Chapter 6:

Growing Friendships

It was a beautiful fall morning in New York. The air was crisp and the leaves had begun to change color. Jess ran her normal route of the outer loop but this time she had a companion. Ever since they accidentally ran into each other at the park a few weeks back, Jess and Don had been running together. Their relationship had begun to grow as they became friends.

Don liked running with Jess because she didn't look at him like he was about to fall apart. Jess didn't ask if he was ok. The conversation was easy and light and it was just a nice break from everything.

Jess liked to run with Don because he was someone she could bounce ideas off. She didn't feel any pressure with him to be right or the need to prove herself. His experience and insights on cases had been beneficial to her. The conversation was easy and light and it was just a nice break from everything.

"Ok, Angell" Don said slowing his pace "I need to catch my breath"

Jess slowed down to a jog pace and made her way over to the bench. They always stopped here to allow Don to catch his breath.

"You seem distracted today," Don said.

They had an unspoken agreement not to ask each other how they were doing. He was good at reading people and he could tell that something was bugging her.

Jess chewed her bottom lip. He had also noticed that she did that whenever she was nervous.

"It's Benton" She admitted "things were going great, we were almost like equals, real partners. He was letting me take on more responsibility during cases. But since the Richerson case, he has been shutting me out. I feel like I have to prove myself all over again. I don't know what I did."

"Ask him" Don replied simply

"No" Jess replied

"Benton is a good guy. We were partners for a while before O'Bryan changed things up and had us run solo. He'll be straight with you. And you said he gave you a great elevation it's probably nothing" Don said "and it has to be better than not knowing"

"Maybe" Jess said

SIlence fell between them until Jess spoke, "O'Bryan has been on us all this week to make sure your paperwork is done. He told the desk sergeant to have your desk ready as well" Jess said, asking without asking if he was coming back soon.

"Yea I should be back next week." Don replied. He flashed her a smile "My desk better be next to yours"

"And why is that?" she asked

"So I can remind you daily how much the devils and the mets suck" Flack joked.

"Shut up, Flack" Jess laughed "come on, I got to be work at 9"

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Jess sat in the car as Benton drove over to the West side to run a lead about the Richerson case. Emma's killer was still out there. They were working hard to try and solve it even with their growing caseload.

The car was silent but it was an uncomfortable silence. Jess thought back to her morning conversation with Flack and his advice to just ask Benton. "I'll run the interview," Benton said, interrupting her thoughts.

He hadn't let her run an interview or anything else in what seemed like forever. Jess took a deep breath and decided Flack was right. She had to ask, "Did I do something?"

Benton didn't say anything as he pulled into the parking space. "Look Benton, If there is something I need to work on, please tell me." she continued

"It's nothing to do with your job performance." Nick replied

"Than what?" She asked

"It's nothing, Angell" He stated

"It's something, something enough that you are freezing me out of cases" Jess replied "I think I deserve to know. And I'm not trying to be disrespectful. I understand you outrank me but you've been telling me for months we are partners. You were the one who told me partners share things with each other."

" Fair enough" Nick replied "What's the deal with you and Flack?"

"Flack?" Jess asked confused "what does that have to do with anything?"

"I've noticed you two getting close." Benton said "few weeks ago in the lunchroom and now you two are running in the mornings"

"What am I being accused of?" Jess asked "because it sounds like I am"

"I'm trying to look out for you" Benton said "like you said we are partners."

Jess crossed her arms rather annoyed with the entire conversation. "I haven't crossed any lines if that's what you are implying. Not that it's any of your business. I don't date cops, especially cops that outrank me. Flack and I are friends. And to be honest, I figured you knew me better than and had more respect for me. I'm a professional"

"I do that's why I'm telling you to be careful. You are the best rookie I've seen in awhile" Nick told her

"Nick, seriously just friends with the guy. He could use a friend at the moment. Someone who didn't know him before the bombing. Someone who doesn't look at him like he's about to fall apart into a millions pieces. Because that's how everyone from the station and lab looks at the guy. And I know those looks, I got those looks after the Willson case. It's terrible. No matter how good the intentions, those looks from your coworkers, no one wants. I like chatting with Flack because I can bounce ideas off him. He has years of experience and there is no pressure. Otherwise, we talk about sports and the weather. Very deep stuff" Jess ranted

"Look Jess, I'm sorry" he said feeling like an idiot "if I offended you"

"I am insulted," Jess said "for you to think so little of me, to think I would be so unprofessional, is insulting. And worse you weren't professional. Even if I was sleeping with him which I'm not, to freeze me out of cases is unfair. I'm a good cop."

"You are right," Nick said, "I shouldn't have froze you out. I do respect you and your professional opinions. I was wrong. "

"It's fine," Jess said "just next time talk to me. I get you were trying to look out for me but I have enough people to do that. Four older brothers and a sergeant dad, I don't need it from my partner too. Just treat me as an equal and trust me to be professional."

Nick smiled "what to take the lead?"

"See now that's an apology" Jess beamed.

They got out of the car and walked around and headed towards the building. "Angell, I'm still going to warn you to be careful with Flack. He's a good guy but.."

Jess cut him off "we are just friends so the rest of it doesn't matter. I know you are saying this because you have my back. But I feel like Flack will too. "

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Jess and Flack were about halfway around the outer loop of the park. It had been a week since the fight with Benton. Things seemed to have gone back to normal but he planted a seed of doubt about her friendship with Flack. This was the first time in three days that she had ran with him.

They came to the bench and they both jogged over to catch their breath "so what's wrong?" Flack asked breaking their unspoken agreement of not asking each other those types of questions.

"It's nothing" Jess smiled

Flack gave her a nod but didn't pry he knew there was something bugging her. He had gotten to know who well enough on these runs to be able to tell when something was bothering her. "Did you talk to Benton?"

Jess nodded "Yea, things are good now again. He thought the Willson shooting was still getting to me. I set him straight" she lied. She didn't want to tell Flack that Benton had thought they were getting too close. She decided at that moment that she wasn't going to let silly rumors stop her from being Flack's friend and Jess didn't want him to decide that their friendship was inappropriate so she lied.

"Good" Flack beamed at her, "so I got good news. I've been officially cleared for active duty and will be back on Monday"

"That's great," Jess said. She was very excited he would be back and so happy for him.

"Noone at the bullpen have mention it"

"That's cause I've only told you" Don said "I don't want a big welcome back."

Jess nodded in understanding "come on, let's finish the run"

Don got up from the bench "you got the late shift right?"

"Yup" she replied as they began to run again.

"Want to have breakfast at Tillay's after the run?" he asked

"Sure, detective," Jess said. She was surprised she agreed to breakfast especially at Tillary's, a cop restaurant. They would be almost guaranteed to run into someone from the precinct. However, she didn't care. They were friends and that was it. "I can tell you how much the yankees and rangers suck at breakfast."

"You are the worse" Flack laughed

"Doesn't make it any less true" Jess giggled

They ran the rest of the loop in comfortable silence like only good friends can do.