mine (yours) >> peraltiago

two ; holt

"Raymond! Your work life is here." my husband said.

It was 11:45pm, and I was looking through the scrapbook Santiago made me one Christmas, reminiscing all my good times at the 99. Confused, I descended the stairs only to find an especially dishevelled looking Peralta. His fists were clenched, and his eyes were a mix of tears, anger and determination.

"Captain, Amy is missing. Please, help me." he begged.

"Come in." I say quickly, ushering him in. He explained everything, their feelings, the case, the kisses, the captain, the kidnapping.

All night we looked through old cases, trying to find something, anything. Nothing.

Every night, after work, he and I were here. Sifting through old cases, trying to connect dots, trying to trace and track everyone and everything.

Neither of us slept, and neither of us found anything. He would sleep for two hours at work, and I would sleep at my desk. I got visits from everyone, trying to help sometimes. Rosa even brought Marcus, but no one ever found anything.

A week passed.

Two.

A month.

Two.

Nothing.

No ransom note, no sign of her.

Three.

Still nothing.

"CAPTAIN WE GOT SOMETHING!" Peralta yelled, coming into my house with the key he had. I would never have done that, but given that he was always here, Kevin and I decided to give him a key.

"Captain, this was in the mail." he said, handing me an envelope. A photo of her on a bloody mattress covered in wounds and blood and bruises. She was tied up.

"Oh my." I commented, studying it.

After about five minutes, I looked up. Jake was sitting on the floor, back against my armchair, knees against his chest, head in his hands. He was shaking.

"Peralta, what's going on?" I ask, sitting down beside him.

"I can't stand to see her like this. Her beautiful face and body covered in blood and bruises, her looking so weak and helpless. Amy has been missing THREE MONTHS. THREE GODDAMN MONTHS! And I've been looking everywhere for her, spending every spare moment working my ass off to find her. Because I like her, Captain. Hell, I really like her. She's been my partner since 06 and she's one of my best friends. She knows me better than I know myself and she understands me. Not even my family gets me like she does. And although I seem like some goofy, financially inept detective who's life is his work and a mess as well, I'm not. Well, I am, but that's not all I am. I actually care about her. I never thought I would like this, but I do. And I've been throwing everything I have into this investigation but my job is slipping because I'm not sleeping, and all my time here is trying to find her and that's the same at work, and, I don't know, Captain. I need to find her but I'm losing hope. I'm never giving up on her, because she never gave up on me. But this is killing me. Every day without her is a day spent idly, and every time I go into work I somehow expect her to be at her desk, in her pantsuit, being all flirty and awkward with me and just being her, because she's the best person I know. I have a problem, Sir, and I need to solve this web of puzzles that is my life. She was some crazy smart puzzle solver, meant only for me. Please, help me, before I lose it." He shudders, burying his head in his knees.
"I'm not one to break down, ever, but suppressing it isn't working anymore and I don't give a damn."
"Jacob, I could never understand to the full extent how you're feeling, but I do know this. Don't give up. Because she's more important to you than you think, and I know that she will keep on fighting. For you. Just like you have fought for her. Don't ever give up. Because you and I will find her, and so will the rest of the squad. Come on, Peralta, let's call over the squad. We're going to need everyone, Charles, Rosa, Gina, Terry, and even Hitchcock and Scully. We're going to find Amy Peralta." I say.
"You mean Amy comma Peralta. Goddamnit, she's not even here and she's rubbing off on me." He cursed.
"No, I meant what I said." I smirk.
Jake upturned the corners of his mouth and flashed his teeth.
"Thanks, Captain. It really means a lot to me. Now let's call the squad."