Chapter Text
“This is bullshit.”
Ernie scowled, affronted.
“That is thorough and extremely detailed. It took hours to put together.”
“Not this,” Lucy brandished the file in her hand. “This,” she gestured to the room at large. “I’m a federal agent, not an errand girl. You want the damn list so badly, come get it yourself.”
“Ohhhh…this is about Aquino.”
“What? No.” Lucy bristled. “I mean…yes. In a domineering, abrasive, wasting my talent kind of way.”
“Uh huh, sure.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Nothing.”
“Spit it out, Ernie.”
“Well, I for one found Aquino charming. And frankly kind of brilliant.”
“Of course you did.”
“Jesse and Kai are rather taken too, and Tennant vouched for AJ personally and professionally.”
Lucy scoffed. “So?”
“So, I can’t help but wonder if all this,” he mimed her vague gesture, “might have something to do with – “
“Don’t say it.”
“ – Katie.”
“I’m leaving.”
Framed in the doorway of a dramatic exit, Lucy spun on her heel, voice lowered to keep it from carrying.
“For the record, I don’t care what y’all think. Aquino is an ass. And this has absolutely nothing to do with – ” eyes narrowed, she spat the last word in a hostile whisper “ – Katie.”
The door slammed in a huff, heavy footfalls echoing up the stairwell. Ernie rolled his eyes, shook his head, and turned back to face the monitor.
------ Earlier that day ------
“Hang on…We’re bringing in Aquino Aquino. As in AJ Aquino? Former PFPA?”
“The very same.” Tennant shot Jesse a cryptic smile. “We went to FLETC together. AJ is good people.”
“And the rumors?”
“All true.” She considered him for a moment. “Well, mostly true.”
Kai and Lucy exchanged baffled glances across the aisle between their desks.
“I have to make a quick call, but AJ and Whistler should be here soon. Please send them in.”
“Sure thing, boss.”
Lucy and Kai converged on Jesse’s desk as soon as Tennant’s door swung shut.
“Wait, who’s Aquino?”
“What’s the PFPA?”
“What kind of rumors?”
“Tell us everything.”
Jesse chuckled, hands a white flag of surrender as Lucy tapped his desk impatiently.
“C’mon Jesse we don’t have all day.”
Kai nodded his agreement. “Five minutes tops.”
“Okay, okay. Where do you want me to start?”
They answered in unison.
“PFPA.” “Aquino.”
“Pentagon Force Protection Agency. Had a buddy back in DC who worked there, told us all kinds of stories. A few about a guy named AJ Aquino. Supposed to be some Jason Bourne type.”
Lucy cycled her hand to keep him talking, periodically eyeing the bullpen doors.
“Two tours in Afghanistan, a few years with ERT before becoming a Special Agent. He moved to Oahu a couple years back, and I guess now he’s a detective with HPD.”
Kai frowned. “Seems a little weird, doesn’t it?”
Jesse shrugged. “Who knows. He could have family here. Or maybe something went down in DC.”
Kai seemed satisfied, but Lucy was insistent. “Wait, what kinda stories are we talkin’?”
“Crazy stuff. Jumped out of a C-130 without a parachute, took down twelve guys at once in hand-to-hand combat, pulled a bunch of kids out of a burning building.”
“Oh shit.”
“I always assumed Teddy was a drunk and a liar, but if Tennant says it’s true…”
“This guy is some kind of certified badass.”
“Yeah… And get this. Guy’s a freak athlete too. All-American swimmer at West Point, podiumed at Ironman World Champs in Kona. Even heard he was writing a book or something.”
“Damn.”
“Y’know, I wonder if – “
Ding.
There was a dim familiarity in the muted, lilting melody that drifted into the bullpen as the elevator doors slid open. Lucy froze, fingers curling around the edge of the desk for support.
“Hang on."
“Was that - “
Caught in a fresh swell of bright, clear laughter, all three looked up in unison to see a lithe, dark-haired woman shifting a coffee to hold the door open for –
“Whistler.”
Matching cup in hand, Whistler dabbed gently at her eyeliner with a knuckle, thrumming with silent mirth and looking over her shoulder as she stepped through the door, completely oblivious to Lucy’s stilted greeting.
Lucy brought herself full height, lips pursed and eyes burning as Whistler paused in the entryway, waiting for the woman to fall in step.
“You’re kidding.” Traces of Whistler's laugh were still audible.
“C’mon, Katie. Would I lie to you?” The woman skimmed a hand along the back of Whistler’s arm for emphasis, lingering for a moment to catch her gaze.
Lucy stiffened. Jesse and Kai locked eyes over the top of her head, simultaneously mouthing Katie?
“How did he honestly think that was a good idea?”
The woman smirked, deft fingers ruffling an artfully tousled cascade of shoulder length hair. “Beats me. But it does make for one hell of a story.”
“I guess the real question is did he come back?”
“Y’know, believe it or not, we never saw him again.” She caught Whistler’s eye over the lip of her coffee cup and winked.
Lucy cleared her throat. Whistler started, fumbling an impassive expression with an awkward half wave.
“I, uh – Morning.” She made a few unnecessary adjustments to her blazer, searching for composure in the toes of her shoes.
“I am so sorry. Where are my manners?” The woman’s smile lit three square blocks. “Y’all must be Team Tennant. Katie’s told me all about you.” She rubbed Whistler’s arm affectionately.
Kai choked a little but masked it with a cough. The air in Lucy’s immediate vicinity grew warmer by several degrees.
“It’s Jesse, Kai, and Lucy, right? Detective Alex Aquino, HPD. Call me AJ.” She extended a hand to each of them in turn, brimming with delight at ferocity in Lucy’s grip. “So, rumor has it y’all need my help.”
Still a little shell shocked, Kai could only nod.
Jesse cleared his throat. “If you just head back to Tennant’s office, she’s gonna read you in on – “
“Allie!” Tennant was beaming, making her way toward them with outstretched arms.
“Ugh, get over here JT. It is so good to see you.” Aquino pulled away after a long moment, holding Tennant out by the shoulders to examine her. “You look great, Janey. How’ve you been?”
“Work, two teenagers. You know how it goes. How are things with you? I’m sorry, I know I haven’t called since…” She trailed off and AJ shrugged, sobering slightly.
“Still hard, but we’re gettin’ through it.” She shot Whistler a soft smile as something intangible passed between them in the silence.
Jesse shivered. The room was suddenly frigid.
“I’ll fill you in over drinks. My girls and I got a case to solve first.”
“C’mon, let’s get you up to speed.” Tennant laid a warm hand on AJ’s shoulder, guiding her back toward the office.
Whistler lingered, hovering just beyond end of Jesse’s desk until it became painfully obvious that Lucy was intent on cataloging individual scratches in the hardwood for as long as she decided to stay. When Whistler finally settled into her side in Tennant's office, arms folded with her back to the open door, Aquino gave her shoulder a gentle squeeze.
Kai and Jesse stared at each other, trading shocked glances until Lucy tore herself from the scene and jabbed an aggressive finger at the screen of Jesse’s phone. She stalked back to her desk with Kai in close pursuit.
Dream Team (No Tennant)
Today 08:31
wtf Jesse??
Kai Holman
What’s going on with Whistler
Jesse Boone
What? What did I do?
coulda fuckin warned me
Jesse Boone
I didn’t know.
What’s the big deal?
nothing
it’s fine
Jesse Boone
Feels like the opposite of fine.
forget about it
Jesse Boone
Let me guess, you were expecting Bruce Willis.
Kai Holman
Or Daniel Craig
Jesse Boone
Jason Statham
idk
not THAT
Jesse Boone
What? Whistler cry laughing?
Or Whistler walking in with Angie Harmon?
don't be an ass
Kai Holman
More like Courtney Cox
Jesse Boone
Demi Moore?
Kai Holman
Jennifer Connelly
Jesse Boone
YES. Jennifer Connelly.
Kai Holman
If she sounded like Reese Witherspoon in Walk the Line
Jesse Boone
And had Natalie Portman’s hair.
From those perfume commercials, you know.
we get it, she’s hot
and why do you remember that?
Jesse Boone
I told you, lots of TV. And the visual is hard to forget.
Kai Holman
Dude, you’re married
Jesse Boone
My wife’s on board.
Natalie Portman is Heather’s hall pass
Jesse Boone
How do you know that?
long story
Kai Holman
It’s not just me though
Whistler is acting weird, right
Jesse Boone
Totally.
Kai Holman
Aquino called her Katie
Jesse Boone
TWICE
Ernie Malik
Wait, what??
Kai Holman
Seemed like they knew each other but idk
Ernie Malik
What did I miss?!
Kai Holman
Tennant’s detective friend from HPD just got here
Jesse Boone
Sounds a little like Holly Hunter, looks a lot like
Jennifer Connelly, has a giant crush on Whistler.
Kai Holman
Ironman, two tours, pulled some kids from a burning building
allegedly
Jesse Boone
Lucy’s jealous.
am not
Ernie Malik
That tracks.
I’m not jealous!!
Ernie Malik
Keep telling yourself that.
whatever
clearly they’re friends
Ernie Malik
Who?
Kai Holman
Aquino and Whistler
Ernie Malik
Gotcha.
Jesse Boone
Right…. “friends”
Kai Holman
They were laughing a lot in the elevator
Jesse Boone
We could hear it from the bullpen.
Kai Holman
And they carpooled together
Jesse Boone
And got coffee before work.
Kai Holman
She called Whistler “my girl”
Jesse Boone
There was a lot of unnecessary touching.
Kai Holman
And they’re standing really close to each other right now
Ernie Malik
Interesting…
Jesse Boone
Katie hasn’t initiated anything though.
She probably hasn’t even noticed that AJ is into her.
I get coffee with you assholes all the time
and stop calling her Katie
Jesse Boone
What’s the over under on how long it takes Whistler to figure it out?
Ernie Malik
Three weeks.
Kai Holman
Month and a half
Jesse Boone
Gonna go with never.
Ernie Malik
We’re gonna have to spell it out for her, aren’t we?
Jesse Boone
I nominate Lucy.
Kai Holman
Agreed
Ernie Malik
I second the second.
fuck all y’all
Ernie Malik
What? You guys were friendly last week on the Sheridan case.
Jesse Boone
C’mon Luce, she listens to you.
I hate you
Jesse Boone
Well that’s just a lie.
Ernie Malik
Actually, can one of you try calling her Katie? I want to test a theory.
Kai Holman
No thanks
Jesse Boone
New Guy’s still scared of Whistler?
Kai Holman
No, but I’m not stupid either
Jesse Boone
I’ll do it. What’s the worst that could happen?
Kai Holman
She kicks your ass
Ernie Malik
She makes you cry.
Jesse Boone
She likes me. And I can take her.
Kai Holman
Sure you can
Ernie Malik
Famous last words.
good luck with that