Thread by @justabloodygame

Any hope she had of the gap between them faded in the light of the silent fury left in the wake of Duncan's departure. It was clear to her now: only his husband's presence had restrained how angry her son was. All this fury directed at her? After all this time? Maggie despaired.

"So, Duncan seems ni-"
"No."
"Son, I'm just trying to help."
"We aren't doing this Margaret."
"We're not doing... what?"
Jerome pushed his chair back from the table and stood, all in one sudden motion.
"How did you think this was going to go? You come waltzing back into my life?

"You help me solve this case? And suddenly we'll be okay again."

"Son, I-"

"Well it won't! People keep asking me to forgive you! Dad, when he was dying, then Bri, and now my own husband? I'm not gonna just, I can't-"

Jerome was shaking. Maggie waited. There was nothing to say.

He took several deep breaths.

"I'm not going to just forgive you, but I do need your help. Those crime scenes, they change you. People are scared Maggie. And this-this is your world."

"What do you want from me Jer? Tell me and I'll do it. That's all I want: to help you."

"What do I want? I want to not need you. I want to not miss being your son. I want this hole inside to... I want to heal. I want what you can't give me."

He took another deep breath.

"But I will accept your help. This town is dying. It's afraid. I don't know how much longer-"

He didn't finish his thought. Instead he finally looked up and met his mother's eye.

"Duncan prepared a room for you after you called. Let me grab your bags."

Margaret grabbed her son's trembling hand as he walked past. He brushed her off, but not ungently.

"Follow me... Mom."