One week later...
JUNE POV
Ever since Rick told me about his parents, I can't help but feel a bit more drawn to him. Not out of sympathy, but out of admiration. How he was so sorry for lying to me about his parents, trying to keep a strong figure in front of his parents grave in front of me.
There was more to Rick... He wasn't like the coworkers I befriended through out the years, he's tough and soft at the same time. He knows when to be tough and when to let go and let it all out.
I'm filing files again into their proper folders and Rick states out the window next to him, watching the rain hit tent. It's been raining a lot lately, probably because there's a storm coming by soon.
It's one of those slow nights ... The quietest nights are the slowest nights.
I finish placing the final file in its folder, looking over at the time it's only 9:36.
I close my laptop, hearing it click. Rick looks over at me. I give him a small smile as I stand up and place my things into bag.
"You wanna go out?" Rick suddenly asks.
"Tonight?"
"Yeah... We don't really have to go someplace but we could hang at whoever's and drink some wine." Rick suggests.
"How bout... Your place, I don't think I've been there before."
"Alright... My place." Rick opens the door for me.
Taking an umbrella Rick opens it and holds it over us as we walk to the garage.
The ride to Rick's was long and quiet. Mostly me staring out the window and watching the rain hit the clear glass. Sneaking a few glances at Rick occasionally. Everyone's worried about him... He's been looking down lately.
We eventually stop at his place and get into his apartment. More like a flat given by the government.
Rick offers wine and of course I accept. We sip our drinks and I set my glass down on the coffee table.
"You alright Flag? You haven't been yourself lately." I start.
"I'm alright... Just uhhh drained."
"Overnight shifts."
Rick nods his head.
"Definitely not the healthiest things we've done throughout the week."
"Yep..."
"I'm sure there is more to this than just sitting around and drinking wine... What do you wanna talk about?"
Rick sips his drink. "Had to put some thought into it for a while... But I need someone to talk to bout my parents."
"You're starting to remind me of an old friend of mine..."
"Care to give me a name?"
"Wayne... I'm not really sure I haven't seen the guy since high school."
"Wayne... The rich kid in Gotham." Rick chuckles.
"Yeah I think that's him. Back to your parents what did you want to say about them."
"Just uhhh... How they..."
I don't say a word because I'm scared I might say something and fuck this up.
"You don't have to say anything if you don't want to." Why did you just tell yourself Moone! Don't say a damn word!
"I want to... If we're gonna work together might as well tell you."
"Have you told the archeologists before me?"
"You're the first."
"How am I different from the others?"
"I don't know... But you are."
We only stare at each other in silence.
"Alright..." Rick runs a hand through his hair. "My mom was the first to go... We went to the groceries. I crossed the street without looking and the next thing I know. Mom pushes me out of the way and I hear tires screech then a loud thump... When I turned around my mom was lying on the ground, the bastard didn't even bother to step out of their car... He or she just drove away."
I reach for Rick's hand and give him a reassuring squeeze.
"Dad stayed with me until I was twenty... He went on a mission for ARGUS. Three days later Waller knocks on my dorm room, old me my dad died on a mission. Sacrificed himself so his team could go home... Gave me a letter, told me to keep going be the man he couldn't be... He rammed his plane into the hostile base..."
Rick has tears slowly leaving his eyes.
"Come here Flag." I move closer to him and wrap him in a hug.
"After all these damned years I sill can't get over them!"
I pull away. "Look at me... I know it can be hard in the beginning... But you'll get over this. From what I've been told Rick Flag can walk through anything..."
Rick exhales slowly as he nods.
Never noticed our faces were this close until now... He leans in and-
RING! RING!
We jump away from each other and Rick reaches for the phone.
RICK POV
"Hello?" I answer the phone.
"Hey Rick!"
Damn you Floyd!
"What's up?"
"Don't know if you remember but we're having the annual Floyd's New Year Get Together tomorrow."
"We've been having these for ages Floyd don't need to remind me."
"I know but Could you tell June about it... She might actually be the first doctor that actually accepts the invitation."
I look over at June.
"Yeah I'll tell her."
"Thanks man, see yah!"
Floyd hangs up.
"What did he have to tell you?" June asks.
"He's asking me to reach out an invite to his annual new year get together tomorrow."
"I'm done for it!" She smiles.
"Alright! Lets surprise him make him think you ain't coming."
"Alright..."
I look over at the clock, 10:34 PM. We've been here for thirty minutes...
"Guess it's too late for me to go home." June stares at the clock.
"Get the bed, I'll take the couch."
"What?! But this is your flat."
"And I'm letting you take the bed, my flat my rules."
"I'm sure you have another space for one more person on your bed, I'm not letting you sleep on the couch!"
"Alright I'll stay on the bed." I give in.
We both walk to my room in the flat, taking jacket off and tossing it to the side, then bending over to untie my shoes and take those off.
I turn to my bed and June sits on the edge staring out of the window, walking towards my bed, I lie down behind her and stare at the ceiling.
"You have a really lovely view."
"Yeah..."
Few minutes later...
I look over at June again... Finally she's asleep. Slowly getting up not to wake her, I take the covers and tuck her in.
Walking out of my room and stopping in front of the couch, I take the underside and pull it open. Yes... It's a couch bed.
Going back into my room, I close the curtains. Before walking out, I stop in front of June. I bend down and kiss the side of her head.
"Thank you..."
I walk out of the room, leaving the door open.
JUNE POV
I open my eyes, turn towards the door and stare out into the living room. Watching Rick as he lies down on his couch bed.
"Anytime, Flag..."