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Miles awoke again from fitful sleep to find that there were still several hours before he needed to be up for work. He yawned, stretching at the stiffness in his joints, and rolled over. The other side of the bed was empty and cool to the touch.
Padding down the hall in his slippers, a cold draft and the faint smell of cigarette smoke announced that the door to the baloney was open. He huffed, pulling his dressing gown more tightly around him, and stepped out into the chill damp of the night.
“Sorry,” Phoenix looked up, face only dimly illuminated by the cherry of his cigarette. “Did I wake you?”
“No,” Miles replied, taking the empty seat next to Phoenix.
“Picked up some bad habits at the Borscht Bowl Club.” Phoenix took a draw from the cigarette and sighed heavily, expelling the smoke. “I know, I know. I told you I quit.”
“You did.”
“Couldn’t sleep,” he mumbled.
“I’m not going to begrudge you your vices, Phoenix. It’s been… a challenging few years for you.”
“You can certainly say that again.”
Miles faltered, letting the silence between them stagnate for too long. Phoenix produced a glass of red wine that had been sitting at the foot of his chair and offered it to him.
“Phoenix,” Miles began before hastily swallowing back a mouthful of wine. “I haven’t had the chance to say this to you yet... I regret my absence during that time. I wasn’t there for you. We’ve both changed, and I’ve been so grateful that you afforded me the space to… get better. I can’t, and wouldn’t, expect you to be perfect either.”
“Whew, getting right to the heavy stuff, are we?” Phoenix chuckled.
“I mean it.”
“So you’re willing to overlook that I swallowed evidence once too?”
Miles rolled his eyes. “If I must, yes. But I would ask that you not repeat that particular stunt if you can in any way avoid it in the future.”
“I’ll keep it in mind the next time I get the urge,” his smile was evident in his voice. “Guess that means you see me returning to court?”
“We will get you your badge back.”
“You’ve been helping me study for weeks already and there’s still so much to cover. I forgot just how much it was.”
“Just like riding a bike, I’m sure. It’ll come back to you.”
“If you keep crashing at my place, I guess it’s not so bad.”
“Yes. Well. You keep the most unusual hours these days. And the doorbell never seems to wake you up.”
“Aw, Edgey, I know you like staying over too,” Phoenix teased, stubbing out his cigarette. “Were you ever going to give me back the wine?”
Miles startled self-consciously at the half empty glass in his hand. “O-oh yes. Apologies.”
“All good. You finish it.”
“Thanks.”
A street sweeper trundled along the road below them, flashing orange-yellow lights. They sat in companionable silence as predawn activity slowly roused in the city.
“I couldn’t do this without you, you know.”
“Me?” Miles said.
“Is that such a surprise?”
“It’s just… it almost feels a bit self-serving sometimes, helping you. I very much don’t want to tackle the coming months taking my place as chief prosecutor alone, to be honest. I’d like you back by my side. The court has become a dark place without you.”
“We both need each other, and I need all the help I can get,” Phoenix lit another cigarette. “The deck’s pretty well stacked against me.”
Miles nodded thoughtfully. Phoenix took a long drag from his cigarette and suddenly made a very unusual noise.
“What was that?”
A further two spasms jolted out of Phoenix before he spoke. “Damn, -hic!- this never happens.”
“Hm?” Miles looked at him quizzically. “Hiccups?”
“M-hic- must be from this,” he held up the cigarette.
“That can happen?”
“Not to me, -hic!- not usually.” Phoenix stubbed out the cigarette with a sigh. “Probably as –hic- a good a reason as any to –hic- not start again. Let’s hope it’s not some kind of –hic- a bad omen.”
“Don’t tell me you believe in such things.”
“I didn’t believe i-hic- in ghosts before all this either.”
“I suppose I have to concede that’s a fair point.”
Their next bout of silence was studded with Phoenix’s clearly enunciated little hics. Miles couldn’t hold himself back, the wine warm in his otherwise empty stomach, and laughed.
“What’s funny?” Phoenix asked, unabashed, grinning. “Me?”
“Hehe… I’ve never seen you like this. I’m so glad you’re back. I’m so glad you’re here.”
Phoenix interlaced his fingers with Miles’, bringing his hand up to kiss his knuckles. “I’m –hic!- glad I’m here too.”
“Now then.” Miles drained the last of the wine. “Let’s you get back to bed, Mr. Wright. I want to see that practice exam filled out by end of day!”