Amy had been focused on solving any case that was assigned to her before, but that was nothing compared to how driven she felt the next morning. First, because working kept her mind busy and away from that conversation with Jake. But also because if maybe she'd work hard enough, she could get that clue, that piece of information that could help Jack come back home soon.

If Rosa saw a difference in her demeanour, though, she didn't say a thing.

A week went by, and then it was a month after Jake had left, and then another week.

Amy didn't dare to bring her new phone to work, and guessed that Jake would consider that if… no, when he chose to communicate again. But still, the moment she would be back to her apartment she would turn it on, patiently waiting for a message or a call, or something.

Week six was about to come to an end when that finally happened. It was two in the morning according to the green numbers in her old fashioned alarm clock, and that phone was ringing. The number on the screen was unknown.

"Yeah?" She tried to sound calm.

"Hey," he just said, and Amy could imagine some sort of relief in his voice.

"Hey back."

"Sorry this is so late-"

"Don't worry, I get it."

"Yeah… and I should've called before but I didn't want them to get suspicious…"

"I know, don't worry," she repeated. For a moment she wished she could hug him, and then she imagined herself doing it. Why didn't she hug him good-by that night outside the precinct? She couldn't tell, but now it seemed like a very stupid thing not to have done.

"So, how've you been?"

Missing you like crazy. Worried sick. Half-buried in work. "Good, you know. Work's been… good."

"Good."

"Yeah, you know… same old."

For a moment he was silent, but when he spoke it felt as if the question had bursted out of him. "How's Teddy?"

Amy sighed. "I don't know. We broke up."

"Oh," Jake said simply. "Are you ok?"

"Yeah. I am," she said, wondering why it felt so important for her to let him know that she was single again. But this was not the time to discuss heavy stuff, and she would definitely not mention the fact that she had been thinking about him, Jake, as she was breaking up with Teddy. It wouldn't be fair. "Change of subject, I got an arsonist."

"Get out, really? Was it a firefighter? Tell me it was a firefighter."

She chuckled at his eagerness, while her heart kept on beating madly. This was the voice she had been missing, the enthusiasm. Just Jake being Jake.

"Well, it was the husband of one…"

"Shut up! No, don't shut up, tell me!"

This time the call was much longer. At some point Amy asked him if he needed to hang up, and at that he laughed.

"Tired of me already, Santiago?"

"Very," she said, making sure her voice was contradicting her.

"Then I'll keep on talking much longer."

"Oh no," she laughed. "I was just wondering how risky this is for you," she added as nonchalantly as possible.

"I'm safe at the moment. As a matter of fact, I have been sent on my first solo job."

"Really?" Mixed feelings assaulted her. Pride, for once, because being sent alone only meant the Ianucci were trusting him more, but also fear. She itched to ask him what sort of mission it was, but she knew he wouldn't tell her unless he had to.

"Let's just say I am not in New York at the moment."

"Wow," she said, trying to sound impressed. "Let me guess, fancy shmancy Iowa? Or just luxurious New Jersey?"

"Jealous much?"

"Absolutely."

"Oh, I needed this," he suddenly said, and all laughter died from their voices.

"Iowa?" Amy offered, but she knew he was talking about something else entirely.

"You," he said, and then he added so quickly she could've missed it, "well, it's a school night, so…"

"Yeah… sure."

"Early morning."

"Early morning," she repeated.

"Be safe, Amy," he said, sounding as if he really meant it. She could not remember him showing any real concern before. Or, at least, he'd never talked about it.

"You be safe."

"You be safe."

"You be safe."

"Title of your sex tape," Jake prompted.

"Lame. Very lame," she said with a chuckle.

"I'm out of practice! You can't make those jokes around people who actually have sex tapes, as I'd recently learned the hard way"

She laughed, she couldn't help it. "Ok, ok."

"Ok, bye." And just like their previous call, the other side went silent. Amy wondered if he really had been in a rush to hang up or if he, just like her, had felt sad of having to do it.