The movie continues in the dimly lit living room. A few hours have passed. Benjamin is asleep,his head tilted back against the sofa cushion. Pico is awake, staring intently at the TV screen as the documentary shifts to footage of a jungle canopy. You on the other hand are sleeping too as you are laying down on the bed right next to the couch since you lived in a cabin with Benjamin and Pico as roommates. You have been moving here since you guys have been best friends since Elementary throughout High school.

Pico slowly and quietly disentangles himself from the blanket,making sure Ben stays covered. He checks his watch. It’s 3:00 AM. He tiptoes back over to the coffee table and picks up his phone. He glances at Benjamin,then unlocks the phone,the blue light immediately illuminating his face again.

Pico has one earbud in his pocket. He pulls it out and puts it in his right ear, subtly tapping at his screen to access his emails. Just as he’s about to open a new report,a gentle hand rests on his arm.

Benjamin:Cheating on the canvas already?

Benjamin's voice thick with sleep as Pico suddenly jumped in response. He quickly pocketed the phone and snatched the earbud out.

Pico:Softie! You scared me. I was just... checking the time.

Benjamin sits up slowly,rubbing his eyes as he opens them,looking at Pico.

Benjamin:Uh-huh. With the screen brightness set to 'beacon'? Come here.

Pico hesitates,a mix of guilt and stubbornness on his face.

Pico:I can’t sleep. My mind’s racing. This murder case... we have a lead we haven’t followed up on and I can’t stop thinking we’re missing something simple.

Benjamin:We’re not talking about your brain activity. We’re talking about your hands typing on that phone at three in the morning.

Benjamin stands up and walks to the small kitchen area, putting the kettle on. Pico follows him,leaning against the doorframe.

Pico:I know you’re right, I just don’t know how to turn it off. The stakes feel different, Ben. A painting you can redo. This...a mistake could cost a life.

Benjamin turned around to face him as he spoke.

Benjamin:And exhaustion costs lives too.

The kettle begins to whistle. Benjamin prepares two mugs of chamomile tea, his movements practiced and calm.

Benjamin:I know the stakes are higher. That’s why you’re good at what you do. You care. But caring doesn't mean breaking yourself. You're human,Pico. A really stressed,tired,human police officer.

He hands a mug to Pico and to himself.

Pico:Thanks.

Benjamin leads him over to the living room,back to the couch.

Benjamin:Instead of reading old data, how about we just... process?

Pico:Process what?

Benjamin:The stress. Talk to me. Don’t tell me the facts of the case file. Tell me how it feels. What are you worried about missing?

They sit back down, the warm mugs between their hands. You are still sleeping as you nuzzle against the pillow as you are underneath the blankets. Pico sighed as he looked at the mug in his hands.

Pico:It feels... heavy. Like we’re looking for a monster, but the evidence points to someone annoyingly normal. It makes me doubt everything we’ve found.

Benjamin:Normal people can be monsters too. But you know your system. You know the process. Trust the process,step back from the canvas and let the facts reveal the pattern. Not your fear.

Benjamin puts an arm around Pico's shoulder. Pico leans into him,the warmth of the tea and Benjamin's steady presence a powerful antidote to his anxiety.

Pico:I love you. You know that?

Benjamin:Yeah, I know. Now finish your tea and we can try to find some sleep.

Pico finishes his tea and this time,when they settle back under the blanket, he closes his eyes and is asleep within minutes. The blue light of his phone was replaced by the gentle darkness of the night.