Chapter Text
“You know, we should go to Canada.”
John stopped what he was doing, eyes rising to meet his sister’s. He’d been leaning over the pool table lining up the perfect shot.
Across the table from him stood Jane, hands wrapped around her pool stick to lean on. Her long, vibrant, red hair was pulled back in a sleek ponytail, freckles standing out against her pale skin.
No one ever believed they were twins. It wasn’t too hard to figure out why; she took after their dad with deep red hair and bright green eyes, while he looked more like their mom with dark brown hair, though he’d kept his military short, and vivid blue eyes. Genetics was a strange kind of lottery.
Eager to let off some steam from the nonstop week they’d had as detectives at Chicago PD, they’d decided to go to Hades, a rundown bar off the beaten path.
It didn’t happen often but once in a while they got a chance to pretend they were just normal people out having some fun.
Wondering what was going on in his twin’s mind, John went back to studying the arrangement of balls on the table. “Why Canada of all places? You meet some hot guy online or something?”
“Heh, wouldn’t you like to know?”
Actually, he would but she didn’t need to know that. The less Jane had the upper hand on him the better. She already never let him forget she was born a whole three minutes before he was.
He’d thought as they’d grown older she’d relent a little but it simply wasn’t in her nature. Of course, she could be referring to the fact she thought he might be interested in the guy. Never could tell with her.
John knew he was swallowing the bait and hook she’d thrown, distracted by trying to win against her for once. “So, are you gonna spill? Why Canada?”
He missed the shot as expected, looking on in disgust as the yellow striped ball ricocheted off the corner and the cue ball tumbled into the pocket instead. Figures. She’d distracted him after all, his mind half on trying to win and half on what she was talking about.
Tsking at his miss, Jane stepped up to the table to take a turn, “Having trouble with the big balls, little brother?”
John resisted the urge to groan out loud. He just knew that was going to be a recurring theme for the night - innuendos about balls. “Quit avoiding my question.”
Knowing she was driving him crazy, Janie took her time; grabbing the cue ball, placing it just so, aiming, and then finally pocketing a blue ball.
Standing up from the table, green eyes sparkling, she grabbed the ball she’d just sunk out of the pocket and rolled it around in her hand, “Small balls are so much easier to...handle, keeps them from turning blue.” Laughing at the frustrated look he gave her, she relented, “Okay, okay. Since you’re dying to know why...have you seen the RCMPs up there? I’ve decided I want to see them...up close and personal.”
He stared at her, incredulous, “So, the only reason for this sudden desire for Canada is to check out their police force? Can’t a uniformed cop here in Chicago fulfill your deviant fantasies?”
A shrug of her shoulders, “No. Not really.” He blew out a frustrated breath and she gave in, “If you must know, we have a new case...kind of. Remember the perp who was burglarizing the upper class? He’s back and the powers that be want him caught. Yesterday. Guy crossed into Canada, continuing his spree all the way to Vancouver and now he’s back. Some Mountie is headed down here with all their files.”
She stared at him waiting for her brother to process the info. Didn’t take long, his eyes blazed brightly in anger once he put the pieces together.
Mentally cursing herself as those eyes zeroed in on her and not wanting to ruin their night out so early, she changed subjects. “But seriously...have you seen their Mounties? Here…” grabbing her phone, she started scrolling through photos.
John shook his head. Leave it to Jane to drop a bomb like that and then change course. And now wanted to show him internet pics she downloaded onto her phone. Of Mounties. Why was he even surprised? She got something in her mind and then obsessed about it until she became bored. But until that time, she was likely to drive him nuts with it.
He was going to need more beer.
Leaving Jane scrolling through her phone, John headed to the bar for a pitcher of beer. Unconsciously, he rotated his shoulder where he’d been shot nearly a year ago. And by none other than the asshole who’s case files were going to be in their hands soon. Damn Finch for getting the drop on him. He had a score to settle.
The pitcher placed in front of him, John grabbed it and found Jane setting up for another game. She paused, coming over to shove the phone into his face. “Here, look.”
A picture of several RCMPs were standing at attention in front of their office. So, okay, they were hot. Not all of them appealed to him, though. Just one in particular stood out...definitely his type.
Pushing the phone away, he grabbed his pool stick. It wasn’t like he’d ever actually get to meet the Mountie in the photo. From the corner of his eye, he saw Jane grinning at him...as if she knew what he was thinking.
Ignoring her, he broke, hearing the satisfying crack of the cue ball against the other balls, watching as they scattered over the table. He looked up to see his sister toasting him with a glass of beer.
Looked like he was going to be putting up with his competitive sister and her ideas of what to do with those Mounties for the rest of the night.