"What on God's green earth were you thinking!" Kurt was livid. In fact he was more than livid; he was just about ready to explode with rage. He was on the war path and Magnus was in the dead center of it. "What, did you think you were going to just take a little nap in the middle of the investigation!"

Kurt slammed the door of their little room, the sound vibrated through the whole of the inn. The drive back had been uncomfortable to say the least. After putting an APB out on the suspect, the drive mostly consisted of Magnus futilely attempting to become smaller in the passenger's seat while Kurt mumbled a wide variety of explicatives to himself. It seemed that it was just a warm-up for the chewing out Magnus was receiving now. "How many times have I told you to stay focused on the job!" continued Kurt.

"I'm sorry," was Magnus's attempt to try to get a word in but this only received a contemptuous sneer from the other man.

"Sorry?" Kurt repeated. "Sorry isn't going to cut it if the suspect has a gun in his hand! What if he did have a weapon? What if he decided to pick you off because you were such an easy target?"

There was no response to that. In fact, Magnus felt he could do nothing more than drop down on the chair and hang his head in shame. "We could have had him and you let that punk slip right through your fingers without so much as reaching for him." Magnus brought up a hand and entangled it in his curly mop, leaning his elbow heavily on the table for support. "What if he is the murderer, which since he ran is highly likely. What if he kills again? Are you ready to have that hanging on your head?" Magnus brought his other hand up. His head was feeling so tight. "Maybe you're not fit for duty! Maybe I should just take you off the case right now!"

That was the final straw. "She's in pain!" Magnus cried out, his voice cracking violently on the last word.

The declaration threw Kurt off his track completely. "What?" was all he could think to say.

"The other day, you had asked about my mother. She's in pain." The repeated words now sounded small and defeated. "It's why I haven't been sleeping, it's why I lost focus, it's why…" he trailed off, his voice hitching with the rush of words. He let out a strained sigh in an attempt to compose himself before he continued.

"Oh" was Kurt's only reply. All of the gusto had suddenly flown out of his earlier tirade. Magnus's mother had cancer; that was well known amongst the team. He had often used his sick or personal days to take care of her. Thinking back, Kurt couldn't really remember when the kid had used one of those days for himself.

Finally the young man was able to press on. "She's been suffering for a while now. The doctors keep trying different treatments but none of them are working anymore." Magnus sat back and let his arms hang in his lap. He looked up and away from Kurt but the seasoned detective only needed a glimpse to notice the tears the other man was so desperately trying to hold back. "It's just me and my mum really. My dad buggered off when I was seven. But… I haven't gone to see her lately. I know I should it's just… it's really hard. The lack of sleep I can deal with, reminds me of college, but when I saw Tracy and Mrs. Malon I couldn't… I don't know." He finished, throwing his hands up as if in surrender. He then stood up and turned to look out the window hunching over the sill as he did so.

The room descended into silence. Kurt looked the young man over with a keen eye. Despite Kurt's own nickname for him, Magnus was a fully grown adult. Still, he was far too young to lose both parents. And to have to watch someone he loved deteriorate into nothing was, well it was hell. Kurt was all too familiar with how that felt. He suddenly found himself with a strange urge to comfort his partner. That sort of thing had never come natural to him but he decided to plow through it anyway. "Look," he said, "I'm not an expert on parents. I've got a father who I'm not even sure likes me, but mothers are different, I think. I'm sure she understands."

As soon as he said the words Magnus's features clouded over with a sudden intensity that was terrifying. "She shouldn't have to!" he cried slamming his fist down on the window pane so hard Kurt was afraid he might crack it.

Fantastic! thought Kurt, maybe I should just staple my mouth shut and we'd all be better off.

But as fast as it had come the anger had passed and it appeared as though a sudden epiphany had dawned on Magnus. "You're probably right though," he said and he turned his head to look at Kurt. "She would understand," he then offered up a small wistful smile. The pain was still present in his eyes and the weariness still evident in his stance, but he seemed calmer now. More relaxed than he had been at the start of the trip.

The two men stayed in silence long enough for Kurt to begin to feel awkward. "Listen, I'm going to take a shower," he stated. "Why don't you see what you can find out about that Tourneau kid."

"Yeah alright," replied Magnus.

"And Magnus," Kurt called as he looked back at him from the bathroom door, "get some sleep will ya. You're no good to anyone if you fall over." With that Kurt closed the door and relished in his much needed alone time. He had been getting used to solitary life he had been leading since his divorce. Having a roommate again was a little more draining than he remembered. He felt for the kid, he really did. Still, even though he had been angry he had meant what he said earlier; if Magnus kept loosing focus he would be putting himself in danger. Despite the fact that Kurt often gave him a hard time, the kid really was a fine detective, and Kurt would be damned if he lost him to something as mundane a sleep deprivation. He just hoped the stubborn-headed Magnus would listen to him for once.

Okay I was hoping to get this story finished before school started but that doesn't look like it's going to happen. I don't want to rush it though so the chapters might be coming a little less frequently than before. I am still fully committed to this story. I am very excited with how this turning out so I won't leave you guys hanging.

As always reviews are always welcome. I am always looking for a chance to improve my skill.