Summer in Chicago was almost as extreme as the winter. Instead of subzero temperatures and blankets of pure white snow, the city rippled with a hazy heat that had Kate ducking into the locker room at random points in the day to take a shower in an effort to keep herself cool.
Her cosy jumpers and long-sleeved henleys had been replaced with short-sleeved t-shirts but, even at nighttime, the air remained humid and muggy. Kate hadn't yet experienced a summer in her apartment and it wasn't until the mercury began to rise to an uncomfortable level did she realise that it didn't have any air conditioning, much to Hank's irritation.
'How could you forget to get air conditioning?' He grumbled one night as the two of them lie in bed, sticking to one another uncomfortably but also refusing to put any space between them.
'I didn't forget to get air conditioning, I forgot that this place didn't already have it. There's a subtle difference.'
Moving out of his arms, Kate slid out of bed and pushed all of the windows open as far as they would go in an effort to tempt some cool air into the bedroom but the blinds remained stubbornly still.
Hank's eyes tracked her naked form as she moved across the room, her tanned skin dewy from the heat as she flopped back down onto the mattress with a groan. He watched her for a few moments as she lie on her back, staring at the ceiling, chest rising and falling gently with each inhale and exhale.
The sun had bleached her hair a few shades lighter than normal and the locks were strewn across the pillow in a wavy halo. The skin tone of her face, neck and arms were darker than the rest of her body, her Italian genes giving her a deep tan that was the perfect counterbalance to her bright hazel eyes.
From this distance, he could see her pulse thrum steadily in the hollow of her throat, the flesh dancing with each beat of her heart. Tracking his eyes down further, he took in her full breasts, tight dark nipples pointing skyward before moving on to the soft swell of her stomach. To him, Kate was the perfect combination of strength and femininity and, if he could spend the rest of his life with this beautiful creature beside him, he was sure he'd die a happy man.
Kate lifted her chin towards him, smirking when she noticed the direction of his gaze.
"Eyes are up here babe."
Hank simply returned her smirk, completely unabashed at being caught staring. With a roll of her eyes, Kate turned to snuggle into his body, despite the fact his skin was emitting a furnace-like heat, and placed a kiss to the centre of his chest.
"Earth to Kate."
Snapping her eyes upwards, Kate's gaze landed on Kevin who was smirking at her from across the bullpen, whiteboard marker dangling between his fingers.
"Sorry. This heat's got me all spaced out. Gimme a sec?"
"Sure thing."
Shooting him a grateful smile, Kate pushed back from her desk and got to her feet, heading towards the kitchen. Swinging the fridge door open, she stood in front of the appliance for a few seconds with her eyes closed, savouring the chill washing over her heated skin. Reaching one hand into the freezer, she plucked out a frozen bottle of water, running the icy plastic over the back of her neck, circling round to dip the neck of the bottle under the collar of her shirt and into her cleavage.
"You know, we spoke about inappropriate behaviour in the work place."
Spinning on the spot with the bottle still wedged down her top, Kate took in the sight of Hank leaning against the doorframe, arms crossed over his chest with his biceps and forearms on full display.
"Huh. Well you ought to heed your own advice, Sarg."
She removed the bottle, her chest and neck glistening with residual water as she meandered towards him, hips swaying with each step. When she reached him, she leaned in close and lifted up onto her toes so that she could place her lips next to his ear.
"Because you look fucking delicious in that t-shirt."
With that parting comment, she brushed past him and returned to the bullpen with a satisfied smirk on her face. Taking a long sip of water, she screwed the cap back on the bottle and placed it on the corner of her desk, resting her weight on the edge of the smooth wood and returning her eyes to the whiteboard.
"Alright Kev, let's go again."
The rest of the unit were out chasing leads and talking to CIs to see if they could catch a lead on their current case. It should have been an open and shut homicide but some rookie cop had contaminated the crime scene so now they were scrabbling to make sure the rest of their evidence was air tight. Just before Kevin could restart their analysis, they were interrupted by a loud shout and all four pairs of eyes snapped to the source of the sound.
"GRANDPA!"
A flash of dark brown hair whizzed past Kate and into the open arms of a shocked but thrilled Hank who scooped the boy up into the air, clutching him close to his chest.
"Hey buddy! Look at you! What are you, like, thirty five now?"
The sound of the little boy's laughter drew a smile to Kate's face as she watched the two interact.
"I'm six, Grandpa." He said with a roll of his eyes, immediately reminding Kate of the look Hank would throw her when she was deliberately being obtuse. It was fascinating to see how alike to the two of them were. There was no denying this kid was a Voight through and through.
"Is that right? That's kinda old."
"Not as old as you!" Hank had a look of mock-hurt on his face, once again generating peals of laughter from the little boy.
"That's no way to speak to Grandpa Hank, Daniel."
It was only then that Kate realised that there was another person in the room. Olive was stood with her arms folded across her chest, watching the two with a sad smile on her face. Kate didn't know too much about Justin Voight but she could only imagine how hard it much have been on her to lose her husband at such a young age, leaving her to raise their son alone. Dropping Daniel back down to the floor, he strode down the space between the two rows of desks and took Olive into his arms, wrapping her in a warm embrace. When they parted, Hank held her at arms length and looked her over with a smile, pleased to see that she was looking healthy.
"Well this is a nice surprise. How long are you in town for?"
"Only a few days. We're heading down to Michael's parents' place in Florida for the summer so we thought we'd stop by on the way."
He placed a palm on her round cheek, his eyes alight with joy at the prospect of spending a few days with his family.
"I'm so glad you did. Come on, let me introduce you to somebody." Placing one arm around Olive's shoulders and the other around Daniel, he pulled them both further into the bullpen and the three of them headed straight towards Kate who was still perched on the edge of her desk.
"Olive, Daniel, this is Kate. She's my uh…" He faltered and Kate couldn't stop the snort of laughter. They still hadn't been able to find a proper 'label' for one another and, despite testing a whole host of options, nothing seemed to fit. Girlfriend, boyfriend, partner, other-half, lover, bed-warmer, piece of ass.
Kate held out her hand and Olive quickly reached out to take it, her bright blue eyes appraising Kate kindly.
"Significant other."
Both of them winced as the words left her mouth.
'Well, that's another one off the list.'
"So nice to meet you Olive."
"Great to meet you too." She turned to Hank, tapping his chest with the palm of her hand. "She's gorgeous, Hank. You're definitely punching above your weight with this one."
The jibe was good humoured but Kate felt her cheeks heat at the compliment, noticing how Hank simply shrugged in agreement, a proud smile on his face.
"Grandpa, is that your girlfriend?" Daniel crowed, his beautiful brown eyes sparkling in mischief.
"That's right, so no flirting, you hear? I can't have you trying to steal my girl!" He jammed his fingertips into the little boy's ribs, earning a squeal of laughter as Daniel tried to wriggle out of his grandfather's grip.
Kate's heart expanded to twice its usual size at the sight of them together. She'd seen Hank interact with children a few times but, unfortunately, they were usually victims of terrible crimes. Seeing him like this got her thinking, not for the first time, what he'd be like as a father to their children.
"So, how long have you and Hank been together?"
Kate turned away from watching the guys point out all of the guns and swords to an awe-struck Daniel and met Olive's gaze.
"Uh, I guess nearly eight months now."
Olive nodded, her own eyes fixed on her son who was pleading with Hank to let him hold a samurai sword.
"He seems really happy. I didn't know he was dating anyone but I had noticed that he seemed…lighter, recently when we spoke. Camille had already passed away when Hank and I met so I don't know what he was like before but…this is the most content I think I've ever seen him."
Kate looked back across the bullpen, watching as Hank crouched behind Daniel, his larger hand placed firmly over Daniel's as the two of them carefully wielded a twelve inch blade, much to Daniel's delight. It meant the world to her that the people who knew him best had seen a change in him since they'd been together. Whilst most of Kate's thoughts pertaining to Hank Voight were positively sinful, her intentions when it came to his heart were pure. She just wanted him to be happy.
"What do you say we head over to Lou's and get some lunch? My treat." Hank had secured the weapon back to the wall and was steering Daniel back towards his mother.
"Sounds good." Olive suddenly looked nervous as she blinked up at Hank. "Michael's waiting downstairs. He'd…he'd love to meet you Hank."
The smile on Hank's face faded slightly for the first time since the duo had arrived and Kate could only assume that Michael was the new man in Olive's life. He seemed to collect himself after a few seconds and smiled again, nodding his head, gesturing for the two of them to precede him downstairs. He stopped at the top of the stairs when he sensed that Kate wasn't behind him and, sure enough, she was still leaning against the wood of her desk when he turned around.
"You not coming?" He took a few steps back towards her, stopping just in front of where her legs were crossed at the ankle.
"I thought you might want to catch up with your family."
Seeming to either forget that Kevin was still in the room or not really caring, Hank placed one foot on either side of her crossed legs and cupped her face in his hands, leaning in to press a firm but chaste kiss to her lips.
"I do…and my family includes you."
Kate was taken aback by the love shining so clearly in his warm brown eyes that she had the sudden urge to burst into tears.
"Who knew you were such a romantic Hank Voight." She muttered, pushing him backwards slightly so she could round the desk and get her purse.
As she moved ahead of him to follow Olive and Daniel down the stairs, Hank pressed up close behind her and his palm landed on her ass with a muffled thwack.
"You know I'm far from romantic, sweetheart."
If Kate wasn't already flushed from the heat, his gruff statement would have had her cheeks burning.
"Tease." She grumbled with a grin, taking the steps down into the precinct reception where Olive and Daniel were waiting with a man she could only assume was Michael. He was a good looking guy, about six feet tall with sandy blonde hair, kind blue eyes and a dimpled smile.
When Hank and Kate reached the bottom step, Olive and Michael stepped forward, Daniel just in front of them.
"Michael, this is Hank and his partner Kate. Hank, Kate, this is Michael."
He extended a large hand out towards Hank, a genuine smile on his face as he looked towards the two of them.
"So great to meet you, Hank. Heard a lot about you."
Hank returned the smile, albeit not as widely and took the proffered hand in his own, giving it a firm shake before responding in kind. Kate watched the the two of them with slightly bated breath, knowing how difficult the prospect of someone else raising his grandson must be for Hank.
Thirty minutes later, the five of them were seated in a booth in Lou Mitchells restaurant, catching up on work, the weather and everything in between. When the waitress came to take their order, the boys ordered burgers, fries and chocolate milkshakes and, after much deliberation, Olive opted for a Caesar salad.
"And for you, honey?"
The elderly waitress turned her gaze to Kate, pen poised over the pad of paper.
"I'll get the turkey reuben, please." Just as she was about to turn and head back to the kitchen to place their order, Kate stopped her with a last minute addition of a banana milkshake, the sudden craving for the frozen treat catching her unaware.
"You know, me and your dad used to get burgers and milkshakes for breakfast every year on his birthday. I'd take him down to his favourite restaurant and we'd order the biggest burgers on the menu." Hank's eyes crinkled at the corners as he spoke to Daniel, a wistful smile on his face as he soaked in the time spent with his grandson.
When their food arrived, they all began to tuck in with enthusiasm, the conversation ebbing as they enjoyed their lunch. Olive returned her fork to her place, taking a white napkin to dab at the corners of her mouth before clearing her throat.
"So, Michael and I have some news…" Kate and Hank both looked up from across the table and, instinctively, Kate knew that one of two things were about to leave Olive's mouth. Marriage or babies.
"We're pregnant."
'Option number two it is.'
Hank was frozen at her side, the burger in his hands hovering over the plate as he processed Olive's words. The silence stretched on and Kate could feel the anxiety radiating from across the table in waves, Olive's eyes beginning to dart between them rapidly. Realising Hank wasn't going to break the deadlock any time soon, Kate reached a hand across the table to grasp Olive's, congratulating them on the happy news.
Kate slid a hand onto Hank's thigh under the table, giving the muscle a gentle squeeze in an effort to bring him back from whatever mental tailspin he was currently lost in. His eyes snapped to Kate's who gave him a pointed look, silently begging him to say something. Anything.
Putting the burger back on the plate, wiping his hands before lifting his eyes to Olive, giving both her and Michael a tight smile.
"That's…that's great news. Congratulations, both of you. Really, it's…" He shook his head, eyes dropping back to the table for a second. "…being a parent is the best feeling in the world. As you already know." He winked at Daniel who was busy demolishing the rest of his lunch, chocolate smudges around his lips and ketchup on his cheek.
Olive visibly relaxed and Kate found it heartwarming that she still cared enough about Hank to be concerned about how he would feel about the news of their new arrival. Once they had finished eating and Hank had settled the bill (despite Michael's protests), the two of them headed back to the district to check in on the unit whilst Olive and Michael took Daniel to Lincoln Park Zoo, the five of them arranging to reconvene at Hank's place later that evening for dinner.
Given Hank's place was empty more often than not these days, they stopped by the grocery store on their way home to pick up supplies, taking a quick shower to wash the sweat of the day away before making a start on preparing the meal together. Throughout the evening, Kate watched Michael dote on Olive, the subtle touches, the adoring looks. They were the epitome of a happy family. She was leaning against the doorframe between the kitchen and the living room, watching the two of them playing on the floor with Daniel when she was pulled from her thoughts by two arms wrapping around her waist from behind, a set of warm lips pressing a kiss to the skin behind her ear and she smiled at the contact.
Leaning back into his strong chest, she placed her palms on the bare flesh of his forearms, rubbing back and forth as he rested his chin on her shoulder, the two of them watching the little family from afar.
"Are you okay?"
He hummed quietly in response and Kate wasn't sure if that was a yes or a no. Truth be told, she had an inkling that he probably wasn't sure how he was feeling. She supposed that half of him was pleased for Olive, thankful that she had found love and moved on with her life. But the other half was probably in a world of hurt, watching a scene before him that should have included his son, not a stranger from Arizona.
Turning in his arms, Kate wrapped one arm around his neck and cupped his jaw with her free hand, tenderly sealing her lips over his. She sighed in contentment, losing herself in the sensation of having his warm, pliant flesh under her own. When she eventually broke away, her thumb brushing against his chin, she caught his gaze and considered him carefully for a second before speaking.
"I can only imagine how hard this must be for you. But just know that no matter how many children they have together or how far away they are, they will always be your family. Justin's family."
Sliding her hand from his cheek to rest on his chest, she dropped a kiss to his chin.
"They love you. And so do I."
Hank dropped his forehead to rest against Kate's, the two of them luxuriating in the feel of being close to one another, completely oblivious to anyone else in the room.
After a beat, he pulled back and stared deeply into her eyes, brushing a stray piece of hair away from her face before cupping her cheek in his palm just as she had done a few moments earlier.
"I have no idea what I did to deserve you but…God knows I must be doing something right."
Later that night when Olive, Michael and Daniel had gone back to their hotel, Kate and Hank made love in a way that felt more visceral than any other time they had been intimate with one another. Something felt different, like they were connected in a more meaningful way than just their bodies. When Hank dropped his weight onto Kate's chest, spent and panting, he was lulled into relaxation by Kate's fingers carding soothingly through his hair and the sound of her heart thrumming in his ear.
After what could have been five or fifty minutes, Hank eventually spoke.
"I meant what I said, you know."
His words were quiet but they echoed in the silence of the bedroom. Hank was still yet to move, his now soft length still buried inside her and his body cradled between her thighs as Kate alternated between running her fingers across his broad shoulders and teasing his scalp with featherlight touches.
"What did you say?" She responded, her methodical stroking never faltering.
"That you're my family."
This time she did stop the movement of her fingers, pausing for a second before reaching down to cup his jaw. Kate ran her fingers over his lightly stubbled cheek and his eyes closed momentarily at her touch.
"And I meant what I said…I love you, Hank."
