Scott and Bishop

[x-cyclops.livejournal.com]

Bishop surprises Scott in his suite and drags him out to get his mind off his relationship troubles.


Scott sat at his computer adding the finishing touches to the latest training problem he had been working on. He glanced around the empty suite before turning back to his computer, he had a lot more work to get through before the night was done.

Bishop strode into the room and set a silver flask onto the desk. "This is to get started." He turned off the computer monitor while Scott was no doubt distracted looking at the flask abruptly set before him. "Burying in work when you're upset is avoidance. We're going for confrontation and healing tonight. You can thank me in the morning."

Scott blinked at Bishop, at his computer and the flask in front of him. "Uh, how did you get in" he asked as his mind struggled to deal with the unexpected intrusion. He looked warily at Bishop, "What exactly did you have in mind?"

"I used the door. They built it right into the wall." Bishop offered flatly. "And don't worry about what I have planned. It's an old cop recipe. It starts with whats in that flask."

"Why does that not fill me with confidence?" Scott asked as he eyed the flask on the table. He reached out to pick it up and unscrewed the lid, taking a sniff of the contents he looked questioningly at Bishop before taking a sip.

Both the smell and taste agreed, the flask was filled with whiskey. "Why wouldn't it? Who else would know exactly how wild you can get without getting arrested?

"Don't most cop's nights out end up just going to a bar and getting very drunk?" Scott asked as he took another sip from the flask. "I appreciate the thought but..." he gestured to the papers strewn over the table, "I've got a lot of work to do."

"And always will. Mental health is important and I can drag you out if that's what is needed." Bishop offered when raising his eyebrows. It was a joke but with an edge of truth.

"You really would then wouldn't you?" Scott sighed and stood up taking another sip from the flask. "I'm not sure my dignity could take being dragged kicking and screaming from the suite" he admitted with a small smile as he offered the flask back to Bishop.

Bishop held his hand up to refuse the flask. "All yours, I'm driving." He held the office door open for Scott and followed him out toward the garage.

---***---***---

"Private Eyes?" Scott asked in surprise. "You brought me to a strip club," he turned around, "that's it, I'm outta here."

"Walking?" Bishop asked with a laugh. "Come on. Have some faith. No one in here is going to bite you."

"Ah," Scott stopped and turned around, "You've thought of everything haven't you? Fine, just for a little while, and no-one finds out." His attempt to glare menacingly at Bishop failed pathetically.

Bishop shrugged and led the other man in without argument. "What do you drink?" He asked as he held the door open and they approached security. He wanted to know before they got in with the music and it became loud.

"What's good?" Scott queried. "A whiskey I guess."

"Right up front." Bishop pointed to the bar around the stage as he went toward the bar in back to get Scott whiskey and himself cola.

Scott walked to the stage to find seats for Bishop and himself; he looked around the room before he gave a wry smile. He certainly hadn't expected to find himself here tonight.

Bishop approached with two drinks and one of the girls trailing him already. He spoke with her about 'Candy' as he approached the bar and set two drinks on it. He looked to Scott. "Scott, this is Celeste. Celeste, Scott." He pulled up a chair for the young, blond stripper.

Scott stood up and turned to Celeste uncomfortably, "Umm, hi Celeste," he held out his hand to the blond stripper before shooting a panicy help me glance at Bishop.

"It's not a ball. Have a seat." Bishop dropped into a chair next to Scott. "Celeste is working her way through law school. Or so she says." His voice had enough of a hint of teasing to let the pair know he was joking.

***---***

Scott took a final sip of whiskey and put the empty glass down on the bar. "That was ... interesting." He turned to face Bishop, "So this is how cops de-stress?" he asked.

"It's what my crew did. In a strip club, everyone knows where they stand. It's very relaxing." Bishop picked his short cigar up for another puff.

"Relaxing?" Scott asked, "I guess, certainly takes your mind of your problems." he mused as he leaned back in the comfortable chair.

"Do you feel tense? They have lap dances. That's more than awkward enough to make you forget to be tense." Bishop offered with a laugh.

Scott raised a hand to Bishop, "I'm good I think" he replied with a small smile. He looked sadly at the empty glass and then the door, "Forget for a while anyway."

"Not if you don't let yourself." Bishop observed. "It can still be a shitty world without you having to feel it every single second." 

Scott laughed deprecatingly, "All I seem to be able to do is feel it." He sighed and slumped in his chair, "When did things start going so wrong?"

Bishop signaled for another glass of whiskey. "Women don't tell us, is my experience. Things have been wrong for a while but they don't let us in on it until things are beyond fixing." He knew he was generalizing but, for the moment, it was probably what Scott needed.

Scott took the new glass of whiskey when it arrived and took a sip, "Aren't there supposed to be signs?" he asked looking pleadingly at Bishop. "This thing can't have just come out of nowhere.." He slumped back in his chair, "But I really don't need to keep going over this now do I?"

"I think that the person who is giving out the signs think they are very clear and the person that doesn't know to be looking for them never sees." Bishop smiled to Celeste as she brought the drink for Scott and thanked her. "It's the opposite of communication. So, don't worry about it right now; at some point you two will sit down and talk, I'm sure."

Scott took a sip of his new glass of whiskey. "I'm not so sure". He gave a small smile, "but there is always hope right?"

"Always." Bishop said with a nod.

"Sorry I'm late, boys," Warren said with a cheerful smile, deliberately playing it up. He'd seen how deep in conversation Bishop and Scott had been, and had given them a moment to finish their conversation while he got himself a drink. But they seemed to have stopped, which meant now was a good time for the fun to begin. Which clearly required him.