The Medic - Book One

EPILOGUE/BOOK 2 SNEAK PEAK

 If someone came up to Jim Street as he walked out of his first appointment with Percy Jackson and asked him if he thought he could ever date the guy, he would laugh in your face. He had known in the first five minutes with the new medic that they wouldn't be friends, much less be in a relationship. Jackson was overbearing and snarky. He cared too much, and frequently gave Street lectures about being less reckless and skipping appointments.

But something changed the longer Street was around Percy. Street slowly saw his as more protective than overbearing, more quick-witted than snarky, and while he still got his fair share of lectures, once he realized they were from a place of care and concern, Street didn't mind them as much. Four months into their relationship – and seven months since Percy joined SWAT – Street was the happiest he'd been in a while.

Their relationship had become a cornerstone of Street's life, offering a balance he hadn't realized he needed. Percy's calm demeanor and insightful perspective provided a grounding counterpoint to Street's impulsive nature. Their shared moments, both quiet and chaotic, built a foundation of trust and understanding.

One particular evening stood out in Street's mind. They were at Percy's apartment, the remnants of a homemade dinner scattered on the table. Percy had a knack for cooking, a skill Street greatly appreciated. They sat on the couch, a movie playing in the background, but their attention was on each other.

"You know, I never thought I'd end up here," Street admitted, his fingers intertwined with Percy's. "With you. It's... surprising."

Percy chuckled softly, his thumb brushing over Street's knuckles. "Surprising good or surprising bad?"

"Good. Definitely good," Street replied, his gaze meeting Percy's. "I guess I didn't expect someone like you to come into my life. Someone who'd care this much."

Percy smiled, a soft, genuine expression that made Street's heart flutter. "I care because you matter to me, Jim. You and this team. It's just who I am."

"Yeah, I've figured that out," Street said, a grin tugging at his lips. "And I'm glad you're you."

A couple of nights later, after an exhausting mission, Street collapsed onto the couch beside Percy, his head resting on Percy's shoulder. "You ever think about the future?" Street asked, his voice muffled against Percy's shirt.

"All the time," Percy replied, his hand gently running through Street's hair. "Especially now, with you."

"Yeah?" Street looked up, his eyes meeting Percy's.

"Yeah," Percy said softly. "I see us making this work, no matter what. We've faced worse, haven't we?"

Street smiled, a sense of peace settling over him. "Yeah, we have. And we will."

So, overall, Street finally felt like he was in a good place. He had his dream job, a great team, and an amazing boyfriend. But some days, when Percy's eyes would glaze over in the elevator, or tense up when talking about his childhood, Street felt like his 'good place' was fragile. It was balancing on the pile of secrets Percy kept of his family and his past. Street understood traumatic childhood and family issues – he really did. His mom shot his abusive father and went to prison, and he bounced around foster care. He didn't have a picture-perfect past either. What bothered him was the fact that on their first date, Percy said he would one day tell Street everything. "If this is still going," he'd said. And, well, six months later, their relationship was, in fact, still going.

Street spoke to Chris about it all, as she was his go to friend for any relationship advice, and she gave him a Look and told him to just talk to Percy about it, for gods sake. So, after his shift ended, Street made his way into the med bay, going straight for the door to Percy's apartment. He had a key by that point, despite having his own apartment, because the amount of times he would pop in in between shifts or in the middle of the night because he was simply too tired to go home, it just made sense to have his own set.