"Dad?"
Carl's head snapped up at the sound of Will's quiet, hesitant voice coming from the doorway of his office.
"Come here, bud." Carl patted his lap, and Will quickly obliged, running into his lap.
"Good morning, dad." Will yawned, snuggling into Carl's chest.
"Good morning, William." Carl smiled lightly, wrapping his arms around Will's small body. "Did you sleep good?"
"Yeah." Will shrugged, "Penny gave me lots of pillows."
Carl nodded lightly. He felt bad that Will and Rylee had to sleep at the station, but without knowing where exactly the threat was coming from, it wasn't safe to be at any hotels, let alone their house. He knew that Will missed his own bed,even though he had only gone two nights without it. Carl missed his bed, too, and he missed his cozy apartment he shared with his family.
"I'm sorry that i've been acting so funny, Will." Carl whispered. "I know you're confused, buddy, but I am too."
"You are?" Will's tired voice asked without any movement from him.
"I am." Carl nodded. "I'd really like to tell you what's going on, buddy, but... but I don't know what's going on just yet."
"When are you going to know?"
"Soon." Carl promised, "and I'll tell you right away."
"You promise?" Will shifted to meet Carl's eyes.
"I promise." Carl tightened his arms around his son.
Will nodded and returned to his previous position. "It's okay then, daddy. As long as you tell me."
Carl smiled at how easily his son forgave him for his behavior, especially considering Will had no idea why he was acting that way. But the minute Carl gave him a promise, he was comfortable with the confidence he was given that Carl would give him answers. Will trusted Carl more than anybody in the world, and it never ceased to make his heart swell.
"Did you tell mommy good morning?"
"Not yet." Will yawned.
"Let's go find her then." Carl stood up with Will still in his arms.
He walked out of his office into the dimly lit room, his coworkers all quietly looking over their cases with coffee in their hands.
"Any new cases?" Carl quietly asked as he approached David's desk.
David nodded, staying silent for a moment before closing the notes he was looking over and meeting Carl's eyes.
"Penny and Fitz are working with a couple departments from new mexico for your case." David told him, "Maya and I are bringing in some local agents for the new case."
"You don't have to do that, I can work the new case." Carl offered quickly, jumping at the chance to start a new case to get his mind off of things.
"You've got enough going on." David dismissed him.
"I need a case, David." Carl pleaded.
David worked alongside the rest of the team, and he never made any of them feel inferior to him, but he was the leader of their team, and he called the shots.
David paused for a moment, staring back at Carl. "I'll think about it."
Carl nodded, "Have you seen Rylee around?"
David just shook his head, opening up his notes again. Carl knew that he was busy, along with all of the rest of them, so he walked into the next room, expecting to find Rylee stood next to the coffee pot, but all he found was an empty room.
