(I would put a spoiler warning for the 21 and 22 Jump Street films for the next couple of chapters but the movies came out like a decade ago. Watch them!!)
April 2012
I graduated from Evergreen State University with honors in 1992. I accepted a career with the Federal Bureau of Investigation shortly after where I became a Special Agent on the force. I had a few heart-to-hearts with Fuller and Tom before making such a big decision like this, especially when I transferred to the Chicago field office. Tom and Doug talked me into taking the promotion, but leaving Evergreen State was one of the most difficult decisions I've ever made, but one of the best.
Tom and I stayed in close contact, even after I moved to Chicago. We would call each other as often as we could, and he would write to me almost weekly, and I kept every single letter. He wrote about all the things he was scared of, and excited about. He said that when things got rough, he would think of me and he would close his eyes just so he can see me again.
That worked very well until 2007, when he told me that he was going to be handling an intense undercover case, so he wouldn't be able to write for a while. He was not allowed to write to me, or text me, or even call me. He promised that he would show back up at my door when he and Penhall were off the case, and every day I looked forward to seeing him again. I was just waiting for my officer to come back home.
This morning, my phone rang. I was overjoyed when I saw that the area code came from Metropolis. I quickly answered it with the biggest grin, and my heart was ready to hear Tom's voice again, after five long years of not being able to hear from him at all.
"Mickey?" Judy Hoffs said on the other end. Her voice was shaky, and she was never shaken.
My heart dropped, "hey, Judy. What's up?"
"You're going to have to sit down for this," she began. I immediately sunk onto my couch, where she delivered the bad news. Doug and Tom were both shot to death while infiltrating a gang in Metropolis. Her voice was low and soft, and I let her speak.
Once she became silent, my mind was blank. I could hear the seriousness in her voice, but I defaulted to denial. There was no way that they were dead. They can't be. The world is not that selfish and cruel.
I let out a joyless chuckle and I said, "did Doug put you up to this?"
"Mickey, please—"
"There is no way this is true."
"Mickey, they are dead. Tom is dead. Doug is dead."
I shook my head while tears sprung onto my red cheeks. "No, no, no they're not. I am going to call Tom right now, and he is going to pick up the phone. I'm going to call him... and you'll see."
"Mickey—"
I immediately hung up the phone and quickly dialed Tom's number. I haven't been able to call him in a very long time, but I just needed to hear his voice. I needed to hear him just one last time.
Ring
Ring
Ring
Silence. Not even a voicemail greeting. In my frustration, I hung up and called his number again. And again, and again. The silence was deafening. I anxiously called Doug, and I received the same response.
Nothing.
My shaky hand put the landline back on its base. I still could not fathom how they were gone. They had always been such a big part of my life for so long, and I didn't have a chance to see them and say goodbye properly. I guess you never know when the last time you will see someone.
The phone rang which made my heart leap out of my chest. If it was Tom or Doug, I was preparing a speech about how they scared me half to death. My eyes darted straight to the caller ID, and Hoffs, J. was flashing on the little screen. I could physically feel my heart drop to my stomach. I exhaled softly before I answered.
I didn't need to say anything, because Judy knew. She asked, "are you okay?"
"I really thought they were going to answer." My halfhearted laugh turned into a choked back sob. I put the back of my wrist into my mouth to avoid gasping for air, while my tears slid down my cheeks.
"I know, I'm sorry."
"How did you find out?" I asked before I cleared my throat. I still was in shock over the fact that they were so close to home for the past five years.
"Fuller called me. He's calling Ioki now, I thought it would be better for you if this came from me."
I sniffed. "Thank you."
"Tom's family thinks it will be best if we do a joint funeral for the guys on Saturday. It's what they would have wanted. Can you make it?"
"Yes, I can. Anything for them. Do you guys want me to do anything?"
"No, that's all right. I just want you to take care of yourself, okay?"
"Okay. Thank you."
"Of course. I will see you this weekend, okay?"
"Okay."
"Love you."
"I love you too. Bye."
I hung up and the receiver slipped out of my hand and onto my lap. I put my damp face in my hands and sat like that for a long moment. I could feel my body shaking while trying to hold back the pain I had coursing through my body. I could not believe that two of the most beautiful souls in this heartless world were taken away.
I haven't lived in Metropolis for years, but I have visited frequently. The only family that has ever shown me love lives in Metropolis. I know that Metropolis is a big city, but Tom knew I always came back either to be with the team or even to be with his family. I began to wonder how many times he saw me but couldn't say anything. How many times he was so close to me, but I had no idea. How many times he wanted to surprise me, to hug me, to kiss me again. Now, I will never know.
I brought my hand up to my heart necklace that Tom gave me so many years ago. It's my favorite piece of jewelry, and it became even more special to me. The metal was thick between my fingers, and I felt a ridge against the side that I somehow never noticed before. I quickly took the necklace off and examined it closely through my tear filled eyes. I suddenly realized that it had hinges. I found a little catch for a lock which I squeezed, and found that it was a locket. There was a little photo of us in it, from many years ago. I brought my hand up to my mouth, shocked that I was unaware of this part of the gift for so long. I delicately took the photo out, and saw written on the back in cursive, "Tom and Mick, 1988". Time was forever frozen in that photograph. I put the photo back in the locket and closed it and put it back around my neck. I couldn't believe after all these years, he was next to my heartbeat. Where he belongs.
I could feel the walls of my room closing in on me as I processed the information about the fate of two of the most important people in my life. The lights grew dim, and I felt any sense of hope leave my heart.
I quickly packed a suitcase, and left for the airport to get the first ticket back to Metropolis.
___________________________
The worst feeling was waking up knowing I was going to say goodbye to one of my closest friends and the love of my life for the last time. I didn't want to say goodbye, because this one meant forever. I did not feel like I was at the funeral mentally. I isolated myself, giving each casket a rose and a note of everything I wish I could tell them. I had an emptiness in my chest, and all I wished was just five more minutes with them.
I wore sunglasses in an attempt to cover my red eyes, but the tears still trickled down my cheeks. My fingers latched to the necklace as I listened to the speeches, which made me feel like Tom was nearby, and still with me. It hurt so bad. For a million different reasons, he took the best of my heart and now I was left with the pieces. Now he is in the stars... but that's too far.
I never thought we would have a last kiss. I can still remember the look on his face as he whispered words just for us to know, the smell of the rain fresh on the pavement from our last date together in Metropolis, and how his beating heart always jumped through his shirt. The way he walked with his hands in his pockets, and how he would kiss me when I was in the middle of saying something will be things I will crave for the rest of my life. I can still feel his arms around me. He told me that he loved me. So why did he go away?
I'm not sure who acquired these, but someone collected photos of Tom throughout the years and I was able to watch his life through pictures as if I was part of his life again. Everyone from Jump Street was in a few of them, so these must have been taken from Tom's home in Springfield. I used to feel him breathe, but now I felt empty. The way the world keeps spinning while yours falls apart is the most lonely feeling.
I had the opportunity to be alone with him, just one more time. Tom now lays beneath a cherry tree, where his spot will be adorned with lovely pink cherry blossoms come spring. My eyes grazed over the stone that had his name and his birthday engraved in the rock.
Thomas Hanson Jr.
June 20, 1966–April 14, 2012
Always in our thoughts
Forever in our hearts
"Hi, Tom," I choked out. My smile made the tears I was fighting spill over my cheeks. He has never felt so far away. My heart ached for him. I placed some flowers down beside the stone, in colors that I know that he likes. He used to get me flowers all the time, now it was my turn to get him some.
I inhaled deeply, looking up to the sky. I wish we never hid our love, and I wish I never let him go. I know he can't hear me, but I still cling to the hope that he is just one call away. "This is the hardest goodbye... I love you. I'll see you again."
If I got to see him again, I know he would ask me how I was doing. I'm not sure if I would lie and tell him that he hasn't been on my mind, or embarrass myself with the truth and hope that he felt the same. That I spent everyday waiting for him to come home to me.
May the light guide your way, and know that every road you take will always lead you back home to me. I'll hold onto our memories for you until I see you again.
It's been a while, I wasn't sure if he was going to recognize me. I've gotten older. My eyes are a little darker. My laugh is a little lighter. My touch is a little gentler. My voice is a little quieter. I want nothing more than to tell him about my life, and I want to know about how he has grown too. I'll get to tell him someday. I just want him to know that I'm still here.
After the funeral, I drove straight to the chapel. I sat in my car for a while, in the spot that I parked at every single day. I saw some young looking officers walk up the steps that I used to walk up every day, laughing and chatting amongst themselves. I could see myself in them.
The nostalgia was overwhelming. I wish I could hold Tom in my arms, and just speak to him one last time. There was nothing I would not have done just to hear Tom's voice again. I keep wanting to call him, but I know that he won't answer.
I finally turned my car off and walked up the stairs myself. I cracked open the doors, and was greeted with the same old chapel. Even the smell was the same. But, whoever the new captain is, decided to redecorate. All of the interior decorations that Captain Fuller kept that Captain Jenko left behind was cleaned out. Probably when they first dismantled the program shortly after I left.
I walked in, and a big guy with a leather jacket called out to me from the other side of the chapel, "hey, who are you? This is private property."
"I'm sorry," I said, "I heard that Jump Street was back on, and I wanted to see it for myself."
"You know about Jump Street?" He asked roughly, walking closer.
I took out my badge and greeted, "Special Agent Michelle Gregg, FBI. I was Jump Street."
"Captain Dickson," he said, "I run Jump Street now."
"That's great. I'm glad they started it up again," I said.
"So, I'm guessing you were here for the funeral?" He asked. He had a very tough Compton voice, almost like he was angry.
I nodded.
"Hanson and Penhall were great cops."
"Best ones I know," I agreed.
"You know, I just sent a couple of rookies off as the McQuaid Brothers."
I chuckled, "that's great, gotta keep their name strong."
"Gregg!" I heard. I turned around and saw Ioki walking over to us.
A smile cracked my lips when I saw him. I haven't seen him in years, and he looked great. After all these years, he hasn't changed his hair. I gasped and ran into his arms. He laughed as he asked, "how did I know I'd find you here?"
Captain Dickson left us alone and started yelling commands to his officers. I'm just glad I'm not them.
"Man, I missed you," I said to him.
"I missed you too," he said.
"Hey, hey," we heard from the door. We turned to see Booker flicking a cigarette toward the road and he waltzed inside. "Any love for me?"
"Booker," I said and walked up to him and he gave me a hug.
"Looking good, sweetheart," he said with a soft wink.
"Special Agent to you," I spat playfully.
He smiled and asked, "how's life treating you in the Windy City?"
"It's great, I really like it over there," I said. I was immune to his forever flirty attitude. The years haven't changed him. He looked just like he did in the 80's. He hasn't even changed his iconic hairstyle.
We heard a soft knock come from the front. We all turned and saw Judy and our aged Captain Fuller standing by the door. Judy asked, "got room for two more?"
We welcomed them with open arms, greeting them with hugs and friendly pecks on the cheek. We were all still in our funeral attire. It took everything for me not to look back at that door and expect Doug and Tom to walk through and join us.
"What's all this?" We heard. We turned and saw two random cops watching us reunite.
"Who're you?" Ioki asked them.
"I'm Schmidt, and this is Jenko," the short one said.
Jenko was a tall, beefy guy who fit a dumb jock stereotype. I saw a familiar gleam in his dark, hazel eyes. I couldn't help but ask after I heard his name, "Greg Jenko?"
"Yeah?"
"We knew your father," I told him, "he was a great cop."
"You knew my dad? Richard?" He asked.
We all nodded. Last time we saw him, he walked through those doors as a child with his mother. Captain Jekno would be proud to know that his son turned out to be a cop and worked at Jump Street, just like him.
"Weird. Cool though," he said.
"Who are you guys?" Schmidt asked us.
We all introduced ourselves, and Schmidt said, "wow. You guys are like, wicked legendary here."
Jenko asked, "Michelle Gregg? My mom told me that I was named after a cop who worked for my dad, but I didn't realize that that was you."
I blushed softly, "nice to finally meet you."
"You too."
"What are you guys doing here?" Schmidt asked.
"For the funeral," Fuller said.
"Of our coworkers, Tom Hanson and Doug Penhall," Judy added.
"Coworkers?" Ioki scoffed. "More like family."
"We met them, actually," Schmidt said and pointed to Jenko. "On our assignment, we didn't realize they were undercover. My undercover name was actually Doug."
"Doug McQuaid," I said softly with a little smile.
"We chased those guys around so much," Jenko laughed at his memory. "We had no idea."
"They were great actors," Schmidt added, "Hanson was eating peanut butter every time we saw him."
I chuckled warmly, "that sounds like him."
"Hey-o!" Captain Dickson called out to them, "you asshats have a new assignment."
"Are we going back to high school?" Schmidt asked.
"No, because you're about 50," Dickson said bluntly, "you fuckers are going to college."
Greg and Schmidt excused themselves, and they left.
We watched Dickson walk off and he yelled at some more of his officers who were looking at the giant bloodied crucifix by the wall. I didn't even notice it because it's been there since 1987. "Stop fucking with Korean Jesus. He ain't got time for your problems, he's busy... with Korean shit."
I chuckled and Fuller asked us, "I wasn't like that... was I?"
"No, you weren't that funny," Judy said and we all laughed.
When my laugh died down, I looked around at the chapel. The memories of my wonderful years here flooded in, and the love I felt for this job filled my heart. All of our first arrest reports were still framed and hanging on the back wall. I could remember thinking that Tom's would never get up there, but it did.
I walked over to my old desk where I could still see the chip in the wood from when Doug dropped his mug on it. I felt a lump form in my throat, and I looked back at the group after lightly trailing my fingers along my empty desk.
"This was my desk... and here, here was where I saw Tom for the first time. I rem-remember the first time I met Doug. He poured salt in his coffee instead of sugar because he was so nervous for his first day," I chuckled at the memory.
I looked around some more, and I could see their ghosts. I could see Doug punching the punching bag that used to hang in the corner, and I could see Tom typing away on his typewriter as he filled out reports with his foot up on his desk. The nostalgia was overwhelming. The realization that they were gone consumed me, and I covered my quivering lips with my hand. I had to stop breathing because otherwise I knew that I would break down. Booker walked over to comfort me, bringing me into a hug.
I wish there was a way to know that you're in the good old days, before you have actually left them.
"I heard that Jump Street started up again a few months ago, so, I took the liberty of making this," Fuller said as he took out a picture frame. It was a picture of all of us Jump Street originals, plus Booker, sitting amongst the unique interior decorations of Captain Richard Jenko. We were all smiling up at the camera, and we all commented about how young we were.
"I remember when we took that!" I said with a soft laugh while Booker wrapped his arm around me and pulled me into a friendly side-hug. "It was right after we busted that drug ring over at Golden Valley College. Tom was so excited to trick them while the rest of you guys were closing in. I wish we did more fun things like that."
"Police work isn't supposed to be fun, Gregg," Fuller said.
I snickered, "I know, I know."
We said our goodbyes, but Fuller asked if I could stick around. Everyone else left, and I stayed helping Fuller figure out where to hang the picture that celebrated the years of hard work we put into this job.
"Gregg, I wanted to tell you that Deputy Chief Hardy wants you to come by his office."
"Why?" I asked.
"He has a job proposal for you."
"My job in Chicago is great."
"I know but just hear him out. You might like what you hear," he said.
Our goodbye was a handshake, and I drove to Headquarter's. I haven't been here in years, but it looked exactly the same.
Deputy Chief Hardy took over for Captain Briody when he retired. I was welcomed into his office, where I sat down and waited for his announcement.
"The Jump Street Program has reached new heights since it was revamped for modern times. You were one of the originals, so I saw it was only fitting to offer you this position," Hardy said. He had a thick, dark mustache over his lip that I had a hard time looking away from.
"What position, sir?" I asked.
"Your Special Agent in charge has been in contact with the Chief over in Chicago, and has requested that they start a Jump Street program in your district. Research conducted from the eighties and now shows that it is a very beneficial department for major cities."
"That's great," I said.
"Jump Street: Chicago just needs one thing. A captain. Are you interested?"
"I'm a Special Agent with the FBI, Chief Hardy. That's not really my role in law enforcement anymore."
"They think it'll be beneficial for an agent to run the department. It'll be through the local law enforcement, but you'll have direct contact with the Bureau and still keep all your responsibilities as a Special Agent. Think of it as an extra project. You'll get a raise, and when you decide to slow down and retire from the Bureau, you can remain Jump Street's captain in Chicago if you'd like."
I thought for a moment. Running a Jump Street program would be a lot more work than I was already juggling. However, when I ultimately decide to step down from the FBI, I can fall back on just being the Captain of Jump Street. Plus, I'd get more money.
"Hell, yes," I blurted.
He chuckled, "I'll let them know. Congratulations, Agent."
"Thanks, Chief," I said back and shook his hand.
I left his office and a harsh whistle echoed through the station. "Hey, yo, Gregg!"
I turned and looked behind me to see Captain Dickson holding an envelope in his hand. He said, "this was left for you."
"What does it say?" I asked and walked over to him at the entrance. He must have drove from the chapel to deliver this to me.
"Do I look like the kind of person to read others mail?" He asked with a sneered lip and he handed me the envelope.
"Sorry," I mumbled and took it from him. My name was written on the front in cursive, and I ripped it open to find a letter.
I ran out to my car and took the letter out and tossed the envelope to the passengers seat. I scanned the beautiful handwriting that I would recognize anywhere. I could hear Tom's voice as I read it. Tears sprung from my eyes and I cried as I laughed, reading the words on the page that I would treasure forever.
Tom's life was over, but I could remember the beautiful moments when we were together. We were alone, and he was singing this song of our love to me, hidden in the melody. He may not have made it to the end of my story, but I'll always remember what page his name was on.
I hope you this liked this one! It was inspired by the 21 Jump Street film. Don't forget to vote and comment! 😁
Next chapter is Mickey going to her new job in Chicago 🥰