don't regret it

j.t. thomas ex-marine van city pd fit af

[annabelduke-blog]

safe in here;

[annabelduke-blog]

[time skip, yo]

It’s nighttime, and Mary is completely fine. The doctor requested that she stay overnight so they could monitor the concussion, but apart from that and the broken arm, she’s fine.

Annabel feels as if she can breathe for the first time all day. Jen’s presence has been wonderful for her, far better than Paul’s ever was, and Annabel can’t be more thankful that she ended up coming to the hospital.

Currently they are outside of the hospital, likely ready to part ways to their respective homes, but Annabel finds herself already wanting to spend more time with the other woman, wanting to enjoy Jen’s company outside of the stressful context of a hospital.

“I can’t thank you enough for coming here and staying with me. I know this wasn’t exactly the most ideal way to meet each other in person, but…” Annabel shakes her head, looking at the ground, then looks back at up at JT. “Listen, do you maybe want to go for a drink? Two Lions, just a few blocks from here?”

[jenthomvs-blog]

It’s an unusual sensation, being in a hospital for reasons unrelated to work. The last time was the birth of Reilly’s second child a couple of years ago. Arguably, that was even more traumatic. The loud screams of new born babies echoing through a maternity ward does not make for a pleasant experience.

Still, despite the awkward circumstances, JT is glad to have been able to meet Annabel, and she’s even happier when it’s suggested that they go for a drink. “I’ve said already, I really don’t mind,” JT starts, with a soft smile, “But, yes, I’ll go for a drink - that sounds great.” She pauses for a moment, considering her car. I suppose I can just pick it up tomorrow if I’m too drunk to drive.

[annabelduke-blog]

safe in here;

[annabelduke-blog]

Annabel grins, running a hand down the other woman’s arm, admiring the fabric of the blazer. “Better over-dressed than under-dressed, in my opinion,” she says, meeting Jen’s eyes. The joking eases Annabel’s nerves a little, and she’s more than willing to follow along. “Can you arrest him and put him into a rehabilitation centre for assholes? I think he’ll need it.”

She looks at JT and feels as if they have been old friends for ages - old friends who haven’t seen each other in years. Annabel desperately wishes this were the case - she’s been desperate for someone from her past to come up to her, tell her everything about herself, a last name, something - 

But this will have to do.

“We can go inside. I was just waiting here for you,” Annabel says. “Mary’s going to be completely fine. Just a broken arm. I’m sorry for making such a fuss out of it; I’m not exactly the best with any accident-type incidents, as you can obviously see.”

[jenthomvs-blog]

The contact is a little unexpected, the way Annabel runs her hand down her arm. JT tenses slightly, but shrugs it off when Annabel smiles up at her. “Yeah, I think I can manage that, but I forgot to bring my handcuffs,” she laughs in reply.

“Alright.” JT follows her into the hospital. She walks instep with Annabel, hands stuffed into her pockets. “Don’t worry about that, at least I get to see you, right?” She smiles softly. “Anything I can do to help.”

[annabelduke-blog]

safe in here;

[annabelduke-blog]

Annabel is having a smoke, zoning out on the parking lot curb when she hears a familiar voice. She looks up and quickly throws down the cigarette, standing and stomping it out, absentmindedly running a hand through her her. “Ah jeez, er, hi,” she says, moving toward JT, trying not to make it obvious that she is, indeed, checking the other woman out. Jesus. Collared shirt, blazer, hair neatly tied, fiery blue eyes…Annabel can’t help but feel self-conscious of her choice in Paul’s olive cardigan, fitting far too large on her, a loose, old white tee, and black jeans. Not exactly a date outfit.

Out of habit (and out of sheer will), Annabel moves in for a short hug, moving back and smiling at the other woman. “Promise I’m not a chain smoker. I’m just a little stressed,” she says, shaking her head. “I really appreciate you coming. I came here with my friend, Paul, and he’s been of no help with calming me down. I’m not sure what it is with us and odd circumstances.” Ann meekly slides her hands in the pockets of the cardigan. She feels odd, out of character, not the poised, articulate person that she usually is, and Annabel wants to kick herself for telling Jen to come here. “First I learn of your existence through a phone number in the men’s bathroom, and now this. And I also promise I don’t talk this much, I’m just a bit nervous to see you, and you look awfully nice, and, er -” Shut up, Ann. “Anyway, I’m really sorry about all of this.”

[jenthomvs-blog]

As Annabel stands to face her, JT can’t help but feel completely taken aback. Annabel is beautiful in a way she couldn’t have possibly predicted. A slight pang of guilt rises, given the circumstances, but she barely has the time to shake it before Annabel steps forward forward for the hug.

“Don’t worry about it, we’ve all been there,” JT replies, looking down at the stubbed cigarette. “Nothing wrong with a bit of indulgence right?”

Jay can only smile softly at Annabel’s flustered rant. It’s so endearing. She scratches at the back of her neck, a little awkward. It’s our first meeting. She’s stressed as hell, I’m wearing a suit, and we’re in front of a hospital. Can only go up from here.

“Okay first of all, thank you, even if I am completely over-dressed right now. And second, you look great too. Really great,” she starts. “But seriously, no need to apologise. What can I do? Do you want me to go give this Paul a talking to for being so insensitive? I can make it really official and show my badge and everything,” Jay adds with a slight laugh, hoping it’ll help ease the slight tension.

[annabelduke-blog]

safe in here;

[annabelduke-blog]

Annabel would like nothing more than for Jen to come to the hospital, but she isn’t sure if she wants their first in-person encounter to be like this - at a hospital. 

Then again, she really wants to see this woman. In person. 

“Erm, I - you really don’t have to,” she says quietly. “She’s fine - her name is Mary - and she’s completely fine. I’m just being a bit of a child right now.” Annabel runs a hand through her hair, smoothing down her shirt. Jen and Annabel haven’t even met in person. Why is Ann so wanting of her presence? “If you don’t mind seeing me all flustered and anxious, you can feel free. We’re just at St. Pauls.”

[jenthomvs-blog]

“I don’t mind at all. I’ll be there as soon as I can, okay?” JT scrambles for her wallet, keys and badge before heading for the door. As the lift takes her down to the garage, she wonders why she is doing this, why she’s rushing off to a hospital to be there for someone she’s never met. It’s just the right thing to do. Isn’t it?

As much as Jay loves her BWM, she regrets not having access to a squad car. Being able to skip through the traffic lights would have helped her keep the journey as short as possible, and stop her from spending the time over-thinking her actions and the situation.

Approaching the front of the hospital, JT can see someone sat on the curb. Annabel? She looks down at herself and suddenly feels very concious of how overdressed she looks. “Shit.” Couldn’t have just taken the time to change? Christ. Jay smooths down her jacket and cautiously walks over. “Hey, Annabel?”

[annabelduke-blog]

safe in here;

[annabelduke-blog]

The minute JT’s voice sounds from the other end, Annabel feels…relaxed. Calm. Maybe Jen picked up that tone of voice from being a police officer, maybe it’s just simply the way she speaks, but it has a calm quality about it, and Annabel instantly loosens up.

“Oh, wow,” she breathes, then squeezes her eyes shut, shaking her head. Are you kidding? “Ah, sorry - I meant - it’s just good hearing your voice, even though I’ve not heard it before -” she sighs, pinching the bridge of her nose between her eyes in frustration. “I’m supposed to have picked you up by now, I know, but my roommate just got into a car accident. She’s fine and all, just a broken arm, but I had to come the minute I heard, and I know you’re probably all ready to go and all, and I’m so sorry. Promise this isn’t just a ridiculous, farfetched excuse for getting out of dinner. And I’m sorry I’ve talked so much, I’m just a little freaked. Sorry. Ah. Jeez.”

[jenthomvs-blog]

As soon as Annabel replies, JT can tell from her voice that something is wrong. She’s upset, flustered - understandably so, too.

“Hey, hey,” Jay soothes. Her voice is soft and calm, from years of mediating conflict, stopping things getting out of hand, and consoling victims, witnesses, colleagues. She remembers what Annabel told her, about having been in a car accident herself. “Annabel, just take a deep breath, okay? Don’t worry about me, we can reschedule if need be. Your roommate is going to be alright? But what about-- actually, can I do anything help?”

JT starts to pace around, that feeling of adrenaline bubbling up inside of her, the one she gets when Something is happening and she’s too far removed to be able to assist. I should help. I need to do something. It’s a part of her she can’t contain, and what makes her such a good officer.

“I can come to the hospital if you want?”

[annabelduke-blog]

safe in here;

“Ann, she’s fine. She’s only in surgery to fix up her arm. Calm down.”

“Stop telling me to calm down. Everyone knows telling an anxious person to calm down never calms them down. Stop telling me to calm down.”

Annabel and her friend Paul sit in the waiting room of the hospital, Annabel wringing her hands and Paul playing Flappy Bird on his iPhone. 

“Annie, I know you’re weird about car accidents, but this isn’t a big deal. Mary just wrenched her arm and broke it. That’s the only damage, they say. Possibility of a minor concussion, but that’s all. She’s going to be out in like, an hour, once they set her arm straight. Chill.”

“Fuck you, Paul.” Annabel bolts from her seat and goes outside to get some fresh air. 

The minute she’s sat on the curb outside, Annabel realizes what time it is. Shit. Seven fifteen. Jen must be waiting for her now. Shit, shit, shit. This is all going to shit. 

She begins to type out a message, but decides that calling will be more efficient - after a moment of hesitation, Ann presses “call”. 

[jenthomvs-blog]

"And you’re telling me this is the first date you been on in six months?”

"Yes, but, I don’t even know if this is a real date.”

JT talks in the general direction phone, on speaker with Alex, her best friend. Their time together in the Marines forged a bond that’s hard to compare, and despite the distance -- Alex returned home to Connecticut after their final tour -- they’ve remained in close contact. 

“How can you not know? Either it is or it isn’t, Jay.”

“It’s complicated, and -- wait,” JT pauses, buttoning up her crisp, white shirt, “Why are you even calling me? It’s nearly ten on a Tuesday.”

“Oh, I don’t know, I just missed you.”

“Freddy is out tonight and you’re bored, aren’t you?” JT replied with a scoff.

“No .... okay, maybe a little, but I do miss you, I swear.”

JT glances down at the time: almost five to seven. Shit.

“I miss you too, A, but I’m gonna have to run, she’ll be here soon.”

“Promise to call me tomorrow and tell me everything.”

“Urgh, fine, I promise. Bye.”

JT is ready at exactly 6.57 pm: blazer on, hair lightly sprayed into place. She’s nervous, but excited, and so unsure of what to expect. The slightly stressed anticipation, however, starts a little after ten past seven. Maybe she changed her mind, maybe she’s not coming?

Then, the phone rings and JT answers instantly.

“Annabel, hi, everything okay?”

[jenthomvs-blog]

texts ; jt/annabel

Annabel: So, I can pick you up at 7, yeah? I hear great things about Steamworks, if you wanted to go there.

JT: oh, perfect, been meaning to go there.

JT: sure thing, my address is [idk just pretend there's an address in here]

[jenthomvs-blog]

texts ; jt/annabel

Annabel: [DELETED] baby i'll be the best mystery you ever -

Annabel: Hi, sorry for the delay, had to wrestle my phone out of my roommates hands for a moment there.

Annabel: I'm excited to meet you. Nervous, but excited.

JT: nervous, really? i didn't think secret agents got nervous?

JT: (me too)

JT: (kinda)

[jenthomvs-blog]

texts ; jt/annabel

Annabel: Best part is, there is not a single kind of ~background~ on me.

Annabel: My last name isn't even my own. Think of me as a mystery you can't do a background check on. ;)

Annabel: It's Annabel Jones, by the way. If you actually wanted my last name.

JT: oh, shit, of course, yeah

JT: well, annabel jones, good job i'm a detective and like mysteries

[jenthomvs-blog]

texts ; jt/annabel

Annabel: Ah! Yay!

Annabel: This has to be the weirdest way to meet someone at a club. Like, ever.

JT: i know, right? must admit tho, still harbouring a bit of worry that you're gonna be a total weirdo

JT: i kid, but the urge to run a background check has been strong(!)

[jenthomvs-blog]

texts ; jt/annabel

Annabel: Thought you'd never ask. :)

Annabel: This Tuesday? 7?

JT: perfect, i'm even off work that evening!

JT: [DELETED] i'm looking forward to it already

[jenthomvs-blog]

texts ; jt/annabel

Annabel: Wow.

Annabel: I like your face.

JT: uh, thanks, hah hah

JT: [DELETED] you could see it in person?

JT: [DELETED} we cou

JT: do you want to go for dinner or something?

[jenthomvs-blog]

texts ; jt/annabel

Annabel: [DELETED] Want to tell me more about it over dinner?

Annabel: You know, I still don't know what you look like. Would it be totally creepy of me to Google you, or something?

Annabel: Just to put a face to the...texter...

JT: [DELETED] I could just send you a picture.

JT: Not at all, go for it

JT: i mean, you'll just find my RCMP profile: it's det. jennifer thomas

[jenthomvs-blog]

texts ; jt/annabel

Annabel: Ah. Sounds pretty intense.

Annabel: I do. Crisis communications at Craft & Marlow's - this week we had to do damage control of leaked photographic evidence of a college prof fornicating with one of his students.

Annabel: It was consensual & she was of age, but still not allowed. Big nightmare.

Annabel: Anyway, enough about me. What was the bust like?

JT: Oh, jesus, that's grim. Can only imagine the headache that caused.

JT: Intense as hell, I nearly died and everything.

JT: No, I jest, it was actually really tame. The drug guys had no idea we were coming and were taken completely by surprise. Still, it's a lot of coke off the streets now.

[jenthomvs-blog]

texts ; jt/annabel

Annabel: Damn. I did see that. Congratulations, you're officially the biggest bad-ass I know.

Annabel: Oh, you know...fighting crime at the PR firm, one bad rep at a time. The usual.

Annabel: Why was your phone locked up in evidence?

JT: Thanks(!) I might even get a promotion out of this, who knows.

JT: You work in PR? Nice. Fixed any exciting messes?

JT: IT and the cyber nerds wanted to look at it, make sure their wasn't a wider network breach. Techy stuff. All a bit too much for me.

[jenthomvs-blog]

texts ; jt/annabel

Annabel: Oh, hello! I was beginning to think you were getting cold feet with all this marriage talk.

Annabel: How is everything?

JT: Me, cold feet? Never

JT: Busy, paperwork. See that huge coke bust on the news? That was us.

JT: How are you? Been on any secret missions?

[jenthomvs-blog]

texts ; jt/annabel

JT: guess who had her phone locked away in evidence all week?

JT: (it's me, just to be clear)