Breakdown
"There's no way he can get his job back after what he did." Theo shook his head, standing in Cassie's office where she was sitting behind her desk, resting the side of her head on her hand.
"He'll have got it back on some kind of technicality or appeal. Or maybe he's blackmailing someone like he did with me when he got out of a prison sentence." She shook her head, sighing stressfully and rubbing her face as Theo watched her.
"It's not your fault." Theo said, "You don't have to carry the burden of this." He reminded her, "He's not working here so… it's nothing we have to worry about."
"Who would even want to work with him?" Cassie shook her head.
"You'd be surprised." Theo shook his head, "Not every cop is a joy. You know that." He said, "He fits right in with the ones who stand around doing nothing, patrolling all day, getting coffee-"
"Well that's what he did when he was here before he got fired." She nodded in agreement, playing with a piece of paper on her desk, "I shouldn't have gotten hot with Jake. He's right, I… I forget he's the boss sometimes." She shook her head.
"I'm sure he'll forgive you." He nodded, "Although he did sound pretty mad." He said as she nodded, "I mean, I've pissed him off a lot and I don't think he's yelled at me like that." He said as Cassie looked at him, "Sorry, that's not helping." He realised.
"It's just not fair. What he did to Jude. Being friends with that lunatic Joey who hurt my mom." She shook her head angrily.
"Didn't Jude forgive him?" Theo thought about it, "Didn't she speak with him about it?" He remembered.
"I don't know if she forgave him but yeah, Jude being Jude, bigger person and all." Cassie nodded, "I'm sure she freed his guilty conscience, if he even has one."
"And he did tell you about the fact that Vincent was actually involved in her rape." Theo reminded her, "Without that, she would never have gotten the trial, and Vincent would have been still out there walking the streets." He said.
"Are you defending him?" She asked with concern.
"No." Theo said, "Look, he's a shitty person and I… I really couldn't care less what he does but… maybe we just leave him be. You do your thing here and he can do his thing wherever he's working." He said.
"He only told me about Vincent because he was probably grateful I got him out of prison, even though he basically blackmailed me." She shook her head as Theo nodded.
"Still… if he never came forward with that information, Jude would never have gotten the truth. She thanked him for it." He reminded her as Cassie nodded.
"Look I'm just… I'm mad right now, I'll calm down." She assured him, "Eventually."
"You're allowed to be mad." He nodded, swaying his foot back and forth, looking around the office, "Did you and him… date or anything?" He asked as Cassie rolled her eyes.
"No. We hooked up once." Cassie said, "Lasted a whole three minutes probably." She nodded, "I just missed you."
"Kinda weird thing to do if you missed me." He shrugged, "Most people just… look at pictures or cry in their bedroom or something." He teased.
"Well I didn't miss you like you'd just popped to the store for half an hour. I missed you like… thought you were dead and not coming back." She said, "And he knew that. Hovered around me all the time probably looking for me to just break and give in. Which I did." She nodded, "He wasn't special, though. There were others." She waved her hand.
"Oh." Theo raised his eyebrows, "From the station?" He wondered.
"No. I downloaded Tinder." She groaned shamefully, running her hand through her hair, "Look, it was a weird time for me, alright." She waved her hand as he chuckled, which caused her to smile.
"So if I kicked the bucket when I got shot in here, you'd be downloading Tinder right about now?" He teased as she shook her head at him.
"You're not funny." She made clear as he nodded, knowing fine well his teasing was what kept her sane in this mad world.
"Promise me you won't get worked up about this. He's not our problem. He's not this stations problem." He said as she nodded.
"Yeah… Yeah, I know. It was just a shock to hear." She said as he nodded, "How was Chase at swimming?" She smiled.
"Oh, he was good." Theo nodded, "Best in the class, I think-"
"He's better at soccer, though. Right?" She nodded as he chuckled.
"Yes, he's better at soccer." He said robotically, knowing it was what she wanted to hear.
"Good because I'm coaching his team this weekend and I've drawn up some training plans-"
"Cassie, they're five and six." Theo laughed, "They just wanna have fun."
"It will be fun." Cassie said.
"Drawn up plans are not fun." Theo said, "C'mon, don't embarrass him, at least not at this age." He said as Cassie shook her head.
"I probably owe him an apology. Jake." Cassie nodded, "He's good to me. Good to us. I can't speak to him like that." She realised as Theo nodded.
"He'll understand why you were mad." Theo said, "But this place is pretty much mine when he decides to retire so… let's try keep him sweet until then." He nodded as she smiled.
"Would I get away with yelling at you like that when you're in charge?" She asked, folding her arms and smirking.
"I'd deal with you at home." He nodded, smirking back as she chuckled.
"Come here." She stood up as he walked towards her, wrapping his arms around her as she melted into a much needed hug from him.
Later that night, Jude had resided at her parent's house with the girls, confiding in them about the break in, seeking their comfort and assurance that things would be ok. As parents they humoured her by telling her it was no doubt some low life looking to get his hands on some cash, but deep down they were concerned, of course they were.
They decided to take the girls out for some ice-cream after dinner, cherishing the time they got to spend with the granddaughters they rarely saw. Jude was invited to come too but she assured them she'd be ok in the house.
She was sat, looking blankly at the TV on her third glass of wine when she heard the door open. She knew it couldn't be her parents back already, they'd not long left.
"Hey." Thea called into the house.
"In here." Jude told her as she walked into the living room.
"Hey." Thea smiled, "You here yourself?"
"Yeah." Jude said, "Mom and dad took the girls for ice-cream."
"And you passed? You love ice-cream." Thea said, horrified but with a teasing smile.
"I just wanted to be by myself." Jude nodded.
"With the wine." Thea noticed.
"With the wine." Jude agreed, "Our house got broken into. Sean has gone back to New York to see what's going on."
"Oh my God." Thea raised her eyebrows, sitting down on the couch across the room, "Were you robbed?"
"Cops say it doesn't look like it." Jude said, "But my art studio has been trashed." She shrugged as Thea looked at her, puzzled.
"Just the studio?" Thea asked hesitantly as Jude nodded, "There's some rotten people out there, huh?" She sighed, "God, I'm sorry." She nodded.
"I'm normally on my own on a Thursday night. Sean takes the girls out." Jude said, "Maybe someone was looking for me." She thought about it, the lightheaded feeling relaxing her more about the thought.
"No, I don't think so." Thea shook her head, although she was definitely suspicious and confused, "There's terrible people out there who get their jollies from weird stuff. Trashing houses. Breaking in and taking weird things." She nodded, looking over at Jude who was staring at the TV, emotionless, "At least Sean has gone over to check things out." She nodded positively.
"He had the audacity to think that it's someone I've been sleeping with." Jude nodded, taking another sip of wine.
"Where'd he get that from?" Thea chuckled.
"No idea." Jude shrugged, "Maybe some guy I've been screwing is mad I called it off." She said as Thea nodded, pausing as she looked over at Jude.
"You're not, though? Right? Screwing some other guy?" Thea wondered.
"No, I'm not." Jude said as Thea nodded.
"They'll probably find who it was quickly. Fingerprints and stuff." Thea nodded positively.
"Yeah." Jude nodded, leaning her head back on the couch.
"I told Cassie we saw Mark." Thea nodded, leaning back comfortably, "She of course flipped and started yelling at her boss who then yelled back at her. Everyone could hear in the station. Kinda funny." She thought back to it, "She definitely still feels guilty about all of that, though."
"She shouldn't." Jude shook her head, "Without Mark I would never have known about Vincent… being there too." She said, "I wouldn't have got to see him sentenced. Wouldn't have gotten any kind of closure or justice." She said as Thea nodded.
"He's still a terrible human being." Thea added.
"Who is maybe working on doing the right things from now on. You should leave him alone." Jude looked at her as Thea looked back, nodding slowly as Jude leaned her back on the couch again, looking up at the ceiling.
"It's good mom and dad can spend some time with Mirren and Leela. I know they really miss them. And you, of course." Thea smiled. She had no shame in admitting she could never read her littlest sister, Cassie. But Jude, she could read Jude from the second she learned how to speak. She could tell right now there was something bubbling away inside of her.
"Yeah." Jude nodded, taking another sip of wine, "I'll probably move back here." She said in a not so thrilled voice.
"Really?" Thea asked.
"I've got nothing in New York." Jude said, "That's what happens when you put all your trust into one person and they let you down. You're left with nothing. No one." She nodded, taking another sip of wine.
"You don't have no one." Thea said, "Sean is still there for you, Jude. You still have the girls. Divorce or not… I'm sure he's always going to be a friend-"
"Doubt it." Jude shook her head, "He'll move on eventually. And what will I be doing? I'll be on my own." She nodded as Thea looked at her worriedly.
"Jude." Thea sighed, "You're not on your own. Maybe it wouldn't be such a bad idea to move back here… you'd have all of us again." She nodded, "I'm not sure Sean would mind… what do you think?" She asked.
"I don't know." Jude said as Thea looked at her.
"I'm sorry… I'm sorry this is what you have to deal with. It doesn't look like fun." Thea nodded.
"It's not." Jude agreed, "I always kind of thought if any of us got divorced it'd be you." She nodded as Thea looked over at her.
"Thanks." Thea shook her head with confusion, wishing she had kept that thought to herself.
"Sorry, I know that's awful to say." Jude nodded, "But you're… well you're-" She looked over at Thea who stared back at her.
"I'm what?" Thea shook her head, anger slowly creeping on her face.
"You've got issues like me." Jude said, trying to lighten what she'd said, "You two are really strong, though." She nodded, "I'm happy for you." She added.
"Thanks." Thea said, unsure how to take what she was saying.
"I've never asked this." Jude said, "But what was it like? Dating him?" She wondered.
"I don't know, it was a long time ago. Fun." Thea smiled, "Everything's more exciting when you first start out, right?"
"Not Dominic." Jude looked at her, "Him." She emphasised until Thea realised who the him she was talking about was.
"Don't ask me about that." Thea shook her head.
"Why? You spent your entire childhood with him." Jude said, "And you always looked happy with him. For the most part. People say you never really get over your first love, right?" She looked at Thea.
"You're seriously asking me that?" Thea shook her head.
"You did love him. You did." Jude nodded, "That must have been hard for you. Watching someone you love just… lose themselves like that-"
"I stopped loving him way before he even hurt you. He changed. Wasn't the same boy I…" She paused, looking at Jude, "Wasn't the same boy I grew up with."
"But you did love him?" Jude asked as Thea looked at her.
"Yes. I did." Thea nodded, "Because he was…" She looked down, noticing her hands were fidgeting, "He was there for me. And sweet to me. And… even though I questioned it, I think he did care about me at some point." She said.
"Was it his?" Jude asked, topping her glass up with the last of her wine.
"What?" Thea questioned.
"The abortion." Jude said, "Was it his?"
"I think so." Thea nodded, "Why are you asking me so much about him?"
"No reason." Jude shrugged, "Just… he lives at the back of my head all the time and I realise that I… I actually didn't know anything about him-"
"Why would you want to?" Thea shook her head, "He was an awful human being. Regardless of what he was like when he was younger. Regardless if he was sweet to me or cared about me. What he did to you-"
"He was just brainwashed in prison by his dad." Jude said.
"I think something was wrong with him before that anyway." Thea said, "And it's nothing you have to think about-"
"Something you think about?" Jude asked, "How you fell in love with someone who turned into a rapist?" She looked over at Thea, who turned to the doorway where Cassie was standing, having just got into the house, hearing the last of their conversation.
"Hey." Cassie said quietly, walking through to the living room as Jude looked at her.
"I think I was just about to leave." Thea nodded, feeling like her skin was crawling with Jude's words, infesting in her brain and bringing back memories of a person she didn't want to think about. Ever.
"Was it something I said?" Jude scoffed whilst Cassie stood awkwardly, looking at Thea who she could see was hurting, looking at Jude who she could see was also hurting but in a much more numb way.
"Where's mom and dad?" Cassie asked quietly.
"Out with Mirren and Leela." Jude said, "Ice-cream."
"Right." Cassie nodded, "Ok, well can one of you let them know that I'm not working this weekend so… they don't have to babysit Chase." She said, starting to back out of the living room.
"And off she goes." Jude nodded as Cassie paused.
"I think you've had enough to drink now." Thea said.
"What? She never sticks around. For anything. Lives in her own little bubble. Scared of anyone seeing into her life." Jude nodded to Thea as if Cassie wasn't standing right there.
"You're the one who doesn't even live here." Cassie shook her head with confusion, "Clearly you're going through a rough time right now but… don't take it out on us and don't do that to Thea."
"Do what?" Jude looked at Cassie.
"You know what." Cassie gritted her teeth.
"Story of my life. Don't upset Thea. That's what I grew up with. That's all I got." Jude laughed a little, "You wonder why I spent so much time visiting dad in prison?" She asked, looking at them both, "I wanted out of his house. I wanted away from you." She pointed to Thea, "And mom." She admitted truthfully, "This place suffocates me. It always has." She said, "Everyone was always so worried about you." She looked at Thea, "And forgot I was standing there the whole time, watching it all. Watching you slowly trying to kill yourself. Watching mom have her breakdowns when she thought everyone else was in bed. Watching Uncle Dean sleep on our couch because he just got kicked out of his own house for being too drunk." She said.
"So you're just going to resent everyone in this family because we had a little bit of a tough time growing up?" Cassie asked.
"Little bit?" Jude chuckled, "You weren't even there. You got shielded. You got to have two parents raising you."
"We should go." Thea nodded to Cassie, standing up from the couch, realising her sister was so down, so low and depressed, that her only way to feel better was to take everyone else down with her. A trait similar to her own.
"Jude, I am sorry you're going through this… clearly horrible time." Cassie nodded, "And whilst we're all here for you, for whatever you need, we're not here to be your punching bag." She made clear.
"Do you remember him? Jackson?" She tilted her head, looking at Cassie, "I mean he was literally part of this family. Thea made sure of it. Had dinner with us most nights. Always staying over." She nodded, "He put dad in prison. Did you know that?" She asked Cassie.
"I did. None of us have to relive what that… what he did or what he was like." Cassie made clear.
"How did mom even let him into the house?" Jude screwed her eyes up, not hearing the door open where her parents walked in, "He was the reason. Why did she let that happen?" She spoke to herself as Punk and AJ walked into the room slowly, "They're just as screwed up as we are. They just hide it better." She nodded as Punk looked over at Jude who turned around and noticed they were in the room.
It was rare when all five of them were in the same room, just the five of them. Normally it was a pleasant experience. A happy moment between two parents and three girls who loved one another dearly. Not this time.
