Background: Xavier is wanted for murder and attacks in Chicago and footage on Brooke's security cameras give hints that it's him who attacked her in Clothes Over Bros. Detectives from CPD fly to Tree Hill to try and catch him – see how the two worlds collide.
**This is pre-Sam & Quentin is not murdered by Xavier! Everything after the case is completely AU :)
I don't own any part of Chicago PD or One Tree Hill!
Enjoy!
xoxoxoxo
WEDNESDAY
"Brooke! I know you're in there!" Millie banged on the door to her boss and friend's house, begging her to let her in.
Finally, she heard footsteps and the door swung open, revealing a very disheveled Brooke Davis. She had makeup in one hand and it was obvious that Millie had interrupted her trying to cover up her black eyes and bruises that stemmed from last week's attack on her store.
"The detectives from Chicago are flying in today. Their flight lands at 12 and their Sergeant wants to meet with you to ask a few questions," Millie told her sympathetically. She knew that Brooke was taking the attack hard and she hated talking about it, but they both knew that this guy had to be put behind bars before he could hurt anyone else.
Brooke nodded. "Just let me finish my makeup and I'll meet you at the store," she gave her friend a small smile. "Thank you. For everything."
"Of course. I'll have coffee waiting there," Millie smiled back and headed to Clothes over Bros to prepare for the long day ahead of them.
xoxoxoxo
The Chicago Police Department Intelligence Unit entered the Tree Hill Police Department and were greeted by their Sergeant, Rob Hartmann, who quickly debriefed them on the attack on Brooke's store and the evidence that they had pointing to Xavier being the suspect.
The Sergeant of the Intelligence Unit, Hank Voight, then stood up to inform the members of the Tree Hill PD about a similar string of attacks in Chicago that also pointed to Xavier. It seemed that he had begun his crime spree in Chicago before moving to Tree Hill, where he had family that he was now staying with.
"This is disgusting," Detective Jay Halstead muttered. "What kind of creep beats up women?"
"That's what we're here to find out," Detective Antonio Dawson answered, shaking his head as he stared up at the pictures being posted to the whiteboard.
"Who is that?" Jay pointed to the latest picture that had been taped up, of a gorgeous brunette with the most beautiful eyes he'd ever seen.
"Brooke Davis," Sergeant Hartmann answered. "Victim of the latest Tree Hill attack,"
"Wow," he whispered, quiet enough for no one else to hear (or so he thought) and quickly tried to focus back on work.
"Keep it in your pants, Halstead, we got a job to here," Voight's gravelly voice scolded, earning a laugh from Officer Adam Ruzek.
Jay rolled his eyes, annoyed that by now Voight didn't realize he would never let his personal life get in the way of work. He had been a damn good detective for over two years and Voight still seemed to have a problem with nearly everything he did.
Sergeant Hartmann began to play the tape showing the attack on Brooke's store. It was brutal – a masked man ran in and knocked her down immediately, punching her every time she tried to retaliate. Jay's jaw clenched, Antonio groaned, and Ruzek muttered a string of curse words.
"Halstead, Antonio, head over to Ms. Davis' store to talk to her," Voight ordered and the two detectives ran out the door, eager to solve this case and put Xavier behind bars.
xoxoxoxo
Brooke sipped her coffee and tried to focus on the sketch in front of her, doing everything in her power to keep her mind off of the attack until the detectives got to the store.
She heard the door open and looked up to be met with the most beautiful pair of blue eyes she'd ever seen. She quickly dismissed the thought from her mind – she needed to put all of her focus on finding her attacker.
She walked out from behind the counter and stuck her hand out, "Brooke Davis," she introduced herself.
Jay felt a jolt of electricity through his body when he touched her hand and his heart fluttered when she introduced herself with the sexiest raspy voice he'd ever heard. "I'm Detective Halstead, and this is Detective Dawson. We're from the Chicago Police Department," he told her, motioning to Antonio.
She heard footsteps behind her and felt a supportive squeeze on her arm as Millie appeared next to her. "This is my assistant, Millie. It's nice to meet you guys," she smiled at the detectives and they got to work.
Back at the station, Voight and the rest of the team were making fast progress on linking the case back to Xavier. He had a very distinct tattoo on his right forearm and thankfully it was visible in the security footage, giving clear proof that he was the attacker. Ruzek filed the paperwork for a warrant and the team began to make a plan to move in on his house the following day.
By the time Jay and Antonio finished at Clothes Over Bros and got back to the station, the team was wrapping up for the day and Voight quickly debriefed his two detectives on the plan for the morning.
"This case should be closed sooner than we anticipated, but we can't get back to Chicago 'til Friday. The airport here is so small there's only two flights to Chicago per week. If tomorrow goes as planned, you will all have a free day to relax on the beach, so I want your best work," the Sergeant barked, dismissing the team.
Halstead, Dawson, and Ruzek left the station and began walking back to the hotel. "So, Halstead, is she hotter in person?" Ruzek broke the silence.
Jay rolled his eyes, "Let's focus on the case, Ruzek. Can you believe the police here couldn't solve this themselves and we had to come all the way out here?"
Ruzek shrugged, "Hey, everything happens for a reason." He smirked, Antonio laughed, and Jay rolled his eyes again. Why did everyone think he was such a dog?
"Come on guys, it's still early and I don't think we'll have to do too much work catching this guy tomorrow. Brooke's assistant Millie mentioned some popular club called Tric, why don't we check it out tonight?" Antonio suggested, trying to change the subject.
"Hell yeah!" Ruzek accepted eagerly and Jay just nodded, still annoyed.
xoxoxoxo
"How are you?" Millie walked into the back room where Brooke was still burying herself in design sketches.
"Fine. Happy they're going to get him," Brooke said shortly, picking up a colored pencil and angrily coloring in part of a design.
"Brooke," Millie sighed. "You have to let this go. You're safe now and he'll be in jail tomorrow. I miss my happy, fun boss. I miss my friend. Peyton organized a huge show at Tric tonight, why don't you come with Marvin and I? Nathan and Haley are going too,"
Brooke looked up and gave Millie a small smile, "Maybe," she said just to please her assistant, and then quickly went back to her design.
Millie rolled her eyes, knowing Brooke didn't mean it. "You're coming. We'll pick you up at 8," she told her as she began to walk out of the store. "Oh, and by the way, I told those hot detectives to come," she called over her shoulder, then left before Brooke could respond.
Brooke groaned, knowing there was no way out of this one. Her life was finally getting back to normal – she was able to reopen the store and now the cops were going to get Xavier and he was never going to hurt another woman again. She'd spent the past week throwing herself a pity party and knew that it was time to end it, so she locked her designs away and closed up the store to go get ready for Tric, since Millie wasn't taking no for an answer.
xoxoxoxo
Halstead, Dawson, and Ruzek were standing awkwardly at the bar, taking in the scene of the club around them. Tree Hill was a small town, and everyone seemed to know each other. They didn't realize just how out of place they looked until they heard a voice behind them.
"You're not from around here, are you?" They turned to see a tall man laughing at them.
Antonio shook his head, "We're detectives from the Chicago Police Department. Came down here to investigate some attacks that paralleled with attacks in Chicago," he explained.
The man's face dropped. "Brooke?" he asked, confirming the suspicion that everyone knew everyone in this small town.
Antonio nodded. "You know her?"
"Since we were in diapers. She's my wife's best friend. Girl has been through it all, I don't know how she does it," he said sadly. Realizing he hadn't introduced himself, he stuck his hand out to the detectives. "I'm Nathan, by the way."
"Antonio. These are my partners, Jay and Adam," the men shook hands and Jay couldn't help but wonder what Nathan had meant when he said Brooke has "been through it all".
"Well, I gotta get going before my wife comes looking for me. It was nice to meet you guys, good luck with the case." Nathan excused himself and left the bar.
"Yo, Halstead, I can hear you thinking from over here. You need a drink," Ruzek declared, turning around to find the bartender.
Jay sighed, tearing his thoughts from Brooke. Focus on the case, he told himself. Ruzek handed him and Antonio each a beer and Jay took a long sip.The lights in the club dimmed and the crowd went wild as a skinny girl with curly blonde hair walked onto the stage.
"Hey Tree Hill!" she yelled, earning more cheers from the crowd. "Please give a warm welcome to our favorite artist, Gavin DeGraw!"
"This is sick! Let's get closer to the stage!" Ruzek excitedly took off and Antonio and Jay shook their heads but followed him anyway. Tree Hill was a small town, but it was definitely clear that they knew how to have a good time. They found an opening on the floor and Jay took in his new surroundings. He saw Nathan and a woman he assumed was his wife talking to the blonde girl from the stage and another guy. He was about to turn his attention back to the stage when he heard that voice.
"P. Sawyer!" the raspy voice squealed and Jay turned to see Brooke run over to the blonde girl and give her a hug.
"B. Davis!" the blonde answered, squeezing Brooke tight. "You look so good! How are you?"
Brooke smiled a sad smile but nodded. "Better. I'm getting there. Thank you," she hugged her friend one more time. When she broke the hug, she turned her head and saw Jay staring. He tried to look away but it was too late.
"Jay, hi! Hey Antonio and Adam!" she smiled and began to walk over to the detectives. She looked amazing, in a strapless black dress with red heels and matching red lipstick, her brown hair falling over her shoulders in loose waves.
"H-hey Brooke," Jay said awkwardly and could hear Ruzek snickering in the background.
"How did you guys find this place? I didn't think you knew anything about Tree Hill,"
"Your assistant, Millie, told us about it." Antonio answered. "Adam and I are going to go get another beer, we'll see you guys later," and with that, Jay's friends left with a lame excuse that made him feel more awkward than ever. What was going on? He'd never had a problem talking to a girl before, he was the flirt of the Chicago Police Department, hence all the teasing he earned from the unit. But then again, he'd never met a girl like Brooke Davis.
Brooke smiled and Jay noticed her dimples for the first time. God, she was beautiful. "Well, I'm glad you came. Let me introduce you to some people, you look a little lost." She said, laughing and taking his hand to lead him to the group she'd been with earlier. Jay felt the same electricity as earlier when she grabbed his hand and he had to take a deep breath to calm himself down.
"Hey guys, this is Jay, one of the detectives working on my case," she explained to her friends. "Jay, this is Nathan, Haley, Peyton, and Lucas." They stood there for a few minutes, listening to the music and talking to the group.
"I'm gonna go get a drink, anyone want anything?" Brooke asked after a while.
"I'll come with you, maybe I can find my friends," Jay offered, having no idea where Ruzek and Dawson had disappeared to.
Brooke nodded and the two began to walk towards the bar, when suddenly she took an unexpected turn and led them outside.
"Where are we going?" Jay asked, suddenly feeling awkward and nervous again.
"I just had to get out of there for a minute. I used the bar as an excuse, but my anxiety has been really bad since the attack and sometimes I just need fresh air. But I'm glad you came," Brooke explained. She sat down on the steps and motioned for Jay to sit next to her.
"I'm sorry about the attack. We watched the footage earlier, it was brutal." Jay didn't know what else to say, but his heart was breaking for the girl next to him.
Brooke shrugged. "I'm glad it's almost over. Thank you guys for coming out here, the cops here really haven't been much of a help."
He nodded, "I've noticed. He should be locked up by tomorrow morning."
"Oh wow," Brooke was surprised that it could take his team less than 24 hours to find a man who THPD had been trying to arrest for a week. "I'm sorry you had to come all the way out here for a day,"
Jay shook his head. "Actually we're here until Friday, no matter what. No flights to Chicago until then."
She couldn't help but smile. "Yeah, that's what happens when you live in the smallest city in the world," she joked.
Jay nodded, "This is nothing like Chicago,"
"I know. When I lived in New York, it was a different world. I kind of miss it sometimes," she confessed.
"You lived in New York?" he asked, interested. He wanted to know everything about this girl.
"Before I opened up the store in Tree Hill, I ran the company from there. But it wasn't home, ya know? There were people here who needed me, and as much as I wanted to live that glamorous life with parties every night and paparazzi on every corner, I needed to come home. I needed my friends."
"Wait, you own Clothes Over Bros? No way. I thought you just ran the Tree Hill store!" Jay was amazed. The beautiful woman in front of him was 24 years old, running a multimillion-dollar fashion empire?
Brooke laughed and Jay was sure it was the best sound he'd ever heard. "Yes, Clothes Over Bros is my company. I started it in high school, after a break up, hence the name." She laughed again, "I was… a little lost back then. I was a freshman cheerleader dating senior basketball players. By sophomore year, I was cheer captain and throwing the high school's hottest parties in my house because my parents were never in town. I only went to school so I could cheer, I usually skipped class and my grades definitely weren't the best. Boys defined me. I was a bitch, to put it nicely. You met Nathan in there? We made a sex tape together. Lucas? I dated him three times and he cheated on me with Peyton every time. Eventually, I grew up. I realized that I was taking out all of my anger and pain on the people who deserved it least. So I ran for student council president and I won, then I designed a clothing line. I went to New York for it right after I graduated high school, but about a year ago Luke and Peyton broke up and she took it really bad. She needed me more than my company did. And here we are," she shrugged, surprised at herself for spilling her life story to a stranger. But there was something about Jay that made it so easy.
Jay sat there in shock at everything Brooke had just told him. "Your boyfriend cheated on you three times with that girl, and you still gave up everything to come back here for her?"
Brooke just shrugged. "She's my best friend,"
"You're amazing," Jay told her, and before he knew it he was reaching for her hand. She looked up at him and smiled, squeezing his hand back before she stood up.
"Let's go back inside before they send a search party for us," Brooke didn't want this moment to be over, but she had learned over the years to protect her heart. Jay was leaving in two days and she'd never see him again, so she had to try her hardest to make sure nothing happened between them.
Jay nodded and stood up, placing a hand on the small of her back and leading her back inside the club. He quickly spotted Dawson and Ruzek at the bar and said goodbye to Brooke who was heading back over to her friends.
"Good luck tomorrow," she gave him one last smile and walked back over to Peyton.
"Dude!" Ruzek yelled as Jay made his way over to his friends. "Did you get it?"
Jay rolled his eyes at him for what seemed like the hundredth time that night. "It's not like that," he muttered. Brooke Davis was definitely not going to be a one-night fling.
Antonio just laughed at the lovesick younger detective. "Let's get going, we have to be at the station early tomorrow,"
xoxoxoxo
THURSDAY
The bust could not have been easier. The team had met at Xavier's house at 7:30 am, broke down the door, and found him asleep in bed, the tattoo on his arm confirming that it was him. Jay had knocked his gun off the dresser before he could reach for it, leaving him unarmed and unable to fight back. By 9 am, he was behind bars at the Tree Hill Police Station.
The team sat around a table at a small diner, eating breakfast and deciding what to do with their free time. Their flight didn't leave until noon the following day, giving them the whole day with nothing to do in Tree Hill.
"I know what Halstead wants to do," Ruzek smirked.
"I told you, it's not like that," Jay fired back. Antonio just shook his head and shot Ruzek a warning look. Luckily, Voight changed the conversation to the upcoming police barbeque that weekend and the team began making bets on who would win the chili cook off.
After breakfast, Voight announced that he was going to the hotel pool and Olinsky and Dawson decided to go with him. Ruzek and Atwater made plans to go to the beach to drool over hot girls in bikinis, but there was somewhere else Jay needed to be.
"I'll meet you guys there," he told Ruzek, who gave him a knowing look but nodded anyway. Before he knew where his feet were taking them, he found himself outside of Clothes Over Bros. He took a deep breath and walked inside. Millie was at the counter doing something on the register, and she looked surprised to see him.
"Hey, Detective, is everything okay?" she asked worriedly.
"It's good. We got him. I just wanted to let Brooke know," he said sheepishly.
Millie's frown turned into a huge smile. "I'm so glad you got him. Thank you so much. Brooke's in the back, I'll go get her."
She returned a minute later with a confused-looking Brooke but as soon as she saw Jay she broke into a smile. "Hey you,"
"Hey, I just wanted to let you know we got Xavier. He's behind bars for a long time," he told her, smiling back.
Brooke's eyes filled with tears of happiness and they fell before she could stop them. She walked over to Jay and gave him a huge hug, her tears soaking through his shirt. "Thank you so much," she sobbed. He rubbed her back for a minute until she composed herself and pulled back.
"I'm sorry," she wiped her eyes, "You don't even know how much relief just washed over me."
Jay nodded. "Don't apologize, I understand. I just wanted to let you know," feeling awkward again, he began to walk to the door.
"Are you still here until tomorrow?" she asked, causing him to turn back around. He nodded. "Dinner. Tonight. Meet me here at 6." She told him with a smile.
Jay's heart soared. "I'll be here," he told her, leaving the store with a huge smile plastered on his face.
The smile stayed on his face when he got to the beach, causing a game of 20 questions by Ruzek and Atwater.
"It's just dinner," he repeated over and over again, trying to make himself believe it. He kept reminding himself that was going back to Chicago tomorrow and anything more than dinner would be unfair to both of them.
xoxoxoxo
Jay buttoned his shirt, grabbed his wallet, and walked out the door of his hotel room at 5:30 with his heart pounding. He had never been so worked up over a girl before, especially one that he knew he couldn't have. But he couldn't help it – there was something special about Brooke Davis.
He walked into the store as Brooke was locking the register. "Sorry, we're closed-" she began, but when she looked up and saw Jay her facial expression changed from annoyed to happy.
"Sorry, I'll leave," he joked.
"Don't you dare," she laughed and grabbed her purse from behind the counter. "Let's go." She led him out the door and locked it behind her.
"Where are we going?" he asked as they got into her car.
"Just my house," Brooke shrugged. "Figured I'd cook."
"Is there anything you can't do?"
She smirked and raised her eyebrow, "Wouldn't you like to know?"
Jay groaned and shook his head. This girl was going to be the death of him. They pulled up to a huge house and Brooke parked the car and got out, Jay following close behind. She unlocked the door and they walked inside, Brooke heading straight for the kitchen.
"The TV is in here, make yourself at home. I'll be in the kitchen right down the hall, feel free to come in and help yourself to beer or anything," she yelled over her shoulder, pointing to her living room then disappearing out of sight.
Jay looked around the room and took in his surroundings. The room was covered in pictures – one wall was covered in framed magazine covers, with Brooke on the cover of every one. There were countless pictures of Brooke with her friends from Tric and a few of her with a little boy. She looked so happy, her eyes so bright and her dimples popping. He wondered if the attack was what had changed her and made her so sad and anxious, and if it was, he was happy he played a part in helping to put that psycho away.
He walked away from the pictures and joined Brooke in the kitchen where she was standing over the stove.
"Ya done snooping around?" she asked jokingly.
Jay felt his face redden but he couldn't deny it. "You looked happy. In those pictures, I mean,"
"I am happy," she bit her lip, "I just forgot for a while. But I look around, at my friends, at the support they've given me over the past week, and I realize how lucky I am. And it makes me really, really happy."
"You deserve it."
"You don't even know me. But thank you," she smiled and reached into the fridge for two beers.
"But I want to know you. And by what I know so far, you deserve to be happy, Brooke Davis." Jay held out his beer and they clinked their bottles together.
"Cheers," Brooke winked at him and turned back to the stove.
xoxoxoxo
After dinner, they sat outside on Brooke's patio that faced the ocean. The calming sound of the waves crashing and the beautiful girl sitting next to him kept making Jay forget that he had to go back to reality in Chicago the next day.
"So," Brooke broke the silence, "now that you know all about me – tell me about yourself, Jay Halstead,"
"There's not that much to tell. I've lived in Chicago my whole life. My dad wanted me to be a doctor but I didn't want to, so I joined the Army after high school. I came home when my mom was dying of cancer, then couldn't bring myself to go back overseas once she passed away, so I filled out an application for the Chicago Police Department, and here I am." Jay shrugged.
"I'm sorry about your mom," Brooke reached over and laid her hand on top of his. "My mom and I fight a lot, especially over the company, but I don't know what I'd do without her."
"Thanks." Jay turned his hand so their fingers intertwined. "She's proud of you. She'd be stupid not to be,"
Brooke laughed. "You'd be surprised." It hurt Jay's heart that Brooke was so selfless and everyone seemed to treat her so poorly. More than anything, he wanted to be able to show her how much she was worth, but in less than 24 hours he would be back in Chicago. The thought alone ruined his mood and he stood up, letting go of Brooke's hand.
"I should go. Thank you for dinner, it's been great getting to know you," he sighed, looking at Brooke for what would probably be the last time.
Brooke smiled a sad smile and stood up. "Thank you. For everything."
"It's my job, Brooke,"
"Not just for Xavier. For really listening to me and not judging me. I used to be a mess and I hate telling people about that, but the fact that you heard about it and you're still here, it means a lot. It was really nice to talk to someone from outside of the Tree Hill bubble." She reached for his hand one last time to lead him to the door.
Brooke opened her front door and sighed as she watched Jay walk away one last time. Before she realized what she was doing, she called out his name and he turned around. With newfound courage, she walked off of her front porch and met him on her driveway. She reached up and took his face in her hands, then crashed her lips against his. He was shocked at first, but he quickly began to kiss her back. Electricity was radiating through their bodies and neither of them pulled away until they were out of breath.
"Wow." Jay panted.
"I'd never forgive myself if I didn't do that." Brooke shrugged, "Goodbye, Jay Halstead."
"Goodbye, Brooke Davis." He took one last look at the beautiful girl, memorizing the way the moonlight lit up her eyes and her perfect dimples, before turning around to walk back to his hotel where he knew his curious coworkers would be waiting.
xoxoxoxo
FRIDAY
Jay groaned when his alarm went off the next morning, signifying that it was time to get ready to leave Tree Hill and Brooke Davis behind. Part of him was excited to get back to the hustle and bustle of Chicago and get back to working interesting cases, but part of him just could not leave this girl behind even though he knew he had to.
He got ready and met the rest of the team in the lobby of the hotel, where they waited for Sergeant Hartmann to pick them up for the airport.
"Thank God we're getting out of here," Ruzek groaned, "The girls are hot but it's so damn boring."
"Seriously. I fell asleep at 11 last night and I think I was still the last one in the city awake." Atwater complained.
Jay just groaned in response.
"You good?" Ruzek asked.
Jay nodded, "Never been better." He put on his sunglasses and took out his headphones, drowning out his thoughts in music the entire ride to the airport. He didn't say another word until they landed in Chicago, and even then all he said was goodbye to his unit as he got in a cab to go back to his apartment.
xoxoxoxo