Disclaimer: Not mine.
"That's all there is to it?"
"Yeah, just one big conspiracy. Uh," Sawyer pulled a sheaf of papers from his satchel, "Here's my full report, sir."
His superior, a sour-faced man named Jones, took the papers and flipped through them. "Alright, and now you want what?"
"Jus', mm, some time off. I've been going pretty hard lately, and there's at least three near-death experiences in there!" the joke didn't go over well, or even at all. Jones grimaced and rubbed his abdomen and Sawyer thought he must have an ulcer, which accounted for most of his abruptness. He probably wanted to get out of there quickly, so Tom said, "Now I feel I really need this time off and I'm prepared to fight for it-"
Then Jones said, "No! No, that's quite alright. How will we contact you if need be?"
"You can contact the Nautilus easy enough," he leaned forward helpfully, "Would you like me to go over my report in detail before I leave?"
"No! That's fine, I'm sure. Your, ah, Aunt Polly is waiting to meet you at the police station so you can see your old friend Huck at the same time, pleasure, I'm sure, have a nice time-"
The door slammed behind him.
Tom looked back in surprise. That was the first time he'd been thrown out of a temporary HQ. Mina, waiting outside with a parasol over one shoulder, asked, "How was it?"
Tom grinned and flashed a thumbs up.
The police station was quiet and orderly, not like he'd expected. He opened his new pocket watch to check Yes, Henry, it does tell time.
Shut it, Edward. It's your fault I need a new one in the first place.
A burst of incredulity was Hyde's reply.
MY FAULT?
Jekyll winced and touched his temple.
"Are you well?" Mina asked.
He nodded, "Fine, just a headache." Hyde glared at him from a window. Sawyer was not obviously having a good time. He'd been happy enough to see his aunt, but now-
"Detective in two years, good fer you, Huck!" Tom smiled. With his teeth.
"Yeah, well, how've you been?"
"Oh, you know. Stopped a world war, same old stuff," he shrugged and preened slightly. Hyde turned to watch with interest.
"Wow! And now you're off to-?"
"Exploring."
"Like when we were kids?" Finn grinned and the hairs on the back of Jekyll's neck raised. Now it gets interesting. He didn't bother to tell Hyde off.
Luckily, a blonde woman came up to Finn. She was several months pregnant. "Huck, be sure you're home by eight for dinner with the chief," she said. Then she noticed the rest of them. Jekyll watched Tom's face tighten and decided this was not so lucky after all.
Sawyer set his jaw. "Hello, Tom," the woman said.
"Becky," he ground out. Hmmm.
Some underling entered the far door, "Sir! Oh, begging your pardon," he nodded to the League members and Becky. "We've caught the red light rapist!"
"Really? Does he have blonde hair?"
"Ah…You'd better come see."
Finn shrugged. "If you'll excuse me," he said. He followed the man out.
They stood silent in one of those awkward moments. Jekyll checked his watch again while Sawyer chewed his lower lip, not looking at anyone. Ah, look. It's the time again.
Stop being such an ass, Edward.
Hyde sighed. Come on, Henry! This is boring. Let's go find a woman.
What would you do with a woman? You usually kill them.
Well, I'm not in control. Oh, that's right. What would you do with a woman? I know, let's go find a gi-
Alright! We'll find a woman. Not because you say so…because I want to.
…Of course.
Jekyll felt a burning in his chest, some anger at being manipulated, again. He would find a woman – and maybe he wouldn't have that dream tonight, or any other. He closed the watch and slipped it into his pocket.
"Well, I'm off," he announced. Mina raised an eyebrow. "I'll see you back at the Nautilus," he said.
He left.
Finding a woman, a red light in the window, wasn't that hard. He knocked on the wrong door at first, but the woman looked him up and down once, then told him he'd be wanting Elsa next door.
Elsa was Irish, plum, but not by too much. She scrutinized Jekyll while he stood for a minute. He wasn't too sure how these things worked out because usually Edward was here, not Henry. It had been awhile. At least this time, the prostitute might survive the night.
Finally she asked, "How can I help you?"
"Ah," he said, twisting the watch chain around his fingers nervously, "I'd like to- that is – you're a – I mean…" How did one put it delicately?
She sighed. "Never done a teabag before," she muttered, "Well, come in," she jerked her head and stepped to one side. He stepped past her.
As it turned out, Elsa didn't get to do a teabag just yet.
"I'm sorry," he apologized again, "Usually it, you know," he gestured.
"I understand," she said, "Who's the lucky girl?"
"Beg pardon?" his eyes widened.
"Sometimes, when you care for another, this isn't the solution." Jekyll realized he was on the verge of a very uncomfortable epiphany.
"Ah," he said, blushing. I know what's wrong, Hyde grumbled, All your blood's going to the wrong place, bloody poofter.
"That's alright, dear. Here," she handed him his coat.
"Thank you," he said and pointed over his shoulder, "I'll just-"
He left.
To say Hyde was disgusted was a mild understatement. "I don't believe you," he said from the window fronts as they passed. The street was empty and Jekyll spoke back openly.
"Me? Maybe you're the one who c-can't hold up!"
"How do you figure that?! You're the one in control!"
"So? Maybe it's been too long – this is all your fault – m-maybe I just n-need practice!"
"Practice?!"
Couldn't even get it on with a whore
"Shut up, Edward!!"
Hyde stopped raging for a moment. "That wasn't me," he said.
"What? So now you're saying there's someone else in here?" Jekyll hit the side of his head with the butt of his palm. "Hello! Who's in there?!" A sickly thin girl carrying a loaf of bread stared at him and gave him a wide berth as she passed.
"Henry!" Hyde snapped, "I'm serious!"
"There's you, there's me," Jekyll answered, "If it isn't me, it's you!" he began walking again.
"If it isn't me, it's you!" Hyde snapped. Jekyll clenched his teeth but didn't answer.
Upon entering the Nautilus he noticed it looked exceptionally empty. Normally members of the crew were everywhere, and Sawyer was cleaning his guns in the lower level.
"Excuse me," he caught a passing Indian, "Where are the others?"
"The captain is retrieving the crew and the others are at the police station."
"Still, why?" he asked.
"Didn't you hear?" the Indian said, "Mr. Skinner has been arrested.
