Thirium Heart//Reed900

November Nights And Ignoring What's Right (19)

Summer came and passed, and Gavin felt better with every passing day.

He had signed the Father's Day card that the "kids" got him, making the old man cry.

He spent the Fourth Of July with Tina, Elena, and their respective families. Gavin helped Tina propose to Elena under the stars and fireworks. He smiled for the first time in months that night. His best friend found the love of her life, and she was happy. Gavin was ecstatic for them. Tina had had a crush on Elena since the academy. He thought about Conan for a moment, which made his heart twinge.

"I love you guys!" He had screamed over the fireworks.

"WE LOVE YOU TOO!!" The couple had yelled back, crushing him in a tearful hug. Everyone cried a lot these days.

Gavin hosted a Memorial Day barbeque at his house, inviting the Andersons, Daniel, Tina and Elena, and a couple of his favourite beat cops. He invited his brother, Richard, and Chloe, but they were all busy like they usually were. Everyone who showed up had a pretty great time, laughing and squirting each other with the hose. It was wonderful until all the young cops left and the bonfire was lit.

Everyone had one too many drinks, except Hank, who was sober. Gavin had smoked an entire pack already and opened up another. That's when the reminiscing began. Long story short, they all ended up crying over memories and what could have been. Like every other night. Just for a moment, Gavin saw Conan flicker in.

He was relaxed, wearing a thin grey turtleneck and ripped black jeans. He held a beer loosely in his hand, leaning back his chair. His pleasantly buzzed face was blessed with light blue, and Gavin could have reached out and kissed him.

If only. Conan's form dissolved away.

Now, it was November, only the first week of the chilly season. Gavin was taking a walk around his neighborhood, enjoying the fresh air. That's something he hadn't done in a long, long time. He felt like he was actually getting somewhere. He didn't see Conan at every turn now, and the scent of rain over jasmine didn't send him spiraling. He still slept with the jacket, though. Some things never change.

A new coffee shop opened up in the area, Gavin had heard. I should check it out. He googled the place, and the address was only three blocks away. Let's go! He pulled his dark blue scarf up over his face, the mere thought of coffee energizing him.

A soft bell rang as he walked into the surprisingly empty shop.

" 'The Ugly Mug Café,' eh? That's cute, " Gavin said, his face tingling from the contact with the warm air.

"Yep!" A plump, blonde woman gushed from behind the counter. "That's our schtick. All of our mugs are super ugly, some of which made by my beautiful daughters."

"Mooooom, you need to stop telling the customers that!" A teenage-sounding girl cried out from an unseen back room. The woman shrugged.

"I'm Laura! It's nice to meet you!" Laura offered a strong hand from across the counter.

"Nice to meet you, Laura of The Ugly Mugs, I'm Gavin Reed."

"Gavin Reed..." she pondered. "Would you happen to be a cop, Mr. Reed?"

"Gavin. And yes, I am. I'm a sergeant."

"Gavin, you solved my sister's murder. She was murdered by her ex-boyfriend, remember? She and her android girlfriend?"

"Oh my god. I remember! I am so sorry for your loss, Ms. Laura. That case was very personal to me as well. I'm glad I was able to help you."

"Thank you. Now, what can I get for Detroit's finest?" Gavin's face got redder, and not just because of the air.