Haven, Maine, over the weekend

[betterthanaplan]

The last time Octavia had been to Haven, she'd gotten arrested and Gloria had had to go yell at the Chief of police.

The last time Duke had been to Haven, he'd gotten arrested and Gloria had had to go yell at the Chief of police.

They could both be forgiven for being a little nervous pulling into the harbor now, even without the "let's go meet our mutual therapist in person" part of the deal.

[for one! NFB due to distance]

Comments

Re: BUT THEN!

[betterthanaplan]

Duke mouthed an apology at her.

This was what you got when you dated a compulsive fixer.

"I'll take you there. We can leave Nathan chained to the docks, I'm sure he'll be fine." He grinned at Audrey's response. "Ugh, fine. If you insist. But if he attacks again. . . ."

He was enjoying teasing Audrey. Which made for two cops now whose presence he might actually enjoy.

What was even happening to him?

Re: BUT THEN!

[okteiviakom]

Octavia only barely kept herself from motioning for him to wrap it up.

Instead, she moved to see about unchaining Nathan. Since that was apparently happening.

Re: BUT THEN!

[betterthanaplan]

"Yeah. We'll be here." Duke hung up and let out a breath. "Okay. Looks like we've got a little more trouble wrangling to do before we're done." He quirked a smile at Octavia. "We'll get back on the water as soon as we're done."

Nathan hmphed, straightening carefully once the chains were off, and warily eyeing Octavia.

"Did you really hit me with a plank?"

Re: BUT THEN!

[okteiviakom]

"Yes," Octavia said, as if it was obvious.

Re: BUT THEN!

[betterthanaplan]

"Doesn't hurt," Nathan muttered.

"Jesus, Nathan." Duke rolled his eyes. "We get it. You don't feel anything. It sucks. Move on."

Re: BUT THEN!

[okteiviakom]

Octavia wasn't going to touch that topic at all.

Instead, she looked up at Duke again. "So Audrey's coming to meet us?"

Re: BUT THEN!

[betterthanaplan]

"Yeah," Duke said. "She thinks the troubled woman and her husband might be hiding out on his boat."

"Lilly?" Nathan asked. Duke shrugged.

"I don't know, maybe?"

Nathan shook his head. "I don't know. That doesn't sound right."

Duke snorted. "Man, last time I talked to you, you didn't even think the troubles were a thing."

"Last time you talked to me, you were cuffed to an interview table."

Re: BUT THEN!

[okteiviakom]

That earned Nathan a sharper look.

"Do we have to reminisce right now?" she drawled.

Re: BUT THEN!

[betterthanaplan]

Nathan gave her a blank look in return.

Seriously, why did Duke have a thing for stoic, withholding people?

Fortunately, Audrey was coming down the dock again. "Everyone still in one piece?"

"Not for lack of trying," Duke said. "Our resident trouble wrangler here says he doesn't think it's Lilly."

"We saw it on the security tapes at the Freddy," Audrey said. "She played the piano, and everyone changed." She frowned at Nathan. "And you said she was playing at the Scupper."

"She was. But I didn't -- go blank until Ray started."

"Ray?" Audrey was already turning to rush back down the dock, Nathan hot on her heels. "We have to find that boat."

Duke watched her go and glanced at Octavia. "You can stay here, if you want. Haven's troubles aren't your problem."

Re: BUT THEN!

[okteiviakom]

"No," Octavia agreed. "But yours are."

Did that mean she was eager to join Audrey and Nathan.anyway, though? Not exactly.

Re: BUT THEN!

[betterthanaplan]

"It could be dangerous," Duke said. "You saw what happened to Nathan."

What Nathan had managed to goad Duke into doing.

Re: BUT THEN!

[okteiviakom]

Octavia's expression turned a fraction more wry. "And that's supposed to dissuade me?" she asked.

She did have a well-established track record of running towards danger, after all.

Re: BUT THEN!

[betterthanaplan]

Yeah, but Nathan had also managed to bleed on Duke, and he wasn't sure how he felt about the danger she was running towards being from him.

"Alright. Just . . . wanted to make sure."

"Are you two coming?" Audrey shouted from her car.

"Be right there, Officer Agent Parker!" Duke called back, getting a snort from her. He offered Octavia his hand. "Let's go solve a trouble."

Re: BUT THEN!

[okteiviakom]

Octavia had existing first-hand experience being in danger from him. She'd be careful to avoid it in the future, and was for damn sure not going to let that mean she would let him go into danger by himself.

(Sorry, Nathan and Audrey.)

She took his hand, but only to give it a quick squeeze. Then she let it go, and strode towards the car.

Time to solve a trouble.