The Miami sun was already beating down mercilessly as Dexter Morgan pulled into the nearly empty parking lot of Miami Metro Police Department. The dashboard clock read 8:47 AM – Thanksgiving morning. Harrison, secured in his car seat, cooed softly at the familiar stop of the engine.
"Just you and me today, buddy," Dexter murmured, his internal monologue kicking in as usual. Another holiday alone. Better this way. Safer.
The police department should be empty today – perfect for catching up on some blood spatter analysis reports that had been piling up. With Astor and Cody in California with their grandparents, and Deb spending the holiday with Quinn, it seemed like the ideal time to lose himself in work. Anything to keep his mind off the empty chair at his table where Rita should be.
Dexter gathered Harrison's diaper bag and carrier, making his way through the quiet building. The familiar fluorescent lights hummed overhead, but something was different. A desk lamp was already on in the main office area.
"Hello?" A feminine voice called out. "Dexter?"
Y/N appeared from around the corner, her detective's badge glinting at her hip. Her hair was pulled back in a casual ponytail, and she wore jeans instead of her usual work attire. Even in casual clothes, she carried herself with the quiet confidence that had always caught Dexter's attention.
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"Y/N? What are you doing here?" Dexter adjusted Harrison in his carrier.
She smiled, though there was a hint of melancholy in her eyes. "Could ask you the same thing. Shouldn't you be cooking a turkey or something?"
"I could say the same to you," Dexter deflected, setting Harrison's carrier down on his desk. "The department's usually a ghost town on Thanksgiving."
"Hence why I'm here," Y/N approached, her face lighting up at the sight of Harrison. "Hey there, little man." She tickled Harrison's chin, earning a delighted giggle. "My plans fell through. Figured I might as well be productive."
Dexter watched the interaction with curiosity. Y/N had always been different from the others at the department. She never bought into his carefully crafted "ordinary guy" persona completely, but she never pressed too hard either. There was an understanding between them – a recognition of hidden depths that neither acknowledged out loud.
"The kids are with their grandparents," Dexter offered, surprising himself with his honesty. "Deb's with Quinn."
"So you brought Harrison to work?" Y/N raised an eyebrow, a gentle smirk playing at her lips.
"Seemed better than sitting at home."
Y/N was quiet for a moment, studying him with those perceptive eyes that sometimes made his carefully constructed walls feel transparent. "You know what? This is ridiculous. Both of us sitting here on Thanksgiving, pretending we're not avoiding empty apartments."
