"Alright, let's go."
Kate watched as Hank, Olivia and Sam all disappeared downstairs to brief Trudy and the Bureau of Patrol as the rest of the group moved towards the locker room to change. Taking a second, Kate sat down at her desk, eyes scanning over the two picture frames situated just under her computer monitor. One was of her and Matt as children, the two of them smiling at the camera, both sporting innocent grins and missing an assortment of teeth. The other was a picture of her, Hank and Alvin taken at Trudy and Mouch's wedding reception.
She had worn a forest green floor-length dress, the v-neckline dipping low enough have Hank growling in the back of his throat when he saw her but modest enough to not cause embarrassment in front of her friends and colleagues. The chiffon material was tied at the waist, perfectly accentuating her curvaceous frame. Kate was beaming at the camera, trapped snugly between the two taller men, Hank with his arm around her waist and Alvin with his arm around her shoulders. Her eyes began to burn with unshed tears, running a fingertip over the simple silver frame. It was just another reminder of how much the man she loved had lost.
Guterra was an animal and he was likely to become unpredictable when backed into a corner. Kate had spent over ten years with a badge pinned to her chest so she knew the risks attached to the job. But when dealing with men like Guterra who had nothing left to lose, the risk was that much higher. There was a very real possibility that she wouldn't get the chance to say everything she suddenly had a burning desire to tell him. How grateful she was that he was in her life, how much he meant to her, how much she loved him.
She couldn't leave it to chance.
So before Hank returned to the bullpen, she tucked a sealed envelope under the picture of him and Justin on his desk, satisfied that he would at least know how she felt, even if everything they were facing went to hell in a hand basket. Kate had just finished fastening her black BDU pants, completely lost in thought when a gentle tap on the locker drew her attention.
"You decent?"
The corner of her mouth ticked up at the familiar sound of her partner's voice. Tugging a black t-shirt over her head, she turned to face him.
"No, but I try to be."
Her eyes softened at the sight of Kevin standing behind her, already swathed head to toe in black. Kate moved to straddle the bench separating the two roles of lockers, Kevin mirroring her movements until they were seated at opposite ends facing one another.
"How you feelin'?"
Kate hiked her shoulders slightly, letting out a long breath.
"I'll be better when this is all over."
He nodded in understanding, eyes drifting over her form before settling on her stomach.
"Everything okay with…" Kevin dipped his forehead towards her abdomen and a grateful smile tugged at her mouth.
"Doctor says everything is as expected."
"That's good." He returned her smile briefly before his face became serious once more.
"Look, I ain't gonna tell you what to do. You a grown ass woman who is more than capable of takin' care o' bus'ness. But I need you to be careful tonight, a'ight? You don' need me to tell you that it ain't just you anymore."
Kate reached forward into the space between them and captured his hands in her own, giving his larger hands a firm squeeze, looking him dead in the eye.
"I appreciate you Kevin Atwater."
The two shared a moment before Kate gave his fingers one last squeeze before pushing to her feet.
"Alright, let's go nail this motherfucker."
When the two arrived downstairs, the rest of the task force were finalising their vests and weapons. Kate approached the gun safe, pulling out a Colt M4 before beginning the process of checking the barrel, storing magazines and ensuring the safety clip was in place. She hated trying to secure a vest whilst in full tactical uniform, the bulky nature of the BDUs combined with the weight of the vest making it almost impossible to secure the kevlar in place correctly. Turning around, she noticed Elliot behind her with a smirk on his face, crystal blue eyes alight with amusement as he watched her struggle.
"You just gonna stand there or you gonna help me?"
He snorted at her but acquiesced easily, closing the space between them, taking the velcro in his hands.
"You're cute when you're irritated."
"Bite me, Stabler."
Elliot's mouth twitched upwards, eyes trained on securing the vest to her frame. When he was done, he placed his hands on her shoulders and spun her to face him, his easy going expression suddenly becoming serious.
"Guterra's a nut job."
It was a statement but Kate knew him well enough to read the underpinning sentiment.
'Be careful.'
Kate met his eyes steadily.
"I know."
With one final pat on her shoulders, Elliot moved to stand between Olivia and Ayanna, the team grouping for one final check before moving out.
"Everyone in position?"
Kate listened as, one by one, each pair called in their confirmation at Hank's question. She was stood at Kevin's shoulder, M4 tucked firmly into her right shoulder.
"Alright, we move in on my order. Slow and quiet. We don't want to spook them."
Kevin dropped to his knees in front of the heavy warehouse door, bolt cutters in hand as he popped the lock and chain off the door, catching the metal before it could clatter to the floor. He turned to nod to Hank, getting to his feet and resuming his position.
"Ok. On my count, nice and easy. 3…2…1."
Kate pushed the door open slowly, hoping that the hinges didn't squeak as she kept the pressure even, the gap between the door and the frame gradually widening enough for her to slip through, Kevin right behind her. The two moved through the warehouse with well-practised ease, Ayanna, Elliot and Hank a few paces behind. Looking across the warehouse, Kate could see Adam, Kim, Hailey and Jay approach from either respective entrances, shrouded in shadows as they moved into cover behind heavy steel beams.
Kate's eyes scanned the small group in the centre of the room, mind working overtime to process the scene before her. There were eight men in the middle of the open plan warehouse, all with the same harrowing, lecherous expressions on their faces as they eyed the children lined up along the side of Guterra's SUV that was parked in the entryway. That was when she saw him, standing between two of his associates with an arrogant smirk on his face as he paraded a tiny girl around in front of the row of men.
"…you think, eh? Such a pretty juguete!"
Even from this distance with minimal lighting, Kate could tell the little girl was terrified. She couldn't have been much older than four or five, her tiny frame wracked with tremors, wide eyes darted from stranger to stranger.
"Who was the lucky mierda to win this prize?" Guterra gripped her dirty brown hair in a fist, the sound of the little girls' resulting whimper was like a hot poker through Kate's chest.
One of the men stepped forwards, his sweaty face shining in the dim light. Kate could clearly see the sickeningly lewd expression on his face as he eyed the little girl lustfully.
"Sarg, I've got eyes on the victims but if we have to move soon. The buyers are collecting."
Kate's voice was barely above a whisper, her eyes still trained on the scene before her as she peered out from behind the thick metal beam both she and Kevin had moved behind.
"Is everyone in position?"
Kate listened as the team once again called in their confirmations.
The tension was palpable as they waited for Hank's signal.
"Ok, move!"
He had barely finished his command when all hell broke loose.
"CHICAGO PD!"
The shouts startled all parties in the warehouse, bodies freezing before their brains eventually caught up and they began to scatter. Guterra's associates opened fire, bullets whipping overhead, forcing the unit to take cover behind various objects and structures in the open plan warehouse. Kate dropped to one knee, her eyes scanning the chaos for one face. She found him dragging the little girl backwards towards the rickety stairs leading to the roof. Hearing the tiny girl scream for her mother was enough for Kate to throw all caution to the wind, taking off after them without a second thought or a backwards glance towards her partner.
Taking the steps two at a time as she wrenched her radio to her mouth.
"Sarg, he's heading for the roof. He's taken a little girl hostage."
"We're pinned down. Wait for backup Meadows."
His order fell on deaf ears. Taking the steps two at a time, adrenaline coursed through her veins like wildfire and, by the time she swung the door to the roof open, Guterra was already stood at the ledge using the trembling child as a human shield.
"Stay back!" He screamed, eyes wild as he pressed the barrel of the gun into the soft skin of her temple.
Kate moved out onto the rooftop slowly, her gun still pointed steadily at his chest. She didn't address him at first, her eyes locked on the tear-stained face of the little girl caught in his bruising grip. Holstering her weapon, Kate took a step forward so that they were barely six feet apart and crouched down so she was eye level with the girl.
"Hi honey. My name's Kate, what's your name?"
Kate waited patiently for the little girl to wet her dry, cracked lips with her tongue.
"A-Amelia."
Kate's heart clenched painfully at the innocent sound. She let what she hoped was a reassuring smile pass onto her face.
"Amelia. That's a real pretty name. Amelia, I just need you to stay really calm for me, okay? Can you do that?"
Her only response was a little jerky nod of her head, dark brown locks falling into her pale face. Kate pushed back to her feet, her eyes turning cold as they moved to Guterra.
"Eduardo."
She watched as a sick smirk filled his face, black eyes flashing.
"Ahhh, Detective Meadows. What are the chances, eh? After all this time."
Kate hiked a shoulder.
"You really thought I wouldn't hear about you doing business in my neck of the woods? C'mon now, you know me better than that."
Eduardo laughed, the sound sending an uncomfortable shiver down Kate's spine but, before Guterra could respond, the two of them heard the sound of footsteps echoing from inside the warehouse.
"Running out of time Eduardo. There's nowhere to run."
He looked unhinged. Eyes frenetic, teeth bared, spittle flying as he breathed heavily.
"Let her go."
His eyes darted back to Kate's and, whilst she still had his attention, she pressed on.
"Let her go and we'll finish this how it started. Just you and me."
He seemed to be considering her words for a moment, the grip on the child loosening but his erratic behaviour was making her uneasy. Her only thought in that moment was to make sure the little girl got back to her mom. Moving forwards a few paces, she dropped back down into a crouched position.
"Hey Amelia? This man is going to let you go in a second okay? When he does, I want you to walk towards me slowly, alright?"
Once again, she was met with a jerky nod.
"Ok, nice and slow Amelia."
Kate gestured for the girl to move forwards but Amelia was barely two steps forward when the unit burst through the open door behind her, startling Guterra who pulled Amelia back into his body, the barrel of his gun flicking between Kate and the new arrivals behind her. She could feel Hank's eyes boring into the back of her head, the rage emanating off him in waves at the sight of her standing unarmed in front of a madman.
"Stand down!"
She held a hand out, motioning for them to draw back. When none of them moved, she turned away from Guterra and locked eyes with Hank.
"Sarg."
Seconds ticked by without movement. The tension between them was palpable and Guterra's eyes flicked back and forwards between them, a cold smile forming on his face.
"Ahhh, I see. You're letting that padrecito between those sweet thighs mama?" He tutted softly, his heated eyes scanning Kate's form salaciously, the change in demeanour had Hank's finger twitching on the trigger. "Maybe you should let a real man show you how it's done."
Kate huffed out a laugh.
"You let me know when you find one, yeah?"
Guterra moved the barrel of his gun away from Kate's face and instead pointed it in Hank's direction, his finger slipping onto the trigger.
"Tell your man to back off or I'll put a bullet in his head."
"Or maybe…maybe I'll make you watch me kill him first, eh?"
The memory of the nightmare flashed so suddenly behind Kate's eyes that her breath hitched in her throat and her stomach lurched.
"Tell him. To. Back. Off." Guterra ground out every word, steadily getting louder until his voice echoed in the silence.
Kate locked eyes with Hank, silently pleading for him to listen before she even opened her mouth.
"Sarg."
"You know I can't do that."
His eyes softened and suddenly it was just the two of them. Kate found herself falling headfirst into in his warm, chocolate pools as she implored him to see reason.
"Sarg, you gotta-"
"I can't do that."
'Damn you and your stubborn, pig-headedness Hank Voight.'
Now she was going to have to play dirty.
"Please Henry."
He froze.
She rarely addressed him as anything other than 'Sarg' in front of the unit and she certainly has never used his given name in the presence of others. Over the course of their relationship, those two words had become sacred to him, three syllables that, from her lips, would have him rock hard in just as many seconds. But right now, it had the opposite effect, serving only to deepen his anxiety at the direction that this stand-off was heading.
Kate could feel the tension on the roof hit breaking point, the unit all trading uncomfortable looks between one another as they watched their boss and their teammate engage in a silent battle of wills.
"Please Henry." Guterra mocked, a maniacal laugh ripping from his throat. "Better do as she says ese."
The next few seconds passed painfully slow, Kate's heartbeat thudding in her ears but eventually Hank lowered his weapon, lifting a hand to signal for the rest of the unit to do the same. Releasing a breath, Kate turned back to Guterra who was still breathing heavy.
"Alright Eduardo. Last chance. You let her go."
Kate waited a beat before extending her hand out to Amelia who looked absolutely terrified at the prospect of moving given their last attempt.
"It's alright, honey."
"No! DON'T MOVE!" Guterra was waving the barrel in Kate's face, his hand shaking with either fear or adrenaline, she wasn't sure which but she simply levelled him with a calm look, despite the fact she was sure her frantic heart was going to burst from her chest at any second.
"If you're gonna do it, you better do it right. You only get one shot Eduardo 'cause I'm tellin' you…" She gestured behind her to the nine armed officers. "…they ain't gonna miss."
She could see the wheels turning in his mind, eyes scanning the wall of black behind her.
"Debería haberte matado cuando tuve la oportunidad, puta." He spat on the floor, a grimace on his face as the two stared each other down.
"Yeah, you probably should have. Say, speaking of little bitches, how is Luis these days?
The minute the words left her mouth, she knew they had reached the point of no return. His expression hardened and the manic disposition he had exhibited since she had cornered him on the rooftop seemed to dissipate into thin air, leaving behind an icy malice.
Then his finger squeezed the trigger.
Muzzle flashes lit the warehouse rooftop up like a Fourth of July firework display as Elliot and Hank fired two shots each, all four rounds hitting Guterra centre mass. He dropped to the floor in slow motion, a ghost of a smirk still on his face.
But it was too late.
The force of the bullets knocked her to the floor, her head bouncing off the concrete with a sick thud. Kate's vision was already beginning to blur when Hank's face appeared before her, horror etched on his face as he pressed shaky hands to her vest-covered torso. It took every last ounce of effort to raise her hand from the cold concrete, placing her bloodstained palm gently against Hank's face.
"H-Hank…"
Letting out a long breath, she let the darkness consume her.
