like this for a while?", he begged.
"Of course", Jekyll said.
"Alright", Hyde said.
"I'm sorry too, by the way."
The two madmen looked at him in confusion. "Why?"
Utterson turned to Hyde. "I should have been the one to get you. Instead it was Lanyon and I-"
"Don't be stupid", the brunette cut him off, "Jekyll needed you here. And it was good, that it was Lanyon, rather than you. He could help me better in that moment."
Hyde could tell, that the black-haired man was a bit miffed, so he specified: "In that moment I needed a more parental figure, which you're not. And in that moment he was calmer and more level-headed than you were that evening."
"What is that supposed to mean?"
The young man raised an eyebrow. "You burst into tears and kissed the shit out of me, as soon as you recognised me. I wouldn't exactly call that calm or level-headed."
Utterson relented. "Yes, you have a point there. It still irks me though, that he was a bigger help than I."
Jekyll smiled: "You were a big help. Who knows what I would have done, if you hadn't been with me the entire time. I wasn't in a state, where you could have left me alone for even ten minutes and I needed someone I'm in love with, rather than Lanyon. He's very dear to me, but he's my friend and ex-lover. That's not the same. He couldn't have given me the comfort you could give me."
"My word", a new voice said.
Lanyon was leaning in the door frame with a lopsided grin.
"Good morning, Hastie", Jekyll greeted.
"Good morning, idiots", Lanyon returned and stuck his tongue at them, like a mature adult.
The three other men chuckled – the hoary doctor was right, after all, so why would they be angry?
"Have I ever thanked you for all that you have done for me?", Jekyll asked his colleague later.
Lanyon laughed: "No, but you can do it more often in the future."
"Well, allow me to start right now. Thank you a billion times. Where would I be without you?"
"Six feet under, that's where!"
Jekyll giggled. "True, you're right. How many times have you saved my life so far?"
"I stopped counting."
"Well, but you have. And for that alone you deserve the highest honours – but even more so for how you can put up with the real me for longer than ten minutes."
Lanyon's eyes softened. "That's what friends do, Henry. What kind of friend would I be, if I couldn't stand who you really are?"
"Still though. You're such a wonderful person. I don't know what I have done to deserve a wonderful friend like you."
The hoary doctor shook his head. "It's not about what you or I deserve or don't deserve, Henry. I'm your friend, because I like you and care about you, because you need me, because we have so much in common and because being your friend makes me happy. Even though you're the most difficult man I have ever met. Besides – you deserve better than you think. I knew that from the very first moment that I met you."
Jekyll smiled warmly. "I see." Then he hugged him tightly. "Thank you so much. For being my best friend."
Lanyon grinned happily and hugged back.
"Anytime, you mad scientist."