I always was sad and angry at Luke for cheating on Andy. Don't get me started on the ring trope... anyway, I wanted to "fix" what annoyed me for so long. Is anyone interested in this what-if Luke made a different choice scenario?
Luke is running on the treadmill; he knows he probably should take a break, and the sweat dripping down his forehead and staining his shirt is the best indicator for that, but he can't slow down. He can't let up. Not now.
He desperately wants to be back at work and feel useful. Seeing Andy leave for work each day is hard, and his only light that he has been already cleared for light duty starting Monday. Okay, riding a desk and shuffling papers around isn't the glamorous work he would usually do and work his own cases. Now he'd be relegated to support for others, but at last, it would get him out of the house.
The house in which he got shot with his own damn gun.
A knock on the front door pulls him out of his dark thought pattern. He is something between annoyed and glad at the same time. But that lasts only until he opens the door. Seeing Jo reminds him that he definitely needs to talk to Andy more. He feels guilty for how carefree he was with Jo at the hospital and for how good it felt to laugh with her and see her throw out all the plants.
He still is in his memories, seeing Andy's curious expression at seeing his room devoid of any plants on her next visit. He couldn't tell her then that he hates plants, but he should. Soon. Because right now, he couldn't imagine his life without her in it. Andy deserves better.
While Luke still stands at the door and tries to figure out how to get rid of Jo, the resolute detective waves a file in front of his face and pushes past him with a "Can I come in," Luke dejectedly answers, "If you must," while closing the front door and then trotting after her.
His work brain is actually curious what is in the folder, but having her here, in his and Andy's shared home, is somewhat off-putting.
"Come on. You look like you need to leave the house, and you are cleared for light duties. I checked." Luke almost jumps out of his seat hearing Jo saying that, but he can't deny being here 24/7 was driving him nuts. He had tried working out like crazy to keep busy, but it wasn't helping anymore. Maybe doing something more job-related, being on a stakeout, would help, and so he finally agrees.
Not being sure what actually will be going on or how long he will be, he writes a small note for Andy, just so she doesn't worry. She can always reach him on his cell anyway.
He puts on his clothes and actually grabs the coffees as instructed. Even if that degrades him to a point, but in this case, he can take it. Every step he takes outside on the sidewalk feels freeing.
Luke's stomach drops when he realizes Jo is alone in that hotel room. "Where are the others?" she had sent him to get four coffees after all.
"We set up a second post across the hall. To be safe." Her response is quick. Maybe too quick?
But Luke pushes his doubts away. He actually wants the distraction of the case. Not dwelling on his misery.
The sting is successful, and the group of case officers celebrates shortly. Luke glances at his watch. If he leaves quickly too, he can maybe still surprise Andy with dinner, but Jo stops him.
"So, that wasn't too exciting, but a good start back to work for you, right?" he hears the tinge in her voice, and something in his brain tells him to take a few steps back until his back hits the wall. She is advancing on him still, like a lioness approaching her pray with soft, smooth steps. And before Luke can deny her, he feels Jo's lips moving over his.
It takes Luke a moment to catch up, and he forces Jo off of him and holds her at arm's length. "I can't. I am sorry." He mumbles before fleeing from the room.