Chapter Text
Stuart blinked awake slowly. His eyelids were heavy, so heavy, and he just wanted to go back to sleep. But he couldn’t do that. Because… because…
Why couldn’t he do that?
It took a moment for his eyes to focus, and for the rest of his senses to return to him. He was in a room… nowhere familiar, he didn’t think, but the light was bright and it hurt . It would be so easy to close his eyes and just sleep again… but he still couldn’t do that… for some reason.
He tried to put his hand up to block the light.
His arm only moved a little before something stopped it.
He was lying on his back, hands above his head, and something around his wrists. It felt like metal. Handcuffs? Why was he handcuffed? His legs wouldn’t move, either. Looking down, he blinked until his vision cleared and eventually he realized why not. His ankles were being held in place by some kind of rope.
He squinted and shook his head against the fog, trying to remember what had happened.
“Oh good, you’re awake,” came a voice. And he knew that voice. He knew that voice.
Stuart jerked, fully awake now and eyes wide. His chest filled with cold dread as he looked at the man that had just walked in.
“You and I are going to have a little talk.”
TWO DAYS AGO
“Good morning,” OA greeted Stuart, smiling wide.
“Morning,” Stuart answered, far less chipper.
“Not sleep well?”
“Not even a little bit,” he griped as he started the coffee maker. Or, tried to. “Oh for the love of—work, damn you.”
He felt a warm body close to his, and OA reached over his shoulder to press the power button.
“Thanks,” Stuart said, embarrassed, and hyper-aware of how close OA was, practically touching him.
“Must have shut itself off,” he said softly, clearly trying to make Stuart feel better.
“Can I start you a cup?”
“Sure. Any reason you didn’t sleep?”
Stuart shrugged. “I don’t know, I was anxious for some reason. I don't think I even have any reason to be, honestly. Just… dread, that something bad is about to happen.” He shook his head. “That sounds insane now that I say it out loud.”
“Hey, I think everyone gets that feeling sometimes,” OA told him, smiling kindly. “Just remember, if anything does happen, I’ve got your back.”
Stuart pulled out another mug, actively avoiding OA’s earnest gaze. “Thanks.” He cleared his throat. “So, where’s Jubal? I got a text from him saying we had an urgent case first thing.”
“Same here. I saw him go into a conference room with someone, another agent, I think? Not from this field office though. Must be getting briefed on whatever’s going on before coming in to give the rest of us the announcement.”
Stuart hummed. “What do you think was so important? And also, where’s Maggie?”
“She said she’s running late, routine check-up with her doctor already scheduled for today, but we can fill her in once she shows up.”
The coffee maker finished and Stuart poured the mugs, passing OA one. Their fingers brushed as he handed it to him, and he could still feel the ghost of contact even after pulling away. He knew he needed to get over his crush, OA was his coworker, and about eight years younger, and, as far as evidence pointed, straight. But he was also smart, and funny, and caring, and undeniably attractive.
As he watched OA add some creamer to his coffee, he reminded himself that he wasn’t going to date a coworker. Never again.
He was reminding himself of that a lot these days.
“Look alive, people!”
They turned to see Jubal stride into the JOC. He went to his computer to pull up the case details. “Early this morning, Valerie Smith was found strangled in her home by her housekeeper.” The screens showed crime scene photos of a woman lying in bed, ligature marks evident around her neck. “There were signs of forced entry, but then no signs of struggle. We’re waiting on the full autopsy report.
“As some of you are no doubt aware, Ms Smith was a frontrunner for Mayor of New York City. However, what makes this case of particular note is that it matches another case. In Boston two days ago, Hannah White, running for Mayor of Boston, was killed in a very similar manner.” More crime scene photos appeared, of another woman dead in her bed, similar ligature marks. “Now, we can’t guarantee that these cases are connected until we get autopsy results back,” Jubal continued. “But my money is definitely on this being the same person: we have forced entry, no sign of struggle, and a female democratic political candidate found dead in her bed by strangulation. And so we have an agent from the Boston Field Office here that was working on the White case. He’s with Isobel now, but as soon as she gets done he’ll come in and I’m sending him, OA, and Scola to the ME’s.” He started assigning everyone else tasks, and Stuart sipped on his coffee, looking at the photos on the screens.
“So, someone from Boston,” OA commented. “Do you think it’ll be someone you knew?”
Stuart just shrugged. “Could be. It’s been a few years since I left, though, so maybe not all that likely.”
“Scola, OA,” Jubal called. Stuart set down his mug and they walked over to talk to him.
There was another man with him. Scola’s entire body went cold.
No. No. No no no no no. It can’t be.
“Meet Thomas Green. Scola, he says he’s worked with you?”
Thomas smiled, and Stuart’s heart stopped. “Hey there, handsome. Did you miss me?”
__**__
OA looked between Scola and the Boston agent, Green. There was something wrong but he couldn’t guess what.
Green was fairly tall, about six foot two, and looked like he was about five years older than Scola. He was handsome, dark hair graying at the temples and high cheekbones. But there was something sharp in his eyes when he looked over at Scola that made OA’s skin crawl.
After what was only a few seconds, Scola blinked and smiled, but it wasn’t a genuine one, not meeting his eyes. “Hey, it’s been awhile.” He put his hand out to shake, and OA noticed the other one tremble by his side.
“It certainly has. And you must be OA?” He turned that smile to him, and OA practically felt his hackles raise. There was something about this guy that set his teeth on edge.
“Yeah, that’s me,” he shook Green’s hand. His grip was too firm, but OA didn’t react at all. “You’re rolling with us?”
“The medical examiner just called,” Jubal said. “He’s got autopsy results. Green, if you could compare them and see if we really are looking at the same guy?”
“Of course. Let’s head out.” They left the JOC and started for the garage.
“So, Stuart, how have you been since I saw you last?”
“I’ve been well,” Scola answered.
OA frowned. Scola was very clearly uncomfortable around this other agent. His shoulders were slouched, making him look even smaller, and his usually droll voice was more measured, like he was watching his words and tone.
“Hey, Scola, I just realized,” OA said, mind racing to come up with a reason to get Scola away from the other man. “I forgot to grab a coffee. Can you come with me, you know I can never remember how to work the machine.”
Scola furrowed his brows, clearly confused about the lie, but thankfully didn’t say anything.
“Green, you go ahead to the garage and get us an SUV?”
Green shrugged. “Sure, I’ll see you both in a minute.” With a last look at Scola that OA couldn’t decipher, he continued down the hall and they went back to the offices.
As soon as they were away, OA put a hand on Scola’s shoulder. “Hey, Scola, what’s going on?”
“What do you mean?” His shoulders were still slumped, and his eyes didn’t quite meet OA’s.
OA put his hand on his shoulder and bent over a little, catching Scola’s gaze in his own. “There is something weird about that guy, and something going on between you two.”
Scola’s gaze was always intense, and this was no exception. He looked at OA for awhile, clearly deciding what to say. OA maintained eye contact, waiting for an answer.
“I need you to promise you won’t tell anyone?”
“Scola, what—“
“ Promise.”
OA blinked, surprised by Scola’s sudden vehemence. “Okay, yeah, I promise.”
Scola looked down again. “We, uh, dated. For a couple years. When I was in Boston. It wasn’t a great breakup.”
And OA had no idea what he was expecting, but that wasn’t it. “Wait, you—“
“Yeah, I know, you’re supposed to disclose relationships. We never did. He didn’t want us to. It was… look, I don’t want to talk about it. Not now.”
“Scola, can we trust this guy?”
There was that gaze again, eyes full of an emotion OA couldn’t hope to name. Eventually he said “Green’s good at his job.”
That wasn’t an answer, and it told OA everything he needed to know, while begging a hundred other questions he didn’t have the words for.
“Okay. Come on, let’s grab that coffee really quick.”
They reached the garage not long afterwards, OA carrying a to-go cup he’d poured his coffee into. “Sorry,” he told Green when they reached him. “That machine hates me,” he said smiling.
“Sure,” Green answered. “Let’s roll. Stuart, sit up front. I’ll drive.”
OA glanced over at Scola, who just nodded and went to the front seat.
There was something going on here, and OA was determined to get to the bottom of it. He was also determined to get Scola away from Green as fast as possible. He was different around the other agent: quieter, less sure of himself. It hurt OA to see it.
OA admired Scola. The older agent always seemed so confident. He was a little prickly, but after working side-by-side and back-to-back for years, he had gotten to see past the rough exterior. He was kind, and caring, and wanted to do the right thing. And it didn’t hurt he was attractive. Every time Scola shot him that gaze, when he knew they were having the same thought, or were trying to work out the same problem, it made OA’s heart feel a little funny.
Seeing that confidence, that outward sarcasm with the softer center, all hidden by what was just a shell of his usual self, it bothered OA immensely. And anyone that made Scola so much less of himself…
He was going to get Scola away from him, he thought to himself again, listening in on the stilted conversation in the front seat. He was going to figure out what was so wrong here.
__**__
The car ride was both ages long and over in a flash. Thomas asked questions about his life since Boston, and talked some about what he’d done since they last met: big cases he’d closed, the house he’d inherited from his dad, promotions he’d been considered for.
The one blessing was he seemed to have forgotten OA was in the vehicle.
Stuart hoped with everything he had that Thomas would leave OA alone. If he could keep Thomas happy, keep his attention on him, maybe he wouldn’t look at OA twice, wouldn’t try and suck him in the way he had Stuart all those years ago, and they could wrap up the case and never have to see him again.
For some reason, Stuart didn’t think things would be that easy.
When they reached the ME office, OA walked in between Stuart and Thomas. So when they made their way to the morgue, Stuart tried to stand between them again. It resulted in him and OA standing fairly close to each other, arms brushing whenever they moved, but he had to keep Thomas’s attention away from OA as much as possible, and while he couldn’t exactly hide the other man from view, standing in between them felt like the best starting place.
“What do we have?” Thomas asked.
“Toxicology came back, and our victim was drugged before being strangled.” He handed over the report to Stuart, and both of the other men looked over his shoulders to read it. “The injection mark is barely noticeable under the ligature marks, but that’s definitely where the needle went in.”
“What can you tell us about what was used to strangle her?” OA asked. Stuart felt Thomas look over at him and he winced. Thomas hated other people asking the questions.
“Some fibers were left behind, you’re looking for rope. Interesting choice if you ask me, it’s definitely going to leave fibers behind and be easy to connect the crimes.”
“Maybe that’s the point,” OA mused.
“Or maybe he’s an idiot,” Thomas countered. “This is the same guy,” he continued. “These details all match. Let’s go back to the JOC and see if your people have turned anything up.”
They got back in the car and started back for 26 Fed.
“Why would someone want to kill both of these women?” OA asked from the back seat.
“They’re both women running for office, I’m sure there’s any number of people that want them dead,” Thomas answered dismissively.
“Yeah, but in different cities. If it was the same guy, they wouldn’t both affect him. So does he just have it out for women running for office in general? Why start now?”
Stuart held his breath, knowing Thomas wasn’t going to like OA throwing out ideas or challenging him.
“Look, OA,” and that was the warning tone. He was getting pissed. “I’m telling you, this is the same guy. As for why he’s doing this, that’s not my job. My job is—“
Trying to come up with a way to distract Thomas from berating OA any further, Stuart picked up his phone like answering a call. “Hey, sorry, Maggie’s calling.” He quickly found her contact info and called.
“Hey, Scola. What’s up?”
“Yeah, we just left,” he said like he was answering where they were. “Agent Green is pretty convinced we’re looking for the same guy. MO matches.”
“Uh, okay,” she said, clearly a little confused about the weird phrasing. “I’m at the office, we’ll try to find people with grievances against both women, should help narrow down the search.”
“Great, see you soon.” He hung up. “She wanted to make sure you think the details match.”
“I could guess,” Thomas said, clearly still pissed, but he didn’t say anything else.
Stuart chanced a glance over at OA, only to meet his eyes.
OA knew something was wrong. Of course he did, he was smart. Stuart bit his lips, hoping OA would understand. Stay quiet.
__**__
They reached the office and started to head up to the JOC. Agent Green didn’t say anything, but was clearly still angry about something, fury practically rolling off of him in waves. Scola had put himself in the middle in the elevator, brushing OA’s arm to do it, and OA wanted more than anything to separate them.
So when the door opened and they started down the hall and Green said “hey, Stuart, can I talk to you a minute?” OA turned to argue.
He stopped when Scola put a hand on his arm and shot him a look, like the one in the car.
“Of course,” Scola said, before following Green to an empty conference room.
He knew he shouldn’t, but OA stood beside the door, listening.
“—happier to see me.”
“Sorry, I’m trying not to give us away.”
Green scoffed. “I think you’re mad I came. Do you have any idea how hard it was for me to find you? It’s almost like you told people not to reveal where you went.”
“Come on, why would I do that?” His voice sounded more normal, and OA smiled to hear it. “ You never wanted anyone to know about us, I was just trying—“
“I thought we talked about your sarcasm. Do you think anyone wants you to be sarcastic all the damn time? It’s annoying.”
“Sorry,” and he was quiet again, and OA hated it.
“And what’s the deal with that Omar kid. He thinks he’s smart, doesn’t he? Stupid-ass kid, just hired him to make themselves look good with a Muslim agent.”
It was all things OA had heard before. But he still clenched his fist to hear it from this asshole.
“He’s a good agent,” Scola said, and it felt nice to hear himself defended, especially by him. “He’s smarter than you think he is.”
“He said he can’t even run the damn coffee maker. And why are you even on his side? He’s the kind of agent we used to laugh about, the hopeless optimists that don’t know how the world works.”
“He isn’t—“
“Don’t think I haven’t seen how close you two have been!” Green practically shouted. “What, did you try to replace me? With that oaf? Don’t get me wrong, he’s nice to look at, but I thought you had higher standards than that.”
“There’s nothing going on between us.”
“Better not be. I’d almost think he’s the reason you left Boston without a word…”
Scola was quiet again.
It sounded like Green took a deep breath. “Stuart, if I scared you off, I’m sorry, okay? I know that that last night we were together… I know it wasn’t good. You know I hate to get angry with you like that.” His voice was soft, even as the words made OA feel ill.
“I know…” and Scola’s voice was soft, too.
“You’ve always known how to push my buttons, you know?”
“I’m sorry, Thomas.”
“I’ve missed you so much. And you haven’t even kissed me yet. Come here.”
That’s when OA left, not able to stand listening to them kiss.
He went into the JOC and saw Maggie looking over Elise’s desk. “Oh I’m glad to see you,” he said in a rush.
She smiled, confused. “Hey, I thought you guys would already be here. Scola called and said you guys were on the way a little while ago.”
OA frowned. “Scola called you ?”
“Yeah, he seemed weird, though.”
“There’s… look, can we go talk? There’s something really strange going on.”
She looked concerned and followed him away from the analyst desks and towards their office space.
“What’s up?”
“There’s this other agent here working this case with us, Thomas Green… Maggie, the second Scola saw this guy, he froze. It was like he was shell-shocked. He looked… he looked scared. And he’s been so weird around him, like, really quiet and timid. Green sorta blew up on me in the car, too.”
“Do you think Scola’s just worked with him before and knows he has a temper?”
OA looked around to make sure no one was in earshot. “I talked to Scola, he made me promise not to tell anyone else, but… he said they dated. But never disclosed it. Because Green didn’t want to.”
That made Maggie pause.
“I also… look, I know I shouldn’t have. But when we got back from the ME, Green pulled Scola aside, and I listened in.” He closed his eyes, shaking his head. “Maggie, I hate this man.”
“Whoa, what the hell did you hear him say?”
“He made it sound like the last night they were together, they had some kind of fight. His tone was apologetic, but he was blaming Scola, and it almost sounded like Scola was listening to it . It doesn’t make any sense.”
“It sounds like Green was really controlling.”
“Yeah. I just really want to keep Scola away from him as much as we can while he’s here.”
Maggie nodded. “That sounds like it would be for the best. Look, Ian found a really credible suspect, and Elise is locating where the posts were made from. As soon as she gets us an address, how about you and I go with Green to check it out. We’ll tell Scola to stay here because Jubal needs him or something.”
OA nodded. “Thanks, Mags.”
“It’s sweet that you’re so worried for him,” she said, lips curled into a teasing smile.
OA felt himself blush. “It’s not like that. He’s my friend. And you haven’t seen him around this guy, it’s awful.”
“I’m sure it is, and I’m not trying to lessen that. I really wish more people had a friend like you.” She pat his arm and started back towards the analyst desks.
Green and Scola were getting caught up to speed by Jubal. “Ah, here you guys are!” Jubal said happily when they came back in. “Maggie Bell, meet Thomas Green.”
“Nice to meet you,” she smiled, putting out her hand to shake. She was still friendly, but definitely less so than usual. Not that Green realized.
“You too, it’s great to put a face to the name!” He flashed her a charming smile, and somehow that made OA’s skin crawl even more.
He looked over at Scola, who had his arms crossed like he was retreating in on himself. It broke OA’s heart. “Hey, Scola, can you come help me with this?”
Green looked away from Maggie and frowned. “What’s going on?”
OA tried to come up with a good answer. “While we’re waiting I just wanted to finish some paperwork. I like to have Scola look over it, check for typos, y’know?”
“Yeah, you should have a little time, make sure you get that report done,” Maggie said, before turning back to Green and getting his attention again, explaining something or another.
Scola followed OA out of the room. “OA, what’s going on? You catch me on typos more than anything, and I know for a fact you’re somehow ahead on paperwork.”
“Sorry to keep lying, I just… that guy really gives me the creeps and I… I’m trying to keep him away from you as much as I can.”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean you aren’t yourself around him. And I hate it.”
Scola sighed, looking down at his feet and rubbing the back of his neck. “Look, there is more going on. But I can’t talk to you about it right now.”
“I just want you to talk to someone about it.”
“No, I want to tell you. I do.” He finally looked back up at him. “Can we wait until after work tonight though?”
“Of course. You can come over if you want, unless you’d rather go out somewhere?”
“Your place sounds good.”
Despite everything, OA felt his stomach flutter a little and he smiled. “Okay. Also, I’m gonna make Jubal hold you back while we go out to search… whatever address Elise gets us.”
“OA, you really don’t have to—“
“I know that.” He put a hand on Scola’s arm. “But it would make me feel better if you were away from him, okay? I’ll have Maggie to keep him in line. If I’m overstepping, I’ll back off, and you can come with us, and we’ll forget about it. But I think you want away from him just as bad as I want you away from him.”
Scola huffed, and almost sounded amused except that his eyes looked so tired. “I… yeah. I think I’ll stay here. Just, OA? Please, if he tries to get close to you, don’t let him.”
OA frowned. “Why would he?”
“I… I’ll tell you about it. Tonight. Just, please?”
“Of course.” He finally pulled his arm away and went back to the JOC.
Maggie had been talking to Jubal, who looked thoughtful about whatever she said, but quickly went back to his usual self as soon as she walked away and he saw OA and Scola.
“Okay people, all of my ducks are finally in a row, Elise tell me you’ve got something for them.”
“Yes!” She punched the air. “Finally tracked this guy down. There was some encryption, nothing too severe, just time-consuming—”
“But the Sparknotes?”
“Right! Yes, I’ve got the address here.”
“So why do we suspect this guy?” OA asked as she pulled the map up on the screen.
“This guy is Richard Hall. He’s one of the most vocal haters of Smith, our New York victim,” Maggie explained. “He’s made comments online about thinking all women should stay out of politics, and has made some comments about White, our Boston victim, as well. And it looks like he has property in Boston as well as New York City. It’s not much, but it’s a starting point. Maybe he can at least point us towards where to find people that share his views.”
“Nicely done, Agent Bell, glad someone’s been paying attention,” Jubal said, shooting OA a jokingly disparaging look, and OA raised his hands in surrender, smiling back.
“Agents Green, Bell, and Zidan, I want you guys at his house. Agent Scola, I want you arranging for a search warrant.”
Green frowned. “Why is an agent arranging for a search warrant?”
Jubal raised an eyebrow. “Because I’m the ASAC and I said so. Any other questions?”
“It’s fine,” Scola said softly to Green. “You guys go ahead.”
“I just sent Agent Bell the address,” Elise said.
“Move out people,” Jubal announced. “Let’s try and find something today.”
On their way to the garage, Green said he needed to stop by his own vehicle to grab something, and Maggie and OA got an SUV.
“Yeah, you’re right, there’s something weird going on here,” Maggie told OA, once Green had left.
“I’m glad you think so too.”
“I hope this case ends quickly.”
OA nodded. “You and me both.”
Green came back a little bit later. “Alright, let’s roll. I’ll drive. Maggie, sit up front and navigate?”
“Sure,” she smiled, but shared a glance with OA as they loaded up.
__**__
Stuart watched the other three leave and breathed a small sigh of relief, going to his desk to fill out the warrant request.
Jubal came over a little later, sitting in a chair beside him. “Hey, Stuart? Everything alright?”
“Yeah, of course.”
A raised eyebrow. “Are you sure?”
“What, uh, what did Maggie tell you?”
“She said she and OA have reason to believe you should stay out of the field for a time. What would that reason be?”
Stuart frowned, before realizing that must have been the story she came up with to avoid Jubal being suspicious of him and Thomas. OA almost definitely told her they dated, which he had expected.
“Oh, just, been feeling ill lately. Nothing too big, but I do appreciate you letting me sit aside for a little while.”
Jubal definitely didn’t believe him. “If you say so. But, look, if there’s any kind of issue, I need you to tell me, alright?”
“Of course,” he smiled.
Jubal went back to the analysts, patting Stuart’s shoulder as he passed. “Get that search warrant for our people, alright?”
“Will do.”
Stuart filled out the search warrant and felt himself relax for the first time all day. Finally, when he closed his eyes, he didn’t see Thomas, looking at him disapprovingly. Didn’t hear Thomas’s voice in his head, saying he wasn’t trying hard enough.
He saw OA, face kind, clearly concerned. Felt OA’s hand on his arm, trying to be supportive despite not knowing what was wrong.
Stuart knew he had to tell him more details at dinner. He just had to figure out what to say.