A/N: This chapter is a little longer than most I post. I wanted to close out the drama with Christine's Uncle, so I can focus on Jay and Christine's professional and and personal life, their family life, in the next few chapters. The next chapter will be much happier with Christmas and New Years approaching.
CHRISTINE'S P.O.V.
The summons from my Uncle Paddy was waiting for me as we walked off the plane at 2:00am local time in Shannon, Ireland. The SUV's I arranged to take the seven of us from the airport to the hotel were waiting for us on the tarmac along with a black Mercedes sedan. The driver of the sedan got out of the car at the same time a tall redhead got out of the front passenger seat. "Ms. Brennan." the driver said to get my attention. "That's not a hotel vehicle. And the redhead is Joseph Donnelly, Paddy's second in command." I said to the others. Jay automatically put himself in front of me. I was quickly surrounded by the others as O'Malley said he would go check it out. Minutes later, after words were exchanged between him and Donnelly, O'Malley walked back over with an envelope in his hand. "For you, from Paddy." he said as he handed it to me. I opened the envelope and automatically recognized my Uncle's handwriting. I cleared my throat and read the letter out loud...
My Dearest Christine-
You have been the light of my life since the day you were born. The only people who have loved you more than me are your parents. I have loved you as if you were my own. I would have given you the world. It has been, up until recently, one of my greatest pleasures in life, to watch you grow into the business-savvy, intelligent, beautiful, confident and resourceful woman that you are today. However, you my darling niece, have broken my heart with your betrayal. You chose the side of the Detective over your own blood. Did you really think, little one, that you could single handedly take me down and take down the organization I have built? You are a disgrace, and from this point forward, are disowned. You are no longer a member of my family. As you once said to me in a text, and I quote, "I don't like being played tho so remember that. And remember what goes around comes around. Karma is a bitch." Well, Christine, this is your Karma...your fate...your punishment for betraying me. You need to choose...your father's life or your daughter's life. Now, I'm sure you don't believe me so walk over to the car. Once you see I'm telling the truth I expect to have your decision by 4:00pm this afternoon.
Your Broken-Hearted Uncle-
Paddy
I dropped the envelop and letter as I pushed my way past Hank and Jay. I ran towards the Mercedes as fast as I could. I was frantic. He had my daughter and my father as hostages! "Christine! Wait! It could be a trap." I heard Jay yell as he sprinted after me across the tarmac. "Open the door now." I instructed the driver. He opened the door and moved aside giving way for Donnelly to reach in with one hand and pull my Dad out. He pointed his gun at my father as he moved him to the back of the car. I watched in disbelief as Paddy got out next holding Quinn in one arm and a gun in his other hand, pointing it at my baby.
"You're dead old man. Blood or not you are going to die for this. And if I'm not the one who gets to kill you believe me when I say I'm not going to stop the one who gets to pull the trigger. You taught me well over the years...maybe too well. Do me a favor, when you go to bed tonight, pray to God. This is your last chance to beg him for forgiveness for all of your sins. Now I'm going to walk over, kiss my daughter and hug my father. I'm unarmed so there's no reason for anyone to shoot." I said, stepping away from Jay and cautiously walking towards the Mercedes.
"Hi, baby girl. Hi, my beautiful Quinn. Your brother misses you very much. Daddy and I love you sweet girl." I said as I kissed her forehead and looked into her eyes. Her eyes that seemed to understand what I was telling her. I turned and walked over to my Dad. As I wrapped my arms around him I whispered, "I'm so sorry Daddy. I have a plan to get you and Quinn out of this. Watch over my baby and I'll see you in a few hours. I love you Dad." As I stepped back he smiled and said, "I love you baby girl." He then turned towards Jay and said, "You keep her safe, Jay."
I stood, shaking with anger and fear, as I watched Paddy drive away with Quinn and my Dad. "Christine..." Jay said as he reached for my hand. I was scared and I knew it showed, as I looked into his beautiful green eyes, but I had a plan. "I'm not going to need to make a choice Jay. I'm going to get both of them back. Trust me, we are going to get our daughter and my Dad back." I said. I turned back towards the group and said, "Let's head to the hotel. It's after 2:00am. We can get some sleep and regroup over breakfast before leaving for Paddy's. I'll fill you in on the plan then."
Seeing Quinn and my Dad, now knowing they were unharmed, actually gave me a bit of comfort. So much so that I fell asleep on the ride to the hotel. It was the first time I had slept since Friday. "Christine, baby, wake up. We're here." Jay said as we pulled up to the hotel's main entrance. We walked into the hotel and were immediately greeted by the night manager. The seven of us were escorted to our rooms on the eighth floor, the top floor, of the hotel. "Ms. Brennan and Mr. Halstead, you are in here." he said as he opened the door of our suite and handed me the keys. "Christine, I'll have two of my guys posted outside your room tonight. See you both in the morning." O'Malley said before he headed down the hall towards his room.
"I wasn't expecting to stay with you tonight." Jay said standing in the middle of the suite's living room looking just as lost, hurt and angry as I felt. "I need you with me. I need you to hold me and tell me it's going to be okay. I can't tell you my plan just yet, but I still need to hear you tell me it's going to work." I replied. And that's exactly what he did. He wrapped his arms around me and told me over and over again it was going to be okay until I fell asleep.
JAY'S P.O.V.
Christine and I crawled into bed and she immediately laid her head on my chest. I wrapped my arms around her while I reassured her that everything was going to be okay. When I was sure she was asleep I quietly got out of bed. I threw on a t-shirt and a pair of jeans before walking out to the suite's living room, closing the bedroom door behind me. I texted Voight and O'Malley. I wanted to believe Christine knew what she was doing but I needed to put a back-up plan in place...incase anything went wrong. I needed assurances that we could get my girls out safely.
Minutes later there was a soft knock on the door. I opened it, letting Voight and O'Malley into the suite. "Thanks for coming. I know it's late." I said as we all sat down. "Look, I don't know what she's planning. She said she can't tell me just yet, but I'll be honest. I'm more than a little worried here. I'm downright scared shitless that something is going to go wrong when she walks into that house. There are too many variables...too many unknowns. We need to come up with a plan that gets Christine, Quinn and Christine's Dad out of there. Sarge, just as I wanted to that day at O'Hare, I'll sacrifice myself if it means keeping my girls safe. I mean it more now than ever." I said.
Before Voight could respond O'Malley informed us that he knew what Christine was planning. She was waiting to hear from someone before she knew if the plan could actually be put into place. "It's a good plan. It's actually pretty diabolical. She's learned a lot from Paddy over the years. Probably more than either one of them realizes. My suggestion would be to wait until 9:00am. If she doesn't have what she needs at that point then we put a plan of our own into place." he told us.
CHRISTINE'S P.O.V.
I slept for four hours and automatically reached for my phone when I woke up. The text I had been hoping for had come in twenty minutes earlier. I got up and showered. Jay walked into the bathroom as I was stepping out of the shower. I asked him to text everyone asking them to come to the suite for breakfast at 9:00am. I straightened my hair and applied my makeup before getting dressed. I put on a pair of black skinny jeans, an oversized gray cable knit sweater and my gray suede knee-high boots. My Claddagh earrings along with the birthstone bracelet Jay had given me was the only jewelry I wore. I took one last look in the mirror before heading out to the suite's dining room, where the hotel's catering staff was setting up breakfast.
I sent a quick text and a few minutes later, as I grabbed a Diet Coke from the buffet, there was a knock on the door. I opened the door and let Al Olinsky into the suite. "Did anyone see you or follow you from the airport? Was there any trouble in Chicago?" I asked. "Everything went according to plan. There were a few of Paddy's guys we took into custody but it's been arranged so they can't contact him. I think having us fly into Dublin and stay at your house for a few hours was the right call. You keep thinking this way and Voight's going to try to convince you to leave the hotel business and recruit you to join Intelligence." Al said. I smiled and told him to help himself to some breakfast.
"Al! What are you doing here?" Jay asked as he walked into the room. He looked at me without answering Jay's question. "You didn't tell him?" he asked. I haven't told anyone other than O'Malley. I didn't want to say anything until I got word that everyone was here." I replied. "Well it seems like now would be a good time to fill the rest of us in on what you've been up to." Hank said as he and the rest of the Unit entered the suite. "Why don't you all grab a plate of food. We can sit down and talk while you eat." I suggested. "We have a couple more people we're waiting for and then I think you'll understand my plan."
A few minutes later, O'Malley received a text. "They're here. My guys are bringing them thru the back and up the service elevator. The four will be watched in my suite and the three others will be in after making sure there are no issues." he told me. A few minutes later there was a knock on the door. O'Malley got up to open it. He returned to the room followed by Antonio, Rixton and Erin Lindsay.
"What the fuck is going on here?" "Erin, what are you doing here?" "Someone needs to explain to me what Al, Erin, Dawson and Rixton are doing in Ireland!" "Who are the other four O'Malley mentioned?" "Christine, did you call Erin?" was all blurted out at the same time. But it was the last question, Kim's question, that I answered. "Yes. I called Erin and asked for her help. Before I explain Erin's involvement, as well as the rest of your Unit's involvement Hank, I need to tell you all about Paddy's family. The family most people doesn't know that he has. Years ago, back when I was a baby, Paddy married a woman from the neighborhood, named Melissa. Melissa was almost twenty years younger than Paddy and overly jealous. Jealous of the love he had for his sister Maureen, who was my mother. Hell, she was jealous of me, a baby, and the way Paddy adored me. Melissa finally got pregnant when I was five and gave birth to a boy, Michael Patrick McGuire. Melissa always thought having a child would change the love Paddy had for me, but she was wrong." I said. I then turned to O'Malley and asked him to bring in the others.
Minutes later the door opened and a woman of forty-five walked in followed by a twenty-five-year-old man, with the same color eyes as mine, who was holding the hands of three-year-old twins. "Let me introduce you to Paddy's wife, Melissa, my cousin Michael, who is Paddy's son, and Michael's twins Mikey and Mackenzie." I ignored Paddy's wife and looked at the man I hadn't seen in 14 years. "It's nice to see you Michael. Please know I hate the fact it's under these circumstances, but your father left me no choice when he kidnapped my 4 ½ month old daughter and my Dad. Hopefully Paddy is smart today and makes the right choice." I said to my cousin. "Christine, I haven't spoken to my Dad in two years. Not since the twins' mom died. I've held him responsible for the drugs she OD'd on. Please let them go." my cousin said. I looked at him, and hating myself, said "I'm sorry Michael, but I can't." I then asked O'Malley to have Michael and the twins escorted back his room.
"Melissa, I would say it's a pleasure to see you after all these years but I would be lying." I said to the woman I considered to be almost as evil as my Uncle. "It's Aunt Melissa, you spoiled brat. Seems that you still haven't learned any manners or etiquette in fourteen years. Oh, I've read all about you in the news. Still think you're better than everyone else." she snarled at me. "Oh, I'm definitely not spoiled. I've worked hard my entire life. My parents taught me all about hard work and not to expect things to be handed to me on a silver platter. But you never understood that which is why you were the one who convinced Anthony DiStefano to kidnap me when I was only sixteen. You hoped Paddy wouldn't pay the ransom and Anthony would have no choice but to kill me." I stopped when I saw the look of fear and shock on her face.
"Don't try to deny it. Oh, and don't worry I haven't told Paddy yet. But I'm willing to guess you're wondering how I found out. I had a very interesting conversation with Anthony's wife, Rosa, a few weeks ago. She caught Anthony cheating on her again and decided she had enough when she learned his mistress was pregnant. She filled me in on the details of my kidnapping. Your plan backfired tho because not only did Paddy pay the ransom but he was so paranoid someone would go after Michael that he sent the two of you into hiding. According to Rosa you went to Phoenix, then to San Diego and then to Chicago. It was easy enough to find you when I found out you were living in Chicago. Your family, Melissa, was always my way out of the mess your husband got me into. It's also the way out for Agent Lindsay as well. I've been looking for you since February. Detective Olinsky has as well. Turns out Al did some undercover work with the Feds back in the day and remembered meeting Paddy's wife. A wife no one has seen in years. When I got dragged into the business Al knew you and Michael were the leverage I needed. I just didn't think it would require me to use your grandchildren as bargaining chips. As I said to Michael, I really hope Paddy makes smart choices today in regards to saving your son and your grandchildren. As far as you're concerned Melissa, I really hope Paddy tells me that I can shoot you. Consider it payback for trying to have me killed when I was sixteen." I said. I then turned to O'Malley and asked him to take her back to the other room where Michael and the kids were.
After Melissa left the room and O'Malley returned I explained my plan to the group. "There will be two SUV's downstairs at 3:00pm. Al and Erin will take Michael and his twins in one SUV while O'Malley, Antonio and I take Melissa in the second SUV. That will put us at Paddy's by 3:30pm. I would like all of you to be in place by then. O'Malley will go over the best locations for all of you to be posted. Jay, they marked where you'll have the best vantage point to take a shot from if needed. Obviously, I don't want either of Michael's kids hurt. If anything happens, take out Donnelly first. Antonio has ear pieces for everyone, but please remember no one is to enter the house unless Al gives the word. I know I'm asking a lot of you and I can't tell you what it means that you're all here." I said.
After reviewing the maps and notes O'Malley's team put together Hank told me I had put together a good plan. "I just have one question. How are Erin, Al, Antonio and Rixton now part of this?" he asked.
FLASHBACK
CHRISTINE'S P.O.V.
"Hello?" the voice I had come to despise said in greeting as she answered the phone. "Erin, it's Christine Brennan. Did you mean what you said earlier about being sorry? Because if you truly are, and you want to get out from Paddy's hold, I need you to do something for me. And it's going to require help." I said. Erin asked what I needed and before I could answer a voice from behind me spoke up, startling me. "Put her on speaker." Al told me with Antonio and Rixton standing behind him.
"Erin, you're now on speaker. Al, Antonio and Rixton are here. Look I don't know how much time I have because Jay, Hank and O'Malley are trying to get information from Mary, the Nanny, about Paddy's plans. We think she may know where he is taking Quinn. I'm going to need leverage to go up against Paddy. If I give you an address can you pick up, well basically kidnap, four people? Paddy has a family he has kept in hiding for years. I was able to get my hands on their address a few weeks ago. They're here in Chicago."
Before I could say more, Al jumped in to the conversation and grabbed my phone. "We'll scoop them up and bring them to wherever you are, if you can charter another plane. I've been looking for Melissa and Michael since February, ever since I found out what you did in order to keep Halstead safe. They're Paddy's weakness...his kryptonite...his breaking point. Erin, meet us at the District in an hour." Al said as he ended the call. "Thank you." I said to them. "We'll take care of it. Whatever you need we are in this together." Antonio replied.
PRESENT DAY
JAY'S P.O.V.
I wasn't sure if O'Malley was right. Yeah, Christine's plan is absolutely diabolical but I was still worried. I didn't want her anywhere near that monster but deep down I knew this was the best option to get Quinn back. I wasn't happy that I wouldn't be in the house, to protect her and Quinn, but I would probably kill Paddy as soon as I first saw him for everything he has done.
I looked over to where she was talking to Hank. We only had five minutes before the rest of us have to leave. I moved closer to where they were standing and caught the end of their conversation. "Hank, if Paddy gets past me or if anything goes really sideways..." she couldn't finish as she got choked up. "I'll take care of it." he replied as he hugged her. "Love you Hank." I heard her say. "I love you too, kid." he replied.
She then walked over to me. She wrapped her arms around my neck and pulled my head down for a kiss. "Jay, I need you to know how much I love you. You and our children are everything to me. If anything should happen to me, just remember that. Be safe out there." she said as she kissed me again. "Al..." I said, as I choked up due to the fear that I just gotten her back but could now lose her forever. "Don't worry about it Jay. I have her back." he replied. I then looked down at Christine, who still had her arms wrapped around me. "I love you. I'll see you soon." I told her before kissing her one last time and walking out the door.
CHRISTINE'S P.O.V.
Forty-five minutes later the rest of us drove thru the gate and up the drive leading to Paddy's castle. Antonio took Melissa by the arm, while O'Malley grabbed my cousin Michael. Al and Erin each held one of Michael's twins.
The front door opened as we approached and Donnelly stepped out. He looked at me in horror when he saw who I had with me. He looked behind him and then back at us. He put his hands up as he walked towards me. Atwater seemed to appear out of thin air and removed the gun Donnelly had tucked into his holster. "I don't want any part of what's going to happen when you see what went down inside and when Paddy sees who you have with you. He thinks he has already won. He doesn't realize the second you walk in that room he is dead. Be careful though, he is armed." he said as Atwater lead him away.
I looked at Al as Donnelly's words were processed by my brain. Something happened inside the house. "Let's go." I said as I pulled my gun, the gun given to me years ago by Paddy, out of the back of my jeans. I felt my heart begin to race as we approached the study. We walked into the room and my eyes filled with tears as I saw my Dad with a bullet hole in his chest bleeding on the floor. "Daddy!" I screamed as I rushed to his side. He was unresponsive and I couldn't find a pulse. My father was dead. "What the fuck did you do?" I asked as I got up.
Paddy was seated behind his desk with a crying Quinn on his lap with one hand and a gun in the other hand. His smirk turned to a look of fear as I grabbed Melissa, out of Antonio's hold, and knocked her to her knees. I told Erin to give me Mackenzie. I took the three-year-old in my arms and I turned to Paddy. Mimicking the smirk, he had on his face a minute before, I pointed the gun at Melissa and said "Your choice. Your wife or your granddaughter? You have sixty seconds to decide or I will make the decision for you." "You wouldn't. You're not that person." he said. "Apparently, I am. You made me this person. This is who you wanted me to be...a monster like you. Erin, go get Quinn and bring her outside to Kim. You will let go of my daughter right now, old man or I will kill your wife AND your granddaughter right now." I said, in such a cold tone, that no one believed I was bluffing. I didn't move or breathe until I heard, in my ear piece, that Quinn was safe with Kim and on her way back to the hotel. I then handed Mackenzie to her father and motioned for Al to do the same with Mikey. "I'm sorry." I whispered to Michael before Al told him to take his children outside.
"Christine, this isn't you. You're a good person. Your Dad wouldn't want you to do this. He wouldn't want you to shoot Melissa or Paddy in cold blood. Why don't you give me your gun?" Al said in that soft calming voice of his. I shook my head with tears streaming down my face. I pulled out my ear piece. I didn't want to hear Hank or Jay's voices in my head as I tried to decide what to do next. I almost listened to Al until I heard Paddy laugh as he said "I won't be in jail forever little one. As soon as I get out I'm coming for you."
That made me freeze. I started to see red. He was threatening me and my family. I needed to end this now. I needed to protect my family. I pointed my gun at Paddy, who was being taken into custody by O'Malley, and prepared to pull the trigger as Jay walked into the room and stood next to me. "Christine, don't do it. It's not worth it. You are not a monster. I know you're hurting, but don't worry he will be in jail for the rest of his life. He will be convicted of murder, kidnapping and a bunch of other Federal charges. Babe, give me the gun and let's go see our daughter." he said. I lowered the gun and handed it to Jay. "Enjoy jail old man." I said, looking at my Uncle for the last time, as I turned and walked out of the room.
I made it out the front door of the house before I collapsed on the ground. "Jay, he killed my Dad." I sobbed as he picked me up in his arms. "Hank, can you drive?" I heard him ask. "What a mess." Hank said quietly before telling Jay he would drive us back to the hotel.
JAY'S P.O.V.
We left O'Malley and Erin to deal with the local PD, since they were Feds. I didn't know what to do for Christine other than hold her in the back seat while she cried. She fell asleep before we got back to the hotel. "Antonio." I said softly. He turned around in the passenger seat and I told him to go up first and have Kim bring Quinn to her room. I know Christine wouldn't want Quinn, even as young as she was, to see her covered in blood. Her father's blood had dried on her hands and her sweater.
"Jay, she's in shock. Let her sleep for a bit longer. She'll be okay." Hank said from the doorway an hour later. I looked at Christine one last time and kissed her forever before following Hank out to the living room of the suite were my Unit and my daughter waited for me. "There's my girl!" I said as I walked over to where Burgess was seated with Quinn. She automatically put her arms out to me and smiled. "I knew she would be a Daddy's girl the first time I saw her in your arms." Christine said from the doorway.
CHRISTINE'S P.O.V.
Three days later after giving my statement to the police we left Ireland. The rest of the Intelligence Unit and Erin had returned home two days before. O'Malley was traveling with us to Boston. He was going to interview new bodyguards for me, since I was still a hotel owner and because of insurance policies I was required to have round the clock protection. The four of us – O'Malley, Jay, Quinn and I – flew from Shannon to Boston. When we deplaned at Logan Airport I had the best surprise waiting for me. Hank was there with Aiden.
After a somber few days in Boston, for my Dad's wake and funeral, I was more than ready to head home to Chicago. Based on O'Malley's recommendations, along with the background checks he and Hank had both run, I hired three new bodyguards – Sully, JP and Smitty. As Jay and I boarded the plane with our twins, Hank and the three Irish hulks, as Jay called them, I started to think about what a crazy eleven and a half months it's been and the year wasn't over yet!