Hey everyone! Happy Sunday!

Here's another update I hope you enjoy! I'm gonna do my best to update again in the upcoming days!

Thank you for taking the time to read and review. You're support means a lot!

Happy reading!

Nina

Adam's POV

"Halstead, Ruzek, my office. Now." Voight's voice was almost scary, but we were both quick to comply with his order. "Close the door and take a seat."

"Is everything ok boss?" Halstead was the first one to speak.

"I called you both in because even though you approached me independently, I think we really need to work together." He rearranged some things on his desk before he continued talking. "I looked up Willis, not only to see how I could cover your ass." He looked at me during that part of his speech. "But also because what you both shared about his behavior and your concern about your friends, that raised some flags so I went and did my thing. The good news is he won't touch you Ruzek, he doesn't know it yet but I have enough to prevent him from doing anything. However; you do have to keep a low profile and as much as he might deserve it, try not get into any more fights with him. reach me first, alright?"

"Yes sir." That was my only answer. There was no room for bargain here, the guy was literally saving my ass and as much as I wanted to break Willis' jaw I had to do my best to control myself.

"Good. Now Halstead, I paid close attention to your request and all things considered, I do agree with you we need to give a hand to these girls. Upton won't be a problem to pull out and I'm already working on it. Burgess on the other hand." There it was, his look on me again. I didn't even bother asking how he knew Burgess was the friend I was talking about, the guy had his ways, he was one hell of a detective and it wasn't like Kim and I kept things on the low while we were dating. "That's gonna be tough, for some reason Willis' got her in a tight leash. I mean she's really good at her job, but there's obviously something more. The fact that it's almost impossible to access her file is enough to know that."

"How the hell did this guy get so far being the absolute scumbag he is? I mean, he actually stands for everything we fight against." I really couldn't understand it.

"Relax Ruzek. Just because it's hard it doesn't mean it's going to be impossible." His wise words made an attempt to calm me down.

"So what are we going to do sarge?" Jay was very straight to the point.

"Well, I was at it the whole morning. Long story short, I got them to collaborate with us, hopefully that will give me more to work with. So I just wanted to let you know that tomorrow we're working with their whole unit, and in an hour Upton and Burgess will be coming to brief us on their investigation."

"Great." Halstead spoke again while I was trying to process everything. Working side by side with Kim was going to be interesting. I mean, I always kind of fantasized with the idea but under very different circumstances.

"If you have any questions or concerns you reach me first. Understood?"

"Yes, sarge."

"Ok, good to know we're on the same page. You're dismissed."

"Everything alright?" Atwater sounded concerned. It was public knowledge that when Voight pulled you in his office it was because something was up. "What was that about?"

"Willis." I answered him and his eyes shot wide open. "Voight knows what's going on, and he's gonna help." Just when I was about to tell him the whole thing, our boss walked right out into the bullpen.

"Atwater, I'm gonna need you to pull out the whiteboard. We have some loose ends on a case and two officers from robbery and homicide are coming in to walk us through their investigation. Tomorrow we'll be working with their whole team and most likely closing this case. So I expect all of you to do your best work."

"Sure sarge." Kevin nodded and looked at me before getting the whiteboard ready. "I see what's going on." I looked down for a brief moment and then up again with a sad smile on my face. "Are you ok?"

"Yeah. I'm fine."

"We've got this." Halstead said confidently. As he left his desk to get who knows what.

Of course I knew we were gonna crush the case, but I also knew that this was just the tip of the iceberg. We were going for something much bigger here. That was the real goal for me.

The next hour consumed me. I was moving around the bullpen, sorting all kinds of files that came across my way, just trying to keep my head entertained. I was about to see Kim again and I had no idea how that was going to go down. Did I want to see her? Yes. Did I want to talk to her? Also yes, but I didn't know what to say. I was still hurt by everything that happened. I guess a part of me just wants to run back to her, hold her in my arms and take care of her and protect her and another part needs to look after my own self. I pushed away everything that happened with Meghan and opened myself up to Kim because I really felt that spark between us, because I felt it was worth it and to be honest I still do. But maybe it's time I protect my own heart too.

When the girls reached the district I kept my cool. We didn't have much time for hellos or anything because as soon as Platt walked them upstairs Voight walked out of his office, made brief introductions and just asked them to start sharing their work with us.

I was paying close attention to the case, every detail that could help, trying to remember every name and memorize each face they posted on that board. Watching Kim speak with such confidence and determination left me speechless. I never thought I could be more attracted to her until now. There was something about her delivery, the way she moved, how sure she was of her work that was incredibly sexy. It reminded me of the time we met. Of the fun, careless Kim she brought up a week ago at Molly's. The one that had a tight hold of my heart and I couldn't stop thinking about no matter how hard I tried.

I started to focus on her features, her facial expressions, gestures, her lips as she pronounced every word. Gosh was I hungry to kiss those lips one more time. As I kept observing her I realized something was off. The sparkle of her eyes was missing and there were dark bags under them, which meant she wasn't getting much sleep. Her beautiful soft skin was somewhat pale, which got me thinking that maybe she wasn't eating much either. I had to fight the rush to stand up, walk towards her and hold her tight between my arms and try to glue her pieces back together.

"Alright. Any questions?" My Sargeant's voice pulled me back down to earth and the lack of response from everyone standing in the bullpen, prompted him to continue talking. "Good. Let's get to work then. Halstead I need you to cross reference Hutcherson. Go through his financials, we need anything that can place him in the scene. Atwater and Ruzek, I need you in the street. Go to the strip club Burgess mentioned and get any lead on his current location. Anything you find can be of great help."

"You've got it boss." Atwater started to stand up as Voight said the last words we heard him speak.

"Burgess, Upton, I'm going to need you both in my office for a second."

The girls nodded and walked to where they were signaled to go, while the rest of us did as instructed.

The ride to our destination was quiet until Kevin decided to speak up. "Do you think you might talk to her?"

"I don't know. Maybe."

"Ok."

"What?"

"I said nothing dawg."

"Yeah, exactly my point."

"It's your life bro. Do whatever you think it's best."

"I don't know what's best anymore Kev." I looked out the window as he drove. "She was incredible today."

"She was. She looked kinda sad though."

"Shut up, Kevin. You're not helping me."

"Just don't push her away if she reaches you?"

"And when exactly did I do that? See? From my perspective I was the one who was shut down in the first place."

"She's hurt and scared and probably pretty lost."

"Well, you know what? I'm hurt too. My head is fucking mess trying to figure out what to do. I want to be with her but I can't do that if she doesn't want me next to her."

"Oh come on, you know she wants you."

"It didn't seem like that." I took a deep breath in an attempt to keep my frustration levels down. "Let's just do our jobs now, ok?"

"Sure, whatever you say."

Field work wasn't hard at all, we got everything we expected and more and when we got back to the bullpen we found out so had Jay, so that left us in a pretty good position from where to start tomorrow.

The only ones upstairs were Kev, Voight and myself.

Not seeing Kim there was kind of bittersweet. I wanted to see her, but I was kind of relieved to know I wouldn't have to interact with her.

Although I was bummed, maybe a part of me was hoping she would reach out, say something, anything. I was so confused, I didn't even understood myself.

"Wanna go for a beer or something?" Kevin knew I was feeling like shit, and his efforts to bring me up were incessant.

"Thanks bro, but not tonight. I have some issues I need to clear up in my head."

"Alright. Call me if you change your mind."

"Sure thing."

He came closer to bump my fist and wrap one of his arms around my back.

"See you tomorrow dawg."

"See you man."

Atwater walked away and I went to my locker. I had a few things I needed to pick up and take home. I was looking through my phone, not paying any attention to my step. I knew the way by heart, at this point all my movements were automatic.

"Hey. I saw Kevin's car park right before I was about to leave and decided to wait for you. Hope you don't mind."

Her voice froze me, I wasn't expecting to hear it at all. I looked up and her puppy eyes totally melted my heart. "I don't know." She shrugged her shoulders before finishing her sentence. "I think it was rude to leave without even saying hello in the first place." She kept rambling, telling me how nervous she was.

"I don't mind at all." I finally said putting my phone back in my pocket. She looked into my eyes and none of us said anything.

"Well this is awkward." She said softly as she looked down. She took a deep breath, as if she was looking for the strength to continue. "How have you been?"

"Well, I've had better days." I wasn't going to tell her every little detail, but I was gonna give her something. "You?"

"Um… I'm fine."

I didn't answer. I just looked at her with big eyes and probably a shocked face. "What do you want me to say?" She asked almost defensively.

"The truth. Why did you stay here, Kim?" I leant against my locker, standing right in front of her.

"I feel like crap." She started to play with her fingers as the words came out her mouth. "Everything keeps falling apart and I can't stop thinking about you and the shitty things I said to you. I miss you but at the same time I think this is the best for you. I'm obviously a burden and I don't want to be the reason why your career is jeopardized. I put you in a horrible place, and if something happens to you because of me, I don't know what I would do." Her head was shaking from side to side. "I would never forgive myself."

"You think this is for the best. Really? What part of it Kim? Enlighten me because I can't follow your line of thought."

"I don't know what to do Adam. I did a perfectly good job ruining my life, I don't want to do the same with yours."

"You're not gonna ruin my life. I can fucking take care of myself, Kim. I just don't understand why you keep working towards destroying your own." I saw her eyes start to water and I knew I had crossed a line. Crap.

"I'm trying my best here, Adam. I swear I am. But you don't understand how hard this is."

"Let me help you. Stop pushing me away, stop trying to face this monster on your own when you don't have to."

"I do have to. I can't bring anymore people down with me."

"I don't think we're going to get anywhere right now."

"No, Adam." Her voice was broken. I knew if we kept this conversation she would fall apart right before my eyes and my heart was not going to be able to stand watching that.

"Maybe you're right. Maybe this is for the best. Let's just get our job done tomorrow and that's it. At least for now."

She didn't say anything. I could tell by the look on her face that she wasn't speaking because she would start crying if she did. I took a step close to her and softly kissed her forehead before turning to leave. I don't know if that was a good move or not. But the thought of leaving her like that, broken without even hugging her was destroying me. The truth was that staying away from her was never an option. "See you tomorrow, Burgess."

Kim nodded and that was my cue to walk away.

Kim's POV

I sat down on the bench placed in the middle of the locker room. I needed a few minutes before leaving this place and hide away in my car.

I didn't want to cry. Not right here or now, but I couldn't really help it.

There I was, crying alone in a place I didn't even work at. How pathetic was I?

"Need one of these?"

I looked up and saw the woman who welcomed Hailey and I into the building when we first came in. She was holding out a box of tissues and despite her serious voice the look on her face was soft and caring.

"Thank you." I took a tissue and wiped the tears off my face. "I'm sorry, I was just leaving."

"It's ok. You're welcome to stay here as long as you need."

"Thank you."

"Kim Burgess, right?"

"Yes."

"Sergeant Trudy Platt. It's a pleasure to meet you."

"Oh, Sergeant Platt. I'm so sorry we have to meet under these circumstances. I don't usually look like this." I chuckled and she smiled.

"I can imagine that." She took a breath and looked down as if she was trying to figure out what words to say next. "You know? Not everyone causes Adam Ruzek to lose his cool."

I looked at her totally embarrassed.

"I didn't realize my volume was that loud."

"Oh, don't worry. It wasn't. I was just paying attention." She took a seat next to me before she continued speaking. "He's a really good guy, very honest, passionate and driven. He really cares about you. Don't give up on him because believe me when I tell you that he has not given up on you. Not even close."

"This is not his fault."

"It's not your fault either. None of it is."

"What do you mean?"

Platt didn't answer my question directly, but somehow her answer told me everything I needed to know. "Only you know what you've been through, only you know what you feel and only you have the answers as to why you're not doing the things everyone else is telling you to or what they think it's best." She placed a hand on my knee, showing me all her support. "They don't understand because they didn't go through it. They never will. That doesn't mean that they are not giving you the best advice they can or that they don't have your best interest, they do. And I can assure you that the only thing Adam is doing is looking out for you and trying to find a way to get you out of this."

"I know he is, I just don't want to harm him in any way."

"You won't Kim. I know it's hard but you need to stop thinking like that. That's not you, that's what he made you believe. I understand you and I have you back."

"Thank you sergeant."

"No problem. Now go and rest, you guys have a big day ahead of you." She stood up to walk away but stopped before crossing the threshold. "Don't hesitate to reach me if you need anything, ok?"

"Yes. Thank you. I really appreciate it."

I didn't expect that conversation at all, but it was all I needed to feel better. Something told me that Sergeant Platt had gone through something similar, or maybe she was just a very empathetic person. Either way her words were a balm to my heart and were the push I needed to keep fighting.

I finally got my shit together and left for my house. All I needed was a warm shower and some cuddles. I was gonna have to settle with Ditta tonight.