Tomas watched the captain to see how he'd react to the "boyfriend" remark, but he just nodded glumly. "Did he seem like he's planning to quit?" The captain looked uncomfortable to be asking so bluntly.
"He didn't say so. In fact, he was worried you might fire him, so I suspect he isn't thinking about leaving. But, captain, how many incidents like that can there be until he does, or the S&P take him away? It's a problem."
"Yes, I can see that," snapped the captain. "Do we have anysolutionsto the problem? Because he was hired for homicide work, and he's done really well with it up till now. I'd like to keep him. So? Ideas?"
Tomas had been waiting for that. "He could get a partner to look after him. That would probably mean being gone for a while, because they wouldn't just assign him someone; they'd have to work together for a while before teaming up. What I'd suggest for now is cutting his hours. I mean hours around...whatever he saw yesterday. I'm taking it for granted it was something really disturbing."
The captain nodded, so Tomas went on. "More breaks wouldn't hurt, and some kind of counseling sessions to be sure he's okay. He need to know he can step away from it if he needs to — between disturbing cases, or during consultations. Even walking around the block might be a help. If you can limit the amount of time he has to be exposed to things, it might help make sure he doesn't get overloaded like that again."
He looked at the captain with sympathy. "It's all so much more intense for them, Captain. Everything is 3D surround sound, noise and smell and awareness cranked so high, you and I couldn't bear it."
"Yeah, I get it." The captain frowned, massaging his temples. "When he's ready to come back to work, we'll go over some of these things. And, Quiróz, if you could be here for it, I'd appreciate that."
He looked embarrassed to be asking. Obviously, he wanted Tomas to handle the fox shifter situation while also looking after his wolf partner. But Tomas couldn't bring himself to resent it. He'd have wanted to be there even if the captain had forbidden it.
"Of course." And he figured he'd better just come out with his last point before he missed the chance. "He's intimidated by you, sir. I hope you'll encourage him so he doesn't need to be."
The captain's scowl deepened, marking his face with canyon-like grooves. "All right, all right. Don't you have something to do?"
Tomas rose obligingly, but before he left, added, "He's a very soft little fox, you know. Not very tough, no matter what he acts like."
"Spare me," muttered the captain. But Tomas knew he'd think about it, and would let this new awareness of Cody percolate into his mindset, and perhaps change how he reacted to the fox. It might help, even if it took some time. Hopefully, they had that time, and the job wouldn't break Cody.
Either way, whatever happened, Tomas was more or less going to be looking out for two shifters for the next while. It wasn't in his job description, but it was in his friend description. He went back to Riley to share everything, content that he'd done something useful.
Throughout the day, he took time to text Cody and stay in touch with him about little things and big ones, reassuring him that he'd be there when the captain talked to Cody and that there would be no scolding or firing, just some things to sort out to make sure he had what he needed on the job. Cody seemed almost pathetically relieved by that.
On a personal note, Tomas felt as if he'd turned a corner. True, the captain hadn't reacted at all — maybe he hadn't even heard it — but Tomas felt braver for having mentioned his boyfriend. And if he could face the captain, he could face his family. He started making plans for how to do it. It was time to act, before he got into a groove of comfort and secrecy. He didn't want Auden to be a secret.
Justin stopped by to see him during the work day, looking like he had a chip on his shoulder. Tomas thought,Oh, no, here we go! But Riley was present, so Justin wouldn't be an out-and-out asshole no matter what. Still, Tomas braced himself.
"Tomas." Justin nodded at him. "So. Cody. Do we have any clue what he might have needed from me yesterday to prevent this situation?" His voice was clipped and pissed off.
Tomas shook his head cautiously. No wonder Justin had been so worried. He'd been slightly involved, working with Cody on a case. Tomas realized he could ask what the situation had been, what kind of horrible death Cody had been helping to investigate, but he didn't want to do it, and not just because Riley was here and wouldn't handle it very well. (Riley freaked out about death — not an unreasonable thing, Tomas always thought. Really, most people didn't handle dead bodies very well.)
"We didn't talk about it. I've spoken with the captain, though. He agrees that maybe extra breaks and counseling will help in the future." He hesitated, turning his swivel chair back and forth as he thought. "I don't think Cody blames you, whatever happened."
Justin nodded, but his mouth was tight, his expression pinched. "I had thought I could work with him as well as a real partner could have. And it turns out he still has to go toyoufor any help he needs." Justin walked away, his shoulders tight.
So Justin was blaming himself all this time. Tomas and Riley exchanged a look, Riley's eyes wide and miserable. "Go after him," said Tomas.
Riley didn't have to be told twice. He hopped up and rushed after his husband. If anyone could talk him through his discouragement, it would be Riley.
#
That evening, afterwork, Cody came over to visit Tomas and Auden. Cody seemed much more like himself. He brought a variety of foods with him, mostly takeout from restaurants Tomas had never gotten around to trying.
Tomas stuck his head in a brown paper bag and inhaled the spicy smells of something Thai-inspired. "You're such a foodie. You've lived here what, a few months, and you know more about restaurants than I do."
Cody grinned, pleased with that. "I wanted to thank you guys again for hanging out with me last night. There aren't a lot of people who would do that."
"Don't be silly. We're your friends," Auden said, embracing him with gentle enthusiasm. Cody didn't say anything else about it, but he was clearly moved.
They spread out all the food Cody had brought. It covered the kitchen table.
"We'll never eat this much!" Auden exclaimed, rubbing his hands together, looking excited to try.
"Ha! Have you ever seen me eat?" said Cody. "Or weren't you paying attention, just listening to my sparkling wit?"
