Post by Nathan Cross on Jul 22, 2021 13:22:21 GMT
'Maybe, but we could have helped you figure out a way to prevent it from happening again.'
Nate didn't respond to that, only shook his head to himself. Whereas he knew where TJ was coming from, it wasn't as easy as that. It wouldn't have been something he allowed because that worry was too great, the paranoia too strong. He had been trying to protect Penny, he had been trying to protect them all. And now he had to live with them hating him for it.
As Teej called Scott the "angry Jersian", there came a tired huff of a laugh through his nose. "Yeah, that one," he answered. "It's a wild theory, he admitted, but now...I can't get the idea outta my head." Was it really that ridiculous of an idea? Nate watched TJ casually lean there against the desk and look over Mike's file, and he couldn't help but wonder if he agreed.
"Yeah-" Nate started to answer about the captain. "Told me I was taking too many risks, that I'm a liability, but, I'm sorry...I'm not a fucking traffic cop, okay? The task force is supposed to be taking those risks. So no one else has to." He was angry again, but not at the man beside him. It was more frustration than anything with this entire situation.
Leaning forward, his elbows rested on his thighs as he buried his face into his hands. This day just felt longer than it needed to, and on top of it, he was wondering if he was acting crazy for latching onto something Scotty said and probably didn't entirely mean. The man was just talking, it could have just been nonsense. Still, the fact that TJ was still there, looking through the file, made him wonder all the more. Or, perhaps he was just hoping to still get Penny away from him.
Then, however, he was asking about who he could trust on the task force, and something about a connection. What was even happening right now?
"Ya think that would warrant a demotion?" There was that anger again, but it was at Burelson, it was more in disbelief than anything. "I swear to fuckin' God, Teej..." he murmured, unable to finish the verbal threat in regards to the captain. It probably wouldn't be a good idea. He was so damn tired and none of this was easing his paranoia at all. Still, it helped to have TJ looking over the file. In a way, it felt like old times...even if the man's motive for doing so was different and not to help him out. It was just to get Nate away from Penny.
Six bullets, seven holes. His gut twisted again but he held himself together. "They never did find it..." And that had never settled well with him. At all.
The sound of heels brought him out of his thoughts too, shifting his gaze from TJ who was watching whoever it was. It was when he noticed the change on his face did Nate rise up from his seat to peer over the top of the cubicle.
"Jeff? From accounting?" he said under his breath. Oh, of course that bothered him, if only because the man was a complete nerd, and the complete opposite of himself. He'd say that was a bad thing, but inwardly he wasn't so sure. He didn't know why TJ didn't seem to like him. So, because of that (and call it remnants of what bromance they once had), he leaned his arms casually on top of the cubicle walls to wave at Jeff in return. Maybe he'd know he was working with Pen, maybe he'd know he was her ex. The faint upturn of his mouth in a smirk was maybe a little too smug.
Of course, that disappeared the moment Penny came in.
He always joked that she cleaned up well, when in reality, she never had to. She was lovely even in what she wore to work. Still, he saw what she was wearing, and for some reason it felt like someone was stabbing him in the back.
"I remember that dress..." he muttered quietly; mainly to himself but TJ would be able to overhear. His demeanor immediately changed and he was about to withdraw back into himself as he wandered back to his chair.
He met Penny's lingering, questionable gaze after she scolded her brother, but he couldn't seem to say or do anything but watch her.
