The song I chose for this chapter is one of my all time favourites, so I recommend you all check it out. In other news, I will be away next weekend for a tournament, so I don't know when I'll be back or if I'll have wifi. I will try to get the next chapter out on Sunday, but it may not get out until later in the week. Just thought I should give you all a head's up.

Chapter Fifteen: So Gung Ho To Lay Down Our Lives

(Goodnight Saigon – Billy Joel)

"Are you out of your mind?" Voight spat.

Dawson sighed. "Probably," he confessed. "Look, we're on our way now. I'll let you know if we find anything. You can kill me when I get back."

"Dawson, Erin was shot. She can't just go parading around. She could re-open her wound. She could die Dawson."

"You think I don't know that?" Dawson rebutted. "I told her she should take it easy, but you and I both know there's no way either of us can stop her now. I'll keep an eye on her, keep her safe, but I can't make her give up looking."

Voight sighed in defeat. "Fine," he huffed. "Just make sure to call me the moment you find anything."

Dawson nodded, even though Voight couldn't see the action from over the phone. "Will do," he promised. With that, both men hung up and Dawson turned his attention to Lindsay who was leaning up against their car. "He's going to have both our heads when we get back, but we're good to do this one raid."

Lindsay smirked. "Told ya'."

Dawson rolled his eyes, putting away his phone and pulling out his firearm. "Let's do this."

Lindsay pulled out he run and followed her fellow detective into an abandoned warehouse. They had tracked the Ferrari that Dante had taken back to the building. The place was condemned, due to be destroyed at the end of the month. The fact that Dante was keeping the car in a place set for demolition made the two detectives think that Dante planned on skipping down after the whole affair was over.

The space was large and mostly empty. It was just one massive empty room, with only one car at the far end. The two detectives made their way to the far end of the room where the Ferrari was placed. Without hesitating, Dawson smashed in the driver's side window and unlocked the car. He then opened the door and slid inside.

"Damn, this is a nice car," he said in awe as he popped the trunk.

Lindsay slipped behind to check the contents of the trunk while Dawson flipped through the glove compartment.

"Dawson," Lindsay exclaimed. "I think I found something."

"Same here," Dawson announced, slipping out of the car and joining Lindsay at the back of the vehicle. He handed her an envelope. She opened it to find two sets of identification, plane tickets and passports, everything necessary to start a new life.

"These are for Dante and Ripper," Dawson explained. "Look at the photos."

"They plan on getting as far away as possible the moment this done this is done," Lindsay pointed out. "According to these tickets they're heading for the Bahamas."

"Did they know we'd catch on or was this just a precaution?" Dawson mused.

"I don't think it was just a precaution." Lindsay pointed at the trunk's contents. It was completely full of money. "Unless they are just extremely paranoid."

"No...They put this all together just before taking Jay. If they were paranoid this would've been set up a while ago, during the planning stage."

"There's something about the plan that they didn't know until recently. Something that made them want to run as soon as it's all over."

"You think it's Valerie's endgame?" Dawson asked. "The one with collateral that Halstead was talking about?"

"It's possible...How do you figure they got all this money?"

"I'd think it was from Valerie, as payment, but where would she get all this cash? Maybe it's an old stash."

Lindsay frowned. "Could be, but...Ripper was jailed up for a bar fight. He had no reason to set up a stash, or any means to acquire this kind of money. Neither did Dante. Wait..." she trailed off.

"What're you thinking?"

"Ripper's brother is the CEO of Avail Gem. He'd have access to this kind of money."

"Yeah. So? He cut Ripper off five years ago. Why would he give him money now?"

Lindsay shrugged. "None of the three have any other means to acquire this kind of cash."

"Then, let's go pay this CEO a visit," Dawson suggested.

Lindsay nodded. "I'll call Platt, get her to send a unit to sit on this place, just in case. You should Voight, let him know..." she froze.

"Lindsay?"

"Dawson look at these tickets," she instructed as she pushed them into his hands. "Take off is tomorrow. Whatever's happening..."

"It's happening today," Dawson finished.

Olinsky knocked on the door, as Voight walked up the steps to join him.

"They found Ripper and Dante's get-away stash. Lots off cash, they're going to talk to Daniel Vanto, Ripper's brother, the CEO of Avail Gem. They also found plane tickets, taking off tomorrow."

"Valerie's endgame is going down today then, I take it."

"That's what they guessed."

The door was opened by Leland Marshall. "Hank Voight?" he greeted, confused.

"Hello Lee," Voight said as nicely as he could. "This is detective Alvin Olinsky."

"You can call me Al," Olinsky greeted as he shook the man's hand.

"May we come in?" Voight asked.

"Oh...uh...Of course." he stumbled, before leading them to the dining room and offering them both a seat. "Would you like something to drink?"

"No, we're fine thanks," Olinsky insisted.

"Lee," Voight instructed politely. "We do not come bearing good news. You may wish to sit down."

"Is it about Essa?" He worried. "Is she okay? She's not part of the whole conspiracy to get back at you is she? I never should've given up on her."

"Were you aware that your fiance is close with Essa?"

He shrugged. "They were good friends, it doesn't surprise me that they stayed in touch after I severed ties, but Valerie hasn't talked about Essa in over a year, I'd assumed they'd lost touch."

Voight shook his head. "I'm afraid they stayed in touch."

"That's a good thing isn't it? Essa could use someone stable in her life, someone like Valerie."

"Valerie...she's not..she's not 'stable'," Voight admitted.

"What are you talking about? She's to be the mother of my child I think I know whether of not she's 'stable'...and she is!"

Voight and Olinsky shared a sad look. "She's not going to be the mother of your child."

"What?" Lee whispered.

"She lost the child, she never told you. She didn't want you to hate her."

Lee shook his head, furiously. "You have no idea what you're talking about," he managed.

Olinsky frowned. "Lee, I'm sorry, but it's true. Valerie joined up with Essa to get revenge on Hank. Except, we believe, for your fiance, it's about something more."

"Why are you telling me this? Why are you lying to me?"

"Lee," Voight assured him. "I would never lie to you about this. I am not that cruel."

Tears welled up in Lee's eyes. "My child...is dead?"

Voight nodded. "She couldn't handle the truth I'm afraid and decided that it would be easier to lie to you and distract herself by helping Essa get her revenge. However, it evolved into something much more personal. We're not sure what, but we know she's planning some big endgame."

"How?"

"Huh?"

"You told me they were trying to get revenge against you because of Hansen's death? How?"

"They tried to kill one of my detectives and took another hostage. They strapped him into a bomb vest and forced him to hold a dead man's switch, just like Hansen."

Lee let out a jagged breath, leaning back in his chair. "Valerie...she's not capable of something like that...When I told her about Hansen and you...she was so understanding...she didn't blame you at all."

"This isn't about Hansen, not for Valerie. She feels like she's lost everything, your child and you."

"She hasn't lost me," he whispered sadly. "If she'd told me...I'd never have blamed her. I'd never have...I'm sorry."

"It's alright," Olinsky assured him. "We just need to know if you have any idea what her endgame might be."

"No- I- I never even suspected...Is it possible you're wrong- about Valerie and our child?"

"I'm afraid there is no doubt."

A single tear made it's way down Lee's face. "We were going to name him Ryan, Ryan Marshall. Isn't that a beautiful name? We never asked the doctors if it was a boy or girl, but Valerie knew...she knew..." he trailed off. "Do you know how long...how long ago she lost the baby?"

Voight shook his head. "I'm so sorry for your loss Lee."

"It's not your fault Hank. None of this is. Some people are just made to lose. Over and over." He closed his eyes. "Everything I touch burns to ash."

"That's not true Lee," Voight promised.

He let out a sad laugh. "Isn't it though? I tried so hard to move past everything in my past, but...I just can't catch a break. This world would be better off without me."

"Valerie, she loves you Lee. She wanted only to spare you from the pain you are feeling right now," Olinsky explained. "And I know how hard you tried to help Essa. She was slowly getting better, wasn't she? Until you got shot."

Lee opened his eyes. "I remember that night. They said it was a gain initiation. They never found the mugger though. Valerie was so worried...and Essa, she kept thinking of Hansen, muttering how if I left she had nothing. She wasn't the same after that night, neither of them."

"How so?"

"Essa slowly got worse and worse. Valerie got over protective. That's normal though. Right?"

"It isn't unusual for one to worry about someone they love after an event like that," Olinsky confirmed.

"Is that why she's doing all this? To protect me? Oh my god..." he gasped putting his hand over his mouth. "Your detectives, their lives are at risk because of me..."

"This isn't about you, Lee. It's about fear and trauma and all sorts of things that no one can really understand unless they are the one committing the crimes," Olinsky assured him.

Lee nodded, wiping tears from his eyes. "Um...unless you have any more questions...I'd like to be alone now." The two detectives nodded and excused themselves. Once they shut the front door behind them, Voight turned to his friend.

"He was right. This is about Lee. For Valerie, this entire crusade is all about the fact that she thinks she lost her fiance along with her child."

Olinsky nodded. "Her endgame then, should have something to do with Lee. It's about redemption for her. She wants to go out feeling like she's made up for losing their child."

Voight sighed. "But how is she going to achieve that?"

"That's what we need to find out."

"Mr. Vanto will see you now," A woman said, leading Lindsay and Dawson into an office.

"Detectives," Daniel Vanto greeted. "To what do I owe the pleasure?"

Dawson forced a smile. "We're here about your brother? He goes by Ripper, but you know him as Elijah."

Daniel sighed. "Yes...What's he gotten himself into this time."

"Attempted murder and kidnapping, both involving police officers."

Daniel let out another sigh, shaking his head. "Elijah always was the troubled child. Either way, I'm afraid I can't help you. I cut all ties with my brother five years ago. Last I heard he was still in jail."

"Well, he's not anymore," Lindsay spat.

Dawson shot her a warning look before turning back to Daniel. "Your brother came into quite a bit of cash recently," he began, showing the CEO a picture of all the cash. "And we were wondering how he might have gotten all that."

"I'm assuming he stole it. Or dealt drugs. Or he borrowed it from a loan shark."

Lindsay rolled her eyes. "No. He's been too busy torturing cops. Besides, that's way too much many to steal without attracting a lot of attention, get from selling drugs and no loan shark would loan anyone that much."

"Then, I have no idea how he got all that money. I'm sorry."

Lindsay shook her head. "That's not good enough. We think that you gave it to him."

"I cut Elijah off five years ago. Why would I help him now?"

"I don't care why you did it," Lindsay snapped. "I just know that you did. Where is Elijah now?"

"I don't know!" The CEO defended. "Look, my brother was always a worthless piece of crap, even my parents thoughts so. When they died in a car accident, I did my best to raise that worthless waste of space, but I never could get him into shape. He was always taking more and more money. Five years ago, I decided I'd had enough and cut ties. He was taking me down with him. I was done being dragged down by a wash out. Why would I fall back into that pattern now?"

Lindsay went to speak, but Dawson cut her off. "Maybe he threatened you, blackmailed you. If that's the case we'll let it slide. Or maybe, it's just the fact that he's your brother and when he told you how much of a problem he was in you couldn't help it."

Daniel's voice became dead serious. "I didn't give Elijah anything. I have not seen him since I cut him off five years ago, and I've been better for it."

"You don't have to protect him."

"I'm not!" Daniel insisted. "If Elijah walked in here asking for a dime, let alone a million, I would have security kick his ass to the curb and call the cops. I want nothing to do with that piece of crap."

Dawson sighed. "Is it possible you gave the money to someone else? A name known as Dante? His birth name is Patrick Quair."

Daniel huffed, "I haven't done business with anyone named Quair. I haven't given away a million dollars to anyone except for long time business partners."

"Could one of them be connected to your brother?" Lindsay growled.

"No!" Daniel barked. "I would never work with a criminal!"

"Then how'd your brother get all that money?" she hissed.

"Don't ask me. You're the cops."

Lindsay let out an angry breath. She took off her jacket, revealing her shirt, bloodstained for her wounds recent reopening.

"This," she spat, pointing at the dried blood. "Is where your brother shot me! He took my partner hostage and I will do whatever it takes to get him back! Now you can either help willingly or against your will, I really don't care!"

"Lindsay!" Dawson snapped. "Take a walk." She shot her friend a look of protest, but he shut her down. "I said, take a walk."

Lindsay stormed out of the office and Dawson turned back to the CEO. "Everything she said is true. We need to know if you've given that kind of money away to anyone recently. Even if it was a business transaction. Please."

"My business partners wouldn't like knowing I just gave this information away."

"They wouldn't have to know. My unit can be very discrete."

Daniel sighed. "Fine, but this doesn't trace back to me."

"Not at all."

After one last sigh, Daniel sat down at his computer. "You can wait outside, I'll bring the list out to you in a minute."

"Thank you," Dawson said before leaving the room and finding Lindsay who was angrily pacing back and forth.

"You sent me out," she snapped.

"You lost your cool. Again."

"I was trying to help find Halstead."

Dawson sat down in a nearby chair, leaning back exasperatedly. "You can't keep doing this Erin. How many fights have we had since he went missing? We all want to find him. We are all doing what we think will achieve that end."

Lindsay sighed, sitting down beside him. "I know."

The two sat in silence, both unsure of what to say, unsure if there were any words that could be said to summarize what they wanted to say.

"You're acting like Voight," Dawson confessed.

Lindsay laughed. "Yeah. I guess I am." She let out a quick sigh. "He always gets things done. He always kept his team safe. He always kept me safe."

Dawson looked over at her. "He will get Halstead back. We will get Halstead back."

She looked down at her shirt, at the bloodstain on it. "I want revenge," she confessed. "Not just for Jay, for me too. I don't even want to feel useless again. I don't want to be stuck in a hospital bed when my partner needs me. I don't want to be weak. They made me weak, even if only for a bit. They made me weak. I'm not weak, and I won't let they get away with making me feel weak."

"You're not weak," Dawson promised.

"No." She shook her head. "No, I'm not." She took a deep breath before rising to her feet and putting her jacket back on. "I'm not weak. Valerie Marshall will learn that."

Dawson smiled and nodded, but said nothing.

Just then, Daniel Vanto approached them with a list. He handed it to Dawson and returned to his office. Dawson looked at Lindsay with a smile waving the list.

"Let's head back to the station and see what we got."

TADA! I'm actually quite happy with this chapter. I really wanted to show Lindsay as a strong character, because I feel like I've been portraying her as a character entirely focused on finding Jay. She does really want to find him, but I feel like she'd also want to get her own revenge. I don't know. It makes sense in my head. Don't worry though, there will be more Lindstead in upcoming chapters. The big confrontation is coming up in the next couple chapters. I hope to get the next chapter up on Sunday, but no promises.

Thanks so much for all the great support. I really hope you enjoyed this chapter as much as I enjoyed writing it.

Next Chapter:

Chapter Sixteen: Much Too Much At Stake