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March 2013...

Antonio groaned. He didn't want this assignment. He didn't want to go undercover again. Not with everything that had happened with Laura, and he definitely was tired of asking his parents to help him out. He punched the locker closed.

"Hey, 'Tonio." Jules Willhite came into the locker room. "What the hell?"

"Sorry, Jules."

"What's going on with you?"

Antonio groaned. "Sarge just decided that because it's mostly my CIs getting dosed, I get to go undercover."

"Shit." Jules sat next to him. "Can't they send someone else?"

Antonio shook his head. "Nope. According to him..." Antonio changed his voice. "You're the best UC we've got and that's an order."

Jules tried to stifle her laughter. "Okay, well what can I do?"

"I need help with the kids... this is hard on them." Antonio put his head in his hands. "It's insane."

"I know... I'll see if I can get my sitter to help out... or Alec when he's off."

"I'd appreciate that... I just can't always put this on Rebecca or my parents."

"Hey, I get it. So who are you gonna be this time?" Jules put her hand on his shoulder.

Antonio opened his locker and pulled out a box of IDs that were his go-tos for undercover work. He leafed through it. "Mike Diaz." He pulled out the licence. "Haven't been him in a few years."

"Wasn't he, like, your first cover?"

Antonio nodded. "Yep." He put the ID in his wallet. "I'm gonna go home, kiss my kids and get a good night sleep before doing this."

"Go plan. Need a ride?"

Antonio shook his head. "Nah, my truck's here. Uh... can you be my cover while I'm under?"

"Always. I'm your partner... it's gonna take a lot more than you being UC to get rid of me."

Antonio smiled. "Thanks, Jules."

"Night, 'Tonio... now go home." She shoved him lightly. "Kiss those kids. I'll see you bright and early tomorrow morning."

"I'll text you where I'll be."

Jules nodded. "Get going already."

Antonio headed out to pick up his kids from his parents. This was going to be one of those cases.


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The next night...

"Antonio, can you hear us?" Jules asked. Antonio coughed into his mic. She took it as the sign that he could. She was crammed into the surveillance van with another cop and their tech guy. They were trying to get dirt on the crew that was trying to move in on the heroin trade. Antonio had caught wind from one of his CIs, Vicky, that they frequented this particular bar. "Anything interesting?"

Antonio's voice came in as a whisper. "Some nurses from Med here celebrating something. One of them's really cute."

Jules shook her head. "Shouldn't you be on the lookout for Lil' Ray or Biz?"

"Well, I ain't seen 'em yet. Maybe you should come in here... so I don't look so damn ridiculous talking to my whiskey."

"Antonio... come on now... you know how this works."

"Hang on... I think I see Biz."

Jules signalled to their tech guy to access the cameras in the bar. "Where, Antonio?"

"He's headed right for the nurses... black and red hoodie."

"Hang on." Jules was looking at the monitors. "Okay, we got him. Just hang back... see what happens." She took a closer look at the nurses. She knew most of them since they worked with her husband, Alec. There was one that caught her attention. She was probably the youngest of the group. She was also the unlucky one as she caught Mr. Hoody's attention. "Zoom in there." Jules pointed to the monitor. "Shit." She recognized the nurse.

She was about to tell Antonio to stand down but it was too late. Mr. Hoody was grabbing the nurse's arm and getting physical. In a matter of minutes, Antonio was grabbing Mr. Hoody. He pulled the hood down and sure enough it was Biz, a mid-level dealer that Antonio had worked for before as part of his cover. Jules watched as the two scuffled about. Finally, Antonio managed to pull Biz away from the nurses and out into the alley. Jules listened in carefully to the exchange between the two.

"Biz. What the fuck, man?" Antonio asked.

"Diaz... it's been a while." Biz said.

"Yeah, well... had to lay low. Got too hot for a while... spent some time down in Miami for a bit."

"So, what you doing back here?"

"I'm back... I need money."

"You asking for a job?"

Jules could only assume Antonio was nodding. She was wishing they had had time to set up cameras in the alley.

"Yeah, Biz. Come on... I always was straight for you... made sure your girls were always well taken care of."

"Yeah... you was one of the best out there."

"Then... let me back in... I can try and help ward off these hot shots I know y'all been getting hit with."

"So, you heard about that crew outta New York." Biz asked.

"It's all over the streets. They been saying you been hit hardest."

"Yeah... yeah... look... I let you back in... you keep an eye on the girls... and you make sure the dope they want and get is strictly mine. Make sure it's the good stuff... I don't want no dumb ass hos dying off because they get hit with that shit outta NYC."

"You got it."

"So... you got claim to that little nurse that you pulled me away from?" Biz inquired.

Antonio replied. "Naw... but... I wouldn't mind getting to know her... she was eyeing me from the bar most of the night."

"Hmm." Biz said. "Well... she's a good girl... she's also my girl... keeps an eye for my gals in Med... treat her right... or else."

"You got it, boss." Antonio said.

"I'll be seeing you around, Diaz."

Jules saw from the van's window that Biz was leaving the alley and going down the street. She sighed. "At least, that's one disaster prevented."

"Yeah, look I'm gonna go talk to this nurse... find out what her deal is."

"You sure you wanna do that?" Jules asked. She knew that particular nurse, and she knew what her deal was. She wasn't dirty, but her story was more complicated one of Tolkien's novels.

"Yep. I'm going off wire now. See you tomorrow." Antonio said before disconnecting from their communication unit.

Jules groaned. "This isn't going to end well." She turned to the other cops. "Keep an eye on him until he leaves. Then, call it a night. I have to go see my kids." She discreetly left the surveillance van and headed to her car that was parked up the street.


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Meanwhile...

Antonio approached the table of nurses. There were only three left. He didn't know any of them, which was a good thing. He didn't need his cover blown just yet. "Howdy."

"Howdy." The one he had rescued said. "Thanks for... well getting Biz to take a hike."

"No problem." Antonio grinned. "Mike Diaz." He extended his hand.

"I'm Johanna, but my friends call me Jo." She smiled. Her eyes twinkled in the dim bar light as she shook his hand.

"Nice to meet you, Jo." Antonio smiled.

"These are my friends, Maggie and Savannah."

Antonio shook both of their hands. "You have a particular accent, Jo."

She smiled. "It's unique... I was born here but lived in the South most of my life... moved back here in 2005 after Katrina decimated New Orleans."

"I'm sorry to hear that."

"I've made my life here now. I've got great friends... and I'm always willing to make a new one. So, where you from, Mike?" She asked. Maggie and Savannah got the hint of where this was going. Maggie leaned in and whispered something to Jo. She nodded. "I'll see you girls on Monday." She hugged each of them.

"You ladies don't have to leave." Antonio said. "I'm not here to break up girls' night."

"Don't you worry your pretty little head, Mike." Maggie grinned. "We've been trying to get this young thing to talk to a guy... we're glad she finally did. Have a great night... and don't get into too much trouble."

The two other nurses headed to the bar to pay the tab and then left to hail a cab. Antonio turned his attention to Jo. "So, bad break up?"

"You could say that." Jo rubbed her thumb around the rim of her drink.

"Wanna share?" Antonio waved to the bartender to bring another round. "I'm a good listener."

"I bet you are... I'll share... if you tell me how you know Biz." Jo batted her eyes at him.

"I... uh... I work with him sometimes."

"So, you're a dealer?"

Antonio shook his head. "Nope."

"Then what... a pimp?"

Antonio laughed and shook his head again. "Nope." He thanked the waitress for his drink and handed her a $100 bill. "Close out my tab, bring a round of Porn Stars and bring this lovely young woman another one of those... then keep the change."

The waitress grinned and went to make another drink for Jo. Jo looked at Antonio. "Wow. That's mighty generous."

"What's your poison?" He pointed to her near empty glass.

"You'll laugh at me." She whispered.

"I don't think I could."

"I love Long Island Ice Teas." She took a final sip. "What makes you think I'll do a shot with you?"

"Because you want to know more about me..."

"Well... that's true." She took the shot when the waitress returned.

Antonio took his. "To making new friends in Chicago."

They tapped shot glasses and downed the shot. Jo made a face as the Raspberry Sourpuss burned her throat. She coughed a little. "Wow... I haven't done shots in forever."

"I'd say another round, but then I'd be a little too over the top to..."

"So, how do you know him?" Jo cut him off.

"I work protection more or less."

"Ah." Jo sipped her Long Island Ice Tea.

"He says you keep an eye on the girls?" Antonio prodded.

She nodded. "Yeah. I let him know when they come into the ER and stuff. I don't do that shit... but he takes care of me...keeps the others away from my house and kids..."

"You've got kids?"

She blushed. "Yeah... uh twins... They'll be 15 in June."

"You look too young to have 15-year-old twins at home." Antonio said.

"Flattery?" She took another sip.

"Maybe." Antonio finished his drink. "So, you got a ride home?"

Jo nodded. "I drove... it's uh... why I didn't drink as much as the others..."

"Ah." Antonio sighed.

"Why... why do you ask?"

"This will probably seem forward... but I was thinking we've got this connection."

"You sure that's not just the alcohol?" She giggled.

Antonio shook his head. "Nope. You remind me of someone... and that's a good thing... I'd really..."

His sentence was cut off by Jo's sudden kiss. She pulled back. "I don't... I don't normally do this kinda thing... but... you uh... wanna ride?"

"What makes you think I don't have a ride?" Antonio asked.

"No keys... you didn't come in with anyone... so unless you really wanna call a cab..." Her cheeks burned. "Plus, I feel the connection you're talking about."

"I'd like a ride." Antonio smiled. This was his cover, and if she was in with Biz, he needed it to be solid. It wouldn't hurt to see where this went either.

"Then come on." She hopped off the bar stool. "My bike's parked outside."

"You expect me to ride in the basket?" Antonio snickered.

"Not a pedal bike." She laughed. "Come on." She pulled the leather jacket off her chair.

Antonio took the time to take in the beauty that was in front of him. She was about 5'6. Her body was lean but he could tell by the tightness of her leggings and top that she definitely had kids. Her body was supple, womanly. Her hair was almost all black except for the deep purple streaks that swept through the curls. Her hair fell just below her shoulder. Her eyes were a familiar shade of blue-green. They made Antonio do a double take, but he knew it was impossible.

She did up her jacket. "You okay? You look like ya seen a ghost."

"Yeah... just... you remind of someone I knew a long time ago." Antonio zipped up his own leather jacket.

"She musta been somethin' special for you to have that look in your eye." She took a last swig of her drink. "Let's go. You can give me directions on the way."

Antonio followed her outside and around the corner. "You weren't kidding when you said it wasn't a pedal bike." He came to a complete stop. "Damn, Jo."

She grabbed the helmet that was, surprisingly, still on the bike. "You like?"

"Biz know you ride?" Antonio got closer to take a better look at the bike. It was a Harley Davidson Night Rod Special in a vivid metallic blue. It had been customized with black ice rims and Antonio could only guess how fast this baby could go.

Jo nodded. "Yeah, he knows. He's the reason no one touches it... or my helmets." She handed him the other helmet that was on the bike. "Since Maggie found another ride, you can use hers." Antonio put the helmet on. Jo's voice quickly filled his head. "So, where we headed?"

Antonio rambled off the address for his cover's apartment. It wasn't the nicest place but it suited its purpose.

Jo nodded and hopped on the bike. She patted the back of the seat. "Hop on."

Antonio got on the bike. It was different than what he was used to. This was almost a cross between a traditional Harley and a crotch rocket. He wrapped his arms around Jo's waist and leaned into her. "Ready."

Jo nodded and kicked the Harley to life. The engine roared and Jo grinned. "Hang on." She said as she spun the wheel and they sped off into the night.

Antonio held on tightly. She knew her way around a bike and she definitely knew her way around Chicago. She knew short cuts even he didn't know about. It would've normally taken him about 20 minutes from the bar and they got there in half that time. She killed the engine and put the kickstand down.

"You okay there, Mike?" Jo asked, shaking her hair out as she took off her helmet.

"Damn, Jo. Good thing there aren't any cops around here."

"They don't touch me." Jo put her helmet back on the bike. "Biz says he's got an inside guy."

"Makes a lot of sense." He handed her the extra helmet. "So, you wanna come..."

Jo threw herself at Antonio. She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him deeply, nipping at his bottom lip. "Yeah..." She breathed. "I would like to... come up."

Antonio was shocked. He wasn't complaining but he wasn't used to women being this forward. He nodded and worked to get the keys from his pocket. He spun her around and while kissing her, helped guide her to the door. He fumbled with the door, and got it open. "Fuck this." He groaned. He swept her into his arms and carried her to the apartment door. His jeans were tight as hell and he wanted to take her right there. He unlocked the door one handed and kicked it in. He put Jo on the ground and quickly took his coat off.

She took off her jacket, flung it aside and pushed him up against the door causing it to bang shut. "Enough talk." She pulled at his shirt, pulling it over his head. She tossed it aside and kissed along his jaw and neck. She pulled at his belt and sent it flying onto the couch. Her hand stroked along the bulge that was ever so painful in his jeans. Single handedly, she undid his jeans and pulled them down around his ankles. She stroked him before getting on her knees and almost swallowing him.

Antonio grabbed onto the door as he was overcome by the sensation of her going down on him. Her mouth was soft and warm. The way she worked him in and out of her mouth almost sent him over the edge. "Uh uh." He groaned. He pulled on her hair, pulling her back from him. He got her up and lifted her from the waist. "Wrap your legs around me." He growled as he smashed his lips against her. He bit her lip, drawling a little blood. He was in a primal state and so was she. He reached up her top and flicked her bra undone. He got to the bed and tossed her on it. He pulled her up and ripped her top and bra off before pushing her back to the bed. He pulled her booties and leggings off and tossed them to the side. The leggings landed on the lamp. He was a little surprised to see she wasn't wearing anything under them. He climbed on the bed and got over her. She pulled him to her and kissed him. He was raring to go and he could tell that so was she.

Jo moaned as he teased her. "Mike, come on... don't... tease... me." She pleaded.

Antonio had to remember he was Mike Diaz, bodyguard for a heroin dealer and pimp, here and not Antonio Dawson, CPD Detective. "You ready, babe?"

Jo nodded. "Hell yeah."

Antonio knew this wasn't going to be soft and gentle. This was just sex. Most likely a one-night stand, but he didn't care. He thrust into her. Jo gasped at his girth. He could feel her tighten around him. He thrust slowly at first, but she upped the tempo. Soon, she wrapped her legs tightly around him and managed to flip him under her. She grabbed at his shoulders and rode him as he were some bronco in a rodeo. His hands flew to grab onto the headboard. "OH, God... Jo."

"Yeah, Mike?"

"Don't stop... just... oh... don't stop." He was done for. He knew it. He grabbed her hips and held her down as both their bodies were hit with waves upon wave of orgasmic pleasure.

"Mike!" She called out as her orgasm caused her to almost buck off him. "Fuck... oh..." She rolled off him. "Hot damn."

"That was..." Antonio was trying to catch his breath.

"Amazing." Jo finished.

"Come here." He whispered hoarsely. "Unless you're one of those wham, bam and you're out the door kinda women?"

Jo shook her head. "No, sir." She curled up against him and lay her head on his chest. She was shaking.

Antonio pulled the blanket over them. He kissed her cheek. "Stay... you can leave when it's light... and when you can move again."

She nodded weakly. "Sounds..." She yawned. "Like... like a plan."

Antonio looked down and saw Jo was sound asleep. He lay his head on hers. Even if this was a one-time deal, even if he never saw her again... tonight was a night that he'd never forget.


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Around 6, Jo's cell started squawking. Antonio groaned. He grabbed it and turned it off. Jo turned to face him. "Who was that?"

"Telemarketer." He said in all seriousness. "Figured, you and I could..."

Jo nodded and kissed him, her hand wrapped around his neck, pulling him closer. Antonio's body reacted instantly. She moaned as his erection poked into her back. Antonio grabbed one of her legs and lifted it. He slid into her from behind, bringing them even closer. Jo gasped in surprise. She'd never done it this way, but it felt damn good. It didn't take long before they were both covered in a sheen of sweat and moaning each other's names. Jo's body went rigid as she came. Antonio gasped as she clamped down around him. He lost it, burying his face in her hair. They collapsed against the bed.

It took a few minutes for them to regain the breath and their minds. Jo's breathing eased first. "What time is it?"

Antonio looked at his bedside table. "Quarter to seven."

"Shit!" Jo exclaimed. She tossed the blanket aside and bolted out of the bed.

Antonio sat up. "What's the rush? It's the weekend."

"My son has guitar lessons in half an hour and I'm about 15 minutes from my place and my place..." She pulled on her leggings. "Is 20 minutes from his guitar instructor." She pulled on her bra and shirt and went to the bed. "Thanks... for a great night... I'll... uh... see ya around." She ran out the door grabbing her coat on the way.

Antonio was speechless as she slipped out the door. He didn't even have time to grab pants as he heard her Harley roar to life and take off. "Damn! I shoulda got that plate number." He sighed. He was up now, so he headed for the bathroom and a cold shower to shake off the animal urges he felt about that Southern Belle.


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Jo got home, grabbed her SUV's keys and called up the flight of stairs. "Xavier! Let's go."

"Coming, Mama." He ran down the stairs. "You didn't come home last night."

"Stayed with a friend, sweetie. It was late when we left." She kissed his cheek. "Did you eat?"

"Yes, Mama. Guitar's in the Escalade... can we go? ... We're gonna be cutting it awfully close."

"I know." Jo groaned. "Come on." She ran to her Escalade, a perk of being involved with Biz and floored it out of the garage and down the street.

They arrived at Xavier's lesson with a minute to spare. He ran to the instructor's house. Jo waited for him to get inside. She grabbed her cell and checked who had actually called when she was with Mike. "Fuck." She pounded the steering wheel. She hit redial and waited for the call to be picked up. "Yeah... sorry... yeah, he's at his lesson. Meet at the same coffee house? Be there in 5." She ended the call and backed out of the instructor's driveway.

In 5 minutes she was sitting at her favourite café in Wicker Park waiting. Soon enough, Jules Willhite appeared and sat at her table. "Sorry about missing your call."

"Where the hell were you, Jo?" Jules signalled to the barista who knew her regular order.

"Biz showed up... then this other guy, Mike Diaz got him away from me because Biz was on some trip..."

"Woah, Mike Diaz?" Jules looked at her. "That's the guy's name?"

Jo nodded. "You know him?"

Jules groaned. This had just gone from bad to hell in a matter of seconds. She was working two separate cases with two different partners and now they'd gotten mixed up together. Jules was going to have to keep both of them in the dark. At least, for now. "Yeah... he's... he's one of our CIs." Jules fibbed. "He's getting us info on this new gang out of New York... they're getting all up in everyone's business... and well, a close friend of mine... his CIs are hookers getting hit with this shit... we sent Diaz in to try and see what Biz knows since it's his show too." It wasn't far from the truth.

"Okay, so in other words, don't arrest his ass?"

"Preferably not." Jules went and got her coffee when the barista called her name. "So what happened with Mike?"

"Uh... well... we had a couple drinks... then I went to his place and had the most mind blowing sex I've had in years." Jo didn't even blush.

Jules almost choked on her coffee. "You did... what?!"

"We had sex. One-time deal."

"Jooooo..." Jules groaned. "What... oh my God... what if Biz finds out?"

"He won't." Jo sipped her coffee. "I'm not his property... this is all a cover."

"I know... but Biz thinks you're his woman... he's going to have an issue with you sleeping with his hired gun."

"It's fine. I doubt Diaz is gonna rat me out anyhow."

"Not if he values his life..." Jules mumbled. "Okay... so question for you."

"Shoot." Jo nibbled at the Danish she had gotten for her breakfast.

"What happens after we take Biz and this whole gong show down?"

"Whatta ya mean?"

"You going to stick to full-time nursing? Or full-time policing?"

"I like my deal. I get to be the eyes and ears of the CPD in Chicago Med. I'm fine with this arrangement."

"What happens when people find out who you really are?"

"Not going to happen. I've been living this life for almost a decade. No one but you and a couple other people know the truth."

"Jo... the longer you play this charade... the more likely you are to slip up."

"Jules... it's been a long time... I'm not about to go back to that."

Jules shook her head. "They'll figure it out eventually."

"Look, only you and the Brass know... and it's staying that way."

"Fine." Jules threw her hands up. "Fine. It's your show. If I were you, I'd consider making the permanent career choice... nurse or detective... it's too risky playing both roles."

"I'll take it into consideration. As for now," Jo looked at her watch. "I have to pick Xavier up and get home and change. Biz wants to take me out tonight."

"Be careful."

Jo got up and hugged Jules. "I will. Just, get this guy so I can go back to my regular life. Xavier's already making comments on how he doesn't want some banger as his step-dad."

Jules laughed. "I know. We're working on it. Get going and give that kid a hug from me."

Jo nodded and headed out. She sighed. She knew she was in a dangerous game, but she had to do it this way. It had been this way since before Xavier and his twin sister, Zoë had been born. She knew that it would take as long as necessary to bring this crew down and things could start going back to normal.


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Antonio was wiped. He'd been undercover over a month now. He barely got to see Eva and Diego. He caught wind of another working girl who'd gotten hit by the bad dope. Gaby and Firehouse 51 had responded. They'd managed to save her but just barely. He grabbed his bag and headed over there. He needed to give them a head's up so they could keep an eye on the situation. He knew they'd just be getting on shift at this point so it was the best time to get them all. He walked into the house. Everyone there knew him, especially since he'd helped Matt Casey get rid of a pest of the CPD. Voight was sitting someone in Statesville and Matt had been free to live his life without constantly having to look over his shoulder.

"Antonio." Chief Boden approached him. "What's... uh, what's going on?"

"Don't worry, Chief. Voight's not the problem this time."

"Thank God for that." Boden smiled. "What can we do for you?"

"Need to talk to your guys... about some of the bad dope hits you've had to deal with."

"Got it." Boden was about to call them all together when Kelly Severide stepped in. He'd been gone a little over a month to recover from an experimental surgery done on his neck to regain use of his shoulder and arm.

Antonio leaned on one of the Squad's chairs to wait for the happy reunion to be done. Once the welcomes were done, Boden called everyone's attention to Antonio. "Okay everyone, some of you may know Gaby's brother, Detective Antonio Dawson. He has some information from the CPD for us."

"Thanks, Chief." Antonio stepped into the ring of firefighters and paramedics. "Last few weeks, I've seen a spike in fatal overdoses. M.E's office has connected at least a dozen deaths to a toxic batch of heroin. Now be aware, it's laced with fentanyl and in most cases won't react to the normal protocol of naloxone. We are now approaching each overdose as a potential homicide..." He was cut off by the station alarm calling Ambulance 61, Truck 81, Engine 51 and Squad 3 to a structure fire.

They all headed to their trucks. Antonio took off after Gaby who was headed to the ambo. "Hey, Gaby. You're on the front lines on this thing."

"Yeah, I'll look into it." Gaby pushed her hair behind her ear.

"See, that's exactly what I don't want you to do. The crew that's pushing this bad dope... they don't mess around."

"As opposed to all those amicable drug dealers out there?" Gaby replied sarcastically.

"I'm serious." Antonio pleaded. "Be careful. Don't go Gaby on this."

Gaby climbed into the ambo. "Hey, you look like hell." She smiled to him as she closed the door.

Her partner, Leslie Shay, put the ambo into gear and hit the lights and sirens.

"Good morning to you, too." Antonio sighed. This was going to be a long case. He watched as his sister flew off to be a hero while he shook his head and headed back to his car. This case was dragging out and the longer it did, the more dangerous it got.


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Antonio was busy going over his CI files trying to find someone who could help him get this new gang off the streets of Chicago when his cell began to ring. He looked at his CPD phone and it wasn't the one ringing. It was his UC phone. "Diaz." He answered.

"Yo, I thought I told you to keep an eye on my bitches!" Biz shouted over the phone.

"Woah, Biz. I'm working on it."

"If you're working on it, why did Johanna just call and tell me Natalie and Victoria are both ODs at Med? Natalie's dead and Victoria's just hanging on."

Antonio punched the wall. "I'm heading to Med now. I'm gonna find out where they got the dope."

"You better, or else it's you I'm comin' after."

Antonio ended the call and punched the wall again. His knuckles were throbbing. He'd already asked Gaby to lie for him since he'd lied to everyone about where he had been the night before. Now one of his best CIs that he'd gotten clean was dead. He grabbed his keys and headed to Med.

He burst into Med and asked for Victoria's room. He found the room and started in on her. "Hey, Victoria! It's me! What the hell happened?! It wasn't enough for you to hit this junk on you own? You had to bring Natalie back into it!? She was clean! I told you to stay away from her!"

Suddenly, Gaby grabbed his arm. "Antonio!" She pulled him away from Victoria who was now sobbing in the hospital bed. Gaby led him to the back of the ER and pushed him against the wall. "What's the problem?!" When Antonio tried to walk away from her, she grabbed him by the shoulders and pushed him back to the wall. "Hey! What the hell's going on?"

Antonio sighed. "There's this new crew outta New York. That's been pushing their way into prostitution, looking for a cut of everyone's action. Those who don't pay... their girls are getting hit with bad dope. That's what's going on. That's who I'm trying to bring down... And I'm trying to get close to these animals but it's difficult when my informants keep getting spiked left and right!"

"Okay. Alright." Gaby tried to calm her brother down. It wasn't any use. "I get it, okay? But I've never seen you like this before... not since... not since Josie..."

"Don't! Gaby, don't you fucking dare bring her into this!" Antonio snapped. "This is... this is nothing like that."

"You're starting to worry me a little bit. You're keeping secrets from your boss. You're asking me to lie to mine."

"It's different being a cop than a paramedic, Gaby. There's a little more to it!" He stormed off.

Gaby just watched her brother stomp out of the hospital. She was really scared for her brother right then. The last time he went off the deep end like this, Josie and their unborn baby had been blown to smithereens on Christmas Eve 16 years earlier. He had committed himself to the CPD so much that he shot up the ranks then went and married a woman who didn't really love him. Gaby loved her niece and nephew but their parents' marriage was the biggest mistake Antonio had ever made. She went back to join Shay and head back to the house. She just prayed Antonio wouldn't go and do something stupid.

Jo watched the scene from afar. Mike was back in the ER and he was ripping into Biz' girl Victoria. Then the paramedic went and started ripping into him. She had to admit that Mike and the paramedic looked a little alike. She shook her head. That was impossible, she knew Gaby. Gaby's brother was a cop in Vice, there was no way that was him. She was going to go talk to Gaby when a call button alarm went off. She sighed and went to check on the patient in the back room. She'd have to talk to Gaby some other time about how she knew Mike.


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The next day...

Gaby was busy getting ready to go meet with Stephanides to see if he'd take the offer Herrmann, Otis and herself had come up with. She was going to go through with Med School and maybe this bar would be enough of an extra income to get her in the door. She was also still waiting to hear from Leslie to know if Clarice had had the baby. She sighed. "One thing at a time." She headed out to meet Herrmann and Otis.

The paperwork didn't take long to sign. She was now a part owner in a yet to be named bar. She was excited. Now she was going to head over to Med to check on Clarice, Leslie and the baby. She was hoping that everything went okay. Shay hadn't been answering her phone. That had to be good, right? She pulled into the parking lot and tried to call Leslie again. "Oh my God... you're not answering. I hope that's good news. Um, I'm in the parking lot. I'm sorry I'm late. Be there in a sec." She left the voicemail. She put her phone away just in time to see Antonio storming from the ER entrance. "Hey, what are you doing here?"

He brushed passed her. "Hey."

Gaby grabbed him by the arm. "Hey, Antonio, what's wrong?" He had that look in his eye again. She got in front of him and put her hands on his chest, forcing him to come to a stop.

"The girl you brought in? The OD?"

"Yeah... Victoria."

"She bolted." Antonio's voice was almost to the point of breaking. Gaby could hear the hopelessness in it. "Nobody's seen her for at least an hour." His breathing was ragged and he was acting like a caged animal at the zoo looking for an escape.

"Alright, well, What's... what's up?"

"The D.O.A. was my informant for years... and I was... I was gonna start over with Victoria and now she's gone."

"Antonio," Gaby grabbed him. "You need some rest, okay? You're barely making any sense. Let me take you home." She didn't know he was still undercover, but she wouldn't have cared. He needed to sleep. He looked like death warmed over.

"I gotta go." Antonio spun around her to head to his car.

Gaby was shaken. She sighed. There was no way her big brother was going to listen to her. Not today. He was clearly somewhere else, and Gaby just prayed that it wouldn't get him killed. She turned to head back to the hospital and go check on Shay.

She stopped in her tracks when she heard an engine roaring and tires squealing on the pavement. She turned around and watched in horror as a black SUV rolled to a stop where Antonio was unlocking his car. Three loud pops echoed in the parking lot as three bullets hit Antonio. No sooner had they shot him, they were peeling out of the parking lot. Gaby started to panic. "Oh God! Oh, God! Antonio!" She raced across the parking lot to her brother as he collapsed against his car. "Antonio!" She was whimpering when she got to him. He was losing so much blood. "Antonio! Oh, God! Oh, God! Come on. Come on! Oh, GOD!" She pushed pressure on the wounds, trying to staunch the bleeding. The blood kept pouring through her fingers. "Somebody help! Help! Somebody!" She called out. It was no use. They were alone in the parking lot. "Hold on. I got you. I got you. You're gonna be fine." She tried one last time to scream. "HELP! SOMEBODY HELP ME!"

Antonio was losing too much blood. One of the bullets had hit his axillary artery. Gaby pulled off her gloves and tried to stop the blood from squirting everywhere. "Try not to move." She told him. "You're gonna be fine. You're gonna be fine." She turned at the sound of an ambulance's horn honking. She saw Ambo 73 leaving the ambulance bay. She didn't have a choice. She ran after it, leaving Antonio, who was still bleeding, against his car. "Hey! Hey! Stop!" She tried to get one of the two paramedics attention. She needed their help. It didn't matter that she was wearing heels. She sprinted across the parking lot and park into the street. She was waving her arms like a mad woman. "Stop!" She screeched as she threw herself in the ambulance's path. The ambulance just stopped short of hitting her. She banged on the hood, leaving bloody handprints in her wake.

The driver rolled down his window. "What the hell?"

"My brother... he's CPD... he got shot in the parking lot. I can't move him. Please." She pleaded. "Help me."

The driver nodded. Gaby hopped onto running board and held on as they drove back into the parking lot. They quickly loaded Antonio onto a stretcher and wheeled him into the ER. They were quickly met by one of the trauma docs. "Gunshot wounds to the abdomen and left chest. Exit under the arm caught the axillary artery."

Jo was just gloving up when she saw Mike laying on a gurney, three bullet holes in his chest and gut. She went to cry out but what Gaby said next stopped her in her tracks.

"He's my brother. I'm going into the OR with you."

"Can't do." The doc replied. "Now." He motioned to were Gaby's finger was jammed in the hole.

Gaby glared at him as she pulled her finger out. Blood gushed from the wound. Jo jumped into action when the doctor called out for a monitor. She grabbed the monitor and followed them into Trauma Room 4. Gaby stood back and watched as her brother was wheeled away from her. Her world was crashing down around her. She began to weep.


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Jo was in shock. The man with him she'd shared a very passionate night with wasn't a CI at all. He was a CPD Vice Detective. She began to mutter under her breath and she followed the doctor's orders. She began to cut Antonio's clothes off. Two of the bullet wounds weren't too bad, but the one that had caught the artery was going to take a little more than a Band-Aid to fix. He had lost a lot of blood. She grabbed two bags of O-neg blood and started a second large bore IV. They needed to get the blood back in him because his pressure was plummeting. She got the blood and saline going. She watched at the doctor spread his ribs to pull the bullets. Normally, this would be done in an OR but there wasn't any time. Once he was stabilized, they rushed him up to the OR. She stayed behind to clean up the mess that was Trauma Room 4. She sighed. This was more complicated than it ever had been.

She snapped her gloves off and headed to the ER desk. She saw Maggie going through some charts. "Hey, Maggie?"

"Yeah, Jo?"

"Can I take my break?"

"Yeah, go for it. You look... well... like hell." Maggie said honestly.

"I think I've got the flu."

"Do what you can. If you gotta go home, go." Maggie nodded.

Jo took off and grabbed her cell on the go. She dialed Jules' number. "Jules... 911... meet me at Med."

Jules didn't even get to reply. Jo ended the call. She needed to get pulled out. This was beyond screwed up. Jo ran to their meeting place on the roof. She was shaking by the time Jules met her there.

"Jo! What the fuck is going on!? You've never used 911."

"Did you know that Mike Diaz is really Antonio Dawson?" Jo demanded.

Jules' eyes bulged. "What?"

"You lied to me, Jules. You told me Mike was actually a CI... he just got wheeled into the ER... Three bullets in him... Gaby was there... she told the doc he was her brother."

Jules' heart was racing. "What do you mean?"

"Jules! Snap out of it!" Jo slapped her. "Mike isn't a CI... he's a UC detective...your PARTNER!"

Jules stumbled back. "Fuck."

"Yeah." Jo was furious. "Fuck doesn't even begin to cover this."

"Jo... I couldn't tell you."

"Bullshit!" Jo screeched. "I've been under for over a year with this. I needed to know. Biz may very well have been the one that shot him because his girls kept getting dosed!"

Jules groaned. "I'm not the one who decided this shit, Jo. You know that."

"Well, now our case... the one I've been under for... is fried. I need out."

"Jo... we need to bring Biz in."

"No. I'm not putting my kids or my life on the line anymore. I'm done."

"Jo... what the hell is really going on here?"

Jo leaned against the ledge. "Remember I told you about that night... when I met him... the crazy wild sex?"

"Yeah."

"Well, I'm pregnant. Only person I've been with is him. I start showing, Biz is going to know something's up. He thinks I'm his girl... he finds out I'm pregnant... he'll kill me."

Jules' jaw dropped. "JO!"

"No, Jules. You don't get to yell at me. What I do undercover is what I do to survive... but now I've got a baby... with Antonio... not Mike. Mike is a fictional person." Jo walked from the ledge. "You're gonna get me out and that's that."

"It's not that easy... especially with your position here at Med."

"I'm not about to play dead again." Jo put her foot down. "Never doing that again."

"Then we have to arrest Biz and his crew... otherwise, you'll always be a target."

"Can't I just dump his ass and say I got pressured by the cops?"

"Could work... but still dangerous. Especially since you're pregnant."

"Right now, I'm freaking out about who the father is."

"Well... I'm sorry!" Jules groaned. "I couldn't say anything."

"Well, now I'm in a bind."

"How so?"

"He's married, Jules. I'm not dumb. Antonio Dawson is the legend of the CPD."

"Laura's dead, Jo." Jules broke down. "Has been since 2006."

"What?!" Jo's jaw dropped. "How come I didn't know about this?"

"You never asked... you wanted nothing to do with him." Jules said.

"What about his kids?"

"You'll have to ask him... when you decided to tell him the truth."

"What did he think I was?" Jo countered.

"Whatta ya mean?"

"I mean... what did you tell him I was in this game?"

"He was told the same thing I told you... I told him you were my CI that had gotten in close with Biz... that you were untouchable."

"I don't know how I'm supposed to tell him the truth."

"I'd figure it out... even once he's back to active duty... He'll make visits here."

Jo groaned. "I hate myself. I shouldn't have fallen for him."

"Jo, you're human." Jules pulled her in for a hug. "I know this is hard... but you've got to stick this out a little longer."

"What if he recognizes me... knows that I know he's a cop?"

"I recommend staying away from him... for now." Jules rubbed her back.

Jo could feel the tears fall. "I can't believe this is all happening again."


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A month later...

Antonio had been released from Med a week after the shooting. He was on at least a month, if not two, of medical leave so he could do physio on his shoulder. He was enjoying the time off. It meant more time with his kids. He got to watch Eva and Diego play soccer, then like a true Dominican, baseball season was upon them. Diego was a diehard fan of the game. Antonio loved being able to watch his kids laugh and smile. This was much better than when he woke up and found out that Gaby had gone to Voight to get the low down on the crew that had almost taken him out. It was also better than hearing Diego and Eva crying to their grandparents that they didn't want to lose their dad too. That alone had broken his heart.

He swore he had seen Johanna, Biz's girl, a couple times, but he knew he would be dead if that had been the case. All of Med knew who he was. She had to know now if she had actually been there. He was busy making supper when Diego came running to him.

"Dad." He was out of breath.

"What is it, buddy?"

"Jules is here."

"Okay... uh, here... toss the salad with the dressing then get your sister to help set the table. I'll be right back." He wiped his hands on the dish towel that was next to him and went to see what his partner wanted. He got to the door.

"Antonio." She greeted him.

"Jules. What's up?"

"I, uh... I've got news."

"What's up?"

"Well... remember all that talk about that new Intelligence unit?"

"Yeah. I made the request to join it after I got shot." Antonio said.

"It's being made."

Antonio's eyes grew. "So..."

"We're both in."

"That's awesome." Antonio hugged his partner. "Who else?"

"No one yet." Jules answered. "Just us... they're looking for someone to head it up."

"Any idea on who they're eyeing?"

Jules' looked away.

"Jules! Who are they eyeing? Belden?"

"No clue... but I have other news... Voight's getting out... the key witness... Curtis...he's dead."

Antonio almost died right there. "No... not happening."

Jules' phone dinged. She read the message then passed Antonio the phone. "It just did."

Antonio groaned. "Fuck!"

"Daddy?" Eva's voice came from the kitchen. "You okay?"

"Yeah, Eva." Antonio called back. "Everything's fine... start with the salad... I'll be right there." He turned back to Jules. "He's gonna come after Gaby... I know it... ever since he helped her to save me."

Jules nodded slowly. "Gaby already called me... he wants to meet her."

"Oh hell no!" Antonio closed the door behind him. "Give me his number... I'm gonna meet him."

"Antonio... what are you going to be doing exactly?"

"I'm gonna make sure that son of a bitch stays as far away as possible from Gaby and the rest of my family. I'm the one who owes him... not anyone else."

Jules texted Antonio Voight's cell number. "Don't do anything stupid, Dawson."

"Don't worry, Willhite." Antonio patted her shoulder. "Thanks for the heads up."

"Go eat your dinner with the kids. We report to Intelligence first thing tomorrow."

Antonio nodded and headed back to enjoy supper with his children.


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Antonio was finally able to get a hold of Voight a week later. He had arranged a meet outside a shop on Damen Avenue. He was leaning against the car drinking his coffee when Voight pulled up in a Chrysler 300. Antonio walked away from the car and got on the sidewalk. He signalled to Voight to get out of the car. "Come on."

Voight got out of the car and slowly made his way over to Antonio. It was odd for Antonio to see Voight in a suit and tie. Then again, Antonio had just lost the suit and tie he'd wear in Vice for more street clothes that was the go to for Intelligence.

"Why you calling my sister?" Antonio asked Voight.

"I got an Ethics Panel over at the I.G.'s here in a little bit. I was looking for some character references." Voight's voice seemed to have gotten raspier since Antonio had sent him to Statesville.

"Not her. You helped me out of a jam. I don't dispute that, but if you got a favour you need done... you come to me. Man-to-man and leave her... out of it."

Voight changed the subject on Antonio. "I hear you left Vice."

"What about it?"

"Working in that Intelligence Unit here in the district?" Voight took a step towards Antonio, but Antonio put his hand up and took a step back.

He didn't want Voight near him. He still hadn't forgiven him for what he'd let happen to Josie or Billy Fraser. He couldn't forgive him for going after a fireman and his doctor fiancée.

"You got backbone, Antonio." Voight smiled mischievously. "You've always been an aggressive cop. I respect that."

They just stared off at each other. Voight laughed lightly before heading back to his car. He waved at Antonio as he took off. Antonio just cringed. He headed back to his car to head back to the district. He needed to fill Jules in on what just happened.


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Gaby was busy cooking with Peter when Kelly rushed into the main part of the house and told them all that Voight was back on the job. Matt instantly flew off the handle. Gaby knew he had every reason to get pissed. Voight had tried everything in his power to intimidate Matt into not testifying against Justin, Voight's son. Voight hadn't been able to accept that his son, while driving under the influence, almost killed a man and his son. The end result of that had been the hockey player son was left paraplegic.

"God, has the world gone crazy? What the heck's going on?" Peter Mills aked.

Gaby responded. "Well, they'll just plop him somewhere behind a desk, right? Let him collect a paycheque for nothing. I mean... if I'm CPD, that's what I'd would want."

"That's got nothing to do with it." Matt said. He was pissed all right. "It's what Voight wants."

Gaby whispered. "Damn it! Maybe I should've just played ball with him."

Peter jumped to her defense. "No! Absolutely not."

"But, now... I'm on his enemy list?" Gaby countered.

Everyone went silent. They knew this was a lost cause. Matt had said it. Voight always got what he wanted. He wasn't going to be behind a desk, and they hadn't seen the last of him, yet.


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Later that night, Gaby was waiting for Antonio to show up. It was the soft opening of Molly's tonight. This was a big deal. Soon the place was full and loud. Firefighters, paramedics, cops and strangers alike filled Molly's. Gaby was proud of all the hard work they'd put into this. It was a risk, but one of the best risks possible. She knew they would succeed.

Leslie almost tackled Gaby while she was clearing glasses off the bar. "I can't stop thinking about Tara being promoted?"

Gaby smiled. "Oh, she is a bureau bitch now. We're never gonna see her."

"Oh, if I do... I'm gonna drop her." Leslie said. She was taking this whole 'Kelly being accused of sexual assault' thing extremely personally. "Not joking."

Gaby just had to laugh. She knew Shay would do that, but it wasn't liable to happen. Kelly was safe and Tara would never be seen again. Her smile faded as she saw Matt and Hallie come into the bar.

Shay followed her glance. "When did that happen?"

Gaby had obviously forgotten to tell Shay that Matt and Hallie had made up since Hallie had come back from Doctors Without Borders. Gaby put on a brave face and replied. "Good for them."

Shay didn't buy it for a minute.

Gaby walked away to go see Antonio. She wanted to pick his mind on this whole Voight thing. The door opened and everything stopped.

Voight stepped into Molly's. It was like a bad punchline to a joke.

Antonio kept Gaby back, but Voight still had a clear line to Matt and Hallie.

Voight was smiling. "Wow! It's a nice place." He turned to Herrmann. "Congratulations." He then turned to Boden and greeted him. "Chief." Voight caught on very quickly that he wasn't welcome. "Listen, there's been a lot of bad blood between cops and firemen in this district. Since we're all going to be working together, I wanna be the first to put it all behind us." He pulled a wad of cash out of his jean pockets and started counting out a large amount. "This round's on me."

Gaby faced Antonio. "So... what was that about?"

"You wouldn't believe me if I told you."

"What?" Gaby insisted.

Antonio sighed. "He was promoted to Sergeant, and he's running the Intelligence unit."

"You're in the Intelligence Unit."

"Don't I know it."

Gaby was in shock. Her brother had locked Voight up. He had hated Voight for close to 16 years. Now, he was stuck working for the man. Antonio turned back as Voight went to speak to Matt and Hallie. Voight had just started in the Gang unit when shit went down with Josie, and now Antonio was going to be spending every shift working with Voight. At least, Gaby knew that Jules would always be there for him. She stood back and watched the interaction between Matt and Voight. Matt was cold as ice as Voight extended his hand in peace.


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Antonio had been in Intelligence for a month now. Things were settling in nicely. He was at his desk when he got a call from a Detective he knew from Vice. "Dawson."

"Antonio? Hey, it's Jay Halstead."

"Yeah... hey, Jay. How's it going?"

"I need your advice, man." Jay said. "Got some intel, but I need someone with a little more experience than me to make sure I'm doing this right."

"Yeah, yeah." Antonio wrote a note to stick on Jules' desk. "I'll meet you at Matador's."

"Be there in 5." Jay said before ending the call.

Antonio grabbed his coat, stuck the note on Jules' desk and headed out to meet Jay. It didn't take too long to get to Matador's. Jay was pacing outside. "Hey, Jay!" Antonio waved as he headed towards the gym.

"Hey, 'Tonio." Jay greeted him. "So, we've got a lot of intel on this Arthur character. He's part of a board up crew that runs around Bucktown." He handed Antonio the file.

Antonio leafed through the file and froze. "He boarded up this bar?" He held up some pictures.

Jay nodded. "Yeah. It's owned by some of the firefighters down at 51."

"Including my sister." Antonio groaned. "Okay, so what's your question concerning this Arthur character?"

"I need someone to be my backup if I go undercover... my partner thinks I'm chasing ghosts, but I'm thinking this guy's got 50 shades of shady going on."

"So what you're asking is for me to back you up to your sergeant to let you go under cover with this crew?"

Jay nodded. "You're a legend in Vice... trust me... if you say you're backing me... they'll have to let me go under."

"I'll back you... but one condition... you don't ever tell my sister you're a cop."

"You got it. Thanks, man."

Jay shook Antonio's hand and headed around the block to his car. Antonio headed to his car and went back to 21 to put a call into Jay's sergeant.

By the end of shift, Antonio was beat. He wanted to go home and have a hot shower and make supper for his kids. They were both almost done the school year and they were ready for summer. Antonio couldn't say he was, but if it meant his kids were happy, that was all that mattered. He parked his car in his driveway before walking across the street to his parents' house. They hadn't moved. Rebecca and Tiago had moved in with them and their 3 kids to take care of an aging Liliana and Miguel.

He looked over to where Josie's house had once stood. He still could hear the flames from that night. Billy had rebuilt the house and stayed there until he was killed in the line of duty. What happened with the ownership since, Antonio had no clue. Someone was living there. His hand reached for the dog tag that Josie had given him for his 21st birthday. He still wore it. It had pissed Laura off to no end. He went to the door and rang the bell. He smiled as he heard his mother chittering at Eva and Diego in Spanish to clean up before they left. Some things never changed.


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Jo was tired of this UC assignment. She was even less thrilled since it involved having her son in harm's way. Luckily for her, he was at baseball and she'd dumped Biz. Now all she had to do was wait for Vice to make the arrest and she could move on. She was in the middle of preparing supper when there was pounding at her back door. "Coming!" She called. She had no idea who would be using the back door. Only Jules really used it. She opened the door. "Biz?" Her jaw dropped. "What the hell? How... how did..."

"How did I find the bitch that dumped me? Or how did I find out you was a cop, in deep cover?" Biz shoved her to the ground. "Huh? You seriously think I wasn't gonna find out?"

Jo's eyes widened in fear. "No... Biz... I have no clue what you're talking about..."

Biz's hand instantly made contact with her cheek, sending her reeling. "I know all about you, Johanna... or do you prefer Josephine?" He grabbed the knife of the counter. "Bitch, you about to get what's coming to you."

Jo, fearing for her life and the life of her unborn child ran screaming from the kitchen. Biz was faster. He grabbed her ankle as she tried to run up the stairs. Jo tripped and fell. Her ankle was throbbing. There was no way she could run. She was going to die right here. Biz swung the knife down, and she rolled out of the way. The knife missed her by a matter of a few centimeters. She was crying. She was terrified.

Biz's eyes widened when he saw that she had a small bump forming in her belly. "You knocked up?" He slapped her again. "Who did you step out on me with, huh, bitch!?" He hit her again.

"No... no one!" She wept.

He hit her again and again. Her arms went to defend the baby and not her face. The blood from a cut above her eye was blurring her vision.

"Bullshit! I can't have no kids! Who!? Who was it!?"

Jo did the only thing she could think of. Tell the truth. "Mike..." She wept. "Mike Diaz."

"That son of a bitch!" He kicked her in the ribs. "He's lucky he's outta Chicago..." He stopped when he heard movement in the front entryway. He wasn't about to get caught. He hit Jo hard in the head and ran off out the back.

Jo tried to move but it was no use. She could barely breathe and her vision was blurry. The world was spinning around her. She could hear the door open. She tried to call for help, but her voice refused to work.

"Mama?" Xavier's voice echoed. "Mama?"

Jo could hear him put his baseball equipment on the floor. "Xav..." She tried to call out. She coughed instead, a burning pain radiated from her ribs.

Xavier was worried. His mom always at least answered him when he came home. He grabbed his bat and headed to investigate. He knew she was home. Her bike and her SUV were in the driveway. He checked the kitchen and noticed the mess. His mother was a stickler for cleanliness in the kitchen. He knew something was wrong. He went into the family room and that's when he saw her. "Mama!" He dropped the bat and ran to her. "Mama... Mama... what happened?!" He gently lifted her head into his lap. She was barely conscious. She was bleeding and that's when he noticed that she had been hiding something from him for the last little while. Xavier wept. "Mama... hang on. Hang on!" He reached into his pocket and dialled Jules' number. He had been given it only for emergencies, and this definitely counted. "Jules... I need your help... it's Mama."

"Xavier... what happened?" Jules tried her best to stay calm.

"I got home from baseball... she didn't answer. I went looking and the kitchen's been trashed... she's bleeding, Jules. I'm scared. She's not... she's not talking."

"Okay... bud, I'm gonna send an ambulance. You stay and keep doing what you're doing. Okay?"

Xavier whimpered. "Okay." He tossed the cell phone to the ground and held onto his mother, praying that help would arrive soon enough to save her and the little brother or sister he hadn't known about.

Jules hit her speed dial. "Antonio?"

"Yeah."

"Where are you?"

"My parents... picking up the kids... why?"

"Run next door... it's important."

"Jules, what the hell are you talking about?" Antonio didn't know how Jules knew his neighbour.

"I'll explain later, but it's life or death... get over there! Now!"

Antonio closed his phone and looked to his mother. "Keep the kids here... I need to go check on your neighbour."

Liliana nodded.

Antonio vaulted over the deck railing and tore across the front lawn. He saw that the front door was open. He pulled his gun. He carefully pushed the door open and called out. "Chicago PD!"

He made his way around the entry way. He could see that something had happened. Pictures had been knocked off the walls and there was a shattered vase on the ground. He came upon a young man, about 15 or 16, cradling the body of a battered woman on the stairs. "Hey!"

The kid grabbed the bat that was next to him. "Who are you?" He shouted.

"I'm Detective Antonio Dawson." He lifted his shirt a little to show the badge on his hip. "Who are you?"

"Xavier... Wait... did you say Antonio Dawson?" Xavier lowered the bat.

Antonio holstered his gun. "Yeah. Do we know each other?"

Xavier nodded. "You don't know me... but I know all about you... and my mom."

Antonio scratched his head. "Who's your mom?" He approached the scene very carefully. He didn't want the kid to bolt. He looked at the woman in Xavier's arms. His jaw dropped. "You're Johanna's son?"

"Her name isn't Johanna..." Xavier wiped his tears on his sleeve. "Her name is Josie Duplessis... you knew her as Josie Fraser."

Antonio froze in place. "What did you say?"

"Josie Fraser..."

"Josie's dead... I watched... I watched the house blow up."

"She's right here... which makes you... my dad."


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A/N: Okay, so... you probably all saw that coming... but... now what!? Let me know what you think.