"Peralta. Santiago. My office now," called Holt from his office door into the bullpen. After sharing a confused look and a small shrug of the shoulders, they both head over to Holt's office. They both knew it must be something important; why else would the captain put his two best detectives on the case? Secretly, Jake was sort of pleased that he would be working with Amy. Not for any reason in particular. He just liked spending time with her. Oh, and also the fact he was falling deeper and deeper in love with her by the hour. But she'd just split up with Teddy and from what he'd heard, it wasn't the smoothest of break-ups. It'd be selfish for him to let her know of his feelings were still there. Anyway, she'd turned him down once before. Who's to say she wouldn't do it again?
The two detectives sat down next to each other, with the captain on the other side of his desk. He started, "I called you in here to inform you that a male you were tracking, Jesse Hermick, has been picked up in Neustadter, New York. He was apparently trying to pay for a hoagie with a gun. If I remember correctly, he is the gentleman that skipped bail after he was arrested for 9 counts of armed robbery." Amy quickly nods her head in response. "The police upstate want you to pick him up at 6:30 tomorrow morning. I suggest you spend the night up there and then travel back tomorrow once you've picked Hermick up. Is that clear?"
"Yes, sir," Amy responds instantly. Jake, however, was a bit sceptical. "Out of all due respect sir, how are we meant to find accommodation for tonight. It's already four. There can't be many rooms left now. Can't we just pick him up around midday?" He really didn't want to be awake early the next morning and certainly not after an uncomfortable night in a crappy motel room in a town he'd never heard of.
"I will have Gina figure something out for the two of you and send you the details. "I will have Gina figure something out for the two of you and she will send you the details. Now, go home quickly to grab a few things and get on the road. This would be a good case to close, considering you've been after this guy for months. Now head out. I'll see you both when you get back."
They leave Holt's office and grab their belongings from their desks and head towards the elevator. They had to move fast so they could beat most of the traffic. Trying to drive through New York when everyone was finishing work was a nightmare, especially when they couldn't use their sirens to usher people out of their way. Few words were said between the two detectives. They both hoped the tension would ease during their journey upstate. If not, it was going to be a long drive.
They leave Holt's office and grab their belongings from their desks and head towards the elevator. They had to move fast as to beat most of the traffic. Trying to drive through New York when everyone was finishing work was a nightmare, especially when they couldn't use their sirens to usher people out of their way.
Few words were spoken between the two detectives. They both hoped the tension would ease during their journey upstate. If not, it was going to be a long drive. Jake finally broke the silence. "I'll pick you up from your apartment in about half an hour. There's no point in us taking two cars. We can share the driving. We've both had a long week and could do with some rest. It only makes sense." She nods in agreement as she heads towards her car. How can she speak to him without blurting out the truth; she really liked him. Maybe – maybe even more than she was letting herself believe. But it was complicated. She'd just had a messy break-up with Teddy and the last thing she knew he was living a young, wild and free life – one-night stands, dates with no strings attached. She couldn't experience that with him. He was something special; she knew it. But where did he stand? Did he still like her? Was all of the history between them in the past? What's going to happen when they aren't surrounded by their jobs or the friends around them or can take away the awkwardness? This was going to be harder to navigate than she ever thought.
Back upstairs in the bullpen, Holt heads over to the break room, where Terry, Rosa, Charles and Gina were having a small break. Well, Terry and Rosa were trying to get some coffee, Charles was telling the story of his latest food review and Gina was on her phone, again, clearly uninterested in Boyle's story.
"Sorry to interrupt detective Boyle; Gina, can you please find a hotel or something for Peralta and Santiago to stay at tonight. It needs to be in Neustadter. As close to their police precinct as possible," Holt said hoping he wasn't going to have to fight her on this one. "No, sorry. Don't feel like it," she replied without even looking up from her phone. All of those surrounded her wouldn't be surprised if she even listened to what Holt had said. The captain looked a bit disgruntled and uttered in a low tone, "Gina," before she admitted defeat with a groan and agreed to find somewhere for Jake and Amy to stay.
Holt leaves the room and heads back to his office. Suddenly, Rosa speaks up: "Hey, why don't we make this interesting? We know those two have been dancing around each other for at least 12 months and it's starting to gross me out. We know those 2 have been dancing around each other for at least 12 months and it's starting to gross me out. There's obviously something there, and it makes things awkward. Why don't we mess with their booking and make them share a room? They can work out if something is ever going to happen between them or not, or whether they just need to bone."
Terry interjects, "Rosa, that's ridiculous. We can't do that to them. Terry loves love. But Terry also loves a professional working environment. What if something goes wrong and they can no longer work together. As much as I want to see the both of them happy, we also need them to be able to work together without trying to kill each other."
Next it was Charles, "Sarge, Rosa's got a point. I think they need this push. They would be America's dream couple if they got together. The first time I saw them together I knew something was destined to happen. I know for a fact that Jake likes Amy and it's pretty obvious she likes him too. They're just too afraid to make the first move. This could be our chance to help them. They are perfect for each other. A one true pairing if you please."
"Okay. Charles, I'm going to stop you right there. I agree with you, but never say those words again," Gina chimes in. "I've known Jake since we were kids, and I've never seen him this hung up on a girl. He's usually over them in a couple of weeks, but this has been going on forever, and I'm fed up of it. And you forget that I sit behind Amy. The way he looks at her when he thinks no one's looking shows how much he likes her. It makes me want to barf. I don't know why, though; those pant suits are a total drag."
"Wait. Hold on. Isn't Amy still with Teddy? We can't go through with this if they are still together," Terry asks. How could he not have thought of this before now?
"Terry, Terry, Terry. How did you ever make detective? You're supposed to be able to pick up on certain behaviours and changes in someone's routine," Gina replies. You're supposed to be able to pick up on certain behaviours and changes in someone's routine," Gina replies sarcastically. Terry looks kind of hurt and confused. She continues, "Amy and Teddy split up a few weeks ago. They used to always go for lunch on Tuesday, unless either of them had a big break in a case they were working on. If they did, they would call the other to cancel. For about 2 or 3 weeks now, Amy hasn't left the precinct for lunch on a Tuesday and she hasn't sent or received a phone call from Teddy, meaning that they had either broken up, or they were bored of the weekly lunch outing. When I noticed she wasn't leaving, I quizzed her about it. I wasn't really listening, but I think she said something about him being too boring. And that's coming from her! There must have been something seriously wrong with that man."
"Damn Gina. How'd you figure all that out?" Rosa asks.
"Because I'm psychic. It was pretty obvious to be honest." Just then Hitchcock and Scully walked in to the break room and sat on the revolting couch on the back wall. She angled towards them. "I bet even those two idiots figured it out. Hey. Hitchcock, Scully. Did you know Amy had split up with Teddy?" They both look at each other, Scully with a rather confused look on his face, whereas Hitchcock seemed a bit annoyed and upset.
"Who's Teddy?" Scully asks, while a moping Hitchcock says, "Wait, Amy has a boyfriend? I thought for sure she was going to sleep with me. We even had a bet on it." He motions to Scully and all he can reply with is "We do?" before they start arguing about who gets to pick the first cookie in the box, they had just bought with them, ignoring the grossed out looks from the others.
"It's settled then. Mission get Jake and Amy together is a go!" Terry says.
"No Ter-bear. It's got to have a catchier name than that," Gina intervenes. "Something less obvious."
Before anyone else could respond, Boyle immediately started jumping up and down like a child on Christmas morning, waving one of his arms in the air like he was in a class waiting to answer a question. "Oo. Oo. Oo. I've got it: Mission: Peraltiago! You get it? Peralta and Santiago together… Peraltiago. Come on guys, that's genius!"