I Love You and I'm Sorry

Wolf

Trigger Warning: panic attacks, starving

The whole squad knew that something was wrong with Jake, and that something had been off with him for a long time, but this was the first time that they discussed it as a group, with everyone present, even Gina. She was on a hiatus from the G-Hive, and naturally, she had decided to spend her time off at the Nine-Nine. 

"If there is a predicament regarding Detective Peralta, I would like to be made aware of it," Captain Holt announced. When everyone turned to him, he added, "Because he is a member of my detective squad and I would want to be cognizant of any factor that might affect his professional performance." Though he appeared perfectly calm, it was as flustered as anyone in the ninety-ninth precinct had ever seen their captain.

"Dude, you don't have to be embarrassed about the fact that you care about Jake, we all do. None of us would be in this room if we didn't." Now it was Rosa's turn to be stared at. 

"Yeah, I care. It's weird. I'm not sure how I feel about it. Get over it." Charles chuckled and Rosa (what she considered "lightly") punched him in the arm. Charles attempted to stifle a yelp. 

"Alright, moving on," Amy rolled her eyes, "we all know something is up with Jake-"

"Definitely," Charles interrupted, "he didn't touch the quetzal beak stir-fry I offered him for lunch yesterday."

"No offense, but not even I want to try that, and Terry's open-minded."

"He said he loved it last time, he ate a whole plate of it!"

"Okay gurl, if you say so," Gina said, pursing her lips dismissively. Charles looked down at his feet. 

Rosa turned to Amy, who was staring pensively at the wall, "Santiago, what is it?"

"Well," she hesitated, "Charles might be onto something." 

Charles looked just as shocked as everybody else, "Wait, really?"

Amy nodded, "It's just, last night at dinner he just kind of picked at his food, and he'd barely touched it. Then, he said he wasn't hungry and that he was going to bed."

"He wasn't hungry? That's it, I solved the case."

"What Hitchcock?"

"There is definitely something wrong with Jake."

"That's why we're here in the first place, dum-dum," Rosa threw her head into her hands, exasperatedly. 

"Well, yeah, he solved-"

"Scully, shut up," Rosa growled. 

"Hitchcock, Scully, I think it is best if the two of you take the rest of today off," said Holt.

"Thanks captain!" 

Amy broke the silence that Hitchcock and Scully had left in their wake, "I think that's the fastest I've ever seen them move." 

* * *

"G'morning, Ames."

"Jake? You're never awake before me," Amy said, the corners of her mouth turning upwards. 

"Yeah, it sucks. I am so not a morning person, but Holt wanted me early for a case. It's a major drug bust," Jake's voice turned sing-songy at the last part. 

"It's not a bust until you catch the guy," Amy said smugly. 

"Trust me, it's gonna be." Jake smiled with excitement, but it looked forced.

Remembering her conversation with the squad yesterday, Amy segued as nonchalantly as she could into questioning him, "Did you eat something?"

Jake pointed to a bowl of Cheerios on the countertop next to the sink, the dregs of milk remaining at the bottom, and 2 Cheerios stuck to the inside, "Yeah, I downed, like, half the box." He laughed. "Ight imma head out," he said as he stood in the doorway, shooting awkward finger guns at Amy. She just put her head in her hands and snorted, both with annoyance and affection. She grabbed a cup of coffee before returning to her bedroom to shower and get dressed.