August 1990

It's been about a month since Tom left for Virginia. It was really tough in the beginning, but it slowly got easier as every day went by. I finally stopped believing that Tom will somehow show up on my doorstep one day and never leave.

For some reason, I agreed to go on a 48-hour shift with a new guy to see how well he was going to fit in at Jump Street to take Tom's position. By Tom's position, I mean he is supposed to be my new partner. He looked a little older, and could pass for a college student but certainly not a high school student. When I first saw him, I couldn't figure out why anyone thought he would be a good replacement but I was trying to give him the benefit of the doubt.

He was driving our cruiser around, and we were both in our uniforms. Fuller wanted me to test him before we put him in a real undercover situation. I tried to talk him out of it, but he wasn't budging. My neighbor promised to watch Swayze until I returned, and I was aggravated about having to stay on shift for 48 continuous hours. And with Tom gone, this was just icing on the cake.

His name is Dave Becker. He is a show off, and a know-it-all. He kept man-splaining basic things I already knew, while trying to tell me that I was wrong until I proved it to him. I shouldn't have to prove anything to anyone. The longer I was with him, the more I couldn't stand being in that squad car. We were both angry, hungry, and running entirely on caffeine. How are shifts this long allowed?

Suddenly, dispatch on our radio said, "control to Car 5."

We were Car 5, and I was hoping that it was dispatch calling to let us finally go home. I shook myself awake enough to grab the radio and bring the box to my lips. I pressed the button before I said, "Car 5, go ahead."

"Respond to the Letter Box for a Code 174."

I wanted to groan because our shift was almost over. I was practically falling asleep in the seat and the last thing I wanted to do was to go on another call. 

"10-4," I said back to confirm that we were on our way. I recognized the name of the bar, it was the same bar from a few years ago when a kid named TJ got into an accident with his friend Jonny, who was left paralyzed. TJ testified against the bar because they allowed minors to drink alcohol illegally, and we got the place shut down. They got new owners who kept the name, and it looks like they're not making the same mistakes.

"That's a business check," Dave told me confidently.

"No. It is minors in possession of liquor, probably caught with fake IDs," I said firmly and rubbed my eye. I was annoyed that he didn't know already, but I was even more annoyed that he was wrong about it. I did not have the patience for this.

He chuckled, "that's cute, sweetheart, but it's obviously a business check because we are going to a business."

He really knew how to grind my gears. Does he even know what the Letter Box is? I said, "no. A business check is a 274. This is a 174."

"I know," he scoffed.

"Do you?" I snapped. He didn't say anything, and he just kept driving.

We got to the bar and arrested the kids who had the fake identifications. To no surprise, I was right. Our shift was officially over, and I was completely exhausted and worn out. Even though I have the day off tomorrow, I planned to give Fuller my report about Dave in the morning. It wasn't going to be a good one.

Dave leaned on the bar counter and said to the bartender, "I'll take a beer for the road."

"Hey, um, what? No. No, we aren't done yet. We still have to get these guys downtown," I said and gestured out to the squad car where the three teenagers were sitting in the backseat.

Dave waved me off, "drop them off then come get me, sweetheart. I'm off."

I felt a growl in my throat. I did not like or respect Dave.

"I am your supervisor, and I will not tolerate this anymore. What you do on your own time is your business, but right now you are on the clock until we these kids get downtown."

All he did was chuckle at me and say, "it's like getting threatened by a puppy. Just adorable."

He is so stubborn, and because he is older than me he thinks he can boss me around. Sucks for him that I get to decide whether he gets promoted to Jump Street or not, and there was no way I was letting him on our team. Bitter was the perfect word to describe how I felt about Dave.

I didn't give up until the bartender set the beer down in front of him and he took his first sip. I stomped to the car and I cursed him out from under my breath at every step. I drove the kids downtown, and I debated on going back for Dave at all.

I eventually came to my senses and drove back to the bar, and found that he was completely wasted.

"You've got to be kidding me," I groaned once I approached him at the counter.

"Hey, it's my new partner," Dave slurred. He downed the rest of his drink and asked for another.

"Sorry, man, I gotta cut you off." The bartender shook his head while drying a glass.

"I'm a cop, you gotta do as I say," Dave threatened. "Or I'll shut this whole entire place down."

I was beyond pissed. He was so unprofessional, and I was embarrassed for not only myself, but for him as well. I turned to the bartender and asked, "how much does he owe you?"

"He's already paid, don't worry about it," he said.

Dave slipped off the chair and nearly stumbled over his own two feet. He grabbed the counter for balance, and he looked like he could crash at any moment. I'm sure the two whole days of not sleeping and barely eating has not helped to even attempt to sober him up.

"I hate to ask this, but can you help me get him to the car?" I asked the bartender. I was so tired and weak with hunger, I barely had the energy to walk myself back to the car without luck.

"Of course," the bartender said and came out from behind the bar. He helped me get Dave to the squad car, and we put him in the backseat with a brown paper bag so he if he puked, it wouldn't ruin the car.

I thanked the bartender and hopped in the drivers seat. I had to pause and try to give myself enough strength to drive to the station. I could almost feel my vision going in and out, but I turned up the radio and rolled the window down to get some fresh air on my face. As I was driving, Dave was trying to give me directions to his house. He eventually passed out from a mixture of drinking and exhaustion, but I was still fuming with rage which probably helped me stay awake. I was livid at his behavior, and there was no way I was going to let it slide.

I parked at the station and rested my head on the steering wheel. The hard part was over, and now I just needed to focus enough to walk inside and get someone to get Dave out of my cruiser so I could go home.

I finished the last of a RedBull that was in my cup holder and I got out of the car. In my frustration, I slammed the car door and marched up to the building. I went straight to the front desk and asked to speak to the Captain of the Metropolitan Police Department.

Captain Briody came out of his office after hearing the commotion and asked, "Officer Gregg, what's the matter?"

I turned to him and huffed, "Officer Dave Becker is in my cruiser, very intoxicated." My hands were shaking from the caffeine, and I knew I was about to crash. I wanted him out of my car so he was out of my hands and I could go home and go straight to bed.

He sighed, "I'll take care of this. You'll have to make a report on it though."

"Right now?" I asked and tossed him my keys.

"Now," Briody said.

"All right," I said and he went off to fetch Dave from my cruiser. I leaned against the receptionist counter and asked, "can I have the report papers, please?"

She said, "you don't look so hot, Mickey, you okay?"

I nodded, "my shift was 48 hours and now I gotta deal with Becker. I just want to go home and sleep."

"I don't blame you. I'll get those papers for you so you can get out of here," she said and went off to grab the papers for my report.

As I was waiting, I heard someone behind me call out, "hey, Mick!"

I turned around to see Doug coming towards me. He was in plainclothes, so I assumed he just got off an undercover bust. He came up beside me and asked, "how did your shift go?"

I yawned and said, "I've had worse."

"Is Becker joining the team?" He asked as he ran his fingers through his dark and thick hair.

The door opened and Captain Briody and another cop came in, dragging the intoxicated Dave into the station so he could sober up. I chuckled and pointed at him and asked, "what do you think?"

Doug chuckled, "geez, I'm sorry, Mick. Why don't you come to dinner with me and the team?"

"Oh, I don't know about that," I said, followed by a yawn. "I'm really tired."

"Come on, it'll be fun. Fuller can't come though, he has a date or something. We were all gonna get pizza, and you haven't been out with us in forever," he said.

I was so out of it, I agreed. I don't even remember agreeing. I said, "give me a couple minutes to change. But you have to drive."

"Deal," he said.

I went into the back where I found my locker. I changed out of my uniform and put on a grey crewneck sweatshirt and some jeans. I put my uniform in a bag and went to the bathroom to wash my face in the sink. I tried to braid my hair back but you could see the glisten from the grease that built up on my scalp from my inability to shower for the past two days so instead I threw my greasy hair up in a ponytail. I found some dry shampoo that someone left in the bathroom which helped a little, enough so that my hair was socially acceptable.

Doug met me by the desk and he talked to me as I quickly filled out the report and handed it back to the receptionist. We walked out to his car together and he drove me to the restaurant. It was easier to stay awake with Doug talking to me.

Doug took a wrong turn and said, "this isn't the way."

I yawned and asked, "have you been there before?"

"No."

"If you've never been there, how do you know where you're going?"

"Instincts, baby."

"How's that working out for you?" I asked.

Doug chuckled, "not well."

We finally got to the restaurant, and I greeted Judy and Ioki with hugs. We had just got to talking when I heard someone behind me ask, "what about some love for me?"

I turned around and was shocked to see Booker. I hadn't seen him in months. He's been busy being a detective for an insurance company. He and Tom never got along, so I never really bothered to get super close to Booker. But it was very admirable that he helped get Tom out of jail last September.

"Booker!" I exclaimed.

"I love it when you scream my name."

I rolled my eyes and gave him a friendly hug. "Long time no see."

"Too long," he said and took a drag of his cigarette. "You look great."

"Eat your heart out," I joked and took a spot in the booth.

"These guys tell me that Tom left for Virginia," Booker stated as he sat across from me. Doug slid in next to me, and Judy and Ioki were on the other side of the booth with Booker.

"Yeah, about a month ago," I said.

"I'm surprised you didn't run off with him," Booker said.

"I thought about transferring to the Springfield Police Department in secret, but I became responsible for everything that Tom was in charge of and I couldn't leave. It just didn't work out," I shrugged.

He smirked, "that means you're single now?"

"Quit it," Doug snapped at him.

I ignored his comment and nodded down at his cigarette, "I thought you were trying to cut back."

"I just had to testify against the mob, cut me some slack," he said and took another puff.

"You had to testify against the mafia?" Judy asked interestedly.

"What was that like?" Ioki asked.

"I'll tell ya," Booker said and began painting a picture for us. All I caught was something about his dad asking for his help. I tried to listen but his words were going in one ear and out the other. I folded my arms on the table and I slowly sunk my head down and closed my eyes. All their voices sounded far away before they eventually faded in a swirl of darkness.

When I fluttered my eyes open again, I realized that I was laying horizontally. Confused, I sat up and found that I was in a bed, but it wasn't mine. I looked around and did not recognize the bedroom I was in. There were some children's paintings hanging up against a boring beige wall, and there was a pile of dirty clothes in the corner. The room smelled like a gym locker. The last few hours before I fell asleep were hazy enough as it was, so I had no clue where I was.

I slowly got out of the bed and walked to the closed door. I creaked it open and peaked my head out to the living room before I felt a rush of relief. I was in Doug's apartment.

I walked out of the room and carefully closed the door behind me just as the front door opened. Doug walked in, holding a brown paper bag in his hands. He looked over at me and said, "you're up!"

"Good morning." I yawned.

"Might wanna check that watch of yours," Doug said as he walked into his kitchen and set the bag down on the counter and began taking out white to-go boxes from it.

I checked my watch and my eyes widened at the time. "Woah, um... good evening? What's going on?"

"You fell asleep at the restaurant last night," he said.

"Last night?" I asked. It felt like just a few minutes ago.

"Yeah. We remembered that you had that super long shift. We let you sleep because we knew that you shouldn't drive home, and I didn't want to pat you down to fetch your keys so I hope you don't mind. Booker almost took you to his place, but I figured that you'd rather wake up to food than that guy. I took the couch, but you really needed that sleep. You were out for almost 21 hours."

"Oh my god, I'm so sorry. I've never done that before."

Doug laughed, "don't sweat it, it happens to me too. I got breakfast-for-dinner from the Breakfast Café, if you want anything."

I nodded vigorously. "I'm starving."

"Come and get it," he said and frisbee tossed a paper plate toward me. I caught it in the air and joined him in the kitchen to fill my plate with pancakes, hash browns, bacon, sausage, and scrambled eggs.

We both made our way to his couch and he sat down first. He pointed to the television just as I sat down and he said, "I lost my remote. Can you turn it on?"

"I just sat down," I said as I placed my plate on my lap.

"Me too."

"Why can't you do it?"

"Because I'm eating," he said and shoved some bacon in his mouth. With his mouth full he said, "and I'm older."

"I worked for 48 hours straight," I stated.

"That was 21 hours ago," he rebutted.

"I'm the guest."

"I don't care."

"Fine," I huffed. I set my plate on the couch before I walked over to the television set and turned it on. I also was in charge of pressing the channel button until we got to a show that we both wanted to watch and I turned up the volume. When I was finally relieved of my duty, I got back to the couch and grabbed my plate and sat down and was finally able to enjoy my meal.

Doug and I used to work a lot more together before Tom joined Jump Street. We have stayed close through the years. He had become a surrogate older-brother to me.

"Have I told you about Debbie?" He asked.

"No," I said as I finished my eggs.

"She's just some girl I've been seeing. Tell me... is it normal for girls to use their own pee as a facial cleanser?"

I had to stop chewing just to look at Doug to see if he was serious. He was.

I shook my head, "no.. absolutely not."

"But she's a hippie."

"It doesn't matter," I laughed in disbelief.

"So I should probably break up with her, huh?"

"I really think you need to," I laughed.

"I will," Doug promised and took a bite of toast.

"Where's Clavo?" I asked. Clavo was a boy that Doug adopted a little while ago from El Salvador. He is actually Doug's nephew. I have had to babysit him once or twice. He's a really cute kid, and he is really sweet.

"He's at a friends house, I'm picking him up later," Doug said. Then he asked, "how have you been getting along without Tom?"

I sighed and cut off a piece of my pancake and said, "I miss him."

I shoved the syrupy piece in my mouth and Doug nodded. "Yeah, me too."

When Doug was done with his food, he set his plate on the coffee table in front of us and I was paying too close attention to the TV to realize that he was taking out nail clippers. It wasn't until he started to clip his toe nails that I noticed.

"What the hell are you doing?" I asked, leaning away from him. "Why do you always do this?"

"What? I'm done eating and this needed to be done," he said.

"I'm not!"

"Not my problem-o," he said and I heard another snap of his nail.

"That's nasty," I said and took my plate to the kitchen to be away from the danger-zone.

"My house, my rules."

I laughed and shook my head at him. He's disgusting, but I love him. He's like a big brother to me, and was becoming my closest friend. I'll always be thankful for my friendship with Doug. I don't know what I would do if he abandoned me too.

Thank you so much for reading! 💕💕
Next chapter is Mickey and an intense assignment with Officer Dean Garrett! (btw I was shocked to see that he was only in 2 episodes... where'd he go? That's one thing I don't really like about this show is that main characters disappear without an explanation lmao)