Chapter Text
Laura was just getting up as Robbie came in the door. "You look shattered?"
"Mmmmhh." Robbie agreed.
"Well, did you get him sorted?"
"God, I don't even know where to start. You are going to think that I am mad," Robbie said with a sarcastic chuckle.
"Try me?" Laura said softly.
"I need you to make doctor's appointments for us. He needs to be scanned for a brain tumor and I need me heart checked out." Robbie said as if in a daze. He flopped down on the bed in exhaustion and just sat there.
Laura tilted her head and walked closer, worry on her face, "For you, it's about time. For him, I don't like the sound of that. What are his symptoms?"
Robbie looked up at her, tears in his eyes that drew her close to offer him comfort. Eyes cast down, brows raised and unable to speak, Robbie sighed heavily as his head swiveled in little bursts of denial. She sat next to him on the bed and put her arms around his shoulders.
She thought a moment then guessed, "He's having headaches, not sleeping. You can barely get him to eat a bite."
Robbie nodded. " I had to take him home, love. He'd been drinking…on duty. That's not him. Morse would, but not me James. And that's the worst of it. Laura, he thinks he's…seeing people. Hell, I believed him after a few hours. I thought I saw something too."
"Oh. Oh Robbie. That doesn't sound good."
"No. And the strangest thing of all, he said he is in love with me. I'm going to tell you this and please don't be angry. He asked me to kiss him, just once, and I couldn't say no," Robbie confessed fiddling with his tie.
Laura raised her chin and appraised him for a moment before saying, "Okay, not terribly surprising. Tell me?"
That shocked Robbie and his head bobbed up to look at her, "We have been having rows, well honestly since I went back to work, but lately, they have been…it's like riding a roller coaster. Not just him. Not saying it is, but he looked up this old case of mine. One of the witnesses was the estate agent and now he's got it in his head that they…I knew I shouldn't have said a word. Do you remember the Devil's Disciple case?"
"Oh. The case was before my time but…well you know. The curse. Morse gave me the heebie-jeebies over that. No…he's not…"
"He is as obsessed with it as Morse ever was. Got it all over his wall. Been doing crosswords. He thinks he's seeing Morse."
"I thought he never met him?"
"He didn't."
Laura tilted her head and furrowed her brow before she asked,"That's really odd then. See, tumors put pressure on the brain and it spews out all sorts of past experiences. I have never heard of it, creating people. That's more schizoaffective. Is he depressed?"
"He's something, but I don't know. Morbid a little, thinks he's going to die and said it was God's will. I don't want to lose him," Robbie said just above a mumble.
Laura patted his hand. "Don't get upset before he's even had a look taken. I admit it sounds a bit frightening, but all that can be attributed to a broken heart…except for Morse."
"Yeah. Ghosts. That's better. No need for detectives then. Just ask the Ghost who dunnit?"
"Time saver, that, for certain. So, you kissed Hathaway?"
"Laura?" he said in warning but with a grin trying to twinkle onto his face.
"Come on. How was it?" she asked sincerely.
"The truth? Absolute rubbish," Robbie said waiting for her to react.
"Liar," She snickered.
"Mind blowing, alright?" Robbie blinked rapidly as he said with embarrassment, "I didn't want to stop at kissing."
"But you did?" Laura clarified.
"What do you think?" Robbie asked with charitable humor.
She smirked with surety and then asked, "You ever kissed a bloke before?"
"No."
"Morse?" she pushed.
"Of course not."
"Huh. See I asked him out for drinks at least ten times and he shut me down every single time." Laura said as if she were insulted, "I just assumed…"
"You were too young for him, silly." Robbie explained, "He liked ladies his own age. Hell, you're too young for me, woman."
"True. I just like old farts."
Robbie snorted with mirth.
Laura ruffled his hair and petted his back in long relaxing strokes. "I am surprised you didn't punch him when he wanted to have a snog?"
Robbie shook his head with embarrassment then agreed, "Me too if he'd snuck up on me like, but it was…heartbreaking." He took her hand. "Thank you for not being cross with me. I am so afraid for him. I have that same sinking feeling like years ago and the things he said about Morse. There is no way he could have possibly known them. Things I never told a soul. I wasn't very pleased when I first read it, but I had a few long hours to settle down. Not such an old dog after all, me."
Robbie flopped back on the bed and closed his eyes. "I imagined that if Morse is a tumor, what would I give to make him happy and then he asked that of me and…I am no Casanova, but I didn't hold back. Seems stupid to put such labels and stigmas on it. It was so easy. It was…it was something I will remember for the rest of my life."
Laura smiled and patted him. "I am proud of you. You are a man of your time and that was a big line once. You did a kind thing, you know. He's loved you forever."
Robbie opened his eyes and looked at her, "You knew that?"
"Robbie. Love. Everyone knows that."
"I need to retire. Some detective," He admits with frustration. "If more had happened, would you have been this understanding?"
Laura gave him her most scathing look of caution, "No. One off. Not a free pass, Mr. Lewis. " she stood and headed down the stairs then halfway down, she came back up and stood in the door with a frown. "Unless."
Robbie leaned up on his elbows and waited.
She shrugged a little and sniffed, "Unless he were…terminal. Then…I would. I'd want him to die, knowing he's loved. I know it sounds mad, but…"
Robbie nodded just to get her to stop. "In the right spirit, Laura, that's the kindest thing I have ever heard."
"I see people his age every day. I don't make a difference in their fate. Just don't follow him, please." Laura said with blunt calm. She then turned and left him to contemplate all the wonders of his current world. His deep thought involved the necessary and appropriate influx of snoring.
Laura snuck out the side door quietly and lit a cigarette with a trembling hand.
One of my favorite Christmas movies stars Laurence Fox. You should go watch "Fast Freddie, The Widow and Me" if you have never seen it - it is free on You-tube. Also worth watching, a twisty horror movie called 'Deathwatch' and a crazy horrible twisty mess of psychological nightmare called 'The Hole' that will keep you up late. All have the amazing Mr. Fox at various ages.
Thank you all so much for the reviews!
