P. Stormcrow

By the time she emerged from the lock down chamber, day had given way to evening and most agents and staff had left. Finn glanced with unease towards Olivia’s lab where she was pretty sure other dolls resided in either boxes or bags.

“Reed. Jackson.” Ms. Callaghan stood just behind the railing on the second floor. With her arms crossed and a tight expression on her face, she waited until they both met her eyes before spinning around to retreat to her office.

Shit. Never had Finley felt more like she was a kid again being called to the principal’s office. She exchanged a nervous glance with Jackson and whispered. “Do you think she knows already?”

“Probably,” he replied with a shrug.

“Now, Agents.”

Finn flinched at Ms. Callaghan’s tone with its note of impatience despite the director no longer being in view.

“Okay, here we go.” Finn breathed deep before they sprinted for the stairs at the other side of the warehouse.

Ms. Callaghan remained seated as they entered. Only a woman like her could pull off the impression of looming over such a large desk without filling in the space physically. But oh, how she loomed.

Setting aside a stack of files, she gestured for them both to take a seat and waited for them to do so before speaking again. “Report.”

Jackson jumped in with a sobering account and Finn could not help but wince at how ineffectual they had sounded, groping around for theories with little luck until the latest lead. To be fair, it hadn’t even been twenty-four hours since they joined the investigation, but still…

“So you believe that the common thread is this Magic Helper company?” the director asked as Jackson fell quiet at the end.

“We can’t be sure without trying to activate any of the other more recent call signs, but it’s the best lead we’ve got right now,” Finn explained.

“And Satellite is tracking down contact information for you?”

“Yes, Ma’am.”

She nodded in acknowledgement. “Get yourself checked out then head home.”

Finn stared at her in shock and spoke before her brain caught up with logic. “But Ma’am, we just had another murder and with this new lead—”

“A lead that you can’t follow up on right now because it’s already too late for any businesses to remain open. And I cannot afford to have any of my agents on active duty with impaired judgement from exhaustion. Get yourselves cleared. Then. Go. Home. That’s an order.”

“Yes, Ma’am.” Jackson shot up from his chair and grabbed Finn’s hand before she could protest. “We’ll find someone to check us.”

He didn’t leave her much of a choice as he dragged her out of the room, but he dropped his hold on her only when they got well out of Calaghan’s earshot. Even then, he pulled her to one side first and leaned forward so that she could hear him while he lowered his voice.

“Reed, there’s no arguing with her when she’s in mother bear mode.”

Finn glanced over his shoulder. “We’re not the only ones still here working.”

“We just had a close call. She’ll want to make sure we are okay and be able to start fresh in the morning.”

She opened her mouth but shut it again when Jackson shook his head. “Before you ask, trust me, she knows. Even if Olivia said nothing, there’s not a lot that happens within these four walls that Ms. Callaghan doesn’t know about.”

When she let out a long sigh and slumped in defeat, he straightened once more and offered her a kinder smile. Let’s go see the doc and maybe we can grab a late dinner?”

She gave him a sideway glance. “Your treat?”

He laughed. “Fine. If that’s why it takes to pry you away.”

Though reluctant still, she followed him at last until they arrived at what she could only describe as the infirmary. Finn counted three beds separated by curtains, but shelves and cabinets dominated most of the room, full of instruments and bottles, none of which she recognized.

“Yo, Doc!” Jackson held up a hand in greeting.

It wasn’t Dr. Laurent, but the man in the lab coat could be his twin. She hadn’t realized until now the resemblance between her therapist and this doctor she had met on her first case as a Stranger.

Sometimes the circumstances of her division were more odd than the cases themselves.

She recalled the way the doll flew at Jackson and shuddered.

Sometimes. Not always.

“What do you want, Agent Jackson?” Part weariness, part annoyance tinged his words as he turned towards them with a raised brow. From the looks of it, they had interrupted the doctor as he was packing up for the night.

“Sorry Doc, the boss sent us over to get checked on. Had a four-thirty.”

Four-thirty. It took Finn a moment to recall what that stood for. Close call with unknown entity. Protocol dictated that any encounters of that nature must be followed by an examination to ensure that there were no remaining effects on the agent. Still, the thought of a doctor’s poking and prodding made her uneasy. While the manuals explained the necessity of this procedure, they failed to describe just what was involved.

“I see. Was it the same incident as Ms. Ainsworth?”

“She came by earlier?” Finn asked in surprise though she shouldn’t be.

“Indeed. I believe Ms. Callaghan has sent her home already.”

Oh.

“Well, let’s proceed, shall we?”

“Ladies first.” Jackson offered with a small flourish.

“No, you go right on ahead,” she gestured forward to the empty bed closest to them then crossed her arms.

Jackson smirked and stepped up, but when the doctor reached up to pull the curtain shut, he shook his head. “Nah, all good, Doc. You can leave it open.”

Had he read her mind again?

The doctor rolled his eyes but did as her partner asked. For the next few minutes, he bustled about, taking out various pieces of instruments, including a similar kaleidoscope to what Olivia used.

Examination turned out to be studying Jackson with those devices at a close distance, but rather than sitting still, he made funny faces and mouthed side comments to her whenever he wasn’t looking. Finn tried her best not to laugh but relaxed as her lips curved upwards, anyway.

If the doctor saw any of it, he ignored the antics. Instead, he lingered on the bruises beginning to form around his neck. “Unbutton the shirt for me.”

Jackson did as commanded with a teasing grin at Finn and it took her all her willpower to not blush. She had to remind herself that it wasn’t the first time she saw a bare chest, or even the first time she was seeing his for that matter.

“Explain to me again just what made these marks?”

“A doll,” Jackson answered. “I know. It doesn’t add up.”

“Hm.” The doctor lingered on the markings, but stepped back at last. “It’ll ache in the morning, so take what over-counter painkillers you need. Lucky for you, there’s no other lingering effects. I advise that next time you try to wrestle with a golem, you do not underestimate it, no matter its size.”

“A golem?” It was the first Finn heard the toys being referred to as that.

“Is that not what you would call an inanimate object that has been animated as a servant?” he asked in return.

“Of course!” Jackson slapped his leg for emphasis.

“I thought golems were specifically Jewish folklore creatures.” The reference to the lore she had gained in her research piqued her curiosity.

“They are,” Jackson corrected, eyes flashing with excitement. “But it’s close enough of a description. This isn’t a letter on the tongue, but there was a rune and all.” He hopped off the bed as he re-buttoned up his shirt.

“Right.” She wanted to be as enthusiastic as Jackson, but the different name still didn’t help with the chills that always accompanied the mention of the creepy porcelain monster that almost killed them.

“Your turn, Agent Reed.” The doctor nodded toward Jackson. “Now if you will wait outside.”

Surprised, Jackson was about to protest when the older man gave him the most sardonic look. “Not everyone is an exhibitionist like yourself, Agent.”

Finn chuckled. “I’ll be fine. Don’t leave without me.”

“Never.” Jackson winked before he stepped out of the room.

“On the bed please.”

“I never caught your name.” Finn hopped up and settled as best she could. “Jackson always just called you Doc.”

“I’m Dr. Laurence” He dipped his head in acknowledgement.

“Oh, that’s not confusing at all,” Finn muttered under her breath.

He chuckled for the first time, the sound warmer than she expected. “Yes, I’m aware of my resemblance to Dr. Laurent, in name and somewhat in appearance. Quite the coincidence but can’t be helped.” He looked her over with the same instruments, down to the same order of them. She let him work in silence while she struggled to not squirm under the scrutiny.

“When is your next appointment with Dr. Laurent?”

The question startled her and it took a second for her brain to process and come up with an answer. “In about four days?”

“Excellent. Make sure you talk to him about this case. In the meantime—” he held her gaze with his—”do you need something to help you get some sleep tonight?”

“Nah, I’m good.” Pride kept her from admitting she would have trouble sleeping at all, but a part of her wondered if she was going to regret the decision. Well, she always had her booze. And all night gaming if needed.

“All right. Then off you go. You’re cleared.”

Finn breathed out a sigh of relief. “Thanks Dr. Laurence.” She made her way to the door.

“Oh and Agent Reed?”

She half turned.

“Do try to get some rest.”

Caught. She winced and ducked her head. “Yes, Doctor.”