Give It A Chance


Cassie got home shortly after leaving Thea's. She was always grateful to have her sister so close, her best friend in many ways, someone that would always be there for her no matter the circumstance or the time of night.

She walked through the door, making her way into the living room which she noticed was sparkling clean. Chase's toys had been tucked away neatly where they usually were, and she also happened to notice the x-box was no longer beneath the tv.

She sighed to herself, feeling very much like the big bad wolf, making her way to the kitchen where she saw Theo sitting at the table, on their laptop with some finances in front of him.

"Hey." Cassie said quietly.

"Hi." Theo nodded to her, "How is Thea?" He asked.

"How do you know that's where I was?" Cassie questioned.

"Cause that's always where you go. Unless I really hurt your feelings, then you go to your dad and I get scared." Theo nodded as Cassie smiled a little.

"The living room looks nice." Cassie nodded to him, "Thank you for tidying." She said.

"I had help." Theo assured her, "He also asked me whilst he was in the bath if you had ran away because you were angry at him." He looked over at Cassie who sighed to herself sadly, upset with herself, "As much as I don't like it, you can be upset with me and… take whatever out on me. Don't do it to him." Theo shook his head, "He's three for God sake."

"I'm sorry." Cassie nodded, "I've got a day off tomorrow so I'll… I'll take Chase out for the day. He didn't deserve to get the brunt of all of this."

"And I did?" Theo asked her as she looked at him, "Look, I know that the place was a mess, and I know you're working hard, I wish I was working hard alongside you, it's killing me being off work all this time. But you and I both know that you're clearly battling with something else on your mind. So you gotta let me know." Theo said.

"It wasn't about the mess." Cassie nodded, "Although… it was very messy in here." She groaned a little, "But it… it wasn't really about that."

"I know that." Theo said, "So are you gonna tell me what's up?" He asked her as she nodded.

"Yeah." Cassie sighed, taking a seat across from him, "Mark got out on appeal." She nodded.

"I know. Jake told me." Theo nodded, "I… had a feeling this would be about this."

"Well I just feel guilty, I guess." Cassie shrugged, "I was the one who asked for a deal for him. And now the little worm managed to get an appeal on it, so he does no time at all." She shook her head.

"You did what you had to do. I'd do the same for my mom. I'd do the same for your mom." He nodded.

"But he walks free." Cassie shook her head, "I am a cop. I'm supposed to be putting these people away, not helping them get out." She said, "I know I did for my mom, and I'd do it again if I had to, of course I would, but… it's still how I feel."

"I know." Theo said, "It doesn't reflect on you as a cop, though."

"Really? I feel like I walk around the precinct and everyone is disappointed in me. Jake probably can't stand me-"

"Jake knows he's lucky to have you." Theo said, "Cassie, your biggest critique has and always will be yourself. You gotta… ease up a little." He nodded, "So the guy got out on appeal. It happens all the time. He won't be a cop anymore, that's a good thing."

"He still should have done time." Cassie said.

"Well what you gonna do about it? Nothing. It's done now. I've worked plenty of cases where everything falls to pieces and no justice is served. It happens. It's not gonna be the first time you feel like this." He nodded, "It's part of the gig I'm afraid."

"How… How do you do it then? How do you get used to that frustration?" Cassie asked him. He still was her biggest mentor.

"Well most often than not, the good you do will outweigh the useless. Think about the people you have put away. The people you have helped get justice. Mark is one guy. You've helped hundreds of people." Theo nodded, "That's how you get used to it."

"Still doesn't feel right." Cassie shook her head.

"I know." Theo nodded, "Why couldn't you just talk to me about this?"

"I don't know. I guess I just talk to myself about it." Cassie shrugged.

"That's not good for anyone. Even your crazy ass." He shook his head as she smiled.

"Just makes you feel like it was all for nothing. I mean he… he sent those pictures to Jude. And he gets to just walk away. What kind of sister does that make me?"

"Cassie not everything is under your control. Jude would understand. You know she would. I think she'd rather him go free than lose your mom." Theo nodded.

"He got exactly what he wanted." Cassie shook her head, "I just know he'd be so smug about it." She said angrily.

"You're probably never gonna see him again. He's not allowed back in law enforcement, and he's probably still on some sort of probation."

"How did you know he got out?" Cassie wondered.

"Jake told me." Theo said, "So I figured you'd feel guilty about it."

"It's just hard not to." Cassie said.

"I know, but it will pass." Theo assured her, "Just… talk to me like this about it, don't put that annoying ass wall up." He said as she smiled.

"I do try my hardest not to." Cassie assured him.

"I know." Theo said.

"I'm sorry for taking it out on you." Cassie said.

"And I'm sorry for letting our son destroy the living room." Theo nodded as she chuckled a little, "I actually didn't realise it had gotten so messy."

"I figured." Cassie laughed a little, "Where did the x-box go?" She questioned.

"I put it upstairs in the box." Theo nodded to her.

"Why? That makes me feel like a nag." Cassie groaned.

"Cause… there's better things I can do with my night than playing video games." He assured her.

"Oh, really? Like what?" Cassie asked.

"Sorting out our mortgage." He teased as she chuckled and nodded.

"I love you." She said, "Thank you for understanding me. I know it's not easy sometimes."

"I'll do it forever. No questions asked." He nodded as she smiled, leaning over and kissing him sweetly.


"I didn't like it. I was uncomfortable." Dean said, walking around his brother's kitchen where AJ was sitting at the table whilst Punk stood behind her.

"Am I missing something? I think he's really sweet." AJ shook her head.

"He's not your dad, though." Dean said.

"So let me get this straight. You didn't feel uncomfortable with Sam around, who was loud, embarrassing, obnoxious… God rest her soul of course…" She blessed herself as Punk rolled his eyes, "But sweet Dan who washes up the dishes after himself and barely says much… that's who you feel uncomfortable with?" AJ questioned.

"Yeah but Sam was just… Sam." Dean shrugged, "I don't know how to explain it."

"I think you both got daddy issues." AJ nodded as Dean folded his arms.

"I actually came here to talk to my brother." Dean nodded sassily.

"It's my house, baby." AJ smiled.

"Back me up on this, huh?" Dean looked over at Punk.

"I think… we're just not used to him." Punk nodded to Dean, "And that's why it's kinda weird when we see him. Sam was a lot of things but she was always sort of in the background. We were familiar with her. We still don't know much about Dan." He nodded.

"Well now Renee is in a bad mood with me because I didn't say much at dinner, even though I told her I didn't want to have dinner with him in the first place. Not to mention Chrissy and Sarah said I was being immature." Dean scoffed, "Women… they think they got it all figured out." He waved his hand.

"They do." AJ nodded confidently.

"Phil, I think we're being forced against our will here." Dean nodded as AJ rolled her eyes, "From every direction."

"Maybe you're being a little dramatic-"

"He was drinking my whiskey." Dean shook his head, "I mean… seriously?"

"Oh, what a travesty. Call the police." AJ nodded.

"I blame you." Dean pointed, "You're the one who's making us do this. And you're getting into Renee's head about it too. When you go to yoga. You… You gossip about us, I bet." He nodded, "No more yoga, that's what I say."

"Yeah, we talk about you both all the time." AJ nodded, "How annoying you both are." She shook her head, "Do you guys have any idea how much it'd mean to me if my dad was a decent person? A decent person who was keen to get to know me, despite being older, despite missing so much?" She asked them both as they fell silent, "Do you?" She said a little louder.

"Oh, don't play that card." Dean scoffed.

"No, I will. Life is short. It's almost been a year without Sam and I know you both miss her. God forbid either of you admit it, but I know you do." She said, "He's a good guy. And I know deep down you both want to know him more."

"He has been really good to Cassie over the years." Punk nodded, "I think he goes to her place for dinner every now and then." Punk looked over at Dean.

"Well your kids have always had better relationships with our parents than we have. Maybe they're just better people than we are." Dean shrugged.

"Oh, they absolutely are." AJ nodded.

"You're talking too much." Dean nodded to her as AJ made a face at him.

"You know I'm right." AJ hummed.

"You still gotta give us time, though." Punk told her as she turned to him.

"I'm not being pushy." AJ said, "I'm just saying, I think you guys might have something good here. Finally I see where you guys got your kindness from. And I can see when he's here that he's happy. He's been so alone his whole life. And this is his family." AJ said, "I think you guys should just be a little more open minded."

"I'm very open minded." Dean scoffed, folding his arms, "But I don't like being pushed into things-"

"No one is pushing you. Take your time. I just think it… it might pay off one day." AJ shrugged.

"Sounds like you got a crush on him." Dean said as Punk rolled his eyes.

"Behave." AJ glared at him as Dean smiled.

"She is annoyingly right sometimes." Punk nodded to Dean, "All these women are."

"Yeah and it gets on my damn nerves sometimes." Dean shook his head, walking over to the leftover pizza box, "Look, now you've got me stress eating." He groaned, taking a slice of pizza as AJ and Punk smiled.