Open Case File [COMPLETED]

No Turning Back (Part 3)

"Did you ever... Did she ever think of... Of telling me?"

"Every single minute," Mason said. "If we hadn't known you were being closely watched, we would have but... You and Kennedy were still in danger."

Donovan nodded and contemplated his almost empty mug. Mason didn't say anything. What was there to say? Carter might have done everything to protect her family but in doing so had, in a way, broken them. Broken him.

"You know..." Donovan glanced at Mason, waiting for the end of that sentence. "It killed her. Every day she wasn't with you, Kennedy. It killed her like her death... impacted you."

Donovan nodded again but Mason sensed that he might not believe him. Knowing Owens, Mason figured she hadn't shown him what Mason had seen every day, the frustration, the guilt, the homesickness, the fear, the sadness.

"I'm going to say this," Mason said. "Because you might not think of it. But it... It might help if you had someone to talk to. Though I love your wife-"

Donovan jerked his head up and Mason held up his hands, leaning back. "Okay, rephrasing that, though I mildly tolerate your wife, revisiting what she put you through isn't something she's going to know how to do. Though she'd never admit it, and I'm loath to do so, we're somewhat similar."

At this, Donovan raised his eyebrows mockingly and Mason felt a strange sensation of hope at that look. The extremely annoying man he slightly disliked for being so perfect was still there somewhere.

That was reassuring.

For Owens, not himself. If Donovan was less than that would be relieving...

No it wouldn't. He wanted that annoying perfect version of Donovan back just as much as Owens, even if it was so he could make fun of him to Carter.

"Okay," Mason said. "We're extremely similar. That's why I know it might help if you talked to someone. Neither of us know what you faced. I saw you... But I knew Owens wasn't... I knew the truth. I can't imagine how hard it was for you. And maybe having someone to listen to could help. It's a thought."

It was the only good thought Mason had. He hadn't been trained or equipped with how to handle the husband of the person you helped fake their death. There was no handbook for that.

Donovan studied Mason for a long while. "Mason Douglas suggesting I go therapy."

"Yeah, I know. These last two months have changed us all."

Despite Mason's joking tone, Donovan sobered and the glimpse of his former self seemed to vanish. They sat there, neither saying anything for a long while.

"Thank you, Mason," Donovan said.

"I'm sorry. I'm sorry we couldn't find another way."

Donovan nodded and then stood. Mason followed him as he headed towards the front door. After opening it, Donovan paused, halfway out. He looked back at Mason.

"Thinking of punching me?" Mason asked.

"No. You tried to tell me... To encourage me not to give up and... Thank you for trying."

"I'm sorry I couldn't tell you."

"You did what you had to. I'm glad... I'm glad she wasn't alone."

Donovan left and Mason closed the door behind him. Dragging his hand through his hair, he returned to the living room and sank onto the armchair.

He hadn't been punched but somehow, as Mason sat there, he left it would have hurt less than the pain of seeing Donovan still a shadow of himself.

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Whatto... Yeah my mind is blanking on a nickname for you, some strange dessert or animal that could be insulting but because it's coming from a place of love is, in fact, endearing.

Now here's the spot where I ask you to leave your thoughts. 💬🗯💭

Wow makes it sound like I'm giving a museum tour!

And up ahead we have a collection of Joymoment acting completely bonkers while still managing to make you smile even though she makes zero sense.

Following that is a comment about the chapter and the interesting dynamic between Mason and Donovan which slowly dissolves into a question about life and whether Joy is insane or merely genius because she doesn't control her characters.

The next room holds utter chaos of the postmodern variety where the brain cells are stretched to their breaking point as they try to untangle the string of random thought that has proceeded from the mind of the author.

As you leave through the gift shop, don't forget to purchase a vote, comment, follow.

As always, we hope you've enjoyed your tour through the Author's Note museum. Do come again, this author is always opening up new exhibits.

😂 okay that was kinda fun, don't know if you enjoyed it but if you didn't clearly I was doing something right because most museum tours are a bit pokey in pace.

Comments that I loved from the previous chapter: Making It Right

Haha gosh I have that feeling a lot

I never realized this but it's so true, an ex is always the bad guy for some reason.

Because Donovan is a puppy needing some love.