Chapter Text
The air between Jo and Link had been thick with unspoken words for weeks now, but tonight, those words had finally exploded into something real, something ugly. She hadn't meant for it to turn into a fight. She hadn't meant to bring up the twins. But the second the words left her mouth, his name tangled in the hurt of it, she knew there was no taking them back. So she left.
The doors of Joe's Bar swung shut behind her with a soft creak, the warm, low light pressing against her skin like a weighted blanket. The scent of whiskey and cheap beer lingered in the air, mingling with the faint aroma of grilled food from the kitchen. The bar was alive with chatter and laughter, but Jo barely processed any of it as she exhaled, trying to force the tension from her shoulders. She just needed a moment. A distraction. That's when she saw her.
Jules was at the bar, hunched slightly over her drink, swirling the glass in slow, absentminded circles. Her fingers were tight around it, the amber liquid inside catching the dim light. A few feet away, the rest of the interns were gathered around a booth, talking animatedly, but Jules was separate from them, tucked away in her own space.
Jo frowned. It wasn't like Jules to isolate herself, not really. The younger woman was usually the heart of the intern group, quick with a sarcastic remark, always sharp, always watching. Tonight, though, she was quiet, her expression unreadable.
Jo slid onto the stool beside her, offering a small smile. "Hey. Why aren't you with them?" She asked, nodding toward the booth, where the other interns were deep in conversation. "Just needed a minute." Jules answered, her voice was light but it was flat. Jo caught the way her fingers twitched around her drink, the way her jaw tightened slightly. Something was wrong. She knew that feeling all too well. The need to be alone while also wanting someone to notice.
"You alright?" Jo asked, her voice softer now. Jules hesitated, then exhaled a quiet, almost defeated laugh. "I've had better days." She said. Something about the way she said it, the weakness in her voice, Jo felt her heart ache at the sound. Jules was tough. She didn't let things break her easily. But right now, she looked a little lost, a little worn down and Jo had been there before. She didn't know what had happened and Jules didn't look like she wanted to talk about it. But Jo could offer something else.
"You feel like drinking?" Jo asked, nudging her shoulder slightly. "First round's on me." She added. That finally got Jules to glance at her, brows lifting in slight amusement. "You can't drink. You're pregnant." She pointed out. Jo rolled her eyes but smiled. "I can have water. It'll be fine." She said.
Jules stared at her for a moment, then shook her head with a smirk. "I appreciate the offer, but I think I'm good." She said, then lifted her glass slightly as if to prove her point. "Besides, aren't you showing favoritism?" She added with a teasing glint in her eye. Jo's grin widened, something warm and playful flickering in her chest. "Ever since Sierra Deleon, you've been my favorite." Jo said, nudging Jules again.
Jules blinked at her, thrown off for a second. Then, after a beat, she let out a soft chuckle, the first real one Jo had heard from her in a while. It was small, barely there, but it was something. Jo liked that. Jules, still smiling faintly, shook her head. "That's funny." Jules said. Jo tilted her head, intrigued. "Why?" She asked and Jules hesitated for a second. "Because you're my favorite too." She admitted. Jo's breath caught in her throat.
It wasn't a big declaration. It wasn't even flirtatious. But something about the way Jules said it. So simple, so easy, it sent a rush of warmth through Jo's chest. And for the first time since walking into the bar, since leaving that argument with Link behind, Jo felt a little unsteady in a completely different way.
She swallowed, trying to push past whatever strange, sudden emotions had crept up on her. "Really?" She asked, aiming for teasing but landing somewhere closer to breathless. Jules, not catching the shift in Jo's demeanor, just grinned slightly. "Why am I your favorite?" Jules asked. Jo exhaled a small laugh, trying to shake whatever this was and instead focused on the truth. "Because you saved Sierra's life. Her husband's, her kids' lives. And you just... listened. You cared. Not everyone does that." Jo said.
Jules' smirk faltered, something flickering behind her eyes. Jo couldn't tell what it was, but she could feel it. There was a weight to it, a hesitation, like Jules wasn't used to hearing things like that. Like maybe she wasn't sure how to take it. Jo, wanting to ease the moment, gave her another soft nudge. "I still stand by what I said. You did an incredible job with her, Jules." Jo said.
The second her name left Jo's lips, something changed. It was subtle, almost unnoticeable, but Jo felt it. Jules straightened ever so slightly, her fingers tightening around her glass. Her jaw tensed just a little and for the briefest second, she looked... rattled. Not in a bad way, but in a way that made Jo wonder.
Jules, clearly desperate to ignore whatever was happening inside her head, cleared her throat. "Well, Sierra's son did roll a toy on my arm and I had no idea what to do about it, so..." She said, then shrugged, trying to sound casual. "I felt awkward." She added. Jo stared at her for a second before bursting into laughter. Like, actual laughter. The kind that came from deep in her chest, the kind she hadn't felt all day.
Jules groaned, throwing her head back. "It's not funny!" She told. "It is so funny." Jo said, still laughing. Jules shot her a playful glare, but there was no real heat behind it. And Jo, unable to help herself, grinned through the last of her laughter.
"Why do kids scare you so much? Because they roll their toy cars on you?" Jo joked and Jules exhaled through her nose, giving Jo an exasperated look before shaking her head. "No, there's an actual explanation." She told. Jo, intrigued, leaned in slightly. "Oh? Do tell." She said. Jules hesitated, then chuckled to herself. "No, no. I am not admitting to that while I'm sober." Jules said and Jo, who began grinning again, turned to the bartender. "Keep 'em coming." She ordered.
And just like that, for the first time that night, Jo wasn't thinking about Link. And Jules? Jules wasn't thinking about whatever had been weighing her down. For now, at least.
An hour and a few drinks later, Jules was visibly tipsy. Not wasted, but definitely past the point of making good decisions. Jo, still nursing her one glass of water, watched as Jules attempted to slide off her barstool with a little too much enthusiasm. Only to sway slightly before catching herself on the counter.
Jo hid a smirk. "You good?" She asked. Jules waved her off, trying to look casual but failing spectacularly. "I'm fine." She said, dragging the word out as if that made it more convincing. Jo chuckled, shaking her head before leaning in. "You sure? Because you're looking real close to regretting your life choices in about six hours." Jo said and Jules blinked at her. "That's future Jules' problem." Jules told. Jo rolled her eyes but couldn't help smiling. Still, as Jules reached for her coat, Jo instinctively reached out, catching her wrist.
The second her fingers wrapped around Jules' skin, something subtle. Something barely there but impossible to ignore, passed between them. A flicker of heat. The tiniest spark, like static electricity, humming beneath Jo's fingertips.
Jules stilled. Her gaze flickered down to where Jo's hand curled around her wrist, lingering there for just a second too long. It was nothing. Just skin on skin, warm, steady. But for some reason, neither of them moved. Jo swallowed. Jules' lips parted, like she wanted to say something, but instead, she exhaled softly, shaking her head as if clearing a thought. When she finally looked up, her expression was unreadable, a flicker of something uncertain in her eyes. Jo let go. The warmth faded almost instantly.
"You should come back to my place." Jo said, keeping her voice light, pushing past whatever that was. "Just for the night." She added and Jules tilted her head slightly, the suggestion clearly catching her off guard.
Then she smirked. It was lazily, a little unsteady, but still Jules. "Jo Wilson..." She slurred slightly, "Are you offering to take me home?" She questioned. Jo scoffed but didn't let go of the conversation so easily. "You can barely walk straight. You shouldn't be alone tonight." She told. Jules blinked, considering, then shook her head. "That's sweet, but I'll just head home. The walk will sober me up." She said and Jo frowned, watching her closely. "Jules..." She said.
Before she could finish, the rest of the interns approached, Lucas, Simone and Blue, all looking at Jules with varying degrees of amusement and concern.
"How much have you had to drink?" Simone asked, eyeing the glass in Jules' hand. Jules waved them off, again, unbothered. "Relax, I'm not gonna drive home." She said and Lucas arched a brow. "Okay, so what's your plan then?" He asked. "The walk will sober me up." Jules repeated, emphasizing it like she was saying something incredibly wise. Jo sighed, already knowing how this was going to end.
And, right on cue, as Jules took a step forward, her balance betrayed her. She stumbled. It was just slightly, but enough for Jo to reach out on instinct.
The moment Jo's hands caught Jules' arms, the same feeling from earlier returned. Except this time, it was stronger. A quick, sharp flicker, something just beneath the surface, like a current passing between them. Jules sucked in a small breath, freezing for half a second. Jo felt it too.
Her hands tightened, steadying Jules automatically, but she was aware of every single point of contact. The warmth of Jules' skin through her sleeves, the way her breath hitched. It was so quick, so soft, it was almost imperceptible. Almost.
Jules blinked up at her, momentarily stunned. Jo exhaled, steadying herself just as much as she was steadying Jules. "Okay. That's enough of that." She murmured, forcing her voice to stay even. Jules opened her mouth, probably to protest, but Jo didn't give her the chance. "You're coming back with me. My apartment is a few blocks away. No arguments." Jo said firmly. Jules, still off-balance, didn't exactly have a solid counter-argument. Especially when Jo still had a firm grip on her.
Simone and Lucas exchanged a glance, then looked at Jo. "She'll be safe with you?" Lucas asked, though it wasn't really a question. It was more like an acknowledgment. Jo nodded, adjusting Jules' coat as she steadied her. "I'll make sure she sleeps it off. She'll be fine." She said and Blue gave a lazy thumbs-up. "Cool. Call if you need backup." He said. Jules made a noise of protest, but Jo ignored her, looping an arm around her waist just in case. "Alright, come on, Tipsy. Let's get you home." She said.
And with that, she led Jules out of the bar, the cool night air hitting them as they stepped onto the sidewalk. Jules, head lolling slightly, sighed dramatically. "You're really bossy, you know that?" She said. Jo laughed, shaking her head. "Yeah and you're really drunk. So, we're even." Jo said and Jules hummed in response, leaning just a little heavier into Jo's side as they walked. Jo didn't mind. Not even a little.
Jo's apartment was quiet when they stepped inside, the kind of silence that felt heavier in contrast to the bar's noise. She wasn't worried about waking Luna because Amelia had her tonight. But the hush still settled over them, wrapping around the space like a blanket.
Jules let out a soft sigh as she kicked off her boots, swaying slightly before she caught herself. "I'm fine." She muttered, though the slight slur in her voice and the way she practically melted onto the edge of the bed said otherwise. Jo smirked. "Yeah? And I'm the Queen of England." Jo said and Jules gave her a lazy grin. "Your Majesty." She slurred, attempting a bow from her seated position before dissolving into giggles.
Jo rolled her eyes, but she couldn't fight the smile tugging at her lips. "Okay, let's get you ready for bed before you try to knight me with a remote control or something." Jo said. Jules groaned, rubbing her hands down her face, but didn't move. Jo knelt to unlace her boots when Jules suddenly stiffened. Jo barely had time to register it before Jules lurched forward, scrambling to sit up.
"I have to call Maxine." She blurted out, suddenly urgent. "I-I didn't tell her I wasn't coming home." She added and Jo blinked. "Wait, what?" She asked. "My bag." Jules mumbled, trying to push herself up, reaching toward where her purse had been set on Jo's dresser. Her movements were uncoordinated, sluggish but desperate, like the thought had only just hit her but was now the most important thing in the world.
Jo's stomach clenched. Jules was drunk. Drunk and unsteady, and the way she was flailing toward her bag made Jo's heart lurch with the very real possibility that she was about to faceplant onto the hardwood floor.
Acting on instinct, Jo moved fast, reaching out and catching Jules around the waist before she could get too far. "Whoa, okay. Nope." Jo said firmly, gently but forcefully pulling Jules back onto the bed. Jules resisted for half a second, but Jo was stronger, keeping a steady hold on her. Jules let out a frustrated breath, but Jo didn't miss the way her body sagged slightly in relief, like she knew deep down that Jo was right.
"Jules, what's going on?" Jo asked, her voice softer now. Jules sighed, rubbing her temples as if trying to will away the dizziness. "Maxine. I live with her. She's 81 and she worries if I don't come home. I-I don't want her to think something happened." Jules explained.
The concern in her voice was real, even through the haze of alcohol. Jo's chest tightened. Even in this state, Jules' first instinct was to make sure someone else wasn't worried. That did something to Jo, something warm and protective settling deep in her bones.
"Okay, okay." Jo said, rubbing a soothing hand over Jules' back. "Relax. I'll do it." She told and Jules blinked up at her. "What?" She asked. "I'll call her. You just focus on getting changed." Jo said. Jules frowned, her expression still foggy with alcohol. "But-" She started but Jo squeezed her shoulder. "I'll tell her you're fine. No worrying, no panic. I'll start with "Jules is fine" so she doesn't freak out. Okay?" Jo said and Jules hesitated.
Jo could still see the tension in her shoulders, the worry in her expression. Jo crouched slightly so they were at eye level. "I promise, Jules. I've got it. Go change." Jo said, her voice gentle.
For a second, Jules just looked at her, something quiet and uncertain flickering behind her gaze. Then, finally, she let out a breath and gave a small nod. "Okay." She murmured and Jo smiled. "Good. Pajamas are in the drawer. Knock yourself out." She said and Jules huffed but pushed herself up, swaying slightly before making her way to the dresser. Jo watched her for a beat before grabbing Jules' phone from her bag.
She found Maxine's contact in the contacts and pressed the call button, lifting the phone to her ear. It rang twice before a tired but alert voice picked up. "Jules?" She heard, then immediately softened at the worry in the older woman's tone. "No, this is Jo Wilson. Jules' friend from the hospital." Jo said. A second passes, then Maxine speaks again.
"Is she okay?" She asked. "She's fine. She had a few drinks and I didn't want her walking home alone, so she's staying at my place tonight." Jo explained. "Well, I always tell her to be careful with that tequila." Maxine muttered and Jo couldn't help but grin. "Yeah, I think she learned that lesson tonight." Jo said before Maxine chuckles.
"She talks about you, you know?" She said and Jo blinked. "She does?" Jo asks. "Oh, all the time." Maxine mused, her voice warm. "Talks about admiring you. Says you're one of the best. Loves everything you do." She said.
Jo's stomach dipped. It was a strange thing, hearing that. Loves everything you do. The words settled somewhere deep, unnameable, curling warm and tight inside her chest. She wasn't sure what she was feeling. She just knew she felt the same.
"She's..." Jo started, then swallowed. "She's pretty amazing, too." Jo said and Maxine hums. "I don't know if she'll have time to come back in the morning." Jo said. "Oh, that's alright. Who knows? Maybe she'll have you drop her off after work and I'll be able to meet you." She said and Jo chuckled. "Yeah. I'll definitely offer." Jo said and Maxine chuckled. "Good night, Maxine." Jo added. "You too, sweetheart." She heard. Jo hung up, her fingers lingering on the phone for a beat longer than necessary before setting it back in Jules' bag.
Jules stood in the bathroom, her fingers gripping the edge of the sink. The soft glow of the mirror light made her look different. More tired, more undone. The scent of Jo's t-shirt surrounded her. Clean. Warm. A little like apple cinnamon. A touch of sweetness with just the right amount of spice. Something fresh, but with that cozy, lived-in vibe. Something unmistakably her.
Jules inhaled slowly, closing her eyes. And just like that, the world steadied. Her stomach settled, the spinning in her head dulled, the tension in her limbs unraveled just slightly. It didn't make sense.
Why did Jo's scent and Jo's clothes feel like an anchor? Why did it feel safe? Jules exhaled, shaking her head. It was probably just the alcohol. Yeah. That was it. With one last look at herself in the mirror, she pushed off the counter and left the bathroom.
Jo looked up just as Jules stepped into the room. And for a second, she forgot how to breathe. Jules stood there, loose-limbed and drowsy, wearing Jo's old t-shirt and sweatpants that were slightly too big for her. She shouldn't have looked stunning. But she did. Something about the way she pulled at the hem of the shirt absentmindedly, the way the soft fabric draped over her frame, made Jo's stomach do something weird. Jo swallowed.
"Maxine's good. I told her that I wasn't sure if you're gonna be able to have time to go over there in the morning. But I also told her I can drop you off after our shifts." Jo said and Jules nodded, barely registering it as she slid into bed.
Jo hesitated before stepping closer, brushing a loose strand of hair from Jules' face before she could stop herself. "Go to sleep, Jules." She murmured. Jules' lips curved slightly, barely there, but enough. And then, just as sleep was pulling her under, she speaks up. "Thanks, Jo." Jo hears, then lets out a quiet breath. "Anytime." Jo whispered.