#sergeant sad eyes reporting for misery is what started this | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

connorssock · 5 years

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I don't know if you do follow up prompts, but if you do could we see more of the aftermath of Trust Again please? It's one of the most painful DBH fics I've read, and I'd love to see the others dealing more with the repercussions/consequences of what they did as they try to fix what they've broken with Gavin

I absolutely do take follow-up prompts! They might simply be slow at times because I can’t always find the time or inspiration to hop straight to them. But with this one? I was craving a little more bitter comfort after Trust Again, so have another snippet/chapter!

Chapter 2

Gavin wasn’t sure whether he was insulted or relieved that his request to transfer to New York had not been processed. On one hand he was at an utter loss as to what to do, he didn’t really want to go back there but at the same time, staying in Detroit felt too raw. On the other hand, Fowler had willingly ignored his request yet again. It didn’t sit well with Gavin, he felt trapped and alienated beyond the usual.

After he returned to work, tail between his legs and unwilling to meet anyone’s eyes, there was a marked change to the precinct. Suddenly, people were vying to be best buddies with him. Saccharine sweet enthusiasm soured each greeting and both Tina and Chris were falling over themselves to prove they were still friends. The only problem was, Gavin didn’t know whether he wanted to be friends anymore. Friends didn’t turn on each other at the murmurs of rumours. They didn’t trap each other in the locker room in an attempt to bring the justice they saw fit on unsuspecting victims.

Partners didn’t do that either in theory. But Nines had. He’d been on Hank’s left hand side, looming over Gavin with palpable disappointment. Now, on cases he was deferential to everything Gavin said. Even went out of his way to drive them to Gavin’ favourite cafe when they were sent out on cases. He didn’t seem to understand that Gavin didn’t want to be given special treatment. That was something he’d already experienced in one direction, he had no desire for either positive or negative attention. All Gavin wanted to was return to how things used to be before the stupid assignment.

“Hey Gavin,” Ben waved at him in the breakroom. “I was experimenting with something last night, made a carrot cake, that’s your favourite, right?”

Gavin plastered a smile on his face as he nodded and took a slice. They were trying and trying really hard too. It didn’t matter that he loathed carrot cake. It didn’t matter they didn’t remember that. Ben had tried and Gavin couldn’t face the prospect of being an asshole and rejecting his attempt at being friendly. Even when it wasn’t needed or wanted. It certainly beat the other extreme.

Each evening, Gavin toyed with the idea of forcing through his request for a transfer. He hadn’t even bothered unpacking the boxes he’d hastily piled his things into those frantic evenings. At least he’d phoned the estate agent in New York and said he wasn’t going to take the flat he’d seen after all.

No apology was enough to wipe the hurt and fear from his mind. Hank’s hangdog expression as he stumbled through a heartfelt and somewhat rehearsed speech about being wrong and how he’d failed as a superior fell a little flat. Once upon a time, Gavin would have revelled in having Hank in such a position, having power over him. Now, it felt hollow and left Gavin with only a bitter taste in his mouth. Apologies weren’t enough. They didn’t magically rebuild trust. Neither did cake or coffee or forced friendliness towards him. The fake smiles and over done enthusiasm made Gavin recoil more than anything else.

Slowly, the attempts faded. Gavin could breathe easier in the bullpen when it didn’t feel like everybody was looking at him, trying to figure out his next step and how they could prostrate themselves in order to make his life easier. It was a relief, in a way. Gavin could try to get on with his life as he wanted. A little less brash, certainly a lot quieter but the routine of police work didn’t change and he still knew how to follow procedure even when he no longer knew what to do outside of protocol.

It seemed that Nines had dialled back on the subservient shtick too. The visits to the cafe lessened, he was less likely to pick up and file reports that Gavin usually complained about and slowly the sarcastic comments filtered back into their interactions. The first time he told Gavin to “belt up” he looked so ashamed and apologetic, Gavin lost all the will to even snort in amusement.

People didn’t seem to think that Gavin noticed all those small things. They acted as though that had been the way things had always been. Like Gavin had been the office favourite who everyone adored. It made Gavin a little sick if he was honest. He knew well enough that he was an abrasive ass half the time. Most people tolerated him, heck, even Nines took a few months to warm up to him beyond cordial formalities.

Perhaps the most indifferent person in the whole thing had been Fowler. He apologised once, took Gavin off the case then got on with things as if nothing had happened. In a way, it was a relief because Gavin didn’t want to be singled out by his boss for preferential treatment. Yet it still stung that Fowler, the one who had been the cause of all his misery could brush the incident off so easily. Logically, Gavin knew that Fowler couldn’t be seen as weak. It wasn’t how leadership worked. But it would have been nice to feel a little more appreciated and protected.

In a way, it helped that Hank seemed to know what was going on. As a result, he was butting heads with Fowler a lot more, angry meetings he either stormed out of or left behind a furious Fowler in his office. That helped Gavin the most. Because he knew that while not all of the arguments were about him, it at least meant that Hank was trying to be certain that such a thing didn’t happen again.

“Could I offer you a lift home?” Nines asked Gavin out of the blue one day. The morning had started out as sunny but by the afternoon, a cold chill had settled and Gavin was regretting choosing to walk in with just a light jacket.

Tentatively, he nodded and allowed Nines to walk him out at the end of their shift. The ride home was quiet, Gavin had nothing left to say. Truth be told, he didn’t speak much at work anymore. While before the incident he was more likely to insult someone than offer them a friendly word. But everyone had grown used to the fact that that was just how he was.

At his home, he got out with a mumbled “thanks”. He was half tempted to invite Nines in but at the same time, he couldn’t quite forgive him yet. What Gavin couldn’t decide was whether he was punishing Nines or genuinely hadn’t put the events past him just yet. In the end, he closed the car door with a sad half smile and went inside. Maybe next time he’d feel more generous.

From then on, Nines offered him lifts more often. Some days Gavin accepted, other days he pointblank refused. Even when it was pouring it down and he got home looking like a drowned rat. On those days, a delivery driver tended to turn up at his door with some warm takeaway that eased the chill settled in his bones.

“The Sergeant test is coming up, I want to put you forward for it,” Fowler announced as soon as Gavin answered his summons to his office.

“Sure, whatever you think is best.” Gavin shrugged it off. Before, he’d asked about taking the test and had always been all but laughed out of the office.

“It doesn’t matter what I think,” the rebuttal stung more than Gavin had anticipated. So Fowler still didn’t think much of him and it was purely a way to keep Gavin in line. Something bubbled over in Gavin.

“Fuck it. I will do it and then you’re going to accept my request to transfer. I don’t care where. Buttfucknowhere in Alaska is better than here at this rate.”

Unfortunately, Gavin didn’t realise the door had been left open. It definitely wasn’t by chance that Hank stuck his head through the door and glared at Fowler.

“The fuck you messed up now?” he growled.

“None of your damn business,” Fowler snapped back. The way Hank stood next to Gavin, pulled to his full height and arms crossed over his chest made for a foreboding image.

“Like hell it isn’t. I don’t know what’s happened to you recently Jeffrey but you’ve sorely fallen by the wayside.”

“If you think you can do a better job,” Fowler’s voice was low and threatening, “then how come you aren’t the one sitting in this chair?”

“You were a great leader while things were on edge. You’re a war room captain but a shit leader in peace. It’s why I’ve recommended you be promoted.”

There was a glint in Hank’s eyes and Gavin marvelled at his deviousness. With Fowler promoted out of the precinct, it left the captain’s role empty. It wasn’t common knowledge that Hank had already done the exam for the role some 10 years back but never found the incentive to reach for the promotion. But now, there was reason. He turned to Gavin.

“You’d make a great sergeant,” he clapped Gavin on the shoulder. “Take the test then come see me for a chat before pushing for that transfer.”

Gavin could only nod as he was amicably ushered out of the office. He didn’t even realise he’d been summarily dismissed until the door closed behind him and yelling started up.

Back at his desk, Nines smiled up at him and for the first time in a while, Gavin was tempted to return it, unforced and heartfelt.

#dbh: gavin reed #dbh: hank #dbh: rk900 #dbh: fowler #prompt fill #fowler is an ass

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