Chapter Four
Night One
Malcolm meets Edrisa back at his loft. She comes back carrying a duffel bag with some clothes from her apartment and a forlorn look on her face.
"Edrisa, what's wrong?" He asks immediately, picking up on her poor mood.
"I ran into the landlord and apparently the people fixing the plumbing found mold so now they have to call in another person to fix that before anyone can move back in. And on top of that, the plumber had to tear apart my wall to reach some of the pipes so now I have no wall and ceiling. Which means that pretty much everything I own is now here or in my car," she huffs falling onto the couch. She puts her head in her hands and rubs her face.
"I'm sorry that this is happening to you. If there's anything I can do to help, just let me know," Malcolm says sitting beside her on the couch.
"Do you have a time machine? I'd never live there if I would've known all of this was going to happen. Not that staying with you hasn't been awesome, because it is. I just, I lost some things that were really important to me in the water damage. Some things I can't replace," she says sadly clasping her hands and looking at the coffee table. Malcolm reaches out and takes her hand, rubbing his thumb against the back of her hand.
"Anything you want to talk about, I'm here," he says honestly. She smiles a watery smile at him.
"Maybe one day. But not tonight, okay?" She asks. He smiles reassuringly.
"We don't have to go out tonight Edrisa, we can reschedule," Malcolm promises. To his surprise she shoots up and swiftly grabs her bag.
"Oh no, I am definitely going out tonight. I need to get plastered after today," she says enthusiastically. Malcolm chuckles.
"I won't get too drunk though! The last thing you need is a super drunk me. I'm never getting that drunk again! I woke up on the roof of the campus library dressed like Elvira with a million karaoke videos of me singing Lady Gaga's 'Bad Romance'," Edrisa said shaking her head in horror.
Malcolm laughed a fully body shaking laugh. And decided he definitely wouldn't mind a drunken Edrisa Tanaka.
Edrisa smiled at him as he caught his breath.
"What?" He asked at her continued stare.
"I've just never heard you laugh like that before. It was nice," she says, retreating to the bathroom to get ready.
He stares after her. She was right, he really couldn't remember the last time he laughed like that either.
He shook the thoughts from his head and hurried to his bedroom to get ready while Edrisa was in the bathroom. His loft allowed little privacy so he had to dress fast unless he wanted to surprise Edrisa with his mostly naked self.
—
Edrisa shut the bathroom door and stood in the room for a moment basking in the afterglow of Malcolm's laugh. It was an odd thing to find such pleasure in a simple act like laughing, but she did. Malcolm's laugh made her whole day ten times better.
She thought up new ways to make him laugh as she pulled on her bar attire and did her hair. Part of her also wanted to prove to everyone she wasn't just 'Dr. Tanaka: mortician.' She was also 'Edrisa Tanaka: badass woman.'
So with that thought in mind, she went all out. She curled her hair into beach waves. She applied natural looking makeup with a bold lipstick. And topped it all off with a very flattering black dress. It was mid-thigh length with a v-neck and shoulder straps. She dressed it down a bit with a black jacket and black high boots. The dress itself was maybe over the top, but with the jacket and boots she could easily fit into a bar or club setting.
She also ditched her glasses for contacts and threw in some earrings.
By the end of her makeover, even Edrisa had to admit that she looked good.
She took a deep breath and looked in the mirror one last time.
"I am brilliant. I am beautiful."
"I am brilliant. I am beautiful."
"I am brilliant. I am beautiful."
She repeated her mantra until she felt confident enough to grab her purse and open the bathroom door.
Malcolm was slipping his own black jacket over a dark grey button up when she opened the door.
"Wow! Edrisa, you look-you look beautiful," Malcolm compliments with wide eyes.
Edrisa feels her face heat up.
"You look handsome yourself, Bright," Edrisa admires. Malcolm had dark jeans to compliment his grey button up and jacket. His slicked back hair falls a bit looser around his face in beautiful chaos. Much like his entire being, beautifully chaotic Malcolm Bright.
"Shall we?" Malcolm asks, gesturing to the door. Edrisa dips her head in acknowledgment and follows his lead. He holds the door open for Edrisa and they take a cab to their meeting place.
When they make it to the bar, the night is in full swing.
"Dani," Malcolm greets the detective first. She's sitting at the bar in a shimmery gold top with black leather pants and ankle boots.
"Malcolm," she acknowledges back with a smile. Her eyes widen a bit in surprise when she notices Malcolms arm guiding a nervous Edrisa.
"And Edrisa!" she says failing to keep some of the surprise out of her voice. Malcolm internally winces. It looks like Dani hadn't checked the last text message he sent.
"Hello Detective Powell, it's nice to see you outside of a crime scene. Not that I don't enjoy seeing you at a crime scene! I just mean- you look lovely," Edrisa stumbled. Dani smiled at her.
Gil and JT were returning from the pool table with a glass of beer each.
"Dr. Tanaka! Glad you could join us," Gil says without missing a beat. Malcolm actually called him beforehand.
"Yea, nice to see you Edrisa," JT adds, a little less enthusiastic but it was progress Malcolm was happy to see.
"Thank you for inviting me! It's great to see everyone," Edrisa says with a smile. Malcolm can sense her tension and gently presses his hand into the small of her back in reassurance.
"Please, have a seat," Malcolm tells her, pulling a stool out for the doctor. Edrisa silently takes the seat offered, right beside Dani.
"So, Edrisa, how has your night been?" Dani asks. Edrisa shudders a bit at the reminder of everything. Malcolm notices.
"It's been fine! You know, same things with different days," Edrisa responses with a complete carefree air. It takes Malcolm back a bit. He knew she was obviously lying if her little breakdown before coming was of any indication.
"How about you? How has your day been?" Edrisa asks Dani while flagging down the bartender.
They continue making small talk for nearly half an hour. Each member of the team interjects where they can. Well, all except Edrisa for once.
She only speaks when addressed after a lengthy amount of silence. Otherwise she nods in agreement or gives some other form of acknowledgement.
Malcolm notices her restraint and tries not to look too much into it. But his profiler brain isn't something he can shut off. Edrisa is barely hanging onto sobriety after downing an assortment of drinks, Malcolm lost count around five, and she keeps glancing around the crowded pub. While she appears to be enjoying herself, Malcolm can tell she's mapped out multiple escape routes if needed.
"Well, I think I'm about ready for another round of pool. Gil?" JT interjects. Gil nods his agreement after taking a sip of his water. He had tapped out of alcohol a while ago, pain medication for his surgery and all.
"Oh! I love pool!" Edrisa exclaims stumbling off her stool. Malcolm reaches out to catch her, but she's quick on her feet.
"Really?" Dani asks in interest.
"Oh yea! I lived in Ohio for a while and there wasn't much to do aside from farming and playing pool," Edrisa says with a chuckle.
JT shrugs his shoulders and Gil heads to set up the table.
"Okay, I'll take Edrisa's team then," Dani says, joining the group.
Malcolm marks that as a win.
"Oh yea, boys versus girls!" Edrisa says attempting to fist bump Dani.
"Or men versus women," Edrisa corrects, retracting her hand after Dani looked at her like she had two heads.
They take their positions, Dani and Edrisa on one end with JT and Gil on the other.
"Ladies first?" JT offers.
"You'll regret offering that one," Edrisa chuckles, downing the last of her drink. Dani watches her amused and gestures for her to continue on.
Edrisa breaks the set and begins to pot the solids. She sinks the first one with ease, then the second and third and fourth and fifth. The sixth she has to maneuver a bit which earns a whistle from JT when she sinks that one too. Then the seventh has Gil shaking his head and muttering "there's no way she gets this one." Sure enough, it's in.
By the eighth and final ball, a small crowd has formed to watch.
Edrisa stops for a moment, the first break she's taken since beginning. She studies the table and Malcolm recognizes that analytical gaze. The eight ball is perfectly positioned next to a pocket, but there is a striped ball blocking the entrance. It's a one-in-a-million shot of getting the eight ball in without hitting the striped one and losing.
"That's too bad honey, you were on fire for a moment there," a man from Edrisa's right calls. Malcolm shoots the guy a look, as does the rest of the team. Edrisa pays him no attention.
She walks up to the edge of the table and leans against it. The angle must not line up with however she's thinking because soon she's hopping up onto the edge of the table.
"Woah! Edrisa!" JT calls as the woman sits up on her knees and leans over the table. Malcolm thanks her small stature for allowing her dress to cover her well. Being extra cautious he sees Dani move over to potentially cover her, glaring down the group of, mainly, men that have gathered to watch. He stands right next to Dani, partly to assist and partly to catch the drunken doctor if she were to fall from her delicate position.
Edrisa huffs a bit as hair falls into her face, she blows at the strands and positions her cue. Lining up the shot she drives the stick down. The impact hits the side of the ball, causing it to spin in a semicircular position around the striped ball and into the pocket. She made the shot.
The entire bar erupts in cheers. JT and Gil share mirroring looks of shock. Edrisa squeaks a "yes!"
She tips a bit to the side and Malcolm is quick to catch her. He holds her for a moment, bridal style, as she holds the side of her head with a grimace.
"'Edrisa? Are you okay?" he asks with concern layering his voice. She nods once and winces harder.
"I'm 'ine, I 'ink I jus' drank too 'uch," she slurs dropping her que. JT an Gil come over.
"That was insane Edrisa!" JT admonishes.
The doctor chuckles and pushes out from Malcolms hold. He helps her down. She rounds on JT and pokes his right in the chest.
"I 'old you-you'd regret 'etting me go 'irst," she says with a smile. JT chuckles a bit and pats her shoulder.
"It was fun having you here kid, but I think its time to go home," Gil says to both Edrisa and Malcolm.
"Home! Haha, I 'on't have wunna those 'ight now," Edrisa chuckles. Dani and JT looks at her concerned.
"Edrisa's staying with me while her apartment undergoes some construction," Malcolm explains grabbing Edrisa's purse off her shoulder and putting a steady arm around her waist.
"U-huh! Best 'oomie e'ver!" Edrisa hiccups hugging Malcolms side. He chuckles and uses his hand to rub her arm soothingly.
"Do you need any help? Or-" Dani asks gesturing to Edrisa overall.
"I think we're good! She might need some time off tomorrow though," Malcolm says looking at Gil. The older man chuckles.
"I don't want to see either of you in before 10:00am," Gil says pointedly. Malcolm sighs but doesn't object.
"But I wanna see you again," Edrisa pouts. Gil looks at her mildly amused.
"We will see you again Edrisa. But you need to go home with Bright now," Gil says.
"Okay, I'll go home with Mal'. Not go home with Mal', just go hom-you kow," Edrisa admonishes with a faint blush.
"Have a good night you guys," Dani calls as Malcolm steers Edrisa towards the exit.
"Yea, and I'm calling a rematch for next time," JT adds. Edrisa breaks out into a smile and looks at Malcolm with so much excitement in her eyes he has to smile back.
"There 'll be a next time?" she asks with so much hope that his smile cracks just a bit.
"Of course there will be a next time Edrisa," Malcolm promises. She smiles and giggles before her legs give out. Malcolm carries her the rest of the way to an uber he called a few minutes prior.
She sleeps on the ride there, head resting against Malcolms shoulder. He's surprised at how natural these new touches have become to him. He was a bit of a contact-phobe, but after being with Edrisa so much more lately, he's broken down a bit.
They arrive back to his loft quickly and he helps Edrisa out of the car. She falters when they reach the stairs, pitching forward. He grabs her and she moans.
"That seventh one was too much," she whispers quietly. Malcolm holds her and gives an empathetic look.
"Here, hold onto me," he says, picking her up again.
"Haha, I 'magined you saying that 'nder different circumstances," she chuckles. Malcolm quirks an eyebrow up at her and she seems to sober a bit.
"Platonic circumstances," she adds.
Malcolm decides she won't remember anything in the morning so he continues up to his o=loft in silence. Edrisa buries her face in his neck, silent the whole way. When they finally make it up to the loft Malcolm has to maneuver to get the door open and heads straight to the couch. Edrisa stays latched on to him.
"Hey, Edrisa, I need to put you down so I can get you some medicine and water," Malcolm whispers. She hugs him tighter, not wanting to let go.
"I promise, I'll be right back," Malcolm adds. Edrisa huffs and lets go.
"That's what they always say, but they lie," Edrisa mumbles turning into the couch. Malcolm files that information away for later and is quick to find a glass of water and some heavy painkillers to take the edge off.
"See, I promised you I'd come back," Malcolm says sitting on the coffee table and stirring Edrisa. She looks at him surprised, but takes the offered water.
He holds out the two white pills and she looks at him skeptically.
"Edrisa, what's wrong?" Malcolm asks softly. She timidly takes the pill from his hand and studies his face, pill resting in her palm.
"I'm worried about you," she says in a vulnerable and honest voice. Malcolm feels his facade crumble.
"W-why are you worried about me, Edrisa?" Malcolm asks nervously.
"You're hurting. You don't think anyone notices, but I notice," she says simply and takes the pill.
Malcolm falters on what to say, but she continues "and I know you haven't been taking your pills."
Then Malcolm feels his entire face shut down.
"I-I wasn't snooping. I was just putting things away 'cause I didn't wanna be a nuisance and I saw them," Edrisa says softly. Her eyes are a bit heavy after the pill.
"I am a doctor you know. You can 'alk to me," Edrisa says. Malcolm flinches involuntarily when she cups his cheek.
"No one should be alone," she says staring straight into his eyes. Malcolm gets out of having to respond because she promptly passes out.
Malcolm sits for a long time on the coffee table staring at Edrisa. The doctor surprised him, in many ways.
He made sure she was turned on her side and covered her with a blanket. He filled her glass of water and left a bucket beside the couch. The process from the time Edrisa fell asleep to then took about 20 minutes and the doctor shot up awake.
"Edrisa? Are you-" Malcolm watches from the kitchen as the doctor runs straight into the bathroom. The sounds emitting from the room confirms his suspicions.
Malcolm follows into the bathroom, wetting a rag from the top self. He bends down to lay the rag against the back of Edrisa's heated neck and pulls her hair up from her face.
"Ugh, this is embarrassing," she moans. Malcolms happy to note she sounds much clearer than before.
"It happens," he says shrugging and settling onto the floor.
"But the goal was to not end up black-out drunk on Malcolm Brights floor," she mumbles leaning heavily against the seat.
"You've had a rough few days. I'm just glad you had fun," Malcolm says honestly. She looks at him, causing him to lose his grip on her hair.
She brushes it back and nods, grabbing onto the lid of the toilet and sink to hoist herself up. Malcolms beside her the whole way.
"I need a shower and my toothbrush," Edrisa says fumbling around the room to locate her bag. Malcolm looks around and sees that she really had straightened the room up. Her bag was tucked on the bottom shelf of the closet with the rest of her belongings. His haphazardly thrown items were now organized for easy access. While she retrieved her bag, he hesitantly opened the cupboard above the sink. As he anticipated, his pill bottles still stood lined up as he had left them weeks ago.
Malcolm wasn't dumb. He knew he should continue to take his prescriptions. But he hadn't had an appointment with his therapist since Endicott and knew he would have to see her again for refills. Since his pills aren't SSRIs…. He decided to just use them sparingly. Then after everything else he just stopped. He didn't mean to, it just happened.
"Found it!" Edrisa called holding up a toothbrush container and shampoo. Malcolm reached beside the bottles and pulled out the toothpaste for her to borrow.
"You don't have to pack everything away Edrisa, this bathroom is definitely big enough for your stuff too," Malcolm promises. Edrisa looks at him startled.
"I-I didn't want to invade your space more than I already have. Or privacy," she says glancing at the cupboard. Malcolm winces at his own faults, but looks at her sincerely.
"I want you to feel welcome here Edrisa," Malcolm says, taking the toothbrush from her and putting it in the holder beside his own. She smiles softly at the brushes.
"I'll let you shower if you feel okay," Malcolm says cautiously.
"Yep," she says, immediately shedding her jacket and leaning down to remove her boots. She gets down to just her dress when Malcolm collects himself and leaves before she can go any farther.
Malcolm makes tea while Edrisa is in the shower. He hears mild crashes while she's in there and is relieved when she comes back out in one piece. He's surprised to see her in his Harvard hoodie but wearing a pair of her shorts instead of his sweatpants. Her hair is also pulled up into a small knot on top of her head, glasses framing her face.
"Hi," she says sheepishly, swinging her arms around her body.
"Hi," he responds.
"Thank you. For helping me tonight," she says sitting on the couch and grabbing the water glass he left.
"Of course Edrisa," he says, moving to join her.
"And I'm sorry, about some things I said earlier. I-I shouldn't have invaded your privacy like that," she admits.
Malcolm makes a move that surprises them both, he reaches for her hand.
"You did nothing wrong. You were worried and you had every right to. I'll admit I haven't been myself here recently and….I'm working on it," he promises. Edrisa immediately relaxes and lets out a crackled sob.
Malcolm is surprised by her reaction and pulls her into his chest.
"I was worried you'd be mad at me and wouldn't want to be friends anymore," she cries. Malcolm holds her. She cries for a bit before her sobs are reduced to hiccups.
"You're my only real friend. I didn't have anywhere to go and you've been so nice and this whole week has been so hard. My mom got worse and jinx died then my apartment and her paintings were ruined and my laptop was destroyed and...its all so much. This week has been too much," Edrisa cries. Malcolm holds her and listens.
A few minutes later she falls asleep, curled into Malcolm with his shirt clutched in her fist.
He sighs and gently removes her glasses from her face. He smoothes her hair back from her face and pulls the blanket up over her shoulders. If he really wanted to, he could move her and go to bed. But instead he reaches for the remote and turns on Netflix again. His friend needed comfort and support.
Besides, sleep was overrated.