P. Stormcrow

When Finn stepped back into the warehouse base, Jackson was just emerging out of Olivia’s lab. As soon as he caught sight of her, he hurried over with a groan.

“Save me!” He reached out for her like a man dying of thirst that had found an oasis. 

Finn tried not to burst out laughing and toned it down to a smirk instead. The theatrics almost made her forget about the case and she had to remind herself of the task she returned to do.

Olivia emerged mere seconds after and stalked after them. “Agent Jackson, I’m not done with you yet! Do you have any idea how long it’s been since there’s an actual cursed person I can test on?” 

Jackson stepped with graceful deftness behind Finn, imposing her between himself and the forensic scientist. Or should Finn be calling her a magician? Wait. More importantly… “If she’s never tested the gadgets on someone what did she use before to make sure they work?” Finn leaned back to ask.

“Curses I’ve collected in petri dishes, that’s what!” Olivia set her hands on her hips.

The situation would be comical if not for how serious this could get. “So, what has worked so far?” 

“I have a collection of prototypes I put aside that Agent Jackson can take home with him. I’ll go pack them up.” Olivia spun around on her heels and rushed back to the office.

“Thank you,” Jackson breathed out in relief, spares from further experimentation.

“Don’t thank me yet.” Finn turned to face him. “I wanted to talk to you about tonight.” Before he could interject, she hurried her next words. “You shouldn’t be alone. If anything comes after you…”

Jackson placed both hands on her shoulders. “I’ll be fine. Besides, there aren’t enough agents for—”

“I’m coming over.” 

Jackson stared at her in shock.

Finn had guessed the difference in their gender would cause some awkwardness, but his continued silence only emphasized it. Still, instead of filling the space between them, she met his gaze and refused to look away. He should understand why she was insisting. He would have done the same if their roles been reversed.

“Okay, fine,” he grumbled, but turned from her. Was that embarrassment she detected? The flush creeping up the back of his neck confirmed her suspicion.

If they were stuck with each other for the rest of the night, they couldn’t keep up with this silly, weird vibe between them, like two fumbling teenagers on their first date. Besides, this was not a date. And there was nothing between them.

“Dinner at O’Doul’s? I can use a cold one.” Finn had a feeling that she would switch topics a lot tonight.

“Good idea.”

***

Finn stared at the immaculate apartment and shifted the overnight bag on her shoulders. She should have known Jackson kept his home spotless, but it was still a sight to behold.

Damien, not Jackson. Technically, they were off the clock. She had to remind herself again for the umpteenth time since they left work. All through dinner, she had to catch herself from using his last name.

But there were perks to this arrangement. She closed her eyes for a moment, reveling in the air conditioner. It was much nicer than her apartment.

“You can leave your bag in the bedroom. I’ll take the couch tonight, he suggested as he hung his keys up by a little hook on one wall. Everything in its place, it appeared.

“I can take the couch.”

“My house. My rules.” Damien pointed towards the room near the back.

Authority ran clear in his voice, more than he had used on her even at work. She gave him an odd look, but when he only stood without a word, she sighed and rolled her eyes. Still, she headed to his bedroom anyway, closing the door behind her.

He had already made the bed and not a single piece of clothing was in sight. She might have guessed he had cleaned to prepare for a guest in advance. But there was no way he could have anticipated how today would have played out. Did that mean he was expecting someone to come over later? She knew about Maya, but how much more did she know about his private life?

Well, it was too late for that. At least whoever it was would be safer being away from Damien for now.

She couldn’t help but continue to study the room. She noted the picture frames sitting on top of one shelf. A few featured a woman who resembled Eve Albright but appeared with a much sunnier disposition. A fidget cube. Nicknacks, she was certain possessing stories or meaning behind them. She wanted to know more but was uncertain how to ask. Best to leave it and mind her own business.

There was no need to unpack, but she rummaged in her bag for a T-shirt and gym shorts, changing out of her work clothes before she left the room. 

“Hey, do you want—” Damien cleared his throat. “—water.” Another pause. “Or you know, anything else…”

Oh dear God. Damien Jackson had turned into an awkward teenager. Hell had frozen over at last.

“Water’s good.” She rolled her eyes again to fake nonchalance, to pretend she didn’t see his reaction. At least her loosened hair would hide the warmth that was probably making her cheeks grow red. She stalked up to him, grabbing the bottle from his hand. 

When he remained rooted to his spot, she wondered just what had changed between them. “Did you want anything out of your room?”

“Right. Be right back.” He marched in there with robotic motions.

Another mystery. Another question. One she wasn’t sure she would ever get an answer for.

Instead, she busied herself studying his home. Outside of the bedroom, the place looked like a damn Ikea catalog with not a speck of dust in sight. A cleaner. The man must have somebody coming in daily. It was the only explanation. Of a spell. That would explain why there wasn’t even a television. Finn unscrewed the cap and took a big swig of water. Damien has been holding out on her all this time. When he comes back out…

A loud yell from the bedroom sent her racing across the apartment, and she burst into the room as her heart dropped to her stomach. A shelf had collapsed, and Damien half laid on the floor, nursing his cheek.

“Shit.” She scrambled to his side, but recalled the importance of not moving someone with a potential head injury.

“I’m fine. It just clipped me.” 

Okay, he was conscious and making sense. That was a positive sign. She reached for his hand, brushing by the warding bracelet on his wrist. It was almost uncomfortably warm to touch. She shuddered to consider what would have happened if he hadn’t been protected in the first place.

“Let’s see.” She peeled his palm away and winced at the cut on his cheek. But she breathed a sigh of relief as it appeared to be superficial and not bleeding profusely. “Think you can stand?”

“Yeah.”

Finn took him by the arm and helped him up, letting him lean on her from support. They shuffled outside, ignoring the mess for now, and she settled him on the couch. “First aid kit?”

“Washroom. Cabinet under the sink.”

“‘kay.” She got up to retrieve the tin box and brought it back, glad that she had insisted on coming over and hating that she already had to play Florence Nightingale. Somehow, this felt more like a warning, a preview of more to come.

“You didn’t see any characters from the movie, did you?” she ventured in a hushed whisper as she sat next to him and began working on cleaning his wound.

“No.” Damien winced at the sting. “Maybe you shouldn’t be here, Finn.”

“Are you shitting me?” 

“Ow.”

She must have pressed too hard on the cut. Well, serve him right.

“I’m not what this thing is after. Plus, Olivia gave me my own wards. Now stay still and if you mention anything about me leaving again, I am going to make your life a living nightmare for the next month.” She resumed her cleaning, then taped it up as best she could before retrieving the kaleidoscope. The red threads had not dissipated like she had hoped. 

“Okay, you win.” Damien touched the cut and sighed. “There’s a couple more things Olivia wanted me to put up. And a trap of some sort. Want to help me set up?”

She nodded, and they made quick work of putting everything into place. The last contraption, something akin to a repurposed Hungry Hungry Hippo game but with a jar in the middle and magnets as a mobile, was the most challenging piece. It took some tries to assemble, even with the instructions Olivia had included, but when they finally completed it, they both slumped against the couch.

“I guess now we wait.”

No TV to watch. And with all the magic present, she didn’t want to risk turning on her laptop. “So, what do you do around here?”

Damien grinned at her and walked to a bookshelf. “What do you prefer? Fantasy or science fiction?”

It was better than nothing. Finn followed and scanned the impressive collection. Still, it was going to be a long night.

If they managed to stay awake.