A/N: there is a part of this chapter that the dialogue comes from People with money that is in bold and doesn't belong to me.
Since I had to do a note, I wanted to say a quick thank-you for the reviews.
Chapter 8:
Tipsy Decisions
Jess sat at her desk almost bouncing with anticipation about going solo. Thing was she was still low on the totem pole. Cases coming in went to senior detectives first. But she was an optimist and hoped that she would get her first solo case soon.
"You look like you are ready to bounce off that chair with enthusiasm, '' Don said to Jess, pulling up his chair to her desk.
"Just doing paperwork and waiting" Jess replied "Same as you"
"True" Don said 'Looking forward to being back into the field and not just keeping my chair warm."
Sophie walked over to both the detectives and interrupted their conversation "two 187 just came in. O'Bryan said to give the Brooklynn Bridge one to you" She said, passing the information to Flack "and you get the upper east side one." she added giving Jess the post-it with the information on it.
"Thanks, Sophie" Jess smiled
"Good Luck" Don said
"You too," Jess replied, grabbing her things and heading out to her case. It had a nice ring to it, her case.
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Jess drove up to her first scene as a solo detective. This was a moment she had been waiting for, for a long time. She took a deep breath, her adrenaline pumping for her first solo case.
Jess made her way through the scene and down to the living room of the house where the body of the young lady was located. "Detective Angell," Officer Megan Nelson called, an uniform that Jess knew from a number of crime scenes. "Vanessa May, age 25" Nelson said reading her notes "and forensics are on they way"
"Thanks, Nelson" She said making notes
"Margo Demme," Nelson pointed to the young lady talking to another officer Jared Harris, "she discovered the body and is Ms. May's best friend."
"Thanks" Jess said again "I'm gonna take her statement, I'll come get you when I canvas."
Nelson nodded and smiled, Jess knew Nelson was a good uniform and was aching to prove herself. Nelson reminded Jess of herself.
Jess had just gathered all the information when Messer and Hawkes joined the scene. They stood on the second floor but were able to look down over the balcony.
"Detective Angell" Danny called
"Messer, Doc" Jess said walking out in front of the body
"Hey" Hawkes said
"What happened?' Messer smirked "I don't see Benton breathing down your neck. Did he take the training wheels off?
Jess rolled her eyes "Did you come all the way up here to burst my balls or to work Messer?" she said
"Oh, Angell got her wings, hun?" Hawkes said
"Gimme a break" Jess laughed
Messer and Hawkes came down and they got down to business, all jokes were put to rest as they had work to do. They began to process the body and the scene. "I'm out," Jess said "Going to canvas."
Hawkes and Messer nodded, "we will let you know what we find" Hawkes said
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Jess sat at her desk looking over some reports that Messer had sent over. They had just got back from Club Prowl with Messer and interviewing Asad Jamilla. She was disappointed in herself for not realizing Asad was lying. Messer realized right away that he had to be in Vanessa's penthouse because the club didn't serve tequila.
"You look stressed," Don said sitting at his desk which was right next to hers. He had just gotten back from interviewing his Vic's girlfriend, Erica Lancaster.
"Its nothing, just missed something I shouldn't have" she replied
"And you are giving yourself a hard time" Don said knowing she would be extra hard on herself now that she was solo. Plus this was her first case on her own and he knew she would want to prove herself
"I'll be fine" Jess said "how's your case?"
Don shrugged "it's fine" he said turning on his computer so he could check Erica's alibi. "Don't be too hard on yourself" Don said "I know you got this."
Jess smiled and they both went back to work on their own cases, After a few minutes, Jess looked up from her computer and commented, "So how many numbers did you get this morning from the techs?"
"Been talking to Monroe I see" Don laughed
"No Gracie told me" Jess said, "one of the lab techs." Gracie had actually checked with Jess that it was ok that she had given the detective her number, everyone seemed to think their relationship was something more. Jess decided to keep that information to herself.
"So how many" Jess continued to joke
Don wasn't sure why but he didn't really want to tell Jess. He didn't want Jess to think he was a player.
"I'm just joking" Jess said reading his body language and expression that this was bothering him.
"I know" Don flashed his grin and played it off "I got three."
"Everyone loves a hero" Jess said
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It had been a long day but she had enjoyed every moment of running her own case and being solo. It meant more work and there were times she did miss Benton.
"How was your first day on your own?" Flack asked coming down to the locker room where Jess was.
"Long but the case is closed" Jess said "How about you? How was your first day back in the field?"
"Ran mostly on adrenaline but I crushed it' He laughed
It had been awkward earlier between them but things seemed to have been forgotten and back to normal.
Jess pulled out a clean outfit to change into. "Me too" She gave him a cocky grin. "Going to Sully's tonight?" Jess asked
"It's my night" He stated "You?"
"Yea I've been looking forward to it all day" Jess said
A lot of the detectives from both the predict and lab were going to Sully's tonight to celebrate Don's return and her going solo.
"Now get out, I want to change" she smirked
"You know some people do that at home" He laughed
"I'm not driving all the way back to my apartment when I can change here." Jess replied "that's an hour at least I would be behind on the drinking."
Don laughed "I'll meet you at Tilary's. You have to eat or you will be wasted" "
"Lock the door behind you" Jess said as Don headed out of the locker room.
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Jess and Don walked into Sully's after having dinner together. "I'll get you a beer" Don said the line up to the bar was long and there was no need for both to stand in line. Jess reached for her purse for money to pay for the beer "i'll get this round, you get next" Don said
Jess nodded alright and walked on over to the booth where the gang had already gathered.
"Hey Angell" Benton said as she sat next to him "Miss me today?"
"Actually yes" Jess replied "it's a lot more work without you. But I loved it"
Don came back with the beers and passed one to Jess and sat on the other side of her.
A variety of conversations broke out. Jess started to chat with Lindsay and Stella. They made plans to go dancing next weekend and to a movie on Thursday night. Jess was enjoying how much she was fitting in. Jess had begun getting close to some of the girls from the lab as well. As Jess chatted with Stella and Lindsay, Don was talking to Danny and Hawkes.
Jess was on her fourth beer. She rarely drank more than one or two when she was out with work people but it was a celebration and she was enjoying herself.
Don was on his sixth beer and was very aware of Jess sitting next to him. She never looked more beautiful. He had always thought she was beautiful. It wasn't just the beers making him see that but it was making him braver.
Steven Martinez came over with a tray of shots "Here Angell, Flack" he said, passing them both a shot glass of tequila.
"No thanks, Martinez" Jess said. She knew Tequila and her had always been a bad combination.
"Come on Angell" Martinez said 'We're celebrating"
"What's wrong Jess?" Flack poke her in the ribs with his elbow "are you a lightweight?" he tensed
Everyone else had taken one "damn peer pressure" She joked taking the last shot already knowing this was not going to end well.
An hour later and another two beers and three more shots, Jess was definitely ready to call it a night. "So dancing Friday," Lindsay said to Jess and Stella reminding them again of their plans.
"Sounds good" Jess said
The drinks had started to slow down and Jess decided it was time to call it a night "Ok I'm done" Jess said getting up from the table. She was tipsy and almost lost her balance but she grabbed her chair so she didn't fall "you gonna be ok getting home?" Benton asked her
"Yea, I'll get a cab around the corner" Jess said "I'll be fine"
She waved goodbye and started heading out of the bar, "I'm going make sure she gets a cab" Don said to Benton. He could see Benton's concerned look, "you can if you want but one of us should"
Benton just nodded. Don got up, grabbed his jacket and headed in the night after Jess. "Jess," He called. She was sat on the bench outside the bar "I haven't been this drunk since college" she admitted
Don sat next to her. Jess let her head fall on Don's shoulder. He could smell the watermelon shampoo from her hair. It smelled sweet and he took her in. "Come on" Don said "I want to get you home safely"
"I can get there on my own" Jess argued but it was pointless.
They stood up and walked around the corner where they would have a better chance of getting a cab. Don had his arm around her waist for support. "I'm sorry Don" Jess whispered "I don't usually drink this much" She was embarrassed she had let herself get this drunk.
"Jess, don't be silly" Don said "I'm drunk too"
They stopped at the corner. No cabs. They waited. Don had moved so he was standing in front of her so they were facing each other. Some of her hairs had fallen into her eyes. Don smiled at her. He reached out and lightly brushed the loose strands of hair out of her eyes and bend down his lips almost touched hers when Jess pulled back "I'm sorry Don, I just can't cross this line"