His eyes flickered to the clock and the empty desk time and again.

Jonathan hadn't come to the research center that morning, and Isaac was worried. He felt that he should go and check on him. 

He had tried calling him, but his phone was switched off, and there was no other way to reach him. So when another fifteen minutes lapsed with no news of the former psychiatrist, he decided to go to the Narrows himself.

Taking the train from the subway station, his mind rushed with all the possibilities of what could have kept Jonathan from coming to the center. He was usually very punctual, and the only times he had been late were when he got into trouble.

Long strides and an elevated heart rate accompanied him to the Narrows as he climbed the stairs to the seventh floor, where Jonathan and Miguel's apartments were located side by side. 

Reaching the door, he rang the bell, hoping the sole occupant within would open up. A while passed but then the door shifted, revealing a rather disheveled Jonathan Crane.

His blue eyes were sleep ridden, his hair were messy and he looked as if he had just woken up.

"Isaac?" He opened the door wider for his colleague, ushering him in, "Sorry, I am a mess today..."

"Are you alright?" He asked, concerned for his current state.

Jonathan rubbed his hands over his sleepy eyes and face, trying to wake his numb senses. "Yes, I was just... Working." 

True enough, the table in the living room was evidence of how engrossed in work he had been. Books and research papers were scattered around the room and the cushions by the table showed that he had drifted off to sleep there while working.

Considerably awake by then, Jonathan noticed the time on the old clock at the wall, realizing why Isaac was there at his apartment. 

"I should have informed you but I just didn't realize when I fell asleep and..." He picked up the phone from the couch, trying to switch it on, "My phone died."

"It's alright," Isaac nodded, lifting some of the books to sit down on the couch, "I can wait while you freshen up and then we can go to the center together."

A grateful smile ghosted his lips, "Thank you. I won't take long."

As Jonathan disappeared in his room, Isaac let his curiosity win and started to examine what the man was researching so feverishly on. He found books and research mostly on autoimmune disorders and he noticed that in his own notes, he had highlighted details about multiple sclerosis (MS).

His brow furrowed in concern and he decided to ask him about it when he came out.

"Won't you have breakfast?" Isaac asked when Jonathan reemerged, wearing his trench coat and picking up his briefcase.

His hair were tamed and he looked better than earlier, although the dark circles around his eyes were quite prominent. It seemed he hadn't slept for days and was tiring himself out by pouring all his energy into researching something.

"I'll buy a sandwich from the cafeteria," he replied, "I have already taken enough of your time."

He counted the pills in the jar and taking one with a glass of water, he put the rest safely into the cabinet. Blue eyes flickered to the mess of books and papers in the living room so he came to sort it out but Isaac helped him with it, speeding up the process.

"What are you working on?" Isaac asked, observing yet another book on neurodevelopmental diseases.

Jonathan paused, considering whether he could trust him enough to tell him. But then he decided against the skepticism and told him nevertheless. "I am researching on multiple sclerosis and why there hasn't been a cure for it yet."

"Any specific reason?" 

He shook his head, storing the research papers in yet another section of his extensive folder, "Yes."

When he didn't elaborate on the reason after that confirmation, Isaac knew better than to probe further. By then, they had left the apartment and were descending the stairs.

The silence engulfing them was broken by Isaac at last when they boarded the train. "Jonathan, if you need any help, all you have to do is ask."

He paused but then nodded, "I appreciate that a lot, Isaac. I will let you know if there's anything."

"And if you're thinking of researching a cure, I can work out the possibilities of including it on our roster," he offered, knowing full well that Jonathan considered that work very important.

If he was so absorbed in it that he forgot about the research center and didn't even care for his sleep, that meant he had already decided to take that initiative to completion. Letting him research alone would not only slow down the process but burden him too much so Isaac offered to make it a part of their official roster.

As the head of the department, he had the authority to do that.

"You don't even know why I am researching on it," Jonathan remarked cautiously, observing his expression as he tried to gauge the motive behind that very generous but unexpected offer.

"I trust you, Jonathan. And I feel this has more to do with someone else than your own interest," he replied, "am I right?"

He paused, taking in a shaky breath, "It is... I want to make an effective medication for multiple sclerosis. I want to... Help Gabriella."

Isaac knew in time he would explain who Gabriella was and how that research could end up helping her. True enough, he did, briefly telling him about Charlize's daughter and her predicament.

"So I am researching all I can on autoimmune disorders and the ways they can be controlled if not cured," he resumed, "I feel there must be some way to help and I want to find it."

Since Jonathan was a psychopharmacologist and the disorder did not fall too far from his domain, he had decided to come up with medication for MS.

Isaac listened to him attentively and felt relieved that he wasn't delving into anything dangerous. His motives for researching on the disorder and trying to come up with medication for it were purely genuine.

It gave him hope that Jonathan was progressing toward a life away from crime and selfishness. His current decision was a selfless undertaking to help Charlize's daughter in any way he could. 

"I want you to show me what you have researched so far," Isaac concluded with a robust nod, "then we can evaluate together how to proceed with this project."

***