Chapter 2: Santiago – The Boat

Amy was in the bathroom, buttoning up the patterned blouse given to her by the FBI agents running the operation. She took a deep inhale and let it out. The weekend had come too quickly. She wasn't sure if she was ready for this. Sure, she was super excited for her first undercover assignment and she knew if they pulled this off it would be a huge deal, but the ensuing closeness with Jake made her nervous. She wasn't nervous about Jake doing anything inappropriate, Amy had always been really impressed with the way he handled their relationship. He always was very respectful in that regard. No, she was worried about herself, worried that the feelings she kept a tight lid on would spill out and leave them in mess that neither would be able to pick up.

She thought about getting dinner with Jake, calling him "honey", and holding hands with him. Her chest tightened. The reaction didn't surprise her. She expected that this entire ordeal would make her chest hurt. She took another deep breath and checked her make-up in the bathroom mirror. She had just finished applying her pink lip gloss when she heard a gentle knock on the door.

"Come in!" she called. Rosa Diaz opened the door and Amy noted that she was already dressed for her cover. Her hair was tied back in a flattering pony-tail and she was dressed in a white dress shirt, black vest, and black slacks.

"Hey. Holt wants to talk to us. Hurry up" she said. Amy threw on her black leather jacket and followed her colleague into the large hotel-style bedroom that was filled with FBI agents and the rest of their team. Computers were stacked upon one another showing different angles of the ship's hallways, restaurants, and bars. The room was filled with the buzz of an upcoming delicate operation. Amy loved this feeling, the way that everyone became so focused and alert in order to catch the bad guy. It was one of her favorite parts of the job, the comradery. Captain Holt was in the corner wearing his NYPD vest and looking as stoic as ever, and in front of him, was her partner, Jake Peralta. He was wearing his usual checkered shirt and a jacket that was a couple sizes too big. Charles and Rosa, both wearing the same outfit, stood next to Amy as they approached the Captain.

"Alright, Detectives, I'd like to give you one last briefing before we set you out. Diaz, Boyle, remember to keep interactions with guests to a minimum. We want you to be available at all times in case the situation gets dangerous for Peralta and Santiago. You are the eyes of this investigation. Grab the occasional drink if you must, but stick to jobs that will allow you to jump in at a moment's notice. Have you both been wired?" the Captain asked.

"Wired to kick some ass!" Charles said a little too enthusiastically. Jake grinned as Captain Holt looked on disapprovingly. Rosa pushed Charles in the direction of Agent Harrison, the mic specialist.

"Let's go" she said curtly as they both left, Charles rubbing the arm Rosa pushed. Amy put her attention back on Holt. She knew he was saving the most important information for them. Her chest swelled with pride. Despite all the Jake stuff, it was an honor to be here.

"Captain, I already know what you're going to say. We," Jake gestured to himself and Amy, "are Johnny and Dora Liongate, a newly-wed couple with a dark past. I'm a straight accountant by day, crooked loan shark by night. Dora is a kindergarten teacher with a sadistic side. She relentlessly punishes all my clients that don't pay me back what's ours"

"Your names are Johnny and Dora Goldberg, and you're successful real estate agents" Holt said, immediately shutting down Jake's back story.

"Goldberg? Really? That's racist" Jake said, annoyed.

"Your targets are Stanley and Priscilla Tufton, be aware they may use aliases to hide their identities. Your assignment is to take these wallets," he handed both of them full wallets which they both put away, Jake's in his coat jacket, and Amy in her purse, "with false information and allow the Tuftons to steal your fake identities. Befriend them, make them believe you trust them, and as soon as we have damning evidence against them, we'll pull you out. Be aware that they have both been known to be armed and dangerous. Take proper precautions."

"'Take Proper Precautions'" name of Santiago's sex tape!" Jake blurted. Holt stared. Amy slapped his arm.

"I'll ask you to take this more seriously, Detective"

"Yes, sir"

"Inside your wallets are your room keys. The cruise will leave at tonight at 1800 hours and will port back here tomorrow at 1600 hours. You will be sharing room 203 as to not arouse suspicion"

"Suspicion's not the only thing that won't be aroused" Amy said under her breath.

"Ooooh ouch! Low blow Santiago. Oh! 'Low blow Santiago' name of your sex tape! YES!" Jake said. Amy groaned and rolled her eyes.

"That was like, the best one, come on"

Amy could feel Captain Holt growing more impatient.

"Are you both finished?" the Captain asked. Amy could feel Jake hold back another joke.

"Yes, sir" Amy said, guilty she had stooped to Jake's level.

"Alright, do either of you have any questions?"

"No"

"Nope"

"Good. Detectives, there's a lot of pressure from the bureau for this to go well. Please make sure you do your best not to act like children" Holt said as he left towards the wall of computer screens on the other side of the room. Jake put his hands on his hips and looked at Amy.

"Well, how 'bout it Santiago? You ready for this?" he asked.

"Oh, I was born ready for this"

"You were born ready to be my wife, Santiago? That is so sweet, I always knew you were a romantic underneath all the anxiety to be the best in every situation" Jake said, grinning. Amy felt her face contort into another sneer.

"NO, I'm ready for the mission!"

"The mission to be my wife? So you were born ready to be my wife?" Jake asked, driving Amy crazier and crazier.

"You're awfully excited about all of this. This assignment fulfilling a fantasy of yours, Peralta?" Amy immediately regretted asking this. It was very brief, but she saw Jake's face fall slightly. The light in his eyes left for just a second and her heart hammered against her chest. He was about to reply, but was interrupted.

"Peralta, Santiago," said the Captain's voice across the room. He approached them once again. "We're ready for you to begin, are you both ready?"

"Born ready, sir" Jake said. Amy rolled her eyes.

Jake and Amy walked down the hallway towards the main hall where all the other couples would be congregating. Amy studied an itinerary she found in the room.

"Wine tasting starts at 6:30. Maybe we can join their table and introduce ourselves that way" she said.

"Yeah, sounds good" Jake replied. Amy was surprised. She expected him to tear down the idea and suggest his own.

"Oh, great" she said. Amy worried that her comment about his fantasies may have been a little harsh. They walked the rest of the way in silence until they came to the entrance of the immaculate main hall. Both of them stared at the grandeur: beautiful glazed-cherry wood surfaces, plush woven carpets with intricate designs, and a giant chandelier above them all. Amy thought it was very romantic.

"I wish I wasn't here for work" she thought. Was this really going to be okay? Her chest tightened again. She thought of Jake confessing to her again and her turning him down again. She saw him never talking to her again and moving on to a different precinct, getting a girlfriend, forgetting about her. The tightening in her chest doubled. She glanced over at him and found him turning to look at her as well. He smiled with his expression full of kindness.

"Ready, Mrs. Goldberg?" Jake asked, offering his hand for her to hold. She took another deep breath in and interlaced his fingers with hers, her chest suddenly relaxing.

"Ready"