I had planned on updating before now. I've been dealing with inflammation in my hand. I've been wearing a brace so it's been hard to type.

Several days had gone by since Jay had called Evelyn. She hadn't called him back. He had wondered if he should try to call her again. Then an ongoing case had a new lead and he hadn't had the chance.

"Halstead. Have you heard from Evie?" Voight asked him.

"I have not. And I haven't had a chance to call her." He was about to offer to call her when she walked in with Platt.

"Halstead." Platt nodded before walking downstairs.

"Hey. Sorry I didn't call you back." She hugged him. She had her hair up and he noticed the scar on her neck. It was the burn from the car fire that almost killed her.

"Is that the from the explosion?" He asked. He couldn't remember what her injury had been.

"No. I was in an accident when I was in college. The car burst into flames. The one you are thinking of is the scar from my ankle to my thigh. Shrapnel ripped my leg open."

"Ouch." He cringed. "I vaguely remember that."

"Yeah. Anyway." She hadn't intended to talk about her scars. She shook her head in an attempt to clear her head. "So the reason I'm here. I finally brought myself to sell my ring. Not long after Brandon left he called and asked for the ring back. I lied and told him I sold it. He seemed agitated, but I didn't care. I had it appraised earlier this week by a guy here in Chicago. It was then that things got weird."

"How so?" He asked.

"He ran the serial number after he gave me the appraisal amount. Standard procedure I guess. The serial number matches an identical ring that was stolen in a jewelry heist ten years ago." She knew her hands were shaking. "It was in Chicago and the store clerk was killed."

"Whoa. So how did Brandon get his hands on it?"

"I don't know. Maybe it was part of a 'pharmaceutical' sale?" She shrugged.

"You still have it?"

She pulled the box out of her purse and handed it to him. "It's a pink sapphire. The accent stones are white and yellow sapphires. It appraised for over eighteen grand."

"Damn!" He opened the box. "What size is this thing?"

"3 carats at least."

"I've never seen a rock that big." Atwater shook his head in disbelief.

"I can't sell it knowing that it was stolen. And knowing that someone was killed over it. I don't want it in my possession." Her conscience had been eating her alive.

"Where is this Brandon character at?" Voight asked.

"Last I heard, he was in Mexico." She looked at him.

"You think he was in on the heist?"

"I don't know. I am realizing more and more that I didn't really know him. He told me he was a drug rep. Then I learn it was not only sales, but acquisition and distribution. He also managed to hide the fact that he had a kid while I was in Afghanistan."

"Sneaky." Olinsky said. "And smart."

"We'll look into it." Voight assured her.

"Thank you."

"I know this isn't what you wanted to talk to me about." Evelyn shrugged.

"No big." He shrugged. "Are you okay?"

"I don't know. I guess. I thought I had put him behind me." She didn't know how she was.

"Hang in there." He smiled.

"I'm trying." She admitted.

"Hey, we're all getting together tonight at Molly's. I'll text you the address. You should come."

"Sounds good. I'll see you there."

Evelyn walked into Molly's. She saw Jay and his coworkers at one of the tables.

Jay saw her and motioned for her to join them. "Hey Ev." He was glad she came.

"Hello." She said when she walked up to the table.

"I'm going to get another round. You in?" Ruzek asked her.

"Sure. Thanks."

"No problem." He walked to the bar.

"Evie. I asked Jay to call you the other day." Voight began.

"I wondered if it was something like that."

"Here you go." Ruzek walked up with the beers. Gabby Dawson had met him halfway.

"Let me guess." Evelyn picked up her bottle. "You have questions about my uncle." She took a sip.

"Mmhmm." Voight nodded.

"What do you want to know?"

"Why are you in Chicago when your uncle is still alive?"

She chuckled. "I was led to believe that he was dead and gone. Apparently that individual and I have different definitions of 'dead and gone'. Besides, I was ready to come back. I have a niece that I barely know. I don't know how much my uncle kept tabs on me. I don't even know if he ever knew where I went."

"So why risk it?" He asked.

"For family. Immediate family anyway. They're worth the risk."

"What about your brother? Nick?"

"What about him?"

"Are you willing to protect him?"

"Protect him from what?"

"The consequences of his actions."

"I don't even know what he does. He doesn't tell me. And if I ask he tells me I don't want to know. So I don't ask."

"Evie. I need you to trust me…" Voight began.

"Hank." She shook her head. "Trust isn't easy. Especially where I come from. Trusting a cop is a sure fire way to end up in a ditch somewhere. And God forbid you trust the wrong cop." She had lost people that way.

"Agreed." He nodded.

"I would like to give you the benefit of the doubt Hank because you saved my life. I'd like to know I can trust you, but knowing and doing are two different things."

"I understand. Know that you can trust me."

She swirled the liquid in her bottle and debated on whether or not to say what she was thinking. "And what if I don't trust you?"

"Hank wants to make sure you stay safe." Lindsay spoke up.

"Appreciated." She nodded at Lindsay. "But what if I don't trust you Hank? Are you going to make me disappear?"

Olinsky made a face. So she did know more than she let on.

"Only people I ever made disappear were the people who needed to." He said in a low voice.

"Agreed." She nodded and finished her beer.

"So?" He needed her to trust him.

"Doesn't mean I trust you. Yet." She glanced at her phone when it buzzed. "I have to go."

"Is everything okay?" Jay asked her.

"That remains to be seen." She muttered.

"What?" Jay didn't hear what she said.

"Everything's okay." She offered him a smile. "Thanks for the beer Ruzek. I'll buy a round next time."

"I'll hold you to it." He gave her a thumbs up.

"I'll walk you out." Jay offered.

"Thanks. Good night." She said before turning to walk out.

"Ev." Jay called her.

She hadn't let him walk her out.

"Ev talk to me."

"About what Jay?" She turned around.

"What's going on? Are you really okay?" He was concerned about her.

She noted his concern. It was sweet. "I would like to say I'm okay. But I don't know."

"I understand." He pulled her into a hug.

"Thank you." She leaned her head against his chest. She was glad she knew someone who understood what she was going through.

"Anytime." He smiled.

"Night Jay." She walked to her car.

Thank you for reading! :)