Work Text:
Jubal was at his desk, casually scrolling through case files when the elevator doors opened. Isobel stepped out, radiating confidence in her tailored navy suit and white blouse. The team briefly paused to take her in, captivated by the presence of their new SAC. Jubal’s gaze lingered just a bit too long as she walked past, her heels clicking sharply against the floor. Isobel met his eyes with a subtle curve of her lips, her expression professional but warm.
She addressed the room with authority. “Good morning, everyone. I’m Isobel Castille, your new SAC. My door is always open, and I look forward to working with you to keep this city safe. Let’s get to it.”
Later, during their first briefing under her leadership with their agents, Isobel outlined their strategy for a high-profile case. As the team discussed, subtle glances passed between her and Jubal—a silent understanding known only to them.
When the briefing ended, Isobel headed to her office, and Jubal lingered for a moment before following, waiting for the coast to clear. He knocked lightly and stepped inside when she called.
"Settling in okay?" he asked, leaning against the doorframe.
"So far, so good. But it’s only my first day. Plenty of time for chaos," Isobel replied, her expression softening.
“You’ll handle it,” Jubal said confidently.
For a moment, Isobel leaned back in her chair, her gaze warm as she studied him.
Jubal smirked. “Just don’t forget to breathe Iz, okay? You’ve got this.”
Before they could linger in the moment, a knock interrupted. Elise poked her head in. "Isobel, the mayor’s office is on the line."
“Thanks, Elise,” Isobel replied briskly, picking up the phone. Jubal slipped out with one last look, and the door shut behind him.
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Later, as Jubal stepped out of the breakroom with coffee cups in hand, he found himself drawn to Isobel’s office. He hesitated for a moment before knocking and cracking the door open. When he heard her call, “Come in,” he stepped inside.
“Thought you might need this Iz” he said, placing the coffee on her desk with a smile.
“Thank you,” she replied warmly, taking a sip.
Leaning casually against the desk, Jubal grinned. “Just doing my part to stay in the running for Employee of the Month.”
She chuckled softly. “Is that going to be a thing now?”
“Not officially,” he smirked, “but if it were, I think I’d be a strong contender. Especially since I brought coffee to the new boss.”
“Coffee doesn’t earn you that title,” she teased.
“It’s not just coffee,” he quipped, his tone playful. “It’s morale support, a caffeine boost, and... an excuse to tell you I’m glad you wore that white blouse today.”
Isobel shook her head, smiling as he left. She watched the door close behind him, a small smile lingering.
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The atmosphere in the office shifted later in the day as Jubal, Maggie, and OA watched Isobel’s press conference. OA’s frustration grew with each second.
“That’s not how I would’ve handled it,” OA muttered, his jaw clenched. “She was too cold. We needed more transparency.”
Jubal glanced at OA, calm. “She did exactly what she had to do. It’s about control, not speculation. She wasn’t cold—she was in control.”
Maggie added, “Jubal’s right. Isobel’s handling more pressure than any of us. We should respect her process.”
Still frustrated, OA crossed his arms. Jubal’s gaze returned to the screen with a quiet flicker of pride for Isobel.
“I get your frustration,” he said, “But you’ve got to trust her. She’s SAC for a reason.”
OA nodded reluctantly. The tension lingered, but Jubal broke the silence.
“Alright, enough of this. Let’s focus on what’s next.”
Later, OA confronted Isobel. “That press statement... you really controlled the narrative; it didn’t feel right.”
Isobel looked up from her desk, unfazed. “I didn’t know you were a PR expert, OA.”
“It’s about transparency,” OA insisted. “We should’ve been upfront with the public. You made it sound perfect, like you were hiding something.”
She stood firm. “It’s not about perfection. It’s about responsibility. We can’t give the public everything. People need to feel safe. That’s the job.”
OA opened his mouth to argue, but she continued.
“You’ll get used to it, or you won’t. But I’m not apologizing for doing my job. Understood”
There was a beat of silence. OA’s frustration remained, but he finally nodded. Isobel returned to reviewing her file. OA lingered, muttering, “Alright, I’ll get back to work.”
Isobel’s voice followed him. “Let’s keep our focus on the real work.”
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Isobel sat at her desk, her thoughts lingering on the conversation with OA. She needed to focus, but her mind kept drifting to the tension. Just as she was about to refocus, the door creaked open. Jubal stepped inside with a coffee cup in hand.
“I figured you might need this,” he said, setting it down on her desk.
Isobel looked up, tone sharp. “Thanks.”
Jubal leaned against the doorframe, studying her for a moment. “I heard OA’s thoughts on your press statement. I just wanted you to know I defended your approach Iz.”
Isobel set the coffee down with a soft thud. “Jubal, I don’t need you defending me. We’re all entitled to our opinions.”
He softened, stepping closer. “I didn’t want you to think I was on his side, I agree with how you handled things Iz.”
She locked eyes with him. “I didn’t ask you to agree. Jubal, did you defend me because you agreed, or because your sleeping with me?”
The question hung in the air. For a beat, Jubal hesitated, uncertainty flickering in his eyes.
Finally, he answered, steady. “I supported your approach because I agree with it. You handled it the right way. OA was off-base, and I didn’t want him questioning your decisions in front of the team. But that’s not about us.”
Isobel met his gaze, the silence lingering between them. “I just need to know, Jubal, that nothing—personal or professional—will get in the way of how we do this job. We need to be on the same page. I need you to trust I know what I’m doing. Not because of anything else,” she added softly, “but because I’ve earned this position.”
Jubal’s expression softened. “I trust you. Completely. I’ll always have your back.”
She nodded, her voice calm but firm. “Good. Let’s keep it that way. And Jubal can you call me Isobel at work, please.”
Jubal hesitated, then nodded. Before he left, Isobel’s voice stopped him. “Jubal, we need to talk about ground rules.”
He turned back, concern in his eyes. “Ground rules?”
“Boundaries. I don’t want our personal stuff bleeding into work. We’re colleagues first. If we disagree, fine. But we need to have each other’s backs professionally and not let anything—anything—get in the way of that.”
Jubal absorbed her words, nodding slowly.
“Good,” she said, voice steady. “Because if we don’t get this right, we won’t make it.”
After a beat, Jubal nodded. “We’ll figure it out, we’ll talk tonight.”
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Isobel sat their plates on the table, the comforting aroma of Italian food filling her home. Jubal walked in from the kitchen, two glasses of water in his hands. His tie was already loosened, and his sleeves rolled up. He looked relaxed, but the faint tension in his shoulders betrayed the weight of the conversation they were about to have.
“You really know how to soften a guy up,” Jubal teased as he set the glasses on the table. “Ordering from my favourite Italian place, you’re making it hard for me to keep my defences up.”
Isobel smiled, sliding into her chair. “I figured if we’re going to tackle this conversation, we might as well do it with good food.”
He sat across from her, the room was quiet except for the soft clinking of utensils as they began to eat. But the silence wouldn’t last.
Jubal took a deep breath, setting his fork down. “About what happened in the office today…”
“Jubal,” Isobel interrupted gently, her tone firm but calm. “I know you meant well, but I didn’t need you to defend me to OA.”
He nodded, already expecting her reaction. “I wasn’t trying to overstep. It’s just… he was questioning your decision-making in front of everyone. I couldn’t just stand there.”
“And I appreciate that you care,” she said, her voice softening slightly. “But I’m the SAC. I need to handle those situations myself. If my agents see you stepping in for me, it undermines my authority. We both know that’s not a good look. Would you have done that if OA had questioned Dana’s approach?”
He exhaled heavily, running a hand through his hair. “I get it Iz, I do. But it’s not easy for me to…” He paused, searching for the right words. “To just shut off how I feel about you. You’re not just my boss like Dana was, Isobel. You’re…”
She raised an eyebrow, waiting for him to finish.
“You’re important to me,” he said simply. “But I’ll be professional. I can do that.”
Isobel reached for her glass, taking a sip before speaking. “That’s why we need boundaries, Jubal. Clear ones. When we walk into that office, I’m your SAC. Nothing more. Personal feelings can’t interfere with case decisions. That’s how people get hurt on the job.”
“I know,” he admitted. “And I’m with you on that. But I’m not a robot. I can’t pretend I don’t feel anything for you just because we’re at the office. Still, I’ll be professional. No calling you ‘Iz’ or ‘Izzy’ at work, no arriving together, no leaving together. I get it.”
She gave him a small, approving smile. “Good. About the personal side of our relationship. I understand your kids will always come first, and I respect that. But I think we should make a conscious effort to plan time together, even if it’s just small things around the chaos of work.”
“Agreed,” he said, his voice steady. “And just because my kids come first doesn’t mean you’re not important to me. You are. And, at some point, I’d like you to meet them. Even if it’s just as my friend and boss, Isobel.”
She looked at him, her expression softening. “That’s a big step.”
“It is,” he acknowledged. “But it’s one I’d like to take when the time is right.”
They ate in silence for a few moments, the weight of the conversation easing slightly.
Jubal set his fork down again, leaning back in his chair. “One more thing. I know we need to be careful, but I don’t want a relationship in the shadows. I want to take you out on dates, weekends away, hold your hand on Sunday strolls in the park… maybe even sneak a kiss in public now and then.”
Isobel’s lips curved into a soft smile. “We can do all that. We just have to be smart about it.”
He reached across the table, his hand brushing hers. “Smart I can do. Careful I can do. But hiding how I feel about you, that’s a little harder.” Jubal’s lips quirked into a grin. “So, does this count as our first work fight?”
Isobel laughed softly, shaking her head. “I'd say it was a minor disagreement. But let’s be honest—we’re likely to have more major disagreements about how to approach cases in the future. Maybe we should also agree boundaries for case discussions out of work.”
“Like what?” Jubal asked, leaning forward with interest.
“Like limiting how much time when we’re out of work we talk about cases or talk about our team,” she suggested. “If we have a disagreement about a case, we should resolve it in the office, not drag it home with us.”
“Fair,” he agreed. “But that’ll be hard to stick to, especially when we’re both neck-deep in something big.”
“We’ll figure it out,” she said with confidence. Then, with a thoughtful tilt of her head, she added, “Maybe we shouldn’t spend the night together when one or both of us is working. It’ll keep things cleaner.”
"With our schedules, we’d never stay at each other’s place with that approach Izzy. Laughing lightly, he added, "So is it sex and go you’re suggesting, except for that odd miraculous night when we’re both off and not called in?"
She smirked at his teasing tone. “I’m not saying that, but I'm serious, Jubal. Intimate boundaries are just as important as professional ones. If we’re both exhausted and stressed from work, we need to be okay with saying that. Plus, it complicates things in the morning when you stay over, we risk running late or arriving at the office together. People notice those things.”
“I get all that,” he said, nodding. “But after a bad case, sometimes I just want to hold you. To know you’re there. I don’t want this to turn into a quick call when one of us wants sex, blowing off steam with each other. We’ve moved on from that.”
Her expression softened, and she squeezed his hand. “I know. And I don’t want that either. We’ve built something more, and it matters to me too. We just need to balance that with everything else.”
“Alright,” he said, his tone thoughtful but warm. “We’ll be honest about what we need—whether it’s time together or time apart. Deal?”
“Deal,” she said, her smile returning.
“But for the record,” he added, his voice dropping to a playful murmur, “I’m still taking my girlfriend on dates. And weekends away. And holding her hand on Sunday strolls in the park.”
Isobel raised an eyebrow, a smirk playing on her lips. “Girlfriend? Bold choice of words, Valentine. Are you asking or declaring?”
Jubal grinned, leaning back slightly. “Declaring, obviously. But I can ask if you’d prefer.”
She laughed softly, shaking her head. “I’ll allow it. For now.” “And sneaking kisses?” she asked, her tone equally teasing.
"Oh, definitely sneaking kisses." Jubal leaned across the table and kissed her, his lips warm and tender against hers. “And I’m definitely staying the night,” he murmured, his voice low and full of intent.
Isobel’s eyes sparkled as she pulled back just slightly, her lips still curving into a soft smile. “Oh, is that so?” she teased. “I thought we were setting boundaries tonight.”
“We are,” he said with a grin. “But that doesn’t mean we can’t bend them a little for a good reason. We have your first day to celebrate.”
“Convenient,” she replied, laughter in her voice. “Alright, Valentine. You can stay. But don’t think you’re getting out of sticking to those boundaries tomorrow." Her tone playful now "And if you stay, don’t think I won’t throw you out at the crack of dawn so I can get organized for work," she added with a mischievous glint in her eye.
“I see how it is,” Jubal quipped, leaning back in mock offense. “All these boundaries just so you can kick me out early, you really know how to make a guy feel special.”
Isobel laughed, her eyes twinkling. “Consider it part of the professional boundaries we just agreed on. But don’t take it personally… unless you plan to bend those boundaries again.”
“Only when it’s absolutely necessary,” he teased, leaning closer. “And celebrating you feels necessary to me.”
Their laughter mingled as the conversation eased into a more relaxed rhythm. They moved from the table to the couch, the remains of their dinner forgotten. Jubal pulled her close, his arm draped around her shoulders as they sat in companionable silence.
“This is nice,” he murmured, his voice low. “No work, no chaos. Just us.”
Isobel leaned her head against his chest, listening to the steady rhythm of his heartbeat. “It is,” she agreed softly. “Moments like this… they make everything else worth it.”
He tilted her chin up gently, his gaze meeting hers. “You know, I meant what I said earlier. You’re important to me, Izzy...more than I think I’ve let on.”
Her fingers traced small circles on his arm as a tender smile spread across her face. “I know, Jubal. And you’re important to me too. Even when you driving me crazy at work.”
He chuckled, pressing a kiss to her forehead. “I’ll try to keep that to a minimum. No promises, though.”
“Good,” she teased. “I’d be worried if you made things too easy.”