CHECKING UP

AUTHOR'S NOTE/DISCLAIMER

Takes place directly after Trust and is a bit of follow up to Confronted. Chicago PD belongs to Dick Wolf and NBC. Sorry this one took so long. Got sick after I started writing it and I'm just finally feeling up to par.

Antonio sighed and gathered up his things. Ready to go home, he thought. Well, it wasn't quite home. It was Alex's apartment. But she didn't trust him to be on his own just yet, and while he hated it, he understood it. If he got the chance, he'd probably go out and try to score again when the craving got really bad. And she was using her contacts in the state's office to make sure his earlier mess didn't get too much traction. So yeah, he was going to play by her rules for as long as she told him to, no matter how much he hated it.

"Hey." Hearing Voight's voice, he turned to look at him. "You're looking steadier," the older man noted in approval.

"Yeah, well, I feel steadier," Antonio admitted.

"No cravings?"

"Oh, there's cravings." He let out a rueful laugh. "Unfortunately, my body got way too dependent on drugs when I was a kid which means I'll probably be living with Alex for about six months while still paying utilities for my own place," he continued. She obviously doesn't trust me. Not that I really blame her. After all, she helped John get me clean the first time, he thought to himself.

"Sixth months?" Hank repeated. Even he had let Erin move in with Jay after a couple of weeks of her being clean. How come he was on such a short leash?

"Yeah. Alex wants to make sure I don't try any of my old tricks," Antonio replied. "You know how it is when someone's detoxing and wanting a fix. They'll do anything and everything to get a hit," he continued and Hank nodded in understanding. Yeah, that made sense. He had seen it with Erin when he had helped her detox as a kid and a couple of years ago after her bender after Nadia's death. Still, he wasn't sure the hypervigilant stance these guys were taking with Dawson was necessary. But then again, they seemed to know him better than he did and he had to admit, that drove him nuts. Antonio was his man and he should be the one to know all about him, not some group that the younger man never even really talked about. And wow. He sounded jealous. He wasn't sure that he liked that. He just…hated that he didn't know how to help Antonio and someone else apparently did, which was completely stupid because the important thing was that he was getting help, not who was helping him. Or maybe he was just pissed that he hadn't noticed what was going on with him until he was so far gone down this road that rehab was necessary.

"Yeah, I get it," was all he said out loud.

"Well, I better get going before Alex sends out a search party," the younger man stated. With that, he walked out. Hank sighed and then did the same, his eyes clouding. He didn't care how long it took: he'd be there for Antonio just like he had been there for Erin and he'd help him every way he could.

THE END