"I slept with him" AnnaBeth said sitting down on the couch with her home phone up to her ear.
She still had to get a replacement cell phone after hers had been thrown out of the window. Thankfully she still owned an address book and wrote down numbers the old-fashioned way.
"Really?" Gabby asked, "How was it?"
"Amazing" She sighed happily "But that's not the point"
"Do you like him?" Gabby asked.
"Yes" She replied.
"And you wanted to do it?" Gabby asked.
"Yes" She admitted "And I thought maybe it was just the adrenaline and that could have been part of it, but I don't think that was the only reason"
"So, what are you worried about?" Gabby asked.
"What if he doesn't want to see me again?" She asked, "What if he thinks I'm just some Jezebel?"
"Well first of all that won't happen" Gabby replied "And if it did then he's an idiot"
"I have to go into the station" She sighed "They're questioning Lullo today"
"I'm going to see Boden" Gabby said "Come to Molly's tonight"
"Send them my love" She said.
She had found out about Boden and Donna's baby being in the ICU last night once things had settled down and her heart just broke for them. Someone needed something good to happen to them soon because it just felt like there was heartache all around.
She drove to the station and met Peter outside. She threw her arms around him and he hugged her tightly.
"You really need to dress for Chicago winter" He told her looking at her black and white checked dress.
"Seriously, we nearly died yesterday and that is what you have to say to me" She said rolling her eyes.
"Come on" He said putting a hand on her shoulder as he held the precinct door open for her.
Mouch's girlfriend Trudy Platt was at the front desk.
"I heard about what happened" Trudy said looking up "Are you two ok?"
"We're fine" She replied politely.
"Jay asked us to come in" Peter said.
Trudy called upstairs to intelligence. Peter raised an eyebrow at AnnaBeth jiggling about nervously but didn't say anything about it. Jay came down to the door and opened it to let them in.
"Mills" He said with a nod as Peter walked upstairs before turning to her with a grin "AnnaBeth"
"Thank you" She said as he held the door open for her.
"You can sit through here and watch the interview" He said leading them through to a room where they could see through the two-way glass into the interrogation room.
AnnaBeth blushed slightly as she felt his hand on the small of her back as he showed her through.
"Are you alright?" Peter asked "You're acting stranger than usual"
"I'm just not used to being in a police station" She lied "It makes me jumpy"
"You know your voice gets higher when you lie right?" He laughed.
"Shut up" She said bumping his rib with her elbow.
They were quiet as they heard Jay bringing Lullo down the hallway. They sat down in the interrogation room together.
"We have witnesses who say they saw you threaten the life of Peter Mills" Jay said
"And I apologized to Peter for that and forgave him" Lullo said "I don't know why I'm here, I thought you got the men that kidnapped those paramedics"
"Two of them" Jay said "So far"
"So, you think it goes deeper?" Lullo asked
"It always does" Jay replied leaning back in his chair "It's like an iceberg"
"Well then shouldn't you be talking to the guys you caught?" Lullo asked pausing to look at Jay's face "They're keeping their mouths shut aren't they"
AnnaBeth looked down as Lullo was let go. Once he was gone Peter walked through into the office way Jay.
"You let him walk all over you" Peter said angrily.
"Peter" She said softly placing a hand on his arm.
"What you want me to rough him up a little?" Jay asked "He came in on his own accord we can't hold him"
"Let me talk to the driver Vic, I saved his life I know I can get through to him" Peter said
"He's refusing to talk to you" Jay said "If you go in there, he could be branded a snitch and then he's a dead man, he'd gladly do hard time before snitching on Lullo"
"So, he walks" Peter said angrily.
"I brought you in as a courtesy, but we've got it from here" Jay said pointing to the stairs.
AnnaBeth looked between Jay and Peter as Peter stormed off down the stairs.
"Those men held a gun to our heads all day" She said "And it's not over while he's out there, you can't blame him for being upset"
"I don't" Jay sighed taking her hand and pulling her towards him "I want to get this guy, but it has to be by the book, or he walks anyway"
"I should go check on him" She said softly.
"Can I see you later?" He asked, "I haven't blown that second date?"
"I'll be at Molly's" She replied "I better go"
AnnaBeth left Jay to get on with the case and met Peter outside who was pacing up and down outside the precinct.
"Hey talk to me" She said.
"I'll just see you later AnnaBeth" He sighed "I want to walk home, cool off"
AnnaBeth bit her lip as she watched him leave. She sat in her car and opened her glove box. She pulled out the little card she had placed in there. After the helicopter crash, she had been tracked down by the sketchy man she had saved. He had said to call if she were ever in trouble and he would find her. She had never thought she would call that number she knew nothing good could come of it. But she never imagined she would be in the situation she was in. She decided to call the number when she got home and told him on the voicemail that she would be at a diner down the street.
She knew going alone wasn't smart, but she didn't know who she could tell. Everyone was at the hospital; she obviously couldn't tell Jay and she didn't want to involve Peter.
"There's this guy Vic" She explained once they were sat down together "He won't speak to Peter but if he would just talk to him, he knows Lullo is behind this"
"So, what do you expect me to do?" The man asked.
"You said if I was ever in trouble" She replied "I just really need your help"
"So, this is you cashing in your chip?" He asked.
AnnaBeth was entirely sure what that meant but she didn't feel like she had a choice.
"Yes" She nodded.
"I'll see what I can do" He said standing up to leave.
AnnaBeth stopped at the store on the way home and picked up a new cell phone. She managed to get her old number put on which at least saved another headache. She sat at home feeling anxious most of the day. It had been a few hours when her home phone rang.
"Your partner the prison infirmary tomorrow 8am" A man said and then hung up.
She was so glad when she could finally head to Molly's. Sitting home all day had been driving her insane. The first thing she noticed was the look on Gabby's face.
"Honey what's wrong?" She asked
"Matt and I are over" Gabby replied shakily "I packed my bags; I don't know where I'm going to go"
"Stay with me" She said "It'll all work out"
"Are you sure?" Gabby asked as AnnaBeth took her hand.
"Of course, I am sure" She replied "You are one of my best friends"
She looked up to see Jay sat at the end of the bar being served by Otis. Gabby told her to go while she finished polishing glasses. AnnaBeth opened her purse and gave Gabby her spare key.
"Thanks AB" Gabby said.
AnnaBeth walked over to Jay who put an arm around her waist.
"Since when did you two become a thing?" Otis asked in surprise.
"Oh, we're…"She started before changing the subject "Can you believe Matt and Gabby split up?"
"Yeah I'm not sure how real that is" Otis said.
"Well she's moving in with me" She replied "So I'd say it's pretty real"
"Oh, just one second" She said to Jay as Peter walked through the door.
She walked over to him and pulled him closer to the door.
"AB what's up?" Peter asked confused.
"Vic agreed to see you" She replied quietly "8am tomorrow at the prison infirmary"
"How did you do that?" He asked
"You really don't want to know" She replied "But you've got your meeting"
She walked back over to Jay and Otis handed her a glass of wine.
"Is everything ok?" He asked.
"Fine" She replied avoiding going into detail because she didn't want to lie to him.
"So last night" He said when they were sat alone.
"I was scared you might not talk to me again" She admitted.
"That's crazy" He told her "I was worried you might regret it"
"No, I thought it was amazing" She replied.
"Amazing, really?" He asked with a smirk.
"That smug face is making me rethink it" She laughed.
Jay stayed out with her until Gabby finished work. Herrmann let her go early. Jay dropped them both back to AnnaBeth's. Gabby went straight through to the spare room that was now hers to go to bed. She didn't want to talk she just wanted to sleep and AnnaBeth completely understood.
"Thank you for waiting with me" She said to Jay who was stood in her doorway "I would invite you in but…"
"I get it" He said leaning down to kiss her goodnight.
AnnaBeth shut the door with a smile on her face.
The next shift back was awkward. Gabby and Matt barely knew how to be around each other. AnnaBeth took herself through to the bunk room and pulled out a mirror. She still had a cut on her head, but it wasn't as bad as the bruise across Peter's face.
"What happened with Vic?" She asked as Peter came and sat beside her.
"Told me to leave" He shrugged "But I tried"
"Maybe he'll come around" She said.
"I can always rely on you to be optimistic" He said with a smile.
"Well I know you can be pretty persuasive, maybe he just needs a little time" She said.
Peter reached down the side of the bed and pulled out the present he had given her last shift.
"You never got to open this" He said handing it to her.
She opened it with a smile and laughed.
"A dancing pineapple She asked.
"Pineapples are a southern thing right" He replied "I know you've got some pineapple print things and I thought it might make you smile"
"You are so thoughtful" She said giving him a hug "I love it"
AnnaBeth jumped up to go and give it pride of place on the dashboard. Kelly was sat reading a paper at the squad table as she walked past.
"What is that?" He asked looked at the toy pineapple with shades.
"The best Christmas present" She replied with a smile.
"You're easy to buy for" He laughed "Good to know"
"AB" Peter said coming out the apron floor "That was Halstead, Vic talked they're arresting Lullo"
"Oh, that's such good news" She said.
"Seriously though, how did you do that?" He asked.
"I just got you in the door" She replied "You're the one that talked to him"