Detectives Jake Peralta and Amy Santiago worked side by side in the 99th precinct of the NYPD and they were, without a doubt, the best homicide detectives of that place. They got along very well, despite being completely opposites. She was a control freak and he was the squad's clown. Santiago's desk, clothes and life were the most organized, always; she was that annoying girl at school who knew e-v-e-r-y-t-h-i-n-g. Peralta, in the other hand, had 5 years old trash and food on his drawers, his desk was always full of paperwork; he couldn't get to work in time in his clothes didn't seem to know ironing – or even water and detergent for that matter.
However, as a Brazilian poet wisely said once, in the middle of the road there was a rock; there was a rock in the middle of the road. That rock was called mutual attraction. For some unknown reason, Jake saw Amy as more than a partner; she was the one he wanted to be with in a very romantic way. Amy had a rule about not dating cops, but she always had Jake as her exception.
Sometimes in life, two people find each other and it's just magical, but that's not always. In order for you to really enjoy the sun, it must come after a horrible storm. That's what's going on with Jake and Amy. At first, they tried to pretend there were no feelings between then, which didn't work so well. They were dating other people and thinking they lost their chance of magic, but the truth is, the world never turns only once.
When they both admitted that the feelings were real and mutual, the universe decided to give them a little push. They fell into an undercover case requiring them to play a couple during one night. They entered the restaurant as Johnny and Dora, but since the place was booked, Santiago had to get creative.
- Oh, no, that's horrible. Tonight's a really important night for us. Johnny and I just got engaged, and this is where our first date was.
People in love tend to get everybody's compassion, and that worked out very well for them, especially because Jake seemed really nervous. They got a table and things were going as smoothly as possible with two people in love who are not together pretend to be two people engaged.
They planned how to get the job done and the show began. Sometimes when you're working undercover things go wrong and you must maintain your cover no matter what. The risk of being exposed got too real, so they had to improvise, once again. Things ended up turning personal when they were asked about the relationship.
- He makes me laugh. - Dora said.
- And, you know, there's really no one else's opinion who I care about more than hers. - Johnny added.
They were sitting next to their target: a man and a woman who, supposedly, were about to make a delivery the detectives would intercept. Unfortunately, the guy spot the two spying on him, and to blow off the suspicious, Jake and Amy just jumped in each others arms and started kissing. They shook hands like it was no big deal and went back to work. That was the first strike of the day.
Back in the car with fellow detectives Rosa Diaz and Charles Boyle, things started getting weird.
- So how was the restaurant? - Charles asked.
- Such a normal time! - Amy answered screaming.
- Why are you being weird? - Boyle was getting a vibe from those two.
- Amy and I kissed. - Jake tried to put an end to that conversation.
-What? - Charles was getting excited, since he was "Team Jamy/Peraltiago" (whatever you prefer).
- To keep our cover from being blown; we didn't have a choice. - Santiago tried to make it sound like it was nothing.
- Tell me everything! - Boyle was very persistent.
- Charles, it was just a kiss, okay? It was for work. It was nothing. - Jake tried to sound as convincing as possible
- You guys are so naive. It's never nothing. - Oh, if only Charles Boyle knew how right he was.
Later that night, with both covers intact, they kept following the targeted couple until a park where the package the 99th was waiting for, was actually delivered and Jake and Amy followed it. They were standing by in the park, waiting for their cue to go when, for the second time in that night, their cover was at risk. This one creepy guy was looking at them and preparing to make a move, so Santiago had to make hers first.
- Jake, he's looking at us. Well, this is happening. - Peralta didn't have time to prepare a reaction, when he realized Amy's hands were in his face and her lips on his. He was against a tree with his hands in his partner's back.
That was the second strike of the evening.
- NYPD! Freeze! We are police colleagues! - Amy shouted.
- You're under arrest. This is a work event. - And with that Jake and Amy made the arrest and closed the case.
But the third one, oh boy, that was their real first kiss and every single event that led to that kiss was extremely important.
Once the reports were written and signed the two detectives had a talk about where they stood after the case. They both agreed Amy's rule was right: they shouldn't date cops; it was a mistake and the best case scenario was just go back to what they used to be: just to platonic coworkers.
- We work great together. I don't want to mess that up. - Jake said.
- Yeah, I don't want everything to change. - Unfortunately, Amy shared his thought.
If that day wasn't bad enough, the squad got the news Captain Holt was leaving. Everybody was so sad and so shocked to hear the news, especially Santiago because she saw the Captain as a role model. His absence was gonna be felt by each and everyone on the 99th.