Chapter Twenty-Three: Charges and Specs.
BUZZ, BUZZ. BUZZ, BUZZ
Jake's phone nearly vibrated itself off the bedside table.
"Fuck!" Leave it" Rosa cried. She was so close. Jake was fucking her. Jake ignored his phone, and positioned his hips into hers harder
"Fuck Jake! Fuck!" She cried.
The last week, Amy had been away almost every day, and Jake, who was on one hell of a hot streak, was at the precinct, cracking almost 2 cases a day.
His own climax coming soon, Jake picked up the pace. So close. So close
BUZZ, BUZZ. BUZZ, BUZZ.
Trying so hard to ignore his phone, Jake continued, as Rosa clenched around him. The feeling brought him out of his obsession with his phone, and into his own climax. He came down from his high, and collapsed in the bed beside Rosa.
"I have missed that" Rosa said to him, as it had been over a week since they did anything more than kiss.
"Me too. Rosa I-" Jake started to say, when his phone rang again.
"WHAT!" He called into the phone, putting it on loud speaker, so he could hold Rosa. All they were mat with was incoherent whining, in a pitch only dogs could hear.
"What? Who is this?" Jake asked
"Cha-Cha- Char-lll-eeessss" Came the squeaky crying response.
"Charles? What's wrong?" Jake asked, linking hands with Rosa, both had tensed up at his crying.
"Vi-vi. She. She dumped me" Charles said crying, Rosa rolled her eyes, as Jake sighed
"Buddy, that's terrible. What happened?" Jake asked
"I'm outside your place. Can you let me in?" He asked. Rosa and Jake sat up
"Um... Which place buddy?" Jake asked, jumping out of bed, and quickly getting dressed
"Your new one. I've been knocking on the door for ten minutes but you haven't answered" He cried.
'FUCK' Jake mouthed
"Um. Charles tell you what. Meet me outside the Precinct in ten minutes. We'll go for a walk" Jake said, pulling on a hoodie
"Where are you?" He asked
"Meet me. I'll be there" Jake said hanging up before he could ask any more questions.
"Do you have to go?" Rosa asked sadly, as Jake put on his shoes
"I want to stay, Rosa. I really do. But you know I have to go" He said. Rosa leant up and kissed him, letting her lips linger a little longer. Ok a lot longer than she should have. Jake had to pull away
"I'll be home as soon as I can" He said walking out, and trying to think of a logical place he could have been at 1am. Bar? No. Following up on a lead? Maybe. With another girl? No chance. At a friends? No Charles would just get jealous. Well. Looks like he was following up on a lead.
He approached the precinct and saw Charles sat on the floor outside
"Hey" Jake greeted. Charles jumped up and hugged Jake, crying into his shoulder.
"It's horrible Jakey" He cried
"Walk with me. What happened?" Jake asked
"Well. We were talking over dinner, and she was talking about Ottawa, and we had another discussion. And she said that she still wanted to go, and I said that I couldn't leave the NYPD... And we ended up breaking up" He said bursting into tears again
"It will be ok bud. There's plenty more women out there" Jake said
"But what if there's not? I mean Eleanor left me. Rosa didn't love me. Now Vivi left me. Face It Jake. I'm destined to be alone" Charles said. Jake bit back the stab in his chest at the mention of Charles loving Rosa. Hell, if Charles ever found out about him and Rosa... That would be the biggest betrayal ever! Jake and Charles walked around for hours, until 5am, when Jake was finally able to get Charles to agree to try and sleep before work later.
Jake made sure to get to work early, and took his position at the ready, waiting for Charles' car to pull up, running in to warn the squad before he walked in, moping and sad. Jake felt another stab of jealousy, when Charles said that he understands Rosa. No one understands osa. Not like he does at least.
Holt came out looking Somber, calling Jake into his office. Jake walked in, and caught eyes with Rosa, who gave him a concerned look as he walked in. Jake took. A deep breath, and walked inside, out of Rosa's view. He walked out maybe 20 minutes later, and signalled for Amy to come with him. Rosa felt a pang of jealousy, but brushed it off, as she received a text from Jake a few minutes later
Had to ask Amy to come with. Explain later. But try and cheer up Boyle if you can. J xx
She smiled at the text, and decide to try. For Jake.
That was, until she saw Jake and Amy return to the Precinct. They barely got into the bullpen before Holt walked out and demanded to speak to them both. Holt looked VERY angry. She could hear Holt shouting from outside, but she couldn't hear Jake's replies.
"You disobeyed my direct orders to drop this case"
"And why didn't you tell me about his"
"This is unacceptable. You have crossed a line"
"Good! Because this is none of your concern. Commissioner Podolski is bringing you up on charges and Specs. You're facing a six-month suspension. And you're on Administrative leave until the hearing. Now get out of my office" Holt said
Rosa's heart stopped. Jake. Charges and Specs? Charges and Specifications was the police discipline for the most serious allegations of misconduct. Charges launch an administrative prosecution in the NYPD Trial room. For minor offences, they may lose vacation days, but can be suspended whilst waiting. But if found guilty, Jake would be terminated. He would lose his job!
Jake stormed out of the office and straight through the bullpen without another word.
Rosa went home that night to find that Jake had moved all her furniture to the side, and had sheets, and files, and his laptop open on the floor
"What the hell?" She asked
"I guess I owe you an explanation" Jake said
"Oh, you think?" She asked, angry
"Ok. Wint is working with the bad guys. I think Podolski is one of them. So I didn't tell Holt" Jake said
"Well why did you pick Amy to go with you?" She asked
"Honestly. Because I knew if we got caught, I would be suspended, and I was worried that whoever I went with would be suspended too. After everything at the academy, I couldn't take this job away from you" He said. Nothing but sincerity in his voice
"Now. I have until midnight for my suspension to be put through, so I have spent, since I got home, copying across documents, CCTV footage, Everything from my portal on the Wint case to my laptop
"Jake you can get arrested for that" I reminded him
"I know. But if this worked, I can bring down Wint, and every corrupt officer he has working for him in the NYPD, not to mention all the drug dealers' he's working with. Rosa. This could be the biggest collar of my career" He said
"Yeah, but Jake, if you fuck up, you won't have a career" She said
"Then I guess I won't fuck up" He replied simply. Rosa sighed and knelt beside him on the floor
"Anything you need, tell me. I'm here to help" She said. He turned to her
"Thank you" He replied and kissed her cheek.
Rosa came home the next night, and informed Jake that his hearing had been set for the following Friday. 8 days time.
Considering the lack of evidence he had, and the lack of ability to get some, Jake had put together a considerably good report against Wint.
"Rosa" Jake asked one evening, whilst they were both working the case. She looked over to him. "I need to do something, and you're not going to like it" He said
"What?" she asked
"I need to bring Amy onto this case" He said
"Why wouldn't I-" She started when she was cut off
"And I need to take you off it" He said. She fell silent. "I am sorry. And I promise, this has nothing to do with my feelings for Amy. This is actually about my feelings for you" He said. Rosa's heart skipped a beat.
"What do you mean?" She asked her voice soft.
"I have an informant, who has intel and will testify against Wint. But I brought Amy in before, so she's already associated in this case. If it goes tits up, then it will be Amy that receives the backlash. Not you" Jake said
"What do you need?" She asked
"I need to go back to my apartment. I need to set up my workings there. I need to get Amy over, and I need to convince her to help" Jake said
"What can I do?" She asked
"Give Holt this, tomorrow morning" Jake said, passing her a note. She took it, then leant in and kissed him
"Anything" She replied. He kissed her once more, before picking up his notes, and walking out.
He was dressed in his full dress uniform, and waited on a Park bench. He asked Rosa to tell Holt to meet him there.
Rosa walked into the precinct that morning, and straight into Holt's office
"Captain" She said passing him a note and walking back out. Holt read the note.
Captain Holt,
Please meet me, in the Alley on 3rd in Bensonhurst at 9am This morning.
Jake.
Jake knew it was a simple note, and the chances if Holt actually coming were slim. However, none the less he waited and soon, Holt arrived.
"Ah. Good morning Captain. I brought you your favourite breakfast. A plain bagel and a Water" He said, passing the goods to Holt.
"Don't try to soften me up. Why did you ask me to meet you in this alley in Bensonhurst at 9:00 in the morning?" Holt asked
"Look. My best chance of not getting suspended is proving that Wint is guilty. I have a confidential informant I want you to meet" Jake said
"You continue to work this case against my direct order? You astound me" Holt said
"Thank you, Sir. You astound me as well. But I didn't find him. Santiago did" Jake said, as Amy walked out with the perp
"What is going on with you?" Holt asked Amy
"I don't know Sir, we're both off-roading it here. My internal GPS has been recalculating for a week" Amy said
"This is Isaac" Jake introduced. "He used to be a pusher for the Bay Ridge Boys
"Dude. Drugs don't need pushing, they push themselves. People love drugs" Isaac said
"Tell them about the donations" Jake said
Alright look. Every Friday I put cash into a duffel bag and bring it to Wint Community Centre. Room 265, and they mark it down as a 'Charitable donation' in their account book" Isaac said
"Ergo, Laundering" Jake said
"So, why should we believe you?" Holt asked Isaac
"I don't care who you believe. Just know I hate those dudes now. They carved up my territory so bad I had to quit selling drugs. And I love selling drugs, that was my dream job" Isaac said
"Sir, I filled out a warrant request to search the community centre for the account book. I need you to sign it before I can take it to a judge" Jake said "I know I'm asking you to stick your neck out, but please trust me" Jake said
"Fine" Holt said after some deep consideration "But I'll be with you. Every step of the way" He promised.
"You know you should just put a microchip in his neck, like a little doggy" Isaac said
"Alright. Thank you, Isaac" Jake said. "Thank you. Yeah, we're done" Jake added walking off
Rosa on the other hand was stressed out of her mind. It had really hit her last night. The first night she had slept alone in almost a year. She had struggled to sleep. Too worried for Jake. What if he got suspended? What if he was fired? What if he was prosecuted? She couldn't face that.
"Alright listen up. We have Peralta's hearing at 4. Anybody seen Boyle?" Terry asked
"Present." Boyle mumbled
"He seems even worse than before." Terry said
"I lost Vivian, and now I might lose Jake" Charles cried, laying on the floor.
"I don't know what else to do. I've tried being supportive. I listened to him talk about Vivian's lips for over two hours. He kept describing them as "ample. "" Rosa said, trying her hardest to live up to her promise to Jake
"So ample" Charles added, before standing up. "Rosa. Have you ever been dumped?" Charles asked. Rosa tried to determine whether her losing Jake counted as a break up. She decided no.
"No. In all my breakups, I'm always the dumper. I know you're having a hard time, but I think I can fix this. There's this thing that I do whenever I Feel" Rosa said to him
"What?" He asked eagerly
"Burn everything" Rosa replied, before taking Charles to the roof to burn what he had left of Vivian.
Jake, despite his anxiousness about his hearing, was still enjoying himself whilst waiting to talk to the judge.
They got the warrant and walked drove off to the community centre, where they had more fun playing dance contest, looking for a staircase. Jake made a comment of asking Amy to stretcher her leg up over her head, knowing that Rosa could. They succeeded. Amy supplied a suitable distraction, and Jake found the account books.
"Peralta, wait. Santiago, give us a minute" Holt said. Jake stopped
"Sir?" He asked
"I need you to do something. And it's going to sound crazy, but it's important, and I need you to trust me." Holt said.
Rosa relaxed as she saw Jake walk into the building. He nodded at his colleagues, but walked straight past them. Rosa prayed that he had something on Wint. She had really hit hard after giving her statement. They were allowed to watch from the back of the room.
"So, Detective Peralta Do you have any evidence you'd like to present on your behalf?" Podolski asked Rosa held her breath for the answer
"No. I have nothing" Jake replied. Rosa's heart stopped. He then kicked off when Podolski started telling him about the consequences.
Jake stormed out of the room, and Holt followed. By the time the rest of the squad had gotten out there, both were gone.
Jake and Holt hid around the corner, as Holt turned to him
"Go to the parking lot. I'll meet you there shortly" Holt said while picking out his phone.
Jake met Amy and explained that Holt asked him to get fired, when Holt returned with a group of men, stating that they were from the FBI.
The squad arrived back at the Nine-nine. Silence filling the entire journey back. They were sent straight into Holt's office.
"What I'm about to tell you cannot leave this room. Detective Peralta will be going in an undercover assignment with the FBI. His cover story is that he was fired." Holt said to the squad. Rosa could hear her heart beating in her ears. She knew how much this would mean to Jake. But it was so dangerous.
"Oh, my God. My heart just threw up." Charles said
"Look, they're saying this assignment will last about six months, so while I'm gone, Boyle, I want you to have my desk" Jake said
"I'll sit at it always" Charles promised
"Rosa, you can have my locker" He said
"Sweet." Rosa managed to say
"Amy, you can have all of my open cases." Jake said before Holt cut him off.
"Okay, that's enough. Peralta doesn't have the authority to do any of this. You will all sit at your own desk and work the cases I assign you. But you will be missed" Holt said. Jake noticed that he didn't say that Rosa couldn't have his locker
"Thank you, Captain." Jake said
"Thank you for trusting me. Okay, now call us all names and storm out of here for the benefit of the bullpen." Holt said
"This is the best day ever. I'll miss you guys" Jake said looking at everyone. And smiling.
"And your mother! And your mother. You're all a bunch of pigs! I smell bacon! And guess what else, "Captain"? You can take this tie and shove it straight into your hellhole! This whole place reeks of bacon. And guess what? I'm going kosher 'cause Jake-y don't dig on swine! Whoo!" he made quite the scene.
Jake walked off and took everything he needed from his desk, and his locker. He placed them in boxes, and debated whether or not to tell Amy. His mind was racing. He had been given this incredible FBI case. Something he would always remember. Btu his mind kept wondering what would happen if something went bad. It was incredibly high risk. He could easily be killed and chances are it would be painful. His mind kept wandering back to Amy.
He was debating whether or not to find her, and talk to her before he left. He decided to leave it up to fate. As it turned out. She was outside when he walked out.
"Amy? Hey, thought I missed you." She said
"Hey, Jake. Amazing assignment. I have to admit I'm a little jealous." Amy replied
"Really?... Well, if you want, I could help you get fired. I'm really good at it." Jake offered, trying his hardest to pluck up the courage to ask her. To tell her.
"This is real. This is happening." She said in an almost sad tone, looking at the boxes in his hands. Her sad tone was enough to convince him. He had to say it.
"Look I don't wanna be a jerk. I know you're dating Teddy, and it's going really well. It's just-" He started, but she cut him off.
"What's going on?" She asked softly. Jake took a deep breath.
"I don't know what's gonna happen on this assignment. And if something bad goes down, I think I'd be pissed at myself if I didn't say this. I kinda wish something could happen between us, romantic-styles. And I know it can't because you're with Teddy, and I'm going undercover, and that's just how it is. But" he trailed off. She avoided his eye contact. She didn't say anything. Jake's heart broke. It was a lost cause. Good. He was going away for 6 months. Maybe he could get over her during that time. He thought. He hoped. The silence became unbearable.
"Anyway, we're not supposed to have any contact, so I should go. America needs me. Bye." He said, managing to keep his voice steady, and he was able to walk off without another word. Without looking back.
He walked past Rosa.
"Come over later?" She asked Jake was still suffering the heartbreak that was being rejected by Amy. It barely noted in his head how eager she was to see him.
"I'll try. I don't know how this sting will play out" Jake said. He kissed her once more, lingering. He didn't know if or when he would kiss her again. HE tried to say 'goodbye' but it was too hard. He smiled at her once more, and walked away.