Pushed Further Away


"Did you leave them both in one piece?" Theo asked, watching as Cassie came through the kitchen in their house.

"Unfortunately." Cassie nodded, taking her jacket off and sitting it over the chair, shaking her head, still in disbelief. Now that her extreme anger had passed, she felt upset and hurt that Sean would do this.

"It's not the end of the world." Theo said, "It's… a little bit of a shitty move but… I'll live." He shrugged as Cassie shook her head.

"No, it's not fair." She said, "You've been loyal to that station for years. You've busted your ass. Taken the cases no one wanted. Worked in every single division. This was your job, Theo." She said.

"Sean's got more experience than I have." Theo said, "And he worked in Chicago for a long time." He nodded. He wasn't sure why he felt the need to defend him when the man had basically came in and taken an opportunity from him. He figured it was easier and a lot more diplomatic to look at the bigger picture.

"Jude just stood there." Cassie shook her head, sitting down at the table, "First of all, she had no idea he was even going for the job."

"He didn't tell her?" Theo asked, standing across.

"No." Cassie said, "But then she was defending him. Said he had every right to go for the job if it was open to anyone." She shook her head angrily. She was mad that her sister couldn't see her point of view.

"Don't let it come between you and her." Theo shook his head.

"This is personal. It's one thing for someone we don't know to get the job… but our own family?" She questioned, "I don't even recognise him. The cheating, now this? I actually used to get on really well with Sean." She shook her head.

"I know it sucks. And it's awkward and weird." Theo nodded, "But maybe this gives me time to… be a cop again. I haven't in so long. I can be free of all the boring responsibilities and just do what I'm probably better at." He shrugged.

"You think he'll drop you as second in command?" Cassie questioned.

"I kinda hope he does." Theo admitted, "Would be a little awkward. And a bit of a slap in the face."

"Yeah." Cassie agreed unhappily, "It's not even just about the job. You would have gotten a ridiculous pay rise."

"Oh, so that's why you're this upset?" Theo smiled, teasing her as she couldn't help smile.

"No." Cassie scoffed, "But it's a factor. We're about to have another kid. It would have been nice to have that extra bit of money. Sean is literally taking money from us. Food away from our kids?" She raised her eyebrows as Theo scoffed.

"We got money, Cassie." Theo assured her.

"It's not what Jake would have wanted. Most importantly." Cassie said quietly, "That son of a bitch had the audacity to say that just because you were Jake's favourite didn't mean you were entitled to the job. He said that, even when he knew how close you were, how cut up you've been since his death." She shook her head.

"Ok, listen to me." Theo walked around the table, crouching down beside her as she looked down at him, "We're gonna be fine."

"But Theo-"

"Being chief is a serious gig. I'd be up to my eyeballs in it every single night. You'd barely see me. Chase would barely see me. And we're about to have a baby so… I gotta be on my A game around here." He nodded, "I don't wanna turn into a dad who barely sees his kids. Maybe this is a blessing in disguise." He shrugged.

"If they offered you the job, would you have taken it?" Cassie asked him.

"I would have had a long think about it." Theo said, "And… yeah, I guess I would have. But I'm just coming off an injury. PTSD has me messed up. I got arrested for drunk driving not too long ago." He said, "Maybe Sean is just… the better guy for it right now." He nodded.

"There's nobody better than you for that job." Cassie shook her head, refusing to hear it.

"Well you have to say that." Theo smiled.

"You're allowed to be pissed and angry." Cassie said.

"And I am a little. I know I wouldn't have done that to him but it's done." Theo shrugged, "We can either make it a big deal or we can just move on from it." He nodded, "And don't punish your sister for it."

"She hates it here." Cassie shook her head, "She's felt that way for the longest time." She nodded, "She just does whatever he wants."

"I'm sure that isn't true." Theo said.

"I'm just so mad." Cassie said, "It's not fair. I know I sound like a spoiled little girl saying that but… it isn't. Our whole family knew you were favoured for that job." She said, "Sean included."

"I'll be alright." Theo assured her as she looked down at him, "We'll be alright." He cupped her cheeks, "Jake would have been more concerned about us being happy. And I can't speak for you but… I'm happy, with or without the job." He said as she nodded.

"I'm happy too, baby. It's just annoying." She nodded, placing her hands over his on her cheeks, "I'm not speaking to them." Cassie said sassily as Theo smiled, leaning up and kissing her softly. Regardless, it was nice to know she had his back, every single time.


"That's a big pay rise." Jude raised her eyebrows, laying in bed with Sean later that night as he went through the details of the job, catching her up to speed. She was a little lost for words when she heard the pay rise he was getting.

"Big enough to fund another kid I think." Sean teased as Jude laughed a little.

"I don't want another kid." Jude scoffed as Sean nodded in agreement, "Did they tell you why they decided to go with you? Instead of Theo?" She asked curiously.

"They didn't say but… I guess it maybe came down to experience. I've been a cop longer." Sean shrugged, "I really didn't think I'd get it."

"You still went for it, though." Jude said, "And look I think it's fair that anyone should have been given the chance to interview for the job, but… we did all think Theo was getting it." She admitted, "Even you did. When did you decide to go for it?"

"About a month ago or so." Sean said, "All this stuff with Wilson, you not liking your job… I don't know, it just felt like a good decision" He nodded, "Theo didn't even go for an interview. Plus the guy has been through the ringer these past few months. They need the position filled and he's not even back at work yet." He said, "I don't know why Cassie is so pissed."

"Because she thought Theo was getting it and instead her brother-in-law swooped in and got it. It does… sound a little bad." Jude said, "Whilst I agree that Theo maybe isn't ready… you could have even discussed it with them first, or even with me. I don't know why you didn't tell me." She shook her head.

"I'm sorry, I really didn't think I was gonna get it. I'm still in shock actually." He admitted, "If you weren't down to move back here, I wouldn't accept it." He turned and looked at her, "If you would rather stay in New York then… we stay in New York-"

"And pass up on that pay rise?" Jude questioned, turning to him with a small smile, "Are you kidding?" She scoffed as he chuckled.

"I'll go talk to Cassie and Theo tomorrow-"

"I wouldn't." Jude said, "Maybe let them cool off."

"It's just a little awkward now cause I'm their boss." Sean said, "And Theo is second in command but… I don't know how I feel about ordering him around. Him or Cassie."

"Hey, you went for the job. Now you gotta deal with it. All that pressure." Jude said, "Does this mean you wear a suit and a tie to work now?" She smiled, rolling onto her stomach, resting her arms on his chest and her chin on her arms.

"I think so." Sean nodded, "That's not really my main concern, though."

"You and Theo might work well together." Jude said, "And if Cassie sees that then she'll calm down."

"Or neither of them will want anything to do with me." Sean said, "Do you think your parents will hate me for this? If, like you said, everyone was expecting Theo to get the job?"

"They're not gonna hate you." Jude rolled her eyes, "They should be happy for you. It's a big achievement." She nodded proudly, "And Cassie's just making it all about her and her problems." She mumbled, resting her cheek down on him.

"You're really ok about moving here? Moving the girls here?" He asked, "I know this place doesn't have great memories for you."

"So we'll come back and make some." She looked up at him, "Moving to New York was never about running away. You know that." She said as he nodded, "I just wanted to go someplace where nobody knew us and… we had peace and quiet." She nodded, "But maybe we've overstayed our welcome there."

"What would you do here? Teach at the institute again?" He asked her.

"I don't know if I wanna teach anything." Jude admitted honestly, "Maybe I'll start my own business. Painting murals." She looked at him, at first teasing, her smile fading when she saw him nodding.

"You should." Sean nodded seriously, "You've always been amazing at them. You're fully capable of starting your own business." He said as she looked at him, laughing a little.

"You really think so?" She asked, "Kinda feels like I'm signing up to be a painter and decorator."

"It's more than that." He scoffed, "You're an artist. Be an artist." He nodded seriously as she smiled, resting her cheek back on his chest as she thought about it, feeling the newness of it, the challenge of it, light a fuse in her.

Moving back to Chicago didn't seem like such a bad idea at all. In fact, she felt like things were aligning for them pretty well.


Later that night, Theo couldn't sleep as much as he tried, tossing and turning until eventually he got up and put some clothes on, looking over at Cassie fast asleep on her back.

He placed a kiss on her head, brushing her hair from her face before leaving the bedroom and heading out of the house.

He drove around town for a little while, trying to clear his head, hoping he would feel tired at some point but all that happened was him ending up parking outside the station, getting out of the car and heading on in.

Although he had taken time off and had disconnected from work, he had always envisioned maybe one day being chief. He figured he'd try be a good one. Like Jake. He envisioned himself as an approachable boss. Someone who the officers could come to if they had any kind of problem. It was a weird feeling knowing that vision seemed suddenly unattainable now.

The station was quiet since it was through the night, so he made his way to his office until he noticed someone moving around in Jake's office at the top. A woman.

He walked on over, realising it was Jake's wife, knocking on the door lightly before walking in.

"Oh, Theo." Ronda smiled, relaxing a little.

"Hey." Theo said, "What are you doing here at this time?" He asked her.

"I've been meaning to come down here and clear out his office." Ronda nodded, "Now I've left all his paper work over there on the table." She pointed behind her, "I think maybe you'd be more equipped to look through that and figure out what is junk and what's not." She nodded, placing a few frames into a box.

"How are you doing?" Theo asked, "Stupid question, I know."

"As best I can." Ronda nodded to him. She was fond of Theo. Mostly because her husband had been so fond of him.

"Kids doing alright?" Theo asked as Ronda nodded.

"Just getting by." She smiled, "I uh… I heard you've been off for a little while." She nodded.

"Few months now, yeah." Theo nodded, "Just… injury." He pointed to his side, "Couple other stuff."

"Yeah." Ronda understood, "How is Cassie and Chase?" She smiled.

"Both good." Theo said, "We're actually adopting. We're still waiting on an update but… hopefully it happens soon."

"Oh, that's wonderful." Ronda smiled, "You know it's really good to hear something good." She nodded as Theo smiled. He knew the kind of relationship Jake had with his wife. A very good one. He couldn't imagine how she was feeling. She appeared so brave. So well kept together.

"Do you need help with anything in here?" Theo asked.

"No, I should only have the one box I think. He didn't actually have anything valuable in here." Ronda admitted with a little laugh, "But I assume you'll be moving yourself in here so I figured I'd get it done." She said as Theo smiled a little, looking down at the ground.

"I'm not… I didn't get the job." Theo shook his head as Ronda looked across at him with confusion, "I mean, I didn't actually go for the interview for it but… someone else got it." He nodded.

"I thought you automatically got it. No?" Ronda questioned.

"No, they had some other options I guess." Theo nodded.

"Oh well he'd be livid." Ronda folded her arms, "Jake." She said, "You know… he didn't start enjoying his days off until he had you as his deputy? He knew he could… switch off from work and know that things would be fine because you were there… you had it under control." She nodded, "He really thought an awful lot of you, Theo." She nodded, "I'm sorry you didn't get the job. Jake would be upset about that." She said.

"I thought an awful lot of him too." Theo nodded, coughing a little to clear the lump in his throat, "If you ever need anything-"

"I know." Ronda smiled, lifting the box from the desk and walking over to him at the door, "You look after yourself." She nodded, cupping his cheek sweetly as he nodded, watching her leave the office.

He turned around once she was gone, looking around at Jake's old office and sighing to himself.


A/N: Thanks for the reviews guys!