Chapter 2

"Oh no." Sergeant Platt saw Adam and Izzy approach the front desk, a pleading look on the detective's face. "I'm not a babysitting service, Ruzek."

Antonio patted him on the shoulder as he brushed past, in what Adam knew to be a good luck gesture. "I'll go check in with Mouse."

"Please Trudy." Calling her by her first name was a risk, it would either help him persuade her to do as he wished, or simply annoy her. She only scowled. Izzy meanwhile, had already scuttled around the side of the desk and dropped her backpack on the floor.

Platt turned back to Ruzek with one eyebrow raised, a stern look on her face. "You owe me" she said warningly, although, Adam noted, she didn't exactly put up much more of a fight. She sighed. "Ok kiddo" she said to Izzy, who was climbing up onto Platt's chair, a mock-serious look on her little face, "you gonna help me do the paperwork?"

"Thanks Serge" Ruzek said, high-fiving his daughter before jogging over to the stairs, eager to get on with his job knowing his girl was safe. "Be good Iz" he called. He buzzed through the security door and rushed up the stairs, taking two at a time.

Dawson was sitting behind his desk. When he saw Ruzek coming he put the cap back on his pen and stood up. "The families are in the break room with Lindsay. The kids have gone quiet again, I think you're the best person to talk to them, they seem to trust you."

Adam nodded. "Lead the way."

Sometime later, Adam leant against the wall in the hall and pulled out his cell phone. He dialled home and it rang twice before a familiar "hey" from the other end of the line instantly soothed him.

"Hey darling. How's your day going?"

"I'm ok, just doing some laundry."

Adam breathed deeply before saying what he didn't really want to say. "Kim, listen. Something went down at Izzy's school. She's fine!" he said abruptly, not wanting to panic his wife, and he shifted his weight from one foot to the other, absently kicking the wall behind him. "They closed the school and sent all the kids home. Izzy is currently playing Deputy Desk Sergeant downstairs."

Kim was quiet. "I'll come and pick her up." There was a note of apprehension in her voice.

"Thank you baby. I don't know how long I'll be stuck here, it could be a very long night. I know we had dinner planned but..."

Burgess cut him off. "Don't worry about it. Honestly. Do what you need to do. I'll be there soon."

"I love you."

"You too."

Adam stared at the screen of his phone for a second before he shoved it back in his pocket and got back to work.

Kim rubbed her hands together as she entered the building, shutting the door behind her to keep out the cold.

"Mommy!"

Kim smiled. "Hey! I hope you're not getting in the way up there."

"Nah, she's being a great help. " Platt looked up from the computer screen and winked at Izzy. "Who knew filing could be so much fun."

"Are we going home now?" Izzy asked her mother.

"Hang tight a minute Honey, I have some things to take care of upstairs." Izzy nodded. "Is that okay Sergeant Platt?"

"You bet."

Kim reached over the desk and planted a kiss on her daughter's forehead. She hoisted the strap of her purse onto her shoulder and walked slowly towards the mesh door up to intelligence. She took a deep breath and placed her palm on the scanner. It had been a couple of months since she'd last walked through this door. She wondered how long it would be before they revoked her access, but there was a familiar buzz as the door released and she pushed it open.

Adam saw her appear at the top of the stairs and got up without a word, walking over to where she stood. He wrapped both strong arms around her and hugged her tight. "I'm sorry" he said into her hair. "It's a difficult case, I didn't want to worry you but..."

Kim placed her hands on his chest and gently pushed him away enough so she could see his face. He didn't let go. "Don't be silly."

They were alone. The rest of the team were back at the crime scene, only Voight remained, they could see him through the glass wall of his office on the phone. He was holding his jacket in one hand, he looked in a hurry to leave again and head back to the school. Ruzek was to go with him, but wanted to wait to see Kim.

"I know you're not ready to be back here" he said, looking at Kim's face with intense concern.

"I'm fine, I promise. What happened?"

So Adam told her, and could feel her tensing in his arms. She nodded and looked at the floor. He kissed her again. "I've got to get back to the school. Will you be okay?"

Kim smiled. "Of course."

"I'll try not to wake you if I'm home late."

This time Kim reached up to kiss her husband. "No, I want you to wake me."

"I think Voight wants to see you. "

Kim turned around to see Voight beckoning to her through the window of his office. She took a deep breath but didn't say anything. Adam squeezed her hand. "I'll go and make sure Izzy's ready to leave."

Kim walked slowly towards Voight's office. She knocked once or twice on the door frame, but it was already open. She stepped in and closed it behind her.

"Burgess. How are you doing?" Voight beckoned to the chair opposite his own and she sat down.

"I'm getting by." Although she had, for all other purposes, changed her name to Ruzek the second they were married, it was just easier to keep her old name at work. Two Rusek's in the same department would have been confusing. She looked apprehensively at her boss, waiting for him to speak again.

"Are you still seeing the counsellor?"

"Yes. Listen Sergeant, I want to come back to work, I do. But until I can trust myself again I don't think I'll be very good at my job, I might even put the team in danger." Kim's voice rose and the words spilled out quickly.

"Burgess, stop. I understand. Your job will still be here when you're ready. I just wanted to check in, that's all."

"I really appreciate it."

"Is Adam looking after you?"

Kim smiled. "Absolutely."

"I'm keeping him in line here for you." Voight's gruff joking manner broke the tension somewhat. He stood up again, picking his jacket up off the desk. "Go, take Izzy home. I'll try not to keep your husband out too late."

He opened the door for Kim and followed her out into the empty office. Walking down the stairs, Kim paused and watched Adam crouch down to zip up Izzy's jacket and her heart skipped. These two, they were the reason she could go on, the reason she was trying to work through her anxieties and problems. For a moment she watched Adam struggle with the zipper before smiling to herself and jogging down the remaining stairs.

"Come here" she said, then glanced at Adam. "You're useless." She pulled Izzy's zipper the rest of the way up. Voight was already at the door and held it open as she led her daughter to the car. "I'll see you later" she said to Adam over her shoulder as she descended the steps. He blew her a kiss.

A Disney movie was playing on the TV, but Izzy was staring into space. Kim stroked her hair as they cuddled on the sofa and watched her daughter's face with concern. She had been her usual chatty, sassy self at the District and in the car on their way home, but as soon as they'd stepped through the door, she had been quiet and barely touched her dinner. Besides, it was most unlike her to not sing-a-long to The Little Mermaid.

Kim reached for the TV remote to pause the movie. Izzy didn't react. "Are you ok baby?" She brushed Izzy's hair from her eyes and pulled her onto her lap. Izzy shrugged and looked down at the floor. "Hey, what's wrong?"

Izzy fiddled with the cuff of her pajamas. "Will Daddy find Maria?"

Kim gave her daughter a sad smile. "I hope so. Daddy and the rest of the team will do their very best to find her." She didn't want to come right you and say 'yes', as much as that would comfort her daughter in the moment. Izzy had unshakable faith in her Father's superpowers and wanted to believe that her Daddy could make anything right, but Kim and Adam had made a pact long ago to never lie to their child, never make promises they couldn't keep. She wasn't about to break it now.

Izzy nodded, but said nothing. Only swivelled around on Kim's lap and buried her face in her sweater, the way she used to when she was a baby. Kim wrapped her arms tight around her and gave her a squeeze.

After a while, Izzy stirred. "Mommy?"

"Yes baby?"

"They will find her."

Even with her voice muffled, Izzy sounded so sure. Kim rubber her back and kissed the top of her head. "They'll find her" she repeated. What she didn't say was whether the child would still be alive when they did.

A little while later, after Izzy had nodded off in her arms and she had carried her to bed, Kim returned to the sofa with a glass of wine, but she had only taken a sip and was now just staring at the almost-full glass where it sat on the coffee table.

She handed even been there today but this case, any case involving a child got under her skin. It was true, the moment she had become a mother these types of cases grew harder to deal with but he knew that wasn't the only reason. She'd been going to counselling ever since the incident, and sometimes Kim really thought she was making progress, moving toward that place where she would forgive herself and truly move on with her life, then something like this happened and it shook her.

She felt weary and closed her eyes, but she must have nodded off because the next thing she was aware of was Adam's key turning in the lock. She caught sight of the clock on the mantel, it was almost 11:30. Turning her head from her spot on the sofa, she saw him put his keys on the window ledge by the front door and sling his leather jacket over the banister.

He smiled when he saw she was awake and wordlessly slid next to her on the sofa, planting a kiss on her lips.

"I could use some of this." He picked up Kim's wine glass and took a long gulp of the crimson liquid.

"Help yourself" Kim said, placing her hand affectionately on his lower back as he leant forward to replace the glass. "How's the case going?"

Adam looked at his wife with concern and looped his arm around her shoulders. Kim snuggled into him, curling her legs onto the sofa. "We don't have to talk about it, I know it's hard for you."

"No, baby..." Kim paused. "I don't want you to feel like you can't talk about work to me. It's got to be a difficult case for anyone and if you need to talk about it, I'll listen. I'm our wife, it's my job."

"We've got a few leads" Adam said after a pause. "It look like the little girl's brother might have an affiliation with a gang, the team are following it up. But I needed to come home. I needed to see my girls." He hugged her tighter. "How's Iz?"

Kim sighed. "Okay I think. She's been very quiet. We should talk to her in the morning."

"I'll go check on her in a while. But first I need my own glass of that wine." Adam heaved himself off the sofa and disappeared into the kitchen. Kim heard him open the cabinet and he returned a moment later balancing the half empty bottle, a fresh wine glass and a box of cereal.

Kim raised an eyebrow and suppressed a laugh. "Really?"

"What? Cabernet Sauvignon goes great with Cherrios." He winked at her and fell back on the sofa. "I'm starving and it's too late for takeout."

"I can make you some pasta."

Adam stuffed a handful of cereal into his mouth before pouring his glass of wine. "I'm good."

Kim rolled her eyes and reached for her own glass. After pouring the wine she wasn't sure she wanted it, but now she realised she just didn't want to drink alone.

"How was it being at the District today?" Adam asked finally, breaking the comfortable silence that existed between them as they settled back on the sofa, their bodies touching.

Kim took a deep breath. "It was hard, but I did it. It's nice to know I can, you know? I'll be back at work soon, I'm trying really hard to work through it."

"I know you are." Adam kissed the top of her head. "I'm proud of you."

"Hey, what time do you need to go in tomorrow?"

"Early. I should get to bed soon. This wine probably isn't the best idea."

Kim smirked. "Since when has that ever stopped you?"

"Touché." Adam raised his glass mockingly."Hey, I'm going to check on Izzy. I'll be right back."

Upstairs, he gently pushed open the door to his daughter's room being careful not to make a sound. Adam's eyes adjusted to the dim light and he saw that Izzy was buried deep under her covers. Her flashlight shone through the fabric bathing the room in a soft yellow light. He was about to open his mouth to tell her to turn it off and go to sleep, when he heard her murmur something and stopped himself.

"I saw the bad men." Izzy's quiet little voice made Adam freeze. He could see her silhouette through the bedspread, she was hunched over whispering in the ear of her teddy bear. "I think they saw me too. But I wasn't supposed to be behind the trees. Don't tell anyone or I'll be in trouble ok?"

A wave of nausea washed over Adam and he stood rooted to the spot in the doorway. Izzy was a witness to the kidnapping of Maria Robinson. The fact hit him like a truck as he realised the potential danger his baby girl was in. His mind raced. As he took out his cellphone to call Voight, he heard Izzy speak again.

"Don't tell my Daddy or Mommy. It's a secret."

Her flashlight clicked off and Adam was left in darkness.