AN: Hope everyone is having a wonderful Sunday morning! I hope you enjoy this next installment. It is the last chapter with a flashback scene to start. Not saying that I might not have some flashbacks in the future. I might, but this is the last chapter with The past/The present set up. Which should tell you something. Pretty much a Burzek story from here on out. Maybe. Oh you'll see. I know you've gotten these song lyrics at the beginning of each chapter and I've kind of left them there without comment. This chapter and probably the next one I will comment. Normally, the songs are just something I've been listening to and have helped with my writing. Occasionally, the songs come to have meaning. These lyrics have such a double meaning for this story. You could honestly say that they could represent Kim or Rachel to Adam. However, in the end...there is only one that actually fits. Happy reading!

How yah been I'd love to hear bout how you been
You're the only broken heart I've ever had and love to have again

I hope you find the storm that you were chasing
Hope your eyes are still as full of dreams

"21 Summer" – Brothers Osbourne

The Past

This day will be one that I will always remember. The day my life changed forever. I was sitting at my desk in the unit doing paperwork and joking around with Atwater and Halstead when my phone rang. Maggie was the last voice I ever expected to hear on the other end and hearing that Rachel had been admitted was the last news I ever expected to get. I ran out of there with barely an explanation except that Rachel was in the hospital. Word apparently got around the district cause of course those two can't keep their mouths shut, but I'm getting ahead of myself. I showed up at the hospital and immediately made my way to Maggie. She pointed me in the direction of Rachel's room and I made my way in.

"I told her not to call you! It was nothing."

"Passing out is not nothing. Have they found out what happened?"

This was when Rachel's eyes began to mist slightly and she nodded her head. She wasn't looking at me which told me that she was having a hard time getting the words out.

"Yes. My blood sugar was quite low since I had skipped breakfast. After doing three surgeries back to back, I guess I was dehydrated as well."

"You've done that before. What was different this time?"

I watched as Rachel took a deep breath and then looked right at me.

"I'm pregnant."

Mind blank. Information not computing. Can you say shock?

"What?"

"Apparently, my birth control is not as effective as it is supposed to be."

Ok.

"You're pregnant?"

"Yes... Adam, you're scaring me. Are you ok?"

Nope not ok. Shocked, scared, overwhelmed. That would cover it. However, I could see the same fear in Rachel's eyes as well. And then it hit me. I was going to have a baby with her. I knew if I could do this with anyone it would be her. She was a doctor for crying out loud. That should put us ahead of the game.

"I'm scared out of my mind, but I think we'll be ok. Are you okay? Is the baby ok? Are they still running tests? What do we need to do?"

"Whoa. Slow down. I'm fine. The baby is fine. I just need to eat. They'll be checking me out of here in a bit. I just need to lighten my load a bit and take my vitamins. You're ok with this?"

"What's not to be okay with?"

"It's a baby, Adam. You are stuck with me now. For life."

"So? I've always wanted kids. I've never been scared about that."

I could tell that I had shocked her. Well, good to know I could still surprise her.

I walked back into the district later that day, so I could finish up some work. Rachel had basically kicked me out of the apartment since she said I was hovering too much. Whatever. She shouldn't have to get up to put her glass away in the dishwasher. She shouldn't have to lift anything too heavy. Ok, maybe I was being a bit overprotective, but she had fainted that morning. Anyway. I almost ran into Kim as I was coming around a corner.

"Hey. Is Rachel okay? Everyone has been worried about her."

Great. She would love to know that the District 21 rumor mill had picked up on this.

"She's good. Back home."

"Great."

Kim went to turn around and I knew I needed to say something.

"Kim."

She turned back and walked back to me.

"I guess this falls into the wanting you to hear it from me and not someone else. Rachel's pregnant."

I didn't want to acknowledge it at the time, but I saw it. The momentary flash of pain that went across Kim's eyes before she put on the smile.

"Congratulations. That's great news. Tell her I said so. I've got to get going."

I let her go and made my way back up to my desk. It seemed so strange to be doing something as mundane as paperwork and know that my life was going to change. I just once again had no idea how much.

The Present

The let down from the birthday weekend was not as bad as I thought it would be. I had been prepared that once the noise and the stress had gone away that I would feel depressed or like the hole in my life that had been left by Rachel was bigger or something. Strangely, that did not happen. I'm not sure if it was because the whole weekend had been about the good or focusing on the future. Belle's future. I don't know. I missed Rachel like crazy, but missing someone can happen as you move forward. Or at least focus on your life as it is. Strange thing is. I seem to have a very different view of how my life is.

I guess I need to explain this.

It was bound to happen that one night I would not be able to find a babysitter for Belle. Inevitable. Atwater's Mom was on the night shift and so was my Dad. Atwater's siblings were at an Aunt's or cousin's already so he was at the station. I tried calling my Mother, but as always she was off somewhere not answering her phone. That's when I called Kim. My initial thought was that I should have called her before my mother, but I was giving Mom a chance. When she picked up, I could tell that something was up. She was playing cool which was not how Kim normally answered the phone.

"Hey, Adam. What's up?"

"Um…I just got called into work. You wouldn't happen to be available, would you?"

"Oh….No. I'm not. Sorry."

"Ok. I'll figure something out. No big deal. Talk to you later."

"Sorry. Good luck."

As I hung up, I wondered why that conversation felt like there was a hidden undercurrent to it. There was just something that felt off. Calling Voight to tell him that I couldn't get a sitter was going to suck. I texted Antonio to see if he had any ideas and to say I was shocked when he texted back that he had back up on the way was an understatement. That theme continued when I heard my door bell ring and found Platt and Mouch on my door step.

"Sarg,…Um can I help you?"

"We're here to watch the munchkin, Pretty boy. Antonio called and said you needed help."

I was skeptical. I really was. Till Mouch waved at Belle and she basically reached for him like she had known him her whole life. I was getting a bit concerned that my girl was getting a little too comfortable with strangers. Coming home that night, I found Mouch asleep on my recliner and Platt coming out of Belle's nursery.

"She's sleeping like a baby in there. Hasn't made a peep. I'll wake the bear and we'll get out of here. The tip pan out?"

"Yeah. All good. I'm sure you will hear about it tomorrow. Thanks, Sarg."

"No problem. You know we've all got you."

I did know that. However, there is a flip side to that family thing. Sometimes family also tries to open your eyes to what is going on right in front of your face.

"Yo, Dawg. Can I say something?"

I was now sitting in a car with Atwater watching a store front waiting to see if our suspect was going to show up. We had been here for about two hours and so far, the outlook on that one was not looking good.

"Sure, Man. What's up?"

"Ummm….don't you think that maybe you should be setting some boundaries…for Kim…and yourself."

I slowly began to set the binoculars down that I had been looking through. I turned to look at Atwater. What in the hell was he talking about?

"Look, I'm just saying. She came to me trying to make sure that you weren't upset that she couldn't sit with Belle. She was worried that you would quit calling or that you would think she was on a date or something."

"Was she?"

"Does that matter?"

"No."

I could feel Kevin analyzing me at this point.

"Are you sure about that?"

"Yes."

"Ok. Well, I'm just thinking that maybe you need to lay that out. I'm your friend and your partner, but I also have that with her. I just don't want to see something blow up with you two again because you both like to ignore the obvious."

"What's the obvious?"

Kevin's big body almost shuddered with the big breath he took to speak the truth.

"That you both have history and that you could both quickly get emotionally invested in the other. Just possibly for very different reasons."

"I would never purposefully hurt her."

"I know that, but you did it before and so did she."

I turned away and looked back towards the store front. Part of me was hoping that the damn suspect would appear and give me something else to think about. I knew I was never that lucky.

"I hear you, Kev. I'll consider it."

"All I'm asking."

He, of course, said that like it was no great thing. It was harder than I thought. Knowing something in your head and then actually having to deal with it. Two completely different things. He was right. I was beginning to rely on Kim being there which wasn't fair. I needed to look at my situation and figure things out. For me and for Belle. I guess it only made sense for me to go and talk with my Pops. He had crossed this bridge and even if I didn't make his decision, I needed his advice. I just had no idea that he would actually be there to completely fix it. Turns out that my Pops had reached his number. He was done. Retirement with pension. He actually said he was going to call me to see if I wanted to give Belle a stable place to come when I was at work. Even offered to come to my place at night if I got called in late. My old man is the best. Plain and simple. He is the rock in my life that has allowed me to be who I am. He's never asked for anything else and I have no idea how I will ever be able to thank him enough.

Momma Atwater was so sad when I told her that Belle's last day would be in about a month, but she also gave me a huge bear hug when she found out why. "Good. She'll get plenty of grandparent spoiling then. She deserves it. You better still bring her around. I better not have to hunt you down." Oh Mamma Atwater would never have that problem. I knew better than that.

I knew I was going to have to talk to Kim. It had only been a couple days since I had talked with Kevin and I could see the look in his eyes after he had heard my news. I couldn't tell if he was happy with the moves I was making or what was going on with him.

Opportunity presented itself when I ran into Kim in the basement file room. She was pulling something and I was heading in to try and find a file in that archaic room. Mouse could not digitize this stuff fast enough for me. Kim looked up as I came in and the smile she gave me for a moment warmed me before I realized what I was going to have to do.

"Hey. I'm glad I ran into you."

"What's up? I hadn't heard from you for the last couple of days. Intelligence on vacation or something?"

"Nah. Just been getting stuff done during the day for a change. Look, I wasn't sure if you heard. My Pops is retiring."

"Yeah, I saw that in the newsletter. Tell him congrats. That's awesome. Is he looking forward to it or dreading it? Does he have any plans for all that free time?"

I could feel myself begin to look away, but I forced myself to look back to Kim. I needed to take all this in and I needed to make sure that she and I were going to be okay.

"He's looking forward to it. He's actually planning on being a full time babysitter. He's going to start taking Belle regularly."

I could see that Kim was processing what I was saying, so I just kept talking.

"I figure it's the best thing for everyone. I know that Belle will always have someone to watch her and she will be able to stay on a set schedule. It also lets everyone else start making plans without having to worry about me. Or what I might have going on. You know. Plan that outing or date or whatever."

There's a frown. Kim's frowning.

"Adam, none of us minded that. I loved staying with Belle. If you still need someone to sit with her at night…"

"No, my Dad said he would come over."

"Well, if he has plans or needs a night out."

"I'll keep that in mind. Look, I'll let you get back to pulling what you need. I believe my stuff is on the other side of this maze. I'll see you around."

I had to walk away. For some reason, Kim's disappointment hurt me just as much as it hurt her.