Northern Downpour

Part 10

This time you had the sense to grab some painkillers from your apartment before heading to the office. Walking was iffy at best, but at least your leg wasn't about to give out at a moment's notice.

When you got to the office, Bigby opened the door. Nerissa was already waiting inside. She gave a small smile. "Hi."

You returned it as you limped in. "Hi."

You didn't have a desk. There wasn't enough room for it. You didn't mind, as you preferred working at home.

"Working at home" meant you and Bigby sitting down, either at your place or his, and going over files, which lead to the two of you falling asleep on each other. Not that either of you minded.

Bigby went and sat behind the desk. You sat on one of the two chairs in front of it, and Nerissa took the other one. You positioned your chair so you could stretch your leg out. Despite your efforts, it was still awkward.

"Um, are you okay?" Nerissa asked tentatively. "Neither of you looked good last night."

"Let's just say I've been better," Bigby replied.

She looked to you. You shrugged. "Well, I'm not dead, so I think I'm doing alright."

He pulled out a cigarette and lit it. He offered you one, and you took it. He offered one to Nerissa, and she raised an eyebrow. "Huff N Puffs? Not many people smoke those."

She pulled her own pack out from her bag and lit one.

"So what was that back there with Crane?" Bigby asked.

"There's not a lot that I can talk about," she replied quietly. "You know that."

"So the spell isn't just when you're at work?" You asked.

"What I mean is, I don't want to waste your time, but I don't want you wasting your own time, either."

You put your cigarette out in the ashtray on the desk, thinking. "At the Pudding N Pie, you found a way to tell us where to go. Would that work again?"

Nerissa shrugged. "You can try."

"You're here because the Crooked Man just sent Crane to the bottom of our list of worries," Bigby said. "And you have something you wanna say about that, right?"

She looked away. "These lips are sealed. If I could answer you just like that, I wouldn't have had to make that appointment with you."

"No, I guess not."

"Sometimes, we have to find our way through life on our own, grasping and fumbling in the dark. I used to have friends, to help me find my way. But now they're gone. And I don't know what to do."

"Are you trying to say something about Faith and Lily?" Bigby asked, putting out his cigarette.

"What I'm saying is," she tried slowly. "Friends matter. And I--I don't have any left. So I hope you're looking after yours."

"Who are you talking about?" You asked.

Nerissa put out her cigarette. "I'm sorry. I thought I could do this. I need you to know, I want to help."

"But your lips are sealed," you said. You hesitated. "I don't suppose the ribbons can just be taken off?"

Fear crossed her face as she shook her head. You leaned forward and took her hand. "We'll fix this."

Three sharp knocks rapped on the door. Nerissa shot up, panicking. "If anyone finds out I came here..."

"That's probably Snow," Bigby said, standing.