Jack McPhee sat in his living room, after successfully putting his goddaughter to sleep. It had taken awhile to get her bathed and dressed, then a lot of effort to get her to stay put in her pink room and princess bed. The funny thing was, tonight had been the easiest night of all. Now Jack McPhee was not a drinker, but tonight he took comfort in his Jack Daniel and cokes, letting it ease his discomfit. He disliked how much he had let Pacey down and was rather upset with Doug for how he had treated Pacey, dismissing his own brother's worry with an offhanded manner.
When Jack heard the door open and keys drop in the metallic basket, he placed his empty glass on the table next to his current sitting position. Jack jumped, when the lights flicked on, considering him lucky that he had already placed the glass down. Doug meandered into the quaint kitchen, opening the fridge. Jack stayed silent in a rather determined manner. When Doug turned around, with a Tupperware container in his hands, his eyes widened with surprise.
"Hey" Doug murmured, placing the container on the bench. Jack gave a slight inclination of his head, but offered nothing more than an acknowledgement of his partner's presence. Doug walked over to the living room, sitting opposite Jack. He pursed his lips, unsure what to say. Jack sighed and stood up, taking with him the empty glass. He placed it carefully in the sink and did not rinse it out, which was most unlike him.
"I don't suppose you want to talk to me?" Doug asked, not looking at Jack.
"I am disappointed" Jack admitted, standing in front of the sink. Doug turned around in his chair, to watch Jack.
"How you treated Pacey" Jack continued, "Was harsh. He's your brother"
"I'm aware of that" Doug huffed.
"As his brother," He sighed, "You should have been there for him, even if there was nothing you could do for him as an officer"
Doug shrugged, which Jack only caught out of the corner of his eyes. He was refusing to look at Doug, for fear he would say something that he would later regret. Every single word he had uttered had been carefully thought through and carefully spoken.
"Do you care?" Jack asked, raising his head with a look of disgust twisting his face.
"Of course" Doug said, "But Joey will turn up"
Jack remained silent for a moment, looking at the man he loved. In that second, he felt no love or admiration for Doug. He felt, in some odd way betrayed. As if Doug had morphed into an animal, or something equally as unlikely. Maybe, in a sense he had become someone that Jack was unsure of, because this had been the first time Doug had acted like this. So unexplainably detached.
"Dead" Jack spat, "Or alive?"
Doug looked at him, with an interesting expression on his face. Without another word, he stood up and moved towards the bedroom.
"No" Jack muttered firmly, "You can take the couch"
"Then leave" Doug shrugged, motioning to the kitchen and living room.
Jack looked at him with annoyance but did indeed leave. He walked past Doug and shut the bedroom door, right in Doug's face.
"I need my things" Doug called out, attempting to open the door. There was no reply, so Doug plopped on the couch feeling defeated.
The door burst open and with it came a tumble of clothes and toiletries, then a slam of the door closing once moor.
"There" Jack called out.