I hope this is a fun chapter for everyone! Let me know if you have any requests for characters we haven't seen much, or anything you'd like to see. I have a Chicago Fire story I'm thinking of starting soon, so feel free to send some requests for that as well! I only have a very rough outline of what that one will be.

Jess pushed up the sleeves of the long sleeve shirt Adam had given her to wear. The sweatpants that belonged to him dragged on the ground as she paced to the windows. Beads of sweat dotted her forehead as she looked down at the city lights. She could see a park down the block where she could score. She had ten dollars—

"You doing ok?"

Adam's voice jolted her away from the window. She fisted her hands inside the sleeves that fell down to cover them. Her throat was scratchy, she couldn't get an answer out for him.

Adam, in gray sweatpants that fit his tall frame and a navy t shirt, padded to the kitchen. Jess heard a cabinet open and the water turn on. She closed her eyes and took a shaky breath.

When she opened them, Adam was holding out a glass of water to her.

Jess took it. When her trembling hands couldn't hold it without water sloshing over the side, she set it down with a loud clank on the end table. She fisted her hands again, pulling away from Adam.

Adam didn't crowd her. "You don't have to do it this way," he reminded her again. "They can help you through this over at Med. Give you something while you're going through the worst of it."

"Lock me up on the Chem Dep unit," she said through gritted teeth. The tremors were bad. Even her jaw was trembling. "And have Will checking in on me round the clock." She shook her head. "I'm not doing that. Not having my brothers watching my every move." She looked at him and held his eyes. "I'm just here to get clean. I'm not your responsibility, either. I'll be out of here in a day or two."

"No rush," he said easily. "We'll take it a day at a time."

Jess took a step back. She shouldn't be doing this. Adam didn't need to be dragged down with her. She pressed a hand to her feverish forehead. Why was she pulling Adam into her mess? She needed to get out of here—

"Favorite 80s movie?" Adam asked, drawing her back to him. His words were easy, but Jess saw the worried lines on his forehead.

She shook her head. "I can't…can't think of…"

Adam grabbed the remote and flipped on the large flat screen that squared off opposite his couch.

"Come on. The real classics are on at 3 am. The Breakfast Club, Ferris Bueller, all the best ones."

Jess let him lead her to the couch. She sat, rubbing her damp palms against the soft sweatpants. Every noise made her jump.

Adam reached over and rested a hand on hers, stilling her anxious movement. Gently, he turned her hand over and clasped it in his, giving it a light squeeze.

Jess forced herself to take a breath. His hand was warm around hers. Against her will, her other hand moved to grasp his hand between both of hers, a lifeline she clung to.

#

Jay ignored the cold mist that settled on his shoulders. He followed Olinsky across the damp pavement until they got to the bodies. More fallout from the drug war. But now a Senator's kid had been caught in the crossfire with his dealer. So it was Intelligence's case.

Jay gave the bodies a cursory glance, releasing a breath when both faces were unfamiliar. He wasn't sure how much longer he could do this. Hold his breath every time he had to look at a body, hoping it wasn't Jess this time.

He wiped a hand over his face, getting his attention back to the brief rundown Olinsky was giving him on what they knew so far.

Erin came up behind him. "Same story?"

"Two more dealers gunned down. Rival gang, but no proof," Jay summarized. He thought of the one case they did have witnesses for. Danny would be testifying tomorrow for the murder he and Jess had witnessed. Then Jess would be in the clear, no price on her head as a witness. Maybe she would turn up then. Or Danny would lead them to her.

"Jay?"

Jay looked up to see Olinsky, Erin, and Burgess watching him. He shook his head. He had no idea what he had missed.

Olinsky's dark eyes didn't give a lot away, but Jay could read the sympathy there. "Head back to the precinct," he said quietly. "Start running names see if any victims have connections outside the gangs."

Jay wanted to argue. He felt Erin's hand on his shoulder. "Let's go," she said.

Jay headed to the car. He managed to keep himself from looking back at the bodies to reassure himself his sister was ok. She hadn't turned up dead.

#

Jess took a step backward, hitting the counter behind her. Her fingers curled around the edge of the countertop. She closed her eyes, taking a deep breath. There was no one here. Here in Adam's apartment. She repeated the facts to herself.

She opened her eyes and scanned the apartment, sure she was seeing shadows move in the broad daylight. The tables were knocked over, a lamp shattered on the floor. The sunlight reflected off a piece of glass from the mirror that had been knocked off the wall. Jess squinted at the glare in her eyes. A truck roared by outside.

Jess' breath hitched. The glare was from a piece of broken glass, she reminded herself. It wasn't the glare off the windshield of a Humvee.

"Chicago," she whispered to herself. "I'm back in Chicago."

From the apartment above came a thump and Jess flinched. She rounded the kitchen island and flung open a drawer. Nothing but dishtowels. Opening another, then another until she found what she was looking for. Gripping the handle of the butcher knife, she made her way out of the kitchen, continuously scanning for an enemy.

#

Adam picked up his phone and glanced at the screen again. No calls. No texts. He felt eyes on him and looked up to see Mouse watching him. He put his phone down and turned back to his computer screen.

Another five minutes dragged by before he looked at his phone again. Then twenty minutes with nearly as many glances at his phone. At least Mouse had left so he didn't have anyone watching his futile check for messages.

"I'm grabbing lunch," he said abruptly. He grabbed his phone and keys, shrugging into his jacket. He didn't wait for a response from anyone.

He had made the drive home at least twice a day for the last two days. Lunch, meeting a CI, whatever excuse was handy depending on the time of day. The first day he had found Jess sound asleep on his couch, making up for her sleepless first night. Yesterday, she had been pacing and Adam had convinced her to go for a run with him. Kim had raised her eyebrows at him when he had got back to the 21st, after a lunch break that had lasted double what he usually took.

He didn't have any idea what to expect today. Last night had been the first night Jess had slept. Fitfully, broken by two nightmares, but she had slept.

He quickly made his way to his fifth floor apartment. He paused when he saw the door ajar. Pulling his gun from his holster, he cautiously pushed open the door.

Someone had been here. Jess had fought with an enemy that wasn't just in her head . Adam scanned the living room and kitchen for a sign of Jess or an intruder, but only saw the aftermath of a struggle. A quick glance in the bathroom and no Jess. The door to his room was shut. Keeping his gun ready, he slowly twisted the knob and pushed the door open, holding his breath.

Jess was seated on the floor against the far wall, pressed as far from the door as she could get. Her eyes wide with terror, she brandished one of his kitchen knives.

Adam took his eyes off her only long enough to make sure no one else was in the room. Seeing it was clear, he holstered his gun and crossed to Jess in three steps. Brushing her hair back, he took in her black eye and the cut across her temple.

"Adam," she said softly, her voice shaking.

She recognized him. Relief coursed through him. She wasn't lost in some flashback where he couldn't reach her.

Gently prying her cold fingers from the knife handle, Adam laid it aside and wrapped his hands around hers, willing warmth into their iciness.

"They—they—came here," she stammered, terror still fresh in her eyes. "I fought…I fought them."

"Who?" Adam demanded.

Jess winced and reached up toward the gash on her head. Adam grabbed one of his t-shirts off his bed and pressed it against the cut that continued to bleed. "You need stitches." He shoved aside the questions he wanted to ask. have to wait.

"No!" she exclaimed. "I'm not going there. We…you said…" She blinked more rapidly and shook her head, looking confused. "We had a deal. You weren't…" her words slowed. "Don't tell Jay. It was…"

"Who?" Adam asked again. "Who did this?"

Jess looked at him and her eyes focused again. "Danny," she said through gritted teeth. "It was Danny and his supplier."

"Danny did this? Your dealer?"

Jess clenched her jaw and Adam didn't think she was going to say anything more. She took the t-shirt from him and held it to her own head, pulling away from him. "He's supposed to testify tomorrow. I was supposed to be keeping his business going. We had a deal."

Adam stood up abruptly. "That little—" He spun toward the door. "I'll kill him."

Jess squeezed her eyes shut. Her hand holding the bloody shirt against her head shook.

Adam knelt down next to her. "Come on. Let's get you up." He helped her to her feet, relieved when she looked steady. He stayed by her side until she made it to the bed and helped her sit on the edge.

"Are you going to be OK?" he asked. "Are you sure we shouldn't get you to Med?"

"I'm fine," she said, not convincing him. "Just shook up."

Adam ran a hand through his hair. "I didn't know…when I saw the door was open…" He shook his head. "I was worried about you, darlin'." His hand rested at the back of her head and then he was moving toward her, his lips on hers.

He didn't know how much he had wanted this until her lips parted slightly against his. Her hand had a grip on the front of his shirt and she pulled him closer, her desperation matching his. She leaned back on the bed and pulled him down on top of her.

"Jess," Adam breathed against her lips. She responded by deepening the kiss.

Abruptly, Adam pulled back. "We can't do this."

"What?" Jess blinked those blue eyes at him, hurt mingling with confusion, and it almost undid him. Then realization dawned and the hurt intensified. "Right. You're right." She reached a hand self-consciously to her black eye and the cut that had finally stopped bleeding. "I appreciate you helping me out. I know having a junkie staying with you isn't easy."

Adam frowned. "That's not…That's how you think I see you?"

Jess swallowed hard and stood. "I can't stay here. I shouldn't have…" She started toward the door, down the hallway. Her steps faltered when she took in the mess in the living room, but she moved toward her duffel bag in the corner.

"Jess," Adam said. He caught up to her and blocked her path to the door. "I like having you here. You're not some sorry case I'm trying to help. I like you. You're kind, you're gentle. And damn if you aren't stronger than anyone I know."

Jess hesitated. Adam took the bag from her hands and tossed it aside. "Stay," he said.

He could see her wavering. He took a step closer and lowered his head towards hers. "Stay," he said, close enough the word brushed her lips. "I like you, Jess."

Finally she gave him a nod. She would stay.

#