Chapter 8: Retirement

Author Note: Thank You guys! The reviews have been so lovely. I saw in one of the comments that someone was confused about whether Nadia knows if Jay is her dad. She doesn't she just knows his face from the picture of him and Erin from her room. Also haven't really watch any episode of the later season of Chicago PD. So, I just used the Jason Crawford not sure he's whole story just used the name for this chapter. Any way I hope you guys enjoy.

Two days after Hank woke up, Ivory Tower paid him a visit. And in not so many subtle words. Superintendent Jason Crawford suggested now would be a good time for Hank to retire. Hank new it was coming. He know they would take this shooting as way to get him out. So he was prepared when they came calling but still hearing the words were rough for him. Being a cop was all he's ever known. It's who he is at his core. But as he watches his two girls enter his room swinging their arms and talking to each other he thinks that maybe it's time for him to find a new identity as Poppa.

Nadia gets a big grin on her face as she sees Hank, "Poppa!" she yells.

"There's my girl," Hank says with a smile on his face. Nadia gives him a huge smile and comes over to hug him.

"Hey! I thought I was your girl," Erin says pretending to be offended as she helps Nadia onto the bed.

"Your both my girls." He gives the little girl a kiss on the cheek. Nadia climbs back down and heads over the a nearby chair and pulls out a coloring book.

Erin gives him a smile, "I saw Ivory Tower leaving as I was coming in. "

"Yea they came to give me my walking papers." Hank replies off handily.

Erin looks shocked. "Wow. I never thought I'd see the day. How are you dealing with this?"

Hank smacks his lips, giving Erin a look before he replies, "I'm dealing."

Erin nods her head knowing that's all she was going to get from him. "So, what does that mean for Intelligence?"

"They're keeping the unit. Looking for some young to take over. I gave them my recommendation for the job," He says looking at Erin. "They should be heading over to Intelligence to deliver the news."

"Good. He deserves it."

He still staring at her trying to gage her reaction, "He does. He's been through a lot but he's great police." Hank takes a beat before he continues, "You miss it?"

"Everyday." She says without hesitation. "I miss the excitement, you the thrill of it all. Don't get me wrong, Counterterrorism has its thrill. And I have been doing great there but it's not me. Those guys aren't my family. Intelligence, that was my family. I trusted every one of you with my life." She sighs, "It's just not the same."

"You all you have to do is say the word kid. When you told me you were moving back here I told you all you need to do was say the word and I will do everything in my power to get you back into that unit. You made a name for yourself in the FBI. Antonio's moving up and taking over his own unit. The job is yours if you want it.

Erin gives Hank a small smile, "Thanks. Not sure how Jay would feel about that. But I'll think about it."

"How are things going between you and Halstead?" He says as he gestures toward his granddaughter as she sits in a nearby chair coloring.

"Between the two of them great. They love each other. Between me and him not so much. We're cordial and that's all I can ask of him right now. He's hurt and I understand." Erin let's out a breath. "Has he said anything to you about it?"

Hank shakes his head, "You let me worry about Halstead."

She drops the conversation and changes the subject, "Have they told you when you're getting out of here?"

"In a few days."

Erin gets a huge smile on her face, "It'll be great to have you home."

"You still planning on staying at my place."

"I'm still looking at apartment but until you get back on your feet you're going to have two house guests. You ok with that?"

"Having my two favorite girls with me, what more can guy ask for." She says smiling.

Across town Superintendent Jason Crawford made his way to District 21. He headed up the Intelligence Unit to update them on the status of the Intelligence Unit. As Commander Crawford enters the bullpen he asks to speak with Jay in the office.

"Congratulations! Detective Halstead. You're the new head of Intelligence. We pleased with the work that you have been doing since Sergeant Voight was shot and we trust that you will lead this unit with honor and bring justice to the city of Chicago."

"Thank you, sir." Crawford shakes his hand and leaves.

As Jay exists the office the team gathers around to find out what's going on. Dawson approaches Jay already knowing what the new is and says, "Congrats, man!" He says as he pulls Jay into a hug.

"Tonio, This should be you man."

"Nah, you're the right man for the job. Voight knew that." The two exchange a look, "Actually I need to tell you guys something. This is going to be my last day in Intelligence. I got an offer to lead my own unit and I'm going to take."

"Tonio, man" Ruzek says in disbelief.

"Believe me I wouldn't be leaving if I didn't think you guys would be in good hands."

The team congratulates Jay on his new role as head of Intelligence at the same time saying goodbye to Antonio. Jay heads back to his desk and sits down still trying to process what just happened. Hailey sees him sitting at his desk in deep thought. She makes her way over to him and sits on the edge of his desk.

"You know you have an office now," She says with a laugh.

He chuckles, "Yeah" He shakes his head, "I don't think I'm ready for that yet. Voight's stuff is still in there. It's just weird."

"Well, eventually you're going to have to get used to it."

"I think I'm going to at least wait till I talk to Voight."

Hailey nods her head and looks around making sure no one else is listening, "How are things going with Erin?"

Jay gives her a look and lets out a sigh, "Fine. My focus is on Nadia right now."

After a few seconds on silence, Hailey realizes that she is going to get much more out of Jay. So she lets the subject drop. She turns the rest of the unit and says, "We should celebrate. Head to Molly's and celebrate our new leader and Antonio and his new gig even though he's leaving us."

"Hell yea" Adam replies.

Jay gets up from his desk and says, "I'm going to have to take a raincheck guys. I gotta take care of something."

"Come on, Jay. This is out big night." Dawson says.

"I'll see you guys later. Have a beer for me. Alright?" Jay waves goodbye to unit and heads to Chicago Med.

He knocks on the door to Voight's hospital room. He hears a rough, "Come in"

"Hey," Jay says as he enters the room and shuts the door. "So, I was just named the new head of Intelligence and it seems I have you to thank for that."

Hank smacks his lips and says, "I only made the recommendation. You're a great cop Halstead, you deserve this."

Jay nods his head and sighs, "I have been meaning to ask you something."

"What's that?" He replies staring at Jay.

Jay folds his arms over his chest and says, "How long did you know about Nadia."

Hank smacks his lips, "She called me a few days after Nadia's first birthday." Hank sees the anger spread across Jay's face. "I told her that she needed to tell you. She told me she wasn't ready and I respected her decision."

Jay opened his mouth to speak but Hank interrupted him, "You can be made at me all you want. But I would make the same decision again. She needed someone to she could trust and I was that person for her."

Jay nods his head, "I just don't get why she wouldn't tell me."

"You may never, but you got to let this go. Hell, I don't even know understand it myself. But she felt that she needed to do it at the time and that's enough for me. You can choose to move on the from the past or you let this eat at you."

"I'm trying."

"Try harder. She's here now and you don't want Nadia picking up on the tension between you and Erin. "

"I'll try harder."

"Good.

It had been three weeks since Voight had been released from the hospital and Erin was driving him crazy. Her boxes had finally arrived from New York and they were scattered over his once clean house. Hank forgot how much of a slob Erin could be. She left stuff everywhere and he was constantly tripping over things, that was when he was allowed to get up. Nadia on the other hand was a neat freak. Something Hank is sure that she got from her father.

To make matters worse Erin acted like he couldn't do anything. If he tried to get up and make something to eat. She would force him to sit and if he ignored her, she would call Nadia who would give him puppy eyes and say, "Poppa, you need to listen to mommy."

He would do anything that little girl ask of him she had his heart and he wouldn't have it any other way. Anything that she wanted he would give her give. But her mother he was ready for her to go.

Since Nadia started preschool Erin had a lot of free time and her free time meant she had more time to smother him. He called Al to come over. He just needed a break from her. The knock from the front door pulled Erin from her place in the kitchen where she was washing dishes.

She heard Voight getting up from the couch and she quickly came into the living room, "Hank! Sit down. I got it."

Hank groans and sits back down. Erin makes her way toward the door and pulls it opened "Hey Al"

"Erin" He says as he walks into the house.

"What are you doing here?"

Voight stands up from the couch and says, "I called him."

Erin gives him a curious look, "I figured you could take the time while Nadia is school and check out those apartments you've been looking at"

"Are you kicking me out Hank?" She says with a serious face.

"You know I love having you here but Nadia need her own room and you both need your own space."

Al sits back and watches the two of them in amusement as they stare each other down.

Erin deflates, "I know I have been driving you crazy but when I got the call that you were shot." She lets out a breath, "It really scared me."

"I'm okay." He says as he pulls her into a hug.

Erin nods her head, "I know. It's just going to take a little bit for my head to get there."

"Fair enough."

"Alright, I'm going go and let you to old men talk."

"Hey, who you calling old." Al says.

Erin lets out a raspy laughs, "I'm gone. I'll probably won't be back to later. Jay and I are telling Nadia tonight."

"I'll be alright without you for a couple of hours, kid."

"I know and Al going to be here to make sure. Aren't you, Al?"

Al nods his head in agreement.

She points her fingers at the two of them, "You two stay out of trouble."

The last three weeks had been extremely stressful for Jay. It seemed like Intelligence was catching case after case. He was finally finding is footing as head of Intelligence and everyone seemed to be adjusting to the new change. But they were still a man down since Antonio left and Jay was left picking up the slack. This last week they had a particularly bad case that involved a child. Typically any case involving children was rough for Jay but it took a whole different meaning now that he was a father. The finally caught the guy and closed the cased and the team had a much needed day off. Jay had come in to finish up some paperwork and try and keep his mind a little occupied. They were finally going to tell Nadia that he was her dad and he couldn't wait.

After signing the last piece of paper Jay left the district and headed home to make sure the place was cleaned up and ready for them. He finally moved into his new place a week ago, right before they got this last case. He wanted a bigger place so that Nadia could have a her own room. As he stood in the doorway to what would be his daughter's new room, he mind went back to the last time he saw Nadia.

He had taken over official two weeks ago. Voight had stopped in to clean out his office and say goodbye to the unit. Everyone sat in the bullpen talking to Hank. As Jay stared at the now empty office willing himself to step over the threshold. He hears a tiny voice behind him that takes him out of his thoughts.

"Hi, Jay," She says enthusiastically.

He turns around with a smile on his face, "Hey munchkin."

"She wanted to bring you a gift for your new office," a raspy voice says.

Jay looks up at the voice, "Hey Erin." She gives him a small smile. "Why don't you show him what you brought?"

Pulls her backpack off and pulls off out a picture, "It's me and you. I drawed it at school."

Jay holds the pictures and his hands and smiles, "I love it." It was the first thing he hung up in his new office.

The knock on his door brought him out of his thoughts. Jay gives the room one last look and heads for the door. He opens the door prepared to see Erin and Nadia but he is surprised when he opens the door and Hailey is standing there.

"Hailey?"

She smiles at Jay and lefts up the beer in her hands. "We never really got that raincheck to celebrate and I figured you could use this after the last couple of weeks." She says as she moves past him.

"Umm…"

"I love the new place." She says looking around.

"Thanks. But now is actually not a good time." He said glancing between the door and Hailey.

She looks at him curiously, "What you got a girl coming over or something?"

Jay looks at her very matter-of-factly, "Actually I do. Erin bringing Nadia over."

"Oh, I'm sorry. I should go." She says as she makes her way to the door.

"Wait. I do appreciate you bringing over the beer. I just have plans."

"Jay, it's fine. Really, I'm just going to go."

Jay nods his head, as Hailey turns and opens the door to his apartment. She stops in her tracks as she sees Erin getting ready to knock.

"Oh!" Erin looks between Hailey and Jay and says, "Sorry, I didn't realize you had company."

Jay shakes his head "No, Hailey just stopped to see if I wanted to finally celebrate me being made head of Intelligence."

Erin nods her head and looks at Hailey. Nadia tired of the adult conversation breaks the silence. "Hi, Jay"

Jay looks down and smiles, "Hey munchkin. I missed you!" He says as he picks up the little girl.

She wraps her arms around Jay and says, "I missed you too."

Hailey takes in the scene between father and daughter she can't describe the feeling that is going on inside of her. These feeling she's had for Jay have been invading her mind for a while know and she doesn't know what to do. She feels like she is invading a private moment, so she turns he eyes away from them and they fall back on Erin who eyes are busy watching her. "I should go. Jay, I'll see you later. Bye Erin. Bye Nadia."

Nadia waves goodbye as Erin just nods at her. Jay moves aside so Erin can come into the apartment.

"Sorry about that," He says as he walks further into the apartment. "I wasn't expecting her."

"It's okay."

"Nice place." She says looking around as she follows him to the couch.

Jay sits down on the couch with Nadia. "Thanks. I figured I need more than one room now."

Erin nods her head.

"so, how should we do this?" He says looking at Erin.

"Just like ripping off a band aid." Erin takes a deep breath, "Nadia. We want to talk to you about something."

Nadia looks between her mother and Jay, "What's that mommy?"

"You know how some of your friends have a mommy and a daddy." The little girl nods her head at her mother. Erin takes a breath and continues, "Well, you have a daddy and he missed you very much."

"Then why haven't I met him and why didn't he live with us in New York?" She says curiously. Erin looks up at Jay gaging the emotions that are coming across his face.

"He didn't know about you yet. Because our time in New York was for me and you." Erin tries to explain this as best as she can for a three year old. "But when he found out about you he was so happy. Would you like to know who he is?"

Nadia looks up at her mother and nods her head hesitantly. Erin looks at Jay signaling or him to take over. He takes a deep breath and says, "Nadia." The little girl looks up at Jay, her blue eyes looking at him with such trust, "I'm your dad." He says with tears in his eyes.

Nadia looks up at him and sees the tears in his eyes. She begins to cry herself overwhelmed with everything that's going on right now. Erin looks worriedly between the two but doesn't interrupt, it what seems like the two of them are having a private moment. She places her hand on her daughter's back rubbing it waiting to see if she should intervene. Next thing she knows her daughter is launching herself at Jay and hugging him. Jay pulls the little girl into his arms.

She whispers softly into his ear for only him to her and says, "I'm glad you're my daddy."

Jay hugs her a little tighter and says, "Me too, kid."

Reviews welcomed Next Chapter. Jay and Will spend some quality time with Nadia while Erin and Kim have a girl's night out.