The last chapter was a little break from the Adam/Mouse/Jess situation. I wanted to give Jess a chance to build some friendships with the women in the Intelligence Unit. Especially Erin, since she's her brother's girlfriend (I know at least one reviewer didn't care for that, but an earlier reviewer had put in a request and I liked the idea of showing Erin's part in helping Jess). But this chapter is bringing Mouse and Adam back around. Let me know what you think!
Jess stood under the hot stream of water. She rested her forehead against the cool tile in Jay's shower and let the water run over her.
She hadn't slept in over 24 hours. She couldn't risk a nightmare in front of Jay. She had let down her big brother enough in the last week without showing any more weakness.
At least the drugs were out of her system. She was supposed to go to Med with Will this morning, but Erin had sided with her and convinced Jay and Will that Jess was fine and it was safer for her to stay at Jay's.
Jess turned off the water. For now, she felt steady. Until evening fell or a memory sent her into a tailspin.
She wrapped a towel around herself. The mirror was fogged and she couldn't see herself.
She opened the door and padded down the hall to Jay's room where her bags were. The memory of Jay going through her things as if she was a criminal had her hand tightening where it held her towel together.
She shut the door behind her and sank down onto Jay's bed. The navy blue spread was in place. She hadn't dared lay down last night and risk sleeping. Instead, she had paced the floor, listening to Jay and Erin's quiet conversation from out on the couch.
Her long hair dripped water onto the hardwood floor. Jess quickly pulled on her underthings, a pair of sweatpants, a t shirt then used the towel to wipe up the water drops.
A knock sounded on the door.
Jess was tempted to ignore it. Let Jay deal with her silence. If he wanted answers he could go through her things again. But she didn't want him busting the door open.
"What?" she called.
"Erin and I need to go in to the precinct," Jay called through the door. "I want—"
"I'll be fine," Jess called. "You've got your uniformed buddies sitting right outside."
"And—"
"Just go," she said. "I'll be fine." She'd be gone as soon as Jay and Erin turned the corner.
There was a pause and she could picture Jay in the hallway, trying to figure out how to fix this. How to fix her. Her throat tightened. There wasn't anything Jay could do. The sooner he figured that out, the better.
"You have my number," he finally said. "And Will's."
Jess didn't answer. She fixed her eyes on the picture of Jay and Erin next to his bed. They both were laughing, Erin had her arms around Jay and they both looked carefree. Jay had succeeded in getting out of the Army and moving on with life.
Jess waited until she heard the apartment door shut before she ventured out of the bedroom.
She dropped her bags by the door long enough to pull on her shoes, then slung both bags over her shoulder and cautiously opened the door.
She didn't see anyone at first. She stepped out in the hall and pulled the door shut, about to lock it.
"Did you at least eat breakfast before you take off?"
Startled, Jess looked down. Mouse sat on the floor next to the door, leaning against the wall.
"Jay's not here," Jess said, hitching her bag higher on her shoulder.
"That's why he asked me to be here."
"I don't need a baby-sitter," she said. She met Mouse's eyes. She could tell he saw right through her.
He shrugged and stretched his legs out in front of him. "Ok. That's cool. You just can, you know, go back inside and do your thing and I'll wait out here."
Jess stared at him, lips pursed, unimpressed.
"Hey, don't let me cramp your style. I just gotta do what Jay asked. I can't go back on my word to him."
Jess shoved the door open. "Come in," she said, throwing her bags down inside.
Mouse came in after her. He stood at the edge of the living room.
Jess faced him from the opposite side of the room.
"So?" Mouse asked. "You want me to throw some breakfast together?"
"I'm not hungry."
Mouse nodded. He leaned against the armchair. "We could watch a movie. Or play cards." His blue eyes looked directly at her. "Or you could tell me what I did to offend you."
Jess crossed her arms in front of her. "I don't appreciate being lied to."
"Wait, what?" Mouse shook his head. "I wouldn't lie to you Jess." His eyes never left hers. "I would never lie to you."
"Right," Jess scoffed. "You gave me that little story about Jay not doing well when he got out of the service." She rolled her eyes. "I appreciate you trying to make me feel better. Like I'm not alone. But you don't have to make up some drama about Jay struggling. I'm sure the golden boy had a hard time not being a hero every day when he came back, but that's not exactly the same as—as whatever my mess is." She let out a small laugh and waved a hand around the apartment. "He definitely never had to be baby sat."
Mouse studied her. He gave his head a little shake. "Jay didn't tell you anything?"
Jess shrugged. "He and Will don't exactly treat me like one of the adults in the family."
Mouse sat on the couch and motioned to the open end. Jess reluctantly sat.
"I'm not going to tell you all Jay's business," Mouse started, "but, trust me. He wasn't the golden boy when he came home. Neither one of us were."
Jess searched his face. "You're telling the truth?"
"Promise," Mouse said.
Jess looked down at her lap. Her hands fidgeted. She drew a shaky breath. "But you got through it. You and Jay both did."
"We did."
Jess nodded her head, lost in thought. Mouse didn't push.
"Do you play poker?" she finally asked, wanting to clear the heaviness around them.
"I'll get the cards."
Five rounds in and Mouse tossed down his cards. "Ok, there's gotta be at least one ace up your sleeve. Where are you hiding it?"
Jess took a sip of Sprite and set the can on the coffee table. "I can't help it if you have the worst poker face ever."
"I don't," Mouse argued.
Jess cocked an eyebrow at him.
"Ok, yeah, it could use some work," he admitted.
Jess laughed. She stretched her legs out where she sat on the floor and the bumped against Mouse's legs.
Mouse smiled at the sound. "I could get used to that."
Jess shook her head, still smiling. "Get used to what?"
"You being happy."
Jess stilled as Mouse held her gaze. "You make me happy," she whispered. "Being around you makes things easier." She shifted slightly, bringing her closer to Mouse.
Mouse didn't move. He didn't dare breathe.
Jess leaned in the last inch and closed the space between them. Her lips were almost touching his.
Mouse tried to get a coherent thought together. "You're my best friend's sister. We shouldn't be..."
Her eyes fell shut as her lips brushed his.
Mouse finally moved, lifting a hand to Jess' cheek. He framed her face in his hands, deepening the kiss.
Jess' soft sigh breathed against his lips, her hands moved to his chest and fisted in his shirt.
Mouse definitely made her happy.
#
Ruzek hung up the phone. He leaned back in his desk chair and looked up at the ceiling. The full extent of what he had been told took a moment to sink in. He rubbed his hands over his face, the stubble that was way past a five o'clock shadow scratching his palms.
"Ruzek?" Dawson asked. "You got news?"
The entire team stilled. Ruzek took a breath. It was easier to breathe. He dropped his hands and looked around at the expectant faces.
"That was my guy over in the gang unit. They got the shooters. Both of them."
It was as if the entire team exhaled at once. Jay dropped his head into his hands. Erin put her hands on his shoulders. She whispered something to Jay and he nodded.
"Yeah. She's going to be safe," he said.
Ruzek closed his eyes for a minute, reveling in the relief of knowing Jess would be safe. He took a breath and opened them. "Jess is going to have to pick them out of a lineup. They're on their way here."
Jay's eyes widened for a split second before his face set. Before he could say anything, Voight broke in from the door of his office.
"Ruzek, you go get Halstead's sister. You bring her in the back way so she doesn't have to cross paths with these clowns they're bringing over."
Ruzek nodded and jumped up. Jay opened his mouth to argue and Voight pointed a finger at him.
"Not a word, Halstead."
Adam jogged down the stairs to his car. He resisted the temptation to go lights and sirens to get Jess from Halstead's apartment. But he didn't stay under the speed limit, either.
He gave a wave to the uniforms still parked outside and ran inside. He tried Jess' phone but there was no answer. He punched the button for the elevator and waited impatiently for the doors to open. He tried Mouse's phone. No answer there.
He couldn't help the grin stretched across his face. Finally some good news for Jess. Maybe after she dealt with this and got it behind her, he would ask her out on a date. A real date, not just some bar he took her to when she didn't want to be at Molly's.
No one answered his knock on Halstead's door, so he knocked again, louder.
Finally he heard the lock slide open and Mouse opened the door.
A disheveled Mouse.
Ruzek didn't put it together until he saw Jess standing behind him, her hair tousled, cheeks pink. She fidgeted and adjusted her shirt before her eyes darted away. She took a step back, not looking at him or Mouse.
"You need to come down to the 21st," Ruzek finally got out. The relief he felt earlier was dampened and his words were stilted. "They need you to ID the guys."
Jess nodded. She brushed awkwardly at her hair, pulled at her t shirt again and shot a quick glance to Mouse.
"I just need to grab a sweatshirt," she finally said.
She left the two of them standing in the entryway of the apartment.
Mouse took a step back and motioned for Ruzek to come in.
Ruzek didn't budge. He stared at Mouse, feeling his jaw tighten.
Mouse met his gaze head on.
"I'm ready," Jess said, interrupting the silent stare down. She still didn't look at either one of them. Her hands gripped her messenger bag tight enough to make her knuckles white.
"I'll take you down there," Ruzek said.
Mouse brushed a hand against Jess'. "I'll see you down there."
Jess didn't answer either of them. She ducked her head and quickly darted out the door. They both followed after her.