[ wow early this year/late last year me had some decent ideas // song is by bastille

warnings: language, mentioned surgery and injury and hospitals and like,,, body horror i think is the right term?

concept: chase goes silent, and bailey gets increasingly worried about her.

stay safe,
lew. ]

————

This isn't right.

Normally, Chase is up talking to him before they both leave for work, making plans for the rest of the day and just generally being sociable. It wouldn't bother him too much, except the fact that he just got back from a two week vacation, and all he's received from her are a handful of texts since then.

She looks rough as she sits across from him at their tiny kitchen table, dried tear tracks down her face. He keeps on trying to talk, but she either doesn't hear him or ignores his attempts as she finishes her coffee.

Softly, he tells her, "I love you. Whatever's going on, you don't gotta tell me about it, but we'll get through it. We always do."

She gives him a strained smile as she adjusts the zipper on her hoodie. A few taps on her phone screen later, a message comes through on his device, reading: "💕 u 2".

That's another thing. Ever since he met her, she hasn't zipped up her hoodies all the way, even if it's cold out. Unless she's suddenly self-conscious about the scars on her collarbone, he can't imagine why she'd suddenly change. It's such a small thing to notice, and that fact almost makes Bailey sick.

He remains at the table, even after she leaves for work. Phone in hand, he weighs his options, finally dials the familiar number, and sets it to speakerphone.

"Hi, Bailey. Is Chase doing okay?" Ronnie asks as soon as the call connects, worry seeping through in his voice.

"I was just calling to see if you knew why she hasn't been talking. I've never seen her look like that."

Bailey can hear the sigh and hesitation from the other end. Finally, though, Ronnie admits, "She was in the hospital while you were gone. She made me promise I wouldn't tell you, because she didn't want to ruin your vacation."

"Why? What happened?"

"I don't know. Ezra took her in, but neither of them would tell me what was going on. Plus, I've got Rosie, so I couldn't go visit and risk getting her sick." He sounds apologetic.  Bailey can't blame him for looking out for his daughter rather than the massive pain in the ass that is Chase.

"I understand. Totally. Um... could I maybe ask for a favor?" Bailey asks shyly. "Maybe can you try to get an answer outta Chase? I can watch Rosie if you need me to, I just wanna get to the bottom of this."

——

Ronnie doesn't outright question Chase.

They're sitting across from each other in a booth at this shitty hole-in-the-wall diner, somewhere it's unlikely they'll be seen. He just watches her for a while. The silence eats away at her, until she's fumbling for a pen in her pocket and scribbling down a question on her napkin.

does ezra read ur txts??

He shakes his head, gaze shifting from concern to confusion. "Not that I know of. Chase, dear, it would be so much easier if you'd just talk-"

He's cut off by his phone chirping. He glances at her again, and she's got her phone in her hands, gesturing impatiently.

The text is simple. Just three words.

i CANT talk

The confusion on his face only intensifies. "Why not? Are you sick?"

She rolls her eyes and practically slams her phone down on the table. Her hands then go to the zipper of her hoodie, slowly revealing her throat- which is mostly covered by a large white bandage.

some1 we both kno tried 2 do some practice vocal chord surgery. @ least he took me 2 the hospital after

There's only resignation and acceptance on her features as she zips it back up. He, however, looks horrified. "Ezra wouldn't do that."

She stares at him for a long moment, then pinches the bridge of her nose.

he mightve just taken it 2 far this time. but dude he's stabbed me, sliced my collarbones, + broken my wrist. is it rlly that far of a reach??

"I don't want to believe this, Chase."

fine. don't believe it. but be fucking careful.

———————

[ idk y'all this was a cool idea that just morphed into bullshit bc i've got all these cool ideas that i just cant translate into words ]