A/N: I've noticed a major lacking of Voight fics on this site … besides that poor Hank gets like NO love on the show, and I have no idea why not. Jason Beghe is HOT. Anyway for this story, Kat is about 15 years younger than Hank and Trudy, making her in her 40s (Antonio's a few years older than that)… but Kat, Antonio and Trudy knew each other from Patrol, and Kat, Hank and Al knew each other even before then. I'm not saying the timing matches up beautifully, but I felt the need for some Voight love. Please enjoy! (if it sucks I'm sorry)
Right Hand (Wo)Man
Katherin Bend looked up at the front door of the 21st district with butterflies in her stomach. She couldn't believe she was back here, back in Chicago… she had been away for years, and never planned on coming back…yet fate intervened. She was home, ready to help the man, and the friends, she had left behind. She took a deep breath and walked up the front steps into the district.
Her first stop was the front desk. She stood , semi patiently waiting for someone to see her when she heard a woman's voice cut through the background chatter . "Oh my god, Kitty?" When she turned she saw the smiling face of Trudy Platt, long time friend calling out her nickname .
"Troods!" she stepped forward to give the woman a hug. The rest of the room grew silent, all the patrol officers were in shock. Trudy wasn't typically a friendly person, she was quick witted and always had a snarky comment but overly friendly was never something she would be accused of being.
"Girlfriend! Let me take a look at you!" Trudy held her at arms length after squeezing her tightly. "Does Hank know you're here yet?" Kat shook her head. "Garcia! Watch the front desk. " Trudy barked out to a man that was standing in front of her , who nodded wide eyed and went behind the desk. "Come on, I'll take you up!" she looped arms with Kat and buzzed them through to upstairs.
In Intelligence the team was going over paperwork for old cases, and making idle conversation. It was a slow day which they were all thankful for. They had been through too much turmoil in the last few months with Al getting killed and they needed some down time. They all turned towards the sound of two sets of footsteps coming into the bullpen.
Trudy nodded at them all but walked right past them in a blur with a woman on her arm, and went straight to Hanks office. Knocking once she didn't hesitate to just open the door without being invited in. "Hank, you have a visitor."
Hank stood and started around from behind his desk "Who is it Trudy." His eyes widened when Kat peeked her head around Trudy. "Katie?" He walked slowly to her, shock on his face.
"Hi Hank." Kat and Trudy had matching grins. She wrapped her arms around his neck to give him a hug. His hands sat at her waist for a moment before slipping them around her and squeezing back. When they separated Kat swore she saw a tear appear in Hanks eye but it disappeared just as quick.
"What are you doing here?" Hank finally spoke after he regained his composure.
"I heard about Al… I came to pay my respects. I'm sorry I couldn't get here sooner, I was on a job." She sat down in the chair he pointed at and continued. "My boss gave me some leave time, I thought since you were down a detective I could help out. Besides-" she smiled at him "You owe me a drink."
Trudy took that as her cue to leave. "When you leave stop by and see me , I'll give you my number and we can catch up properly." She squeezed the young woman's shoulder who nodded, and Trudy walked out closing the door behind her. As soon as she did the group started asking questions.
"Sarge who is that woman?" Adam asked.
"Yeah, I didn't think you had friends Sarge. " Jay teased.
"Hey Chuckles, you don't know everything about me." She pointed at Jay. "That lady in there? She's one of the best detectives , and women I've ever known. You all might learn a thing or two from her." She started off back towards the stairs. "Oh-" she turned back around "And you may want to watch what you say about her when you're around Hank. He loves that woman, a lot." With that she disappeared down the steps.
The group took turns staring after Trudy, then at each other.
"He loves her ? Like… A daughter?" Kim spoke up.
The rest of the group shrugged.
Inside his office Hank sat next to Kat, holding her hand. He looked into the eyes of the woman he had known for most of her life. The Voights's and the Bend's lived next door to each other, Kat had hung out with Erin and Justin, been to his house for holidays. After Camille died, it grew into something else.. Something neither of them were prepared for. "Katie, I'm glad you're here. It's been..." He trailed off.
Kat squeezed his hand. "I understand . Al was your right hand man, your confidant. Hank I'm here to be that for you. We can come up with any story about how we know each other you want to tell your team, it doesn't matter to me. What's important is that you have me, for as long as you need." She leaned over and gave him a kiss on the cheek, waiting a beat before pulling away. She wasn't used to seeing this version of Henry Voight. This one was beat down, depressed… he didn't have the same growl to his voice he usually did. Kat knew she had come at the right time. If anyone could bring him out of this funk it was her.
They rose together and he placed his hand on her elbow to lead her out of his office when he stopped suddenly causing her to lose her balance. She grabbed onto his arms and stared into his eyes for a moment. "Katie… thank you. You have no idea how much better I feel already having you here." He leaned down and kissed her cheek, making Kat smile.
"So, am I a friend? Neighbor ? Girlfriend?" they snickered at that one, mainly because of the history between the two of them.
"I think my team would have a collective heart attack if I told them you and I were dating. " a smile crept onto his face. "They think I'm an old man… cranky and boring."
She giggled "Well I know better don't I? Let's give them something to talk about shall we?" she winked at him and they walked out of the room together, his hand on the small of her back. His team had already gathered near his office, waiting for them to exit so they could pounce.
Hank cleared his throat "Team I want to introduce you to a dear friend of mine, this is Katherin Bend. Katie, these are the members of my Intelligence Unit." He pointed to each individual as he introduced them. "Officers Kim Burgess, Kevin Atwater, Adam Ruzek. Detectives Jay Halstead and Hailey Upton. " Each member shook her hand when introduced. "And I think you know this guy ." He gestured to Antonio who was walking up the steps two at a time.
"Tony??" Kat broke out into a huge grin.
"Kat??" Antonio's grin matched hers. He ran over and picked her up, twirling her second before setting her back down, ignoring the looks the rest of the team were throwing him. "What the hell are you doing here??"
"I was just about to explain. Impatient as always I see." Kat winked at her friend.
"So how do you all know each other ?" Jay interrupted , being the one to verbalize what the rest were thinking.
"I used to be a detective here in Chicago. I started with Trudy and Tony here in patrol." She looked to Hank to see if he wanted her to continue, but he just stared at her with those big brown eyes of his. "But I'm here because of Al."
That caused even more confusion between the team members . "Al? You knew Al?" Adam asked. He couldn't talk about his friend and ex partner without anger and pain twisting him up inside.
"Yes, I've known Hank, Trudy , Al, Antonio and their families for many years… a lifetime ago it seems… I heard that he had been killed and wanted to come sooner but my job wouldn't let me. Now I'm here, ready to help this team in any way I can." She held out her hand and Hank squeezed it. "I'm on loan to you guys while you're down a man, or as long as you need me."
"Katie is one of the best detectives I've ever worked with. Treat her with respect." He turned towards Kat "I'm going to call the commissioner make sure you get full access and jurisdiction while you're here." He went to give her a kiss but pulled back at the looks he saw from his team. Instead he just patted her shoulder and walked back into his office , shutting the door.
When Kat turned back towards the group their eyes were wide, like they had so much they wanted to ask their brains might explode. She chuckled at their faces "Okay first off, call me Kat or Katie, whichever you like. Second… ask your questions. I know you have them, and I'll answer as honestly as I can." She started to walk to the other end of the bull pen, giving Antonio a friendly punch on his arm as she walked by. She hoisted herself up on the edge of his desk and waited for the questions she knew they had.
"So… you and Voight? Together?" Kim was the brave one that spoke up when no one else would.
Kat and Antonio both laughed. "Let me guess … Troods couldn't keep her mouth shut. " she rolled her eyes and laughed at the team mouthing Trudy's nickname. "Yes, Hank and I have… dated. We haven't seen each other in awhile though, my job makes me travel quite a bit.
"But, you're our age… right ?" Adam felt a slap upside his head from Hailey "Ow!"
Again Kat laughed. "Don't you know it's not polite to ask a woman's age?" she wagged her finger at him.
"Sorry about him, we don't usually allow him around people, he doesn't know how to behave. " Jay grinned at her. "How long exactly have you known Voight?"
"We were neighbors when I was younger. My family moved in next door to his when I was 17. I remember spending holidays when them when I was home from college." She got a sad look on her face for a second but it quickly disappeared. "Anything else you want to ask?"
"So you knew Erin?" Jay asked.
Kat smiled warmly at him. "Yes,I did.. Justin too. After I went to college I would come back and visit and we would spend time together. I actually thought Erin was working here…"
"She left a few years ago to join the FBI in NY." Antonio commented. "So you're what ? Here for a few weeks ?" he grabbed her hand and squeezed. It had been awhile since he had seen his friend, before he started in Intelligence, and it was great to have her back in Chicago.
She could tell the team members were still curious. "I'm actually here for as long as I'm welcome. I took a leave from work to grieve for my friend. I know you all have worked with Hank for what? A few years? But I've known this man since I was in my teens. Al's death is going to hit him hard, if it hasn't already. I'm just here to protect him from his grief."
"It isn't just him that's hurting." Adam said quietly.
"Believe me, I know. " She got the sad look in her eyes again.
"Well we should all hang out at Molly's! Maybe hear some Voight, or Trudy stories?" Kevin broke the silence. "I mean … Sergeant Platt…" when the rest of the team gave him a funny look.
"Molly's?" Kat asked.
"Yeah a bar in Bucktown that's owned by some fire fighters we know. It's our hang out." Hailey said. "Maybe we could meet up tonight?"
"Sure. I just need to find a hotel and get myself settled. I came straight from the airport and didn't get a chance to find one."
Antonio poked her in the ribs playfully. "Hey, you can stay with me if you want. I've got the room. It'll be like the old days." They grinned at each other.
"What about Laura? The kids?" Kat had scanned his desk before taking a seat on it and didn't see any recent pictures of the family. "Where's Jules?"
"Laura and I got divorced a few years ago. Eva lives with me, she would be thrilled to see you again." Antonio's eyes turned sad "Jules was killed awhile back…"
Kat placed a hand on Antonio's arm, and the two of them shared a look, forgetting there were other people in the room.
Hanks door slammed open and the entire bullpen sat up and took notice . "The catching up will have to wait, for now we have a case."
"Nothing like jumping in feet first. Where do you want me Boss?" She said teasingly to Hank, who made her turn red at the look he gave her.
"With me." Came his reply.