Vault Chapter 11: Have You Ever Needed Someone So Bad, a 21 jump street fanfic

We're pretty good at writing ballads. Girls seem to love this one for some reason. (Joe)

Chapter 11:

Have You Ever Needed Someone So Bad

Here I am, I'm in the wrong bed again
It's a game I just can't win
There you are, breathing soft on my skin, yeah
Still you won't let me in, so come on

Sunlight burned red-hot on the inside of Tom Hanson's eyelids. He moaned a muffled protest and reluctantly opened his eyes. Instantly, once he saw the unfamiliar room—or what he thought was unfamiliar in those two seconds—he let out a startled yelp, scurried backwards, and fell out of the bed, taking a couple layers of sheets with him.

A peal of laughter made him look up, only to see Judy Hoffs.

What the—?

"You wake up on the wrong side of the bed, Hanson?" Judy teased.

No, I woke up in the wrong bed. How come I'm at Judy's and not at home? Tom tried to recall the events of last night, but all he could remember was going to a bar the 21 Jump Street team frequented after closing a case involving child abuse. His brows furrowed as he tried to remember more.

"Tom?" The playful look on Judy's face died as she took in his expression. "What is it?"

"Why am I not at home? Jude, I can't remember anything about last night."

"That's probably because you had too much to drink last night. Now c'mon, get dressed. Your clothes should be where you left them," said Hoffs, a smile twitching at her lips.

A shiver ran through Tom, and he turned his head away, searching for his clothes. He found them at the foot of the bed and dressed quickly, keeping his back to Judy and hoping against hope that they hadn't done anything too physical last night. "C'mon, Jude, we have to check in with Fuller."

"Hey, Tom, relax. We didn't do anything last night"—a wicked grin flashed across her features anyway—"and you're probably going to have a killer headache later today, yes?"

He wished she hadn't mentioned the headache. Now it felt like someone was slamming a hammer inside his skull. Not fun at all.

Hoffs had snagged some clothes from her dresser, vanished into the bathroom, and came out two minutes later, standing uncomfortably close to her fellow officer. Tom was all too aware that she was breathing softly on his skin, but given how close they were, that was to be expected. He swallowed hard, unsure of what to say, if at all, but Judy suddenly whirled out of reach and stalked toward the door. Sighing, Tom followed. He still wanted to check in with his captain, and he was curious as to why Judy wasn't letting him in on what might have happened during the night, if anything had happened. Maybe he was being cynical, but he didn't quite trust Judy at the moment.

Why save your kisses for a rainy day?
Baby let the moment take your heart away

As soon as Hanson and Hoffs entered Jump Street Chapel, every undercover officer in the place stopped what they were doing and stared at the two of them. Tom fidgeted uneasily, suddenly wishing he was back home. It was fairly obvious he was wearing the same clothes as yesterday. Not that it was any of their business, but . . .

"C'mon," Judy muttered, taking his hand and stalking past everyone, finally stopping at his desk. She pointed and ordered, "Sit."

He did, but not before giving her a quick kiss on the cheek. It was totally a brotherly kiss, but Tom couldn't help wanting more from her.

Have you ever needed someone so bad?
Have you ever wanted someone who you just couldn't have?
Did you ever try so hard that your world just fell apart?
Have you ever needed someone so bad?
And you're the girl I gotta have, I gotta have you baby, yeah

Everyone was still staring at them, so he snapped, "Don't you people have better things to do?"

Suddenly Fuller was there, glaring at the other cops. He barked, "Back to work!" Then, once everybody was busy, he turned to Tom and said, "I'd like to see you in my office. Now."

Hanson knew better than to argue with his captain, so he obeyed and walked into Fuller's office, his commanding officer on his six. The door shut behind Adam, and as the man sat behind his desk, Tom had to bite back a nervous gulp.

"How are you feeling, Tom?"

Hanson blinked in surprise; he hadn't expected that question. "Uh, excuse me?"

Fuller chuckled a little. "Considering how much you had to drink last night, I'm surprised you're here. And I take it Hoffs had you stay over at her place?"

"Nothing happened," Tom said, eyeing his captain suspiciously. I think.

"The two of you aren't dating, are you?"

"Captain, nothing happened last night."

"That doesn't mean anything, Hanson, and you haven't answered my question."

Tom sighed. "No, we're not." But he wanted to, even though dating a co-worker was almost always a bad idea. This wasn't the first time Fuller had asked him that question, either. Although his answer was the same—and he wasn't lying—he couldn't help having feelings for Judy. "Is there another reason you called me in here?"

"Yeah." Fuller leaned toward the door and yelled, "Hoffs, get in here!"

She came bouncing in, the gold decorations on her blue denim jacket jangling. "Yeah, Coach?"

"I want you two to go into Roosevelt High. We think there's a pornography ring that's connected to their after-school modeling program. Everything you need to know is in here." Fuller handed them folders with all the information on their covers.

"Captain, wait a sec. Do you want us to go in as if we're dating, or—" Tom's voice choked off as Judy whacked him upside the head. He turned to her, hurt. "What was that for?"

She ignored him. "Who are our suspects?" she asked Fuller.

"The teacher who runs the program. His name is Ethan McCann, and he's head of the Drama Club. As for your earlier question, Tom"—Fuller shrugged—"it's your choice. Now go get 'em."

The message was clear: They were dismissed.

"So, uh, how do you want to play this?" Tom asked nervously as they walked through the maze of desks to the door, rubbing the back of his neck.

"I say we go in as a couple." Judy glanced sideways at him. "That okay with you?"

He swallowed, voice hoarse when he rasped, "Yeah." How could it not be okay with him?

There you go, midnight promises again, yeah
But they're broken by the dawn
You wanna go further, faster every day, baby
But in the morning you'll be gone, and I'm alone

For their first day at the new school, they hadn't learned much. Of course, they made sure they were in Drama Club and they joined the modeling school—and made a few friends—but time would tell if Ethan McCann was running a high school pornography ring.

Currently, the two of them were eating pizza at Hanson's place, comparing notes. It was too early in the case to start throwing around theories and see what stuck or to form a definite opinion.

"So," Tom said, "do you think McCann's our guy?"

"Too soon to tell, but I think Fuller's right. The guy gives me a case of the creeps."

Hanson moved closer, set the pizza slice down and—impulsively—rested a hand on her thigh. "He hasn't tried anything, has he?"

"I would've told you if he did. And just because we're pretending to date doesn't mean we really are, Tom."

"I know," he replied. Tom stood up suddenly, gave the pizza one last look, and suggested, "How about we both catch some sleep, huh?"

A small smile spread across her face. "Sounds good to me," Judy said, rising. "I'll see you in the morning." She didn't know why she was telling him that. She'd probably be gone by the time he woke up.

Or not, since his chocolate-colored gaze had grown even more intense than normal an done hand had come to rest on her cheek, his thumb gently stroking the soft skin. Judy's breath caught as she realized he intended to kiss her.

Why save your kisses for a rainy day?
Baby let the moment take your heart away

Tom pressed his lips to her forehead, as he had so many times before, but then his mouth moved down to cover hers. Judy had time to think, Wow, he is a great kisser, before she let the moment take her heart and body away. She said softly, "I can't believe I'm kissing Tom Hanson."

"Well, I can't believe I'm kissing Judy Hoffs," he replied, briefly breaking off the kiss. Tom studied her face for a few seconds, fighting the sudden surge of desire to go further. He wouldn't unless she wanted to. However, he wasn't above kissing her again. Why save your kisses for a rainy day? he thought, giving in to the sensations flooding him.

Have you ever needed someone so bad, yeah
Have you ever wanted someone who you just couldn't have?
Did you ever try so hard that your world just fell apart?
Have you ever needed someone so bad?

He'd wanted her even when he couldn't have her, had needed her so badly that it scared him to admit it.

Gently he caught her lower lip with his teeth, heard Judy give a tiny groan. As much as he hated to, Tom pulled back, feeling exhaustion slam into him like a tidal wave. "I'll see you in the morning. Good night, Jude."

He headed into his bedroom and, preparing for bed, he could have sworn he heard her whisper, "Good night, Hanson."

Too tired to do anything else, he crawled into bed and closed his eyes, allowing sleep to take him.

Every dream I dream
Is some kinda rash 'n' reckless scene
To give such crazy love
You must be some kinda drug

And if my time don't ever come
For me you're still the one
Damned if I don't, damned if I do
I gotta get a fix on you

His dreams were plagued by Judy, who had fallen asleep in the other room, showing him all kinds of rash and reckless scenes of her—in bed—with him. Tom groaned and rolled over onto his side. Like that would ever happen, but she was some sort of drug to him. She had to be, to give everything she had—in his dreams, anyway, and maybe in the waking world. Even if Judy didn't choose him, for Hanson, she was still the one.

"Hanson." Someone was gently shaking his shoulder. "Tom, wake up."

He slowly blinked open sleep-filled eyes. "Whazzgoin' on, Judy?"

"You kept mumbling in your sleep. You okay?"

"Yeah." He turned over and covered his head with the pillow. "Lemme sleep."

A smile twitched at her mouth. "Okay. Later." The weight on the mattress lifted, and Tom felt her lips brush his forehead. Then she was gone.