Luis continued, "Even if their dad is busy with work, you could take them to him without interrupting. It would give them some sense of security. What's the harm in that?"
Asher clenched his little fists until his knuckles turned white, determined not to get the IV.
Lionel wavered, saying, "Okay, okay, we'll do it your way. Once you finish the IV and are stable, we'll take you to see your parents."
The two kids brightened up, sitting quietly beside each other on the hospital bed.
Adora silently kept Asher company, and Asher asked Luis to speed up the IV drip.
This was the first night in five years that they had been without their parents, and they were desperate to see their mother.
…
An hour later, Elliot's office door was knocked on.
The door lock turned from the outside, and a small gap opened as a pair of eyes peeked in.
"Elliot? Are you in here?" Lionel called softly.
It seemed like no one was there.
Lionel had asked the night shift officer, who confirmed that Elliot had returned to the National Investigation Bureau late at night and had not left.
"Elliot?" Lionel called again, louder this time.
Suddenly, the office lights flashed on, and the bright light momentarily blinded Lionel.
Once his eyes adjusted to the brightness, he saw Elliot sitting behind his desk.
The handsome man looked exhausted and sad, and the atmosphere in the office felt heavy with defeat.
Lionel noticed Elliot's eyes were bloodshot and felt both worried and curious.
"Elliot, have you been drinking?"
Lionel was shocked to find the ashtray on the desk filled with several burnt-out cigarette butts.
"Elliot, didn't you quit smoking? Why have you smoked so much? Did something happen?"
Elliot did not respond. His face, slightly flushed from the alcohol, remained aloof as he poured himself another drink.
"Why are you here? I told you to stay in the lab and take care of Asher and Adora."
Why such a strong reaction?
It was as if he was caught doing something he should not have done.
Unsure, Lionel stood there for a few minutes before cautiously knocking on the door again.
"Elliot, are you going to see them or not?"
A few minutes later, the door opened from the inside.
Elliot's short hair was slightly damp, and he had changed into fresh, casual clothes.
He had also cleared the whiskey bottle and ashtray on his desk, and the smell of smoke and alcohol had been thoroughly masked by the air freshener.
Lionel stared at him, his jaw nearly dropping in surprise.
Elliot, clearly annoyed, narrowed his eyes. "What were you saying about me being shitty?"
Lionel's eyes widened in shock.
He was being wrongfully accused! He had said "see", not "shitty"!
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