This was written around the end of season 4, so right around the time Burgess was on leave and Lindsay took off.
Molly's was a little noisier than usual. It had its regular mix of fire-fighters, cops, the odd paramedic and then a few groups of regular people all out enjoying a night on the town. Not that they knew they were regular people, actually they had no idea who they were and they didn't really care. They'd wrapped a case and were enjoying their usual celebratory drink. It was rarely a celebration though; it was more often a drink to say 'thank fuck we caught that asshole.'
"Why don't you go talk to them?" Adam nodded in the direction of the bar. Kevin was obviously distracted by the view and barely listening to whatever Adam was yabbering on about. Not that he was under any illusion that it was interesting; he was just filling in the silences because that's what he did, he talked about shit; sport, cars, beer, food, TV shows, music, he just talked.
"Outta my league." He popped the toothpick back in his mouth and shrugged a little, dragging his attention momentarily away from the bar and back to his mate.
"Bullshit. I'd do you if I was a chick." Adam took another swig of his beer. It was going down particularly well tonight, the case had been tough. It was just a run of the mill case but physically it had been tough, they'd spent a few nights cramped into vans on surveillance, they'd climbed through windows, busted doors and chased idiots up and down Chicago for days. They were knackered, or at least Adam was. Kev seemed to have all get up and go of an energiser bunny and Adam was exhausted just watching him and the sooner Atwater moved off Adam could call it a night the better.
"Lucky for me, I wouldn't do you."
"Good to know." He flat out laughed before waving his hand in the general direction of the bar and the two lovely ladies that Kev was trying to flirt with across a crowded bar. "I know you think you've got sexy eyes and all but from this distance it looks like you've got a nervous tick. Go make your moves Kev."
"Well there are two of 'em. We should both go."
Adam shook his head. He really didn't talk much about what was going on in his personal life at the moment and he'd been like that for a while now. Although they had some idea and no matter how often they asked, he was keeping everything close to his chest, he'd been burnt before by wearing his heart on his sleeve. Once bitten twice shy, or so the saying goes. "I'm not third wheeling."
"It's not third wheeling, it's being a good wingman."
"I am no wingman." He patted his mate on the back. "Go forth and prosper young man."
Atwater took a breath, took a long swig of his beer and sauntered over to the table with the two young ladies. Confidence was not something that Kevin usually lacked. He certainly hadn't been hiding behind the door when it was being handed out but lately he was going through a rough patch. He'd yet to meet someone who didn't run a mile when they found out that he was a cop and looking after two teenage kids. He wasn't exactly what you'd call a catch and after being whacked on the nose a few times lately like a puppy he was content to stick close to home. Problem was Adam was having none of it anymore, he was sick of babysitting his buddy.
"Ladies." They both turned to look at Atwater, a little wide eyed. While they had been watching him across the room he was far more imposing when he was standing next to you and a lot more handsome. Charisma just oozed from every pore and he didn't even need to try. "New to Molly's?"
"We've heard about this place, thought it was about time we checked it out." Atwater leant on the bar and smiled, flashing his sweet smile that apparently, according to Kim, Trudy and Sylvie could bring a woman whimpering to her knees.
"Liking it so far?"
"It's got a good vibe."
Adam smiled to himself as Kevin seemed to settle in and had them laughing within minutes. His buddy needed some love and it was well overdue. He ordered another beer from Otis when he collected some empty glasses and by the time it arrived Kev had bought the two girls back to his table. He introduced them as Ella and Macy and Adam found himself being a wingman whether he wanted to or not.
They were cute, no denying that and Kev seemed particularly taken with Ella, her short black hair looked a little wild but it suited her and she did have an awesome laugh. Luckily for everyone because when Kev was on a roll he made it his mission to make your sides hurt from laughing. Tonight Kev was well and truly on a roll and not even his best mate was immune to his wild story telling and as usual Adam was in his sights. If it was going to get his buddy some love he'd let him roll with it for now and make him pay later.
Ella was hanging off his every word and Kev was in his element. "I'm going take off." Adam slid his phone into his pocket and finished his beer and pushed his stool out. "Nice to meet you both."
Kevin looked a little disappointed, things were looking up for him and Adam leaving could dent his prospects with Ella if he had a entertain Macy too. "Bro, we are thinkin' of hittin' up a club. You can't bail now."
"Somewhere to be." He winked at Kevin. "Anyway Halstead's here." He waved him over to their table. Jay was surprised when Adam literally hightailed it out the bar as soon as he arrived, if he'd not known better he would have got a bit of a complex. "You kids have fun."
"Where's Ruz off to?"
"Who knows?" Kev shrugged. "Man of mystery is our Ruzek lately." They had a pretty good idea of where he was going. It wasn't worth asking anymore, his poker face was inscrutable. He'd smile, nod his head and continue on with whatever he was doing, giving them nothing. Even when they went out, he was always the life of the party, he was friendly and even a little flirty at times but he always went home alone. If Kevin had been bereft of lady loving for a while, Adam wasn't much better.
Halstead was certainly not bailing, he was definitely up for a party and managed to rope Cruz and Otis into the party and they also convinced Sylvie to join them. Sylvie knew it wasn't in her best interests but she just didn't have the will to keep refusing them and she would have to put up with them when they come crashing through the door at all hours so it was probably better just to go with the flow.
"So…" he turned back towards Ella. "…Now you do like Jazz right? I'm getting a jazz vibe from you."
Both Kevin and Jay were looking a little worse for wear when Adam bounded up the stairs the next morning. "Whoa." He laughed, slipping off his jacket and throwing it over the back of his chair. "Look what the cat dragged in. Good night?"
"If you could not speak right now, that would be good." Halstead muttered. He'd seriously considered ditching his phone when it rang earlier. "What you get up to anyway? You look as fresh as a daisy."
"An early night and good breakfast." He fired up his computer just as Voight came out of his office and took one look at Atwater and Halstead and shook his head. They hoped beyond hope that this case didn't involve a dead body because that was the last thing they needed but they weren't that lucky. Ruzek and Atwater were sent to the crime scene and Halstead was still waiting for either Olinsky or Lindsay to get in, he'd go with whoever arrived first. He didn't really care but he was just hoping they didn't waltz in anytime soon which would give him the chance to down another cup or two of coffee to see whether that could get his body going.
"I'll drive." Ruzek grabbed the keys from Atwater's hand. He really didn't like driving all that much and was usually happy that Atwater was always took the keys but today he wanted to get to where they were going in one piece and by the look of Kev he wasn't sure that was a given. "So, got a report?"
"From what?"
"The two lovely ladies I left you and Halstead with last night."
"Halstead's got some moves on him. Not good moves but he was shakin' it on the dance floor last night."
"And you."
"Smooth as butter." He clicked his fingers and slipped his hand through the air. From the corner of his eye Adam could see that Kev was feeling good about one thing, even if physically he wasn't in the best shape.
"You get a number?"
"Yeah."
"And you are going to wait how long before you call this lovely lady?"
"I don't know man. Jordan and Vanessa." He loved his brother and sister and he'd been responsible for them for so long it just seemed normal.
They'd heard this so many times it just wasn't funny anymore. "Stop using them as an excuse. Call her."
"Taking relationship advice from you seems counter productive?"
Adam scoffed. "I know how to get 'em, keeping them is my problem apparently."
"Speaking of Burgess?"
"Were we?" They pulled up at the crime scene and Adam was out of the car in an instant before Kevin could respond. Yet again he avoided a conversation about what was now taking up the majority of his spare time.
Jumping back in the car Kevin was still feeling worse for wear and staring at a bloated body that had been dragged out of the river had not helped, he'd already walked away a few times sucking in a deep breath or two. They were lucky Voight wasn't around, this shit he couldn't stand, drink, party do whatever you liked in your own time but on his time and CPD's time hangovers didn't wash.
Atwater said practically nothing as he closed his eyes and tried not to toss his cookies in the car as Adam did little to ease through the Chicago traffic and by his enthusiastic commentary he was having the time of his life. It was another one of those times when Atwater felt he could quite easily resort to physical violence, if only he didn't think another sudden movement on his part would end badly for him and the contents of his stomach.
"I'm gonna grab us a coffee." Kevin opened his eyes as the car came to a stop. "Perhaps you could make some good use of your time and call this Ella chick." It really did seem that Atwater needed to be pushed a little, and while he was doing that hopefully it would take Kev's mind off what Adam was up too. Sadly, for some reason lately his private life was Kev's favourite subject. One day soon he was hoping they'd make it past lunch without Kevin bringing up Burgess and what they were doing. Maybe a new dalliance might shift his focus for a bit.
Taking a deep breath he scrolled through the messages on his phone and hit the number. "Hey, it's Kevin."
"Oh Hi," she didn't sound annoyed to hear from him so that was a good start. He felt his nerves ease a little as she clearly remembered him. There was nothing worse than calling someone you thought you'd made a good impression on only to spend the first five minutes explaining who you were. It was never a good sign. He was taking Ella's happy greeting as a positive. "How are you?"
"I'm just going to be honest." Atwater was picking at a loose thread on his jeans. "Got called into work and I am feeling a little rough. You get home okay?"
"I did. Thank you." Kevin had organised an Uber to take the girls home when they staggered out of the club well after three. He didn't want the night to end but he was being a gentleman, much to his disappointment. There was no offer to continue the party elsewhere. "I had a good night, I haven't laughed so much and danced so hard in a long time."
"Me too." Kevin could see Adam heading his way with two cups of coffee in one hand and stuffing a donut in his mouth with the other. He saw Kevin still talking and leant on the bonnet of the car and took out his phone to start answering some messages until Kev knocked on the window to let him know he was done.
"How'd it go?" He handed him the coffee and brushed the crumbs from his jacket as he got back in the car.
"Good Bro." Adam caught the faintest of smiles as Kevin took a sip of his coffee. He wasn't quite sure if it was staying put, to be honest he was surprised that he hadn't heaved yet. Ruzek's haphazard driving wasn't helping which he knew he was doing on purpose.
"And?"
"We gonna catch up tomorrow night."
Adam held up his hand for a fist bump. "Huzzah."