Jules! I'm so glad you got caught up! Thank you for your kind review as always. Thanks to everyone for reading and reviewing. I had a bad cold and was stuck on the couch which meant I got this chapter done sooner than I expected (and wandered over into other fandoms, ha! I now have a new fic for Blue Bloods up). I hope you enjoy!

Chapter 39

Ruzek jogged up the stairs into the controlled chaos of the lobby of the 21st precinct. He stood still for a beat, taking it in. Two uniformed patrol officers scuffling with a handcuffed man to get him out the door. A sargaent shuffling through papers in the back corner behind the desk while another uniform stood by impatiently. A couple civilians waiting on the benches, while the desk sargaent was giving a rookie getting a taste of the 21st's welcoming committee.

"Oh gee, I'm sorry, Fritch," Trudy Platt said in her most sympathetic voice. She leaned her elbows on the desk and lowered her brows. "I didn't realize that having a squad with a broken heater was going to make your little toes cold and make your job harder. Let me just rearrange the entire motor pool so I can find you our very best vehicle for your first week on patrol."

The young rookie broke into a grin. "Wow, thanks, Sargaent. That would be great."

Ruzek smiled to himself in the split second between Platt's eyes narrowing and her lip curling in disgust.

"Are you kidding me? If it was up to me, I'd take your shoes and have you patrol barefoot over snow and broken glass. You're lucky to have a car. Get out of here." She tossed him the keys and turned away from him, muttering something to herself. She raised her head to scan the room and saw Adam.

Ruzek didn't miss the softening in her eyes when she saw him, in spite of the raised eyebrow she gave him.

"You here to take Atwater out to lunch, or just loitering in my lobby for attention?"

Ruzek finally came the rest of the way through the doorway, relishing the commotion around him.

"I'm here to get my badge and gun back," he said.

"Well it's about time," Platt said, coming out from behind her desk. She stopped in front of Ruzek and he waited for her next sarcastic comment, but she surprised him by pulling him into a tight hug.

Awkwardly, Adam reached a hand up to pat her shoulder in return.

"I'm glad you're back," she said. Adam couldn't see her face, but swore he heard tears in voice.

"Good to be back," he said.

Platt sniffed a little, then released him, trying to discreetly brush at her eyes. "Good grief, Ruzek, did you shower in after shave this morning? It's irritating my eyes."

Ruzek gave her a grin and a wink. "Glad to know you care, Sargaent."

She waved him away, going back behind her desk for a tissue while he went to the stairs that would lead upstairs to Intelligence.

He slid his hand over the palm scanner and waited for the buzz and click that signaled the gate was unlocked.

Nothing had changed.

"Hey there." Mouse was at his desk, leaning precariously back in his chair, feet on his desk.

Adam gave a slight lift of his chin in acknowledgment. "Hey."

"Good to have you back," Mouse said sincerely.

Ruzek scanned the familiar room. It felt like home. He took a deep breath and sat at his desk. He slid open the top drawer and there was his badge and gun, with a big red bow on it. He let out a laugh.

"I couldn't think of a better wedding present."

He looked up as Burgess came out of the break room with a mug of coffee.

He took the bow off and slid the gun into his holster, hung his badge around his neck. The familiar weight of both was the final piece that made him feel back to normal.

Downstairs, the gate buzzed, clicked, and Dawson and Olinsky came up the stairs.

"Hey!" Dawson greeted him with a broad smile and open arms. "Look who's back."

Olinsky's greeting was quieter, just a light hand on Ruzek's shoulder with a small squeeze.

"Thanks Al," Ruzek said.

Lindsay and Halstead emerged from Voight's office, followed by Voight. He braced himself for whatever Jay had to say, but Jay only gave him a nod.

"Welcome back," Lindsay said warmly, settling behind her desk.

Dawson carried a pile of files and dumped them in front of Ruzek. "Open cases. Catch yourself up."

#

"Let me see," Sylvie said, reaching for Jess' phone.

Jess handed her the phone so Sylvie could see the pictures.

Sylvie studied the screen, swiping her finger to scroll through.

Jess looked out the window at the bleak neighborhood around them. No one was braving the icy wind in the park today. She took a drink of her takeout Coke and another bite of her sandwich. Sylvie's suggestion to park and eat lunch in the ambo rather than trying to talk wedding plans back at 51 was perfect.

"This one is gorgeous," Sylvie said.

Jess leaned over to see which wedding dress Sylvie was looking at.

"I think that one's my favorite," she admitted. As soon as she had tried it on with Natalie and Erin, it had felt right.

"So what are you waiting for?" Sylvie asked. "Let's go get it tomorrow after shift. I know a great place that can do the alterations in a rush. It will be ready for your wedding, no problem."

Jess hesitated. "I'm just…" she started then stopped.

Sylvie turned, giving Jess her full attention. Her blue eyes were patient while she waited for Jess to continue.

"I'm just worried that I'm going to get this dress and start thinking this wedding is really going to happen. I don't…I can't lose Adam. If he realizes that marrying me, and taking on all my baggage is a bad idea…"

"Ok, stop right there," Sylvie said. "You are the best thing that's happened to Ruzek in…ever." She looked down at the picture of Jess trying on the dress. "I know what you need. You need to see your fiancé." She handed Jess back her phone and pulled her seatbelt across her, fastening it. She put the ambulance in gear. "Today's his first day back at work, right?"

Before Jess could answer, a tall, lanky teen jumped in front of the ambulance waving his arms.

Sylvie slammed her foot against the brake and they both lurched forward against their seatbelts.

"You gotta help me!" he yelled.

He wasn't dressed for the cold and Jess could see him shiver as he waved for them to get out and follow them. Jess and Sylvie exchanged glances.

"What's wrong?" Sylvie called out her window.

"It's my mom!" he yelled. "Come on!" He started moving like he was going to cut across the park.

"What's the address?" Jess asked. "We'll drive."

"Come on!" he yelled. "Hurry!" he started toward the park again.

Jess was sure the grimace on Sylvie's face matched her own. But they made their unspoken decision. They jumped down from the ambulance and grabbed their jump bags to follow the kid across the park.

Jess pressed the button for the radio on her shoulder and called in their location and that they were following the teen to his mom as she ran alongside Sylvie.

They veered east at the playground and crossed the street to a row of dilapidated houses. He headed toward one with boarded up windows.

"Sylvie," Jess said, an uncomfortable wariness in her gut. She could feel the back of her neck prickling. It was too much like the feelings she had in Afghanistan, right before a sniper shot. Right before an IED blasted. Right before safety was shattered.

Sylvie slowed at the steps to the house. "Your mom's in there?" she asked suspiciously.

The teen was already turning the doorknob. "She's going to die!" he said, panic in his voice and face. "You've got to save her!"

Jess and Sylvie exchanged another look, but they followed him up the steps and through the door.

#