Work Text:
Harry looked over at Murphy from his seat in the precinct. Her golden locks fell in front of her face as she leaned forward into her hands, paperwork almost obscuring her from sight. She looked exhausted like she hadn’t gotten any sleep since their encounter with the loup-garou pack a week ago.
Without looking up she gestured for him to come over with her unoccupied hand.
He sat down in front of her desk, arms going to move a duster that was no longer there. He really needed to replace that soon. He felt more exposed without his signature coat than he thought he would, but there was no saving the tattered strips of fabric his coat had become in the claws of the rabid beast MacFinn had transformed into.
“The plaque looks nice Murph.” Harry said with a small grin on his face. “How much did that set the department back?”
“What are you doing here, Dresden?” she sighed barely moving her head to acknowledge him. She wasn’t avoiding him. No, Murphy had always faced things head on, for as long as Harry had known her. It was more that she didn’t have the energy to look in his direction.
The small grin, as tentative as it was on Harry’s face, shifted to a neutral expression, “We need to talk.”
Murphy leaned back in her chair and crossed her arms putting more distance between the two of them. She glanced around the empty room, the other officers that were posted for the night had gone to grab dinner. Her eyes passed by Carmichael’s desk, his things boxed up and ready to be returned to his family, Murphy’s eyes hardened as they cut back towards Dresden. “Talk fast. You’re not exactly the unit’s favorite person at the moment.”
“They still think I’m in Marcone’s pocket? After everything I-”
“Especially after everything!” Karrin exclaimed, “For fuck’s sake Harry what is everyone supposed to think,” she slammed her hand on the desk. A spark returned to her tired eyes- confrontation she could do, she was good at it, “The past two cases we’ve had you on there’s Gentleman Johnny Marcone and there you are following right behind. No plan. No explanation. Nothing.”
Her chest heaved.
He took his chance-his hand sitting next to hers on the desk, “Tell me how to fix this Murph.” He was pleading as much as he knew how.
He knew how this was going to end. Murphy would tell him in her brusque way that there was no fixing this, inform him that he’d broken something else beyond repair, and send him away. Harry Blackstone Copperfield Dresden would be alone again just as he deserved.
Instead, in a voice softer than he ever remembered hearing from the Lieutenant before him, “You have to talk to me Dresden. Clue me in. Quit lying. Can’t have an informant that isn’t willing to inform.”
And wasn’t that a pleasant surprise?
Of course he couldn’t explain everything- Elaine, the White Council, his probation- especially not here. Despite the location he couldn’t spill his guts to Murphy in the middle of the precinct where anyone could walk in. The other officers should be returning from their break soon enough. And he wasn’t going to promise not to keep anything from her, there were somethings out there in the dark that Murphy didn’t need to know about, but the basics? Yeah, he could do that.
“I can do that,” Harry agreed. Or at least he would try.
Next thing he knew there was a calendar in his hand and he was circling a date for them to meet at his apartment. Afterall, he still owed her a thorough explanation of all things wizard, and Murphy didn’t want to fall victim to his horrible luck with technology by saving it digitally. Once that was squared away Harry made his way to the door of the precinct, he could hear the officers making their way up the stairs. He turned back and Murphy was buried behind her mound of paperwork once again.
Thanks, Murph. He thought to himself, walking out the front door.