Disclaimer- I don't own them but tell me don't these two just seem to belong together?
Peter woke early and slipped out of the apartment, he didn't want to talk to Slokum, but thought he should get it out of the way before Garret finished at Renee's office and showed up at the morgue.
He waited by the window near the reception desk for Dr. Slokum to show up, rehearsing what he would say to the man, knowing full well that he would receive, at best, complete silence as an answer. More likely Slokum would feel the need to reestablish his dominance over the morgue, attempting to reduce Peter to a nonentity by trying to embarrass him further in public. 'Stay cool, Winslow. This is not going to touch you.' He tried to psych himself for whatever Slokum decided to hit him with.
The elevator doors opened behind him as he watched a young bird fight the downdraft off the buildings trying to land on the opposite roof. 'I know the feeling, pal', he thought as the bird struggled.
"Good morning, Dr. Slokum." He heard the receptionist say and turned to see the man strutting across the reception area.
Peter caught up to him before he reached the doors leading into the morgue proper.
"Dr. Slokum?" He said, the man turning and beginning to sneer as he recognized Peter.
"Ah, the junkie doctor returns, didn't feel you'd had the final word yesterday, Doctor." Slokum's voice grated across Peter's nerves and he swallowed down the flash of anger and answered calmly and evenly.
"No sir, I came to make amends for my behavior yesterday. My treatment of you was very belittling of your authority and standing with your staff. I am sorry for any harm I may have caused, sir." Peter steeled himself for the diatribe he was certain would come and was amazed to see a light of sympathy in the shorter man's eyes.
"Would you join me in my office, Dr. Winslow?" Peter was surprised to hear his title spoken without disdain by the man.
He nodded and followed Slokum to the door, which now had a keypad lock. The interim chief punched in his code and held the door for Peter, then preceded him to the office that had been Garret's. Peter entered behind Slokum wondering why he would invite Peter to his office instead of reaming him out publicly. The older man shut the door behind Peter and motioned for him to sit down.
"Would you like a cup of coffee, Dr. Winslow?" Slokum asked.
"No thank you, sir." Peter tried to imagine what motive Slokum could have for this abrupt change in demeanor.
"I'll imagine that public apology took a great deal of practice." Slokum said evenly, Peter raised an eyebrow at the man's calm look. "Making amends hurts like hell sometimes, doesn't it? Especially when you were only reacting to provocation."
Peter gaped at the man. 'What the hell?' He thought.
Slokum reached in his pocket and pulled out a small metal disc, laying it on the coffee table he sat back and said, "Twelve years. How many for you?"
Peter suddenly realized what was happening and looked over at the man. "In three weeks it will be one year, sir."
"Congratulations son, that was my hardest one. I failed twice before I made it." He looked Peter over and continued. "I'm the one who should be making amends, Peter. I am an arrogant prick and I know it. I felt threatened because you were here under Macy's tenure and I don't want any breath of mutiny to creep into this place. I'm not in a very tenable position here; Macy was quite popular and has been missed by all of the staff."
Slokum stood and walked to the window. "I'm not a likable person, I can't lead through a cult of the personality, so I use the tools I have. Having to choose, I chose fear and intimidation. Not very admirable I know, but there it is. I am very sorry for my behavior and also for that fact that I am unable to make a public apology for that behavior, but I hope you will understand and accept a private one." He turned to Peter and smiled, actually a very pleasant smile, before again assuming the facade of a cocksure arrogant little asshole. "Now about that job, Doctor."
"I'm not here for a job, sir." Peter began.
"I assume that you either therefore are already employed or are independently wealthy?"
"Neither, sir." Peter answered.
"Then we'll consider your old application as still in effect. You'll be a rehire and therefore the process won't take more than a day or so. If you'll fax me your current resume, I'll start the paperwork and expect you to report for work Monday morning. Good day, Doctor." He opened the door and motioned Peter out, closing it behind him.
Peter stood in the hall trying to understand what had just happened. As he went over the entire conversation, he heard his name called, turning he saw Bug and Nigel motioning him to their joint office. As he entered, he found himself engulfed by the arms of the lanky Brit.
"Peter, what wind blew you back to our doorstep?" Nigel asked after releasing him.
"I think I just got my job back." Peter said astonished at the haircut Nigel was sporting. It appeared Slokum had even managed to suppress the normally ebullient ex soldier.
"Say what?" Nigel said.
"Yeah, I came in to apologize for yesterday and he pretty much made me take a job." Peter was still in shock over Slokum's action.
"So you ream him out and he hires you?" Nigel said. "Perhaps I've been using the wrong tactics."
Peter perched on the edge of Nigel's desk as Lily entered and gave Peter a hug. He noticed the look that passed between Nigel and Bug, realizing they thought there was something between him and Lily. They'd be surprised when they learned which former coworker had Peter's full attention, if Garret followed through on last night and told all his friends.
"So, where did you disappear to, my lad?" Nigel asked.
"Drug rehab in San Francisco." Peter answered honestly. "Then a halfway house and a job with their ME's office."
"So you've been fighting the good fight out there and being a thorn in their flesh, eh?" Peter grinned; Nigel's wry and twisted humor had been another thing he'd missed.
"Yeah, I just got back to town early yesterday morning." Peter slipped an arm around Lily as she sat beside him and Nigel arched an eyebrow.
"Home to Mater and Pater and the comforts of wealth and privilege." Nigel tweaked him.
"No I haven't seen my parents and am not likely to, my stepfather's not too fond of having an addict in the family." Peter immediately wished he said anything else when he saw the looks of sympathy. "Relax guys; I'm not worried about it. They'll come around or they won't. I'll still be me."
He grinned as Jordan entered the area and announced that Garret wouldn't be returning. Peter tried not to smile, knowing the surprise in store for the crew. It became easier to contain his amusement when Jordan went head to head with Slokum before being rushed off by Sydney.
After Slokum left the room, the group burst out laughing at Jordan's long awaited blow up at Slokum. Peter didn't join in, having a new insight into the man and understanding the pressure he felt. Suddenly, there was a buzz of conversation down the hall that drew their attention and they all looked to see Garret strutting toward autopsy one where Slokum was working on Oliver Titleman's stepfather.
Peter stuck around only long enough to learn that Garret would be working on the case and then slipped away to drive to his parents home and drop his own little bomb on them. He thought perhaps first he would visit his older sister Marta and talk things over with her. He was fairly sure she would take his revelation in stride and having a pleasant conversation before seeing his parents would help.