THE V WORD

DISCLAIMER

Inspired by Love2rite's "I Will Always Hate Valentine's Day". Takes place mid season three, but not after any particular episode. Belongs to Stephen J. Cannel and Fox.

It was that time again. Everyone in Jump Street Chapel could tell because Tom Hanson was in a bad mood. The last time they had seen him like this had been last year when this date came around. Judy Hoffs looked around the chapel. Doug Penhall was making his customary "love letters" to about two hundred girls. Now that he and Dorothy were officially over, he could hook up with whoever he wanted. Not that he probably wouldn't have tried to do so anyway, but…still. Sal Banducci had gone home to his wife, Harry Ioki was getting ready for a date, and nobody knew what Captain Fuller or Dennis Booker had planned for the evening. Judy looked at Tom.

"So…did you talk to Jackie?" she hesitantly asked.

"No," he replied with a shake of his head.

"What do you think you're gonna do today?" Judy wondered.

"I'll probably go to his grave. Nothin' major," Tom answered with a shrug. His eyes clouded. He didn't really want to talk, but hey, at least Jude wasn't pressing him about not taking Jackie out somewhere, which was more than he could say for his girlfriend.

"A cemetery? You're going to hang out in a cemetery on the most romantic day/night of the year?" Dennis asked in disbelief.

"Yeah. So?" Tom asked defensively.

"How does your good-looking district attorney girlfriend feel about that?" Dennis asked with a slight leer.

"Bite me," Tom snapped.

"Thanks for the offer, but I don't swing that way," Dennis shot back.

"Uh, Booker---" Judy said.

"Oh, come on, Jude! Hanson's gotta take a look around. We're all celebrating---getting ready for dates, sending out cards…I mean, everyone celebrates today," Dennis declared.

"I don't. I hate this day," Tom replied. Dennis stared.

"You ha---how do you hate Valentine's Day?" he questioned. The whole chapel went quiet.

"Uh-oh," Harry muttered.

"He said the 'v' word," Doug said needlessly. Dennis looked around in surprise. What was up with them?

"I hate Valentine's Day. I never celebrate it, and I never will, so just get off my back, Booker," Tom snarled. With that, he pushed past the officer and stomped past him. As he did so, he could hear Ioki saying something to Booker, probably explaining what had happened. He got into his car and drove off. In the cemetery, he went to the grave he always visited on this day.

"Hi, Dad," Tom greeted, kneeling down. Then, as he placed a loving hand on the stone, he uttered words he hadn't said since he was fourteen.

"Happy Valentine's Day."

THE END