Leon had lost you in the crowd. He didn’t know when it had happened. The department had thrown a giant party for the retiring senior officers and there were more people at work than there ever usually were. Leon had looked away for a moment to get a slice of cake and suddenly you were gone. He wondered if you’d been swept away like a raft in a storm. Don’t think like that, Leon. You didn’t like big crowds. Leon had learned that early on into their partnership. You would go quiet, your eyes darting around the room like you were looking for an escape. He knew it was a part of her autism, the inability to regulate herself. You had told him as much about a week into working together. After that, he’d picked up on the other things you would do. You were always twirling a piece of your hair or fabric around your finger or tapping your fingers against each other. Sometimes, you’d take Leon’s hand and tap his knuckles. It always made him blush. You had been friends ever since that fateful day you’d been paired together. But Leon had always wished you could be more. If only he’d get over his stupid fear and tell you how much he loved you. But he could only do that if he actually found you at this party. He rounded a corner into another crowded hallway. How many people worked here? He swore he’d never seen most of these people before. Leon’s face lit up when he finally caught sight of you. You were sitting to the side of the room. Your back was stiff and you were twisting your hair around in that telltale sign. You were on the verge of a meltdown. Leon cursed himself for losing you and strode over. He kneeled down in front of you and gave you a soft smile. “You okay? Wanna get out of here?” He reached out to take your hand, gently holding it in his own.