When Ryan heard the three loud bangs, he ran faster. Adam stood in the alley his hands trembling. Ian's body on the ground bleeding from the three gunshot wounds. By the time Ryan got there he froze, Adam standing there gun in hand, his brother on the ground dead.
Ryan wanted to be angry, pissed at Adam but he couldn't. Sophia would still be in danger from Ian now she's not, she was free. He walked over to the young officer, careful not to make him jump with the loaded weapon.
"Adam. It's alright" Ryan says carefully, moving to him cautiously.
"He pulled a gun..I told him to drop it" Adam spoke, his hands shaking.
"Give me the gun. You won't go down for this"
"Ryan, if you take the fall you may never see Sophia again"
"Same may go for you. It shouldn't be fair she loses you"
"I gotta call my Sergeant, he's going to be so pissed"
"Soph's calling him and your team. She's still in the car"
"You left her alone?"
"I made sure the car was locked, I'm not that much of an idiot"
The two men went back to the car as intelligence had arrived on scene, Kevin and Kim went to the car to check on the young girl. Antonio, Jay, and Erin went to where Ryan and Adam were coming from. Hank walked to the two men.
"We need to talk," He said to two men.
"Sarge, this is on me. I took Ryan trying to track Ian down" Adam spoke first.
"I shot my brother" Ryan said next.
The young officer looked at him. "What the hell are you doing?"
"I told you. Ian pulled a gun on me, my brother wasn't listening to reason. I told him to drop it and he wouldn't listen. He kept coming at me. I feared for my life, I shot and killed my brother"
"Ryan enough, that's not what happened and you know it"
"Both of you enough" Hank told them both. He looked to Adam first. "What did you think you were doing?"
"I had to do something boss. He had Sophia, we needed to act and act fast. I took a chance"
"You took a chance alright and now look what happened. Now tell the truth. Who killed Ian?"
"I did" Came both Adam and Ryan in union.
"I'm not in the mood for this. For now, take Sophia to the hospital and I will talk to you separately. Both of you keep your mouths shut, Adam you don't say a word until your FOP rep gets here. He's your first call. You understand me"
"Yes Sarge," Adam said.
"Go now"
Adam and Ryan went to the car, Sophia had been between Kevin and Kim. When he saw his young niece safe and unharmed, the young officer breathed a sigh of relief. The other two officers looked to see their friend, Kevin had let Sophia run to her uncle.
Sweeping her up Adam held his niece tightly, a few tears falling freely he was too damn close to losing the only piece he has left of his sister. He kissed her head a couple times and smoothed back her sandy blonde hair.
"It's alright darlin you're alright, you're safe" He whispered soothingly in her ear.
"I was really scared Uncle Adam" She whispered back.
"I know, it's alright. I'm here now"
Ryan smiled at the young girl, she looked more like Emma than him or his brother. When the little girl's eyes locked on him, part of him felt a tad anxious and worried she may reject him, she looked to Adam with a curious look in her eyes. Her bright green eyes, the same eyes her mother had stared into his brown orbs.
"It's alright, he helped me find you. This is your dad"
"Really?"
The officer nodded at his niece. "He sure did. He would actually like a chance at being your dad if you let him"
She looked at Ryan with a soft expression. "You won't act how you were before?"
"Never" Ryan responded. "All I've ever wanted was to be your dad"
She then looked back at her uncle. "You'll be ok if I wanna see him?"
"I'm ok with whatever you're ok with. If you wanna see him, you can. I'm leaving it up to you"
"Can he come over for dinner tonight?"
"If he wants too he can"
"I would love too," Ryan told them.
Adam passed her over to Ryan, he hugged her, he didn't care if he was her biological father or not. He was the only father she has ever known and will ever know. Unlike his brother, he would love her. He'd do anything for her even if it meant taking a rap for Adam.
The two had taken Sophia to the hospital to get looked at while the others investigated the scene. Adam drove while Ryan just held the young girl. During the drive she had nodded off, falling asleep. The young officer looked to him.
"Why the hell would you take the fall. You know I shot and killed Ian. You had nothing to do with it" Adam spoke.
"Like I said, it shouldn't be fair Sophia loses you" Ryan replies.
"And what if she loses you? Then what?"
"When you're a parent, you'll do anything for your kid. Wouldn't you? Besides I know if anything were to happen to me, I know Soph will be in safe hands with you"
That made Adam stop and think, in a way he was now a parent. He would do anything for his beloved niece. Ryan was willing to give her up and make sure she stays in a safe and protected environment.
"Just promise you won't do it again"
"I guess I can. I really do wanna be in her life, be the father she deserves"
Stopping the car at a red light he glanced at the man. "I made you a deal, you help get Sophia back, I will help you be in her life. I'm not going back on my word. I'm gonna help you with this"
"I appreciate it"
"Just one thing, you hurt her. I will kick your ass"
"Noted"
After a few more minutes they arrived at Med and took Sophia inside, Will had seen them and went over.
"Adam, everything ok?" Will asked.
"Yeah, we just wanna get Sophia looked at" Adam replies.
He really didn't want to get into detail about what happened and he hoped the older Halstead understood. Will saw the look in his eye and just nodded, he'd most likely ask his brother about it later.
"I can see her in treatment two"
"Thanks man"
The two men took her to the treatment room, as she was getting looked at Hank and Bob both had arrived at the hospital.
"Adam, Adam!" Bob called for his son.
The young officer had heard his name being called and went out to see his father and his boss, he closed the curtain.
"Pop, what are you doing here?" Adam asked his father.
"Why else would I be here? I heard Sophia was found"
"She was, I found her with Ryan's help"
"Why would he help?"
"Because he's her father and he wants to be in her life. I told him if he helped get her back, I'd let him be in her life. He proved himself dad. He cares for Soph. He had a hard time showing it but he genuinely cares about her and loves her"
"And what if he does to her what he did to Emma?"
"Dad, it wasn't all him. It was his brother Ian. Em went to Ryan for help to get away from his brother. Ryan doesn't know or care if Sophia is biologically his, he's the only father she has and has ever known. I'm willing to give him a chance, you can too. It's all he's asking for. And we both know it's what Emma would want"
"I suppose I can try, if you say he helped get her back and he's changed. I'll give it a shot"
"Thank you dad"
"Where is she?"
"Jay's brother is giving her a quick look over, making sure she's ok"
Without another word Bob ran to the room as Adam looked at his boss. Hank looked at him with his famous look.
"Why don't we go have a talk Adam"