Summary: The squad drives back to New York. Jake and Amy exchange text messages.
Notes: Thanks to kamelea on ao3 for the beta!
B99B99
Charles takes the first shift driving. Amy passes out immediately and misses all of Florida and most of Georgia. She sleeps deeply, and wakes up disoriented when her phone buzzes against her thigh. It's an unknown number.
Most of the car are asleep too. They're somewhere just outside of Savannah, Georgia. The sun has risen now and the sky is clear and blue. Hitchcock and Scully are snoring on each other's shoulders in the back seat. Amy can see Holt's head tipped back on the seat in front of her, but she's not sure if he's asleep, or just closing his eyes. Terry is out to her right. Rosa, to her left, is awake but staring silently out the window. Gina is passed out in the front seat she claimed, despite being the smallest out of the eight of them.
Amy opens the message.
Gonna have a cool scar now.
It's Jake. Amy smiles, and writes back.
Amy
One step closer to your ultimate dream of becoming an action star.
Jake
Another step to becoming the next Bruce Willis in Die Hard.
Jake's text comes in at the same time, and Amy has to swallow back laughter. They really are back in sync.
Amy
Have you got an update?
Jake
The doc said I'm good. Well he said a lot of stuff I didn't really listen to, but I'm getting out today.
Amy
You might beat us back to New York.
Jake
I dunno, the FBI won't tell me anything about what's happening.
Amy
How are you feeling though?
Jake
Getting shot hurts like hell.
Amy
I'm sorry.
Jake
It's alll good. I'm sorry I like freaked out.
Amy
Jake you don't have to be sorry. I shot you!
Jake
I wanted to be all cool action guy, but it was actually kinda scary.
Amy
That's because cool action guys don't actually get shot!
Jake
True I actually never thought of that.
Amy
You never thought of that?!
Charles pulls off the freeway and finds a gas station. They all pile out of the car, even Captain Holt, who maintains it's important to stretch out his leg. Charles refuels the car, and the rest of them walk across the parking lot to use the bathroom in the fast food joint next door.
It's flat and most of the trees are still green this early in October. Amy and Rosa come back from the bathroom to find Terry doing jumping jacks in the gas station parking lot.
"Gotta get my blood pumping before I get behind the wheel. Don't want Terry getting restless!" he explains.
B99B99
Amy has a window seat this time. She watches the scenery blow by and compulsively checks her phone for Jake's response. It's getting closer to noon, now, and they're somewhere in South Carolina. The squad is finally waking up. Holt requests they turn the radio to NPR, and because he's injured, no one wants to say no.
They're listening to some program called Sonatas and Soundscapes. Amy can appreciate classical music, but she can't say it would be her choice today. Holt, however, is nodding along and offering his review of each off the pieces.
The first piece, he says, is, "too presumptuous, are those horn players trying to knock me from my seat? A Sonata should be a smooth ascent, not a sudden assault."
The second piece however, features, "a saxophone quartet that is to die for. Am I being too dramatic? Hah there is no such thing when it comes to saxophone quartets."
The host introduces the next song, and Amy's phone finally vibrates again.
Jake
There are so many people coming in to talk to me. I get it, I have a hole in my leg, why do so many people need to talk to me about it?
Amy
I'm sure it's not that many.
Jake
Some dude just came to show me how to use crutches. I'm pretty sure I know how to use them.
Amy
Actually it's very common for people to use crutches wrong. You're not supposed to rest your armpits on them, it's all in the arms.
Jake
Well what are the armpit-resty things for then?
Amy
I actually don't know.
Jake
Hah alert the media there is something Amy Santiago doesn't know!
Amy
Shut up.
Jake
Also there's so much paperwork! It's worse than being a cop. Also who do I put down as my doctor if I don't have one?
Amy
You don't have one?
Jake
I never go to the doctor.
Amy
You're the most accident-prone person I know, how do you not have a doctor?
B99B99
They've stopped to change drivers again, outside of Fayetteville in North Carolina. It's well past lunch time, and Amy is restless from eight hours spent in a van with too many people. They're only halfway there, and Amy doesn't even want to imagine how many more miles they have to cover.
Terry is anxious to keep going, but the rest of the squad convince him to stop for lunch. Amy knows they all have to work tomorrow. They should be thankful that Captain Stentley allowed them to have this day, and paid for the van. But really, this road trip is ridiculous, and she knows Holt is still in some pain, and why couldn't the FBI just pay for all of them to fly back, since, you know, they got Figgis and everything?
Terry allows them a half hour break, and Amy chooses a diner-type establishment, eager for something that is marginally less fast food than her past few meals. Holt joins her. It's only half-full, with tired faux-fifties décor and even more exhausted waitresses. A place in transience. She debates ordering a salad, but she still doesn't fully trust the restaurant, and instead goes for a soup and sandwich. They mostly eat in silence; after so many hours stuck in a van together all they want is a little peace and quiet. And as Captain Holt states before their food arrives, "Only a fool carries on a conversation while they are eating lunch."
Still, Amy catches Holt staring at her from across the table, and she's covertly observing him as well. How had he changed over the six months? He's a bit greyer, she thinks. His hair has grown out ever-so-slightly longer than usual. It's still unusual to see him so casual and out of uniform. Someone must have bought him clothes after he was released from the hospital, because he's wearing a pair of off-brand sweatpants and a plain black sweater.
She wonders if he's also cataloguing all the ways she has changed. Is her hair longer? Her eyes more tired? The changes will have unfolded so slowly they'll be imperceptible to everyone but Holt and Jake. The months had stretched so long in their absence. Amy feels a sense of mourning for all the changes and iterations of herself that Holt and Jake didn't get to see.
Amy chooses to take her turn driving after lunch, figuring she's pretty well rested after she spent the morning napping. Somehow Charles ends up in the front passenger seat and seizes control of the AUX cord. Amy just wants to be home, and instead they're still winding their way through North Carolina, an hour or so from the Virginian border. So when Charles opts for show tunes, Amy can't say she's thrilled.
"Come on, Amy. Join in the fun!" Charles exclaims.
He works his way through some Les Mis and Phantom of the Opera. She can't help but laugh when Scully joins in. She wants to be mad, wants to tell them to shut up so she can concentrate on driving down the freeway. Then she hears Holt join in, and he must have recently taken his pain meds because she never took him as a Broadway man. Gina loudly exclaims she's not a nerd and she doesn't know any of the lyrics, but she takes the high harmony anyways.
Then Charles puts on Seasons of Love and goddamnit Amy kind of loves that song. Terry gets into it too, and Amy starts singing along despite herself. They reach the last chorus and Amy swears she even hears Rosa's voice. Amy's not a vocalist, but it feels great to let go and sing. She looks over at Charles and he has tears running down his face.
"That was beautiful guys," he says.
B99B99
Amy drives for about four hours and pulls over to switch outside Fredericksburg, Virginia. The air is cooler now, but the freeway is still pretty flat, the trees are still mostly green. She pulls out her phone and has a few texts from Jake.
Jake
Heard you had a musical moment, sad I missed it to be honest.
Amy
Wait how?
Jake
Gina sent me the vid.
Amy
How does Gina have your number?
Jake
I dunno, magic probably. It was really cute though, I can't wait till I get back with the squad again. I missed you guys so much!
Amy
We can't wait either! We've been driving forever.
Jake
Where are you?
Amy
Fredericksburg. I just finished my turn driving.
Jake
Where's that?
Amy
Virgina, somewhere.
Jake
West Virginiaaaaa mountain mamaaa take me hooooome country roads.
Amy
No not West Virginia, just normal Virginia.
Jake
Wait there's two Virginias?
Amy
Yep.
Jake
Okay we gotta stop saying the word Virginia now it's lost all meaning to me. So the FBI put me up in this swanky hotel and I am livingggggg.
Amy
Wow we got shortchanged. All Capt. Stentley would authorize were the cheapest rooms and van rental possible."
Jake
Suckas. I'm gonna watch Diehard, 'cause unlike stupid Larry whose favourite movie was stupid Failure to Launch, mine is DIEHARD.
Amy
Hahaha. Pretty much, I feel bad for Holt.
Jake
How's the Capt?
Amy
He's fine, he's mostly just sleeping.
Jake
We have matching leg holes now!
Amy
Is that something to be excited about?
Jake
Of course.
Amy
So you're discharged now?
Jake
Yeah. Gotta check in with some doctors once I get back though. I forget the name but I think I have it written down.
Amy
Good to hear. Did you pick up your prescriptions and everything?
Jake
Yes, mom.
Amy
And you have the schedule worked out to take them?
Jake
Kinda?
Amy
Send me pictures, I can help you plan it all out if you want.
Jake
You're the best. I missed you so much.
Amy
Me too, Jake, me too.
B99B99
It's growing dark, and they're just outside Washington now. Some of the trees are starting to show their fall colours here, or at least they were until the sun set. Amy is feeling positively restless. At this point, they've been driving almost straight for more than 12 hours, and it's awful. Charles keeps trying to strike up conversation, but only Holt is obliging at this point—Amy thinks it must be another side effect of his pain medication. Even still, all Amy has learned is that Holt and Charles have very few interests in common. Rosa keeps throwing things at Charles' head from the driver's seat. Gina won't turn her phone down from full volume, and the key clicks are grating on Amy's nerves. She's pretty sure Scully has been farting constantly for the past hour, and Hitchcock spilled ketchup all over the back seat and now the whole van smells like tomatoes.
It gives Amy too much time to think about the events of last night over and over again. She knows Jake is okay. He's out of the hospital. That means the doctors think he's okay. It's okay. It's okay. But the same part of her brain that was compulsively worrying about Jake last night is still turning, turning, worrying about things going wrong. She keeps thinking about the moment she had to shoot Jake. All the time slowed down. And she had to aim. Had to pull the trigger. Had to leave Jake lying on the damp Florida pavement with blood leaking down his leg.
Her phone makes her jump when it vibrates.
Jake
Update: not going back 'till tomorrow morning. And we're flying! Had to make sure I was okay to fly apparently. Where are you?
Amy
Washington. Almost there, probs 5 hours now.
Jake
God I'm so excited to see New York again.
Amy
I feel like I've been in this van forever.
Jake
Bagels. Good Coffee. Good pizza. Fast Internet.
Amy
What are you doing?
Jake
Listing all the things I'm excited for in New York.
Amy
My own bed. Non-greasy food. You.
Jake
Awww Amy.
It's astounding how much talking to Jake assuages her worries. A simple conversation is the best tool she has to pull herself from her runaway thoughts. She knows this, but it still never ceases to amaze her. It's with that reminder that she takes a deep breath and asks Charles to tell her, again, how road-trip restaurant options are America's greatest sin. It's a largely pointless conversation, (and really, Amy can think of many greater American sins), but the words flowing between them slowly quiets her mind, and for that she is grateful.
B99B99
She drifts off to sleep somewhere between Washington and Baltimore. It's still early, but the only thing left to do is sleep, so Amy lets herself drift. It's starting to look like home, now, as they make their way up the East Coast. It's amazing, though, how alike most of eastern America looks. It's long stretches of freeways and trees. Farms, industrial parks, rest stops and fast food joints.
Her vibrating phone wakes her, once again.
Jake
My leg hurts.
Amy
I'm sorry Jake.
Jake
It's okay, I'm just complaining.
Amy
Have you taken your meds?
Jake
Yeah, I was watching TV but now it hurts too bad. I just keep thinking about last night.
Amy
Text me, then. I'll distract you.
Jake
Tell me something about your life when I was gone.
Amy
Hmm. There was this stray cat that hung out behind the dumpsters at the 99. I don't know how it happened, but I started feeding him every day. I called him Jake, like, if he kept showing up then it was a sign you were okay out there too.
Jake
Did you meet him because you were sneaking cigarettes behind the dumpster again?
Amy
You know me too well. But only a few times! I actually didn't sneak a smoke too much.
Jake
I'm proud of you babe.
Amy
Thanks.
Jake
Will I get to meet my namesake when I get back?
Amy
Of course! With the frosted tips you two kinda have the same hairstyle."
Jake
Hey!
Amy
I'm just saying.
Jake
Maybe we should get a cat. Once we move in together.
Amy
Jake you have asthma. I'm nearly deathly allergic to pet dander. We are not a pet-friendly household.
Jake
But maybe we could get one of those no-allergy cats?
Amy
You mean hypoallergenic?
Jake
Yeah that's it. That way when one of us works late, or someone's on nights or weekends, and the other's not, then we would have some company.
Amy
Honestly that's so sweet. I never had pets growing up. I guess having eight kids is enough chaos.
Jake
Me neither, my mom was always too busy, and I don't think she trusted me to, like, remember to feed a pet. But don't worry, I would remember now. I'd set 10 reminders on my phone.
Amy
I don't even know if hypoallergenic cats exist, but it's a nice thought.
Jake
Or maybe at least a goldfish?"
Amy
We could probably manage a goldfish.
Jake
And I have the perfect name. Drrrrumrolll. John McClane.
Amy
I expect nothing else from you.
Jake
Mmm getting sleepy now. My leg hurts less, thanks babe.
Amy
Anytime. Love you.
B99B99
They stop in Philadelphia, and Scully takes the wheel. They avoid letting Hitchcock drive because no one trusts him in the driver's seat solo, let alone with seven other passengers. It's late now, past 10:30pm, and everyone has quieted down. The traffic gets heavier, but thankfully it's not bad at this time of day. Two hours of watching headlights pass in silence and they're finally, finally, entering New York City.
Scully very graciously offers to drive everyone home, and it's past 1am when Amy finally walks through her door. She sets her keys down in the entryway and drops her bag with a hollow thud. Everything in her apartment looks foreign: Her matching table set—a gift from her grandparents, her china cabinet, her coat rack. She has only been gone 3 days, but in that span so much has happened. She has to be at work in 7 hours. She tries not to think about it.
Amy knows she needs a shower, but she can't do anything but lock the door behind her and stumble into her bedroom. She falls asleep rereading her text messages from Jake, a blue glow reflected on her face.
~~end of chapter 4~~
Notes:
-I love a good roadtrip, so this chapter was great fun to write. I actually followed a real google maps route, so it's semi based in fact, but I haven't been to most of the places mentioned so who knows. I had a whole timeline figured out, and even had to draw a diagram of the van to remember where all the characters were sitting. Extra? Maybe a bit.
-The NPR program mentioned is a real radio program, on a NPR-affiliated station in South Carolina. I went a little overboard on the research for this story, and frankly, I'm not sorry. It was so much fun.
-Jake & Amy's text conversation about getting a cat is purely self-serving. I have a note in my phone filled with ideas for a Jake & Amy cat fic, and then realized, canonically, they probably shouldn't have a cat, especially in a tiny apartment. I don't know if being allergic to dogs means Amy would likely be allergic to cats too, but all-in-all it just didn't seem plausible. So the best I could do was make them have a conversation about it.
-Let me know what you think, this is the most fun I've had writing a fic, mostly because I'm just letting myself go wherever I'd like. It's pretty plotless, but it's lots of fun.