Adult Talk


"Hey, you got a minute?" Theo knocked on Sean's office door. For the time being, it still felt like Jake's office to him.

"Sure." Sean nodded, "I just got here. I was dropping the girls at their new school."

"New school already?" Theo raised his eyebrows.

"Jude wasn't happy about them being out of school for more than a week." Sean explained, "So we got them enrolled here. I think Mirren just missed out on being in Chase's class actually."

"That's a shame. Would have been good for her to see someone she knows." Theo said as Sean nodded, both of them going silent for a moment.

"Ok, I'll start off by apologising." Sean nodded, "Pulling you aside at April and Phil's wasn't right. It wasn't the time or place to do it. I was unprofessional and I said some dumb stuff." He said, "I am sorry for this. Maybe you're thinking well… you're not sorry enough to take the job." He said, "I know you probably think I'm dick, for various reasons." He nodded, "We needed away from New York. This job just called to me. And the board seemed really interested in me, too." He said, "But I know that Jake was probably prepping you for the job so it must hurt. All I can do is apologise to you. And know that I mean it." He nodded as Theo looked at him, placing his hands in his pockets and nodding.

"Yeah I'm sorry for punching you." Theo nodded, "And for the stupid stuff I said. I was just in my feelings. Angry and bitter." He said, "I guess I just thought this job was gonna be inevitable for me one day. It just always seemed like something that was in my future." He said, "So to know that it's not… it's kinda thrown me for a loop, I guess."

"Yeah I bet." Sean nodded, "I really don't mean this in a pity kind of way but… I really would love your help as second in command. From what I hear, you were good at it."

"I think I need a change of scenery." Theo said, "It's actually what I came to talk to you about. I'm ready to come back to work when you need me. And I don't really mind where you put me. I don't even mind if you put me on patrol. I just wanna get back to my job." He nodded.

"If there's anything specific you wanna do-"

"There's not." Theo said, "I've done it all. Sounds big headed but I have. I guess it's just about finding new challenges again."

"What about homicide?" Sean asked.

"You got Cassie on homicide." Theo said as Sean nodded, "I don't really know if us working together is the best idea."

"Ok well leave it with me." Sean said, "Either way, I'll have you back as soon as possible. Whenever you're ready."

"I'll be here, Monday morning." Theo nodded.

"And you're feeling good?" Sean asked as Theo shrugged.

"Like a beat up old car." Theo nodded, "So yeah, pretty good."

"Yeah, I know what you mean." Sean nodded tiredly, sitting against the desk.

"How you finding it so far?" Theo asked him curiously.

"It's tough." Sean nodded, "I didn't realise just how much goes into this. It's like I gotta be in a million places at once. I thought being with the NYPD for seven years would set me up but… Chicago is still the craziest place on earth." He shook his head.

"Yeah, that never changes." Theo nodded, "Welcome back." He said as Sean chuckled.

"Yeah, thanks." Sean nodded as Theo looked at him.

Deep down he knew Sean hadn't intended to cause any kind of disrespect. He could see he was genuinely sorry for the way things had gone, and that made it a little easier to talk to him and move past this. Once his feelings of bitterness and anger had subsided, he simply had no energy to be mad at him. He just wanted to get back to work.

"Well if you do need help with anything, let me know." Theo nodded.

"Thanks, man." Sean said sincerely, "Forget about work for a second… we should probably get Jude and Cassie talking again."

"Yeah, I think that's a good idea." Theo agreed, "Why don't you guys come by for dinner at the weekend with the girls?" He asked. He knew Cassie would initially kill him for suggesting this. She hadn't quite reached the forgive and forget stage yet, but she tended to need a push and shove from time to time.

"Sounds good. I'll let Jude know." Sean nodded.

"Yeah I'll let Cassie know. If you don't hear from us it's because she's murdered me." Theo nodded as Sean smiled.


"Curse your mother for making you a good person." Cassie shook her head, standing in their spear bedroom which was being converted into the nursery for the baby. Theo had just let her know about Jude and Sean coming at the weekend.

"Yeah and curse yours for making you a stubborn person." Theo nodded, using a measuring tape to measure the space in the room, so they could figure out what furniture was going where.

"I just don't know if I can forgive him yet. Or forgive her for defending his actions." Cassie shook her head.

"Well you gotta." Theo said, "I'm back at work on Monday. It's a fresh start for all of us. We got more stuff to focus on."

"Yeah I know that." Cassie said, "It's just hard to believe that he didn't know exactly what he was doing." She shook her head.

"He said he saw it as an opportunity for them to move back here. To have a fresh start." Theo shrugged.

"They could have still moved here without him taking the job." Cassie rolled her eyes, sitting down on the floor in the middle of the nursery to be.

"I don't think he really intended to hurt me or you when he went for it." Theo said, "I just wanna move on. You and Jude need to move on." He added as Cassie ignored him, looking at the brochure for furniture.

"We're definitely going for the white crib?" She asked him.

"If it's what you want." Theo nodded, "I went and picked up the paint today. I'll do it over the weekend before I'm back at work." He told her.

"Well I'll help. Extra set of hands goes a long way." She nodded, "I've not heard any more from Sandra. Monique probably doesn't want us to send her a letter."

"Well… that's her decision. We have no clue what all of this is like for her." Theo said.

"Oh, I know. And I'm not gonna pretend I know what it's like." Cassie said, "I just wanted her to know how grateful we are, that's all."

"Yeah I know." Theo nodded.

"I think we should have her name on the door." Cassie nodded.

"In case we forget it?" Theo teased as Cassie made a face at him, "You know Sean asked me if I'd wanna work in homicide." He said as Cassie looked up from the brochure.

"Work with me?" She questioned as he nodded, "Is that such a good idea?" She questioned.

"I wouldn't think so." Theo said, sitting down on the floor beside her.

"We haven't worked together since…" She thought about it, "Since I was pregnant with Chase?" She wondered as he nodded.

"Yeah, probably." Theo said, "We've worked on some stuff but not… not officially." He said.

"You'd get sick of the sight of me." Cassie smiled a little.

"Well that'd be impossible." Theo shook his head, "I'd just be more concerned about us butting heads. Cause we did when you were pregnant-"

"We weren't particularly in a great place with our relationship back then, to be fair." Cassie said.

"Yeah, I know." Theo said, "Well how would you feel about it? Working together?"

"I don't know, really." Cassie shrugged, "I get that it makes room for… arguments and stuff but, it could be fun." She nodded.

"Could be." Theo said, "I told him I'll be back on Monday." He shrugged as she nodded.

"I don't remember us discussing them coming over at the weekend." Cassie huffed a little.

"Well we didn't. And we wouldn't because you wanna hold this against them forever. I would just like to move on." Theo said, "So we're having them over, saying our peace, and you and your sister are gonna get back to how you usually are." Theo nodded as Cassie folded her arms.

"That sounds like an order." Cassie narrowed her brows.

"It is." Theo nodded as she looked at him.

"Well it's gonna be awkward." Cassie sighed, her shoulders deflating as she lay down on the floor.

"No it's not." Theo said, laying down beside her, "We'll be adults about it, talk it through and move past it. I'm not bringing home the baby into a family that isn't speaking to each other." He said as Cassie smiled a little.

"I love how obsessed you are with her already." Cassie smiled, "You're gonna have your work cut out for you."

"I know." Theo chuckled a little, "I know we can't exactly say she's gonna look like you or me but… I hope with her nature, she turns out to be a mini version of you." He nodded as she smiled.

"Really? I wouldn't wish that on you." She patted his shoulder sympathetically as he smiled, "I am looking forward to having a girl on the team." She admitted, "Chase is gonna be such a good brother, too."

"Yeah he is." Theo agreed.

"I just wish she was here already." Cassie smiled, squeezing his arm and hugging into him.


"Hey, what are you doing home early?" Thea asked, watching James crutch his way into the kitchen. He was supposed to be staying over at a friend's house.

"I got bored. And I can't do anything with my leg. They were all playing soccer in the yard and I was just sitting there." James shook his head, sitting down at the kitchen table across from Thea who frowned.

"I'm sorry, I know it's rough." Thea said as James lay the crutches down on the floor.

"Where's dad?" He asked.

"He took your sisters with him to go pick up a pizza. There will be plenty for you to have too." She nodded.

"Yeah good cause I'm hungry." James nodded.

"I think you came home cause you wanted to spend time with your momma." Thea smirked.

"Yeah that's the reason." James said sarcastically as Thea watched him.

"How is school?" She asked. She was glad she had such an open and honest relationship with her son, especially as he'd recently entered his teenage years. Part of her was always reminded of herself at his age, and she just wanted to do everything she could to make sure he didn't go down the same roads she did.

"School is fine." James said, "I gotta sit out on gym class. I hate it. It's the only class I even like." He rolled his eyes.

"Only dumb people love gym class." Thea teased.

"So you loved gym class?" James shot back, smiling, proud of his joke.

"Oh, you got me." Thea placed her hand on her chest, "Right where it really hurts me."

"Idiot." James scoffed, but with a smile.

"So who signed your cast?" She asked him.

"Just my friends." James shrugged.

"Any… girl friends?" Thea smiled as James rolled his eyes.

"No." James shook his head, embarrassed.

"Or… boy friends are fine too." Thea nodded, mindfully, "Although you do stare at the women for the razors commercial an awful lot." She pointed out as James looked at her.

"Are you asking me if I'm gay or…"

"No, I'm just saying none of it matters." Thea nodded, cringing a little at how this conversation had ended up, "Look, you know you can come talk to me about anything you want. I won't judge you." She put her hands up, "Well unless you've done something really terrible, then I'll get your dad on you." She said seriously as he rolled his eyes.

"I know I can talk to you." James assured her, "You make it impossible not to."

"Oh, well that's good." Thea smiled, "So no girlfriends?"

"Mom." James placed his hand over his face, "Just cause I can talk to you doesn't mean I want to. There's a difference."

"Alright, ok." Thea chuckled, "But I'm just saying… there's nothing you can't tell me. I… well, I didn't really talk to anyone when I was your age. It didn't do me any good." She nodded.

"Is that why you're so weird now?" James teased as Thea rolled her eyes.

"You're funny." Thea nodded sarcastically, "It's not that I didn't have people to talk to. I did. I just chose not to for… whatever reason. I guess I felt like I could handle everything. I grew up too quickly." She said, "You don't have to be like that."

"Ok." James nodded, fidgeting with his hands on the table, "Alright I got one thing to ask." He nodded.

"Ok, shoot." Thea smiled.

"Why do I always got a boner in the morning?" James asked as Thea's smile faded, "Is that normal? I googled it and I think it's normal but I don't know cause like… it's most mornings and I don't know if-"

"Yes it's normal." Thea said quickly, "You know what… maybe some things you can just stick to asking google." She nodded, "Or your dad."

"I asked dad and he told me to ask you." James said as Thea scoffed, knowing her husband was messing with her.

"All of… that." Thea said, "Is normal." She nodded.

"Ok, cool." James shrugged.

"Anything else?" Thea asked, now desperately wanting this conversation to end.

"No, I'm good." James nodded, listening as the front door opened where Dominic and the girls came through.

"We have pizza!" Sam squealed excitedly, running through to the kitchen and jumping on Thea.

"Why are you here?" Sofia asked James unhappily.

"I was bored." James told her whilst Dominic came in and sat the pizza on the table.

"That was quick." Thea said with surprise.

"Yeah, there was only one other guy in the place." Dominic said, "How come you're home early? Weren't you staying over at someone's house?"

"I was bored. I was bored with this dumb leg." James repeated with frustration as Dominic nodded, turning to Thea who just shook her head.

"Ok, drinks." Thea smiled, moving Sam to her own chair, getting up to help Dominic get plates and drinks.

"Is he alright?" Dominic asked Thea quietly.

"He's fine." Thea nodded, "I have a bone to pick with you." She said as he turned to her nervously.

"What? What'd I do?" Dominic shook his head.

"He just told me he's always got a boner in the morning and asked if it's normal." Thea said, unamused as Dominic tried to hold back his laugh and smile, "And then he told me you told him to ask me." She poked his chest as he couldn't help smile, and then laugh.

"I'm sorry, I just thought it'd be funny." Dominic shrugged as she shoved him.

"Uh… I'm hungry." Sam made clear, fanning herself with the take away menu she'd stole from the pizza place.

"Ok, coming." Thea told her, "Don't you do that again." She warned Dominic quietly who chuckled.

"C'mon, give me a kiss." Dominic teased.

"No." Thea moved away, "No, no kiss. No nothing for you tonight." She made clear, "And just in case you forgot, I got two girls at my disposal. I know exactly where to send them when they got their questions." She smirked as his smile faded a little.

"Oh, don't. This was just a little funny. To be honest, I think he's in on the joke too." Dominic said as Thea shook her head, "Come on, don't send those two to me."

"Can we eat already?" Sofia questioned, "What's taking so long?"

"Yes, let's eat." Thea smiled, walking back over to them, smirking to Dominic who just shook his head, smiling to himself as he watched them all dig into the pizza.