adultism | | brooklyn nine-nine

two

chapter two

ninety-ninth precinct...

bullpen...

a week later...

Detective Zachariah ' Zach ' Reeves walked into the nine-nine precinct with a pensive expression on his face. He was dressed in a brown leather jacket, jeans and a dark blue t-shirt. He glanced around, then his eyebrows shot up in surprise when he was greeted by a familiar face.

"Amy Santiago?" Amy looked up, and her face lit up.

"Oh my god, Zach?" She stood, walking over to him and hugging him. He returned it, then stepped back to look her over. "What are you doing here?"

"I'm transferring here," Zach said brightly.

"What happened to the Six-Seven?"

"Let's just say I had a falling out with my Lieutenant and leave it at that." Zach brushed it off. "I have to speak to Captain Holt, but want to grab lunch?"

"Definitely." Zach headed into Holt's office, which is when Charles, Terry, Gina and Rosa descended on Amy.

"How do you know that fine specimen of a man?" Gina asked.

"We were partners as beat cops at the Six-Seven," Amy explained. She hesitated, then added. "We also went on a few dates, but it didn't work out. Timing."

"You let him get away?" Charles asked. "Shame, Amy, shame." Amy rolled her eyes, though she did glance over her shoulder as Zach shook hands with Holt. Zach settled into the desk opposite Detective Charles Boyle, whom he knew to be a fine detective and a medal of valor recipient.

"Hi, I'm Charles Boyle." Zach looked at him.

"Zach Reeves. Pleasure." Zach made quick work of setting up his desk, putting a picture of his family on his desk. Charles peeked over, lighting up.

"You have a kid?" Charles asked excitedly.

"Yeah." Zach smiled, posture relaxing a bit. "Melanie. She's two and a half."

"Oh, she's so beautiful." Charles gushed.

"Thanks." Zach smiled. "So, any chance I can hop onto the case you're working?"

"Sure, why not." Charles nodded. Zach accepted the file, reading it over. "Ooh, juicy. Hey, who's Peralta?" Zach noticed that his name was written on the bottom of the crime scene report.

"Oh. Jake Peralta is a Detective. Officially he got fired, but unofficially he's undercover for the next six months."

"Ah." Zach nodded in understanding. Zach studied Charles' body language. "You two close?"

"He's my best friend," Charles said.

"Well alright then. Let's solve a case."

ninety-ninth precinct . . .

holt's office . . .

two months later . . .

Zach sat in Holt's office, tapping the arm of the chair as he and Holt stared each other down.

"Nothing to say?"

"Nope," Zach replied evenly.

"Three times this week you have left in the middle of the shift without giving a reason for your absence. You refuse to engage in a conversation, which has led us here. Now, trust me. Tell me what's going on, Detective Reeves."

"I had a family emergency." Zach finally relented. He opened his wallet and pulled out a photo of his daughter who had long blonde hair and green eyes. "My Daughter, Melanie. She's sick. Last night I had to rush her to the ER with a hundred and four fever. She's currently in the ICU. My younger brother is staying with her."

"Why didn't you say anything?" Holt asked.

"I had a crappy childhood." Zach shrugged. "Charlie, Jackson, Colin and Steven - my brothers -and I learnt to fend for ourselves a long time ago. And the guys at my last precinct were not great after she was born."

"That won't be the case here," Holt assured. "Go, see your daughter. I'll put you on paid leave until you can return."

"Thank you, sir," Zach said, a little stunned.

"Family is important, Detective Reeves. Someday, I hope the squad and I can become the family you can turn to."

"So do I." Zach got up and left, missing the small smile that passed over Holt's face.

ninety-ninth precinct . . .

bullpen . . .

two weeks later . . .

Zach got off the phone with his daughter, still grinning. She'd phoned him from his brother's phone, desperate to tell him about her school day. Zach had sat there and listened to her, while simultaneously finding a lead on his case. His phone chimed as he was prepping to head out, and he cursed.

"Dammit, Carla," Zach muttered angrily. He called her, not noticing the squad watching him since his outburst. "You can't bail on your daughter's birthday party, Carla... No! For the love of- She wants you there... I don't care if your friends are going to the Hamptons. Your daughter is turning three! You know what? Fine. Whatever. Bye." Zach ended the call, grumbling.

"Everything alright?" Zach jerked his head up, now noticing the other Detectives – Terry, Amy and Charles – watching with concern.

"Fine. Just- Mel turns seven on Saturday and her mother bailed. Again." Zach exhaled. He shook his head. "I don't know what to do."

"That's tough man," Terry said sympathetically.

"Have you tried couples counselling?" Amy asked.

"Before the divorce, yup." Zach chuckled bitterly, shaking his head. He and Carla had only been married for a year before she had cheated on him. He'd immediately filed for divorce and custody of their daughter, but Carla had fought, and she got Mel every second weekend. Then, a few months ago Carla had become distant and flaky, and Zach was having a hard time even getting her to pick Mel up from school, let alone turn up for any of Mel's important milestones. "I'm going to have to file for sole custody. Which is time and money I don't have."

"If there's anything we can do to help, let us know, alright?" Amy said.

"Here at the nine-nine we're a family," Terry said, everyone else nodding in agreement.

"Thanks guys."

date written : 06 / 05 / 2021
date published : 05 / 10 / 2024
edited : yes
word count : 987