HUGE thanks to MusesOwnMyMind for her help with this chapter. :) I have no idea if it's a good idea for us to share ideas with no one to reign us in, but holy cow it was FUN! And way too much laughing on my part. :)

Chapter 48

Jess heard the knock on the door and debated hiding her head under her pillow, pretending she didn't hear it. Hiding in bed the night before her wedding may not be the traditional choice, but it was the best option she could come up with. Hiding and not thinking about what Adam was getting himself into with her, the nerves that led her to want to take something to numb them, and the knowledge that she had no idea who was going to sit on her side of the church, let alone walk her down the aisle.

Downstairs, she heard her dad answer the door. Jess groaned when she heard female voices.

She gave in and pulled the pillow over her head. It almost blocked out the footsteps coming up the stairs and the knock on her door. It did nothing to hide the bounce when someone dropped down to sit on her bed.

"What are you doing?" Sylvie asked, pulling the pillow away from Jess.

Jess didn't bother reaching for it. She grabbed her blankets and pulled those over her head instead.

"Jess?" Sylvie asked, tugging the blankets away from her.

Jess blew out a shaky breath and rolled over to see her partner's blue eyes filled with concern. Behind her Erin stood with a raised eyebrow.

"I'm doing what's best for everyone and staying right here, counting down until—" she caught herself. "Until the wedding." That sounded better than 'until Adam realizes this is a huge mistake.'

Sylvie frowned. "But it's supposed to be your bachelorette party."

Jess let out a humorless laugh. "I don't think going out drinking is the best option for someone in the program."

Understanding dawned on Sylvie's face. "Well, lucky for you, we don't have any drinking planned."

Jess started to reach for the blankets again, but saw Erin eyeing the tremors in her hands. She fisted her hands and crossed her arms, laying back on the mattress.

Sylvie's eyes flicked toward Jess' hands and Jess knew Sylvie wasn't missing anything, though she didn't say anything about it. Instead, she pulled a set of car keys out of her pocket and held them up.

"How do you feel about grand theft auto?"

#

Adam threw his hands overhead and let out a whoop.

"Did you see that?" he asked. "That is what's going to get the Bears to the Superbowl. Throws like that."

Jay shook his head and kept his eyes on the TV. He sank back into the cushions of Atwater's couch. "Yeah, keep the faith, Ruzek. They need fans like you."

Adam reached for another handful of popcorn and saw Atwater hanging up his phone, shaking his head at him.

"What?"

"Seriously?" Kevin asked.

Adam shook his head and shrugged. "What?" he asked again.

"Your last night of freedom and you seriously just want to watch the game? Dawg, I got plans we could move on. . I just got a call that First Ave is lit. Drinks, clubs…live it up."

Adam tossed a kernel in the air and caught it. "I am living it up. Tomorrow. When I marry Jess."

He tossed another piece of popcorn and Kevin grabbed it before it made it near Adam. He stared down Adam. "Yeah, but the rest of us aren't."

Adam looked at the other men. Jay, Will, Mouse.

"It's your call," Will said.

"Come on," Kevin said. "I got my cast off yesterday and I'm pretty sure I can use that story to get some sympathy from the ladies."

Adam shrugged. "Alright. Wherever you want to go."

Kevin held up a fist. "That's my man." Adam bumped fists with him and went to get his jacket.

Jay was the first one out the door. He scanned the street and let out a muttered curse.

"Where's my truck?" he asked. "Did one of you think it would be cute to move it?"

Will jogged down the steps to the sidewalk. "My car's not here."

Adam stared at the place his car had been parked, halfway down the block.

"What's that supposed to be?" he asked, starting down the block.

He got to where his car had been and stared at the four scooters, parked at a diagonal to the curb, in a row.

A bright red bow was on one of them, with an envelope.

"What's that?" Kevin asked, catching up to him.

Silently, Adam handed him the notecard.

#

"Sargent Platt put this all together?" Jess asked. She looked around the rented space

Erin didn't bother to hold back her grin as she looked at the four prostitutes standing in front of Trudy Platt. "Yep. I think she has a soft spot for Adam," she whispered.

"Hey, you there, Daddy Issues," Platt called to a redhead looking at her phone.

The young woman looked up and narrowed her eyes. "My name's Diamond."

Platt was unmoved. "Yeah, same thing. Pay attention or you're going to be turning tricks in the cold tonight." She scanned the rest of her ragtag platoon. "All of you. This is something you can put on a resume. Waitressing, guest services, hostess, whatever you want to call it. And I'll be your reference when an employer comes calling."

Jess felt one side of her mouth lift in a smile at Platt's no frills pep talk.

"So don't blow it, or you'll be freezing your belly button ring off on a street corner until you get picked up by the cops, or your throat is slit by some sociopath john."

Jess blinked at the abrupt turn of encouragement. Erin stepped forward. "Thanks, Sargent Platt, that was…inspiring." She grimaced and looked back towards the line of prostitutes. "We're so glad Trudy hired you. All we need is for you to deal cards, bring out drinks, and take care of the clean up in the morning."

At that, the shell shocked little bunch made their way to a kitchenette stocked with appetizers and pop.

Jess approached the stern desk sargent, looking slightly less intimidating in a pastel sweater and slacks.

"Um, Sargent, ma'am? Erin said you did all this?"

Platt started to respond, then looked over at the kitchen. "You break it, you buy it, ladies! Be careful!" she barked. She turned back to Jess. "Erin and Brett had the idea. I just found the space and the hired help—oh for the love of— Have any of you ever waitressed before? In a place that required you to keep your clothes on?" she asked, crossing over to her temporary employees.

"Thank you," Jess murmured to her retreating form. Natalie made her way over to her and handed her a can of Sprite. Jess thanked her with a smile.

"So if we have the cars, how are Adam and the others supposed to get here?" she asked Natalie.

Natalie smiled. Jess wasn't sure what that meant.

"They're on their way," Burgess called out, slipping her phone back into her pocket. "Vanessa called that they left ten minutes ago."

Jess didn't quite understand the looks the others exchanged, but they were pulling on their jackets and herding her toward the door.

Outside, Jess could see her breath. It came out in puffs as she stuffed her hands in her pockets and hunched her shoulders against the chill of the night. The street in front of the vacant storefront Platt had rented was empty, but well lit. Jess looked down the street, seeing nothing but a car in the far distance.

The car drew closer and she saw it wasn't a car, but a little cluster of mopeds, weaving down the street, coming toward them.

As soon as the pitiful biker gang was close enough, the women around her raised a shout, cheering and clapping for the approaching vehicles.

A strangled laugh of surprise caught in Jess' throat. "That's…?"

"Yep." Natalie said. She cupped her hands around her mouth and called. "Looking good, Will!"

Jess bit her lip, but she couldn't hold back the snort of laughter at Jay's face. The indignity of sharing a scooter with Will was clearly trying his patience.

They pulled to a stop in front of the storefront.

"Hey there, big fella. Nice bike," Burgess said with a saucy grin to Atwater.

"Uh-uh. Nope." Atwater was off the scooter. Jess was surprised the tires hadn't bent under the bulk of the cop who was built more like a linebacker.

Jay was elbowing Will and getting off the scooter like it burned. "I told you to hold on to the seat. Not me."

Will put his hands up in a shrug. "Maybe if you didn't take the corners like you were on a Harley, I wouldn't have had to."

Jay turned to Erin and pointed a finger at her. "Not a word."

"There were supposed to be enough for you to each ride your own," she said.

Jay pointed the finger at her, his mouth pressed in a thin line.

Mouse stayed on his moped. "I bet you could tweak this. Get it gassed up enough to take some jumps."

"Oooookay," Sylvie said, jumping in. "They're rentals, so let's not do anything that loses us our deposit."

Adam's mouth was twitching as he came up to Jess.

"I had no idea," she promised.

He lifted an eyebrow.

"But you looked good. It takes a real man to choose the pink Vespa." She felt another laugh threatening.

"Ok, yeah, you just laugh all you want. I'll have you know, I am secure in my manhood and that's why I could ride the pink one."

Jess grinned up at him and wrapped her arms around his waist. "Are you going to trade in your car?"

He answered with a sarcastic, "ha ha," before leaning down to kiss her soundly on her lips.

He pulled away just enough to whisper. "They came with an envelope that just had an address. If I had known you were going to be here, I would have been shoving everyone out the door sooner."

The night chill warmed at his words, but the familiar twist of worry that Adam was going to realize his mistake, was an icy knife twisting that kept her from melting.

"So where is here?" he asked, straightening up and looking around, but keeping an arm around her.

"Um, poker night I think?" Jess said.

Adam looked down at her.

Jess shook her head. "Platt set it all up with Erin and Sylvie. I wasn't planning on anything for tonight."

Adam's brow creased in concern, but before he could say anything, a dark car pulled up to the curb, a truck behind it.

Dawson got out of his car and eyed the scooters.

"I thought you couldn't make it tonight?" Jay said.

Olinsky and Voight got out of the truck. Olinsky looked at the scooters. "We were just waiting until the…transportation…was sorted out."

"You knew?" Kevin asked.

Dawson smiled and started toward the rented space.

Platt was at the door.

"Well come on in guys. Don't make the bride get cold feet. Literally."

Jess stayed tucked against Adam's side as they went inside. Going inside had her stomach rolling. The bachelor party was starting to feel real, which meant they were that much closer to the wedding. She tried for a steadying breath.

She managed a smile when Adam pulled a chair out for her at one of the green felt poker tables. Mouse, Sylvie, Kevin took seats with them. She kept her hands under the table where Adam wouldn't see them.

But he wasn't momentarily distracted from her, studying the women who were carrying out trays of soft drinks.

"Where did Platt hire these waitresses?" he asked skeptically.

Jess clenched her hands together. She could feel her clammy palms rubbing together. "Some sort of work training program, I think? Why?"

Adam took a drink from the waitress rounding their table with a thank you. When she was out of earshot, he leaned forward. "Because I arrested her at least three times for solicitation," he said. He looked at the heavily made up brunette bringing a tray of appetizers. "And that's one of Dawson's CIs."

The red-headed one who called herself Diamond came over and trailed a finger over Kevin's shoulder. "Can I get you anything?" she all but purred.

Kevin smiled tightly. "I'm good. All good," he said, shrinking away from the polished nail.

She leaned down and whispered against his ear. "I'll be back. So if you need…anything…I'm paid for all night."

"Ok, uh, yeah. That's…" Kevin looked to Adam for help.

Adam lifted his glass in salute. "All night," he reminded Kevin.

Jess tried to ignore the nerves in her stomach and lifted a glass to join the toast to Kevin and his fan.

#

Adam leaned over to nuzzle against Jess' neck and she pulled her cards closer to her chest.

"Nice try," she said. She kept her cards out of sight and tossed a couple chips closer to the center of the table.

He saw her hand shake slightly, but it was better than it had been earlier. He reached over to wrap his hand around hers and she looked at him in surprise.

"Wedding jitters," she said.

He nodded. It made sense nerves would be bringing up the same old demons she was fighting. But she was doing better. Just a little trembling, the occasional far away look in her eye, and a slight uneasiness in her smile.

"You sure?" he asked under his breath. "We can get out of here, find a meeting."
Jess looked horrified and he blinked, shaking his head, not sure what he had said wrong.

"You're already having a bachelor party for a twelve year old with pop and snacks," she said. "There's no way you should miss out altogether to take me to a meeting. I'm fine," she promised.

Adam couldn't shake the feeling it was something more than that and he started to ask her, but one of the waitresses approached their table.

"You ready for anything a little…stronger?" Diamond asked, leaning over to set their drinks on the table and making sure Kevin had a clear view of everything on her menu. She stared at Kevin.

Kevin opened his mouth, closed it, opened it again.

Adam took pity on his friend. "You know we're cops, right?" he asked her.

She reluctantly looked away from Kevin.

"Soliciting a police officer is going to be a hard one to beat in court," Adam commented.

She slowly stood, but her gaze went back to Kevin. "I'm not 'soliciting' anyone," she said evenly. "Just making sure everyone's needs are met."

Adam glanced at Jess, saw her lips twitch at the pained expression on Kevin's face. She looked distracted by the show in front of them, more at ease. He took a breath, telling himself she was fine. It was just wedding day jitters. They would make it to the altar tomorrow, say their vows, and she would settle back into the relaxed progress she had been making.

"You sure you're ok?" he asked again, leaning in close to whisper to her.

"Really, Adam, I'm ok." She gave a smile, a little shaky.

"Are you having doubts about tomorrow?" he asked. Even saying the words had his stomach tightening. For all the engagements he had walked away from without too much drama, nothing more than feeling bad for the woman he was hurting, he knew that wasn't how it would be with Jess. There was no walking away from her.

"I'm not having any doubts," she said. She hesitated, looked like she wanted to ask him something, but then forced a smile, gave him a kiss and raised her eyebrows at him. "And stop trying to see my cards."

She turned back to the game in front of them and Adam did, too, but he kept a hand on her.

#