A/N: How about last night's episode? Poor Sylvie, she never catches a break does she? The interviews for S9 look promising though! I'm all for Derek turning up the heat on Brettsey! ;) Speaking of Brettsey! You guys ready for this chapter? Just one more after this and then the epilogue! Hope you enjoy!

Happy reading!

angellwings

CHAPTER THIRTY ONE: We Have a Situation

Matt's not sure what he's seeing at first. Sylvie is taking an awfully long time to get her food, that's all he knows. He can't really hear the conversation since it's around the corner from the kitchen. There's movement around the entryway wall. He easily makes out Sylvie as she backs her way toward the kitchen and stares in shock at the person who's joined her.

Jordan.

And then he spots the gun.

Fuck!

He knew that guy was a creepy asshole but he never thought—Jesus Christ!

Sylvie's eyes briefly flick to where her phone is sitting out and propped up. It's too quick for Jordan to notice but Matt sees it. She knows the call is still going. Matt hits mute before anyone bursts into his quarters or the bells go off and Jordan finds the phone.

Jordan hands Sylvie her Chinese food and Matt realizes that he intercepted the delivery. He doesn't want to know what happened to the poor delivery kid. Sylvie uses the excuse to retreat to the kitchen and casually grabs a dish towel on her way.

His view is suddenly obstructed by fabric, but the call is still going. He can hear everything. He picks up his phone and makes a run for Boden's office. This is fucking insane. He tries to listen as he sprints across the Firehouse.

"You don't need that gun, Jordan. I'm not going anywhere."

"Not now. That's why I need the gun. With a gun pointed at you, you'll stay put. The minute I set it down you'll try to run. I know your type."

"My type?"

"The type that doesn't know what's good for you. The type who fights when they should submit. Like Hope."

For fuck's sake. Does that mean what he thinks it means? He's terrified and pissed and ready to steal the Chief's buggy and go take care of this asshole himself.

"Or maybe it's the other way around. Maybe Hope was like you. I'm starting to realize I never really knew the real Hope. I knew who she wanted me to believe she was. I fell in love with a person she pretended to be."

Sylvie sounds hesitant when she speaks, as if she doesn't actually want to know.

"And who was she pretending to be?"

"You. She was trying to be you. But you're one of a kind. No one can replicate your sweetness. Truly. You're clearly too good for this city. You deserve wide open spaces and big blue skies — that's what's best for you and that's what I'm here to give you."

"How are you going to give me that, exactly?"

"By freeing you from all of this. Rescuing you."

Rescuing her? What the fuck does that even mean? Sylvie doesn't need to be rescued. He knows what Sylvie's doing. She's stalling him and giving Matt time to get help. But he really wishes he wasn't listening to this right now. Jordan's plan is painfully obvious. He wants to abduct Sylvie and do God knows what to her. Matt cannot let that happen.

"I don't need to be rescued. I'm happy right where I am."

"That's what you think, but you're wrong. You're just like Hope. You have no idea what you really need or that what you want will hurt you in the end. I tried to tell Hope that but she wouldn't listen."

Jordan starts to sound more frantic. His volume is increasing with every word and Matt can make out a tense gasp coming from Sylvie.

"Really, Jordan, you don't need that gun. Just put it down."

"No, I have this gun so that what happened with Hope never happens again! You'll run away from me just like she did and then I'll have to chase you down and we both know how that ended the first time. I don't want to kill you, Sylvie. I just want you to come with me."

Finally, the cursing escapes his head and passes over his lips.

"Jesus fucking Christ!" He yells as he reaches the bullpen.

He gets a few scandalized looks but he doesn't give a damn. He bursts into Boden's office - ignoring the closed door meeting that's happening between Severide, Herrmann, and Boden.

"Chief, I'm sorry," Matt says with an aggravated huff. "But we have a situation."

"I didn't hear the bells-"

"It's not a call," Casey announces. "Just-Goddamn it, just listen."

He holds his phone out to let them hear the conversation. The silence is miraculously timed for a perfect confession.

"Are you-Jordan, are you telling me that you killed Hope? Because the police are saying it was her ex who-"

"Her fucking ex could barely string a sentence together. He was a drunk bastard with barely a single brain cell left in his head. He would not be able to track down where Hope was headed and beat her there. He was an angry asshole who beat the shit out of her, sure, but he wasn't smart."

Severide's eyes meet his and narrow into a livid glare. "Is that Jordan?"

"What the hell is this?" Boden asks as he comes around his desk.

"I was on the phone with Sylvie when that Jordan asshole showed up at her door. He's holding her at gunpoint and saying all kinds of insane psychotic shit," Matt tells them as he tries to get his fear and anger under control. "The way he tells it, he killed Hope."

"That prick that showed up at the Firehouse the other week?" Herrmann all but yells.

Severide hastily quiets all of them as Jordan speaks up again.

"He was dumb as shit. So dumb, that it didn't take much to get him to drink himself unconscious. Asshole thought he was safe just cause I bought him the whiskey."

"You...oh god. You killed the ex? It wasn't a suicide?"

The fear, Sylvie's done so well at disguising, suddenly edges it's way into her voice. Matt wishes he could reach through the phone and stangle this guy. He needs to get him far away from Sylvie. As soon as possible.

Upon hearing that Boden picks up his phone and immediately dials a number. His jaw is tense and his hand is so tight around the handset that Matt's afraid it might break. Everyone in the room looks the same. Locked jaws and fisted hands.

"I did him a favor, Sylvie. He was a waste of space. Like your Captain Boyfriend."

"Leave Matt out of this."

"I wish I could. He's the reason I know you won't leave willingly."

"I won't leave willingly because I love Chicago. My life is here."

"I know, but that's why I'm here - to help you find a new life. A new home. With me."

"What the fuck? Is he for real?" Kelly curses as he grabs his radio out of his chair in Boden's office. "Chief, we have to get down there. Let me load up Squad and-"

Boden doesn't say anything. He simply holds up a finger and shakes his head.

Casey is this close to defying orders and rallying his Truck crew so he understands when Severide blows out an irritated breath and turns his back on their Chief.

"All due respect, Chief," Matt begins, fighting off the urge to punch a hole in Boden's office wall. "If we don't get to her now, we might be too late. She's been stalling for too long as it is. She knows I'm still on the line and if this bastard finds her phone-" A groan that resembles a growl escapes him as a horror show of possibilities flickers through his imagination. "I cannot let anything happen to her. There's too much at stake and I will not lose her. So if I have to get in my truck and drive over there by myself I-"

"Voight," Boden says into the phone. Giving Matt a quick sympathetic glance. He can tell Boden has things he wants to say to him but no time to say them. "Get your people over to Sylvie Brett and Joe Cruz's apartment right now. Your case that you thought was closed? It sure as hell isn't. My medic is being held hostage by Hope's actual killer and if anything happens to her I will be coming for you. Not your team - you. Do you understand?"

Boden pauses and then slams the phone down on it's base. "Intelligence is on their way. Get in the damn trucks and go get our PIC out of there. That's an order."

Herrmann squeezes Matt's shoulder to get his attention.

"Brett's quick on her feet and smart as a damn whip, Casey. She got a confession out of the guy. She can hold him off till we get there. She's got this," Herrmann assures him before he takes off to help rally the troops.

As they yell for everyone to load up, Matt tunes back into the conversation on his phone.

"Just imagine it, Sylvie. You and me and a quiet life somewhere far away from our pasts. You'll love it. I know you will. It'll be like all the best parts of Fowlerton."

"That sounds nice, Jordan. It really does. But I've tried the leaving Chicago thing, remember? It led me right back here."

"That was before you had me. You won't quit this time. I won't let you. Hope couldn't leave me and neither can you. You just have to trust that I know what you need and who you need it with."

Matt might finally kill someone. All these years, he's avoided it. Odd for someone as hot headed as he is, but dammit if Jordan wasn't going to test every moral fiber of his being. If he lays one hand on Sylvie, Matt will not be responsible for his actions.

He climbs into his truck and shuts the door just as Stella takes off toward Sylvie's apartment. Matt holds his phone between them and glares at anyone in the Truck cab who makes too much noise.

"I don't blame you for not trusting me, Sylvie. It's going to take some time. But eventually you'll see. We belong together. We can build a life. You'll be such a great mom and you won't have to worry about saving anyone's life or how you'll pay for rent once your roommate gets married. You'll be a wife and a mother and that's all you'll need. Peaceful, normal. And then eventually once you're used to it, we can have your parents out to visit. They'll love the little house I've picked out for us. You'll be settled and happy and you won't give a damn about anyone or anything in Chicago anymore."

"I-" Sylvie stutters tearfully but a deep fortifying breath brings the false brightness back to her tone. "I think you're right. You know, maybe you do see things more clearly than I do. But before we go, there's just so many things here that are from my family. I'd hate to leave any of that behind. Could I...would it be okay, I mean, if I packed a bag?"

"God, she's brilliant," Stella says through a tense breath. "Keep playing along, Brett." Kidd's eyes meet his with fierce determination. "We're three minutes out. I've run every red light between here and there, Captain."

"Intelligence should be there any minute too," Matt says - more to assure himself than Stella. "They had a minute or two lead on us."

"I think that's a good idea."

There's a sudden shuffling on the line and he hears Sylvie make a sound of protest.

"You should pack these cookbooks. Hope used to tell me what a wonderful cook you-"

The fabric is pulled away from the camera - revealing Jordan staring at the phone with a livid and betrayed expression.

"Bitch, what the hell? You've been on the phone with your fucking boyfriend this whole time?"

"Goddammit!" Matt curses before taking the phone off mute. No point now. "Sylvie, we're just a few minutes out. You have to get away from him until we can get there!"

He's not sure if she can hear him over Jordan's yelling, but he can hear her. She's yelling at Jordan just as loudly and he's yelling at her. Not backing down, not cowering. Never giving up. Despite the situation, he finds himself thinking...that's my girl.

"Sylvie?" He tries again. He just needs her to confirm she heard him. He needs to know she's fighting like hell to get away from him.

There's a scuffle and he hears her shout, but he can't tell what's going on. The picture is black. Jordan must have the camera covered by his hand or shoved in his pocket. A second later, there's a cry of pain, a loud crash and then the call cuts out.

Cutting him off from Sylvie and any knowledge of what's going on in that apartment.

"Kidd!" Casey yells as he violently tosses his now useless phone onto the dash of the truck. He opens his mouth to order her to drive faster but she beats him to it.

"Copy that, Captain. I am doing my best to break the sound barrier. I promise."

This is not how things with Brett are going to end. He won't let it. He hasn't even worked up the guts to tell her he loves her! She can't be gone before they've even gotten started. He's been dealt a lot of shit hands in his life but this will not be one of them.

Not her. Not now. Not ever.