Page 163 of The Menagerie

“No. He deserved it.”

The small smile playing on her lips looks proud. “Good. The last thing you need is to go to jail over something like that.”

“I don’t think I have to worry about that, thankfully.”

“He fight back?”

“Nah. Was a huge pussy.”

Addison’s laugh is a loud bark of a thing that spreads warmth through Rowan’s chest, replacing the cold dread he’d felt at the beginning of their conversation.

“What did Mal say about it?”

“We haven’t really talked about it… but I think he felt guilty that I did.”

“How come?”

Rowan ponders it for a minute. “He doesn’t really like being helpless, I don’t think. Or feeling like someone needs to come to his rescue.”

“Did he need it in the moment, though?”

She doesn’t ask for details, which Rowan appreciates.

“I thought so.” Another deep sigh. He winces as Addison tapes up his knuckles, the flayed skin catching on the tape. “I didn’t eventhink, Ads. Just fuckin’ flew off the handle and broke the guy’s nose without a second thought. Thought I might’a been….”

Losing control. He doesn’t say it. She gets it anyway, nodding.

“You’ve been good, Rowan. Haven’t had an episode in a while. Least not one that you’ve had to call out for.”

“Yeah. I’ve been okay.”

There’s a comfortable silence between them as Addison fiddles with Rowan’s hand then pats him on the arm, signaling that she’s finished.

“So, you full-on white-knighted for the guy, and you’resureyou’re just fucking?” she teases.

This time, Rowan doesn’t bother answering her.

IT’S TUESDAYnight when Mal calls Rowan. His phone buzzes in his pocket as he’s unlocking his front door from a particularly rough day at work. The shift was grueling and long, with call after call after call coming in, leaving them barely any time to return to the station to take a break in between each one. It felt like an endless cycle of pain and discomfort, mentally ill patients, and pranks gone wrong. He doesn’t even bother looking at the caller ID as he blindly swipes at his phone, expecting Jay or Aubrey or even his boss calling him back in for a double.

“Hello?”

“Hey.”

Mal’s voice startles Rowan, freezing him in place in his doorway momentarily.

“Hey,” he says, finally snapping out of his daze and entering his apartment, dropping his backpack on the stool in the kitchen, and tossing his keys on the counter. “What’s up?”

“Wanted to see if you could talk. You got a few minutes?”

He sounds so different on the phone. Quieter, somehow. Softer too. Rowan likes it.

In truth, he’s exhausted. But he’s not going to turn down a chance to talk to Mal. Especially since this is the first time he’s ever called Rowan.Andbecause of what happened with Steven a few days ago.

“Course. Everything okay?”

“Just thinkin’ about the other day.”

Rowan kicks off his shoes and immediately flops down on the couch, his body weight heavy as he sinks into the plush cushions.

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