First encounter …
Hank hung up with Erin as he stepped out of his office and pointed at the board.
"Curtis Vaughn," he stated. "He's the kingpin of the operation …"
He caught Erin's eye without missing a beat as she entered the bullpen with whom he assumed was her possible replacement. Erin subtly tipped her head towards the female detective next to her. He gave the woman a slight chin up in greeting and she mirrored it in return.
As his team split up and dispersed to their respective tasks, Erin ushered the woman into his office.
"Cali McDermott, this is Hank Voight," Erin introduced. "He's the sergeant in charge of this unit. Hank, Cali is the detective I was telling you about."
He extended his hand and Cali shook it.
"Nice to meet you, Cali," he greeted, pleasantly surprised by her firm grip and ability to look him straight in the eye without cowering.
"You as well, sir. Nice to put a face with a name," she replied. He grinned at her calling him "sir" as he tucked his hands in his front pockets.
"Erin tells me you're looking to transfer to the 21st," he said. Cali smiled.
"I hear Intelligence is the place to be," she commented. "It would be an honor to work with you."
Hank laughed outright at her forwardness.
"You might change your mind about that once you hear what others have to say about me. Erin's a bit biased. My unit is unlike any other out there," Hank said, glancing at his adoptive daughter. Erin had rightly earned her spot on his team. He wondered what she had shared with Cali to get the detective interested in Intelligence.
Cali had a gleam in her eye as she held his gaze, causing his jeans to tighten a little.
"Let's just say I have an appreciation for the unorthodox," she replied.
Hank wasn't sure she realized what she was doing to him, but he could tell she was affected by him by her ever so slightly flushed face and dilated pupils.
He deliberately smirked at her.
Hank mentally reprimanded himself after Cali left his office. He had absolutely zero business flirting with a potential member of his team. Not to mention she was near Erin's age, so wasn't that like robbing the cradle or something?
The way she held herself in his presence intrigued him … it was obvious why Cali and Erin were fast friends. Erin had told him Cali believed and acted like she did.
He wondered if she'd be able to work for him without being distracted. He, on the other hand, had years of practice of self-control, so he'd be able to stay focused no matter how turned on he might become …
Later that week …
"Do you prefer Cali or Calista?" Hank asked Cali as she sat in his office. She forced herself not to fidget under his gaze.
"I'll answer to either, even 'hey, you'," she said. He steepled his fingers as he sat back in his chair.
"Hmmmm," he said, his gaze never wavering. "That's not an answer, Detective."
"Cali," she breathily replied. She then sternly berated herself internally. Quit acting like a schoolgirl, she told herself. This is unbecoming of an officer. She sat up straighter in the chair.
Hank forced himself not to smile at the effect he knew he was having on her.
"At ease, Cali," he finally said. "I won't bite. Not yet anyway."
That made her laugh and he grinned.
Once the paperwork went through for the transfer, Hank dialed Cali's mobile. She answered on the first ring.
"I've been given the green light for you to join my unit," he told her. He swore she stifled a shout.
"Great! Thank you, sir. When do you want me to report in?" she calmly asked.
"Monday will be fine," he replied, smiling at the excitement that was palpable through the line. "And Cali, you don't have to call me 'sir'."
"Yes, sir, er, Sarge," she stumbled.
Hank grinned to himself. "Hank works too."
"OK. Thank you for the opportunity, Hank," Cali replied. "You won't regret it."
Not to sure about that, he thought, hanging up and shifting in his chair.
"Halstead!" Hank called out toward the bullpen.
"Boss?" Jay answered as he stuck his head in Hank's office.
"Your new partner starts Monday," Hank informed him. Jay leaned against the door jam with an unreadable look.
"Is it Erin's friend, the one she brought by the other day?" Jay asked.
"Hmmmm," Hank replied, his face betraying nothing of how the young female detective made him feel.
"She sounds like good police," Jay commented.
Hank hummed again, ending the conversation. Jay returned to his desk with a sigh, missing Erin already.
Her first day …
Cali sucked in a breath and gave herself a short pep talk before she exited her pickup.
"You can do this," she muttered. "You wanted this and now you've got it. Buck up and get in there. Don't let him see you sweat."
She leaned her forehead against the steering wheel and told herself again to get a grip.
A tap on the window startled her.
Cali looked up to see Officer Burgess standing there with concern written on her face. She opened the driver door and slid out of her seat.
"You OK, Detective?" Kim asked her.
"First day jitters, I suppose," Cali replied with a shrug.
Kim smiled, lighting up Cali's mood instantly.
"Intelligence is a great place to be. Sergeant Voight will have your back," Kim gushed.
And my front if I have my way someday, Cali inwardly commented.
"Thanks, Kim," Cali brightly said as she pushed her feelings aside and strode for the station's front doors, her head held high.