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Chapter Text

Gina is just probably someone else in Rosa’s life, but she enjoys it nonetheless. She doesn’t know how she does it, how each word she says is effortlessly charming and people-pleasing. She strives to be more like her.

”—which is why I hate to inform the precinct that you guys will no longer be graced by my presence day by day.”

Oh.

Rosa blinks, regretting having zoned out before. “You’re leaving?”

Amy is crying. She kind of wants to do the same.

”Yeah. I put in my two weeks notice today.”

Rosa swallows hard, but her face remains straight and emotionless. “Damn.”

Heading out of work, trying to just go home and wonder why time is passing so fast and why Gina is leaving, but Gina grabs her wrist before she steps out the door.

”Hey, girl!” She smiles. “I was just wondering if you want to go grab a drink? It’s a day off tomorrow, right?”

”Oh.” Rosa blinks. “Fine, do you mean now?”

”Obviously! We’re like work wives, aren’t we?”

A pause.

”Sure, I guess that’s one way to describe it.” Rosa pulls away. “Do you need a ride? I know you walk to work.”

”That would be great.” Gina clicks her tongue. “Actually, do you just want to go out, get drunk, and do stupid shit?”

”That sounds fine.”

They step into the elevator and silently sit in the cramped box.

”So…why are you leaving?” Rosa asks quietly.

Gina had fully expected her to have not paid attention to what she had been saying. She generally prefers to keep things impersonal and professional.

”This place…it doesn’t need me anymore, and I think there’s someone—somewhere out there that needs me and that I can like being at.”

Rosa wants to scream that that’s her, that she needs her to stay and make her laugh and wonder what the fuck is wrong with the precinct every day.

“And…you didn’t tell me about this before?”

”I didn’t think you wanted to know.”

Rosa swallows and marches out of the elevator. “Whatever. It’s fine.”

”If you say so.”

 
The bar is loud and bustling, just how Rosa likes it, but Gina’s voice is loud and clear, nonetheless.

”You’re acting insane even though you’re only having mocktails.” Rosa laughs as Gina leans against her, exhausted.

”You are, too!”

Frankly, she’s been quite docile this entire time, but what’s the rush if Gina is leaving soon anyway? What is the point of pretending she hasn’t had a wild time if Gina might never see her again once she steps out of the precinct for the last time?

”Where are you planning on going, anyway?” Rosa rests her arms on the bar counter. “I get you have that influencer thing going on, but I never knew any specifics about it.”

”How come? You never let yourself know anything about anyone, and vice versa.”

”It’s stupid. They’ll all leave one day, anyway.”

”I think it’s just an even better reason to get to know them.” Gina shrugs. “And I’m your friend, I think it won’t hurt if I get to know you.”

Rosa stares at her dumbly.

”You don’t have so much to lose, either. I’m going away, aren’t I?”

”To where?”

Suddenly, the voices in the bar don’t sound so loud anymore. Silent, even.

”Everywhere. I want to get away from everything I’ve built here. Don’t you think it’ll be fun?”

More silence. Rosa sighs. “Maybe for you. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

Gina purses her lips. “Come on, you’ll be just fine without me. There’s Amy, Jake, Captain Holt…you won’t miss me.”

”Of course I’ll miss you.” Rosa traces a finger around her orange mocktail. “Now that I think about it, why aren’t we even drinking?”

Gina shrugs. “Maybe I don’t want to do so much stupid shit today.”

”I can…take you home.” Rosa heaves a sigh. “Today just had some big news, sorry for the lack of energy.”

”Well, what are we going to do about it?” Gina rocks back and forth.

”Do stupid shit, I guess.” Rosa chuckles.

”You know me so well.”

Rosa’s keys jingle when she takes them out. It’s dark outside, but the red lights of all of the cars’ headlights are mesmerizing and nostalgic beyond what Rosa is used to.

”Let’s go to the Brooklyn Bridge.” Gina kicks back against her carseat. “Just to watch the stars, the boats.”

”Fuck yeah.” Rosa turns on her ignition, looking forward at the dark blue glow of the sky. Strangely, it feels like the end of the beginning, but it probably is.

Tonight is the perfect night to do that. No one is out, the air is surprisingly crisp for polluted New York.

Gina turns on some music, some peppy band that sings about lovesickness and the old times. It’s not bad, Rosa admits that.

Then she opens the window, when the roads are so empty it wouldn’t matter if they shot a paintball gun directly next to them, and sticks half her body out of it.

”I’m leaving this fucking city, bitches!” She yells out, echoing to the stars. “I’m leaving and there’s nothing you can do about it!”

Rosa chuckles at her antics, how she acts like a teenager that just learned how freedom works. She steps on the gas so they can get to the bridge faster.

The wind whips both of their hair all around. Rosa loves the feeling.

“It’s so late.” She chuckles, only now realizing how being in her thirties makes going out exhausting.

”Who cares? We can sleep on the bridge, like Spiderman.”

”Did Spiderman even ever do that?”

”Whatever.”

Rosa pulls over to the side and follows Gina to sit near the edge and stare off to the distance.

”How come you’re asking me to hang out? Surely you would want to speak with your childhood best friend or ex-girlfriend.”

”Well, I see Jake and Amy all the time.” She chuckles. “I barely see you outside of work, and you’re pretty neat.”

”Really?” Rosa smiles, flattered.

”Yeah!” Gina nods. “You’re a huge badass, you’re smart, you care for people…I don’t see why we haven’t done this before.”

Rosa exhales. Well, she’s leaving soon, isn’t she?

”Well, seeing as you’re leaving, that should be enough reason.”

Gina tilts her head to the side, confused.

Rosa puts a hand on Gina’s knee. “I try not get too attached to anyone from work. It’s always either that they leave, or I leave, and both of those options suck.”

”You don’t even want it to be nice while it lasts?”

Rosa shakes her head. “If it can’t last it’s probably not for me, anyway.”

Gina shrugs. “I guess, but not a lot of things last. Does that mean you just…don’t want that kind of connection with anyone?”

”I tried it.” Her mind thinks back to Marcus, to Adrian. “They didn’t end so well.”

”Ah, of course.” Gina pats her back.

”I’ll live with it, don’t worry.”

”I’m not worried. You can survive just about anything.”

Rosa chuckles, but doesn’t respond. Just watches from the bridge with the loud sound of cars emerging each passing minute.

”I’ll take you home now, I’m feeling tired.” Rosa gets up. “Today was great, thanks.”

”Gotta keep the social life up, Rosa!”

”Do you want to get food on the way?”

”You don’t even have to ask me twice.” Gina takes out her phone. “Does fast food work? Tacos?”

”Sure, I could use a burger.” She makes a turn into the parking lot of a McDonalds.

Gina laughs. “Sorry—just, this is fucking hilarious. I never thought I’d live to see the day we get McDonalds late at night together.”

”You’re seeing a lot of me right now, Gina.”

”Now you just have to show me your place the day before I move.”

Silence. They don’t even exit the car.

”Sorry. I feel like I shouldn’t have said that.”

”No, no. It’s fine. I probably will, if anything.” Rosa reassures her. “Just…later, you know?”

”I’ll take that over nothing.” Gina puts her feet on the dashboard.

Rosa blinks slowly at her, tiredness suddenly flooding her veins, heavy like lead. “You know what? I’m…too tired. I don’t think I should be driving you home.”

“That’s fine, girl.” Gina reaches her hand out. “I’m still going to get food, do you want me to keep your keys safe?”

Rosa sighs and hands them to her. “Sure. Wake me up in a few minutes.”

Oh god. This is the worst possible situation possible.

Her neck is sore.

Damn car seat headrest.

”Morning?” She asks Gina quietly next to her.

”Hi.” Gina grumbles, clearly suffering from a headache. “Shit, I didn’t wake you up.”

Rosa rubs the back of her neck and snatches the car keys from her cupholder. “It’s fine…we don’t have anything to do today, I’m assuming. Do you just want to get breakfast?” She takes a whiff of the air and smells the strong stench of pickles and ketchup. “On second thought, I just lost my appetite.”

”Open the damn windows!” Gina rolls them down. “Damn it, what’s up with the smell of that stuff?”

“The processed beef smell is going to taint this car forever.” Rosa mutters and sharply turns the car to a café. “Alright, let’s get out and hope our noses are numb to any smell when we come back.”

Gina smiles and takes out the paper bag of McDonalds trash out of the backseat.

As they march into the café, Rosa makes a mental note of how a fourteenth of their time is already gone.

Chapter Text

There’s a small gap of when Rosa and Gina see each other again, specifically, less than twenty four hours worth of time.

”Good morning, Gina.” Captain Holt walks by her stiffly, a hundred times more professionally than usual. It seems like Rosa is not the only one slowly trying to cut her off so she does not feel the pain of her leaving.

”Morning, Captain.”

Gina is doing practically nothing, as usual, but the way it happens feels much emptier. People are going to her less, letting her actually relax. It must be a perk of putting in your two weeks notice.

“Hey, Rosa!” Jake taps her on the shoulder. “Watch me do a backflip off the table!”

Rosa snorts. “Why?”

”Charles said it’s easy, I trust him.”

”Very stupid trust, but please proceed.”

He jumps up on his desk, and despite stumbling, he still manages to land the flip.

”Yes!” He cheers. Even Gina and Terry have come to congratulate him, and scold him.

It feels like it’s just supposed to be another day, but how can it be normal when such a big chunk of the precinct will disappear in such a small amount of time?

”Peralta, you better not be doing backflips on your desk!” Captain Holt looks over his glasses.

”Sorry, sir, but I did it!” He smiles goofily. “We should make this a regular thing!”

”Well, no.” Terry stops him.

”Why not?”

”You have a literal mountain of paperwork on your desk and a murder case.”

Jake clenches his fist. “Damn! You’re right, I’ll get to it.”

They don’t even have to question why he is so weirdly distracted that day when his childhood best friend is literally about to move wherever she wishes in less than two weeks.

When it fully calms down Gina comes over to Rosa’s desk.

”Wanna go out for a movie and some dinner?” She slams down two movie tickets for some new action movie that came out.

”Sure.” Rosa shrugs, not sure if it’s a date. She assumes no.

”Cool. You drive.” Gina chuckles and walks away.

It takes a second to process.

Wait, did Gina just do to Rosa what Rosa usually did to everyone? Ouch, that hurts.

”Wait, what just happened?” Charles gasps in her direction. “Wait, are you two—?”

”No.” Rosa says sternly. “We’re just friends.”

Friends might not even be the right thing to call it. More like friends in progress.

”You don’t have to Jake and Amy it!” He assures her. “If you’re dating, please, tell us!”

”We aren’t.” Rosa rolls her eyes. “Just because we’re both women who like women doesn’t automatically make us like each other if we’re friends.”

Her face flushes. She’s willing to admit that.

Charles goes back to work, but he doesn’t look like he agrees all that much.

Back in the car with Gina. Thankfully it doesn’t smell like hamburger anymore, but the fact that Rosa’s standards have plummeted to that doesn’t comfort her in any way.

Gina texts on her phone from the moment they step into her car.

”What are you doing?” Rosa asks, eyes firmly on the road.

”Some crocheter wants me to promote their product. I’m negotiating it.”

”Wow.” She blinks. “That’s amazing.”

”Thank you.” Gina smiles and puts her phone down. “They told me their shop is set up in California, so maybe I’ll run down there at some point.”

California is so far from New York, though.

”Duh…! I’m so proud of you, Gina.”

It’s completely dark by the time they reach the movies. Rosa slams the car door shut, but Gina doesn’t question how angry she seems.

”Wait up!” Gina playfully nudges her arm. “Geez, what’s the rush?”

”I don’t know.” Rosa gulps. “Let’s just get it over with, yeah?”

Gina stops in her tracks. “What the hell are you talking about? Get it over with?”

”You’re telling me it doesn’t feel weird to hang out with someone you barely know two weeks before quitting your job?”

”No!” Gina says firmly. “I told you already, you’re a cool person, and I might as well get to know you while I can.”

”You’re sure?”

Gina’s eyes scrunch a little each time she smiles, like they’re doing now. “I only regret not getting to know you like this sooner.”

That woman has been standing near Gina’s desk for an awfully long time, listening to everything she has to say.

”If you have a complaint, you need to take it up with a detective.” Rosa eventually speaks up.

”Excuse me?” She giggles, clearly entranced by her. “Sorry, no, I’m getting trained for the job.”

”The job?” Rosa raises an eyebrow.

”Yep.” Gina drops a new stack of papers on her desk. “I’m training her for when I leave.”

”But…there’s still more than a week until you leave.”

Gina gathers her hands in front of her. “Well, Captain Holt said that’s nowhere near enough time, so I’m kind of on a time crunch.”

”Oh.” Rosa’s cheeks flush, disappointed.

”Alice, by the way. Nice to meet you.” This new assistant reaches out her hand kindly.

”Rosa.” She nods and shakes her hand, but by the time she turns away she forgets her name and is sure she will never even want to learn it again.

Rosa walks into work to see Alice in Captain Holt’s office, not a single sign of Gina around.

”Where’s Gina?” Rosa asks Jake as she looks around.

”Day off. She didn’t really specify.” He frowns. “Weird, right? You would think she would tell me of all people.”

”Right…” Rosa clicks her tongue and pretends she is completely okay with it until she reaches her desk. She watches Alice like a hawk until she leaves Captain Holt’s office.

Slamming the door shut behind her, she sits and stares at him intently.

”Diaz.”

”Captain.”

”Where’s Gina?” Rosa crosses her legs.

”I gave her a day off. I’m doing what I call a…test run, with Alice.”

Rosa frowns. “But she’s only been here for a day. We still need Gina.”

”Alice has been doing well, and I don’t think overworking Gina before she leaves is a kind choice.”

”Oh, of course. Just let Alice mess up like that, then.” She laughs bitterly.

”Excuse me?” Captain Holt leans forward.

”Nothing.”

”Not nothing. Something is going on between you two.” He furrows his eyebrows.

“We’re friends. I just kind of want to see her before she leaves.”

”Sure!” He leans back. “I never realized you two were close, but that’s perfectly valid, Diaz.”

”Then…is she coming back this week?”

”No.” Captain Holt purses his lips. “I doubt I’ll have her come back to the job except perhaps once or twice.”

Rosa slams her hands on the table and turns away angrily.

”Don’t throw a tantrum on me, Diaz.”

”I’m not! I have a right to be angry.”

”You do.” He agrees.

She groans annoyingly and storms out the door, just wanting him to tell her she’s wrong so she can go to Gina and tell her she did it. She beat all the odds for their friendship and they can pretend there is longer than a week left.

It’s late, but Rosa knocks on the door to Gina’s apartment.

”Welcome!” Gina opens the door with a dramatic flourish. The inside of her apartment is boxed up and empty. “What brings you to my humble abode?”

“I don’t know.” Rosa shrugs. “I was worried, I guess. I hear you won’t really be showing up anymore.”

”Yeah.” Gina throws her hands up hopelessly. “Just gotta let Alice do her thing, you know? How does it feel?”

Rosa gulps thickly. “Absolutely horrible.”

She remains playful, perfectly at peace that she is going away. “Well, life’s a bitch sometimes.”

”It’s terrible.”

”Yeah.” Gina guffaws. “Do you want to come inside? I don’t have much stuff out, but I guess you can make do.”

”Not really, I should get going soon.”

”Alright.” Gina gets comfortable, her shoulder leaning against the doorframe.

”Do you…want to get coffee sometime?” Rosa gestures awkwardly. “If you have time, obviously.”

”Of course I have time! When do you want to go?”

”Just…later.” Rosa shifts her weight to her other foot. “But we need to.”

Gina chuckles. “Well, I really do think you should stay over. I want some company in my sad little apartment.”

Rosa hesitates. “Alright, then. I’ll stay for the night?”

”That sounds awesome.” Gina lets her in, just to immediately flop down on the floor, her hair spread out around her in a ring.

Rosa follows her, resting on the hardwood floor. “Any actual idea where you’re going?”

“I have a flight on the day my two weeks are up to Texas. May it be the first destination of many, though.”

A pit forms in Rosa’s stomach. “Are you ever coming back?”

Gina goes silent for a moment. “Well, yeah. But I don’t know when I’d visit.”

Not visit. Come back. But Rosa supposes that is an answer enough.

”I guess it could be worse.”

”What?” Gina tilts her head to see Rosa.

”Nothing. Just that it could be worse if you just never even visited.”

”Thanks. I guess I knew that already.” She sighs contently and rests her hands neatly on her stomach. Eventually, she points to the ceiling. “I’m kind of going to miss those stupid popcorn ceilings.”

”Never thought anyone could miss them.” Rosa laughs. It’s so mundane, but she can’t help listen to each word, enchanted.

”Well, I will. It’s still where I’ve just…been, this entire time.”

Rosa puts her arms under her arm to alleviate the hard pressure on her skull. “I don’t know what to say.”

”It’s okay.”

Chapter Text

It’s the last day Gina is required to show up. Everyone is trying to pretend like everything is normal, making jokes the entire time and filling the precinct with its usual antics.

It’s really not, though. Rosa can feel the eyes staring as she takes her pictures and trinkets off of what is now Alice’s desk as she puts away meager amounts of paperwork.

Amy’s phone rings distantly in the break room.

”Hey, did you leave that there?” Gina pokes her head out of her desk area.

”Shit, sorry.” She rubs the back of her head sheepishly and rushes to grab her phone.

Gina smirks and relaxes, tapping away at her phone. It really is meant to be a normal day.

”Gina!” Amy stomps back from the break room with her phone and a mug. “Did you seriously put my phone in the break room so I would get your mug for you?!”

”Yeah.” She smiles and reaches her hand out. “It’s the last thing I need, come on.”

Amy doesn’t give it to her, so she takes an extra step to try and pull it from her, but it doesn’t budge.

”Amy?”

”What?!” She frowns and lets her have it. “You want your stupid mug so you can leave?”

”Yeah…?” Gina gently places it in her box of items. “I need everything packed up now, I have my flight tomorrow.”

Amy’s upper lip sticks out, pouting. “I can’t even believe you’re leaving after all this time.”

Gina sighs and stands up. “Come here.” She wraps Amy in a hug.

”I know you have a ton of really amazing opportunities and a great life ahead of you, but it doesn’t change that you’re leaving, and I’m going to be here wishing you stayed!”

”Oh, Amy.” She pats her back comfortingly. “I’ll visit.”

”When?”

Silence falls over them.

”I’ll visit.”

Amy cries and buries her face into Gina’s shoulder, to the woman she grew to look up to and love dearly as her friend.

Jake sighs. “I guess it’s that point of the day.” He joins their hug.

Rosa watches them from a distance, how everyone slowly goes to her, hugs her and tells her they will miss her. They will wait for the day she comes back to the precinct to go on her phone and say her witty remarks to everyone.

She awaits that day, too.

”Guys.” She nudges them away after a while. “I really need to leave, I don’t want to obstruct your work.”

Rosa gulps and heads towards them, too, squeezing Gina in a hug unexpectedly. She didn’t believe it when she said she didn’t want to obstruct anyone’s work. She wishes they are still in their twenties when they could hardly care they were wasting their time.

”Hey, what are you doing?” Gina tears up as Rosa embraces her. “We’re seeing each other tomorrow.”

”I know.” Rosa pulls away. “It’s just happening really fast.”

Gina heaves the box up and takes one last look at her desk. “If I missed anything, just throw it away. It probably means it wasn’t important, anyway.”

And Rosa wants to ask her, is the opposite true for the people there?

Captain Holt hasn’t gone near her, but he sticks out his hand. “Thank you for your time with us, Gina.”

”You too, Captain.”

She sighs and marches toward the elevator.

”Wait!” Amy reaches it before it closes. “I’ll walk you out.”

”Ames, I’m just putting this stuff in my apartment. You’ll see me again today.”

Amy knits her eyebrows together. “Are you sure?”

”Yup.” Gina smiles momentarily. “Drinks on me, guys!” She yells as the elevator door closes on her. A perfectly dramatic exit for her.

Rosa decides to head to Gina’s apartment before going to the bar with everyone else. She sits on the hardwood floor, sorting through boxes of stuff Gina is throwing away before moving.

There’s a nice box of dresses she finds that she can vaguely remember Gina wearing in the past.

”What’s this?” She holds up a dark red, strapless one with a slit that goes up pretty high. “Why are you giving it away?”

Gina chuckles when she sees it. “None of those fit me anymore. You can have them, if you want.”

”Maybe I’ll dress fancy for the bar.” She picks up a short black one with long sleeves and low-cut collar.

Gina gasps. “Yes! You should, you’ll look gorgeous!”

She sighs and starts changing right there. Not much point of pretending they’re both good at what privacy is.

The dress fits much slimmer than she expects, complimenting her thin figure from years of ballet perfectly.

”How does it look?” She does a small spin for Gina.

Gina’s mouth hangs open. “Perfect.” She puts on a loose brown blazer and offers her arm to Rosa. “Wanna show it off to the Nine-nine?”

”Gladly.”

Somehow, the Nine-nine agrees to buying Gina at least one drink each after she buys them their round.

”Let’s get drunk tonight, then!” Gina raised her glass and tosses her shot into her mouth in one go.

Everyone plays with them awkwardly in their hands, just having a sip here and there. It’s kind of weird until Captain Holt taps a spoon on his glass.

”I have a toast to make.”

They gather around him, Gina the closest.

”This is for Gina Linetti, our dear assistant in the Nine-nine. You never seemed to be very productive, yet you managed to find a way to always be there. I admit, you’ve been quite entertaining to be around, and I hope that perhaps one day you will return to haunt us.”

”I’ll try!” Gina yells, laughs. “Thank you, Ray!”

”You’re still not allowed to call me that.” He chuckles. “But…I hope you will make a return one day.”

Gina smiles more softly this time. “I’ll try.”

They shake hands, and Captain Holt turns and walks back to the rest of the crowd and silently watches everyone surround her again, and Rosa stays right next to her the entire time.

She watches Gina casually speaking with Jake until he turns his head to her. “Nice dress, by the way. I’ve never seen you wear that before, is it new?”

Rosa gulps. “It’s Gina’s.”

He raises an eyebrow. “Oh-“

”We’re not together.” Gina cuts him off. “I know we look hot as fuck together, but we’re not.”

Rosa’s heart sinks to the floor. She screams at it not to because she’s supposed to act like she doesn’t care, like she isn’t really attached.

But she is. She’s absolutely distraught that this is the last night she can see Gina’s eyes glowing in the moonlight.

”Yeah. I just stole this from her cause I thought it was pretty.”

Jake nods. “Alright, alright.”

Rosa throws down a shot, rushed and frantic to feel a bit more drunk and forgetful. “Hey, Gina? Can I stay at your place tonight?”

Gina blinks. “Yeah, sure.”

Jake steps out of their conversation the moment they both take yet another drink into their hands.

”I’ll drive you to the airport in exchange.” Rosa sighs.

It’s too quiet, and there’s nothing they know how to do that can fill the silence.

”My flight is pretty late tomorrow, are you sure?”

”More sure than I can ever be.”

Gina chuckles. “Alright, I guess we’ll be sitting in my empty apartment the entire day, then.”

For some reason, Rosa doesn’t think that sounds all too bad. “Sounds fun.”

They drink the night away until they need a taxi to go home.

Rosa kicks off her shoes clumsily and collapses straight onto the hardwood floor. “Fun night!”

The scent of alcohol is sickeningly strong.

”Oh my god, my hangover might kill me in the morning.”

”It’s fine, me too.” Rosa groans, clawing her way to the singular air mattress that lies in the center of the apartment. “Holy shit, see you in the morning.”

She doesn’t pass out, rather just saying good night as a courtesy.

Instead of passing out, Gina crawls into the bed next to Rosa, not changing out of her blazer and matching pants. “Well, thanks for tonight, at least.”

”What do you mean by that?” Rosa glances. “Thanks? Did we bone without me remembering?”

Gina chuckles. “No, stupid. Thanks for spending so much fucking time with me lately. I really enjoyed it.”

Rosa’s head becomes clear for the slightest moment as she hears those words. “What? No, yeah. No problem, I really enjoyed it, too.”

Gina sighs, like that is the only thing she ever needed to hear, and scoots in closer to Rosa. “Sorry, it’s cold.”

To Rosa, it’s almost unbearably hot, but she doesn’t push her away. Just lets her get closer until their noses almost touch and their hands drape across each others shoulders.

And they both realize, deep in their souls, that maybe all is right when it is like this.

Chapter Text

Rosa wakes up to a split in her skull, a bitter taste in her mouth, and an empty air mattress.

”Gina?” She groans, praying that she didn’t already leave.

”Don’t yell, it makes my head hurt.” Gina clumsily walks to her from the kitchen.

Next thing she knows, a glass of water and bowl of cereal are in her hands. “Wait, when are you going to the airport, again?”

”Seven. We should be fine by then.”

”Yeah, let’s just…” Rosa sighs, rubs her eyes. “Get breakfast. Or lunch. Or even better, coffee.”

”A shit ton of coffee it is.” Gina grumbles and pats her shoulder. “Do you just want to stay here for a while?”

”I would love to.” Rosa watches as Gina sits on the edge of the air mattress. “You’ve changed.”

”I know, it’s been a long few years at the—“

”No, Gina. I mean you changed your clothes. How early did you wake up?”

”Seven. Had to have an aspirin or I might’ve killed myself.”

”Cute.” Rosa sips her water, now taking in how Gina’s slight slouch seems to be perfectly fitting with her tank top and pajama pants. God, she’s going to miss her. It’s like she’s going to be waiting on a bench every night all over again. She looks around, knowing there’s nothing in the apartment except them two and some stuff Gina will take on the plane.

“Do you just want to leave now?”

”Well, I don’t want to go in this dress.” Rosa sniffs her armpits. “What the fuck, how much could I have sweat in this thing?”

Gina chuckles and grabs a pair of sweatpants and shirt from her suitcase. “Keep em. Let’s get some cheap ass food that’ll make us nauseous the entire day.”

Rosa kind of wants to open her mouth to ask if this is a date, but from how crappy and tired they both look she figures it might as well be a train wreck.

”So…how’s life?” Gina asks in between a bite of overly greasy potatoes covered in cheese.

”Fine.” Rosa twiddles with her fork. “Everything is going…really fast.”

”I know.” Gina sighs. “You’ll be okay.”

Rosa puts her fork down. “But I won’t. You’re like—my best friend now, and I don’t know what I’ll do without you.”

”Like? I’m definitely your best friend.” Gina smiles mischievously. “You have the Nine-nine, though! You know, everyone there cares for you, they just want the best for you.”

But it’s not the same as when Gina cares for her.

”I guess.”

At this point, Rosa is sure they’ve long run out of things to talk about. No gossip, no dates. No plans to leave each others side just for today.

”Good potatoes.” Gina stabs through them with her fork.

”Yeah.”

The sun is setting as Gina and Rosa speed through the road, on their way to the airport.

”Do you have a charger?” Rosa asks.

”Yeah.”

”Book?”

”Yeah.”

”Neck pillow?”

Gina nods. “I didn’t forget anything, Rosa.”

”Just checking.” Rosa purses her lips. “Last thing I want is you to be bored on the plane.”

”When’d you get so soft?” Gina nudges her arm.

”I’m not.” Rosa chuckles, despite knowing she’s going to help her carry her bags into the airport as far as she can.

Instead of pulling into the terminal she goes straight into the parking lot.

”What are you doing? My terminal is over there.” Gina turns her head.

”I’ll help you take your bags.”

She doesn’t fight it.

Each step, each motion Rosa takes out of the car feels like a million pounds are weighing down on her.

”Cold night.” Gina tries breaking the silence.

Rosa doesn’t respond. She just wants to stop them, ask if she wants to stop at the airport’s hotel and maybe try it out. Not boning, just having a night where they don’t have to worry about regretting anything.

”How long until your flight?”

Gina checks her phone. “Two hours. I’m thinking ahead, like a responsible adult.”

”Good job.” Rosa exhales deeply as the entrance to the airport comes into view, but she stops. “Gina?”

”Yeah?” Gina also stops, turning around with this kind of alarmed look in her eyes.

”I’m not going to hold you back from anything. No matter what happens.”

Some cold air blows Gina’s hair back, again and again.

”Thank you.”

They start walking again. The feeling of dread reaches its peak when the automatic doors open for Gina and they enter where she needs to check in.

”Well.” Gina rests her hands on the suitcase she wheels around. “This is very close to being it.“

”I can follow you to the waiting areas though, right?”

”Sure, but why would you want to?”

Rosa shrugs. “To see you.”

Gina blinks a bit at that, completely taken aback by Rosa. “Well, save your last words for me, then.”

Rosa just feels more nervous by the second. “Sure.”

She waits off to the side as Gina checks her luggage, grabs her paper ticket and comes back to her. “I should probably go through security soon, so…I think this is it.”

”Oh.” Rosa’s eyes widen. “Oh my god.”

”Any last words, then?” Gina stares at her, waiting and cautious.

”I-I think so.” Rosa purses her lips. “But what if I regret it?”

”I don’t think there’s any way to lose. If don’t like what you say, we can sit on it for an indefinite amount of time. If I like what you say, then it’s just all the more reason to come back.”

Rosa blinks dumbly.

”Alright, fine.” Gina chuckles, a bit bitterly. “Let’s hug it out. I won’t tell anyone.”

But it’s her chance. She can’t hold her back, ask her to just stay for one night longer so she can say she loves her in peace.

She walks forward into her arms, but she doesn’t rush a stupid hug she will definitely regret.

She kisses her, and how Gina kisses her back, closes her eyes the same way Rosa does, it makes her thing this is right. It makes both of their hearts sink to the ground.

It feels like an eternity passes before Rosa pulls away. Gina is clearly breathless, confused and desperate from the separation.

”I love you.” Rosa whispers, so effortlessly she could’ve sworn she was just breathing.

”I love you too.” It’s more hesitant from Gina, but only because she said those words too late. It’s cowardice, the very thing she absolutely hates.

Her hands slide down from Rosa’s waist to just hanging at her sides.

”Was that good enough?” Rosa chuckles softly.

”It was…perfect.” Gina says breathily, and she knows she has no choice but to come back one day. Not even to work or film, just  to see Rosa again.

So Rosa says it again, to seal the deal. “I love you.”

Gina smiles.

And Rosa laughs at it, how ridiculous her previous idea had been. “I should have asked you to go to a hotel earlier—“

”For sex? Honestly, I wouldn’t have been against that idea.” Gina laughs with her. “Maybe next time?” She asks her boldly.

”Sure, then just come by sometime. I’ll let you know my address.”

She leans in again, holds Gina’s cheeks as she feels the time tick by, chasing Gina away. She never wants this moment to end.

For a moment, words that are about to ask Gina to stay for a little while longer almost leave Rosa’s mouth, but she thinks back to what she said so shortly beforehand. She wouldn’t hold Gina back, no matter how much she loves her or how long wants to be with her now.

”The security…it’ll probably be a bitch if you go any later.” Rosa gulps.

”Oh, right.” Gina’s shoulders tense. In all honesty, she kind of wished Rosa would ask her to stay and break her promise to not hold her back no matter what. “Well, then…”

”I’ll see you later?”

”Yeah.” Gina nods firmly and kisses her cheek, still wishing Rosa would hold her there, instead.

But she just smiles warmly and lets her go.