The Newbie [Jake Peralta]

Vacation

I've only ever taken two days off of work, ever.

Once for a doctor's appointment, the other for a funeral. So when I was instructed to take three days off work to rest, I didn't know what to do with myself. I started my morning with a jog through Central Park, then returned home to my messy apartment. Which I decided to clean.

Although my mind kept wandering back to last night, standing in the dim light street outside of my place of work and the thinker kissed me. He took me home, making sure I was settled in and then he left, I invited him to stay but he didn't take me up on the offer. Telling me that I instead needed to rest. Although my body is programmed like a machine and I needed to do something. After cleaning my entire apartment, I took on a task I'd been putting off since I moved in.

The military memories.

Stacked in three boxes, used as a TV stand, these boxes hosted my belongings from so long ago. Medals, uniforms, photographs. I didn't want to look at them but something about yesterday made me want to take a peek back into that life. My life.

The first box held my training uniform mixed in with a pair of combat boots I knew Rosa would kill to wear. I pulled out a chain revealing my old dog tags, remember how focused I was on not losing the things. I never did. This box was mainly my old clothes, including caps and glasses.

Before I could look into box two, a rhythmic knock was bounced on my door. Upon investigation, it was food.

"Please tell me you just go out of bed and are relaxing?"

Plus Jake, although he was accompanied by food.

"Cleaning makes me hungry!" I smiled, taking the bag off of him and sitting back on the floor.

"Hello to you too.." He said, moving into the apartment, closing the door and sitting on the floor beside me, "Have you gone insane yet?"

"Does this count?" I smiled, turning my head to meet his eye-line.

"Depends, are you gonna kill me with this?" Jake asked, pulling out a handgun that was stored in the open box.

"I forgot that was in there. That's kinda handy.." I smiled, clocking it open to check how many bullets were left and then placing it to one side.

"You now scare me.." He spoke, faking a quiver in his voice.

"Stop it.." I laughed.

"You are a Rosa level threat!" He joked, linking his arm over my shoulder.

"Hmm, I'm being compared to Rosa. That's either an achievement or a chilling thing.." I smiled, leaning over to another box.

"What are you doing? How am I meant to watch Die Hard if you remove your TV stand?" Jake asked.

"Watch it at your place?" I smirked.

"Yes but if I watch it here, then I get to see you." He smiled, god that smile, "Plus, Clash of Clans works way faster on your wifi!"

"Well, you've ruined it now, Jake.." I looked in the second box, full of photographs and awards.

I started pulling them out, remembering that hot desert climate and the same flavoured rice and beans we ate every day.

"Who are they?" Jake pointed to a photograph I was holding.

"A group of my angels.." I smiled, forgetting that this was an inside joke, "Have you ever seen that movie Charlies Angels?" I asked him, remembering the food and starting to dig in.

"Yeah a few years ago.."

"There was a running joke that I was their Charlie. I'd train them and send them off into the world the right way, word got around and whenever my group was to be deployed we went by 'Charlie's Angels'. Every morning I'd wake them up by saying 'Morning Angels!' and they'd say, 'Good Morning Charlie!'. It boosted morale.." I flicked through a photo that had me in a shirt, the back having 'Charlie' written on it.

"You are so cool. Did anyone say that? Like, you have more power than Holt. I'm not saying we abuse that power but, we could get a snack budget. Or free Die Hard-"

"You only have two thoughts, food and Die Hard, don't you?" I laughed, looking back at him.

"No, I only have three thoughts. Food, Die Hard and Major General Riley Bishop.." He smiled back.

"That was cute.."

"I know.."

Jake stayed for a while more, I knew eventually he would have to leave for work again but, I didn't want him to go anywhere.

"Holt is going to give me a disappointing grunt if I don't go.." He smiled, leaning in my doorway.

"Well, maybe using my Major General statues can force him to let you stay?" I joked, but also really considered it.

"That is an abuse of power detection Bishop, I can't believe you'd even think of doing that!" Jake sarcastically gasped.

"Whatever, have fun without me!" I smiled, he turned to walk down the corridor and I began closing my door.

"Wait, I forgot something!" He called back, running towards me and locking his lips with mine, quickly slipping his hand to my cheek and pulling away, "Now I can leave!"

Yeah, two more Jakeless days are gonna hurt.