My answer to the missing lines/missing scene challenge posted by Owl on the H&McC Yahoo group. The episode is "If You Could See What I See." My thanks to Jeanne Z. for the fast beta.

I do not own the any of the characters from Hardcastle and McCormick, and I am making no money from this little story (even though I wish I were).

Just Don't Talk About It

By e-pony

"What took you so long?" The words were faint, but reassuringly coherent.

Hardcastle snorted. "My McCormick radar went out, kiddo – " He spoke lightly, but his voice broke at the end. "It's just lucky for you that Millie's was still workin'."

"Millie!" Mark's pale face registered sudden concern, and he began to struggle, one hand tugging at the judge's arm in a useless attempt to raise his head.

Gently, Hardcastle pushed his friend back down to rest against the ground. "Hold still, you idiot," he said more gruffly than he intended. "Millie's all right. She's waitin' in the truck for the cavalry."

Mark sighed, visibly relaxing, but his fingers still loosely grasped the older man's sleeve. "Sh-she was right, y'know.

"Yeah, she was," Hardcastle agreed softly. "Right about everything… everything except what mattered the most."

If Mark was surprised by that frank admission, he didn't show it. Instead, he caught the judge's gaze with his own and held it for a long moment. "I knew you were coming…." he finally whispered, quiet intensity underlying each word. "I knew."

Hardcastle simply shook his head and glanced away, his face unreadable. Staring into the distance, he brought one hand up to rest it lightly on the young man's forehead. The skin was cool and clammy to his touch.

Still avoiding his friend's eyes as if afraid he might reveal too much, the judge began to speak slowly into the expectant silence. "In the end, McCormick, I finally believed her. I mean, I saw things happenin' just like she'd said, and I believed her. The psychic mumbo-jumbo – all of it.

"But when I asked Millie to help me find ya, she said… well, she said it was too late. And I didn't believe that! I was sure you were still alive, sure I'd find ya. I just think I woulda known, y'know? I woulda known."

Uncertain what to say, Mark tightened his grip on the older man's arm and turned his face to press it gently into the warmth of Hardcastle's palm.

Shadows were flitting at the edges of the young man's vision – clouding the fragile clarity of his thoughts. He was so tired – tired of hanging on, tired of waiting, tired of bearing the impossible burden of his pain. Now, secure in the comfort of his friend's presence, Mark finally gave in to the darkness. "I know," he quietly told the judge, even as awareness faded. "I know."

And Hardcastle, rising as he heard the wail of sirens at last, was certain that, for the moment at least, there was nothing more he had to explain.

The end