Hot.

It was the kind of heat the pulled the oxygen from your lungs and had you sweating in places you didn't thick could sweat. The AC in the house had taken yet another shit and the piece needed to repair it hadn't arrived yet.

They were left to suck it up and sweat it out.

It was not fun,

Sebastian didn't seem uncomfortable, of course being five years old and parading around in just his underwear probably helped. If only she could do the same, she couldn't, instead she continued to douse her face and the back of her neck with ice cold water every so often and it helped some.

They were in the throngs of one of the longest heat waves in Chicago's history and there was no sign it'd be letting up any time in the near future.

September wasn't supposed to be this hot.

"Watch mommy!" Sebastian hollered as he stood on the arm of the couch, "the floor is lava mommy, you can't step on it."

"Please don't stand on the couch like that." Kim motioned with her hand, "Why don't you come sit down and we can watch a movie." She suggested, beads of sweat running down her back, "you're making me even hotter with all your running around."

"Movies are boring." Sebastian sulked as he flopped back on the couch, "I want my daddy. He's fun."

Kim took a deep breath before speaking, "Your Daddy is working."

"Catchin' all the bad guys!" Sebastian beamed, "He is the bestest cop around.."

Kim poked him in the belly, "Hey!"

"Boy cop. He's the best boy cop and you're the best girl cop." Sebastian quickly amended his statement, "but you don't catch bad guys...you teach new cops to catch the bad guys. You're a teacher cop."

Kim had transferred out of the 21st shortly after Sebastian's surgery, she wasn't sure working with Adam was the best idea. It was pretty tense in the unit once Adam had learned that Upton had been in contact with Kim and told Halstead about it and then they both kept it from him it had become akin to a powder keg. Kim returning to the unit had the potential to be the spark that ignited it.

Though it didn't last long, Upton and Halstead started seeing each other and it was hot and heavy for a good bit before it blew up. Halstead was left reeling as yet another woman walked out on him. Clearly Haley Upton wasn't as put together as she liked everyone to think, she was a train wreck and destined to end in disaster.

Once Haley and Jay hooked up it wasn't long before the skeletons had tumbled from Upton's closet, and it was a bit jarring to learn just how many skeletons she had packed in. Upton had appointed herself the moral compass of the unit, she was quick to judge those who danced in the grey areas. It was shocking to learn that she had bedded numerous detectives, and left a string of broken marriages behind her. Now, she wasn't the only guilty party, she didn't force married men to fuck her, it was just a bit ironic. For someone who had a holier than thou air about her it was ironic that she wasn't as innocent as she wanted folks to believe. In fact she was a pretty shitty person who didn't care who she hurt as long as she got what she wanted.

Kim bounced around a bit before finding her footing as a field training officer, which quickly parlayed into teaching a few classes at the academy. Over the last two years she had been promoted and taken on a larger role at the academy and she truly enjoyed it. Though she missed the adrenaline rush that intelligence gave her, the flip side of that was that she worked more traditional hours. It wasn't quite a 9-5 gig but she had most of her weekends off and just one night class a week.

"Teacher cop" she chuckled that was the first time he had used that phrase and she loved it, "I'm a teacher cop so I can be your mommy."

Sebastian stood up and ran across the couch throwing himself at her, "and you're the best mommy! I love you so much" he wrapped his arms around her neck giving her a big squeeze.

Kim ran her hand across his clammy back, "I love you too baby. Can you loosen your grip a bit? I need to breathe."

He dropped his arms, "Sorry."

Kim checked the time, dinner time was still hours away. School was starting in two weeks and she needed to finish shopping, "How about we go finish school shopping and then dinner at Shake Shack? Does that sound good?" The mall had air conditioning.

"Clothes shopping?" Sebastian grumbled, "That's boring."

Kim headed down the hall, Sebastian was on her heels, she ruffled through the drawer handed him a pair of shorts and a t-shirt, "Get dressed. If you're a good boy we can stop in the toy store."

"Can I get a toy?" He was suddenly on board.

"Yes. You've got to be a good boy though. That mean listening to me, trying clothes on, and not wandering away."

"Got it." Sebastian was dressed in a flash.

Fuck.

His head throbbed and his eyes watered, the contents of his stomach sloshed around his gut with even the slightest movement. He had gone at it a little harder than he had planned on and he was now paying the price.

He was too old for this shit.

He had no choice though, this was his life now.

Adam kicked the sheet off and slowly began to sit up, if he was careful he could avoid throwing up.

The apartment was small, ridiculously small. It was laughable that they even referred to it as a one bedroom apartment.

It was more like a one room apartment, beside his small bedroom the bathroom was the only other real room with its old as hell shitter and a shower stall. It was seedy and old as hell. He was shocked to find it had air conditioning, he'd be eternally grateful for that fact. His balls would've melted by now if it hadn't.

He had a small fridge and a couple of cabinets in what was generously labeled the kitchen, a hot plate sat to the right of the sink and a toaster to the left. He wasn't all that confident in his stomach's ability to keep food down, but he needed something. He opted for a few slices of toast, he would toss some jelly on it and call it a day. He couldn't help but think of his boy as he grabbed the jelly from the fridge, Sebastian lived on peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.

He missed his boy something fierce, he hated being away from him. It was hard to believe in just a few weeks he would start school. It felt like just yesterday that he was changing his diapers and all that went with a baby and then he blinked and he had a five year old.

He could feel himself start to slip, he quickly pushed those thoughts from his head. Nothing good would come from thinking about his son.

Just as he was stepping in the shower he heard his phone, he turned off the water and grabbed it.

'We still on for tonight? I certainly hope so'

He groaned as the message came through, he had hoped to lay low for the day. He kicked a few replies around in his head before settling on one.

'Does a fat baby sweat?'

He tossed the phone back on the bed and made his way to the bathroom.

The salesman was clearly growing tired of them, Kim pointed to another pair, "What about these ones buddy?" She showed him the grey sneakers with the black swoosh, "I bet these will help you run fast."

Sebastian pulled the display down turning the sneaker over in his hands as he studied it, "Nope."

Kim groaned she too was growing tired of the entire process, "They are cool bud. You need to pick a pair honey, or I will." She told him, "You've made this nice man grab dozens of boxes. We will buy a pair from him, either you pick them or I will. Either way you're getting sneakers."

Sebastian's shoulders slumped as he sulked, he dropped down to sit on the floor, "I want black ones. Black sneakers and silver swooshes. Just like my daddy's. Those are what I want. Not these stupid ones."

"Sebastian.." Kim was prepared to scold him for his attitude but stopped mid sentence when the salesman crouched down in front of Sebastian.

"Your daddy's got Nike's?" He asked him.

Sebastian nodded his head, "Cool ones. I want the same."

"Okay. Let's go look at the men's sneakers, do you think you could show me the ones your dad has?"

"Yeah!" Sebastian jumped up and took the teenaged salesman's hand.

Kim blew out a exasperated breath, "Okay then.."

Sebastian walked the length of the display wall he tapped his index finger against his chin as he looked at the wall of sneakers, he suddenly stopped on a dime, "This one. Daddy has this kind! He can run so fast in them!"

"Alright, good job pal." He was relieved, "Let's go to the computer and see if we can't find them or something similar in your size."

"Thank you..." Kim smiled, she read his name tag, "...Dylan. Thank you so much. I'm sorry this has taken forty forevers."

"No worries. I'm here no matter what" he laughed, "I will gladly help out a little dude find the freshest pair of sneakers. You gotta start them young."

After a few keystrokes he found the exact style in children's sizes, "I've got them." He turned the screen so Sebastian could see them, "Do you like these?"

Sebastian stood on his tiptoes to see, "They're just like my daddy's! Can I get them?"

"Yes!" Kim tousled his hair, "Can you ship them?" She looked to Dylan.

"Absolutely."

Kim was relieved to have finally finished school shopping, she wasn't ready for Sebastian go but at least now he had new clothes to wear. She still needed to tackle the list of supplies she had received from his teacher, she was dreading that shopping trip. Her baby boy was growing up and it was bittersweet.

He had been such a good boy and had been a trooper for most of the afternoon, he had tried her patience a bit at the sneaker store but he had earned his prize. They grabbed a quick meal from Shake Shack and made their way towards the toy store.

Sebastian charged through the front door, "Aunt Coley! It's me, Sebastian!" He hollered, his voice echoing off the marbled floor. Life had been good to Nicole over the last few years, she had found love again.

She loved the nickname her nephew had bestowed upon her, she smiled broadly at the sound of his voice. Nicole dropped the towel on the kitchen island and welcomed her nephew into her arms, "Hey baby.." she kissed his head. "Where's mom?"

Sebastian wiggled free from her arms, "She's coming, she's a slow poke." He climbed on the stool, "Where's Mikey?"

"Napping." Nicole told him, "He should be up soon." Mikey had been a surprise, Nicole had struggled with infertility for so long that she never gave birth control a second thought. Once she and Michael became committed each and their relationship became serious they stopped using condoms.

Learning she was pregnant had shocked the shit out of her but she and Michael embraced it, and it wasn't long before they were married. It happened fast, but it had felt right. The first time Nicole had met Michael she felt drawn to him, she felt safe with him.

She had struggled for so long after her divorce and rape that she never even considered dating again, she was happy to just be alive. Meeting Michael had definitely blindsided her a bit, he was everything she didn't know she needed. He had an outstanding job, and they lived the good life with a beautiful home and their perfect little family.

Zoe adored Michael and she was smitten with her baby brother, Mikey was two years old and an absolute joy.

"Thanks for waiting buddy." Kim blew out an exhausted breath, "Where's my nephew?"

Nicole laughed, "No one comes to see me anymore, huh? Mikey is napping ." She handed Sebastian a bottle of water, "but you can go see if he's awake."

"Okay!" Sebastian took off upstairs.

"How's he doing?" Nicole asked.

Kim shrugged as she sat at the island, watching Nicole as she prepared dinner, "He's okay. He misses his dad but aside from that he's hanging in."

"And you?"

Kim laughed, "I'm a mess. My baby is starting school soon and I'm so not ready." She gratefully accepted the bottle of water her sister offered, "I feel like we were celebrating his first birthday just yesterday. I wish time would slow down."

"I get it, Zoe is rarely home, she's off to college in just a few years. Mikey is growing like a weed. It's all happening so quickly."

"How are things on the Adam front?"

Kim sighed heavily, "I don't know. I haven't heard from him in a while."

"He doesn't check in on Sebastian?" Nicole questioned.

"Occasionally he does, but he can never talk long that's if he calls. More often than not he just sends a text." Kim explained.

"I'm sorry." Nicole patted her hand.

"Me too." Kim smiled sadly.

"Hey.." he greeted her with a kiss on the cheek, "I'm a bit surprised you wanted to me to come here." He had just pulled into the bar's parking lot when he got her text, "you could've sent it a little earlier, I was already at the bar."

"Ah..I'm sorry." She stepped aside allowing him into the living room, "I wanted some privacy. I'm tired of sharing you."

Adam glanced around the room, "Nice place. You've got a great view of the water." He leaned against the wall, "a short walk to the park." He couldn't help but think of Sebastian, his boy would lose his mind if he lived this close to a park and a lake.

"It's not too shabby. Though, it can get kinda loud. You would be surprised at how far the brats voices can travel, good thing they'll be in school soon."

Adam moved away from the window, taking a seat on the couch, "I thought tonight was the night I met your friends? I'm not complaining about the company.." he smirked as she waltzed over towards him, "I just thought..."

She straddled him, looping her arms around his neck, "In due time..baby..due time."

Adam grabbed her hips, "Babe...I like what we've got going on, I like you..."

She placed her index finger against his lips, "Shhh..." she kissed his neck, "I liked you..." she couldn't resist one last kiss.

Adam felt his blood run cold.

"Do you think I'm an idiot?" She asked him as she got up from his lap, "That I didn't know what you wanted? You're not the first to use me to get to my father" She whistled, "You were careless" She took a few steps backwards and smiled as the front door opened and in walked four guys.

Four big fucking guys.

"Fuck..." Adam mumbled.