Chapter 10
Antonio and Kat spent most of the rest of the night talking. Sitting on the couch they took turns telling something about themselves . Kat explained how she got into singing and baking, and Antonio told her about boxing and his kids. They talked about Wisconsin, and how she had loved it there. When Kat stifled a yawn Antonio realized how late it was and that Jay never called.
"You wanna stay here tonight?" Kat raised her eyebrow at him, causing Antonio to raise his hands. "It's 2 am, and we've been drinking . You are more than welcome to the bed, I'll crash on the couch. "
She gave him a look and smiled "Yes. That sounds great. You better call Hank though, unless you want him busting down your door when he realized I never came home. " She laughed but Antonio believed he would do it. "Oh my gosh I was kidding!" she laughed harder at the face he was making.
"Yeah well…" he grinned back at her "I have seen his temper, so I'll pass on getting on his bad side."
"I don't want to kick you out of your bed. Why don't you just sleep in it too?" she blushed when he gave her a sideways glance, realizing how what she said sounded. "Sleep." She reiterated .
He nodded and picked up his phone to call Hank, while she went to the bedroom. Hank answered after a half of ring, meaning he was waiting on the call. The man barely slept as it was, so Antonio didn't figure he would wake him up.
"Hank, it's Antonio. Kat and I got caught up talking , and we've been drinking so I asked her if she just wanted to spend the night and she said yes." He was nervous, and felt like he was talking to his girlfriend's dad for the first time, not his boss. "She's taking the bed, I'll be on the couch. " There really was no need for Hank to know their sleeping arrangements , it wasn't his business but Antonio still felt the need to mention it.
"Bring her to the district first thing in the morning." Was the only response he got. When the phone disconnected Antonio stared at it for a second, then shook his head and put it away.
By the time he made it to the bedroom Kat was sitting on the bed waiting for him. "Which side?" he looked at her questioningly. "I don't want to take your normal spot, so which side do you sleep on?" she pointed "Left or right?"
"Oh, neither. Usually I find myself in the middle." He shrugged . "Habit of sleeping alone for so long."
Kat smiled "Middle it is. " She got under the covers on one side while Antonio did the same in the opposite, and they met in the middle of the bed. He wrapped his arm around her, while she laid her head on his chest. She sighed as she felt his fingers drawing circles on her bare skin. He didn't make any advances, much to his own surprise. She propped herself up on an elbow and looked into his dark eyes. "Thank you Antonio, for everything." She leaned down and gave him a quick kiss on the mouth, pulling back before it could go too far. She laid her head back on his chest and heard him say "My pleasure." Closing her eyes, she quickly drifted off to sleep, lulled by his even breathing.
The next morning Kat rolled over and stretched out to find an empty bed. It took her a moment to remember where she was. The wedding… She sang. Jay kissed her. She saw Ken , and Antonio took her home. Antonio! She sat up in bed with a jolt. She had slept with Antonio. She checked under the covers and realized she was fully clothed… so they really did just sleep together. She caught a whiff of food so she went to the bathroom to wash up and made her way to the kitchen.
"Morning- coffee?" Antonio was shirtless, standing in his kitchen making her breakfast. Kat figured she was dreaming . She gave herself a quick pinch and realized she was wide awake.
"Mmm yes please. Did we drink the entire bottle of wine last night?" she pinched the bridge of her nose indicating a headache had formed.
"Yeah" Antonio smirked "Well, you did. I had one glass." He handed her the coffee cup and two aspirin. "Take these. I'm making bacon and eggs, and then I need to get you to the district."
She swallowed the pills and took a sip of coffee, letting out a tiny moan as it hit her tongue. "Let me guess, under Hanks orders? "
He nodded and pushed a plate in front of her. "Eat up, he will have my ass if I don't get you there ASAP." They smiled at each other and began eating .
Hank checked his watch for the fifth time in 30 seconds, thinking he should have made Antonio bring Kat home when he called, when they walked in. He leaned against the doorway to his office and watched the pair ascend the stairs, smiling at each other. The rest of the team was already there , and surrounded them when they walked in.
"You sounded great at the wedding darlin. " Adam gave her a tight squeeze, as the others agreed.
"We missed you guys at the reception!" Kim announced, causing the two of them to glance at each other and smile.
"Listen up. This guy showed his face at a family event. He's too bold, and he will make a mistake. I want any video from the church. Where's Jay?" The niceties would have to wait. Hank was ready for this guy to be caught yesterday.
"Uh, Sarge I don't think he'll be in." Announced Hailey. The group gave each other looks.
"Call him. It's all hands on deck. Katie, my office. Now." Hank went into his office and waited for her.
Kat sighed. That wasn't the man she remembered . Quick and to the point, gruff voice and hard exterior, he had only been that way to her when she and Erin first met him. After that he softened, became the father she always wanted and needed . She exchanged looks with Antonio and headed off to his office. "Door open or closed?" she asked when she got there.
"Always assume closed. " He replied, so she shut the door and sat down. "Did you and Antonio sleep together ?" he got to the point immediately .
Kat was shocked for a second then realized she hadn't really been around Hank in quite a few years. His tolerance for bull shit was never high, so she figured he had just gotten more blunt with age. She nodded slightly but explained. " I am an adult and you don't have the right to ask me that question. But " She kept going cutting off what he was about to say "Because I love you, and I know you are just looking out for me I'll answer. We did. Sleep. That was it. " she didn't expand past that. "Now, I'm going to ask you as nicely as I can, don't punish Antonio for this. I asked him to stay with me. He offered to sleep on the couch in his own house, and I wouldn't allow it." She held her head high, looking him square in the eyes.
Not a lot of people would be able to do that. Hank Voight was scary to say the least, and he was used to criminals cowering from his stare. Not Katie. She wasn't afraid of him, and he was proud of that fact. He gave her a small un Hank like grin and stood up, grabbing her and pulling her into a tight hug. "Baby girl I just want you to be happy. That's all." The kissed the side of her head and continued to hug her.
She started to tear up at his sentiment. "I am dad. I promise." She pulled back and gave him a kiss on the cheek. "Now, am I allowed to go back to work? I really need to get back to business. "
He shook his head "I don't feel comfortable with you being at the bakery alone. I'll assign a detail, how's that ?"
She rolled her eyes but agreed. When they emerged from the office Jay had joined the group waiting for their assignments . He looked like death warmed over, and Kat felt horrible for him. "Katie will be going back to work today. I want two man shifts watching her all day. I don't care who does it in what order , but she is never to be alone got it?" Hanks gruff boss voice was back.
Kevin and Kim both raised their hands "We can go first sarge. " Kevin spoke up and Hank nodded at them.
"The rest of you I want a run down of every person Kenneth Bowman has had contact with over the last 5 years. Where has he been , what has he been eating for breakfast. This guy should have been in the cage already, so let's make sure he gets there soon. " and with that the team dispersed to do their jobs. Antonio hung back for a moment to talk to Kat.
Kevin and Kim said they would meet her downstairs so Antonio and Kat slipped into the break room. "Well, do I still have a job?" Antonio joked.
"Of course!" Kat laughed and smacked him playfully on the shoulder. "I did have to tell him we slept together, he came right out and asked. But I told him the truth, we just slept. And it was my suggestion, not yours. So I think you should be safe… although with him there's no telling. " She gave him a quick kiss, which he responded to with a deeper one. When they broke apart they were both smiling. "I should go… I'll see you later ?"
"Definitely." He leaned in and kissed her forehead, then turned around and walked back to his desk, while she walked downstairs to the car.
Jay looked absolutely green sitting at his desk. Antonio felt sorry for him. He probably was hung over from the wedding, so he grabbed a bottle of water and aspirin for him. "Jay." He said quietly, figuring the man had a hell of a headache. He held out the items towards Jay, waiting for a response.
Jay looked up at him , his eyes bloodshot. "Thanks man." He grabbed the aspirin and water chugging it down . "So you guys had a good night huh?" he felt like crap but that didn't mean he wasn't slightly annoyed with Antonio for doing exactly what he figured he would.
"Not like that bro." Not that he needed to give Jay any sort of explanation, but he did anyway. " We talked all night long."
Jay nodded slowly, his head was pounding and he could hardly see straight . He had gotten trashed at the reception , in anger and resentment towards Antonio figuring out the error he had made, and the fact that Jay had lost out on an opportunity with a really great girl, although that last part was as much his own fault as it was Antonios'. He made the decision to back off, and not call last night when he promised he would, so he was most angry at himself.
"Hey I got something!" Adam and Hailey walked up behind the two men, and Hank stepped out of his office .
At the bakery Kevin had swept the area before allowing Kat to step outside the car. When he and Kim were confident there were no strangers lurking around they trio went inside . Kevin stood near the front of the store while Kim followed Kat to the back.
"What are you making?" Kim Burgess was definitely not a baker. She could barely make frozen pizza so someone who did this for a living fascinated her.
"A few things . First off , I'm going to make another pie for the firehouse, I don't think they ever got the one I had made previously , plus I'm making cookies for the district . Hopefully everyone likes them. "
Kim grinned "That sounds amazing ! Can I help? To warn you I don't do a lot of baking…"
Kat laughed "It's okay! You can definitely help… the pie I'm going to do has a bunch of dark chocolate, so I'll need you to shave and cut off chocolate pieces for me." She handed Kim the block of chocolate and the knife "Can you handle that?" she gave her a wink.
"I hope so!" the two women laughed and got to work.
The team tracked down Ken Bowmans' last known address, and hit the house. The house was clear, but when they walked in their eyes widened. Pictures covered the walls, but the disturbing part was what they were of. Kat, before the fire at her house, outside her bakery, and some of the house on fire, meaning he was there watching his handiwork. The team jumped when they heard Hank punch the wall. "Find him, NOW. Call Atwater and Burgess and warn them to be extra cautious. Get more patrols down there." Hank barked out orders and the group scattered. Only he and Antonio stayed behind, taking photos for evidence.
"Sarge, this one is of you and her. You're a target too, he knows you guys are connected. " Antonio held out a photo of Kat and Hank in front of his house.
"Let him come after me- see where that gets him. " Hank was pissed and rightfully so. The forensics unit came and began processing the house, so Antonio and Hank left to head to the bakery.
"Pie is done…would you guys like some German chocolate cookies? They have coconut and cherries…" Kat was excited to be in the kitchen again. She packaged up the pie for the firehouse, and handed Kevin and Kim both a cookie. "Be honest now, what do you think?"
"Oh my gosh this is delicious!" Kim mumbled through her bite. "You are something girl!"
Kevin nodded in appreciation, downing his in a few seconds. He needed to concentrate on his surroundings. While Kim and Kat were doing the baking Adam had called him and let him know what they had found, and to be on the lookout. "Sarge is on his way. He said to stay put."
"Oh, I was hoping I could deliver this to the fire house today." Kat knew if Hank was coming to the bakery something must have happened. He hadn't ever been there and it made Kat sad to think the reason for his first visit was to bring bad news. She busied herself cleaning the kitchen til she heard the front door open and the entire Intelligence team file in.
"What's going on?" Kat walked back out and stood in front of the team.
"He's been surveilling you, for awhile." Hailey spoke up. "We found photos of you outside your house, here, and some of your house during the fire. "
Kat gasped "He was there? Outside the fire ,he stayed there to watch if I …" she couldn't finish the sentence. She stumbled a bit and Hank grabbed her arm and helped her sit down.
"We will get this scumbag, don't worry Katie. In the meantime you are going into protective custody. Don't argue, just pack a bag."
"Hank, please. " She pleaded "I have to work. What am I supposed to do, sit around a safe house and pray he tries something? No, I need to do my normal routine. I was going to the firehouse today to deliver their pie. I'll be safe there. I'll keep officers with me if I have to, but please don't make me go into hiding."
Hank was torn. This girl meant everything to him, and he needed to keep her safe. He looked up, silently asking his best friend for some help. Kat recognized the motion immediately.
"Al would tell you I'm right, and you know it. I will follow everything you say to the letter, just let me do this. "
He nodded. "Have units tail her every movement. Scan and search the area for anything out of place. Watch and see if she's followed." He told his team. "And you are to have one officer with you at all times, you got it?"
Kat gave him a kiss on the cheek. "Of course. "
His team nodded in agreement and Antonio took first shift. They drove to the firehouse in a comfortable silence.
When they got out of the car and started towards the firehouse, Antonio did a scan of the area, making sure no one had followed them. He didn't see any vehicles out of place, or anything strange so they made their way towards the truck bay.
"Kat!" Kelly was the first to see them coming up the driveway. "What are you doing here?" he ran out and met her with a big bear hug.
"I came delivering a pie. I promised a few weeks ago and it didn't get to you guys, so I hope you like this one." She smiled as he lead her inside.
"I figured Voight would have you locked up somewhere . I heard about what happened last night, that must have been scary." He grabbed her hand and squeezed reassuringly. "You need anything, or just want to hang out you know where to find us." He nodded at Antonio. "The guys will be thrilled you're here."
"Thanks Kelly." She grinned at him, and they walked into the common room. She was immediately surrounded by all the members of both teams and the paramedics. Antonio hung back, and went to find the Chief to talk to him about what they had found . He wanted to see if any of the house remembered seeing anyone strange around now that they knew he was there during the fire.
"Okay guys, I bring you… in the dark dark chocolate pie. Sorry it's a bit late, but I promise you'll have more frequent deliveries as soon as I'm allowed back in the bakery full time."
Everyone announced their thank yous and dug in. "So? Whatcha think?"
There was a round of applause and SO GOOD that came from the group , causing Kat to blush a deep red.
"If you keep bringing stuff this delicious we will expect it from now on!" laughed Otis. "You're spoiling us!"
Kat smiled at them. "It's the least I can do. You all saved me. You deserve a lot more than pie and cookies. Why don't I have you all be my taste testers ? New recipes come here first?"
She was met with a resounding YES from the group. At that moment the alarm went off signaling their need to leave. She watched them go , getting hugs from every single one of them as they walked by and wishing them a safe run. Soon she was left alone , so she sat down and waited for Antonio . She had seen him go into the Chiefs office , she figured it was about things she would find out about eventually, so she didn't bother them.
In the office Chief Bowden and Antonio were discussing the fire. Antonio had shown the Chief the photos they had found at the house, and requested to talk to the members of the firehouse when they returned , which the Chief was more than happy to agree to.
"Voight is concerned about Kat going anywhere alone . There will be times I know she will want to be here. Will that work for you? "
"Of course, that young lady is welcome here any time. My firefighters have taken quite a liking to her, and it's not hard to figure out why. She's pretty much the opposite of Hank Voight isn't she?" Chief Bowden had known Hank for quite a while, and his first impression of the man wasn't something he would easily forget .
"I don't know- I see a lot of him in her. She's fierce, determined, and doesn't lay down for a fight. She's also compassionate and sweet, which are two qualities my boss definitely lacks." Antonio and the Chief laughed . They heard a knock on the door and both rose.
"Come in."
The door opened a crack and Kat stuck her hand in , holding a piece of pie. "I come bearing gifts. Sorry to interrupt but figured you wanted a piece before the crew comes back and finishes the whole thing off." She smiled at the two men, and opened the door fully to bring the Chief his plate.
"Thank you, I appreciate that. I know how they are, I'm surprised there was still some left." The took the plate from her and gave her a quick hug. "Say I need to ask a favor. Would you mind sticking around and making dinner for us? I hate to ask but we are down a candidate and I can't go through another Joe Cruz special. " He glanced at Antonio who nodded slightly at him.
"Of course! I would be happy to Chief, I'll get started right away!" she grinned at the two of them and skipped off to the kitchen to start.
Antonio shook the older man's hand. "Thanks chief. I will talk to the crew when they get back. " He heard commotion coming from the truck bay indicating the fire was out and they had arrived.
Kat had started in the kitchen, prepping pasta and vegetables. When the crew came back they immediately went back for more pie.
"You cooking for us now too?" Christopher Herrmann piped up. "Thank God!"
The teams laughed and Kat just grinned. "Chief asked me and I'm happy to." She was cutting vegetables and listening to the conversations that surrounded her. She was concentrating so deeply she didn't hear Matt walk up next to her.
"Hey." He placed his hand on her arm, causing her to jump. "Sorry didn't mean to scare you. I just wanted to see how you were doing."
"Hey Matt, I'm okay thank you. I'm so sorry about last night…"
He shook his head "Nothing for you to be sorry about, I was worried about you." He pulled her into a tender hug. When he pulled away he stood next to her "Need help?"
"You never help when I'm in the kitchen Lieutenant!" Joe Cruz spoke up.
"Well Cruz, that's because you don't look this cute in an apron." He smiled down at her and Kat felt her face flush.
"Oh I doubt that Lieutenant, I'm sure Joe looks super cute in one." She said causing the entire room to burst into laughter.
Antonio and Chief Bowden walked in. "Team listen up. There's been some further developments on Kats house fire. Detective Dawson needs to speak to you all again. Give him your undivided attention." He announced and then sat down at the table.
"So we know the culprit, his name is Kenneth Bowman. He was actually outside taking pictures of the fire after he set it." Antonio passed around the mug shot they had of him. "Did any of you see him hanging around when you got there?"
They passed around the picture , but no one remembered seeing him. "What does this mean? He's a firebug?" Kelly glanced at Kat.
"No, he actually… he and I used to be involved, back 20 years ago, and then again about 5 years ago when I moved back to Chicago." Kat sat the knife down she was using and came around to stand in front if the group. "He is a drug dealer. He already almost killed me once, now it seems he's back to try again." Her shoulders sagged. Saying it out loud made it so much more real.
The group took her news in stride. "What can we do to help?" Sylvie approached Kat and gave her a tight hug.
"Voight wants her with someone at all times." Antonio started to explain when Kat cut him off.
"Hank has requested I have an escort everywhere I go. I know that CPD doesn't have enough man power for that, and he knows I like coming here. So would it be okay with you all if I hung out more ? "
"Of course." Matt came around and put his arm around her. "Come as often and stay as long as you want. " the rest of the group nodded in agreement.
The rest of the visit went by quickly. Kat made and served dinner for the crew , and then she and Antonio were on their way, with Kat promising to be by again next shift . As they were walking out Kelly and Matt stopped Antonio. Kat waited by the car for him, it looked like they wanted to talk to the detective in private.
"Antonio , if she needs somewhere to stay, one of us will gladly put her up. " Kelly spoke up first.
Antonio shook his head . "Right now she's staying with Voight. This guy is dangerous, and has apparently been after her for quite a few years. We wouldn't endanger you guys, it's not your jobs."
Both men cut him off before he could finish his thought. "Don't give us that crap Antonio. We fight fires for a living, we know danger. Hell we live through it every day. If she needs protection and you guys don't have enough man power, we will be happy to help out." Matt voiced the statement but Kelly nodded in agreement .
"We all know Voight. I'll let him know your offers guys, and I know Kat would appreciate it. Just let me know if you think of anything else okay?" Antonio shook both men's hands before opening Kats care door and letting her in. Then he walked to the drivers side of the car, getting in and taking off.