The Monster in the Sky. Klance AU

Chapter 8: Nothing

"I am here to ask you a few questions about one of your clients, Lance McClain." Officer Bentley began, waiting for the psychologist to invite him in to sit down on one of the plastic chairs. He was holding a black notebook and flipped through pages of seemingly endless notes before settling on a blank page. He clicked his pen against his chin, leaning forward to begin the interrogation. "Do you think he may be experiencing a mental illness? Potentially one that allows him to repress the traumatic memories and create a delusion?"

"I'm afraid that I cannot disclose that information. I assured Lance that anything he says in our meetings is completely confidential and I meant it. He doesn't appear to have any urges to hurt himself or anyone else and that is all I am allowed to say." The psychologist didn't even seem sorry as he relied the information. He shrugged and leant back into his chair, scratching at his forehead in the most nonchalant way possible. Officer Bentley couldn't help but feel like something was off with the psychologist but perhaps that was the way he refused to assist the investigation. There seemed to be something behind Dr Anderson's eyes that didn't seem... human. There wasn't a single human being on the earth with such dark eyes that looked soulless. Shaking the thought away, Officer Bentley warned himself that he needed to stop talking to Lance: his crazy space stories were rubbing off on him.

"Dr Anderson, I understand your reasoning but there are people out there who could be-"

The psychologist shook his head and cut Bentley off with a click of his tongue. "I know full well what could be going on but I cannot share anything with you without Lance's permission. I suggest talking to the boy himself."

"Trust me, I've tried."

"Then I apologise, I can't help you."

"Can't you tell me anything? Not even about McClain's mental state?"

"I cannot."

Officer Bentley let out a huff that seemed much too childish for someone of such authority. When he had walked into the psychologist's office, he knew full well that Lance had a right to privacy but he hadn't expected to leave empty handed. He had expected something not nothing. "Thank you," For nothing, Bentley's brain added. He swerved around on his heels and walked out of the room. He spent a long moment outside, running a hand through his hair and taking a deep breath.

The case seemed to be full of dead ends but there had to be answers somewhere. He was missing them. Where were they? Where hadn't he looked? There had to be something. There was always something.

-

"I'm home!" Bentley yelled out into the small apartment before pulling off his jacket and hanging it over one of the kitchen chairs. The sound of his baby echoed through the house, encouraging him to rush into the living room where she was lying in his girlfriend's arms. Harriet was rocking the baby and murmuring a sweet lullaby in her beautiful voice, thick bags under her eyes. It looked like she hadn't slept properly in days and Bentley knew she hadn't.

"She just won't sleep... I've been singing to her four hours." Harriet whispered. She leant forward to press a light kiss to her baby's forehead, eliciting a small giggle from her.

"Come on, Sammy. Sleep for your mummy," Bentley took the baby and began to rock her himself, actions slow enough for the baby's eyes to get heavy. Once she was lulled to sleep, he carefully laid her down in her cot. "And that's how you do it." Bentley winked at Harriet, hoping to at least make her smile but he didn't even get a response that showed she had acknowledged him.

Harriet was too exhausted to find humour in Bentley's competitive behaviour. There was something about late nights with a baby that kept demanding to be cuddled and fed that drained all life from a person. "How was work?" Her voice was strained, eliciting a frown from her boyfriend.

"It wasn't great. I tried to interview someone and didn't get any information at all. It was a complete waste of time," Harriet nodded once but she seemed to be in another world. Her eyes were glossed over with sleep so it was clear that Bentley's words were going in one ear and out the other. "Honey... I think you should get some rest. You look exhausted."

"I am..." She looked up and met eyes with Bentley. "But what if Sammy wakes up?"

"Come on, you're going to bed." Bentley slipped his hand into Harriet's before pulling her into the small bedroom. The bed took up 90% of the room but it was sufficient enough for the pair, considering that they couldn't afford much more.

As soon as Harriet was tucked in with the bed covers right up to her chin, Sam started to cry out again. The noise was deafening and seemed to shake the entire apartment so much that it might as well as cause an earthquake. "She probably wants feeding..." Harriet muttered before attempting to stand up. Bentley used his hand to push her back down before sending her a pair of raised eyebrows.

"I'll do it. You just rest."

"But-"

"No buts. Just sleep."

Harriet was too tired to argue so she turned over and closed her eyes. Even with the baby screaming and the sound of Bentley hushing her, she drifted into a peaceful slumber within minutes.