"You what?!"
"We broke up, Finch."
Wide eyed and shocked, "I don't understand…"
Reese sighed, "It just… it just didn't work like we thought it would."
Finch sat motionless, staring at Reese dumfounded.
How could it have not worked?
Reese waited a few moments before tentatively asking his frozen friend, "You okay?"
Finch blinked and closed his mouth (which he hadn't realized had fallen open until this moment). He cleared his throat.
"Yes, yes I'm fine," he looked at his lap. "Just… shocked."
"Yeah…" Reese said awkwardly. "Sorry."
"It's nothing to apologize for."
They sat side by side in silence for a few moments, letting the announcement sink in.
Carter and John had been dating for almost a year and no one was happier about the relationship than Finch. From the moment they told him the news he had been giddy as a schoolgirl. He had secretly been rooting for the two to get together ever since the day he caught John's gaze lingering on Carter. It was a brief moment, and one that he absolutely would have missed had he not looked up when Bear tugged at his leash at just the right moment.
"Well, I guess that's that," Harold mumbled and stood.
"I'm a little surprised you didn't know… I thought you were always listening."
"I do try to give you some level of privacy, Mr. Reese. I don't see how me being that involved in your relationship would be beneficial," he paused. "I didn't want to invade and be the source of any issues or tension. I was… I was very much hoping it would work between you two."
"You don't have to sound so disappointed," Reese replied sadly. "You're making me feel bad."
"Not my intention," Harold said as he plopped down in front of his workstation. He lifted his hands above his keyboard, readying to return where he left off when John had returned to the library stating he had news. Instead, he sat ready yet motionless for a few moments before leaning back in his seat with a resigned sigh.
He had been so certain that Reese and Carter would work out. So certain that John would finally be happy. Carter, too, but she wasn't the one Harold was worried about. He liked Carter, and they were more than in her debt for all the questionable favors they requested while working the Numbers. But John was different, John was… special. He was the one Harold had chosen- initially for his immense abilities, but never with expectation of the man to becoming so important to him. He had seen John homeless, purposeless, and alone, and now he wanted nothing more than for John to be happy. Reese was a good man and he deserved everything good in life.
He felt a hand on his shoulder, "C'mon, let's go get a drink."
"Mr. Reese it's only 10am."
"Yeah, but I need to get that mopey look off your face. I can't stand it."
Harold sighed and stood, "I suppose a little mutual commiseration is in order."
Reese handed him his jacket, "Customarily you would be buying me a drink to cheer me up, but I almost feel as though I should buy yours. I think you're more upset than I am."
Harold gave a halfhearted chuckle and the two men exited the library side by side, the trio becoming a duo once again.