Log:Here as a Friend

The Madness of David Flyte 2020/02/17 Night Marshal|Carpenter Grimm 26

It's getting close to 8pm. The park is currently empty and dark. There's a few benches near the playground set with swings, poles, slides, and other things for kids to climb.

Carpenter has a cup of coffee with him. He's sitting quietly and just watching people for the time being.

A woman walking along the sidewalk diverts towards the park, wearing a leather jacket layered over a zip up hoodie, the hood worn up, a gray scarf wrapped once around their neck. Black jeans. It's Grimm's typical attire. She decided against just teleporting in and spooking Carpenter. Things are going to be difficult enough as is. "Hey, Jack," Gabrielle says in melancholy tones as she gets within earshot without having to yell. Her hands aren't in her pockets as per usual. They're left out and open to show they're empty.

Carpenter waves to Grimm as she approaches. "Hey there." He motions to the seat on the bench next to him.

Grimm studies Carpenter a moment, realizing he hasn't got his gun on him. The telltale bulge under his coat is missing, and her shadow sight confirms it. She walks over and turns around, sitting next to him. She takes a breath. "Thanks for being willing to do this informally."

Carpenter nods slowly. "I left the badge at home, too. This is me...here as a friend." He takes a sip of his coffee and looks around again to make sure no one is right nearby. "You sounded pretty grim, so to speak, on the call. That doesn't sound good to me. But I want to hear what happened."

Grimm looks over at him in surprise. "Thanks, Jack. I really need a friend right now," she says softly, trying to keep steady and compartmentalize. She's usually so good at that. At least with strangers or on the job. "Things have been...well, getting better and worse. So far, I've avoided the future predicted. But other things happened. I worried I can't trust what I see anymore. If I start acting weird, I want--no, I NEED you to get as far from me as you can, okay?"

Carpenter nods. "Okay." His eyes narrow a bit though as he listens. "Gabrielle. What happened? Just describe what you saw and did."

Grimm looks to Carpenter with a sorrowful expression. "Porter cast a spell on me a few days back. It caused this release of my powers and summoned warped monstrous versions of the heroes present. I still don't know if they were real or in our heads. It felt real. I was tricked into attacking a friend. It felt like I was dying when that nightmare version of Porter ripped something out through my stomach and lost consciousness. And then they were gone when the other heroes helped me regain consciousness."

She takes a breath and shudders. "We thought that was the end of it. There wasn't signs of a lasting enchantment on me. But since I needed the help to sleep and recover, Porter offered to spend the night to keep me company a couple of days later. When I woke up, it was that nightmarish version of him. It filled me with terror and I tried to get away, but I...I don't understand. I've faced plenty of horrific things, but this thing terrified me. I felt trapped and I panicked and shut down."

Her eyes begin to water. "I lost control of my powers and the shadows lashed out at the monster until it wasn't a threat. And then I looked up and Porter was....was..."

Her words die off as her throat constricts.

Carpenter takes a deep breath. "And he was the regular Porter?" He rubs his chin, "Are you sure you were just seeing things? What was the effect of the original spell? Could it have been a lingering effect of it?"

Grimm nods weakly. "It was the real him. Last time, they were separate. When the nightmare ones disappeared, the real versions were in different positions." She wipes at her eyes. "The original spell? I'm not even sure what Porter was trying to cast. He botched it and miscast it. My powers exploded out of me and...and I think his messed up spell twisted my powers somehow."

Carpenter nods slowly. "Alright. Good enough." He rubs his chin. "I'm going to need to get Porter's statement too. He might know more. You might have been fooled into attacking your friend. And that deception might have been intentional...or not. I can delay things a little bit while I investigate further."

"Is he...is he okay?" Gabrielle asks worriedly. "I waited until I could feel he was out of surgery. Then I teleported far away from everyone and everything in case my powers surged again or something else happened."

Carpenter nods. "Still alive. But his situation is still critical." He shakes his head, "Have your powers flared like that around anyone other than Porter?"

Grimm thinks carefully. "No. Not in a long time. Except...well, wait. Porter was there, too." She rubs the back of her hood as she thinks. "The other times have been when I've been bound by villains. I shut down and panic and my powers have lashed out on their own to protect me. I considered turning myself in for hurting Porter, but then I'd be cuffed or bound, and I was worried others would get hurt beyond my control."

Carpenter nods. "I'm going to have to write a report on this. Eventually. I get some leeway on the weird cases. And this was weird. Captain Landry basically gave me a look that said she thought this was going to be difficult to figure out. In a way she's right. I don't want to arrest you for attempted murder, because I'm not sure what exactly happened. In the end, it'll be up to the D.A." He shrugs, "Richard is harsh on those he knows are hardened criminals. And light on those he believes deserves it. So...might not be an issue? But either way, I need to get Porter's side."

Grimm takes a breath and nods, resting her hands on her knees as she stares at her feet. "That's fair. Thank you for giving me a chance to explain, Jack. For trusting me," she says with a heavy heart.

Carpenter nods. "If Porter doesn't make it, it'll just fall to waht hte D.A. wants to do. Fair warning. But...I suspect he'll pull through. The man's luck is poor a lot of the time. But then good other times. So...well, I think he'll come around."

Grimm sniffles and wipes at her eyes, nodding. "I understand. I'm sorry it has to be you on this case, Jack," she says quietly, unable to look at him for the moment.

Carpenter reaches out and puts a hand on her shoulder. "Meta cases usually fall to me. I know it puts me in a tough situation. But it'll work out. Let's just work on proving what happened. And if Porter doesn't want to press charges, there's no issue at all."

"I know," Gabrielle says softly on the meta cases, finally bringing herself to look him in the eyes again. She looks heartbroken all around about the situation.

"It's why I should've known it'd be you. I'm still sorry to put you in this situation. I never thought we'd be on opposite sides. I hope Porter pulls through. He's got to. He's...he's one of my close friends," she says, sniffling as a tear manages to escape and roll down her cheek.

She wipes it away. "But...I have to toughen up. Follow a lead to close this rift inside me before that. If I'm locked up before this is fixed, I don't know what's going to happen."

Carpenter nods slowly. "I can drag my feet. But I can't do that forever." He shrugs, "Sooner or later, I'm going to have to follow up. But I'll keep an eye on Porter to see when and if he wakes."

"I understand. I appreciate you risking it. And I feel bad. I don't want to get you in trouble with your job, though," Grimm says guiltily.

Carpenter smiles slightly, "This...isn't the worst thing I've done that might get me fired. But that's a story for another time."

Grimm raises a brow and looks to Carpenter. "I find that hard to believe. If it helps, I'll put on a show if it'll keep you from getting in trouble. And lie low. You can say you haven't been able to track me down yet."

Carpenter shakes his head, "No. Don't do that. Well, don't put on a show. Just...deal with what you need to. Solve the problem. And I'll worry about following up with Porter.

Grimm nods in agreement. "I'll try my best to fix the problem. I think we're close to the answer. Or a lead. It may still be dangerous. And we still don't know if that foreseen death is still waiting for me." She swallows hard. "But if I make it through, I'll turn myself in."

Carpenter nods again slowly. "Keep me posted. I'll need to track you down again, probably. Hopefully with good news."

"How should I contact you?" Grimm asks. "I hope it's good news." She smiles sadly at him. "I'm going to miss our movie nights," she adds forlornly.

Carpenter smiles slightly, "Well...if it's good news, then they dont' have to end. Text works."

Grimm looks surprised at him. "Really? You sure about that?" she asks of movie nights. "I'll be sure to text if there's progress."

Carpenter nods. "I'm sure. If no charges get pressed, there's no issue."

Grimm sighs and offers a weak smile. "I guess we'll see."

Carpenter nods, "We'll see. I'm hopeful. Figure it out. Find out what happened exactly. I'll be doing the same. The more information we have, the better."

"Okay," Gabrielle agrees. "And if not...I guess I'll see you in, what? Twenty years?" she tries to rely on humor, but she doesn't really deliver it well this time.

Carpenter smirks, "It'd be less than that, guaranteed."

"Okay, ten with good behavior?" Gabrielle manages to summon a wry smirk in return.

Carpenter shakes his head, "I think it would be a light sentence if it went that far. But let's make sure it doesn't."

Grimm nods, part of her sad that Jack still has a job to do, even if it's her. But it's also why he's the best detective in the city.

Next: Log:Macabre Messenger for Grimm and Associates