"Hi." I said, not knowing what else to say to him. It was awkward due to Trudy and Kim standing behind me and the rest of the Intelligence Unit, other than Hank and Al, looking like they were seeing a ghost. He didn't say anything, he just stood there five feet in front of me with a range of emotions flashing across his face. It wasn't the time or place, so I stepped around him and smiled at everyone I passed as I made my way to Hank. "Thank you. By doing what you did for me, you saved me. I needed that time more than you'll ever know." I said, hugging him. "Oh, and Christine brought all you slackers breakfast." Trudy joked as she came back upstairs followed by the "Rookie" who had gone out to my car. After handing back my keys and saying she would see me on my way out, I was once again left with the Intelligence Unit. As they made their way one-by-one, into the break room where breakfast had been set up, I got hugs along with "Welcome back's" and "Good to see you's" from the Unit. All of them stood in the break room as Jay just stood in front of me not saying a word. God, it was driving me crazy. Say something, I wanted to say, but I couldn't so I said "I didn't have my cell phone with me. I didn't get your messages or have a way of seeing your missed calls until I got home last night. I'm sorry you were worried. That wasn't my intent. I hope Hank passed along my message last week that I really was okay." Without saying a word but, looking like he wanted to either kiss me or kill me, Jay turned around and walked down a hallway. There wasn't a sound for a few minutes until I heard a door slam shut.
"Okay, so that wasn't awkward at all." I said to Hank and Al, as we sat in Hank's office with the door closed. "I don't know where we go from here with the case, but I only have about 45 minutes before I need to head to the hotel. Is there anything you want or need to fill me in on?" I asked. I was informed that they hadn't made much progress but, had received intel that El Gato himself would be arriving in Chicago on February 17th. "So, where does that leave me at this point?" I asked. "Do I still need to be watched 24/7?" After being told I did but they were making changes to my security detail and bringing Kenny Rixton onto it, I couldn't help but question why. "Rixton has been with the Gang Unit for years and knows all the players by face. When you're out and about during the day I want him with you for as long as possible." Hank said. They told me, since no one had expected me to be in town today, the would divide up the shifts. For today Adam would head to the hotel with me until Kevin arrived at 3:00pm. Kevin would stay with me until 8:00pm. Kim would then be with me from 8:00pm until midnight, when Roman came back on shift. Starting the next day, for the week I would see Rixton at 7:00am. He would be with me until Adam showed up at 5:00pm. Adam would then be with me until 8:00pm when Kevin showed up. Kevin would be with me until midnight when Roman took over. Seemed simple enough. I told him I would be working longer hours than normal this week trying to get everything wrapped up for the hotel's closing and the relaunch party on March 1st. I had an appointment at Med the next morning but other than that I told him they could plan on me being at the hotel from 7:30am – 7:30pm most days. Friday would be the exception for girl's night. I would make sure I was out of the office by 4:30pm so I could do some errands before the girls showed up. Saturday would most likely be a day of errands, with a few personal appointments and a couple of hours in the office. "You may want to have Kim or Hailey with me on Saturday during the day. Uh, Hank, what about Sunday? It's Super Bowl. I'm planning on watching the game at Molly's. I don't want to have to sit at home and watch it. I want to be able to go out and live my life." I told him. He toldg me we would figure it out, and then told me he would see me the next night, Tuesday, for dinner at my apartment. He would bring take-out so we could talk and really catch up. Strange, a man who I had never met until five weeks ago, had become one of the people in Chicago to care about me the most.
We walked out of the office and Hank immediately went over the plan with the rest of the Unit. I walked over to Adam's desk, careful to not make eye contact with Jay as I walked past him, and asked Adam if he was ready to go. We got in my car and made the drive to the hotel. I immediately went to work and, other than asking Adam what he wanted for lunch, didn't have time to talk to him at all. There was a lot to be done before the hotel closed and we transformed The Beacon into The Hotel 30 – Chicago. I didn't notice when Adam left and Kevin arrived. The next thing I knew it was 7:00pm and Laura told me she was getting ready to head home for the night. I told her I would be in by 11:00am the latest on Tuesday morning due to my follow up appointment with Will at Chicago Med. I looked at Kevin and suggested we stop and pick up take-out on the way home. I texted Kim, letting her know I would have dinner for her when she arrived at 8:00pm. I called in an order to Lou Malnati's and ordered a large Malnati Chicago Classic Deep Dish Pizza with sausage and extra cheese along with an order of wings and an order of mozzarella sticks. We arrived back at my apartment at 7:45pm, and the three of us ate dinner together before I pulled out my laptop, looking apologetically at Kim. "I wish I could just hang out and relax but the next few weeks are going to be crazy. I have so much work to do." I said to her. "No worries, I understand. I brought a book with me, and the Bachelor is on tonight so I'm all set." she replied. I don't think I looked up again until there was a knock on my door at 10:30pm. "Are you expecting anyone?" She said, pulling her gun out and slowly walking towards the front door. "Hey Kelly. How are you?" I heard her say. Shit, I thought. I had told Kelly I was going to stop by the Fire Station today. "Hey, Kelly. I'm so sorry I didn't swing by. The day just got away from me. Maybe we can do lunch or dinner one day later this week?" I said. "Yeah. No worries. Just wanted to make sure you were okay." he replied. After deciding to have dinner at the hotel on Wednesday night, Kelly said goodnight and headed out the door. I went back to work and other than saying a quick goodnight to Kim and a hello to Roman I didn't look up from my laptop until I heard "Galway Girl" play on my cell phone at 1:00am.
"Jay, it's late. Is everything okay?" I said as I answered the phone. "I'm downstairs. Can I come up?" he responded. "You're downstairs in my building at 1:00am on a Monday night!? Ummm...yeah, come on up. I'll tell Roman you're on your way." I said, wondering how this was going to go. I told Roman to let Jay in when he came up and I was sitting on the couch when Jay walked in. "You look good. Much better than the last time I saw you. I'm happy to see that." he said. "Jay, it's 1:00am. I'm not doing the small talk thing but, thank you for the compliment. What are you doing here?" I asked him, basically cutting to the chase. I had come back to Chicago planning on focusing on work and living my life. Jay Halstead did not fit into that equation. I didn't have the time or energy to do the back and forth thing. I had the biggest, most challenging, four weeks of my career in front of me and was once again reminded why I have avoided relationships since college. "I wanted to apologize. I assumed things about you that I knew weren't true and I did it because I think I was trying to push you away. Not to keep you from getting hurt, but to keep me from getting hurt. My last real relationship with Erin, ended with me about to propose before she cut off ties with everyone and moved to New York. There was no word from her, no "Dear John" letter, no nothing...she just left, and that almost destroyed me. I went downhill faster than I ever thought was possible. It was a few months after that I decided to take the undercover assignment. Mariana was my way in. I wasn't in love with her, but Christine, she was pregnant when she died...pregnant with my child. I then spent the next few months feeling guilty about a death I couldn't have prevented but then grieved for the child I would never meet. Then I met you, and not under the best of circumstances, and things seemed to just spin out of control. I couldn't control anything and that scared me. That scared me and the fact that I fell for you so hard and so fast scared the crap out of me. I pushed you away and I'm sorry for that. I know it's late and we have a lot to talk about, but I've been thinking about it all night. I hope you'll be willing to give me another chance." Jay said. "Jay..." I began, as he cut me off. "No, don't answer me now. Just think about it. I know a little about what you have going on over the next month so I know what a crazy time it is for you. Just think about maybe giving me a call when you have a little free time. We can go at whatever pace you want or need." "Jay, I need to tell you something, well two things actually, before you decide if you truly mean what you just said. The first thing is, the Board of Directors of The Beacon was about to fire me. Uncle Paddy found out and bought the hotel. He signed the deed and title over to me so I own the hotel outright. The second thing is, Kelly Severide was down in Myrtle Beach with me for the past week. We are strictly friends and nothing more but, I wanted to make sure you heard it from me. If you can deal with those two things then let's see what happens. And to steal your line, don't answer me now. Just think about it." I said smiling at him. I then stood up and surprised the both of us by telling him he had to go because I had to get up early in the morning.
I was finishing getting dressed and ready to go when Kenny Rixton arrived at my apartment the next morning. I hadn't been able to sleep well after Jay left so I got up at 4:30am after tossing and turning. I decided to work out for an hour before making Roman and I scrambled eggs, bacon and toast for breakfast. I left my hair curly and applied my signature makeup with accentuated eyes and dark red lips before dressing for the day in a Calvin Klein black skirt suit with a black and white sleeveless v-neck top under the suit jacket. I slipped into my black and white Louboutin Esoteri ankle boots and headed out to the living room where I greeted my babysitter. "Good Morning Detective Rixton. I'll be ready to go in two minutes." I said. "Please call me Kenny, or Rixton. Whatever you call the rest of the unit is fine, Ms. Brennan." he replied. "Well if I'm going to call you by your first name you can call me by my first name as well." I said, smiling at him. "Wow! Um, I mean okay. Thank you. Ah, I'll be just outside the door, in the hall when you're ready to go." he said tripping over his words. "You just can't help yourself, can you?" a familiar voice said to me. "Good morning to you too Connor. Why are you in my apartment so early on a Tuesday morning?" I said. After he said he was checking to make sure I was heading to see Will today I assured him I was but had to go to the hotel first. I told him I would have Will page him when I arrived so they could lecture me together, but it had to be a short lecture because I had a full calendar today. I then put on my red pea coat, grabbed my black bag, my laptop, my car keys and headed out the door.
After getting cleared by Will who decided I was as healthy as I would ever be, I was pulled into a conference room where Connor, Nat, April, Ethan and Maggie sat. "Oh no. I'm not doing this today. I am sorry if I worried anyone but I needed to get away. And it's not like I didn't have people watching me. And I know I deserve to be yelled at but can we wait until after the hotel's grand opening? I have too much to do and barely enough time to pee, never mind be lectured over the next four weeks. Please? I'll take you all to brunch after the hotel opens and you can all yell at me together. Promise." I said, smiling at them. "Oh, you suck! That smile isn't going to make us forget, but it will make us forgive a little. We're just glad you're okay." Nat said as she got up and hugged me. Then, whispering, she asked me about Jay. "Fill you in later." I responded as I walked out the door to where Rixton was waiting for me. My day went by just as quickly as Monday did. I barely noticed as Kenny left and Adam arrived. I did text Hank and ask him if he could meet me at my office for dinner. I wasn't going to make it home at a decent hour. It would be a miracle if I made it home before 11:00pm. I had decided on a new logo for the hotel and ordered all new stationary, business cards for the managers, and then started on the room décor. I wasn't changing the overall décor, just the bedding and the amenities for the most part. Everything else was only three years old and in really good condition. I was putting together a proposal for a new bar in the hotel. One that had specific ties to Chicago and the community but then I realized I didn't actually have to send a proposal to anyone. I decided to put together a mini-proposal and review it with Laura the next day to get her opinion. If she liked my idea then I was going to review it with the Director of Food & Beverage and the Operations Manager before bringing it to the fire station and reviewing it with Gabby, Hermann and Otis. I wanted to franchise another branch of Molly's in the hotel.
Hank sent Adam home when he arrived at 7:00pm and told Atwater to meet me at the hotel at 9:00pm. I ordered burgers and fries for both of us and we ate at the conference table in my office. "So, kid how are you doing? Really?" he asked. "I'm okay. I really am. I'm focusing on getting my life back and not living in fear anymore. I know I have to be cautious but I'm not going to let the Cartel prevent me from being me. I'm sure that sounds crazy." I said. He told me he understood and then he changed the subject mentioning he had read in Roman's report that Jay showed up at my apartment late last night. "I'm not sure where it's going to go, if it's going to go anywhere at all. I was upfront with him telling him that my Uncle bought the hotel and then signed it over to me. I also told him about Kelly spending a week down in Myrtle Beach but, assured him we are just friends. He talked to me a little about Erin and Mariana. I didn't know she was pregnant when she died. No wonder why Jay was such a mess after it happened." I said. "I don't think she was pregnant. I just haven't been able to prove it. Jay needs to tell you the entire story of what happened that night but I'm working on getting proof that she wasn't pregnant. It was a set-up. I think El Gato and Ramon had an idea that Jay wasn't who he said he was and Mariana was part of the plan." Hank told me. I said in shock, hoping that she hadn't lied to him about something like that. "Ruzek was right, this was the best burger I've ever had. I hope you're keeping this on the menu after you reopen. I'm gonna let you get back to work. Atwater just texted me that he is pulling in now." Hank said. After assuring him that the burgers would remain on the menu and the Chef was choosing to remain at the hotel, I gave Hank a hug thanking him once again for everything.
The week flew by and before I knew it Friday night and girl's night had arrived. Thankfully there was no set up from anyone and it was a low key let's catch up, eat and drink too much type of night. I had received occasional text messages from Jay but hadn't seen him since he left my apartment on Monday night. I slept until 9:30am on Saturday morning and when I woke up I smelled breakfast cooking. I could smell French Toast and bacon. I wasn't sure who was cooking but they better have made enough for me, I thought to myself. After washing my face and putting my hair up in a messy bun I changed out of my pajamas and I threw on a pair of old sweats and wool socks. I walked through my living room and as I passed the dining room on my way into the kitchen I noticed the table was set for two people. My Kate Spade New York Whitaker Street china plates were set at each place setting along with my Kate Spade flatware and Library Collection champagne flutes. There were also yellow roses, my favorite, in my Waterford Crystal Northbridge Vase sitting in the middle of the table. A wine chiller held a bottle of Veuve Clicquot and there was a carafe of orange juice on the table. As I stood, trying to figure out what was going on, I heard footsteps behind me. "Good morning. I hope you're hungry." Jay said to me. "It smells wonderful, but what are you doing here?" I asked following him back into the kitchen. "Cooking you breakfast. I thought this could be something I would do on Saturday morning's since I'm on Christine duty on Saturday's for the foreseeable future. It's kind of the new normal." he replied. "Jay, seriously. What's going on?" After telling me that he knew I had the day off but some appointments (hair, nails, waxing, etc) he decided he would be my body guard for the day and he thought we needed a good breakfast to start off the day. Breakfast was wonderful and the mimosas definitely relaxed us enough so we went back to being flirty, trying to forget about the stress and the situation that had originally brought us together. True to his word, Jay drove me to the salon where I spent over three hours being worked on. When I was done, I told him I did need to swing by the hotel since I wasn't working at all the next day. I was in and out of the hotel in under an hour and then we headed back to my apartment. "What do you have planned for tonight?" he asked as I pulled into my parking spot in the underground garage. "Nothing, why?" I replied. "Christine, will you go on a date with me?" he asked.