Episode 3: The Visit

The hospital smelled sterile, like bleach and something colder underneath — the smell of things kept alive by machines and willpower.

Duncan hated hospitals.

Daniela sat by the window, still in civilian clothes, her suspension not yet officially lifted. The bruising around her ribs had faded, but there was still a faint shadow under her eyes, the lingering exhaustion of someone who'd barely survived too many fights, too many compromises.

She looked up when Duncan entered.

"You're early," she said softly.

"You're awake."

He closed the door behind him and pulled a chair beside her, sitting down without ceremony. For a moment, they simply looked at each other. Not partners. Not officers. Just two people sitting in the quiet weight of everything unsaid.

Duncan broke the silence first.

"They're done pressing me."

Daniela arched a tired brow. "And?"

"They offered me the usual." He gave a humorless half-smile. "Desk promotion. Clean file. All I had to do was give them you."

Her expression didn't waver, but her eyes clouded slightly. She tried to play it off.

"You should've taken it."

He shook his head. "You know better than that."

Daniela looked away, swallowing back whatever emotion tried to surface.

"It's not like I made it easy for you, Duncan," she whispered. "You could've sold me out and nobody would've blamed you."

He studied her carefully.

"Maybe. But you didn't deserve to be sold out. You didn't break because you were reckless. You broke because you tried to save someone."

She gave a small, bitter laugh. "And in the process, I wrecked my career."

Duncan leaned forward, voice low. "There are worse things than wrecking your career. You kept Eleanor alive. You brought Kayleigh down. You did what half the people upstairs wouldn't have had the guts to do."

"That doesn't mean the brass will see it that way."

"No." He nodded. "But you'll survive them."

They sat in another stretch of silence — not awkward, not tense. Just familiar.

Finally, Daniela asked, almost hesitantly:

"Do you ever regret it? Following the rules?"

Duncan breathed out slowly.

"Sometimes I think… I followed them too long. And when it finally mattered, I didn't bend far enough."

He glanced at her.

"You did."

She smiled faintly, shaking her head. "Don't romanticize it."

"I'm not." His voice softened. "I'm just saying: not many people can still sleep at night after everything we've done in this job. You might actually pull it off."

Daniela exhaled, a long, quiet release of pressure. Then — after a pause — she spoke carefully.

"I heard they might offer me a quiet desk job when this is all over."

Duncan nodded. "You'll take it?"

She smiled, tired but honest. "I don't know. Maybe. Maybe not."

He stood up, preparing to leave. "Whatever you decide — don't let them bury you, Daniela. You're still better than ninety percent of the people upstairs."

He offered his hand.

She shook it, firm and steady. "Thanks, partner."

"Always."

He hesitated at the door, turning back one last time.

"Tell Eleanor... she's luckier than she knows."

Daniela's eyes softened. "I will."

And then Duncan left — quietly, without fanfare — leaving her in the afternoon light.

Neither of them knew if they'd ever wear a badge again.

But for the first time in months, the air between them was finally clean.

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End of Episode: Duncan