Celtic Cross | #ONC2019

VI.

I heeded Nick's advice and spent the rest of the night in yoga pants with a bottle of whiskey while Lifetime movies played in the background. As I laid on my couch, I held the card from the flowers in one hand and my cell phone in the other. I could have easily called the florist and confirmed what I already knew, asking for a phone number to pass along my gratitude.

But what would I say? Thanks for the flowers. Want to come over and smell them?

And then what?

I drank through the whiskey faster after that and didn't realize I fell asleep on the couch until my phone, which I'd apparently slept on top of, rang loudly in my ear.

"Hello?" I answered groggily once I was able to catch my breath and control my panicked heart. I had to hold one hand against my other ear to block out the sounds of sirens passing by outside my window.

"Oh, gods, Siobhan." It was Nick. "I need your help."

The frantic tone of his voice had me sitting up quickly, but I had to close my eyes as a bought of nausea washed over me with the sudden movements. "What's wrong, Nick? Help with what?"

"It's Leo," he cried. It sounded like he was outside. "Something's happened. I need you to get here quick."

"You're being cryptic," I scolded him as I stood, looking for my Uggs. "Where is he?"

He practically whimpered. "Siobhan, I think he jumped from his window."

I stopped and almost toppled over. "That's not funny."

"I'm not joking." He let out another shuddering breath. "Please, I'm panicking here, and you were the first person I could think of."

"And what about the cops?"

"They're already on their way."

I swallowed the bile that threatened to creep up my throat. If he called the police, it must have been serious. "Okay, what's the address?"

He gave it to me, and I realized how close it was to my apartment, which could have explained the sirens I just heard. My heart sank even more as I hung up and finished getting ready. I didn't know what I could do for Nick except comfort him, if I could even get anywhere near him. The authorities would come and help as best they could, but if Leo truly fell from a window as Nick implied, I would be out of my league when it came to the help he would need.

I left my apartment as soon as I could. Using the directions Nick gave me, I turned the corner onto Leo's street. The flashing red and blue of police cars and ambulances and fire trucks painted the small South Boston neighborhood like a scene out of Law & Order. The street was narrow enough as it was, but with the number of emergency vehicles present, there was no way to pass through on either side unless you were on foot. Cars that dared to turn down unawares were now stuck with aggravated drivers waving their hands aggressively in the air at the first responders there to do their jobs. Some observers exited their vehicles to get a closer look but were eventually pushed back by either officers, yellow caution tape, or both.

I pushed my way through the bystanders, looking for my friend; he was the reason I was there, after all. I finally got to the yellow tape and was immediately stopped by a city officer with a strong arm.

"I'm sorry, ma'am, but no one can get through."

"I'm looking for my friend," I insisted. I stood on my tiptoes to look over his shoulder, hoping to find Nick. Instead, my efforts rewarded me with the sight of a cloth-covered body and a sidewalk covered in blood.

I closed my eyes and almost stumbled, but the officer grabbed hold of my arm to keep me from falling. "Please, ma'am," he pressed. "Professional personnel only."

"But my friend is here," I repeated. My head was starting to feel light. "He called me—"

"Siobhan!"

I looked back up, and there was Nick, running towards me from out of the back of an ambulance, a blue blanket wrapped around his shoulders. I tightly wrapped my arms around him as he clung to me over the yellow tape, feeling the immediate need to protect him as he cried, sobs shaking his thin frame.

"Nick, what's going on?" I asked as steadily as I could. "Is Leo-"

"He's dead," Nick whispered hoarsely. The hairs on the back of my neck prickled. "I went to get breakfast, and by the time I got back..."

His wails cut off any additional information he'd been about to give me, and I rubbed his back to comfort him the best I could while avoiding the sheet-covered form on the sidewalk. "I'm so sorry."

"Excuse me, Mr. Warsaw," the officer that stopped me earlier interrupted with a clearing of his throat. "We're ready to take you to the station now."

"To the station?" I snapped. "Whatever for?"

"Standard procedure, ma'am," he assured me. "We just have a few questions to ask."

"It's okay, Siobhan," Nick murmured, tightening the blanket around himself. "Anything I can do to help figure out how this happened."

I frowned. I hated seeing Nick like this. I hated seeing anyone like this.

"Call me when you're home?"

Nick nodded and was escorted away by the imposing Boston cop. I watched them usher him towards the police vehicle with the easiest access away from the scene, watched as Nick was placed in the back of the car like he was a common criminal.

I whispered a silent prayer to whichever Goddess was listening, and even those who weren't. Again my attention returned to the scene in front of the apartment, my gaze falling to the blood on the sidewalk, looking for the sheet on the ground, and my stomach churned when I realized it was missing; they must have already taken Leo away. I didn't know Leo well, but I couldn't for the life of me understand how someone would want to do this to himself while his boyfriend was out getting them breakfast.

Frowning, I moved to turn away from the scene when a flash of something familiar caught my eye and I spun back around. One officer was passing something to another, both wearing latex gloves, and the receiving officer placed the item into an evidence bag with care. The object inside the bag was a piece of paper, bigger than a playing card, but almost like...

Almost like a Tarot card.

I took a step closer as the receiving officer held the bag up as if to examine it in the cold, winter sunlight.

It was covered in blood, but I'd know the Tower card anywhere.

I was about to call out to them, about to ask for more information, when a hand landed on my shoulder. I jumped out of my skin, whirling around fast enough to backhand the offender.

"Mhac na galla!"

"Mac?" I gasped. "What the hell are you doing here?"

He rubbed the spot on his cheek where my hand had connected. "I was out for a run when I heard the sirens. I thought it was close to your apartment, so I wanted to make sure you were okay."

"But how did you know?"

He looked a little sheepish as a red tint colored his prominent cheekbones.

"Ah," I said softly. "The flowers."

"So, are you alright?" he asked quickly.

I looked back down the street. The car Nick was in had already left, and the coroner's office was finally moving Leo's body. I suddenly felt very cold, and it had nothing to do with the brisk morning wind. And the last thing I wanted was to be alone, so I swallowed my pride and looked back to him.

"No," I admitted. "I'm not. Can I make you some coffee?"

He looked taken aback, and rightfully so. I hadn't exactly been the most inviting during our last meeting, but thinking about Nick and Leo at Ned Devine's the other night, and how quickly it all ended...

"I could use some company," I added, wrapping my arms around myself to keep out the cold.

His brows furrowed in concern, but he nodded. "Of course."

I nodded, silently grateful for this acceptance of my invitation, and with a final glance at the bloodstained sidewalk, I led Mac back to my apartment.