Chapter Two

Alayah woke up feeling well rested in the soft king sized bed. Looking at her phone, she was shocked to see that it was past dinner time; she had gotten in about midmorning. She hobbled to the shower and after wrapping her casts, took as quick a shower as possible, getting all the sweat and grime off of her body from her travel and rest. In between getting ready for the day she unpacked her suitcases slowly.

She put on black leggings and a black boot, a stylish belt that held many useful trinkets inside (she made sure to put her wallet in one as well), a red top, black leather jacket, and jewelry to wrap the look up.

Styling her hair and doing her makeup was the last thing she needed to do before she grabbed her sling and her crutch. She was ready to reacquaint herself to the city, she hadn't been since she was 15. Placing her phone in her jacket pocket, she left the penthouse and exited the hotel without anyone stopping her. Or noticing her.

Once she stepped outside, the noise of the city hit her and she stood there for a moment just to let it in. Then she hailed a taxi.

"Where to, miss?"

"What's a good place to eat and relax, good sir? I haven't been here in over ten years."

"Well, there's a really good bar about ten minutes away."

"Sounds perfect. If you would?"

The cab driver sent her a smile in the mirror and filled the space with chatter that Alayah returned this time around.

True to the cab driver's word, they arrived at a packed bar called Molly's a short time later.

The driver helped her out and she smiled softly at him, tipping him generously.

"Thank you, kind sir."

"You're welcome. Hopefully my recommendation is good for you. Have fun!" He laughed and got in his taxi and drove off. Alayah's eyes roved over the bar and the people she could see leaving and entering.

Huh. Looks like mostly medical, fire, and police personnel. This should be interesting. She thought as she deduced those that she had seen. Laya entered Molly's and headed towards the bar rail, smoothly sliding onto a stool that stood empty between some firemen and medical personnel. She rocked her crutch back in forth as she waited for one of the workers to come to her.

An older man with silver hair approached her with a smile as he laughed at something someone had said further down the bar.

"Hey there. What can I- sweet Jesus, what happened to you?" the man said cutting himself off as he got a good look at her. His words got the attention of the people around her and Laya knew that the firemen and doctors/nurses were now paying attention to her.

Laya just smiled gently at the man. "My job. I was informed that this was the place to come to relax and get a good meal. Got a menu I can look at?"

The man was quiet for a moment before nodding and reaching down to pull a menu from under the bar and sliding it over to her. "Can I get you anything to drink while you're looking over that?"

"Coke, please," she said absently as her eyes skimmed the menu. By the time the man came back, she had seen what she wanted. "So, I'll just have a small basket of chips- I mean, fries with cheese, sour cream, and bacon, please."

The man smiled at her, his eyes troubled as they roamed over her face and to her neck where she knew a nice ring of bruises sat. "Comin' right up. I'm Hermann, by the way." He reached out a hand. She shook it.

"Alayah."

Hermann was distracted by someone calling him from the other side of the bar. Hermann immediately went over there, Alayah didn't mind as she pulled out her phone and saw the numerous texts there.

Majority were from the BAU team asking how she was feeling, if she had landed yet, where she had gone while she was healing, etc.

She just decided to text them all in a group chat as she didn't have the patience to individually text each of them back.

'Sorry guys! Feel asleep as soon as I got to the place that I'm staying at and am just out getting some food and relaxing. Let me know if you need any help on a case, I know I'm going to be growing bored fast. And no one likes it when I'm bored, least of all me! -AS'

Two other texts were in her inbox and seeing who they were from caused her to groan.

'Why aren't you on your way to England? -SH'

'Would you like me to send you a plane to bring you here? -MH'

Great. They knew what had happened. She replied individually, knowing that the two hating being in a group chat with the other.

'Because I'm supposed to healing and relaxing, not following you out on cases and getting even more injured - even if that would be more enjoyable. And don't say I wouldn't be, especially if you and I become bored at the same time. -AS'

'No, I'm staying in Chicago to heal up. More peaceful here. -AS'

She began scrolling through her phone, looking for anything that she might've missed for the day and a half she had been away from it.

"Here ya go, kiddo." Hermann said placing the basket of fries in front of her and a refill of her coke.

"Thank you," Laya said with a grin, her stomach grumbling.

He answered her grin before trotting off but she barely put any attention on him moving away as she returned her attention to her phone and eating.

Five minutes later she was done and had just finished wiping her mouth and hands when Hermann appeared again.

"Can I getcha anythin' else?" Laya shook her head, the fries having filled her up.

"No thank you, Hermann. If it's okay with you, would it be okay if I just sit here?" He nodded in response to her question. "Thank you, I appreciate it." He disappeared again and Alayah slowly turned around in the barstool to finally look out at the people filled bar.

She easily deduced who had which profession and that they all stuck to their own little groups. Alayah saw an open table with a few open seats against the wall and with her back beginning to ache, knew that she should probably move over there. She gently placed her cup in her hand that was in the sling before sliding off the barstool and over to the table.

Laya set her drink down before hopping onto the chair and leaning her back against the wall, her back sighing with relief at the support.

She let her eyes roam more over the bar and was shocked to see six familiar faces in their own little groups.

She knew what they looked like as adults, she knew that they were in Chicago. So why didn't she expect to see them sitting in the same bar as her?

Grinning mischievously, she took out her phone and sent the same text message to the six individuals.

'Hey! I'm in Chicago at a bar called Molly's if you want to catch up by any chance. - AS'

She saw as Greg Gerwitz got the text first and his face light up, his eyes immediately roaming over the crowd to look for her. He was sat with some police officers whom didn't seem to notice this strange behavior. Some detectives they are, honestly!

Conner Rhodes got his next. He spun around from where he sat at his own table with fellow doctors and nurses, ignoring their questions as he looked for her as well.

Matt Casey and Kelly Severide got theirs at the same time, their eyes locking onto each other's before they start looking for her together.

And finally the Halstead brothers whom had just entered the bar together. Both stopped dead in their tracks, looked at each other, and then began searching for her.

She knew that the two brothers would probably find her first as they were the last ones to have seen her. Her phone buzzed but she ignored it for a moment as she watched with growing amusement as all six men leave their respective groups of friends and start looking for her.

Oh, how she had missed her best friends. They are the reasons why she came to Chicago instead of stay in Quantico or going to England after all.

Laya watched as the six of them met in the middle of the bar on accident and see the same message on each of their phones. Before their tempers could rise, Laya sent the group chat - she loved group chats, saved so much time - a message.

'You guys are really embarrassing me - I had thought my intelligence had rubbed off on you all at least somewhat. Look at the back table. -AS'

As one, their heads snapped towards her and they broke out in large smiles as they all recognized her one by one and came towards.

Then as she came into their focus more, she watched the pure joy and excitement mix with anger - anger she knew was directed towards those that had hurt her.

"Before you start asking me questions you know I'm not going to answer, can I please get a hug? I haven't seen any of you in quite some time."

Grumbling, they each hugged her gently as if she were made of glass. Once they moved back they sat at the table she had snagged, their eyes just locked onto her. Oh, how tonight had turned around. This little interrogation/reunion was going to be a blast.