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Chapter Text

Harry regretted hitting Albert, of course he did, he’d hardly hit anyone in his entire life, unless they were a criminal or a bear, but something about Albert made him feel different. He spent a long time thinking about it one night, late in his office. Maybe it was because he’d offered Albert kindness at first and Albert tossed it away, maybe it was seeing the body of an innocent teenage girl who had likely been raped then murdered laying on the table behind Albert,, but it didn’t explain why he still felt so extreme around Albert. He knew the forensic agent was strong enough to stop him from hitting him, and it wasn’t a lack of reaction time, something about the man just gave Harry the vibe he knew what he was doing, he was deliberate, like Dale, he was quick witted, he was maybe a little handsome; it was something Harry, despite disliking him so much, couldn’t deny. 

Harry sighed and leaned over his desk, looking down at the paper work on it, hoping to force his mind off of this, but it was hard when it was so quiet, when the outside is dark and the wind is blowing. 

That was until a quiet knock was placed on his door, he looked up, “come in.”

It was Cooper, he closed it gently behind himself, “Evening, Harry,” he smiled, “I hope I’m not bothering you, but it seems like it’s going to be one of those nights where I just can’t sleep.”

The Sheriff leaned up and walked over to him, “No, I'm glad you’re here, I think I agree with you.”

“Is it the case?” Cooper asked, Harry stared at him a moment, then he added, “that’s distracting you?” 

“A part of it,” Harry answered, looking away and sighing that way he does.

“What part?” Cooper asked, hoping this would help them further in the investigation.

Harry chuckled a little, “The Albert part.”

“Oh,” Dale realized, “Sheriff again, I’d like to apologize for having brought him here in the first place,”

Harry looked at Dale, “Hey Coop, don’t worry about it, he just doesn’t fit in here, maybe in Philly or LA where you’ve had him before he gets along better,” Harry told him, “I was grateful he came anyways, he did do some good work, even if I wouldn’t put it past him to go dig up Laura’s body right now.”

Cooper smiled, “I know he was fond of you, I’ve never seen him get so bothered by anyone before,” He said. 

Harry sighed and turned around, “I just can’t figure out why he bothered me so much.”

“You know Harry, it would be good to assume it’s for the same reason,” Cooper stated.

°°°

The sheriff thought a lot about what Cooper had said, he’d thought a lot more than that about Rosenfield.

But Dale’s word couldn’t feel less true when Albert came back, when every word out of his mouth made Harry’s blood boil, and Albert wanted it to, Albert used every insult he could think to describe Sheriff Truman, and then he’d spend nights awake thinking about some more, because it affected Harry, it felt like being a ghost and finally being able to slam a door, because then everyone in the house knows about you.

Harry who is satisfied with being the sheriff of a town he was born and raised in, Harry who cares when another body pops up, Harry who likes flannel and always somehow gravitates towards colours that look good with his hair, or his eyes, even if he’s dreadfully unaware of it. Albert hated it, hated every last bit of it, only because he liked it, he hated most knowing Cooper could see right through him, in fact Rosenfield didn’t even mind that Cooper took Harry’s side, he’s pretty sure he’s even on Harry’s side.

It was the next day when this all came to a halt. Albert was just packing up his briefcase, on the far side of the room from Harry and Dale, “If you fellers need anything I’ll be down at the labs,” he stated, closing his case.

“Anything we should be working on?” Harry asked, Dale turned around.

Albert made his way to the door while saying “yeah, you might practice walking without dragging your knuckles on the floor,” with a smile.

But just as he made it to the far end of the table, Harry grabbed him, “Albert, let’s talk about knuckles,” Harry pushed him back, holding him an inch away from his face, “Last time I knocked you down, I felt bad about it, but next time is gonna be a real pleasure!” 

This is when Albert grabbed his collar, pulling himself even closer, “you listen to me. While I admit to a certain cynicism, the fact is that I am a naysayer and a hatchet man in the fight against violence,” he snapped at Harry, “I pride myself in taking a punch, and I’ll gladly take another. Because I choose to live my life in the company of Gandhi and King. My concerns are global. I reject absolutely revenge, aggression and retaliation. The foundation of such a method…” he felt scared in saying the next bit, in letting Harry know, but he knew Harry would understand, so he looked down, he let go of his grip on Harry, and smoothed out the warm fabric, and finally said, in a fragile tone, “-is love,” Harry looked down at his shoulder where Albert had him, then back up at Albert, “I love you, Sheriff Truman,” they held eye contact for a moment, and Harry continued to watch him while he put on his sunglasses and and slid out of Harry’s grip, as he walked out the door. 

Cooper walked closer to Harry and put a hand on his shoulder.

What had he done? Why did he feel so strongly about this, like he still needed to do something, like the huge ache in his chest held him at gunpoint? He needed to find Albert, to apologize for something.

°°°

He went to his room at the great northern, and stood outside the door for a moment. The sun had gone down hours ago, many people were already in their beds, but he could hear Albert moving around his room behind the door. Harry lifted his fist and knocked twice, “Rosenfield, it’s me,”

“I’m new to the town, forgive me if I haven’t met any MEs yet,” Albert spoke back.

“It’s Harry. Can you open the door, I want to talk!” 

There were no more moving around sounds, Albert didn’t say anymore than he already had.

Finally Harry just tried the door, it was unlocked, the room was clean, there was a closed suitcase on the bed, and Albert by the desk, with his back leaning against the wall, “Last time we talked I believe we both said some things we’d have rather not said if we knew we’d see each other again,” Albert stated.

“You seem to be an expert in that,” Harry retorted, placing his fists on his hips after taking off his hat and holding it in his left hand, Albert continued watching the ground, Harry took a step closer, “I understand it’s been hard for you being here, Coop told me you’re just like this, and I didn’t mean to try and change you.”

Albert stood up and walked to the other wall, turning his back on Harry, “please save your condolences,” he tried to wave him off, but Harry went on.

“I appreciate you, Albert, I want you to stay,” he followed right behind the other, “I feel the same about what you said earlier, not about Gumbo or whoever you said, but about-”

Albert turned around to face him, closer somehow then how they stood earlier, Albert watched him carefully.

“About you, Albert,” Harry said quietly.

“Harry, don’t make the same mistake I did,” Albert whispered.

Harry wasn’t sure of what to say next, the moment was so small and intimate, all the anger he had for Albert was shifting, changing into something else, but remaining just as huge, just as hot, it burned into his throat like whiskey. He leaned forward slowly, “I love you, Agent Rosenfield.” 

Albert, impulsively, leaned forward, closing the space between them, their lips met softly, Harry inhaled through his mouth, and leaned forward to deepen the embrace, but Albert pulled back, turning away again and covering his face with his hands, “Get out, Sheriff.” he said, his voice loud, but not as strong as he’d like it to be.

Harry looked down at the ground, before putting his hat back on and wandering back out to the hall, closing Albert’s door. He walked briskly to an entirely different floor, and found Dale’s room,

He banged on the door until Cooper opened it, “Harry I was just having to most excellent dream,” he said cheerfully, “are you alright?” he asked worriedly, giving the sheriff an up and down

Harry walked into the dark room where Cooper couldn’t see him, “I’d just like to hear about your dream, having trouble sleeping again.”

Chapter Text

It was now early morning, “early” as in 4am,and Cooper was already awake, stood in his room fitting his coat on, having mistakenly cracked the window open the previous night. He made his way out, but rather than going down the stairs and to the left a little, as he usually would, he goes the opposite way of these stairs entirely, making his way through these confusing halls to Albert’s room, stopping his quick stride to knock on the door three times. 

“Who is it?” Albert’s voice rang out immediately.

“Albert, it’s me,” Dale replied quickly.

“Funny, my first name’s Albert too,” he could hear shoed footsteps approach the door, knowing Albert was aware of his hatred for the knock knock game Rosenfield loved playing, “Forgive the inhospitality, Coop, but unlike you I don’t open the door until I’m sure who’s knocking,” he said spitefully, however making a wider opening for Dale to come in without asking.

Dale looked around the room, the bed neatly made, a small suitcase in the corner already packed. “Albert, check out isn’t until 11,” he turned around to look at the doctor, who was locking the door.

“Yeah, and if you disturb my packing any longer I’ll miss it,” he then turned to look at Cooper.

It wasn’t light out, it usually didn’t even get light in this town until 8, so the only illumination they had was from the nightstand lamp, “Albert, stop pretending you aren’t overreacting about being here, at first it was normal, but you’ve been acting like this town killed your daughter,” Dale confronted him.

Rosenfield rolled his eyes, “don’t pretend that’s what you’re here to talk about, you’re here to look after your good friend, the 33rd president,” that wasn’t clever, maybe it was too early, he was doing a bad job at avoiding where this was going and he knew it, he hated that right where Dale was stood was right where Truman stood not 7 hours ago, the fact was he hadn’t slept, it wouldn’t even take someone as perceptive as Cooper to see that.

“Albert, Harry is my friend. You’re my friend, and while this is a good representation of diversity, I’d still like it if you both could be friends,” his voice was softer than how it had been when he first came in, “it’s as though you’re trying to hate him, you’re trying to hate this town.”

“You know, Coop, I’ll think about why that could be on my flight back to Philly,” Albert stated dismissively.

“Fine, I wanted to ask you because I wanted to be fair, but instead I’m going to ask Harry about it,” Dale threatened.

“About what, Coop? You were there yesterday, I can’t deal with this the way you could, and frankly it’s not my job-”

“It’s your job to be professional about this kind of thing, I don’t think verbally abusing the shariff is professional,” Dale snapped at him.

“Yeah well I don’t think punching me in the face was very professional and you didn’t stand up for me.”

“Because that was me dealing with things the way you said I could. You know when you’re pushing the luck and you wanted to push it with Harry more than I’ve ever seen you. You’re mad I took his side, I’m mad you didn’t come to me about why you can’t stand him,” Dale sighed, the burning confrontation often gives him is keeping him warmer than his coat could, “I’m not here about why Harry was here last night,” his assumption of it having to do with Albert was confirmed when his friend broke eye contact and scoffed, “I’m here about yesterday afternoon.”

“I know, you got me, and that’s why I’m leaving, that heartfelt display of self defense was, believe it or not, genuine and I’d like to have some semblance  of self respect so my next insults to the shariff if ever I see him, have some kind of density to them.”

“Albert, I don't want you to end up lonely,” Cooper stated.

“And I don’t want to end up in the middle of nowhere coffee stain on the map washington,” Rosenfield responded.

Dale nodded and crossed his arms, “Well, I believe I’ve tried convincing you, I’m sorry for interrupting your obviously tight schedule,”

“I’ll always find room for you in my schedule, Coop,” Rosenfield turned around to unlock the door and opened it for Cooper, who walked past him. The click of it shutting was the only noise in the room for a while.

°°°

Did Harry make a mistake? Should he have stayed? 

He got home late, he didn't sleep when he went to bed. It's too late to go back now,  he should have tried to fix things, to have told Albert he wouldn't leave, was that really what Albert needed? 

When Albert told him he loved him he'd watched as Albert then immediately left, when Albert had kissed him he had left Albert, because Albert told him to, because he felt like he'd done something wrong, like he'd taken something almost. His stomach dropped thinking maybe Albert felt the same, that Albert was alone in that room feeling confused and angry and Harry had come in and imposed his own feelings on the situation.

Was that the truth? Harry walked into his kitchen and splashed freezing water on his face, then resting his face on his palms as he leaned over the sink.

He didn't feel like he took something, he just felt scared, bordering on impulsive.

°°°

He made it back into the office, opening the two glass doors and turning to Lucy, “good morning Sheriff Truman.” She said to him, cheerfully.

He smiled back, “morning, Lucy. Anything I need to know?” He asked.

“Agent Cooper is waiting in that office, the one he usually waits in, he told me to tell you when you came in.,” she replied before looking back down and continuing her work. 

He made his way into the office, removing his coat in the room rather than at the door so he could have it immediately if he needed it, “Morning, Coop.”

“Goodmorning Shariff,” Dale replied with a smile and a nod, he was just about to open his mouth to speak when the above head speaker sounded with Lucy’s voice.

“Dr. Rosenfield is waiting to come in, can I send him in?” 

Truman looked to Dale before leaning down to the box on the table, pressing the small button on it, “Um yes, Lucy, send him in. thank you.” 

“Okay.”

The door soon opened to Albert, looking between them both. Harry straightened his back a little, and no one really said anything until Dale spoke, “I’ll make us some coffee,” he walked past Albert, closing the door behind himself.

“Albert, I’m sorry about last night,” Harry started, stepping much closer, “I shouldn’t have left you like that.”

“Harry, do you smoke?” Rosenfield asked.

“No.”

“You really should. You’re focusing a lot of your professional attention on something so miniscule,” he stated, really only asking because then that meant Harry could likely smell the pack and a half he smoked just before coming in, staining his clothes and breath.

But this time Harry didn’t bristle at the snark in the other’s tone, “I still meant what I said, Albert,” Harry instead replied, his voice gentle and personal. Albert couldn’t stand it, that this was directed at him, that just because he said one positive thing earlier it can outweigh the abuse he’s been giving Harry.

“Right, I’m sorry about last night too,” he crossed his arms.

“No, I mean what I said last night,” Harry corrected, “I mean it, what can I say or do that will make you consider staying?” Harry asked desperately, instinctively reaching out a hand to place on Albert’s arm.

Albert just watched him,all out of wit apparently. 

Harry took this opportunity, banking on it being the last, and kissed Albert again, soft and small until Albert was able to react and kiss back. He reached over with his other hand to grab Harry’s off his arm, until the door clicked.

They pulled apart as quick as when you spawn 50 minecraft chickens on one block and then hit them, Albert looking down at the table, and Harry facing whoever entered. Which was Cooper with Hawk and a few cups of coffee. Looking more concerned on getting them set down than on what might have been happening in the room before they entered.