“I’m a mess right now inside out.”
She imagined his evenings at the office would have continued unnoticed if only she hadn’t decided to grab a case or two to look over on her way home. But as she stood there in the dimness of the bullpen it was impossible not to notice the lamplight spilling out of the Chief’s open door.
All intentions of walking to her desk and back abandoned, Peggy found herself instead peering around the office doorframe to see Jack at his desk, papers strewn across the surface and some haphazardly fluttering off the edge to the floor. His jacket was slung over the back of his chair, his shirt cuffs rolled up and tie tugged undone around his neck. He had one hand cradling his head and a few fingers of bourbon by his elbow, which seemed quite untouched and he didn’t seem drunk. Peggy contemplated if that might be a worse rather than better sign. “ You ok, Thompson?” was tumbling out of her mouth before she could stop herself.
Despite everything, his reply brought a soft smile to her lips. Every now and then it did occur to her to wonder if Jack Thompson was sometimes harder on himself than any of his colleagues; — even perhaps Daniel. As she stepped forward, scooping up wayward files as she went and placing them gently on the edge of the desk, he busied himself by shuffling the papers closest to him into a semi-neat pile, preparing to laugh it all off and pretend he was just peachy with a charming smile.
Until her hand came to rest comfortingly on his shoulder and his tired gaze met hers.
“Give yourself some credit.”
Her voice was soft in its sincerity.
“——— You’re a good agent, Jack. And a good man, if you’d let yourself be.”