Chapter Text
Doug kissed his wife goodbye. Their weekend plans have been put on hold. He’s been called from the hospital. The police have a few questions about an incident that was called in yesterday. Doug prays that they’re okay, but by the sounds of it, it wasn't pretty.
One journey later, Doug is directed to the right room and is stopped by two officers. One taller man with a few scars, and a shorter man dressed exactly the same as him. The shorter one pulled out a notepad. “Mr Pabst, I assume?”
“Yes. Can I ask why I’ve been called to the hospital?”
The taller one answered. “Yeah, dispatches were called last night at about 11:30 PM about a gang looking to cause trouble. When our guys got there, they found two men beaten half to death in the street.”
The shorter one spoke up. “You wanna tell us what you saw?”
Doug chose his words carefully. “I saw exactly what you described. A dangerous looking group out looking to cause mischief. Do you think they beat these men up?”
The shorter one spoke. “That’s what we’re trying to figure out.”
The taller one pointed to a single bed with a man covered in bandages in it. “Do you recognise that man?”
Doug did know that man. Nicky. “Yes.”
“Where from?”
“I used to work with a friend of theirs. Benny.”
The shorter one took notes. “And Benny knew Nicky?”
“No, I don’t think so. But Jimmy knew both of them. Where’s Jimmy?”
The taller one moved him away from the bed. “He was in much worse shape. By the looks of things, he fought back. Nicky came out looking suspiciously okay.”
Doug frowned. “Are you suggesting something?”
The shorter one grinned. “Not at all. Just stating the facts.”
The taller one walked him away. “We will call you if we have any more questions.”
Doug was walked out of the ward.
*
Nicky took slow deep breaths. The hospital was noisy. He can’t move well from all the bandages. Who knows how much this is going to cost him? He needs to find Jimmy. He just hopes Jimmy is okay.
A nurse walks two police officers to his bedside.
“Nicky, this is detective Ryan and officer Mulkahey. They have some questions for you about last night.”
Nicky tries to sit up, but the pain that just shot through his side put him back down. “Where’s Jimmy?”
The taller one cocks his head. “Little eager aren’t we?”
Nicky struggles. “Just tell me he’s okay. We gotta get home. The dogs need feeding. We had plans.” He knows he’s rambing, but he’s stressing himself out.
“What were you doing out so late last night?” the shorter one asks.
“We went out for a drink. When we came back out, we were followed. Jimmy tried to stand up for me, but there were too many. We couldn’t run away. We couldn’t call for help.”
The taller one nods. “Well you should thank your lucky stars someone did call the police.”
Nicky’s eyes widened. “Who?”
The shorter one spoke. “You know a Douglas Pabst?”
Nicky had to think really hard. He’s sure he met a Doug recently, but where?
The taller one spoke. “He said you both knew Benny?”
Then it all came back. The bar. “Yeah .. I think Jimmy told me about him.”
The shorter one leaned in. “And how do you know Jimmy?”
“We got into a fight and found out we got a lot in common. We’ve been friends ever since.”
The man wrote something down.
The taller one waited. “Is there any reason you’d be randomly attacked in the street?”
Nicky shook his head. “I can’t think o’ one. I’m a very quiet person.”
The shorter one nodded. “No relatives in the state. No emergency contacts. No girlfriend. No address in your wallet. Very quiet indeed.”
Nicky frowned. “What’s any o’ that matter? I was beaten in the streets by a dangerous gang of thugs.”
“And we’ll get to identifying them when we have all the facts.”
Nicky frowned to himself. “Just tell me when I can get out of here and see Jimmy.”
The two men looked at each other.
Nicky doesn’t trust that look. “What? What happened to him?”
The shorter one sighed. “He’s dead.”
Every drop of blood drained out of his face. He suddenly felt very heavy. “No.”
The taller one spoke again. “He had serious organ damage. Bones broken in places they shouldn’t have been. There was nothing that could have been done.”
Nicky shook his head. “You’re lying. You’re lying!”
A nurse ran over to push back into bed.
“You lying bastards didn’t save him on purpose!” And with that last comment, he was injected with something that knocked him out cold.
*
Nicky sat behind a glass screen. He twiddled his thumbs. It’s only been a few days. Most of him is fine, but he wishes he’d have tried harder. Maybe Jimmy would still be here if he’d have got up and fought back.
Doug sat down and picked the phone up. “How are you doing?”
“To tell you truth, I wish I was fuckin’ dead.”
Doug frowned.
Nicky sighed. “I’m sorry. These past few days have been the worst of my life.”
Doug felt his sorrow. “I’m so sorry about Jimmy. I’ve informed his family.”
Nicky collapsed into crying.
Doug jumped back in. “Nicky, don’t worry, he has a large community and family who are preparing everything. They’re doing everything they can to find who did this.”
Nicky spoke through the tears. “They found Doris’s brother. That's why I’m in here, and not out there, making preparations with them.”
Guilt ran through Doug. Guilt like he’s never felt it before. “Nicky- I swear, I’ll do everything I can-”
“Doug don’t. Just stop. I appreciate your help. You literally saved my life, but I already know they’re going to check my apartment for evidence, and I know they’ll find something, even if it’s completely irrelevant, they’ll use it.”
Doug was confused.
Nicky sighed. “If you had to prove someone was swinging for the other team, how would you do it?”
Doug thought about that one. Every answer he came up with was something Nicky is guilty of.
Nicky laughed. “If I get put away, can you promise to do me a favour?”
Doug looked up. “Anything.”
“I have a pair of dogs. Big working dogs that ain’t never done a day's work in their lives. Just set ‘em free for me. They’ll have better chances on their own than locked in my backyard without me.”
Doug nodded. “I can do one better.”
*
Weeks later, Nicky was sent to trial. He found out his attackers were all given the same sentence he was. He didn’t expect great results. His entire private life was put on display before a jury and he was deemed a pervert for what he did in his own home.
This cell wasn’t great, but he didn’t have to share. He’s not sure if the loneliness was good for his grief or not. He didn’t have to hide himself anymore. He openly admitted before the trial that he loved Jimmy. That they were more than friends. That they had plans. That everything they did was consensual. He even answered some very intimate questions that made a few members of the jury walk out.
No regrets. He wishes he could have done something to save Jimmy, but even then, their attempt to receive justice would only have been met by the same harsh criticism.
He gets letters from Doug every week, updating him on the city and his dogs. He sends letters back expressing his joy, but the sad truth is that after he’s released, he’ll have to start all over again. He might not see his dogs ever again. He will just continue until he’s either killed, or gets arrested again. But Doug is slowly making progress in the real world, and maybe that will reduce his sentence, maybe even change the law altogether.
At the office, Doug tells the crew that the new plan is to write stories that appeal to as many people as possible. It doesn't matter what's in the story, as long as it ticks boxes. Of course Herb went nuts and wrote for anybody and everybody. Stories about all struggles in all walks of life concealed in a scifi coating. Kay was recognised as a female rights activist and a big name in the progressive movement. Albert even got cocky and wrote a few making the robots in the stories represent things and people who need a voice. As far as Doug was concerned, he just needs to show Stone that they can sell it, and they have.
The publishing company was becoming famous for the turn in agenda, especially considering Benny, Jimmy and Nicky’s stories.
Due to popular demand, Deep Space Nine was released.
Stone was put in his place.
Herb was proud of Doug, but still claims he is the reason it happened at all, which Doug knows is correct, but here they are.
From his cell, Nicky reads the headlines Doug sends him. He dreams of this place he and Jimmy built, and uses the news to support his dream. One day he’ll be innocent. One day, their people won’t be killed in the streets for things others deem inappropriate. One day, he’ll be considered normal. One day he might even see Jimmy again.