My unicorn got run over by a tractor

Frankly, when Duke's phone actually rang instead of going to voicemail, it was never good. So he could maybe be forgiven for digging it out of his pocket and squinting at it sideways like it might attack him.

The name on the caller ID didn't help.

"Nathan," he said, through faintly clenched teeth, staring out over the water where he stood at the gunwhale on the deck of the Rouge. "To what do I owe this pleasure?"

The conversation was short, since Nathan was anything but chatty. Duke's expression went from annoyed to distressed, then to sort of a resigned depression.

"Don't do anything," he said, all but biting off the words. "Please. I'm heading up, I'll take care of it."

Another few moments of listening to the other end.

"Thanks."

He hung up and stared at his phone for a long moment, then wound up as though to pitch it into the water before just jamming it back in his pocket with a hissed curse.

( And so the next canon catchup begins! )

[Adapted from episode 4x07, "Lay Me Down", and preplayed with the inimitable my_own_advocate and okteiviakom, who have both been INCREDIBLY PATIENT with my general lack of brain since last fall. I love them dearly. LET'S TRAUMATIZE OUR CHARACTERS, WOOOO!>

[also, phone call fine for broadcast, the rest NFB due to distance, natch. NFI, OOC welcome.]