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Imogen O'Neil (age 28)
Word count: 1414
TW: serious injuries.
Jays POV
"Chuckles, there's someone downstairs asking for you" trudy's voice makes me look up from my paperwork. She walks past me and sighs as she knocks on voights door. Hailey gives me a questioning glare as I stand up, and I shrug, just as clueless as she is. My feet lead me down the stairs and towards the gate where I scan my hand and close it behind me. I spot a brunette stood by the desk and I look around, only spotting her. My heart rate seems to pick up a little as I recognise the back of the woman, and when she turns around my eyes widen, "Imogen? W-what're you doing here?" I laugh, shaking my head in disbelief as I hold my arms out.
Imogen's face lights up as she gives me a tight hug, and I swear she still smells the same... fresh lavender. I pull away and shake my head in utter disbelief, "how are you? It's been a long time" I smile. She nods, "I'm alright, and yeah... it has. How long have you been a detective for?" she holds herself well as she looks around the station. I smile, "since I left" I nod, realising just how long I've truly been here. She sighs, "so you're like a pensioner round here, huh?" She smirks. I laugh, "apparently" I look down at her, "I can't believe you're here, what brings you to Chicago?" I enquire.
I haven't seen Imogen in around five years, and I can't get over just how much she looks the same. She laughs, "I actually just moved here" she nods, pursing her lips together, "I was on a run, and I remember seeing your name on the news a while back... said you worked here, so I thought I'd stop by" she tilts her head, and I smile thankfully. I nod, "hey, uh, I just started unpacking if you maybe wanna' stop by my place. We can crack open a few beers, catch up on everything?" She suggests and I instantly nod, "sounds great, I'm free tonight?" I offer and her smile widens. She nods, "perfect" she looks around.
"My numbers on the card, just text me a time and a place and I'll be there" I hand her one of my cards. Imogen accepts it and slips it into her pocket before she nods, "I'll let you get back to work, but I'll see you later... it was nice seeing you, Ricky" she smiles. I laugh, "yeah, you too fudge" I wave as she jogs down the steps of the precinct. I can officially say my week just got a whole lot better. As I plod back upstairs with a new step in my stride, hailey looks up, "you good?" She nods. I smile, "one of my old friends from the rangers just moved into town, she just stopped to say hi" I sit down at my desk, praying the rest of the day flies in.
~
I find myself stood in front of a large white door in a very nice apartment complex, with a bouquet of flowers and a pack of beer in my hands. It doesn't take long for Imogen to answer the door and when she does her face lights up, "always the gentleman" she laughs as she moves out of the way to let me in. Imogen smiles as I stand in front of her, "kitchens through the hall and to the right" she informs me as I lead the way. I move to stand behind the counter as Imogen walks past me and to the fridge to grab us both a cold beer.
It isn't until my eyes filter down for a second when I eyes catch a glimpse of something I've never seen before, and my heart drops. Imogen places the beers down yet my eyes are fixated onto her leg. She sighs heavily, "c'mon" she heads for the door, and I follow her yet I stare at her leg in complete and utter disbelief.
We sit down on her couch as she turns the TV off and I stare at her, unable to hide the shock on my face as she lets out a small chuckle. She nods, "go on, you can ask" she puts her leg on the coffee table. I nod, "uh, what happened?" Is all I can spit out and she laughs yet again.
Imogen's POV
It never fails to make me laugh a little when people first see my prosthetic leg, although now that jay knows I have half a leg, I don't know how to feel anymore. I sigh heavily, "two years ago, we were stationed in Bahrain. We were patrolling the coast when a missile strike hit the town next to our base. Most of the unit were killed upon impact, me and another solider were pinned under our vehicle. I lost all feeling in the lower half of my leg, and it wasn't until I woke up in the hospital when I realised everything below my knee was gone. I was medically discharged a month later. It was life changing to say the least" I look up to see jay frowning deeply.
Jay remains silent for a few seconds, "I don't know what to say, I-I just never imagined anything like this happening to any of us. How're you doing now?" He shakes his head slightly. I smile, "I've never been better. I mean, I found myself a great place in a beautiful city, I have a brilliant job and I'm back with old friends. This altered everything for me, but I wouldn't change for the world" I shrug as I sip on my beer. Jay holds his bottle out and I clink it with my own, "I signed up for the Chicago marathon too" I scoff a laugh. Jay ducks his head forward, "since when did you enjoy running?" He laughs. I laugh too, "spur of the moment thing" I sigh heavily.
"Well I'm really glad you're in Chicago, and I'd love for you to meet my unit. There's a firefighters bar called mollys, you should join us sometime" jay tilts his head, and I nod, "sounds fun" I smile widely. He looks around, "this is a nice place by the way, what're you doing now?" He leans on his arm. I smile, "I'm a physiotherapist at the veterans centre downtown. During my own rehab I started training, then qualified the day I ran for the first time again" I nod, my smile widening as I stare at my dear friend.
Jay smiles, "you're crazy" he laughs, "fudge" he adds, only causing me to laugh. I sigh and shake my head, "enough about me, what about you? You said you've been a detective since you left..." I point at the man before me. His freckles seem more prominent. He nods, "yeah, I was a detective in another unit before Antonio pulled me up to intelligence. Been there ever since, I don't think I can imagine myself doing another job" he smiles softly. I nod, sipping on my beer, "it suits you" I admit. He's always been one for chasing danger.
Jay smiles and sighs heavily, "were you planning on leaving the rangers before your incident?" He enquires. I slowly shake my head, "not really, I mean... 8 years is a long time, I guess I had just gotten so used to the routine. I loved it. I'd just been promoted to master Sargent too, it's funny how life works out. I didn't want to leave, but I think I needed to" I sigh heavily. Jay nods, "yeah, I get you" he tilts his head.
"I see mouse re-enlisted" I add. Jay nods, "yeah, he signed up a while back. You see him around?" He purses his lips together. I shake my head, "no, although I saw his name on the commendation list. Hopefully he shoots straight" I smile weakly. Jay nods, "need a hand unpacking?" He points to the boxes around my living room. I smile, "sure, why not?" I nudge his arm as we both stand up. He smiles, reaching out to pull me into a side hug, "I'm glad you're here" he looks down at me. I nod, smiling back, "me too" I sigh in content. Everything works out in the end, and I believe this is where I'm supposed to be...
