Dickory

The End of a Dream

Gavin sighed as he leaned back into the sofa, cradling the hot mug in his hands. He was warm, both from the shower and the roaring fire that Nines had kept burning in the grate since the day they'd arrived over two weeks ago. Pipsqueak had settled in his lap almost the minute he'd sat down, content to sap his body heat and the warmth of the fire. Nines was still up for now, setting some sort of stew to simmer quietly for later that night. It was hard to believe it had been more than two weeks. It was Christmas Eve. Nines' first. Gavin felt a little bad that it wouldn't be a better experience for him. Stuck in a cabin in the middle of nowhere hiding from a serial killer was hardly the ideal way to spend Christmas.

"You look like you're brooding over something," Nines observed teasingly as he left the kitchen and sat beside him on the sofa. Gavin hummed softly as he sipped his decaf coffee. It didn't hit the spot exactly, not in the same way as real coffee, but it was nice to have something hot after crunching through the snow. That had become their routine over the past few days. Wake up, pore over cases they couldn't make much progress on, then go for a walk in the forest to clear their heads. Upon returning, they'd shower, have a hot drink, and wind down for the evening before dinner. Then they'd settle on the sofa for more contemplation and go to bed.

"It's nothing...I just sort of feel bad for ruining your first Christmas. You won't be able to spend it with your brothers," Gavin replied as he held the large cup almost lovingly and watched Pipsqueak stretch up to his feet. He padded silently across the sofa before claiming Nines' lap as his new resting place. Nines obliged the small creature, holding a mug of thirium in one hand and stroking Pipsqueak's silken fur with the other. His golden eyes thinned in pleasure, a light purr filling the room as he settled his head down and twitched his ears in contentment.

"You haven't ruined my first Christmas. I'll be spending it with you," Nines didn't seem to realise the weight of those words. Gavin quickly busied himself with drinking his coffee, hoping his ears weren't burning the same way his mouth was. "Besides, you won't get to see your brother either," Nines added sensitively, thankful that Gavin wouldn't be spending the holiday by himself. He knew that had been the case for the past two years. Gavin had already told him about how he'd always work the holiday, selflessly allowing other colleagues to take the time off. He likely felt bad for being in protective custody and forcing someone else to take his place this year.

"I'm sure his heart bleeds," Gavin huffed, though he was pretty sure Elijah would be at least a little disappointed. He also expected a full scale telling off from Chloe at some point for getting himself into so much trouble in the first place. Even if it is trouble that started a few years back...He continued to sip his coffee and stared into the flickering orange flames, trying to ignore the grim thoughts that came along with that. Jack. Aaron. Gavin crossed his legs on the cushion, getting his feet a little warmer as he shivered. He wasn't even sure it was the cold that bothered him.

Silence settled between them. Both were content to stare into the flickering flames and listen to the hiss and pop of the burning wood. Nines noticed it first, sitting up a little straighter and shifting his gaze towards the covered window. Gavin couldn't hear it yet, but he did notice Nines' alert status. Pipsqueak also seemed to notice the shift in the body beneath him. He hopped down and skittered under one of the low cabinets, wary of Nines' intensity. Gavin sat forward, lowering his mug to his knee cautiously as Nines turned his full attention to the curtained window, where the afternoon light was slowly fading around the edges.

"What is it?" Gavin asked almost nervously, wondering if he should find his gun or something. It was never a good sign when Nines was on high alert. He still didn't hear anything, but Nines was suddenly on his feet and crossing to the window, where he peeked out at the edge of the heavy red curtains. Gavin tensed as Nines' LED blinked yellow, a sign that he was alert and cautious. He was standing stiff and unblinking, probably zooming out to see further down the drive.