The only light coming from Jake's room at such a late hour in the night is that of his phone, shining in the dark. It makes his face glow; his eyes are stuck on the screen of the device, staring at the name written on it. Amy Santiago.
His thumb is hovering over her contact info, contemplating sending her a text. He didn't spend as much time with her tonight as he would have liked, between the two parties and the fact that she was already asleep when he came back from his conversation with Holt and the one true party could finally begin.
6-drink Amy is so alone.
He remembers her words from when she joined them down the other room, looking all sad and desperate (and oh so drunk as well). The simple thought of that moment hurts. He wishes he would have been there for her back then, but unfortunately he had someone else he needed to try and make feel better too.
He was there when Terry carried her to her bed when everyone started to go to sleep, not so long ago. No matter how gently the Sarge took her out of the couch and brought her to her room to rest, she still woke up as he laid her down on the mattress, moaning some unintelligible words and trying to hang onto him.
She didn't seem to have sobered up much nor feel less depressed.
This is why Jake has been staring at her contact picture for a while now – looking at the annoyed face she's shooting at the camera. The picture's already one year old; he took it during their "date" to immortalize his victory over her.
One year has passed, and he still cherishes this picture (and the whole night they spent back then) very dearly.
One year has passed, and he still feels the same about her.
He still likes her.
With a sigh, Jake eventually gives in and chooses to send her a text.
You okay?
He doesn't get an answer right away. When a minute turns into two, he assumes Amy has fallen back to sleep and resigns himself to doing the same.
That's when she replies.
The world is spinning, the text simply writes. It makes Jake snort, although he quickly feels bad for making fun of her.
She's gonna have one hell of a hangover tomorrow.
(She won't be alone – with all the drinks he downed during the last games the squad played together, he's pretty sure he's gonna get one as well. But hangovers are part of the fun of these yearly getaway weekends anyways.)
He starts writing down an answer but receives another from Amy before he can even send his own text. What he reads makes him stop and stare for a second.
And the room's too quiet. I feel alone.
Just like earlier, his heart breaks a little at the words. He gets the sudden urge to stand up and go to her to hold her tight and never let go. He wants to tell her what he didn't have the chance to say when her sad episode first started – let her know she is not alone. She'll always have him, no matter what.
He doesn't move, though. Doesn't write anything back either.
Or he does. Want me to come over? But he's not sure he should send it.
He does it anyways, after a while – he'd feel bad for not helping out a friend in need otherwise. He receives another text at the exact same time he sends his.
Could you come over?
It makes him smile.
On my way. I'll bring some water :) he quickly writes back then hurries out of the bed. His head hurts a little when he does so – Amy's world is not the only one spinning anymore. Fortunately, this moment of dizziness doesn't last long and he quietly heads down to the kitchen to grab two glasses of cold water.
Only then does he go to Amy's room. The door's not fully closed – he remembers well how she insisted they leave it this way. He doesn't wait to knock – two small taps – and soon after a quiet voice invites him to come in.
"Hi." Jake brings in some light as he enters; it allows him to make out Amy's silhouette curled up on the bed with her eyes on him. A smile immediately forms on her face when their gazes meet.
He smiles back at her as he approaches her side. "Hey. I brought you some water. Should help with the whole 'the world's spinning' thing," he teases her.
"Thanks." Amy grabs the glass and immediately starts downing it in one gulp.
Jake remains still in front of her as she does so, watching her awkwardly. He doesn't really know what to do or say next. He studies Amy's silhouette on the bed, how tiny she looks all curled up on one side of the huge mattress. Even though she does seem better than she was a few hours ago, she still looks like she could break any time – it makes Jake want to go to her and wrap his arms around her body to remind her she is not alone.
Again though, he doesn't know if he should do this.
Fortunately, Amy's the one to put an end to his dilemma.
"Could you… could you lie with me for a bit?" she asks shyly, looking at him with sad puppy eyes. Of course Jake can't do anything else but agree to her request.
Her eyes literally light up when he nods as he takes another step in her direction. She pushes herself to the side to leave him some space, throwing the covers away so that he can tuck himself in with her. He barely has the time to get all settled that she's got her arms around his body, keeping him close with his back on her and her face nuzzled in the crook of his neck.
"I know you like to be the little spoon," she says it so casually, it makes Jake startle a little. He doesn't remember telling her that.
There are a lot of things he knows about her too, though, after all these years of partnership – he shouldn't be surprised she knows such things about him then.
He tries to relax in her embrace as much as she seems to do, absentmindedly stroking her arms. He can't help but think about how is heart keeps beating faster though, and how he wishes she can't feel it against her palms.
If she does, she doesn't make any comment about it.
"Feeling better?" he eventually asks.
"Mmhmm," Amy hums in contentment, eyes already shut again.
She does seem more at ease indeed. It makes Jake wish they could remain like this, wrapped up in each other in an intimate embrace, forever.
Unfortunately, a new rush of sadness seems to hit her all of a sudden.
"You think I'm gonna end up alone?" Her voice is so low, barely above a whisper, Jake almost doesn't hear the question.
But he does – and again, his heart misses a beat at the desperation in her tone. He instinctively holds her closer before he turns around to meet her eyes.
"Of course you're not." He's quick to reassure her. "Ames, you're the best person I know. You're so smart and funny, and you're beautiful too. Anyone would be lucky to date you."
I would be so lucky to date you, he thinks but doesn't say – this is not about him. And she doesn't like him like that anymore, anyways.
He sees her avert her gaze as she lets out a sigh, staying silent for a few seconds. "I don't want 'anyone' to date me, though." She eventually speaks again. "And I think I blew up my chances with the one person that matters."
Jake frowns.
"What do you mean?"
"I wish I wasn't with Teddy when you made your big speech about liking me. Your big speeches, even," she blurts it all out while staring deep at him.
Jake has to take a moment for the words to sink into his brain. And even after that, he remains speechless for a while.
Could he be wrong about her not having feelings for him anymore?! It seems like it, if he's to believe her revelation. And it's quite shocking, to be honest.
"I'm sorry. I don't know what I'm saying. 6-drink Amy sucks," Amy whines when he takes too long to answer.
"No no no. Don't apologize." Jake is quick to find his voice again, then. "6-drink Amy is just as amazing as the other Amys. And I like her – every version of you, to be honest – a lot. I think I never truly stopped, if I'm being honest."
"You do?" Amy looks surprised as she watches him with her eyes shining bright in the dark of the room. She doesn't sound desperate anymore – it's quite the opposite, even. She seems hopeful.
Jake smiles softly at her. He replaces a loose strand of hair behind her ear.
"Yeah. As I said, anyone would be lucky to date you."
"Even you?"
"Especially me." His smile turns into a grin, an expression soon matched on Amy's face. Then, to further emphasize his words, he leans towards her and presses a tender kiss on her lips. Their conversation might have completely sobered him up, he still worries all of this is just a drunken hallucination he's having – the taste of her lips against his feel very real (and good), though.
Amy's still smiling when he draws away, not an ounce of sadness noticeable in her expression anymore. She does let out a yawn despite how hard she tries to keep it in, and that's how they agree they should talk more and figure things out what all of this means in the morning; when they're awake and completely sober.
Jake acts as if he's going to leave the bed then, but Amy stops him before he can take one foot out of the covers.
"Stay… please?" she pleads.
"Okay." He doesn't need much convincing to settle back against her, this time lying face-to-face. He wishes her goodnight with a kiss on the top of her head; it doesn't take long for her to completely fall asleep after that, secured in his arms. He watches her for a while with an awestruck smile on his face that doesn't want to go away – this is definitely not the turn he imagined this night taking, but he's definitely thankful for it. He quickly closes his eyes and lets slumber take him in too, lulled by her even breathing against him.
(Sad, alone Amy never makes her comeback ever again after that night.)