Chapter 16

When she was upset Kat baked. So after her meeting with Ken, she had Adam bring her to the bakery, and she worked for hours. The store had been reopened and she had usually had a line of customers a mile long. Thankfully it helped her keep focused on the task at hand and not have her mind wandering. She had hired a few extra hands for the front of the house, so she could concentrate on the baking. Today the store was closed, but she wanted to get work done.

Adam liked hanging out at her bakery. Not only did it smell anazing, but when he decided to become her bodyguard of the day she fed him too. The last few months they had grown close, like a brother and sister. Adam would tease her and she gave it right back, making their relationship fun. "Can I help with anything?" he offered politely, hoping she wouldn't say yes.

Kat laughed at him. She knew better, he was useless in the kitchen unless he was making his favorite dish Fettuccini Alfredo. Anything besides that? Forget it. She shook her head and held out a cannoli she had just finished decorating. "Yeah, taste test this see what you think. " She giggled when he snatched it out of her hands and shoved it in his mouth, his face beaming.

"Mmmdjfjkfk." He mumbled causing Kat to laugh even harder.

"I'm going to take that as it's good?" she wiped tears off her cheeks as he nodded at her, chewing and finally swallowing the dessert.

"Yes! I'm gonna need you to stop feeding me doll. I'll need to go to Antonio's gym pretty soon if you don't." He winked at her and she shook her head.

"I figured you were keeping in shape with Kim?" she poked a finger at him causing him to blush a deep red.

"What? HOW?" Hailey and Adam had decided to be friends , breaking off whatever you wanted to call their relationship a few weeks back. She knew deep down he still loved Kim, and it was obvious to the entire team Burgess still loved him. Since then he and Kim were back together , although they were keeping it a secret, or thought they were . "Let me guess, Kim told you."

She grinned at him and made the "my lips are sealed " motion before moving on to take what was in the oven out. She sat it on top of the stove and took a deep breath in, inhaling the scent of fresh baked bread. She heard a commotion out front , and she and Adam took off towards the noise.

They found a brick, laying in the center of the front room. There had been no one but a worker in the front room, and she were fine but the window was shattered . Kat squeezed her eyes shut , a headache had immediately sprung up. "I really thought this was over with. " she said quietly. Adam rubbed her back between her shoulder blades with one hand, and sent a text to the team with the other.

"Stay here , I'll look around ." He pointed to both of them and unlocked the front door, checking both ways and walking outside .

"Did you see anything Mary?" Kat squeezed the hand of the girl behind the counter who was shaking.

"No Ma'am, I'm so sorry! It just happened so fast, I didn't see anything or anyone!"

"Its okay, don't worry about it. I'm glad you aren't hurt." She calmed the girl down by patting her arm. "I'll get new glass, it's no big deal. " She didn't want to scare the poor girl. Mary had come to her a few weeks back, a run away living on the streets. Kat knew the kind of life she could turn to, and wouldn't allow that to happen so she gave her a job at the bakery. Mary was a hard worker, and appreciative of the chance she had been given. Kat let her stay in the apartment above the bakery, so that she didn't have to live on the streets anymore.

Kat heard the sirens and tires screeching, and she knew the Calvary had arrived. She looked up when she heard the door open, the first face she saw was Antonio's. He rushed over to her, but she just held up a hand and pointed to her cashier. "I'm fine. Adam and I were in the back. Mary was the only one up front . " She gestured to the young girl to come out from behind the counter. "Its okay this is my boyfriend, Detective Antonio Dawson. He just needs to talk to you for a few minutes. " The girl nodded and made her way out, sitting down at a table. Antonio brushed his lips across Kats temple and took a seat across from Mary, flipping open his notepad.

Hank came in next. He glanced at the brick and glass, then at Kat. He could tell she was trying to remain brave in front of her worker, so he lead her back to the kitchen. "Baby girl…" was all he got out before the dam burst.

Kat couldn't keep it in, she let Hank know about how she had seen Ken when he was released from prison, what he had said to her… that he wasn't behind these attacks and that he had been set up for the murders . Yes, he was a scumbag dealer who had hurt her in the past, but she believed him . She looked into Hanks eyes , tears threatening to fall. "Dad, who is doing this?? I thought it was over…." She hung her head.

He didn't say anything , trying to process the information she had given him. He was torn between wanting to call Ruzek in and yell at him for taking her, and yelling at her for believing the son of a bitch. He did neither. Instead he just placed a hand on her shoulder, causing her to look at him again. "They'll pay." Is all he said. He patted her shoulder, turning around and walking out. He found Ruzek outside. "A word."

Adam gulped. He knew this was going to happen, and he was okay with it. He walked over to Hank , his eyes down. "Yeah Sarge." He opened his mouth to apologize, tell Hank he knew he had been stupid, but he stopped when he felt Hanks hand on his shoulder.

"Thank you for having her back. " Hank slapped him on the back and walked away. Adam's jaw fell from shock, but he closed it quickly and went back to the rest of the team. They all looked at him when he walked up but Adam just shook his head.

Inside Antonio was finished with the young cashier, so he retreated to the kitchen and found Kat sitting on a stool , far off look on her face. He stood in front of her, placing his hands on her knees. "Kat." His voice startled her and she jerked her head, meeting his eyes. Her eyes focused and she smiled at him.

"All done? Is she okay? I feel horrible…" she started to ramble and he stopped her by capturing her mouth with his. Her troubles melted away with that kiss… he always knew exactly how to calm her. He pulled away , resting his forehead on hers.

"You called me your boyfriend. "

Her cheeks tinged pink . "Oh my gosh I'm sorry, I didn't even think… that was super unprofessional wasn't it?" she started rambling again and he tipped her chin til she looked at him.

"No… it's fine. It's more than fine. " He grinned at her and kissed the tip of her nose. "I need to finish my report , you okay here?"

"Yeah I'll be okay . I'm going to clean up the glass and call Matt, see if he can help with the window." She hopped off the stool , interlocking her fingers behind his neck and pulling him close, she kissed him slow. He relished these moments . The two of them alone, taking their time with each other . His hands landed on her lower back, and he pulled her even closer . At that moment they heard a coughing noise and broke apart to find Adam standing at the doorway.

"Sorry guys." Adam felt bad for interrupting but they had work to do.

Kat face was flushed when she pulled away. Antonio made her heart race, and it scared her a little how turned on he could make her. "Its ok, I know you guys have to get back to work."

Antonio kissed her quickly , whispering in her ear something that made her turn a deeper shade of red, and then was off. Adam shook his head and winked at Kat, and left right after him.

Kat followed them out , stopping to grab a broom and dustpan, and went to work cleaning the glass up. She sent Mary upstairs to her apartment , she figured the girl had been through enough excitement for one day, and called Matt.

Matt was at the firehouse when he heard his phone buzz. Pulling it out he grinned when he saw the name on the caller ID. "Hey Kat! What's up?"

"Hey Lieutenant I need a favor. The front window of my bakery was just shattered…again. Is there a way you could come and replace it when you're off shift ? I'll pay you of course, for supplies and labor."

"No way am I accepting anything but some sort of baked goods from you. I'll be happy to stop by, shift is almost over anyway. What size is the window?" he wanted to ask what happened but figured he would just get the story when he stopped by.

Kat let him know the measurements and said there would be payment waiting when he got there. They disconnected and Matt went to talk to Kelly.

An hour later Kat heard vehicles pulling up. She opened the front door and found all of firehouse 51 gathered around Matt's truck, helping him unload a massive piece of glass for the front window.

"Oh my gosh! You all didn't have to come!" Kat was overwhelmed at the support.

"Sure we did. A family member is in trouble, we all help out. " Christopher pulled her into a hug, kissing her temple. "Besides, you were offering free food, of course we would be here!"

Kat laughed "Of course! There is a fresh batch of cupcakes on the counter – help yourselves." She turned to Matt and Kelly as most of the group went inside. "Thank you both."

"What happened?" Kelly pointed to the hole where her window used to be.

She ran down the story of what had happened earlier, including the trip to the prison to see Ken and what he had told her. "I know, I'm probably stupid for believing him, but… somethings not right about this whole thing. " The two men shared a glance.

"You aren't stupid, just trusting . " Kelly put his arm around her shoulders. "If you say he didn't do it, then we believe you."

"Just don't jump head first into that trust quite yet. Let Voight do some digging before you completely believe him." Matt spoke up. "I mean, he did hurt you all those years ago, so we know he's capable."

She nodded. "Thanks guys. I better go make sure your team hasn't cleared my inventory out." She winked at them and went inside.

They watched her walk away, shaking their heads. After all she had been through, the girl still couldn't bring herself to think the worst of the guy who almost killed her. They got to work measuring and cutting the glass to fit the window frame, while the rest of the crew were inside keeping Kat company. A few hours later she had a brand new window, and the crew had full stomachs. After they left Kat took off for home.

Kat walked in to an empty house. She figured Antonio would be stuck at the district for awhile longer, so she sent him a text letting him know she had made it home just fine, and headed straight for the shower. As she stripped she thought about everything that she had been through the last few months, and how she couldn't let it break her. She got in and let the hot water fall down around her, washing away any remaining traces of sadness she had over the situation. She knew she had to remain strong, no matter what she went through. She had supportive friends , no… family, that she could lean on now, unlike all those years ago when she was alone. She laughed out loud at the thought of the firehouse crew trying to be civil when they fought over the cupcakes she had laid out. They really were like a bunch of grown children , and she loved it. Kat stood for as long as she could in the shower, lost in thoughts, until the water turned cold. When she got out she wrapped herself in a fuzzy towel , and made her way to the bedroom to change. She was pulling on a pair of sweatpants and a hoodie when she heard a noise at the front door. Figuring it was Antonio coming home she made her way out to greet him. "Hey babe, you're home. I was just about to start –" she got no farther before she felt something hit the back of her head and blackness took over.