When I said that I like to work alone, I meant back home, where everything is the right size and I can walk on my own two feet. Clinging to the fingertip of this Brob woman who very clearly is not accustomed to handling Lillis, I find myself missing Claire. Not her specifically, but someone who won't dangle me kilometers in the air so carelessly! After giving both her and her friend a piece of my mind, I have them retrieve my carrier and a security officer escorts me off the plane and back into the airport. 

I'll spare the details of the next hour, since they were quite boring. Basically, I made contact with the precinct, spoke with Chief Perry, and was driven back there by an officer they trust. She had me on her desk in her office, explaining to her all that transpired. The woman didn't like politely listening, so I got interrupted several times. It didn't help that she'd been so wrong to assume Mr. Collins worked alone. That made her even more defensive. Eventually, I did manage to convey the entire story and all we'd discovered. Hearing the news of what happened to her best detective, she grew very concerned. We agreed that our involvement in the case was no longer necessary and that the interrogation of Mr. Fabian would be carried out by someone else. She offered to make arrangements for a flight home, but I asked her to make it the following day. I was tired, and I felt I couldn't leave without checking on Claire first. I had her make arrangements with their forensic scientist, Katie, one of the only Brobs I trust, to take me there later that afternoon.

"So, you're saying the killer delivered handmade explosives to the victims' homes?" Katie leans forward eagerly in her chair, gaze focused on me as I stand on the small table in front of her. "No way anyone would fall for that!"

"She dressed up like a delivery person. And the packages were always from someone they knew." I explain, taking my time to share the fun, little details. "Hell, she almost got me too. I found a package on my doorstep that was supposedly from my brother."

Since visiting the hospital, I've lost count of how many stories I've shared with Katie. She seems very entertained by my previous cases. It's a good way to pass the time, here in Claire's room. We keep our voices down, or rather, she does, as not to wake her up. Unfortunately, her last comment causes the Detective to stir. In the distance, I see her huge from slowly sit up, groaning and blinking slowly. She looks over at us, trying to make sense of what's going on.

"Detective! I'm glad to see you...well, alive!" Katie smiles, rising and walking over to her.

"Katie? What are you..." She trails off, looking around the room, then down at herself. She seems surprised by the gown she's wearing. "We're in a hospital. I'm...alive?"

"Yes, you are. It was a close call, but the doctors say you'll be alright." She moves in to hug her, and Claire returns it. "They've given you some pain relievers and other drugs to help. Now that you're awake, we can proceed with discharge."

The Detective's eyes suddenly go wide as she remembers something important. She grabs Katie by the arms and asks, "Where's Detective Flint? What happened to him?!"

"R-Relax, he's right here!" She turns, pointing to the table. The Detective lets her go and she walks over to collect me and bring me over. After setting me down on the over-bed table, she takes her earpiece out and hands it to her. "Here, I hope you don't mind me borrowing yours."

The Detective takes it and puts it in her ear. Looking down at me, her expression goes serious. She looks at Katie saying, "Thank you for checking on me, Katie. I'd like to speak with the Detective privately now, if that's alright."

"Of course. I'll be going, then. Let me know if you need anything!" The other giantess says as she sets the carrier down near me. She leaves the room and closes the door behind her. Now, it's just me and the Detective.

"Did we get him?" She asks me, hoping for a good answer. Though, seeing as I'm here, alive and well, I believe she's probably already figured that out.

"We did." I nod, stoic as ever.

"That's good." She says, sighing. "I assume he's been questioned?"

"You're correct. He tried to deny it, but the evidence against him was undeniable. Officer Linda ended up testifying, which was the final nail. Now both him and Collins are under arrest and awaiting trial..." I try to keep a straight face, but find it impossible. The smug smile finds its way onto my face as I tell her, "...in New Brobdingnag. Oh, you should have seen their faces."

"That's perfect." For the first time since meeting her, I see the Detective smile as well. It catches me off guard. 

"Wow, so you can smile?" I jab at her.

"Of course I can. Being around you has just made it difficult." She jabs back, but the smile on her face remains. She studies me carefully, or as well as she can from that distance. "Though, I suppose it's gotten easier. You made the arrest all on your own. That is a big achievement."

"Not quite on my own, but sure. I will gladly take the credit." I shrug, recalling what had happened to me. "I still can't believe you stuffed me in that woman's pocket. She thought I was a Remnant and almost killed me. I barely made it out alive."

"That makes two of us." She laughs, but just for a moment. She looks away, recalling what she went through earlier. With a more serious expression she remarks, "I can't believe I survived." She goes quiet for a time, thinking about something. I give her the chance to process, sympathizing with her. It must have been terrifying. Then, she looks at me with the strangest expression. I've never seen her look at me that way before. "Thank you, Flint."

As I said before, I'm not great with kind words. I try to look away from her, but that gaze simply demands my attention. "Nothing to thank me for, Detective. I was just doing my job, and so were you."

She shakes her head at me, eyes unblinking and oddly intense. "It's because of your warning that I managed to avoid taking a full dose of that poison. I'm no fool, Detective. There's no cure for Virelith. If I'd taken the full dose, I would not be speaking to you right now."

"You're forgetting that Virelith breaks down in warm temperatures. The thug had it on him for who knows how long. It probably broke down on-" I try, but she cuts me off.

"Detective." She says, suddenly, and I stop talking. "You saved my life."

"..." I can think of nothing to say in response.

"And after the attack, when I was panicked and unable to think straight, you talked me out of killing him. You don't know how much I wanted to pull the trigger. I was about to murder an injured criminal who could no longer fight back..." She finally blinks, her eyes becoming watery. She takes a deep breath, composing herself before any tears can fall. "So, thank you, Detective. I'm in your debt."

"Hah, are you saying your Brob pride can accept being in debt to a Lilli, Detective?" I joke, but am wholly unable to lighten the mood in the room. She's serious as ever.

"It does." She declares, causing me to go speechless. She continues, "And please, call me Claire."

I take my time before responding. It isn't clear to me whether this is coming from a sober or heavily drugged Claire, but my gut tells me it's the former. It's very touching, to be honest. After trying so hard to avoid being sincere, I finally relent.

"Sure, Claire. If you want, you can call me Flint." I tell her, bringing her soft smile back. Before I ultimately decide to close off, I take the chance to share some of my thoughts with her. "When I first came here, I was extremely wary of you. I wasn't a fan of your 'evil' kind. Though, after this case, I see that evil comes in all sizes. But, so does good. You, Claire, are definitely good. Your bravery and determination were incredible. The way you pieced together the mystery was brilliant. You've earned my respect."

"As have you, Flint." She offers a finger, bringing it close to me. She's gotten better with estimating distances, as she stops it just before it reaches me, an arm's length away. I can't quite shake it, so I just place my hand on it, like before. "God, you're so small."

"I'd argue you're too big." I answer, giving her finger a solid kick. She feels it, pulling it away and raising a brow at me as if to say, 'are you sure you want to start that?'. Changing the subject, I change the subject back to the case. "You know, after all we've been through, you'd think we'd get an award ceremony, or something. Where is my medal from the Brobdingnagian Queen?"

"No such luck, I'm afraid." She chuckles. "This case won't even make national news. Even if, your involvement would likely be kept secret."

"Eh, maybe that's for the best. I've never liked being in the spotlight, anyway." I sigh, not caring all that much.

"What about the Lilliputian President? I'm sure he will compensate you generously." She suggests, trying to encourage me.

"Him? No, I don't think so. I'd be lucky if I received a thirty-second phone call." I roll my eyes. I check my watch and realize that more time has passed than I'd realized. "Crap, I'm running late. Would you mind getting dressed and taking me to the airport? My flight home's in an hour."

"Oh, so soon? Okay." She pushes the table aside, clearing room for her to bring her legs over the edge and stand up. No longer unsteady, she walks over to the chair, where Katie folder her clothes neatly, and collects them. She enters the bathroom and closes the door behind her. Not five minutes later, she returns, back to her usual self. By then, I am already in the carrier, so she lifts it and latches it on her ear in one, quick motion. "I'll try to get you there on time, but don't expect me to use the police lights this time. You aren't that important."

"So you can smile and make jokes now?" I chuckle. 

"Who ever said I was joking?" She insists, so very tongue in cheek. She makes her way out of the room and down the hall.

"I see. Well, then I'm glad this is the end of our partnership." I sigh deeply, exaggerating my contentment. 

"That is, unless the Lilliputian government faces another potential international incident. Maybe next time I'll be paying you a visit." She points at me, or rather, her ear.

The thought of this smug behemoth walking around my city makes me shudder. That's a hard pass from me. "Let's hope nothing ever happens that's so bad we have to work together again."