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Chapter 35: A Shift Of Course

"NYPD have Leo."

"Excuse me?" Dimitri glared up from his desk.

"It went wrong." Alek answered looking away from his brother's heated gaze.

"What the fuck happened?"

Alek could tell by his brother's tone he should tread carefully.

"It went wrong. He got interrupted. Blair! She shot at him."

"Shot at him?!"

"She walked in on him just before—Grabbed the gun off a cop on the floor." Alek cut off shortly.

Dimitri laughed to himself in disbelief and stood up.

"Well you know what that means…put the word out."

Alek frowned at his brother.

"On the girl?"

"She took a shot a Leo. That's the way this works." Dimitri glared at his brother. "Put the word out."

"Ok." Alek nodded. "What about Leo?"

Dimitri thought for a moment.

"Let him sit and cool off for a couple of days—give him time to think about his mistakes."

"I'll let the boys know in New York." Alek nodded again turning to go.

"Oh and Alek!" Dimitri called out to his brother. "Put a reward on the girl as well. I want it done within the week."

XXXXX

When Blair woke, she wasn't surprised to find herself in a hospital bed, but she was surprised she was alone. She sat up slowly still feeling uneasy. Her head felt too heavy to hold up and her stomach queasy.

"Blair!"

Blair looked up to see her mother rushing in.

"Mom?"

"How are you feeling darling?" Eleanor sat next to her daughter, gently brushed her hair from her face.

"I'm fine." Blair forced a smile.

"You fainted…you…"

"Where's Dan? Where is Rufus? Is Lily alright?" Blair interrupted her mother. Eleanor sighed heavily in distaste at her daughter's change of subject but answered none the less.

"Lily has a concussion but is resting and will be ok. Rufus has been moved to a secure location for the time being…and Dan, well he is keeping the feds at bay."

"The Feds?"

"Yes darling—when a Russian mobster tries to take out your father in law and you as his daughter in law shoots at him…it tends to get their attention."

"Mom…" Blair sighed heavily, rubbing her hands over her face.

"Especially when not too recently their son was kidnapped from their own wedding celebration and it's all over national news."

"Mom…" Blair's tone was warning. "I need to talk to Dan. Can you get him please?"

"Blair. What the hell were you thinking?!"

"Mom…"

"You have never picked up a weapon IN YOUR LIFE?! But you picked up a GUN and FIRED IT?! Do you KNOW who that man was?! What he could have DONE to you?! Didn't you see all the police men lying at your feet!? You could have been killed!"

Blair could tell from her mother's tone that she was more scared than angry. She reached out and took her mother's hands in hers and met her gaze straight on.

"What was I supposed to do?" Blair started off softly.

"You were supposed to go get help! That's what you were supposed to do!"

Blair couldn't help but feel her own anger rising.

"And what? Let him kill Rufus?!" Blair shot back. "Let him murder him!"

"Blair…"

"No mom! You don't get to sit here and yell at me! You don't know what any of this is like! You don't know what it's like to have your child ripped from you, to have your father in law attacked and left for dead—you don't know what it's like to hear your mother in law scream then find her laying on the floor while a very dangerous man is seconds away from firing a bullet into your father in laws head!"

Eleanor gulped quietly and looked down.

"Blair I only meant…"

"I know you love me…that you are only reacting because I was in danger and to you I did a dangerous and stupid thing…

"But she saved my father's life."

Blair and Eleanor looked up to find Dan standing in the doorway, tears in his eyes.

"Dan…" Blair gasped. The sight of him brought tears to her eyes and a sob to her throat. He looked tired, disheveled, and defeated.

"I should have been there Blair…" Dan started walking over to her, running his hands through his hair. "You shouldn't have been alone."

"Damn right you should have been there—where on earth were you?!" Eleanor responded.

Her mother's words hit Dan hard making him flinch and look away from them in shame. Instantly Blair felt the rage flare up inside of her—to the point where she could feel herself physically shaking. It took all the energy she had to keep herself calm. She turned and looked at her mother.

"Get. Out." Blair managed to whisper. Eleanor looked at her daughter confused.

"Blair I only…"

"Get. Out!"

Eleanor stood up from the bed shocked, like she had been physically stung but her daughter's words.

"I love you darling. I only was trying…"

"I know you love me, but you don't get to stand there and judge my husband!" Blair fired off. She was losing the battle with her temper.

"Blair…" Dan started.

"No Dan." She could tell from his tone that he was going to try to stop her, to diffuse the situation—but she didn't want him to.

"If I had been with Dan—like HE had wanted me to be—Serena and I never would have heard Lily scream, and I never would have been there to interfere—and RUFUS WOULD BE DEAD!"

She couldn't help but let the rage take her at that last point and she could tell by the shocked look on her mother's face that she had scared her, but she couldn't help it! Right now she felt all the anger, all the rage, all the injustice of her and Dan's situation—the full blunt force trauma blow—and suddenly she wasn't angry at her mom anymore.

"Dan!" She gasped between her sobs. "WHY?!"

Dan rushed to her side and took her into his arms.

"Shh." He tried to sooth while running his hand through her hair.

"Why didn't we see it?! How did we not see that Milo was in danger! We never should have had such a big wedding! Not with Milo's safety on the line! What were we thinking?! How did they know that Lily and Rufus were going to have him?! Where were the police then?! Why weren't they at their post that night?! Oh god..." Blair gasped. "…were never going to see him again are we?!"

With that she buried herself into Dan's chest and felt his arms wrap around her tight. She held onto him for dear life while her sobs shook her body.

At some point she felt herself come back to reality, enough to take in her surroundings again. Dan was still holding her close, she in his lap on the hospital bed, and her mother was gone. She hadn't even heard her leave.

She looked up to find Dan smiling faintly down at her. He handed her a tissue. She returned his faint smile and took it. She snuggled closer to him and he shifted his weight to make them more comfortable.

"Blair I'm sorry I wasn't there." Dan finally broke the silence. She looked up at him confused.

"Dan…it's not your fault that…"

"I know." Dan cut her off. "I know that I can't control what Dimitri and his brutes do, but I am your husband, and I am responsible for your safety. When you were in danger I was not there."

"Like I said Dan, Rufus…"

"He could be dead right now—I know, and I agree, but I want you to know that I will never leave your side again."

Blair sighed heavily in defeat. She understood why he felt the way he did, and it killed her that he was carrying this guilt.

"Ok." Blair resided herself. "But only if you forgive yourself Dan."

He looked down at her in slight shock.

"I don't…"

"Don't try to tell me that this guilt you're carrying isn't eating you up inside. I can see it. I never once questioned or even question it now that you will always be there for me. Just because we got caught off guard doesn't mean that you are any less of a man or any less capable of taking care of our family. Don't let Dimitri and Georgina win that way. Don't start to lose faith in yourself—in us."

"Blair…"

"I can see that you felt defeated today, even though tonight was a victory. Your dad is safe. We are safe."

"Yeah but…"

"No Dan. Don't even." Blair cut him off. "The only thing we are guilty of is not taking this situation serious enough."

"What else can we do? We got the police involved, we…"

"Yes but think about it. It didn't even occur to us that Rufus was in danger—even though the night Milo was taken and Rufus attacked the Police that were supposed to be stationed there were nowhere to be found? And even now as we sit here- how do we know for sure that the police stationed outside our hospital room as there?"

"Your right. How can we get Milo back if the very system we are depending on is corrupted?"

"Exactly." Blair sighed defeatedly. "So now what do we do?"

"We should start with the people we do trust." Dan answered.

XXXXX

The city light illuminated Brookline's horizon in a dreamlike beautiful way. It was a nightly site that Blair had come to miss since she had been living at the hospital the last week. She took a deep breath and closed her eyes, lifting her mug of peppermint tea to her lips, breathing in the delicious smile, letting it melt away her nerves.

She had been a nervous wreck since Dan had brought her home…which in correction didn't really feel like home. Milo wasn't here… Milo…

The thought of him made the painful sob return the back of her throat and her eyes water.

She took another deep breath.

Maybe that's why she and Dan had avoided home for so long. They didn't want their current situation to become reality. Coming home—being at home made it real.

"Blair…"

She turned her eyes to their bedroom door. Dan stood there unsure. She had been distant since they had returned to their home, closed off from him. She hated to be that way. She didn't want him to think that she hated him or didn't need him, but she didn't want him to see her this way. Seeing him so defeated at the hospital made her feel like she needed to be the strong one, and right now she couldn't be. She cleared her throat to choke back the tears.

"Can I come in?" Dan asked gently.

She hated that he felt like he needed to ask. She turned back to gaze out the window before answering, afraid to look him in the eye.

"Sure." She whispered.

She could feel him move slowly, cautiously. Like at any moment she would pounce. She couldn't blame him. She had had a meltdown when they first returned to the loft after the attempted assassination of Rufus. Seeing all of Milo's toys, his clothes, and his room— the shock and anger of the entire situation came flooding back. Suddenly she was on the sidewalk in her wedding dress holding Milo's batman cape, she was standing holding a gun aimed at that Russian man's face as he held the gun to Rufus's head—she could still feel that dreaded fear as she pulled the trigger—see the guilt and pain on her husbands defeated face…she couldn't help but feel hopeless and defeated herself.

Then she felt his arms wrap around her from behind…slowly Dan's hands glided down her sides and across her stomach, pulling her into his embrace. His head against hers, his lips on her ear kissing it gently…she felt herself melt into him erasing momentarily all her worries and frustrations. She turned into him, sliding her hands up his chest, leaning her forehead against his. It was amazing how this man was her home, her foundation, her everything. The way he centered her—there were no words to describe the instant comfort she felt right now.

"I don't think I can stay here." She whispered truthfully. "Returning without him…"

"I know." Dan whispered back pulling her closer. "It all feels wrong."

"Have you heard from Cyrus?" Blair asked looking up at him. "I heard you on the phone."

"Yes." Dan answered with a smile.

"And?"

"He made contact with this guy there. He has his own unit with the Chicago PD."

"He can be trusted?" Blair asked cautiously.

She and Dan had met with Nate, Serena, Lily, Eleanor, and Cyrus—the only people they truly trusted—to speak to them about their fears and revelations about their current situation. Cyrus had mentioned someone who could possibly help them—a man who had a severe distaste for mobsters in Chicago.

"Yes. Cyrus said they have a long history."

"A history?" Blair asked confused.

"Yeah. When I asked he didn't want to go into detail about it. Just said that he was doing this for Milo and for us."

"That's strange." Blair frowned. "I didn't even know that Cyrus knew anyone from Chicago."

"I booked us the first flight out. Tomorrow morning at 6am."

"Perfect." Blair sighed. Just the thought of leaving the loft made her a little happier.

"Blair…" Dan started cautiously, "…once we do this there is no going back. Maybe if you stayed with your parents and I…"

"That's not going to happen Humphrey." Blair cut him off shortly smacking his chest. "Besides what happen to never letting me out of your sight again?"

Dan laughed to himself. The grin on his mouth made her laugh back.

"What's so funny?" She asked wrapping her arms around his neck again.

"You calling me Humphrey, beating me up…" Dan's smile widened at Blair sudden playful glare, "It just reminds me how much I love you."

They both laughed at that.

"And I love you too. So much." Blair smiled pulling his lips to hers.

She brushed her lips against his slowly, softly and lingered there. She felt his arms tighten around her waist and pull her closer as he deepened the second kiss, and the third, and the fourth. Her heart was racing and she could feel herself starting to come back to life. Blair began to run her hands through Dan's hair, yanking occasionally, feeling him harden against her. Fueled by her passion, she pushed him back to the bed. His knees caught the side so he sat letting her straddle him. She could feel him against her—the sudden contact ignited them further. She broke from their kiss and met his eyes with her own as she slowly moved and grinded against him. She could feel him losing patience—his passion and need for her getting the best of him—but she wanted him to—she wanted him—she wanted to forget the here and now and know only his embrace and love. Then in one swift motion her back was on the bed, Dan's lips moving down her neck as she gasped for air. She pulled at his shirt yearning to feel his warm skin against her own. He obliged ripping his shirt off but only after he had removed her own. She pulled his lips back to her own—she needed him—wanted him. His hands felt so good tracing her stomach, sides, breasts—she never wanted him to stop touching her—she wouldn't be able to live. He broke from her kiss trailing hot sultry kisses down her neck, collar bone, and finally pulled her bra away to reveal her breast. He grinned at her before lowering his mouth, his tongue swirling around her nipple, making her rise into him, silently begging him for more.

"Dan…" She whispered longingly.

He answered by grinding into her slowly as he continued his sucking and nibbling of her breasts. She could feel her need and want of him growing to dangerous levels, and without thinking flipped them so that she was straddling him again.

"Blair…"

Her eyes met his. She could see his need and want. His love for her. She kissed him feverishly, grinding her hips teasingly feeling him harden even more against her. She reached down and grasped him making him gasp in pleasure. She pulled away from his lips and lowered herself to his center. Slowly she undid his belt, never taking her eyes away from his. She pulled down his boxers to find him more than ready and without hesitation took him into her mouth. Dan moaned and his head fell back onto the bed in pleasure. He couldn't stand it a second longer. In one swift motion, Dan grabbed Blair flipping them, ripped her tights, and pushed her underwear aside, entering her hard and strong making Blair scream. Dan didn't stop. He was determined. They hadn't made love in weeks—since their wedding—and he wanted her—he needed her. He needed his wife. Every part of her. Mind, body, and soul. He kissed her again, long and deep as he continued to make love to her. Gliding in and out, feeling her body rise to his in need, as every fear and worry melted away. All that mattered was Blair and wanting to make her feel safe and loved. That's all that matter right now. He could feel her getting there- her climax. He quickened his pace, reaching his own…

Together they came, melting into one another, realizing that this is what they had needed all along.

XXXXX

Detective Erin Lindsey made her way up the stairs to find most of their Intelligence unit already in place and at their desks. She raised her coffee cup Sergeant Voight and took her seat with the others.

"Now, let me start off by saying that this case wasn't handed to us. It's a favor for a friend. So if some of you are uncomfortable with that then there's the door."

Erin looked around at the room but no one budged. Voight continued.

"Most of you have already had the pleasure of meeting this man."

Voight lifted a picture of a known Russian mobster—new in town.

"Leo Markov. The record on this guy is extensive and he has been involved in 3 cases the last 2 weeks—not to mention he is allegedly associated with the Russian mob."

"Allegedly?" Detective Jay Halstead spoke up with a chuckle from his desk.

"I spoke to the uppers. They are convinced that we are imaging things and that we should enjoy the lack of crime while it lasts."

"The only reason there is a lack of crime is because these Russian dudes have moved in and are taking over everything." Officer Kevin Atwater spoke up.

"Yes." Voight agreed. "They are scary guys. They know how to move in and take care of business quietly. They don't draw attention to themselves. They slowly move in and invade our society and that's not gonna happen. Not in my city."

"So this case—the one for your friend also gives us opportunity." Lindsey asked to clarify with a grin.

"If that's what you want to call it then yes." Voight answered with his own grin. "Now this guy Leo was just picked up in New York City for trying to murder a witness to the Central Park Abduction that's been all over the news the last 2 weeks."

With that Erin's eye brows shot up in interest.

"Trying? I didn't think these guys missed." Jay Halstead frowned. Erin knew he was talking from experience. The last 2 weeks had been hell for all of them. All of the gangs, crime affiliates, and dealers had been scared out of town, taken over, or murdered by the Markov family. She had never seen anything like it. They had attempted to get the Fed's attention to their situation, but without creditable evidence that the Markov brothers were actually in town they had nothing and therefore no assistance. Voight was right. They were smart. These guys stayed in the shadows having their soldiers do their dirty work.

"Usually no, but it turns out our friend Leo here was caught off guard by the witness's daughter in law. She pulled an officer's gun off the floor and fired at him."

Everyone in the room nodded in a moment of respect.

"Sir we had a call from New York here not too long ago—asking about Chicago license plate numbers. I gave him the info I found and haven't heard back." Detective Antonio Dawson brought up. "I believe it was related to the Central Park Abduction."

"Did they follow up the lead?" Voight asked.

"Not that I know of, but I can find out." Dawson answered.

"Good." Voight nodded. "While Dawson and Halstead take care of that I want the rest of you to be focusing on these three."

They all watched as Voight attached the pictures of Georgina Sparks, Dimitri Markov, and Milo Humphrey. Blair's heart sank at the sight of the smiling little boy.

"So they are definitely here? In Chicago?" Erin asked.

"From the private intel I've been getting from my friend in New York, yes, they strongly believe all signs point here, but for how long, that remains unclear—that's why we have to move."

Voight looked back over at Erin.

"Erin you and I are gonna take off for the airport and pick up the boy's parents. They are flying in today."

Erin nodded and started putting on her jacket.

"The rest of you, start looking into all of our intel the past few weeks and see if anything spikes your interest. We will be back with the Humphreys."

XXXXX

I know I know I know! Shame on me for keeping you all waiting! I have had this story swimming around in my head for so long and finally I have the time to spill it out onto paper for you all. Let me know if you like where the story is going. Thank you all for following, commenting, and favoriting! I hope you all and enjoy and that this was worth the wait! We are heading to Chicago! Who all watches Chicago PD/Fire? Love the shows- just thought it would be fun to do a little combining Enjoy!