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"You've got to stop doing this." Chief Scully says, sitting calm and collected on her side of the desk. On the inside, it hurts. She knows how badly her detective needs his partner, but it's been half a year with no signs, no sightings on either side of the veil. As much as it pains her, she's given up hope of Officer Dooley ever being found.
The detective is standing across her desk, eyes surrounded by bags so dark they look like bruises. They narrow in anger and he trembles slightly, most likely in anger but also probably because he's been skipping meals and is probably close to starving by now. Not that Scully has been prying or anything, she's just been keeping a close eye on him. Somebody needs to look out for McQueen, because Lord knows he's not looking out for himself anymore.
"Stop doing what? Trying to find a missing person?" McQueen asks, and his voice is low and gravelly. He's probably forgotten to drink anything today, and Scully briefly entertains the idea of offering him a drink, but all she has in her office is half a bottle of scotch. Somehow she doesn't think the detective would want any of that.
"He's gone, McQueen, but you're still here. Act like it." She's being stern, but she has to be. She knows McQueen, once he's on a case he's on it for good, he just doesn't know how to let go. Scully can't sit by and watch him dig his own grave chasing after the impossible.
McQueen scoffs, "Act like it? What do you mean by that?"
"I mean take care of yourself and start doing your job." She's been very lenient with the detective, allowing him to use the portals he's supposed to be closing to check for his missing partner. Allowing him to interrogate ghosts he's supposed to be banishing for any information. Allowing him to get sloppy with his paperwork. She's tried her best to let him do all he can, hoping he would find closure, but McQueen refuses to close this case.
"I am doing my job."
"Barely."
"Well," He bares his teeth, "It's a lot harder of a job to do without my partner."
Scully opens her mouth, ready to remark on the fact that his partner really didn't do anything to help him solve cases, but holds it back. That would just be cruel. She's strict, but she's not a monster. Instead she says, "I need you to focus on the cases I give you, not on chasing after Dooley."
It's quiet for a while and she watches McQueen's face as it goes from angry, to doubtful, to resigned, and finally ends up determined. "Fine, I give up." He says.
And Scully thinks about protesting that, telling him that he doesn't need to give up, not fully at least, he just needs to stop focusing so much on it, but before she can say anything a badge is thrown onto her desk. A service pistol is gently laid next to it. "Detective?" She questions.
"Not anymore." He states as turns and heads for the door.
Scully slams a hand on her desk. "What are you doing?" She asks.
"Giving up." He says as he stands in the doorway. He turns his head to look back at her, and she can see the fire burning in his eyes. "On this job. I will never give up on Patrick." He turns away then and heads out, leaving behind a shocked Scully.
Slowly, she smirks. She hates to admit it, but she feels a pride filling her. As much as she thinks it's a fool's errand, she can't help but respect his loyalty to Dooley. Well, she thinks, if anybody can find the missing officer, it'll be McQueen.
As she's filling out the paperwork for his sudden resignation, she realizes she didn't get the keys to his service car. She shrugs and decides to let it be. That hunk of metal was falling apart anyways.
Maybe one day it'll find it's way to the station again anyways. Holding both McQueen and Dooley. She can only hope.