The Long Haul

Chapter 21

After the public embarrassment that Jay caused yesterday by forcing Alex to open the blinds, she wasn't looking forward to whatever today would bring at the precinct. She was determined to just keep her head down and finish out this stupid punishment, so she could get back to her regular life.

After the Friday afternoon bells rang, Alex and Dustin exited the school hand-in-hand as they headed for the L train entrance a few blocks away. Dustin had insisted that he walk her there every day this week since they couldn't go back to his place to hang out as they normally did. They reached the entrance where they usually parted ways; however, today he wasn't ready to say goodbye.

"How about I drop you off at the door this time?" Dustin asked, not letting go of her hand just yet.

Alex motioned ahead to where she'd swipe her card to get on the train, confused. "Well, we made it."

"No, I mean the police station."

Her eyebrows flew up at the suggestion. "Woah, what?"

The teen held up his hand as if saying to hear him out. "Not like I'm going to go inside or whatever. But just like take you to the entrance." When she didn't say anything, he continued, "Is spending time with you a crime now? Because if so, we might as well go together so you can turn me over to the cops." For added effect, Dustin threw on a pouty lip and pleading puppy dog eyes.

Alex rolled her eyes playfully and relented immediately, not able to turn down such an adorable look. It was harmless to have him take her to the district. "You just want to make out on the ride over." She threw a seductive smile over her shoulder, clearly approving, as she went up the steps to the platform. Dustin's eyes lit up with teenage delight as he ran after her.

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About 20 minutes later, they were standing on the other side of the road in front of the 21st district. "Well here's my stop," Alex announced as she gave his hand a tight squeeze. "Don't forget about me while I'm doing time on the inside," she joked, inching her body closer to his.

"I mean, who could forget these delicious lips," Dustin replied, oblivious to the world around him. He cupped her cheek affectionately and pulled her in for a long, tongue-filled kiss to say goodbye.

Meanwhile, the Intelligence Unit had just returned from a crime scene and they were making their way through the parking lot into the side door. Erin was the last in line and just happened to glance to her right toward the front of the building. She stopped for a second, pulling her sunglasses down to make sure she was seeing what she thought she was seeing.

Jay held open the side door and saw that his partner had stopped, clearly focused on something out front. "Erin, what is it?" he asked as he started to take a step toward her.

The detective made a quick call based on her gut. "Nothing, thought I saw one of my C.I.'s out front, but it wasn't him," she quickly replied, pushing him back toward the door out of view. "We better get moving." Because the last thing Jay needed right now was knowing his sister was sucking face with a boy out front.

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The day played out much like the previous one. Alex sat in the break room, her mood refusing to improve, while Jay attended to his duties. She overheard conversations about the ongoing case and every now and then, she'd see a bunch of movement in the bullpen, like people were in a rush. She was mildly interested in what was happening, but she refused to acknowledge that piece.

Erin had stayed out of things between the siblings, instead offering constant support for Jay and a listening ear when he needed to vent. She didn't want to overstep her boundaries and get involved without his request, but as dinner time was nearing and Jay was interrogating a suspect, Erin saw an opportunity and knew she had to take it. She saw too much of herself in this teen and thought maybe she could extend some sort of olive branch of support.