BRENT TAYLOR'S APARTMENT

"Come on in! It's unlocked!" Brent calls from his spot on the couch. Truthfully, he just doesn't feel like getting up right now. His whole body is exhausted, even though he's hardly done anything today.

The door opens slowly and he sees Andy appear in the open doorway. "Hi," Andy says as he steps into the apartment. "How are you feeling?"

"Fine. I'm wiped, though." Brent tosses his head onto the back of the couch. "You getting ready to head out?"

"I have one more set of boxes to move out to the car and then I'll be ready." Andy begins moving back towards the second bedroom, which he had converted into an office.

"I'd give you a hand, but ..."

"Don't worry about it," Andy says, pausing.

"I just wish I could be of some use," Brent says. "You've been living in a hotel because of me--"

"It just seemed easier for you to move in here right away. Besides, Danielle needed to be here with you to take care of you."

Brent raises an eyebrow knowingly. "Is that why you didn't want to be around here?"

"It would have been a little awkward, yes. But I really don't mind staying at the hotel."

"Yeah, I know, but--"

"No buts. And you're in no shape to help carry things, so just relax. I think I can handle it."

He disappears into the extra bedroom and emerges with just a few things, a load that he can manage quite easily. Brent watches as he exits the apartment.

Brent grabs the remote control off of the coffee table and switches the TV off. He's had enough of it for the day. He turns his attention to his bandaged hands. Part of him wants so badly to unwrap the bandages and see the damage ... just for the sake of seeing it, so he can maybe have some tangible idea of what it is that's keeping him holed up like this.

Andy's return jerks him from his thoughts. "Did Danielle go out?"

"Yeah, she ran to the store. Do you wanna wait around to say goodbye to her?"

"No, I should get going." Andy stops his movements and fiddles with his keys, clearly swept up in thought. "Besides, I think we've said all that we need to say to one another. There's no need to push it any further."

"Yeah, you're probably right." Brent hoists himself up off of the couch, trying to do it without putting too much pressure on his hands. "So you're outta here?"

Andy exhales deeply. "I guess so."

A strange silence lingers between the men for a moment.

"Hey, thanks again for the apartment, man," Brent says. "It really has made things easier."

"Glad to be of assistance. And thank you for being such an excellent friend. I'm going to miss having you around."

"Same." The moment is clearly uncomfortable for Brent as he fumbles for something to say. "It'll be good for you to get away, though. You need some time to do your own thing."

"After all this mess with my mother ... I do, absolutely."

The silence returns briefly, but Brent forces it aside. "I'll keep an eye out for her, okay? I'm gonna make sure that Moriani doesn't get away with anything else."

"I appreciate it." Andy takes another look around the apartment. Suddenly it doesn't feel like his anymore -- and that's a good thing, because it makes leaving just a little bit easier.

"All right, good luck, man," Brent says, clasping Andy's hand in his for a firm shake. "With everything. And especially with Maggie."

Andy's face lights up just a bit. "Thank you. Good luck with your recovery, and with Sarah ..."

Brent's eyes widen and do a little roll. "Thanks, I'll need it."

Their hands separate and Andy begins to turn for the door. "I'll give you a call in a few days to let you know how everything is going."

"All right, sounds good." Brent watches, waiting for Andy to take the necessary step. And finally, he does.

"Bye," Andy says as he heads out of the apartment, finding himself unable to look back.

"Bye," Brent calls after him. The door shuts and Brent goes to lock it. He moves to the window and watches through the dim blackness of the autumn night as Andy gets into the car.

"Good luck, buddy," he says softly.
 

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