lost in the game (Peter Strahm x Reader)

Part 6 ~ Finale

"Besides you!" Strahm exclaimed with a raspy voice, not believing anything Hoffman was saying, he was involved with Jigsaw.

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Hoffman got defensive and explained how he was chasing Jigsaw from the beginning, and something along the lines of if you don't have anything else to say, back the fuck off. The atmosphere in the sterile room was even tenser than before. Hoffman's jaw clenched, and he crossed his arms, while Strahm didn't say anything else and just eyed the wall, ignoring Hoffman.

"Read the papers, I saved that little girl" Hoffman snapped at Strahm, who was now glaring at Hoffman from the side. After some time of tension, Hoffman sighed and decided to leave the room, leaving Strahm in the sterile hospital room of his presumed dead wife. Strahm gathered strength to stand up and get back to his hospital room, his heart still aching at the thought of losing his wife. As he arrived, he took a glance at all the "Hope you get well soon" cards lying on the side table of his empty hospital bed.

Upon reading the messages "I heard what happened" and "I'm sorry," his anger only grew. He didn't want their pity but instead wanted to bring justice to all the victims and find Jigsaw's accomplice, especially Y/N.

The sound of the door opening pulled Strahm out of his focus on the cards, he moved his head to the side, looking towards the door, it was Special Agent Erickson. He sighed before looking back into the cards, "sorry about your wife" Said Agent Erickson, trying to show his solidarity. Strahm kept reading through the cards, trying to ignore him, "shouldn't you be resting?" Asked Agent Erickson calmly but with a hint of authority.

Agent Strahm's gaze changed, and he no longer looked at the cards. Instead, he looked at Agent Erickson. "I'm fine... Erickson" shared Strahm, before a cough escaped his wounded throat. Erickson's expression softened as he said, "No, you're not Peter..." he paused, and a sigh left his mouth. "That's why I put you on medical leave" Erickson explained.

Then a suitcase was placed on the hospital bed with Erickson, he opened it to reveal files. Strahm was not content with the idea of being on medical leave especially since this accomplice was still out there and still able to hurt more people, he was convinced that there was an accomplice.

Peter crossed his arms, glancing at the wall "You know," he paused "I was supposed to die in there..." he mentioned, thinking back to this gruesome moment, all these emotions he felt, the memories of Y/N... The other special agent, Erickson, looked up from the suitcase, glancing at Peter, then immediately dropping his gaze back into the suitcase. "You shouldn't have been in there without backup anyway," said Erickson with a strict tone.

Peter took a step closer to Erickson, explaining that he wanted to have a last talk with Jill Tuck. Which immediately got shut down by Erickson saying that Peter was off the case. As he heard this, he felt his heart sink into his stomach. The back and forth between Erickson and Strahm didn't last long, Strahm wanted to stay on the case, but it wasn't possible since Erickson himself put him off the case.

Erickson handed Peter a letter confirming that he was being taken off the case. Despite the news, he kept a calm expression on his face. With a last "I'm sorry Peter, it's over," he left the hospital room, leaving a disbelieving Strahm behind.

Strahm stood there trying to process everything that had just happened. He couldn't believe he was being taken off the case. He thought to himself, "What does he mean by 'I'm off the case?' I need to catch this suspect."

Despite feeling exhausted and worried, Peter knew he couldn't just accept his fate. With stubbornness guiding his every thought, he resolved to find a way back into the investigation, even if it meant going against orders.