Chapter Text
Carina DeLuca collected an envelope from the department secretary and recognized the writing immediately. She tossed it
her notifications are silenced and she didn't notice the missed texts until after she closed the last of the backlog. She was
formulating an angry response when Andrea Herrera tapped on her office door. "Hi Andy...can you please tell your friend
Lieutenant Maya Bishop to STOP CONTACTING ME UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE, PLEASE?!"
"Um...Hi, and I...I don't really want to be in the middle, Carina. I consider both of you friends and honestly, I have my own
issues I'm working through. Sorry."
"You remember that you lived in my condo for more than a few months after you dumped Sullivan, correct?"
"Of course, I remember that; I also remember how YOU inserted yourself into my situation without being invited, pushing and
harping for me to complete the divorce when I clearly was on the fence"-
"On the fence ??! Did I also push and harp for you to not even wait until your divorce was final to jump into bed with
that ASSHOLE Beckett?!"
Andy huffed and said "O...KAY...I'm gonna go and any message that you have for your wife tell her yourself! Have a good day."
Muttering under her breath Carina waited until after lunch to open the envelope; inside is an expensive card asking her to 'Please
Please Please Be My Valentine!' She snorted and shook her head before dialing her estranged wife's mobile phone. "Hey! I'm so glad
you called!" Maya immediately babbled.
"I told you that I will let you know when I am ready to talk with you about our situation, May. You DO NOT LISTEN, you don't respect
my decisions...and I know that you haven't spoken with Dr. Lewis-I know that for a fact."
"I; I was going to" is the extent of the blonde's weak response.
"The 14th is in two days. I will not be your Valentine. No. If you go to therapy and actually WORK toward a solution to what are the roots
of your trauma we can try for Valentine 2022; if not"...
"If not what?"
Carina responded cooly "Do you really want me to answer that?" Maya DOESN'T...
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"If you have somethin' to do I can look after Luna and Scout," Link offered.
"That's okay," said Jo. "Another Valentine's Day 'flop'-I'm over it! You?"
"Fuck Valentine's.'
"You have the best catchphrases, Atticus Lincoln: YEAH! FUCK VALENTINE'S!" Jo howled.
Once their laughter is no more than the occasional giggle Jo quipped "Ya know, tho...Helm's shift at Emerald's is nearly over;
I could ask her to keep an eye on the kiddos while we get our Valentine's on."
"Hmm. I wasn't sure that you'd...want that."
"I DO."
"Then I do as well."