Summary: Has anyone besides me been left hanging at the end of the episode "Time"? I mean, Armstrong tells Gary, "I want to know everything," and Gary says something like "You know where to find me." "Time" was the finale episode but "Everybody Goes to Rick's" and "Luck of the Irish" were later added, and they so conveniently lacked Armstrong's presence. Here's an idea of what really happened when (or if, we never find out if he really did) Gary told Armstrong about the paper.
Rating: PG
Spoilers: "Time", "Fatal Edition"
Standard disclaimers apply.
~~~~~~~~~~~
Title
by Paper Caper
Gary hesitantly stared at the basic black phone as Armstrong's words echoed in his head, "...and I wanna know everything..."
Armstrong's words seemed undemanding, yet they weren't exactly forbearing either. This made it even harder for Gary to make the choice.
As he stared deeply at the dark phone, the thought lingered over Gary's mind. The phone seemed to become an enemy as the tension of not knowing Armstrong's reaction passed through Gary's mentality.
Letting out a short-lived sigh, Gary slowly reached for the phone. He would never know until he found out.
His hand lapsed inches from the telephone as he thought it over again. Precariously, Gary picked up the phone and listened for the dial tone. The echoing of Armstrong's words ceased as the high-pitched tone of the dials rang throughout his ears.
"Chicago PD," a voice answered.
Brigatti. Gary swallowed in nervousness, anxiously thinking of something to say.
"Hello?" Brigatti inquired impatiently.
"Uh...May I speak to Detective Armstrong?"
"Hobson!" Brigatti snapped. "What do you want?"
"Can I just talk to Armstrong?" Gary's voice increased intolerantly as he regained his self-confidence.
Apparently speechless, Brigatti mumbled and summoned Armstrong.
"This is Detective Armstrong, what can I do for you?"
Gary paused. "Armstrong...uh...this is Gary Hobson. I...uh..." Gary stopped talking, realizing how awkward he sounded.
"Hobson?" Armstrong's voice elevated in what seemed to be concern.
"I...I-" Gary sighed and rubbed his forehead. "Can you meet me somewhere where we can talk privately?"
-----------------
The front door of McGinty's violently swung open, a sure attention shifter for those situated near the entrance.
"Hobson?" Armstrong's long jacket swayed as he walked toward the barstools, an uneasy expression worn on his face.
"Gary's in the office." Marissa stumbled to grab her cane as a concerned face spread over her face as well. "What's happened?"
"I don't know, but I'm gonna find out." Armstrong eyed the office door and walked toward it.
Gary's reverie was interrupted as Armstrong thrust the door open.
"Hobson, what's wrong?" Armstrong frowned.
"Huh?" Gary sat up in his chair.
"You called me and told me to meet you."
It suddenly all became clear for Gary. He'd forgotten the phone call he made to Armstrong. Looking at Armstrong's facial expression, he regretted making it.
"Oh, right, uh, sit down, Armstrong."
Marissa abruptly walked into the office. "What happened?" She nervously raised.
Gary covered his eyes with his hand momentarily to comprehend all the commotion at once. "Nothing happened!" he retorted.
A look of offense spread across Marissa's face.
"Sorry," Gary said dryly, apologizing for the snapping.
"What did you want to talk with me about?" Armstrong interrupted the conflicting.
Part 2
"What did you want to talk with me about?" Armstrong interrupted the conflicting.
"Oh, uh," Gary looked at Marissa.
"I get the picture." Marissa forced a smile and left the office, quietly shutting the door behind her.
"So." Armstrong raised his eyebrows at Gary.
"So..." Secretly wishing Marissa was back in the office for more time to stall, Gary took a deep breath. "Igettomorrow'spapertoday," he slurred into one word.
"What's that?" Armstrong leaned closer.
"I...get tomorrow's newspaper today," Gary waited for Armstrong's reaction.
Armstrong unintentionally snorted. "What?" A smile curled at the end of his lips. "You're not serious about this, are you?"
Pausing for a moment in uncertainty of how to react, Gary feinted a laughing fit. "Hahaha, that's funny isn't it?" He began to laugh harder as Armstrong chuckled.
Gary suddenly remembered that if he didn't tell Armstrong now, he'd regret it for the rest of his life. It was now or never. He terminated his laughter. "No."
Armstrong finished his laughter as a bewildered expression spread across his face. "You're really serious about this," he said seriously, observing Gary's solemn expression.
Gary stared at Armstrong silently.
A frown took over Armstrong's countenance as he spattered, "Do you need psychological help?"
Gary staggered back, fearing Armstrong's words. "N-No, I can prove it to you." Now he wished he'd listened to his other side of the argument and refrained from telling Armstrong. There was no way to get out of it now.
"Oh yeah, how?" Armstrong angrily and doubtfully said.
Anger began to take over Gary, too. "Is there something wrong?" he asked offensively. "I didn't do anything to insult you, so just listen to me."
Armstrong's eyes narrowed. "Just prove it, Hobson."
Gary heaved as he slipped the paper from his back pocket. "Look at the date."
"Is this your idea of a joke?" Armstrong glared.
Gary held out the paper, indicating that Armstrong take it.
Armstrong snatched the paper, his eyes hastily moving across the front page. "This is a sham," he said. "You're under arrest."
"For what?" Gary's voice rose.
"Illegal reproduction of copyrighted newspapers."
"First of all," Gary began wryly, "I did not copy that damn newspaper. Second of all, how could I have copied it if it hadn't come out yet?"
"This isn't proof that it's really tomorrow's newspaper."
Gary disbelievingly eyed Armstrong. "Fine, you want more proof?" he snapped furiously as he ripped out an article. "Five o'clock tonight, a red Mazda is going to bang into an ice cream truck. No one's hurt, just the ice cream truck." Gary handed the article to Armstrong. "See for yourself."
Armstrong slowly took the article from Gary's hands, his eyes narrowed. "You know why I won't believe you about your little newspaper?"
A defiant stare was worn on Gary's face, implying that he continue.
"There's too much deception in this world. Greediness. Everyone always has to get what they want, always putting themselves first."
Thoughts whirled around Gary's head. Why was Armstrong this way? Not trusting of anyone. The first thought that came to mind was that he was too into his job; maybe being a police officer took its toll.
Gary interrupted Armstrong's spiel. "Look, I realize that, but sometimes you've just gotta trust people."
Armstrong let out a rusty laugh. "Trust people, huh? One of my best friends, a police officer. You'd think I could trust him. Well, turns out he was betraying the PD, getting rich by making murders seem like accidents."
Remembering that night at the train-tracks when Armstrong was shot, Gary felt remorse for him. But somehow, he still wanted to get through to him that he could still trust people. The paper was no longer important.
"But...that was only one guy," Gary tried to think of something appropriate to say.
Armstrong violently glared at Gary. "No respect." He turned around as if insulted and walked toward the door. "I'm outta here."
-----------------
Sighing, Gary flipped through the paper.
"Police Officer Hit By Car", a headline read. That wasn't there before. Suddenly, Gary remembered the article he'd given Armstrong. He was going to the ice cream truck accident.
Gary looked at his watch. 4:41- Only nineteen minutes.
-----------------
Peering around the park, Gary spotted a giggling child running toward something. Several other children were also walking that way.
The tune of a nursery rhymed song ascended. The ice cream truck was nearing.
Gary looked around for Armstrong. He noticed Armstrong behind the ice cream truck, re-examining the article.
"Armstrong!" he hollered.
A man nearby about to steal a mother's purse heard Gary's yell. He looked around and noticed the red Mazda approaching Armstrong. The man began to advance to Armstrong as Armstrong yelled, "Stay away! If you take anything from me you're under arrest!"
"Stay away!!" he yelled louder as the thief got closer, pushing Armstrong aside.
Armstrong stopped shouting as the Mazda proceeded and hit the back of the truck. "Uh....thank you," he discomfitedly nodded to the man.
Noticing Gary, Armstrong walked up to him. "I guess you really do get tomorrow's paper." He laughed in an unusually good mood. Looking at the man who had pushed him away from the Mazda, who was now walking away, he added, "And I guess you can trust people sometimes."
Gary looked straight ahead, but the sense of achievement in his eyes was evident. "Ice cream?" he asked.
Armstrong chuckled. "No thanks. Gotta work out technicalities with this accident." He approached the damaged cars and their drivers, showing his badge...
Email the author: CharCareBear@aol.com
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