Vanessa stood outside the 21st district. She had not realized how much she had missed this place. Although she hadn't been there so long, it had been a really significant time. She had been a part of the family. Growing up in the system, family wasn't a matter of course to Vanessa.

Vanessa had texted Hailey to be sure that Voight was at his office. She entered the familiar building.

"Hey Sarge!" She greeted the woman behind the desk.

"Isn't that a sight for my sore eyes! Officer Rojas, what brings you here? Fancy undercovers weren't so fancy anymore?" Platt was pleased to see the young officer.

"You know how it goes… I came to meet guys upstairs", Vanessa answered vaguely. "Would you be so kind and let me in?"

Just when saying that, she heard a voice behind her calling her name. She turned and saw Jay standing behind her.

"Jay! So nice to see you. I was disappointed that I didn't get to see you yesterday." Vanessa said and went to hug Jay tightly. "Where's Hailey, is she with you?"

"No, she's upstairs. I just met quickly my guy in Gangs'n guns to get some information" Jay told. "Man, it's so nice to see you", he smiled looking at her.

"Chuckles, why don't you take the lovely lady upstairs. I'm sure that certain officer is dying for to see her", Platt hinted.

"Oh yes, I think so too", Jay grinned. "But Sarge, haven't we agreed, it's Detective Chuckles."

"What I have heard, isn't it Sergeant Chuckles?" Vanessa quipped.

"You right, my mistake", Platt granted. "So Sergeant Chuckles, would you escort this officer in?"

"Sure thing, ma'am", Jay saluted Platt.

Vanessa and Jay climbed upstairs.

"Look what I found!" Jay greeted the team.

Vanessa stopped in the middle on the bullpen and looked around. Desks had been reorganized, but it still looked so familiar.

She stood there, when a big man rushed to her and grabbed her to the bear hug. Her legs almost rose from the ground and she hugged him back.

"I have missed you so much", she whispered to Kevin.

"You have no idea how much I have missed you, Nessa", he whispered back. "I was so excited when Hailey told you are back."

The team looked at the reunion. When Kevin finally let Vanessa down to the ground, Kim and Adam were waiting for their turn to hug Vanessa.

"Hey man, don't own her, I want my hug too", laughed Adam.

"Me first!", intervened Kim before hugging Vanessa tightly. "It's so nice to see you!"

After receiving one more hug from Adam, Vanessa turned to look at the middle aged man, who had stayed on the sidelines during the reunion. The man's smile is kind and his brown eyes warm. Vanessa stepped closer and reached her hand out.

"We haven't met. Officer Vanessa Rojas", she smiled at the man.

"Detective Dave Williams. It's nice to finally meet, I have heard a lot about you." Detective's handshake was solid and something about him signaled Vanessa that everything she had heard about this man was right. Williams seemed to be a good guy.

"Don't believe everything these rascals have told you", Vanessa laughed and pointed to Kevin and Adam.

Vanessa sat down on the corner of Kevin's desk, only to be bombarded with multiple questions about her absence and undercover gigs. Vanessa answered vaguely, there's so much she couldn't tell. Cheerful chatter filled the room, when the team told her some funny occasions that had happened recently.

Hailey was the only one who noticed that Vanessa had been glancing towards Voight's office. Voight had been on the phone the whole time Vanessa had been at the bullpen. Now he had ended the call and stood up.

"Officer Rojas, in all her glory", sergeant greeted her while coming from his office. He smiled warmly and shook Vanessa's hand.

"Hi Sarge!" Vanessa answered.

"Undercover starting to bore you? Or did you come to see if these fools could need some tips from the pro?", Hank jested.

"In fact, I came to see you", Vanessa admitted almost nervously.

"Ahh. In that case, come in", Voight gestured to Vanessa to come to the office.

Following the officer, Hank shut the door and sat down.

"What can I do for you?"

Vanessa sat down on the seat opposite Hank.

"I know it has been a long time… Being undercover, all this has been an amazing opportunity and I have learnt so much. I am not the same cop I was when I was here and the same time, I am. I am, but I have a lot of more experience", Vanessa tried to open up. "And as great it has been, I feel that now is time for me to do something else. My time here was maybe the best part of my career so far and…"

Hank raised his hand to interfere. "Rojas. I don't know what Hailey had told you, but I feel something. I think that before we continue we better ask Jay in."

Vanessa nodded. She had expected this but hadn't wanted to betray Hailey in that case that Hank would have assumed that Vanessa did not know about upcoming changes.

Hank went to the door.

"Halstead", he ordered.

Jay raised his eyebrows questioningly but came into the office and sat next to Vanessa.

Hank signaled Vanessa to continue.

"Ummm… What I was telling Hank. I think that I want to do something else other than long term undercover assignments. It has been instructive but I have to admit it has started to take a toll. I feel that I can be a better cop by doing something else, at least now. I know I might sound weak, but it is not good for me anymore. Maybe in future but not now." Vanessa looked from man to the other.

It was Jay who responded. "There's nothing weak about recognizing your own limits. Quite the opposite, that is what makes you a better cop. It's the only way you can do this properly. Only way you can develop professionally and protect yourself and others."

Jay looked Vanessa at the eyes, his whole presence somehow very assertive. Vanessa had always found Jay solid but this was new.

Vanessa sensed that men wanted her to continue. "You are probably right. What I want to ask, is there any chance for me to get back to Intelligence? I don't know if you have any plans to hire anyone, but I want you to know that if so, I would really appreciate getting a second chance."

Vanessa could see Hank look at Jay and Jay nodded a little.

"Like I said, I don't know how much you already know, but I am going to retire in summer and this unit will be Jay's. It is my time to leave this to the younger ones. That said, it will be Jay's decision whether he will hire anyone and if, who it will be", Hank said with a steady voice.

Surprising both Vanessa and Jay, he stood up and smiled. "I leave you to talk. It was really good to see you, Rojas."

Voight entered the bullpen, only to continue his tour to the stairs. Team turned to look at after him. It felt strange, they knew Hank would not be their boss no longer but seeing Jay in the sergeant's office talking with Vanessa without Hank there made it feel more real. Things are going to change. But somehow, nobody felt scared of it.

Jay collected himself far faster than Vanessa. He nodded to Hank and turned to face Vanessa.

"Like you have probably made a conclusion, intelligence will need a new member. I value solid partnerships and in my command we need three stable pairs. This unit has always been one of the best in CPD, if not best and I have no intention to let it be anything else also in the future", Jay told Vanessa. He seemed to be very calm and sure of everything he had said.

Vanessa looked at the man in front of her. While it was still Jay, she had been right earlier. There was something new. This new Jay was calmer and somehow more self-confident in a good way. Vanessa had to admit that he was imposing. It dawned to Vanessa why Hailey had been so sure that Jay would make a great sergeant. Vanessa had deep down in her mind thought that Hailey might have been a little biased, but she should have known her friend better. Hailey definitely loved Jay more than anything, but Hailey was still one of the most straightforward people Vanessa knew.

Sensing Jay's determination to keep standards high in Intelligence, Vanessa suddenly felt herself unsure. Perhaps she didn't fill Jay's requirements. Maybe he wanted a new member to be a man. Or someone older, more skilled?

Jay seemed to sense Vanessa's doubts. "I want to talk with your current sergeant, but I want you to know that I would be more than pleased to take you back to the team. I know your skills and you would be a good addition to the team."

Vanessa sighed. Like she should have known Hailey, she should have known Jay. Jay had never shown any indication that he would think less about female cops. Vanessa smiled and began to say something when Jay continued.

"But there's couple of conditions. First, like I said, I have to talk with your sergeant and convince him to let you go. Secondly, I want you to keep some personal vacation days before coming back here. You have been under for months, and like you say, it could take its toll. I can't force you, but I dearly recommend that you see someone at least once during your leave. And by that I mean therapist. It could feel like nonsense, but it will help you to get a fresh start."

"I can do it. In fact, I would like to do that", Vanessa nodded. She may be tough, but she had to admit that the last couple of months had been hard. She had never been so lonely and so on the edge. And that was a lot to be said considering her childhood.

"I want you to know that I would be forever thankful to you that you are willing to give me this opportunity. I promise you would not regret doing it"; Vanessa thanked.

"Vanessa. I may give you an opportunity but it comes with great expectations, I don't want to lie to you or whitewash it. This is also my chance to show that I can do this and do it well"; Jay sounded serious. "Even at the risk of sounding unprofessional, I will tell you this to you. I know you are clever and know this already. It's Hailey who needs a new partner. Hence, if I didn't believe your skills you wouldn't get anywhere near the intelligence. I would never let you watch Hailey's six when I can't do it myself anymore, if I didn't believe you can do it successfully."

"I know. I know what it takes for you", Vanessa answered, her voice full of emotions.

They looked each other in the eyes for a while before Jay lightened the mood. "You are sure you wanna do it? It's big boots you have to fill as Hailey's partner, " he grinned almost boyishly.

"Oh Sarge, I think you can keep some of your partner duties. I will keep our girl undamaged, but you can still be her designated coffee supplier or what else you used to do. I am not sure I want to know everything at all." Vanessa could be relaxed again.

"Officer Rojas, is that how you talk to your sergeant", laughed Jay shaking his head. "Speaking of partner duties, I think I have to take care that my partner gets some lunch. We definitely do not want her to become hangry."

"That I remember"; Vanessa giggled

"Come on, I think you being here is worth a team lunch", spoke Jay. "What comes to you coming back, I suggest we keep it down since I have talked with your command officer. I will contact you after that."

Jay and Vanessa stood up and went to the bullpen. Hank was still gone and the team didn't have an active case.

"Wanna go and get some lunch at that diner down the street, guys?" Jay proposed to the team.

"Oh yeah. We should definitely celebrate this girl being here", answered Kevin immediately patting Vanessa top of her head. Williams laughed and stood up ready to go.

"I knew there would be some reason I was going to like you being a boss, Halstead", Adam joked, putting his jacket already on, Kim following his example.

Hailey smiled at Jay and Vanessa. Vanessa could see her looking at Jay like asking something. Oh. How could she have forgotten, that eye language thing. Vanessa turned to go after Kevin. Jay nodded slightly to Hailey and handed her jacket before they followed others.