Chapter Text
Jake Peralta was frustrated, the new captain was really pissing him off. The tie obsession, and the rule following, at this point Jake thought he really was a robot. Captain McGintley was so much better, and yes Amy was right Jake liked him only because he let him do whatever he wanted. Although, he would never admit it in front of her. Jake even almost caught the murderer, a guy called Ratiko, only he got away. And he ruined Charles’s suit with something poop coloured, Jake didn't even want to ask what it was. And all of it over some overpriced ham. Now the new captain put him on all day archive duty which was supposed to start tomorrow. In short, he was annoyed.
He went into his apartment and jumped on the couch and leaned back, closing his eyes. Right now he just wanted to rest before something, that would probably be an extremely boring day. He was about to reach for his remote to turn on the TV and watch a John Wick movie that he rented for about the fourth time. But then the doorbell rang and he had to get up and answer the door.
Behind the door was a girl, about nine or ten years old. Her hair was dark brown, very similar to his own. She had a big bag behind her shoulders that looked really heavy.
“Hello, are you Jake Peralta?” she asked.
“Yes, what do you need?” he said, not quite understanding what that kid was doing at his door.
“My name is Eleanor Evans, I'm your daughter” she said “can I come in?” she asked. Surprised, he nodded, still not quite realizing what was going on. He heard the girl's voice from his kitchen “do you have any juice?”.
“Umm, yeah it's just in the-” he started mumbling, quickly interrupted by the voice of the kid.
“Don’t worry, found some” he walked in the kitchen, to see her taking out a box of orange juice, thank god it was orange juice and not something else.
“Kid slow down, who are you again?” he asked, looking at the kid who was currently going around his kitchen in search of a glass.
“I’m your daughter, weren't you listening?” she asked, finally finding that glass in one of the drawers.
“Slow down kid, I don't have a daughter,” he said.
“Did you date Hailey Evans?” she asked, very sure of what she was talking about.
“Yes-” he said, realizing where she was going with this. Because he did know Hailey, and they dated for a while.
“Let me guess, 10 years and 5 months ago?” she said, and the date was right.
“That’s my age, still don't believe I'm your daughter?” she asked, taking a sip of her juice.
“Listen, kid, I don't know how you even found me-” he started, trying to say something again.
“I took a bus” She took a bus on her own? Wasn't she like 9?. “And I have a name, Eleanor, you don't need to call me ‘kid'’”
“Oh yes, obviously,” he answered Eleanor. Maybe the name came from the song ‘Eleanor Rigby’ by The Beatles, it was Haley's favorite band after all. “Like the song?”
“Yes, Like the song.” she answered, knowing exactly what song he was talking about. She was definitely Haley's daughter, starting from the constant interrupting.
“Okay, why are you here? And where is your mother?” he asked.
“Oh, mum is dead” she said, and a streak of sadness momentarily came across her face “cancer”
“Oh, I'm sorry Eleanor” he said, the feeling of sadness rushing over him. Yes he hasn't seen Eleanor in 10 and a half years, but she still played a big part in his life. And she was, if the girl was telling the truth, the mother of his child.
“I came here because you're my dad. And a couple of days before she died, mum told me to find you, and give you this” she said, taking a letter out of the b bag which she placed on the counter. She handed it to him. He opened it, to find it was typed up.
Dearest Jake
The fact that your reading this means that I’m dead. And that you already met Eleanor. She is your daughter. I know that you might not believe it at first, but I can promise you she is. If you don't believe me then this letter contains enough money for a DNA test. My dear Jake, I know this is probably too much to ask, but please, take care of Eleanor. I know things haven't worked out between us, but it's my fault you never met her, not yours. Just give the relationship between you and Eleanor a chance. For me. You might not love me now, but you will always hold a very special place in my heart.
With love
Hailey.
Jack stared at the letter, the last thing left to him from his dead ex-lover. Is that what they were? Lovers? Girlfriend is a better word for it though. Yes, girlfriend. His ex-girlfriend. Who apparently had a child with him. Today was getting too much for him.
“So, can I stay here?” the voice of his daughter(still couldn't believe that this was real) brought him back to reality. He realized that he couldn't let her stay here today. He didn't even have any spare sheets, because he had forgotten to do the laundry. No, she couldn't stay here.
“Kid, I'm sorry, but no. Do you have anyone I could drive you to? A relative, maybe?” he asked, and god did her face when he said made him feel guilty.
“You could take me to Aunty Violet's house” she said, trying to hide the disappointment in her voice. They made their way downstairs in awkward silence, he tried o to look twice at Eleanor. He felt very guilty, but he just couldn't handle having a child right now. The transitioned from awkward to tense when they got to his Ford Mustang. The only time they spoke was when he asked for the address, which she gave him. He tried not to look at the backseat more than he had to. Just look at the road Jake he quietly told himself Just look at the road.
They pulled up at quite a nice house, somewhere in East Manhattan. The house looked really nice, definitely nicer than his apartment. He could see Eleanor having a better future here. They pulled up in front of it, and Eleanor almost ran out of the car, he quickly followed her. When he rang the doorbell, a middle aged woman opened the door to him. Her dark blond hair was in a messy bun, he just remembered who she was. Violet, an old friend of Haileys. Hailey introduced them at a party once, but he hasn't thought about her in years.
“Eleanor, oh my god, where have you been?” She sounded really worried, so the kid didn't tell anyone where she went. “Jake” Violet said coldly, only now noticing the man that was standing next to Eleanor.
“Hi” he said, feeling the tension wave rushing over him.
“I found my dad.” Eleanor said, letting herself inside the house. It must have been one of the habits that Hailey passed onto her. “It's what mom wanted.” Eleanor didn't even say goodbye to him, she just went in.
“Violet I-” he started, but was quickly interrupted by the woman in front of him.
“Goodbye, Jake” and the door was shut in front of him. Let's just say that he got home very late that night.