Chapter Eighteen: Full Boyle

It had been nearly a month since the Captains' Party and Boyle had grown some great confidence since then. The squad were gathered around Jake's desk in the bullpen, watching Charles prance around the room.

Rosa had opted to sit on Jake's desk, his hand on her ass, as no one could see.. Rosa sat behind Jake in the meeting, watching as Jake let Boyle take charge. She pulled Jake over after the meeting.

"Be safe. Don't get shot" she said

"I'll try" He said.

Jake was getting changed with Boyle. He was surprised when he felt a shot of jealousy through him when Boyle mentioned his love for Rosa. But Jake quickly brushed it aside. They carried out their sting until the end of their shift, agreeing to go back the next day.

Whilst Charles went off to use the bathroom, Jake got his phone out and called Rosa

"Hey" He greeted

"Are you ok?" she asked

"Yeah, why wouldn't I be?" He asked

"You never ring me at work" She replied

"Oh. True. Look, don't be mad-" Jake started when Rosa cut him off

"WHAT did you do?" she asked

"I'll be home late tonight" He said

"How late? How come?" she asked

"I don't know how late, but I'm going on a date with Charles" Jake said

"... What?" Rosa asked after a pause

"I heard how that sounded. No, Charles has gone full Boyle, but he doesn't want to cancel his date so I agreed to double date" Jake said

"Who are you going with?" Rosa asked

"I don't know. Some woman named Bernice, but she's friends with Vivian so she's probably much older than me" Jake said

"Have a great time" She said

"I won't. Do you have any idea how much I would rather have a date with you?" Jake asked Rosa smiled at that

"But then Charles would know" Rosa said sadly, hoping that Jake would say that he didn't care, and that they should start telling people.

"Right" Jake said, realising that Rosa would never want to go public with him. It was a cold reminder which he kept letting himself forget. "Anyway, I have to go, Charles is coming back. I'll stop by later" He promised

"Have fun" Rosa replied, as Jake hung up. She listened to the dial tone for a second before putting the phone down. Sighing before returning to her work.

Jake sat at the table, after exaggerating how attractive she was when he first saw her. She was very into him. More than he was anticipating. She seemed nice enough, but she was not Rosa. Jake could not help but compare the two. Both loved Die Hard, both loved the Nets. She loved Cops, Diaz was a cop. She was attractive, but Jake had a thing for Rosa.

He found her voice too enthusiastic and she was very open. One thing that he liked about Rosa was how layered she was. How she was a constant battle. You had to keep working on her. He guessed that was how 13 years later, he was still as crazy about her as he was back at the academy if not more so. He loved Rosa. And as much as he had in common with Bernice, she wasn't Rosa.

After Charles had gone, and the girls had returned from the bathroom, he apologised to them and helped them put on their coats, hurrying them out the back, as he saw Charles approaching from the front. He pulled him away, and it ended with them both getting pepper sprayed.

Jake sent Charles home, and then went home himself. Inside, he was surprised to find Rosa not there. He went straight for the bathroom, and started washing his eyes, trying to get rid of as much pepper spray as possible. After half an hour of washing, the pain was finally gone. His vision was still a little blurry, and his eyes were bloodshot and swollen, but he was comfortable enough to go and sit on the couch, watch, or at least listen to some TV.

Rosa had decided that she would work late. If Jake was not at home, there was no point in her being home. She managed to convince (With little effort) Amy to stay and work late. They finished all they could do by half nine, and decided to go home.

As she opened the door, she heard the cock of a gun and she quickly pulled out her own

"NYPD. Identify Yourself!" She heard the voice of Jake

"Jake?" she asked, watching as he lowered his gun and visibly relaxed

"Rosa?" He asked. Jake knew something was wrong. She walked up to him, and saw his eyes.

"Oh my God! Jake are you alright? What happened?" she asked

"I'm fine it's just... I had a fight with Boyle" Jake said

"Pepper spray?" Rosa identified

"Yeah" He said

"Does it still hurt?" she asked

"It's sore" He replied

"Hang on" She replied she disappeared off for a minute, then returned and sat beside Jake on the couch. She passed him a mug

"Drink it" She said. It was only water, but Jake hadn't realised how thirsty he was.

"Thanks" he said placing the mug on what he thought was the coffee table. Rosa caught the mug before it hit the floor and placed it firmly on the coffee table.

"Here" She said leaning Jake back so his head was in her lap. She turned off the TV and turned to Jake

"So. Run me through the evening" She said. She had a cloth and some warm saltwater, which she doused the cloth in, then placed over his eyes. Jake found the cloth comforting

"Well. The date was ok. Bernice" Jake said, continuing as Rosa snorted at the name "Was nice. She's really into Die hard and the Nets... Although I think she was trying too much, she was telling me what she sleeps in and all" Jake said

"Sounds a bit of a slut" Rosa replied

"Yeah. It was very... I like this, I do this. She just said everything. There was nothing to work out like there is with you. I really wished I was on that date with you" Jake said. Rosa thought about what she could say now to tell Jake that he could, but she wouldn't find any words. He carried on talking

"Anyway. Charles started to get out of control so the girls excused themselves. I told Charles to go and that I would make up some excuse for him, which I did. But as they were getting their coats on, I saw Boyle outside" Jake said

"He came back?" Rosa asked dousing the cloth again and placing it back on his eyes.

"Yeah. He stopped by a pawn shop, had a ring and was going to propose to her. I managed to throw the ring in some hot dog water" Jake said

"Eww" Rosa replied

"I know. But then we pepper sprayed one another. And we thought that pouring soda in our eyes " Jake said

"I bet that didn't help much. Is this any better now?" She asked.

"Yeah, thanks" He said as the water she had used, had broken the oil molecules up, and had gotten them from his eyes. He sat up as she pulled off the cloth, and placed on a towel, so he could dry himself.

"Thanks" He said. Now with a head ache from the ordeal. He pulled out Charles' phone from his pocket

"Is that Boyle's?" She asked, noting it was buzzing like crazy

"Yeah" He said. They listened to a voicemail from Vivian, which was very graphic.

"Do you want me to go back to the streets and get the ring back?" Rosa asked

"Could you?" Jake asked. Rosa nodded. She left and returned a short while later with a ring, and pizza

"You're the best" He said kissing her softly. She smiled and they tucked into their pizza.

"Charles could get engaged" Jake said smiling

"Because of you" Rosa said. Jake took her hand

"Because of us" He confirmed. She smiled at that.