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Still, when he knocked on thr door and heard Pallas’ voice inviting him in, Buck was wondering what the office would look like now.

The desk was in the same place, and the file cabinets were too. The certificates hung on the walls were different. He could tell that at a glance without reading the names, that was part of being so familiar with the walls and the man who’d worked within them.

The soft slide of chair wheels turned his head and Buck watched Pallas walk toward him.

“You look like you have a lot on your mind.”

Buck remained still for a moment before he turned and faced Pallas. “Is it that obvious?”

Pallas leaned against the desk beside him and stretched out his legs, one across the other at his ankles. “So… tell me what you’re thinking about.”

He left it there.

No invasive questions.

No demand for explanations.

Instead, he just sat there, waiting.

Buck felt his throat go dry.

Then itch.

He lifted a hand and rubbed at his throat, struggling to figure out where to start.

“I don’t know…”

Buck swallowed at the lump in his throat and managed to move it a little.

“I don’t know if I’m going to come back.”

He saw Pallas’ reaction.

Pallas lowered his chin a little and a muscle ticked in his jaw.

When Pallas tilted his head in his direction, Buck wasn’t sure what was behind his expression.

“You’re not sure? You’re still thinking about it.”

Buck nodded. “I have my last medical evaluation coming up but the doctor’s going to pass me. He’s already said so. I think…” He swallowed again, but the knot in his throat had barely moved. “I think he gave me time to get my head right.”

Pallas nodded, slowly.

Then, before Buck could speak again, Pallas looked at him, his gaze thoughtful, measuring.

“Do you want to talk to a… a therapist? A psychologist? Psychiatrist?” Pallas’ shoulders lifted with his next breath. “I never know which one is which.”

“I don’t remember which one is which either. I’m just not sure it’ll help.” Buck couldn’t help but smile, at least on one side of his mouth. “I have been seeing a woman. And her bastard of a cat.”

There was a twinge of pain in the flesh of his ass at the thought of Ebi.

Pallas tipped his head to the side, his eyes narrowed. “A cat.”

Buck nodded. “I think it’s funny that the part you’re stuck on is the cat.”

“I think it’s good that you’re seeing the woman. The cat? I don’t know. Especially since you call it a bastard.”

Shrugging, Buck sighed. “The cat comes with the woman. So… I’ll make do with it.”