Working Hard


"Hey, thanks for this." Theo nodded, walking into his mother's house with Lena in her stroller.

"Don't thank me. I couldn't wait to see her." Jillian smiled happily, looking into the stroller where Lena was laying happily, "Oh, hi sweet girl." She smiled, "Theo, she gets more adorable every day." She turned to her son seriously.

"I know." Theo nodded in agreement, "We are looking into a nanny or daycare. We don't want it to be your responsibility or Cassie's parents to always look after her when we're working."

"Theo, I've told you. I have no issue looking after her. I'm sure Cassie's parents don't either. It will save you money on a nanny or daycare too. I'm serious." She said.

"I know but it's a lot of work." Theo said modestly.

"No it isn't. She's an angel." Jillian scoffed, "She naps and she smiles and she has her bottle… it's the best time to be a babysitter." She nodded as Theo smiled.

"Well we do appreciate it." Theo nodded.

After taking a couple of months off once Lena had arrived, they had both returned to work which meant figuring out a schedule for their daughter to be babysat with either Theo's mom or AJ and Punk. Although they knew both parties didn't mind, they felt they had to look into a nanny or daycare of some kind.

"How has work been anyway? Since you've gone back?" Jillian asked.

"All good." Theo nodded.

"Still working harmoniously together?" She smiled.

"Most of the time." Theo said, "We've always agreed on most of the same things anyway so it's not difficult working together."

"How are things with the chief?" She asked, a sour expression on her face, "Should have been your job." She shook her head angrily as Theo rolled her eyes.

"I'm over it." Theo assured her, "I'm enjoying working on homicide again. And with Cassie. If I was chief I'd be in a million different places at once. I'd have to travel sometimes. I wouldn't be around for Lena or Chase as much." He said, "I'm fine with how it all worked out. And I'm good with Sean."

"Well you're a good person." Jillian smiled.

"Me and Cass are actually thinking about going to Mexico for a vacation soon. Maybe even for a month." He said as Jillian raised her eyebrows.

"You've still been teaching her Spanish?" Jillian asked with a smile.

"Well… trying to." Theo corrected.

"Will you see your father? When you go over? I assume you never even told him about Lena." She said.

"Why would I?" Theo shrugged, "No, we're not going to visit him. It's just a vacation for us. And Cassie wants the kids to be in tune with where I'm from. She wants to be too." He nodded.

"She's a sweetheart." Jillian smiled.

"I know." Theo agreed.

"Well you can bump into some of your old friends over there. And say hi to mine if you see them. I do miss it there sometimes, you know." She admitted.

"Why don't you ever go?" Theo asked her.

"Oh… just too many bad memories." Jillian nodded.

"Like?" Theo asked curiously.

"Being in a relationship with a self-obsessed asshole." Jillian said, "Amongst other things." She waved her hand as Theo nodded.

"Well I should get going." He said, "You text or call if you need anything."

"I will." Jillian nodded.

"Ok." Theo nodded, leaning into the stroller and kissing Lena's cheek multiple times as she grinned and held onto her toes, "Daddy will see you later." He said, kissing her a few more times before leaving the house to head to work.


"What are those strawberry cookie things your sister likes?" Thea asked James, walking round the grocery store with him.

"Which sister?" He asked.

"Sam." Thea said, "She keeps asking me to get them and I keep forgetting."

"I don't know." James shrugged, "There's a bake sale at Sofia's new school. You should probably make something. Get people to like her. Become the mom who makes the good cookies." He nodded to her.

"You and I both know I will never be the mom who makes good cookies." Thea looked at him as he smiled and nodded, "We can buy a pack."

"You should make the effort. She's new there." James said.

"You're just a miniature Dominic following me everywhere I go." Thea teased as James rolled his eyes.

"You like baking." James shook his head.

"Doesn't mean I'm any good." Thea said, "How do you know she has a bake sale anyway?"

"She told me." James said, "I think she likes it there, actually. It's kinda weird not seeing her at my school anymore." He admitted. It had been a lot to adapt to as Sofia got better and found ways to live with her loss of sight. Not seeing her at school anymore since she had moved to a new one was a lot more upsetting than he thought it would be.

"You miss her?" Thea smiled a little.

"No." James scoffed.

"She told you she likes the new school?" Thea asked him.

"Yeah." James nodded, "Said she's glad there's other people like her there. Doesn't make her feel weird or the odd one out." He said as Thea sighed a little.

"Well I guess that's good." Thea nodded, "She misses her friends, though."

"I know." James said, "But I think she's making new ones too. And she can always visit her other friends after school, right?"

"Yeah, of course." Thea smiled, "You've been really great with her through everything. I know it hasn't been easy." She said.

"I'm just glad she feels like herself again, a little." James nodded.

"Me too." Thea smiled, "Alright, carbs." She smiled happily as they stopped in front of the bread section, "My favourite aisle." She mumbled to herself whilst James stood by the cart, looking around when he saw someone from his class walking by with her mom.

"Hi, James." The girl smiled over at him.

"Hey." James nodded calmly whilst Thea turned around and noticed, smiling a little as she looked over at the girl staring at him.

"What's this?" Thea smiled teasingly, nudging James as he stumbled over a little.

"Stop." James rolled his eyes as Thea smiled.

"Who is that? Is she a friend?" Thea smiled, "Is she a girlfriend?" She pushed, "You kissed her?"

"Mom?" James looked at her with embarrassment, even though he didn't expect anything less from his insane mother.

"What?" Thea laughed, "What's her name?"

"Jess." James rolled his eyes as Thea nodded.

"Blonde? You like blondes?" She asked him.

"I'm going to the next aisle." James shook his head as Thea chuckled, watching him wander away. She was grateful of the relationship they had, the friendship between them both, but equal parts sad that her baby boy was truly growing up.


"You didn't think to call the police?" Theo asked, sitting beside Cassie in an apartment as they spoke with a young couple.

"They're always fighting." The girl defended, turning to her boyfriend who nodded in agreement.

"Have you ever called the police about them? We don't have anything on record." Cassie said.

"Well we've thought about it." She nodded, "But they always seem to resolve things. You'll see them the next morning kissing outside. So it feels kinda pointless. Like we'd be in their business for no reason."

"Anyone else ever in the apartment regularly?" Theo asked, taking notes.

"No." The boy spoke up as Theo looked at him.

"How old are you guys?" Theo asked, "Sorry, I know that's not relevant but-"

"Seventeen." The boy nodded as Cassie turned to Theo suspiciously.

"Alright, you got any idea when the super gets back?" Theo asked.

"It's my aunt's apartment." The girl explained, "She's been letting us stay here. She pays the rent. She stays sometimes. She's in real estate and stuff."

"And stuff?" Theo raised a brow.

"You guys go to school?" Cassie asked, more sympathetic than Theo as she noticed the track marks up the girls arms.

"Yeah." The girl forced a smile and nodded.

"You know we can check, right?" Theo asked.

"So what if we don't?" The boy asked, "What the hell has that got to do with the guy across the hall murdering his girlfriend."

"Well we don't know if he did. He's insisting he didn't." Cassie said.

"The girls mom… well, I think it was her mom." The girl spoke up, "She was at the apartment a lot. I heard her and her daughter arguing a couple times." She nodded as Theo scribbled down notes.

"You guys ever went over to their apartment? Or did they come into yours?" Theo asked, "They ever try to sell you stuff? Drugs? Give you alcohol? Invite you out?" He asked.

"No, we barely spoke to them." The boy said, "Are you interviewing everyone in this block about them or just us?"

"Everyone." Theo nodded as Cassie looked at them both.

"Do you guys definitely live here on your own?" She asked as Theo turned to her.

"Yeah." The girl nodded.

"Do you have jobs?" Cassie asked, looking across at the girl who was staring at her. Staring at her for help.

"Yeah." The boy said, "Are we done now? We got nothing else to say."

"There's programs and youth centres that give help out to teens who are struggling. On their own." Cassie stood up, getting her phone out and writing down the numbers and addresses for the different centres, "It's free and some provide hot meals too. And they have connections with shelters and rehab facilities-"

"We're fine." The boy nodded as Cassie looked at them both.

"Well… I'll leave it there anyway." Cassie nodded.

"If there's anything you guys think that could help us, anything you remember… just give us a call, yeah?" Theo said as they both nodded, "We'll see ourselves out." He said, heading for the door as Cassie followed.

"Wait." The girl ran after them, standing at the doorway as Cassie looked at her.

"Yeah?" Cassie said.

"Those centres…" She said, "They're open all the time? Like… even through the night and stuff?"

"Yeah." Cassie nodded.

"Would I need a parent or something to sign me in or-"

"No." Cassie shook her head, "They won't turn you away. I promise." She said as the girl nodded.

"Ok." She said, "Thanks." She mumbled, walking away into the apartment as they left and headed outside.

"Well that was depressing." Theo nodded, getting into the car behind the wheel as Cassie got in the passenger's seat, "Two kids with God knows what kind of potential and that's what they're doing with their lives."

"It's not a choice for people, Theo." Cassie reminded him.

"Yeah, I know that." Theo said.

"Well it wouldn't hurt for you to be kinder to them. They're kids." She said as he turned to her.

"I'm doing my job?" Theo shook his head, "What's up with you?"

"Nothing." She said, "I'm just… you're right, it's depressing." She nodded, "That's someone's son and daughter."

"I'm kinda guessing their parents aren't the loving type, though." Theo said, "We don't know their stories. And you can't send everyone to those centres, Cassie-"

"I'll tell as much people about them as I want." Cassie told him.

"It's really obvious you've just came from working missing persons." He nodded.

"How is it obvious?" She asked.

"Cause missing persons deals with a lot of kids." He nodded, "You weren't this soft when I met you."

"I am not soft." Cassie scoffed.

"Softer." Theo nodded, starting the car up, "You would have been a great kinder garden teacher, actually."

"Shut up." Cassie shook her head, "Drive." She pointed.

"That's more like the Cassie I know." He nodded happily.

"How is it when you come to work you turn all mean and professional, and then when you go home you're all soft and mushy?" She asked as he chuckled.

"Maybe because we have the two cutest kids in the world." He nodded.

"Well that's a fair argument." Cassie agreed.

"You like it." He smirked cockily.

"I like what?" She asked.

"When I get mean and professional." He nodded.

"Not to kids who need help." She shook her head, "That's not the turn on you think it is."

"Believe it or not, Cassie, my entire life's purpose is not to turn you on, I know that might come as a shock to you." He said as she smiled.

"That is a shock." Cassie nodded as he chuckled, pulling up at a red light, turning to her as she looked back at him. He watched as she reached over, undoing his belt as he laughed a little and looked straight ahead.

"What are you doing?" He smiled, hearing his fly go down.

"What?" She said innocently.

"I'm driving." He reminded her, watching the light go green, putting his foot on the gas.

"Ok so pull in somewhere." She suggested, putting her hands inside his boxers, taking a hold of his length.

"Do you want me to crash the car?" He asked.

"No, I want you to pull in somewhere." She nodded, stroking him up and down as he kept his eyes on the road, pulling into a side lane with some trash cans in front of them.

She undone her seatbelt once he'd stopped the car, freeing his length from his boxers and leaning over to use her mouth on him, bobbing her head up and down as he rolled his head back and placed his hand on the back of her head.

"Fuck." He shivered a little, looking down at her as she kept him inside her mouth, devouring him like she'd never get to again.

She released him from her mouth after a few minutes, undoing her trousers and taking down her panties whilst he pulled his seat back to make space for her to get over on top of him.

"Do you remember…" She said, straddling over him, kissing him passionately as he tucked his hand between them and palmed her, stroking her between her folds as she abandoned their kiss to let out a gasp, leaning her forehead against his as he smirked.

"Do I remember what? You can't finish your sentence?" He teased, kissing her neck and down her throat.

"Do you remember when… we would do stuff like this?" She whispered, "When I was just a rookie? And we were just friends?" She said.

"Yeah, we got very friendly." Theo nodded, "Put me inside you." He said whilst kissing her neck as she reached down, guiding his length inside of her, letting herself sink down onto his thighs.

"Mmm… fuck." Cassie moaned happily, cupping his cheeks and kissing him passionately as he squeezed her breast over her blouse, feeling each other all over until they were finished and Cassie lay tiredly over him with her head on his shoulder.

"I love our lunch breaks." Theo nodded.

"It's 10am." Cassie chuckled.


"Hey, Jude!" Sean yelled up at the white sheet hanging down the side of the building which Jude was working behind on her mural.

"Yes?" Jude called.

"Coffee break?" Sean asked her as she peeped her head out from behind the sheet which made him chuckle, "It's like a magic act. I mention the magic word coffee and a beautiful girl appears." He said as she smiled.

She began climbing down the ladder as he watched her cautiously, "Careful careful." He mumbled to himself without realising as she eventually got to the bottom of the ladders, hopping onto the ground.

"Thank you. I was just about to go for one, actually." She smiled.

"Got you a croissant too." He said as she took the bag from him, sitting down on the sidewalk together, "So when do you reckon the big reveal is gonna be?" He asked her.

"Maybe another week." She told him, "I'm almost finished. I'm just doing some touch ups." She said.

"What if you get famous? Will you still stay with me?" He teased as she smiled.

"I think we've gotten through worse than me getting famous." She nodded.

"Yeah, that's true." He agreed, tucking his knees up and leaning his arms on them, "This does make me a little worried for your safety, though. I gotta admit."

"Why?" She asked.

"Well, it's fact, there's people out there who won't agree with your painting or the message behind it. They don't even agree with the existence of the building you painted it on. And some of these people are real… hung up on their opinion being the right one, and anyone who disagrees, they think should be punished." He said.

"I really don't care what other people think." Jude nodded.

"I care if they hurt you, though." Sean said.

"No one is gonna hurt me." She said, "Chicago is mostly a smart state. I think it's gonna be fine."

"Theo got shot by a white supremacist cause he isn't white." Sean reminded her as she looked at him, "Don't underestimate the people who smile at you on the street."

"I don't." She said, "I'll be fine. Nobody is gonna even know it was me anyway." She shrugged, "I know I'm teasing everyone about getting famous, but I don't think I even want the recognition for it. I just want people to see it. See the message."

"Well I can't wait to see it." He smiled, "I haven't saw you this excited about a project in such a long time. It's nice."

"I've loved doing it. I actually feel like an artist." She admitted.

"You are an artist." He nudged her as she smiled, "Do you fancy going out tonight? Be my date?" He asked her as she turned to him.

"Why? What are you going to tell me?" She worried as he laughed a little.

"You really do worry about everything, don't you?" He realised.

"Yes." Jude confirmed.

"I'm not going to tell you anything." He said, "Other than how beautiful you are and how lucky I am." He nodded as she smiled, "We could ask your parents to babysit the girls."

"Ok." She nodded, "You have yourself a date, chief." She smiled.