Chapter Text
It was 2:27 am when Mike’s phone buzzed. The screen lit up the ceiling and burned into his eyes as he squinted awake, the buzzes jarring him out of his much-needed sleep.
Who the hell would—
Charlie.
There was no hesitation.
“Charlie? What the—mmmhhh—what is it?”
“Mike?”
“Yeah, Charlie, it’s me, I’m up, I’m up. What’s up? Are you okay?”
“Mike, I—” There was a sharp noise on the other end, like she had just let out a huge breath. “Oh, God, Mike.”
Charlie was quiet for a while. Mike listened to her breathing on the line. God, he missed her. It was almost comforting, the quiet between them. He was hesitant to break it, but his concern was growing.
“Charlie, are you okay?”
Another beat of silence. Suddenly the quiet wasn’t comforting anymore. It was unnerving.
Finally she spoke.
“Mikey, I lost…” She trailed off. This time the noise on the line was definitely a sob. “I lost the baby, Mike. He’s gone.”
Fuck.
Mike’s heart dropped into his stomach as he sat upright. “Oh, Charlie.”
“I thought I could do it, I could keep him safe. I thought I could—I could be a mom, you know? I thought I could do it.”
Mike’s throat tightened. He should be there, and hearing Charlie grieve alone was breaking his heart.
“Charlie, I…” Nothing he could say would make this better, and he knew it. Mike wiped his eyes and let out a sharp sting of air. “Listen, where are you? I’m coming.”
“Mike, it’s like 3 in the morning, I’m in Florida, are you crazy?”
“I think I can find a flight. I’ll be there first thing, I promise.”
“Mikey, no. You stay there. I’m coming home, okay? I promise I’m coming home. Just be there for me? I don’t wanna be alone.”
“Are you alone right now?”
“Nah, Amber’s here, she’s taking care of me.”
Mike stiffened a little. “I don’t trust her, Charlie.”
“Well, I do. She saved my life, Mike. And besides, she’s what I’ve got right now—Mike, don’t cry, don’t you fucking dare. If you start, I swear to God I will too.”
“I’m not…” Who was he kidding? “I was so happy for you when you told me you kept it, and now… ‘m sorry, Charlie, I’m just so sorry.”
“I know. I know, baby.”
There was quiet on the line again, and for a few moments they just listened to each other, not saying anything.
Finally Mike broke the silence again.
“Does Paul know?”
“No, I didn’t—he didn’t know I never went through with it. I never told him. I couldn’t put him through that shit again.” Charlie sniffled. “I mean, he already grieved once. I can’t make him do that again. You were the only person who knew, Mike.”
Mike couldn’t help feeling guilty at that, uneasy knowing something that Paul should have known first. Still, he and Charlie confided nearly everything in each other. Mike was pretty sure that Charlie was one of the only people who would never lie to him in the house. To have no secrets between each other, that was rare in Graceland. And Mike wouldn’t dare give that up for anything.
Besides, how many times had Charlie been there for him? It was the least he could do now, keeping his friend’s confidence.
An hour later, Charlie hung up as she boarded her flight. There was no sleeping after that, and Mike didn't even try. Full of nerves and worry, he slipped downstairs to wait for his friend.
The morning was still gray by the time Charlie’s key turned in the lock. Mike was curled up on the couch, napping under a throw blanket and a hoodie. Next to him sat the giant teddy bear he’d gotten in the hospital three years ago. Charlie grinned at the memory, back when Mike was just a fresh faced newbie straight out of the academy. Back when all this shit was just getting started.
That Mike was young and inexperienced, very by-the-book. That Mike didn't believe in secrets. That Mike was more of a freshly adopted puppy than a true friend -- sweet, but replaceable.
The Mike that was sleeping on the couch in front of her, on the other hand, was one that had seen too much, known too much, felt too much. He was anything but a newbie. He'd seen the shit that was the undercover world, and he'd paid so damn much to stay here. And yet, here he was, willing to wait up all night just to comfort her. Despite all the shit that's happened in those three years, Charlie wouldn't trade this Mike for anything. This Mike was a real, honest to God friend. Those were way too rare in this job.
She left her suitcase by the door and walked over. She almost didn’t want to disturb him, but she sat down next to him anyway. Mike stirred awake, and Charlie curled up in his arms, her head on his chest. His arms rested on her ribs, and the two held each other for a while.
After a few minutes she murmured, “You know what? He was gonna be a boy.”
“Yeah?” Mike groaned in his I-just-woke-up voice.
“Yeah. I was thinking about naming him after you.”
“Mikey DeMarco? Seriously?”
“No, Levi, dumbass. Of course it would've been Mike.”
“I dunno, I think Johnny would’ve sounded better.”
“You think I’d ever give Johnny that satisfaction? No, I think I would have done something like Gabriel, maybe, or Dante. What do you think of Dante?”
“I think I arrested a Dante once.”
“Yeah? Was he hot?”
“Psssh. Unfairly hot. Very Italian.”
“So am I, dumbass.”
“What about Gabriel? I kinda like that one.”
“Really rolls off the tongue, yeah?” Charlie reached forward and picked up Mike’s tea mug, by now cold and half empty. “Here’s to you, Gabriel. I’ll see you again someday." She choked up a little as she continued. "Wait for Mama, okay?”
She was shaking as she set the mug down, trying her damnedest not to start crying again.
“Here, come here,” Mike offered as she buried her face in his shoulder again. “You want me to get you anything?”
“As much booze as you can find. I’m way too fucking sober for this.”
"Agreed."