Sorry this chapter is a little later than normal. I was moving in to my college apartment. Classes start tomorrow. I'm cutting down on my work schedule to give myself more time to focus on class. I may not be online as much as normal. I was online for like five minutes a day these past few days.

Updates should still come out at a regular pace unless I have exams. I might have more exams than normal because I'm taking more lecture-oriented classes instead of my typical hands-on classes. I'm a film and English double major, so my film classes tend to be project-oriented. I'm not taking any film classes this semester, so...

Thank you for so much love on the last chapter. Over 100 reads and 30 votes, that's insane! I'm amazed the goal got crushed like that. I'm so glad you guys are liking the story.

This is a Jimin-focused chapter, so prepare yourselves! I hope you like it.

Same goal as before: 20 votes for the next chapter!

☂ Chapter 7 ☂

Two Years Ago

"Daddy!"

"My baby!" Jimin said with a squeaky laugh. He knelt in time for the toddler to jump into his arms. He giggled and kissed the head of thick black hair. The young boy, who had been napping a few minutes ago, nuzzled into Jimin's arms.

The kitchen that had once been cold filled with warmth the second Jimin held his boy. They were near the archway that had a hallway connecting to the rest of their apartment. Bright lights were above them and shining on their tan bodies. Jimin had taken June to the Haeundae Beach one too many times, but Jimin doubted June minded.

"Are my boys having fun?" a female voice said from down the hall.

Jimin parted from his boy and ruffled the kid's locks before meeting his partner's eyes. She had the same mascara as always, but this time, it looked smeared. There were bags under her dark brown eyes and stains on the edges of her gray blazer's sleeves.

Jimin got to his feet and didn't care if he slipped on the checkered black and white tiles the kitchen had. He left June behind and went to his partner, his hands going to her cheeks on instinct. Her short hair brushed by his fingers as he touched her.

"What happened? Did Captain Kim give you a hard time again?"

"No," Irene said, backing away from his touch. "I had another appointment today."

Jimin's tongue felt swollen inside his mouth. "More bad news?"

"Is it ever good news?"

"Mommy!" June interrupted as he bounced over. Jimin backed away in time for June to latch himself onto Irene's leg. Irene laughed and knelt, bringing the boy in her embrace.

"Did he spoil you today?"

June giggled. "Daddy got me ice cream."

"I... did not," Jimin mumbled.

Despite how June was not Jimin's son, June had been calling him daddy all throughout his childhood. Jimin preferred it that way. Just the thought of June's father made Jimin roll his eyes. Although he was a cop, Jimin wished he could shoot that bastard in the head ten times.

"And he didn't get any for me?" Irene asked with wide eyes and a slacked jaw.

Jimin gulped. "I'm sleeping on the couch tonight, aren't I?"

"You do that every night."

"You never let me make jokes."

Jimin went to the stove and continued making dinner. It was a recipe Jimin got from Irene's late mother. As he peeked over his shoulder, he noticed there were wrinkles on Irene's forehead that weren't there the last time he had seen her. She had been working overtime. Jimin had tried to protest, but Irene pulled the seniority card every time.

Ten minutes passed by, and soon enough, dinner was served. June bounced in his seat and fiddled with the chopsticks Jimin had taught him to use.

"Bud," Jimin said, which caused June to snap his head up. Some of his wavy, thick hair fell in his eyes. "Tell your mother what we did today."

June clapped his chopsticks together and turned to Irene. "Daddy taught me curse words!"

Jimin choked on his food. Irene paused with noodles hanging off her chopsticks. Two of them fell into her bowl, and she opted to set the utensils down.

"And what words did he teach you, June?"

"Crap! Frick! Stupid!"

Jimin pointed his chopsticks at June. "This is slander. I told him not to say those words."

"Jimin," Irene said with a snicker. "How does he even know them?"

Jimin grunted. "Shit."

June lit up. "Shit!"

"June!" Jimin and Irene said.

The rest of dinner consisted of Irene tearing Jimin a new one for cursing around her child. June laughed the whole time. When dinner was over, Jimin cleaned up while Irene helped June shower, brush his teeth, and go to bed. Jimin had been envious of June. He got to sleep whenever he wanted. Jimin got to stay up doing dishes with the dishwashing gloves he hated. They made his perfect skin feel wrinkly.

After an hour, Irene came into the kitchen. Jimin wanted to surprise her, so he wiped down all the counters, organized the fridge, and refilled all their seasonings. When she stepped in, Jimin noticed she had gotten into her pink llama pajamas. She was almost a decade older than Jimin, yet she acted younger than him.

"You think my husband will ever come back?" she asked.

Jimin snorted. "That's one helluva conversation starter, June bug."

He had been calling her June bug ever since she gave birth to June. She would never admit it, but he knew she adored the name more than her own.

She leaned against the fridge while he finished up the last three dishes. A family of three had more clutter than Jimin imagined, but he never complained.

"Why are you doing this?"

Jimin shut off the water. "Doing what?"

"Taking care of my kid as if he's your own."

"We've been over this."

"Once, back when June was a newborn. We haven't talked about it in years."

Jimin set June's favorite dinosaur bowl down on the drying rack. He took off the gloves and faced Irene, who had her arms crossed over her chest.

"You took care of me. Now, let me take care of you."

She softly smiled. It turned into a grin before turning into a laugh. Jimin joined in, and she hugged him. There was no one he loved more than Irene, and he knew he wouldn't be where he was without her.

"You want to tell me about the appointment?" he asked as they parted.

"You already know. Let's not go through the routine again."

"We have a routine?"

"I tell you it's getting worse, you hug me and tell me it'll be okay, then I go to the next appointment and the cycle repeats."

Jimin rolled up his sleeves and put his hands on her shoulders. Tension had been building in her muscles, and he could feel it as he held her. It made his lips twitch into a frown as he brought her closer.

"I'll change it up."

She laughed, but it had no amusement in it. "What will you change?"

He grinned until it crinkled his eyes. "I won't hug you this time."

The laugh came back, and it heated his belly with ecstasy to hear such a joyous sound spew from her mouth. Irene had the most beautiful smile. He wished he could see it more.

"You're such an asshole," she said. He couldn't tell if she was chuckling or holding back tears.

"Uh oh, keep your voice down. You don't want June to repeat that."

She trembled, and he spotted goosebumps on the back of her neck. "Stop doing this."

"Doing what?"

"Making it hard to say goodbye."

It was his turn to tear up. He tilted her chin up with his baby-like finger and forced them to lock eyes. Moisture coated her face. He wiped it away with his thumb.

"You aren't saying goodbye. It'll be okay," he whispered.

More tears fell down her face as her lower lip quivered. "God damn you and your optimism. Stop it. Please, stop."

"I don't know what I'm doing, June bug."

She sobbed. "Stop making me want to live!"

"I'm sorry," he said as he rubbed her shoulders. "I know I said I'd change it up, but..."

"Just hug me, you fucking asshole."

He did. She cried against his chest for the next half an hour. She said a list of profanities, none directed at him. Or maybe they were. He didn't mind.

Irene had always been small, but in his arms, she felt frail. He had never seen her weak before. He had known her since he graduated high school and went into the police academy. For years, it had been her mentoring him. It had been her taking care of him and teaching him the ins and outs of being an officer. He never thought he'd see the day it was the other way around.

When she stopped her barrage of tears, she plopped down in one of the kitchen chairs and demanded alcohol. Jimin had a stash on the top shelf. He climbed onto the counter and got it. It was sealed so June wouldn't get his hands on it, not that he was tall enough to reach anyway. Hell, even Jimin had to get onto the counter to access it.

Irene had loved red wines since she began drinking, and Jimin couldn't blame her. He poured a glass for her, but she insisted on pouring one for him despite their culture. She downed hers before Jimin took a sip.

"You should buy more," she said. It sounded like a suggestion, but he knew it was more of an order. "I'll cook us a steak dinner and we'll drink our asses off."

"We shouldn't get drunk when we have a kid."

She leaned back and held her empty glass against her chest. "We have a kid?"

Jimin took another sip and swirled the flavor around his tongue before swallowing it. "Yeah."

She nodded once. Twice. Then, she grabbed the bottle and poured more. Silence followed. It swayed in the air and pinched at Jimin's ears. It smelled of wine, and it was sweet like grapes.

"I'm going to change June's family name," Irene said.

"Can you do that?"

"We'll find out. My husband isn't coming back, it's time I move on. I need to change it for both of us, not just him."

Jimin knew what she was thinking, but he felt the need to ask anyway. "What are you going to change it to?"

A smile played on the corners of Irene's lips. "Park."

"That's not a good idea."

"He already sees you as his father," Irene said as if that'd make Jimin's concerns fly away. "Soon, you'll be his only parent."

"Irene, I can't do that."

"Why?"

"I..." Jimin trailed off and set his glass down. He ran his hands through his hair. "I didn't know who I was until you showed up. Raising June is already hard enough, but raising him without you? I can't even imagine my life without you, let alone raising your kid. I can't do that."

"So what do we do?" she asked in a tone as gentle as a breeze on the beach.

He mimicked her earlier actions by downing his entire glass. "We hope."

"And if that doesn't work?"

He poured himself more, then topped her off. The bottle clinked against the white counter that had wobbly legs and crayon drawings scattered around. Jimin winced as he threw some more liquid down his throat. When the alcohol settled in his stomach and nestled in his core, he smiled. It didn't reach his eyes.

"Then we hope some more."

☂☂☂

Jimin shut the locket and tucked it under his uniform.

Jimin liked to keep himself occupied by staring at his locket, but every time he did, it brought back memories. Memories of his happier life in Busan. A life free from the violent crime rates in NYC, or the racism crawling around every corner of 1PP.

It was ironic. NYPD was diverse. There were different sexualities, skin colors, and religions in every sector. Yet, somehow, there were racist assholes in every sector too.

The door to Captain Jeon's office snapped open, and out walked Y/n. She didn't meet Jimin's eyes as she brushed by him and left the area. Jimin got up from the floor and stepped inside the office that smelled of petrichor mixed with black coffee. He assumed Y/n, who had just been outside in the rain, brought the first scent in. When Jimin spotted the mug next to Jungkook's bright computer, he figured out where the second one came from.

"Sit," Jungkook said, and Jimin obeyed.

It had been three weeks since Y/n declared she would change partners. She followed through on her word. The mission ended up being a giant failure. The ship was a bust, and they couldn't find any other children. Jimin wasn't allowed to know Jaewon's status, not that he bothered asking. Kids weren't his favorite topic nowadays.

"Are you happy?" Jungkook asked as he stood behind his desk.

"Jeon, do you know a single police officer who's living the American dream?"

Jungkook narrowed his eyes. "Do you have any idea how serious this is? Partner changes happen once in a great while, and normally due to old age, officers switching careers, or one of them being promoted."

"I don't need a lecture, Jungkook. She went through my personal belongings and invaded my privacy. Yes, I blew up and said things I shouldn't have said-"

"Because you refuse to acknowledge that you have trauma. When's the last time you've said her name, Jimin?"

Jimin set his jaw. "I don't know."

"Say it." When Jimin didn't speak, Jungkook sat down and rested his hand on his forehead. "Fine. You're no longer being considered for a promotion."

Jimin expected that. It stung, but at least he expected it. But before he got a chance to respond, Jungkook leaned forward and said words Jimin never thought he'd hear.

"And you're being paired with someone new."

"Excuse me?" Jimin asked with wide eyes.

"Even our commissioner dislikes you. He's willing to give you one more chance, but only if you can prove you can work with other people."

"I work with Seulgi and Hoseok-"

"And now Y/n is going to be working with them on your behalf. You're going to learn from someone older and more experienced. Someone in a higher position," Jungkook interrupted. His eyes moved to the door, and a second later, it opened to reveal Lieutenant Kasper.

Jimin almost grabbed his gun. "Oh you have to be shitting me."

Kasper smiled. "My partner is about to switch departments. Looks like you got lucky."

"I'd rather be shoved up Godzilla's ass on a Taco Tuesday than work with this racist asshole," Jimin said, jumping to his feet. "Do you have any idea what he says about us?"

"If what you're implying is true, take it up with HR. You need to learn from a seasoned officer."

"This is insulting. You know about my record back home."

Jungkook banged his fist on the table. "This is your home now, Jimin!"

No one spoke after that. Jungkook buried his head in his hands, and Jimin made Kasper, or his new partner, leave. Jimin went over and rubbed Jungkook's back, but he knew it wasn't much help.

"Jungkook," Jimin muttered. "I'm not the only one with unresolved trauma."

Jungkook glanced up. There were tears in his eyes, but they never fell. "I wish I could run back to Busan, I wish I had the luxury to think about it and not feel like I..."

"I like to think you're my best friend," Jimin said as he sat on the desk. For once, Jungkook didn't yell at him for it. "So as your best friend, I strongly suggest you get some sleep."

"What? I've been sleeping-"

"Y/n gets more sleep than you and she has insomnia."

Jungkook huffed. "I'm surprised you know anything about her."

"I know you may not believe me, but I don't hate her."

"You hate what she reminds you of."

Jimin chuckled in a dry tone. "Something like that. I doubt Kasper will be any better. You know he's a racist asshole, why would you pair me with him?"

Jungkook licked his lips and sighed. "Keep this between us, but the commissioner knows Kasper's racist. Everyone does. The commissioner told me if you can survive Kasper, you'll get your promotion."

"I thought I wasn't being promoted."

"Consider this a special scenario. No one tests your willpower like Lieutenant Kasper. Survive him until I promote Y/n to officer, then you can have your old spot back with Hoseok and Seulgi as a detective. It should only take a few months at most. Oh, and try not to cause any fights."

"I don't bother fighting with Kasper. He's not worth it."

Jungkook snorted. "I meant with Y/n."

"What? But I'm not her partner anymore."

"Well, let's just say you'll be seeing her quite often," Jungkook said. At Jimin's surprise, Jungkook held up his hand to cut him off. "I pushed for you to be on the child trafficking case."

"Why?"

"I know I'm an asshole, but I believe in you. You handled the stakeouts well, I trust you'll do the same for this."

"But we hit a dead end."

"Don't be so sure about that-"

'Scree!'

Jimin and Jungkook yelped and winced as Jimin's walkie-talkie went off. Jimin groaned and grabbed it, adjusting the signal so it wouldn't blast their ears off. When the static cleared, he heard a female voice. Y/n's voice.

"Officer Park, are you there?"

Jimin and Jungkook shared a glance before Jimin answered. "Here. What seems to be the problem?"

Much to his dismay, there was no response for a full minute. Or, at least, it felt that way. Sweat piled on the top of Jimin's head. Beads of moisture dripped down his skin. He didn't bother wiping it away until Y/n's voice came back.

"What's your 20?"

"Captain Jeon's office, why?" Jimin asked.

"Hoseok and Seulgi told me to talk to you since you'd know what to do. We have a 10-79. Meet us in the garage."

A 10-79. A hostage situation. Jimin hadn't dealt with one of those in ages, but back in Busan, he had been trained to handle them.

"Bring Kasper," Jungkook mumbled, but Jimin shook him off to ask Y/n a far more important question.

"Where is it happening?"

Worry filled his veins when Y/n didn't respond. Right when Jimin was about to give up and go get Kasper, the static came back, and Y/n's voice said two words that haunted him to his core.

"The ship."

☂☂☂

A/N: Well, we learned a little more about Jimin's past. Jimin's police partner back in Busan has been revealed: Irene. Now since more information has been revealed, do you guys have any updated theories about why Jimin left Busan?