His Bliss

- II -

The one lingering hour turned into almost two. Ethan had shifted from the chair to next to the agent, his head leaning against Norman's shoulder. The rain had stopped, but it didn't lessen any pressure or stress the two men felt. Yet the agent couldn't bring himself to give a time he'd be leaving at. Instead of even thinking of when he needed to leave, an arm slowly slipping around the other's shoulders. He couldn't even begin to imagine how the father felt during all this, wishing he could do anything to help relieve any fears and doubt hidden in those sad, pale blue eyes. He wanted to stay the rest of the night, to help with whatever was in the shoebox on the desk. The fact that he already risked his job made it more tempting to help Ethan. He could keep him away from the police and get a better sense of who the killer was.

Something kept Norman from asking about it, as if something was restricting his tongue from forming the words. All he could do was sit next to the man and force himself to wait for another hour to pass before leaving. Ethan shifted, his face now buried into the agent's shoulder. All the comforting words he could say felt like lies and forced words. Silence felt truthful, as if it said the same words on the tip of his tongue. A buzz from his pocket jolted Norman out of the moment, though he kept still as he subtly checked the text.
Of course the captain would be asking for him, despite the fact that he and Lieutenant Blake weren't about to listen to his profile, in this moment.

"I have to go, but I can stop by again later tonight?"

Ethan lifted his head, blinking obvious tears away. The agent wanted to hold the man close and let him cry. But work called, standing with the feeling of weights trying to hold him down. He offered a card to the other, a comforting smile towards Ethan his silent 'goodbye'. He couldn't muster any words to form a better way to say farewell. As much as his heart yearned to stay, work needed him. Without another glance back, Norman forced himself to leave, pausing at the open door when he heard Ethan's voice.

"Thank you, Agent Jayden."

"Just doing my job, Mars. Good luck."