CHAPTER 2. "Nevermind"

"So, you're the boss now?" asked Gabriella, when Antonio came by for a quick dinner with his younger sister. It seemed like they haven't seen each other for centuries, but it was just a feeling that Justin's death gave him. At the end of the day family is everyone's number one priority.

"Technically. Until they'll figure out what to do with Voight. But hey, I've had enough of this shit, let's talk about anything else," he took a few sips of wine.

"What to do? Lock him up forever, for Christ's sake!"

"You wouldn't consider that option, Gabi, washing your kid's blood from your hands," Antonio said silently and gravely, giving her sister a heavy look.

"How can you even…" Gabriella wasn't pleased with brother's attitude, but stopped before she's gone mad. "You know, power or grief doesn't give you the right to play God," she continued after all and stood up to wash the dishes.

"All I know, sis, that it's none of my fucking business, I have to get my job done, and it has nothing to do with Hank. Fortunately or not."

They were silent for a while, but eventually Gabi switched the topic, and they ended up talking about their ordinary family problems, which now, compared to the past few days, sounded like a blessing.


The next evening after a long day of spending in the fields, hunting the pyro, Alvin asked Ruzek to stay in the unit to help him with the report.

"Before you hit Molly's, make sure everything is done perfectly," he handed a folder to Adam.

"You know, that there are other places besides Molly's, right?" Adam answered with a tiny smile.

"Tell it yourself," not looking at a youngster, Alvin left the building through the parade door.

"Have a good time, you old man!" Ruzek raised his voice and shouted it to Alvin's distancing back with a piece of irony.

"Ruzek, if you going to kill me with your annoying face, please, make it faster, I have plans with my husband," Platt suddenly appeared in front of him, as always flawless in her hatred for humanity. But before he could answer anything, she was already looking behind him, ready to lecture somebody else.

"Burgess, finally. How was the day on the parking lot?" Sergeant started sarcastically, but Kim looked her straight in the eye and gave a little smile.

"Best day of my life."

Since her suspension on the ground of shooting at civil (despite the fact she was justified), she was more than happy to get any job in this district again. She just tried to perform excellently without any questions.

"Good, patrolman. Hope you enjoyed your new partner. Not that yummy as the previous one, but at least it's a man, yeah?" Platt depict a fake excitement on her face and immediately switched it back to the seriousness. Kim didn't find it funny, not even close, so she just smiled once again, patiently restraining herself from a tantrum.

All this time Adam was standing right next to her and Platt, accidentally witnessing Platt's comedy show and Kim's embarrassment. He was kind of feeling weird too, so he hurried to leave as invisibly as possible. He turned left, but Kim already crushed into his chest, completely forgetting to look around.

"I am…" She mumbled.

"I am sorry," he replied at the same time and touched her shoulders to make sure she's alright. As always. Silly habit.

Kim wanted to say something else, he could tell that by her trembled lip, but she only nodded in confusion and went away hastily. Before she disappeared around the corner, Adam stopped to look at her for the last time with a huge hole in his chest.

Tonight he planned to visit that new fashionable place in the center of Chicago with Atwater, who partly organized the whole event, but what was more important — to meet a girl, Kevin's old friend. He still wasn't sure about this arrangement, though best friend insisted. But this paperwork he received from Olinsky and Burgess face out of nowhere finally convinced him it was a bad idea right from the start.

He cancelled the meeting with a simple text and got back to business in the evidence room.

Routine work was always a nightmare for Ruzek, that's why he spent at least a couple of hours trying to finish the report, constantly losing focus.

The last time he look down at papers, someone entered the room and obviously distracted him again. Adam glanced at a person frowningly, noticing only the badge on the belt.

"Oh. I thought, it's empty here. Never mind," Kim's voice paralyzed him and he looked up right away, searching for her shifty eyes.

"Kim," Adam pronounced her name softly, like every time was the first time, and waited for her to look at him back.

She stayed still for a second and then slowly turned around.

"Yes," she replied as calm as she could, trying to stop running her eyes over the room.

"You know, we can't play hide and seek all the time. It's getting pointless," Ruzek raised his eyebrows slightly. He didn't know if he wanted to have a talk, cause apparently they haven't got a chance since the court day, but he surely wanted to shake the awkwardness off. Fair or not, it got to an unbearable point.

"I'm not… hiding from you. You've got a lot of work to do, I don't want to disturb," Kim didn't quite believe in her own words, though she tried to sound convincible. "Besides, you guys having hard times up there, you know…"

Adam didn't understand what his relationship with Kim had to do with Voight's son right now, however, since everybody started to faking stuff and not noticing anything, he bought it.

"Right," Adam replied with a dry chuckle and widened his eyes. She nodded briefly and waited another second to leave, but he stopped her in the doors again with a casually thrown phrase. "So, catch up later, yeah?" the smirk shown on his face, and he was not sure, if it was the right move. Kim nodded again hesitantly, but sort of agreed for what it's worth.

He guessed all of this would never gone: the awkwardness, the stupid childish offense, which he has been trying to rid off every day of his life. But people get used to stuff like this and he certainly will too. He just need some extra time.

Ruzek glanced at his phone and noticed a notification: a message from Atwater. He sent nothing but a million of question marks and a couple of unamused emojis. After a long thought, Adam finally texted him back.

"Never mind. What time?"