Chapter Text
“Mama...” A quiet whisper broke the early morning silence in the master bedroom, with a finger gently jabbing Amy’s side.
She tried her best to ignore it for now. Her alarm hadn’t gone off yet and her gut told her that it would be just minutes before it did. Any sleep she could get right now would be appreciated in the long run.
But the jabbing didn’t stop. With another jab, another small plea for her came from the girl at the side of her bed. “Mama, wake up...”
Amy’s eyes eventually slowly opened, giving up on the hopes of sleeping in for just a quick second. Her five year old stood in her line of sight with her thumb tucked into her mouth and big brown eyes fighting sleep.
“Riley, babe, what are you doing up?” Amy pulled herself up, checking her phone. It was only 4, leaving at least an hour before she would be up and another before she would have to get the rest of her girls up.
Riley pulled herself up onto the bed and snuggled into Amy’s side. “There was a monster in the closet.”
“A monster in the closet? That doesn’t sound good,” The mother yawned while reaching her arm around her youngest to pull her in. Her fingers ran through Riley’s loose brown waves.
“It wasn’t,” Riley pouted, “He was saying mean things and telling me I was dumb and a scardy-cat. Like Sarah does sometimes.”
Stifling a laugh at her daughter’s more than active imagination, Amy instead placed a warm kiss on top of her head. “Sounds like that monster’s a big meany, huh?”
“A really big one,” Amy watched Riley fold her arms, forcing her bottom lip out while frowning.
“Well, I have to be up in about an hour to get ready,” Amy pulled the covers over them, “But you are more than welcome to sleep here with me for a little bit longer. How does that sound, Ri?”
Riley nodded before shifting deeper under the covers and nestling herself into Amy’s side. Still running her fingers through Riley’s hair, Amy couldn’t help but wish her youngest would stay this small forever.
A small yawn escaped the little one’s mouth. “Mama?”
“Yeah baby?”
“Are you excited for your new job tomorrow?”
A small smile sprawled across Amy’s face, thinking about the new chapter their family was beginning. Tomorrow would be her first day at the NYPD’s 99th precinct as one of their detectives. The new adventure at the 99 continuously felt daunting, yet something in Amy told her that this was needed to happen. They needed a fresh start, to get away from where they once were.
The past year had been hard on Amy and the Santiago girls. Between losing the girls’ dad in a freak car wreck and the drama with Amy’s now ex-boyfriend, a fresh reset in their life was needed. That fresh reset began with the recent move from Ohio to Brooklyn. She knew it was hard on the girls to have that reset but was confident that the change would be good for all of them.
“Yeah, I’m super excited. Do you remember Auntie Rosa?”
Riley nodded at the mention of her aunt as well as Amy’s longest and best friend. Rosa and Amy had grown up together--going to the same school, taking ballet together, and much more. Amy’s family even became Rosa’s when she was kicked out in high school after lots of rebellious stints.
The pair were like sisters, never leaving one another’s side. But it was all threatened when Rosa moved out to New York to join the 99 and Amy to Ohio to raise her family. Even then, there were constant calls between the two and a few visits thrown in between. Their bond was unbreakable.
“She’s gonna be at my work tomorrow, so I’ll get to spend the whole day with her. How cool is that?”
Another yawn came from Riley. “Super cool, Mama.”
With one last light kiss placed on Riley’s head, Amy’s rested her chin on top of her daughters. “Get some rest, babe. You got a big day at school tomorrow.”
Riley nodded, beginning her drift back into a deep sleep. “G’night.. Love you.”
“I love you more, RiRi.”
She stored this precious moment in her memory, hoping for it to stick for an eternity. Lots was going to change in a few hours for the Santiago girls. And she just hoped that she wasn’t making a mistake with it all.
“Mom, Sarah’s getting in my way!”
“Mom, Em’s being a butthead!”
Now standing in her bathroom at 6:30 and finishing getting ready for the day, Amy took a deep breath. Her two oldests were at it again, relentless with the name calling and the cutthroat jabs at one another. This was the last thing she needed on her first day of work.
A crash of dishes followed soon after, hitting the floor and most likely breaking. Taking the straightener through her hair, Amy took in one more breath, counting down the seconds before one of the two came barrelling down the hall to blame the other for what happened.
Three..
Sprinting footsteps came from down the hall with some bickering trailing behind.
Two..
Her bedroom door open and shut forcefully. Another name and insult being said to the other by whichever daughter was in the room. The screech of her dresser being pulled across the floor and left partially in front of the door to act as a barricade.
One..
And finally, slamming the bathroom door shut and throwing her weight against it as a safety measure, Sarah Santiago tried to catch her breath. Amy opened her eyes before continuing her morning routine, not making eye contact with her daughter.
“I think that’s a new record for you,” She pulls another section of hair to be done, “But the dresser won’t help you next time.”
“Huh? Why?”
“Because next time the dresser will be full of my clothes. It won’t be that easy to move.”
Sarah, rolling her eyes, scowled at her mother before finally relaxing a bit. She sunk to the ground and crossed her arms soon after. “Em’s doing it again.”
“Doing what?”
“Being...” Sarah groaned after failing to find the right words to describe the situation. “She’s just trying to be like you and boss me around and tell me what to do!”
From her spot in front of the sink, Amy chuckled. Emily and Sarah could not be more at odds with each other. Their personalities were like night and day, light and dark. They clashed more often than actually worked together. And with the stress of the move and then starting all over, the way they typically treated each other did not improve.
But she also knew exactly what Sarah was talking about. Emily had the infamous Santiago tendency to control things when life as a whole felt far out of grasp. It kept her from spiralling and reinforced the idea that she was safe and in control of what was going on. Amy knew the tendency all too well, always reminded that Emily was just like herself in more ways than one.
“She’s just stressed, Sar. And this is the only way she knows how to manage all of that stress and change. Just take a deep breath and--”
“It’s just stupid!” Sarah interrupted, “Like why can’t she just leave me alone? I can make my own breakfast and lunch. I know how to read a clock. I don’t need to be reminded that we have to leave in 30 minutes!”
“Sar--”
“And she’s a big freaking.. Freak! She has to control everything. Why can’t she just be normal?”
Stepping away from getting ready, Amy met Sarah on the floor, reaching out to take the 11 year old’s hands in her own and giving a tight squeeze. “Hey, take a deep breath, okay?”
Sarah had the shortest fuse of the four Santiago girls. The smallest thing, like Emily reminding her of what time it was, had the possibility to set her off. If the situation wasn’t quickly remedied, by either Sarah removing herself from the situation or her mom reminding her to breathe, the 11 year old would soon explode into fits of rage--throwing punches, yelling, and much more.
“But Mom--”
“Deep breath, Sarah Camila.”
She eventually gave in and soon pulled her hands away from Amy’s. “I’m ready to listen.”
“We’re all stressed, Sarah. This is just how Em deals with it. Give her some grace. We’ll all get through this,” Amy pulled herself up to return to the sink, “I’ll talk with Em before you guys head off to school. Just steer clear of her until then.”
After another deep and dramatic sigh, Sarah rolled her eyes and got up. “Ugh. Fine.”
The bathroom door opened once more as the middle Santiago child began to leave the room. Amy felt the world stabilize for a second. Sarah would most likely stay out of Emily’s way for the morning, thus no more fires to be put out. All she had to focus on was work and making sure she looked her best for her first day. As she told her girls all the time, first impressions mattered.
Not even a minute later, her 15 year old walked into Amy’s room with Riley on her hip, concern written across her face. “Mom, Ri says she doesn’t feel good.”
Putting down her make-up brush, Amy turns to see the pair. Riley was still in her pajamas from earlier, drowsy as ever. Maybe it was just first day of school jitters. Santiago’s don’t get sick ever.
The back of her hand pressed against Riley’s forehead, feeling the warmth radiate. “You feel pretty warm, Ri. Does your tummy hurt or anything?”
“A little bit..”
“I took her temperature a few minutes ago. It was at 100,” Emily spoke up, “I can stay home with her today. You have to go to work. It’s your first day. Impressions matter on the first day.”
Taking Riley from her oldest, Amy shook her head, “No, it’s your first day of school. You’re going.”
“But Mom,” Emily pleaded, furrowing her eyebrows together loosely, “I just.. What if..”
“Em,” The mother rested a hand on her daughter’s shoulder, “You’re going to be okay. We’ve toured the school, met the principle, explained our situation... There’s no reason to be scared.”
“But what if--”
“Don’t play the what if game today, babe. Trust me. You’re safe, and you’re going to school. I’ll take care of Ri.”
Emily shook her head. “You have work today. She can’t go with you..”
Looking between her two girls with a heavy sigh, Amy shrugged. “I have no other option. Go finish getting ready. We have 15 minutes until we have to leave.”
A reluctant “yes ma’am” followed before Emily left the pair to finish up. Amy felt Riley rest her head into the crook of her neck, her body exhausted from fighting off the sickness. A light kiss was pressed to the sick girl’s head.
Today was definitely going to be an interesting first day, and she had no clue what impression she would be making with her new squad.
“Mama, my tummy really hurts..” Riley moaned from the car seat as Amy gathered their belongings to head inside the precinct.
Slinging her own bag over her shoulder, Amy reached down to grab the five year old out of the car. It was just a few minutes past 7:35. This was not the impression she wanted to leave on her first day. It already wasn’t ideal that a sick Riley was with her and now being a bit late wasn’t helping either.
“I know, babe. We just need to get upstairs, and you can lay down and go back to sleep.” The mother responded before inwardly rejoicing at the sight of her best friend exiting the door. “Thank you so much. I owe you one.”
Rosa shrugged, a small smile escaping at the sight of her niece. “Anytime. You know I’d do anything for you guys, especially Riley.”
The sick girl turned from Amy’s shoulder to see her aunt. Her arms stretched out towards her. “Auntie RoRo..”
“Hey pal,” Rosa took the girl into her arms, “Your mom said you don’t feel good?”
Shaking her head, Riley rested her head on Rosa’s shoulder. “My tummy hurts and I feel cold.”
“That stinks. I have a place upstairs where you can take a nap for a bit. How does that sound?” The little girl offered a weak thumbs up, obviously exhausted.
What has always astounded Amy was how Rosa cared for each of her girls. Anybody who knew Rosa knew how tough she was. She rarely cracked smiles, refused to be anything but dignified and tough, and hated any kind of physical affection. Yet, when it came to the three Santiago girls, Rosa was the complete opposite.
When ballet performances and science fairs arose, Rosa was the one cheering on from the crowd for them. If there was an emergency that landed any of them in the hospital, Rosa was the one to join Amy at their bedside, offering cool stories and dope treats to pass the time. And even with something like school bullies, Rosa was the one not only teaching them self-defense but also how to stand up for those around them. None of the girls could have asked for a better aunt.
“Okay, so tell me. What’s the captain like? The squad? I need more details.” Amy began to pester with questions as the trio made their way up to the bullpen.
Rosa sighed. “Captain Holt is pretty dope. He’s a hardworking guy, wants to get the job done right the first time. No bullshit from him.”
“Do you think he’s the one?”
“Huh?”
“You know, the one. My mentor, my rabbi.. The key to me making captain,” Amy shook her head. “Sometimes it’s like you don’t read my emails about it.”
“Anyways,” Rosa continued, stepping into the elevator and pushing a button, “Sarge is great. You’ll like him. He has two girls of his own, so he knows what it’s like to balance working full-time on the force and raising his kids.”
The elevator dinged as Amy took one last deep breath. Everything was going to change in a mere matter of seconds. Did she feel prepared? Absolutely not. There was still more to learn and figure out before this moment; but, ready or not, it was here.
Bustling with action, cops and detectives alike shuffled around the bullpen. Some detectives remained hard at work, filing paperwork or listening to victims at their desks; but others, like the one right across from an empty desk, tossed a foam basketball towards a hoop suctioned-cupped to the window. The shot made it, causing the small section of detectives to erupt in cheers.
She silently hoped in that moment that that empty desk wasn’t hers, and the guy across from it was not her partner.
“Holt’s office is this way. Come on,” Rosa led the small pack, ushering them towards the closed door. A quick swift knock and response from Holt later, they stood face to face with the man Amy hoped would judge her too quick for bringing her daughter to work on the first day.
Amy stretched out her arm to the Captain. “Captain Holt, I’m Detective Santiago. It’s an honor to meet you. I’m very impressed by your work here at the 99th precinct.”
“Thank you, detective. I appreciate your comments. I’ve heard exceptional things about you from Detective Diaz. I expect you will make a great addition to the squad,” Holt returned the shake before being caught off guard by Riley and Rosa, “And Detective Diaz, who may this be in your arms?”
Amy’s head snapped back to look at the pair before looking back at her captain. “Uh, sir, it’s actually a funny story. I--”
“My name’s Riley. Riley Rosa Santiago. It’s very nice to meet you, sir,” Riley’s little voice spoke up, shocking Holt a bit. “I’m not gonna shake your hand. I’m really sick. Mommy says we shouldn’t spread germs.”
Rosa stifled a laugh and soon explained Amy’s predicament of sorts, “Sir, with Detective Santiago’s recent move, she hasn’t really found anyone to watch her kids when something comes up. It would probably be me but I’m here. Riley’s sick today so she will be hanging out with us at the precinct. She will stay out of the way and just rest though.”
Looking back from Rosa to Amy, Holt crossed his arms. “Is that true, Detective?”
“Yes sir. Believe me, it’s rare that my children join me at work. Today was a special case,” Amy fiddled with her fingers, talking faster as her anxiety began to peak. “I couldn’t find a sitter to watch her since we’re still pretty new in town and my oldest couldn’t miss school to watch her.”
“You mentioned children. How many do you have?”
“Three, sir. 15, 11, and 5.”
“They’re some of the best kids you’ll ever meet, Captain Holt,” Rosa chimed in.
Contemplating the situation, Holt made his way back to the chair behind his desk. If he was to say yes and let Riley stay for the day, he risked having a young child exposed to dangerous situations alongside some threatening suspects. The 99 was no child’s personal playground or day care. Yet, if he was to say no and thus turn away Riley and Detective Santiago, he would most likely be losing the most exceptional detective in the district’s history. The evaluations she’s earned from previous captains and COs were glowing. He could not let her loose that easily.
“Very well,” He put on his glasses before picking up a pen and addressing some pressing paperwork, “Miss Santiago is welcome to stay. Neither of you will be letting her out of your sight, not even for a second. I cannot afford the repercussions if she wanders around the precinct unsupervised. Is that understood?”
Amy nodded, finally releasing her breath and feeling all her anxiety melt away, “Yes, sir. She won’t be wandering or anything. Just lots of rest and hydration.”
“And I trust this situation will not greatly affect your work today?”
“No, sir. Riley is able to keep herself entertained. My work here is my first priority today.”
“Good to hear. Welcome aboard, detective,” Holt remained focused on his work but gestured out towards the bullpen. “Your desk is right over there, in front of Peralta’s. He will be your partner. I’m confident Detective Diaz can help you get settled in.”
Amy turned to see where he was pointing but was flabbergasted by the sight before her. The Peralta her captain spoke of was the same guy playing mini-basketball just moments before. Everything about him screamed immature and childish, the last impression Amy wanted to have of someone.
“Thank you, sir.”
They soon made their way back out to the two desks. Rosa passed the little girl over to her mother before catching the other detective’s attention by snapping in front of him. “Jake, I have someone for you to meet.”
Jake. That was her new partner’s name. He was practically a child. His untamed curls looked like a small mop on his head. No tie to bring his outfit together, but rather a stained t-shirt and patched up jacket. His badge dangled around from his neck, at least being displayed correctly. Her five year old knew how to act and look more professional in a police precinct than this guy.
Jake then stood up, hands in pockets and a bright smile. “So this is who the Captain’s been talking about the past few days.”
She tried to push back all assumptions about him, offering a stiff hand to shake. “Detective Santiago. I’m starting today.”
How was she going to survive?