Galilee Rising(11)

"I don't know if I'm really comfortable with you guys popping over whenever you damn well please, especially if I'm not home."

More silence, then, "Sorry."

I roll my eyes. Obviously not a conversationalist. "But you're going to do it anyway, aren't you?" I ask, walking over.

"Yes."

I wheel the spare computer chair to his side. He glances at me, then back to the monitor with what looks like an essay on it. "What are you doing?" I ask as I sit.

He quickly looks again. "Updating."

"I have a guy for that." Lizard, great hacker, lousy hygiene.

"I'm better."

I raise an eyebrow. "Finally. A complete sentence. We're making progress." The hero doesn't smile. "So, what have you done to my Doris?"

"I, uh, uploaded the latest facial and speech recognition software, got it access to the Defense Department's mainframe, and currently am adding additional information to the known criminal files from our old system in Independence."

"What about The Sims? Can you put that on there too?" I ask with a smile, which is not returned. Okay, I'm trying but he isn't giving me an inch. Fine. "So, how long are you going to be? I need the computer."

"Why?"

"To download porn," I say defensively. "None of your business."

"I have already reviewed the log, recordings, footage, and reports for the day." He glances at me again. "You are very thorough."

I'm very pissed is what I am. "You went through my files?"

"Some. We knew generally who the major criminals in the city were, but we'll review the complete files. I, or one of the others, will come every day to view the day's footage."

"So, in other words, you're cutting me out of the loop," I spit out.

"We may need you in emergency situations, but…we're here now. This isn't your burden anymore."

"My burden? Helping my city and keeping people safe isn't a burden. Is that what you consider it?"

The hero hangs his head, I hope from shame. "I-I didn't mean it like that. Of course it isn't. I-I-I just assumed after what transpired last year, and all your sacrifices then and since, you'd desire to be as far from this sort of thing as possible."

"What thing?"

"Violence. Danger. Supers."

"Well, you're being in my house every day kind of makes that hard, huh?" I point out.

"We will go out of our way to make sure nobody links us together. Measures have already been taken. Perhaps it would be best if you frequented this room as little as possible so as to limit our interactions."

I fold my arms across my chest. "Now you're telling me where I can and can't go in my own house?"

"No! No, of course not," he backpedals. "I'm-I'm sorry. I'm articulating this incorrectly."

"Yeah, now I see why you stick to monosyllables."

"I just, I," he says, flustered. He takes a second, lips pursed as he tries to find the correct words. "I--We're aware of how close you and Justice were. It is only logical, that due to the circumstances of his death, you would feel partially responsible." My back straightens. "And due to your feelings of culpability, you would locate an avenue to compensate for his loss, i.e. spending hours down here attempting to forestall crimes he would if he were alive."

"So?" I ask, voice hard.

"So, we're here to lift that burden. You don't have to carry this city anymore. You can go out with friends, take trips, even…date. Live your life. As Justin would want it." He turns back to the computer screen. "That's simply what I meant."

"And how the hell would you know what Justin would want for me?"

Once again he's silent, trying to find the words before saying, "He loved you. He'd want you to be happy. And you're not. This could be the first step toward it. Let us do that for you."

I'm speechless. Shame has silenced me. He's trying to help me, and I'm giving him shit for it. "You don't get it. The only times this year I've been even close to happy have all been down in this room. Finding the right footage to take someone down. Helping the police piece together evidence. I almost felt like I was my old self again, for all that's worth," I say with a scoff. "Out there, all that bullshit, it's what makes me nuts. My friends treat me like a China doll, I'm not exactly corporate material, and as for men, hell there's nobody I would inflict myself upon." Nightingale glances at me, and I half smile. "Too broken. Think I always will be. But in here that doesn't matter. Hell, it might actually be a good thing. So you're not cutting me out of this. I'm helping you whether you like it or not. I know this city. I know the players. I have the connections. Nobody but us will know. I want to help. I need to help. Don't freeze me out. Besides, it's my house. My computer. I can always just call the cops on you for trespassing. The press would love that, huh? You have no choice."