>>6286590
>>6286596
>>6286643
>>6286675

"I need to get home." You say, already saying silent prayers that he's going to be on the other end of that call. "I have a special phone there for some of our... outside friends."

"You mean uh..." Kimble trails off and puts two fingers behind his head, like tall ears.

"Are you twelve?" Hawthorne groans. "Everyone in here knows he's talking about the Batman."

"You know Batman?" Mendez asks, arcing a brow.

"Nice one." Kimble scoffs shaking his head.

"Long story. Kimble can fill you in on it some other time. For now I gotta go home and see if I can't get him on the line, talk about my vision. Maybe get some perspective."

You head for the door and as you turn the knob Grey clears his throat.

"And Allison? Is she... in the know?"

"Wouldn't be much of a relationship if I lied to her." You say simply.

Grey smiles, his eyes crinkling with clear pride.

"Right on, kid." He says quietly, sounding years younger.

You turn the knob and leave as they start to discuss taking the evidence in and make your way through the halls. A faint echo of retching from the Captain's office makes you frown but you know he'll be better for it in a few hours. You make your way back to the garage and see Allison nervously bouncing her knee as she chews her inner cheek, when you meet eyes you see them light up and visible relief hits.

"Mark, what the hell is going on?" She asks, neither angry or scared.

"Rogers. He sent me a package, had a kid deliver it to me."

"A package? Is that why your friend had the Captain clear everyone out because it could have been.." She trails off but her jaw sets.

"I didn't know what it was, but I wasn't taking chances. Ended up being an old file and... some hair."

"Hair? Fucking freak.." She mumbles, nose scrunched in disgust.

"Yeah well, it led me to learn some stuff. Some... intense stuff. Big shit, bigger than Gotham even. I think.. Look he's already threatened my parents." You stop for a brief breath. "And you're important to me. Important enough that if he gets desperate enough.."

She cuts you off with a light kiss and a tight hug around your neck as she buries her head into the crook of your neck. You let your sentence die and hug her back. There's something in you that hasn't been until now, until you put it into words. Allison's important to you and the idea that your work could bring her into harm. It scares you.

"I knew what I was signing up for when I decided to take you up on that date, Mark. I mean, I didn't expect it THIS soon but, being a cop is a dangerous gig."

"So is being a firefighter."

"True, but a fire is never gonna follow me home or hold a grudge because I put it out. You guys do, it's a real threat."

"I'm sorry, I-" She cuts you off with another delicate kiss.

"I said I knew what I was signing up for." She says quietly. "Besides, I know how to handle myself. If he gets anywhere near me I'll stuff an O2 tank up his ass. Sideways."

>>6248486
>>6248507
>>6248520

"You might wanna grab another two beers before I get into that."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah. It's also the kind of thing that needs to be a secret."

She pushes up from you and slowly makes her way to the kitchen.

"I'm not a gossip. Is it... bad?"

"I wouldn't say bad." You reply grasping the beer by the neck as she returns. "But if you thought the conversation with Rogers was weird then this is gonna sound completely insane. So I wanna just say... I won't blame you if you don't believe me but just hear me out until the end. Please."

She repositions herself, folding her legs beneath herself as she takes a sip. Hey eyes glimmer as they stay locked on you.

"Of course, I asked after all."

One last swig to loosen you up to the truth.

"Alright... well it started at this creepy house just outside the city..."

====

The next few minutes are spent in a stream of consciousness ramble but true to her word Allison stays silent. She only speaks up to ask a few clarifying questions or prompt you to talk further about something. You can't help but notice more than once where her expression shifts to something murky. The demon: Mercury, Constantine's card reading, the tulpa, the lady in red. All moments you saw it shift across her face. By the end her drink is drained and yours sits lukewarm on the coffee table.

"...so I talked until she decided to let me go. Then I woke up and saw you. That's it."

"Wow..." She replies breathlessly. "And it only felt like what, an hour to you?"

"Maybe less. Felt like less." You shake your head. "But that's the entire story. I felt like you deserved to hear all of it. Because to be honest, this kind of thing will probably happen again. If we're gonna make this work then you need to know everything."

"Make this work, huh?" She teases. "You sound invested, Officer."

"You're the one who called yourself my girlfriend at the door."

She opens her mouth to counter but freezes. You see the gears turning as she plays the memory back in her head, you watch as a rising pink tinge covers her face. You lay a hand on her knee and squeeze.

"I didn't correct you, you know?"

The pink settles and deepens as she closes her mouth and gives you a cocked smirk.

"Does that mean I can stay the night? It's a bit late and all..."

"Sure, I work tomorrow though."

"Me too." She counters, leaning forward and delivering a soft kiss. "Thank you for being upfront with me. I don't understand your entire situation still, shit I hardly have my head wrapped around aliens, but I know for sure that you make me feel safe."

"High praise considering I feel like I've got glass bones right now."

She rises with you, rubbing your back gently as you lumber to the bedroom.

"Only for now, come on. Let's get ready for bed, did the doctors give you any instructions?"

"Only one thing, I shouldn't shower alone. I could slip and fall... glass bones and all."

"Stupid..." She laughs, following behind as you start your nightly ritual.

====