Nikki Bennett hadn’t been in Chicago since she was sixteen. For the past eighteen years, she lived out of state following the death of her father - a long-serving CPD officer. Things have changed, she has changed as a person. Now transferred into the 21st District’s Intelligence Unit, Nikki’s world is about to get shaken up.
The last person she was expecting to see - let alone work with - just so happens to be a member of the same police unit. Nikki hadn’t seen Jay since the day her aunt came to take her out of state. Despite wanting to reconnect and make up for lost time, their job is far from easy.
When it becomes apparent that there’s more to the story than Nikki’s letting on, it raises some serious questions for Detective Halstead about the woman he used to know.
Playlist ~ Aesthetics
Prologue (1996)
A New Shade
Begin Again
A Different Kind of Gold
What Is...
... And What Should Never Be
Her Father’s Daughter*
Echos Of The Past
Unwanted Company
The Pain in The Truth
Don’t Let Me Drown*
A Hand To Hold
Learning To Let Go
Things Never Change
1710*
Mixtape Memories
A House Not A Home
Kissaphobic*
A Product Of Our Past
The Blood We Shed
On The Up*
Little Moments, Big Memories
A Virtuous Exchange
Waiting For You
An Unexpected Welcome*
The Joys of Parenthood
True Calling
A Fresh Start
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Extra(s):
OC Profile
Instagram
Warning(s):
This story will contain: canon-typical gore/violence/drama - criminal activity (obvs) - mild-strong language - single parenthood - mentions of past relationships - grief/the grieving process - death of a family member - discussion of pregnancy/childbirth - postpartum depression - abusive past relationship - childhood friends reunited - sexual themes/content - PTSD/trauma processing - mentions of therapy
Description: Summer’s over. Nikki and Jay spend their last day together before her Aunt Julia takes her out to Pittsburgh. It’s time for them both to face the fact that they’re not going to see each other again for some time.
Warning(s): mild language, a lot of emotions, if I missed anything let me know!
[A/N: here it is! the precursor to the actual fic I’m so so excited about this story you guys have no idea! I know there’s still ~10 chapters of FTA left but I figured this would be a good way to start the overlap and transition from one fic to another :). If you really want the full experience I 100% recommend listening to Friends From ‘96 by Between You & Me because that song was one of the biggest inspirations for this fic (as well as the song that’s in the title lmao) as always, let me know what you think, feedback is golden - L ]
-/-/-
From the second Nikki woke up to her alarm in her ear, the sinking feeling in her stomach didn’t leave her alone. Her bed was nothing more than a mattress and loose sheets now that all her belongings were in the back of the van her Aunt Julia had arrived in a few months ago.
She rolled on to her back and looked at the now bare walls. Took in all the sun-faded shapes from the multitude of posters, art and pictures she’d had pinned up over the years. A lump formed in her throat as she pushed herself off the mattress and headed to the box of clothes she’d left out.
“Nikki? Sweetheart, are you awake?” her Aunt called from somewhere else in the apartment.
“Yeah! I’m up!” she assured her as she pulled her favourite Offspring t-shirt over her head. Nikki stumbled through putting her jeans on and after getting her foot stuck in the rip on the right knee, paired the outfit with her favourite worn flannel. Nikki pulled her fingers through her hair a few times to rid it of any large knots and tied it back in a half-up-half-down topknot.
“I made pancakes and eggs,” Julia greeted with a gesture to the table.
“Thanks, Aunt Julie.” Nikki eased herself into a seat, her bracelets and wristbands clicked and jingled against the tabletop. The rings on her fingers tinked against the fork she picked up and as she began to eat, her Aunt turned and put a reassuring hand on her shoulder.
“That boy you’ve been hanging out with all Summer -”
“Jay?”
“Yeah, is he coming over today? Are you guys doing anything?”
“I -” They were interrupted by a knock at the door and Nikki was quick to get out of her chair and see who it was. It came as no surprise that it was Jay.
“Hey!”
“Morning.” The two of them shared a hug and Nikki stepped aside to let him in. Julia set a plate out for Jay and filled it with pancakes and eggs.
“So, I was thinking we could spend some time outside, in the last of the good weather? Humboldt Park is pretty quiet this time of day,” he suggested as they ate and Nikki nodded with a hum of agreement.
“Awesome. We can leave as soon as we’re done and I promise I’ll have her back by five o’clock at the latest.” Julia seemed to like that idea as she sipped her coffee with a bright grin.
“Sounds amazing - hey, I could drive you over to Humboldt, save you guys from walking?”
“Oh, no, Aunt Julie, it’s fine… Really,” Nikki assured her as they finished up. When food and drinks had been finished, they helped clear up before Nikki grabbed her canvas satchel and followed Jay out of the door.
“So… It’s like three hours to Humboldt Park. Did you do that on purpose?” she questioned as they joined the fairly quiet streets and began the journey over to the park in question.
“I might have. Look, it’s your last day and I wanted to spend as much time with you as possible. Is that a crime?”
“No! I’m just… I guess I’m not ready to face the fact that I’m leaving…”
“Yeah… but Pittsburgh’s cool, I guess? I dunno I’ve never been there,” Jay attempted to lighten the mood and it worked a little, but Nikki appreciated the effort.
-/-/-
They made it to Humboldt Park and found a nice spot under a large tree. Dappled sunlight filtered through the leaves and made the air beneath comfortably cool. Jay and Nikki were propped up against the tree trunk, legs outstretched and touching.
“Hey, Jay? Do me a favour?”
“Anything,” he agreed and turned to face her slightly. A breeze blew through and the smell of freshly cut grass filled the air. Nikki reached into her satchel and pulled out the slightly battered Polaroid camera she’d guarded with her life for the past three years.
“Smile for me.” Though it was clear he was embarrassed, Jay obliged and gave her the brightest, cheesiest smile he could muster. Nikki lined up the shot and pressed the button. The shutter clicked, and the camera dispensed the picture out of the bottom.
“Do I wanna know?” She let out a laugh as she began to shake the developing picture back and forth.
“I wanna immortalise your smile. Forever,” Nikki stated and checked to see if it had developed yet. It was almost ready so she tucked it into the internal pocket of her satchel to finish developing.
“Getting a little sappy, aren’t we?” he teased and it made her smile.
“I’m gonna miss you. A lot.” Nikki’s words hung in the air and a solemn mood overtook the two teens as they watched the world go by from under that tree.
“Yeah, I’m gonna miss you too, Nik. But you’ll come back for like, a week or two in the Summer, right?”
“I’ll certainly try,” she confirmed softly and handed him the camera with a gesture.
“Take a picture of me.”
“Why do you want a picture of yourself?” Jay chuckled but readied the camera all the same.
“Not for me, you asshole. For you. Don’t want you forgetting my face whilst I’m gone.”
“As if I could ever forget a face like yours,” he teased and held the camera up to his face to look through the viewfinder.
“Smile…” She did and when the shutter clicked and the picture was dispensed, Jay handed the camera back with a dopey grin.
-/-/-
“Shit - we’re gonna be late,” Nikki cursed as they finally began to leave Humboldt Park. The sun was starting to descend towards the horizon and cast an array of golds and oranges across the city.
“Ah, your Aunt loves me, she won’t be mad,” Jay stated with a shrug. Nikki shoulder-bumped him as she secured her satchel.
“We’ll see about that.”
They made it back as the sun dipped below the skyline and their laughter echoed off the stairwell as they made their way up to Nikki’s floor. Julia let them back into the apartment and had them help her load the last of Nikki’s things into the van.
“So… This is it…” Nikki sighed as she leant up against the side of the van. The evening began to creep in.
“I promise, I’m not gonna forget you,” Jay stated, tears already glazing his eyes.
“Me neither. I’ll visit -”
“You better,” he interjected with a watery smile and they both started crying. Nikki pulled him in for a final hug and refused to let him go.
“Stay safe while I’m gone, alright? Don’t do anything stupid,” she sobbed into his shoulder and he held her even tighter.
“I can’t promise anything… You’re not gonna be here to stop me.” They stepped apart and dried their eyes, though it was a futile effort because they continued to cry anyway.
“Jay, you’re the best friend I’ve ever had and I swear, I’ll come back. To Chicago, to you. I’ll do anything to make that happen.”
“I know. And I’ll wait for as long as it takes. We’re inseparable. A team. Partners in crime.” Nikki sobbed harder and hugged him again before her Aunt Julia approached them with an apologetic expression.
“We’re gonna have to hit the road if we wanna make it to PA before midnight. It was lovely meeting you, sweetie. Thank you for taking care of her, Jay.” He shook her hand and accepted a hug from the older woman as Nikki tearfully climbed into the front passenger seat.
As they finally departed, Nikki put her Walkman on and let the tears roll freely down her cheeks. With a final wave to Jay out of the window, they ventured out of Canaryville and then out of Chicago almost two hours later.
Everything Nikki had ever known; Jay, Humboldt Park, Canaryville, and all the memories were now in the rearview mirror as they made their way across state lines towards Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
