Getting back to "Normal" | Rhekker

Chapter 56- Game Time

"What am I looking at?" Jay questioned, it was going on 1am but Connor had caught him just before he left work.
"Just, just watch it again okey" Connor played the footage again.
"Look, Connor" jay sighed, turning in his chair to look at him.
"There!" Connor pointed at the screen, pausing the video.
"Right there"
"What, she's drinking from a glass?" Jay shook his head, thinking Connor had finally lost it.
"No one turns their head like that when they drink"
"Here, just" Connor moved around his desk and picked up his laptop, holding it upside down.
"Connor, what are you doing"
"Look at the glass, really look!" he urged him.
Jay looked to the glass again, with Ava now upside down on the screen. He squinted and noticed the reflection of four men in the glass.
"Holy shit" Jay shot out of his chair, taking the device back from Connor.

"She's a genius, how did you catch that?" Jay took a screen shot of it to send to Hank.
"I've watched the video about a hundred times" Connor ran a hand through his hair.
"Well this is great Connor! Much more the we'd normally have in a case like this"
"We already managed to track the car that took her to an area of Chicago, but now that we have faces, it'll speed things up we can start ID'ing them"
Jay placed a hand on Connors arm, "we're going to bring her home"
"I know" Connor nodded.

"Here" jay picked up his jacket. "There's a place near by, a cop bar, open all hours. I'll buy you a drink for your work"
"Is it not late?"
"It's fine, Haliey said goodnight to me earlier, she went home to work on her case. Chances are she's asleep by now" he explained.
"It'll be good for us to see each other outside of this station"
"Yeah, yeah alright" Connor agreed, following Jay out of the station they shut the door behind them. Jay led Connor to a corner street bar a few blocks away. There as an old blue neon street sign hung out side, inside the place was pretty busy for the hour, the walls decorated with newspaper cutting of cases, old police bags and a wall of hero's.
"I didn't think you'd be one to stray from Molly's" Connor says as they take a seat at the bar.
"Sometimes I just need a break from there you know? I used to date Gabbie, so I try not to go there on days she's on shift. There's no hard feelings from the relationship but you know what Antonio's like" Jay shook his head, remember the graphic detail he had gone into should Jay ever hurt his sister.

"Oh I've heard" Connor replied as the bartender came over to take their order.
"You should really try get out a little more man, you can't focus on this case. It'll consume you, trust me" Jay told him, nodding to the bartender as their beers arrived.
"I know, ives always been able to leave things at work but this. Man" he shook his head.
"I can't just leave her"
"I know, I don't expect you too. But you need to go out, see some people" he took a sip of his beer.

"Here, the next time Will and I are going out I'm taking you with us"
"Jay-"
"C'mon, you have too" he urged him.
"Fine" Connor shook his head, taking a gulp of his beer.
Jay tapped his fingers against the wood of the bar.
"Sooo, you and Ava?" He smirked.
"What about us?"
"You really like her, don't you?" He smiled. "Will said you haven't been this serious about anyone since Roybin"
"Yeah, yeah that's about right" Connor started into the bottom of his glass
"Aww look at you two loves birds" he pushed his shoulder against Connors.
"So it is love then?"
"Yeah, but I don't think she's quite there. I do love her, but I really messed things up with her before. I think she needs time"
"But I'd do anything for her" he said with a sober certainty.
"She's a great women, you're a lucky guy" Jay told him, pushing his empty bottle away.

"So you and Hailey then?" Connor grinned.
"Oh, I'm not drunk enough to get into that just yet" Jay laughed.
"But you are living with her?" He stated.
"What?" Jay furrowed his brows.
"You said she was probably be asleep by now, implying you'd be going to that bed"
"Please, it did not take a detective to figure that one out" Connor rolled his eyes.
"Okey, in my defence it was late, and I was only talking to you. But yes, I moved into her place" he confirmed.
"So you're getting serious then?"
"Have been for a while" he confessed.
Connor nodded, "good for you man, it's a tough job. Nice to not have to do it alone"
"Same to you man" Jay patted him on the back.
"Okey we really have to get out of here before she start crying, or doing karaoke"
Jay took out his wallet.
"Of no, I'll pay" Connor reached for his card.
"No, no. It was my idea" jay took out his card and paid the bartender.
"Thanks, man"

They left the bar together and Jay pulled out his phone.
"Hey I left my car at the station, will it be alright until tomorrow?"
"Will your poursche be okey outside a police station? I think it'll mange" Jay teased him, running a hand through his hair.
"I was going to call and Uber if you want to share one?"
"No, I live on the other side of town to you, I'll just walk" Connor said.
"Okey, if you're sure"
"Yeah. I'll see you later Jay"
"Safe home, man" jay waved after him as he walked down the street.

Connor let himself into his apartment, dropping his keys into the bowl but the door. He didn't turn on the lights as he went in but sat down to take off his shoes. Connor walked through the darkness to his bedroom. He unbuttoned his shirt and jeans and pulled them off, pulling on a pair of sweatpants before getting into bed. Connor buried his face in the covers, taking a deep breath of the sheets that had a hint of vanilla from Ava's perfume that he sprayed, but was tainted with his cologne.

*

Connor got to work early, something that he had been doing more and more to try spend as little time in the apartment, finding it best in engross himself in his work ahead of tomorrow. He'd drive around for a while, crossing back into Illinois just before his shift and driving straight to the hospital.

Connor phone buzzed as he left the doctors lounge.
"Hey, Connor?"
"Jay, is everything alright?" Connor dipped into an empty room to take the call.
"Everything's fine man, remember how I said you should get out more. Tonight, hockey game at Molly's. Will and I are going"
"Tonight? Okey yeah, that works. I'll see you there thanks Jay, I think your right, it'll be good for me to get out of the house"
"I'll see you later" Connor hung up and put his phone back into his pocket.

Connor finished his shift and went home, getting changed into a shirt and jeans. He sprayed some of his cologne and picked up his watch from his dresser. He ran his fingers along the edge of the leather, following the seam with his nail. He tightened the strap around his wrist and clasped it shut.
Connor walked to Molly's, the place already buzzing with anticipation of the game. Connor pushed open the door, spotting the two Halsteads sat at the end of the bar.

They got up and Connor hugged each of them, finding his seat at the bar with the, they started on a round of drinks Will had ordered. The matched progressed, the score remaining tight between the two teams.

They finished their round of beers as jay reached to get his card.
"No, I'll get the next round" Connor pushed Jay hand back and took out the card from his wallet. Tapping his card against the bar. "You got the last one"
"Thanks man" Jay put his wallet back.
"The last one?" Will asked, "I didn't think you two were drinking buddies"
"It just just an impromptu thing one night. Don't worry big bro we're not leaving you out" Jay patted Will on the back.

Cheers started erupting around them as they looked to the screen.
Will grabbed Connors arm, "Yes, yes!" Will shouted as the Blackhawks scored, winning the match. Connor, Will and Jay all cheered, taking a sip of there beers.

The night came to an end early on the morning. Connor had left the brothers to share a taxi home and got one home himself. He let himself into his apartment, stripping off for bed he eyed the bag at the bottom of the wardrobe, putting his things in the laundry basket before switching off the lights and crawling into bed.

You're coming home Ava. I'm going to bring you home

A/n: I've seen this going around but do you think Ava and Connor are OkOkOkOkOk or LaLaLaLaLa 🤔 I think there both OkOkOkOkOk