Chapter Nine

Back in Business

Will walked up next to Dylan and entered his password on the workstation to his right. "Hey," he greeted with a friendly smile. However, he didn't take his eyes from the screen. "Look, my brother said to tell you to wait for Kevin at the small coffee shop around the corner from here. Be there in an hour."

"I appreciate it but I have some place to be-," he began.

"If you're thinking about trying to find Jo on your own – just forget it," Will replied disapprovingly.

"I think I know enough about Curkola's hiding spots," Dylan reminded him.

Will shook his head. "No, no you don't. And even if you did, you're not going there. Not when Intelligence is offering to help out. I know your father is a police lieutenant and that your sister also works within the police force but you told me to trust you with Jo and now I am telling you to trust my brother. It is as simple as that."

"Officer Atwater - Kevin - huh?" Doctor Scott stated.

Will logged out and patted him on his back. "Soon to be Detective Atwater. You tell him I said hi."

OOOOOO

Sharon Goodwin glanced up from her laptop at the sharp knock on her door. She smiled as Sergeant Voight stepped into the room. "Hank," she said mildly surprised. "I missed you when you were brought in and when I was coming to visit, you'd already left."

He managed a tight smile. "You didn't miss much. I heard you got a granddaughter in grand style; over at that fancy rooftop restaurant across the city."

She laughed amusedly as she got out of her office chair and headed over to the conference table, motioning for him to follow her and take a seat. "Of course, running the CPD Intelligence, I should have known those rumors had already reached you."

"Huh," he grunted as he sat down opposite her. "I've heard you have had visitors in the form of officers from the narcotics unit."

"Yes, a Lieutenant Regina Jeffords came here with a team. We had some trouble with rivaling gangs, we got a commotion in the hallways in which Doctor Scott was injured. Luckily the patient survived the assassination attempt," Goodwin replied seriously.

"Then you might also know that a patient who was brought in here a few weeks ago, whom Doctor Scott treated, was an officer deeply undercover?" he pushed.

Sharon studied the policeman in front of her for a moment. He looked pale, his right arm was in a sling and he carried no service weapon. Then she began to count the days backwards, realizing that he had an operation only three days ago.

"Hank," she said softly. "Are you okay? I mean, you literally just came out of surgery."

He looked amused for a moment but ignored her concern. "That officer had important information about the Serbian Mafia which she entrusted in Doctor Scott's hands."

Sharon sat up a little straighter. "He never told me any of that. Why?" she asked.

"Because there is a mole in the team that was put together three years ago to oversee her covert mission," he deadpanned. "As Doctor Scott decided to hide her from the mafia in Doctor Halstead's apartment building, someone from the crime network blew her cover, tried to assassinate her and burned the place down to get rid of any lingering evidence."

Goodwin shuddered at that. "I don't like the sound of any of it."

"Now she's gone rough, trying to get her credibility back. She's playing a dangerous game because these people don't shy away from murder while trying to get to her or anyone else for that matter with knowledge about their organization. The money involved in such an operation is swindling and well worth killing for," he finished.

Sharon shook her head. "Wait a minute, Hank. I don't understand. Why didn't Lieutenant Jeffords mention anything about this?"

Voight leaned forward, his eyes locking with hers. "Because she doesn't have access to that information," he replied. "Even if she had, she shouldn't have told you – hell, I shouldn't tell you either."

Sharon looked slightly taken aback by the revelation. "Please tell me that my doctors are safe," she asked worriedly.

"I don't like to make promises I can't keep," he replied cryptically. "But I am going to try and keep them safe in any way I can."

She breathed a sigh of relief. "Just let me know if there is anything I can do to help."

The corners of his lips curled upwards in a sly smile at the statement. "I was hoping you'd say that," he said.

OOOOOO

Dylan pursed his lips as Kevin let him in through a side entrance at the back of the house. For the benefit of others, they'd pretended to be long lost brothers who had just reunited and when they were sure no one longer followed them, they'd headed toward the 21st precinct.

The gruff and stern, somewhat sarcastic, desk sergeant had given him a look and shook her head as they walked by her station. "The one who got away," she had muttered.

It felt like she was offending him, condemning him for leaving the force and he suddenly got angry. "With all due respect, Sergeant Platt. I am old enough to make my own choices in life and I feel like I can help a lot more people over at Gaffney compared to being stuck in a patrol car all day."

"Ah, please come this way," Kevin said quickly and then leaned towards the doctor. "Don't tick her off. I promise you; it always backfires."

Dylan was about to say something when Will walked through the entrance and nodded at Platt.

"Upstairs," she replied with a nod, answering the silent question whether or not his brother was at the office.

Approximately one hour later Jay stifled a yawn and nodded at his brother and Dylan. "Thanks, I really appreciate this," he said. "I know you've both been interviewed earlier but new information came up that we wanted to share with you."

"No worries," Will assured his brother as he threw a glance over his shoulder and noticed that it had turned dark outside the window. "I just want to get out of this mess. I have enough to do as it is. I don't want to worry about some Serbian Mafia looking over my shoulder."

Dylan looked at him sheepishly. "Will, about that. I am truly sorry, man."

He shrugged. "I am a grown man. I could have turned you down. It was my choice to house Jo for the night," he assured his colleague. "Besides, if you try to apologize one more time, I'll punch you in the face."

"Making threats to a colleague is a criminal offence, Will," Jay pointed out with a smirk.

The doctor made a face. "Funny Jay," he drawled.

"Anyway," Jay turned to Dylan. "I am glad you decided against a nightly visit to Curkola's place on your own. We'll find Jo, don't worry."

A moment of silence settled over the three occupants in the small room next to Voight's office.

"So?" Will began as he watched his brother's tense glance towards the entrance. "Where is your illustrious sergeant?"

Dylan frowned. "Is Voight at work?" he asked skeptically and shook his head, totally condemning the man's decision. "I saw him myself yesterday but I told him to go home and rest. Given the condition he was in a few days ago-," he trailed off.

Jay smirked amusedly. "And you expected him to listen to that?" He couldn't help himself as he added ironically. "You've worked the beat. I thought you'd heard my boss is invincible?"

Scott leaned forward. "Yeah, according to rumors he's bulletproof too but I think we can discard that one now."

"Speak of the devil," Jay muttered as the man in question walked up the stairs and strode through the bullpen. He stuck his head out in the other room and nodded for the other man to come. "Sarge!"

Voight appeared in the doorway, looking no worse for wear. He carried a folder in his left hand while the right was stuffed deep into his trouser pocket. If you didn't know the man had been shot recently, you could never have guessed.

"Yeah," he said and then nodded at the two doctors. "Will, Doctor Scott," he acknowledged.

Jay looked at him, as if wanting confirmation on something.

Voight gave a faint almost invisible nod.

Will noticed that his brother visibly relaxed for some reason, some of the tension leaving his wired body. He'd ask Jay about it later, now was not the time.

Jay turned back to the two physicians. "Thanks for coming over. We'll draw up a profile on this Nikola Curkola and take it from there."

"I never asked - what is the condition of your friend Jo?" Voight asked, looking at Scott.

"Luckily the gunshot wound wasn't as severe as I first thought. It missed her vital organs but-," he paused, studying the police sergeant for a moment. "-a bullet wound is not something to take lightly."

Voight seemed mildly amused yet perfectly relaxed as he caught the double meaning in the doctor's message. "Does that mean that her discharge from the hospital won't endanger her health?"

Scott's expression went dark. He was seriously worried about this woman. "I don't like it. I know what they are capable of. The longer she's with them-,"

"Okay," Voight interrupted. "Patrols are searching for her as we speak but so far no one's spotted her."

Scott nodded and then spoke up. "What about Intelligence?"

Voight's eyes settled on the burly doctor. "I have to ask you; do you believe this woman?"

"What kind of question is that?" Dylan asked angrily.

Voight appeared amused by the sudden rush of mixed emotions displayed on the good doctor's face. He shrugged, making a face. "You know what kind of question it is," he replied calmly.

The emergency pediatrician leaned back in his chair with a dark look on his face directed upon the sergeant. "Yeah. I had my doubts at first but now, I am sure."

"Good, then all we have to do is find her-," Voight replied and then nodded curiously at Jay. "Heard anything from Hailey?"

"Still checking but nothing so far."

Voight pursed his lips in displeasure. "We should get her to a safehouse."

Scott thought for a moment. "Why?"

"This can go sideways pretty quick if whatever intel I have is true," he answered cryptically.

Dylan nodded and slowly rose from his chair.

"What can go sideways? Do you know something?" Will asked with slight concern.

Scott looked at Voight and nodded his appreciation. The man was balancing perfectly between what he was allowed to tell them and what he wasn't since they weren't members of the CPD. "He can't tell us," he said for Will's benefit. "My father doesn't know either, does he?"

Voight met his eyes. "No," he replied seriously. "Nor does your sister's commanding officer so I'd appreciate if you could be a little restrictive when you do talk to them."

"You know Jo's full real name, don't you?" Dylan asked suddenly.

"I might," Voight deadpanned.

The doctor's respect went up a notch. The rumors of Voight working directly towards the deputy superintendent and/or the superintendent was obviously not exaggerated. The man had connections where it mattered. But then again, this was the CPD elite unit – the Intelligence Unit.

"Listen, one of us will let you know what's going on as soon as we have something," the sergeant added.

"Hank," Will called as the older man was starting to leave.

Voight halted in mid-step, a curious frown on his face.

"Are you alright?" the older Halstead brother asked.

"I'll be just fine," he replied cryptically and then retreated into his office, closing the door.

Jay pursed his lips into a thin line, a troubled look on his face. Voight didn't say 'I'm fine' which he normally would in a situation like this. He let it slip for now and followed his brother and Doctor Scott out.

Ten minutes later Burgess walked up to the sergeant's office and carefully opened the door, a folder in hand. She found her boss sprawled on the sofa. He was lying on his back, his eyes closed. She noticed that his right arm was tightly secured to his chest by his other arm. She was tempted to backtrack and close the door to leave him alone but thought better of it. Instead, she walked into the room, put the folder on his desk and gently knelt next to him. "Sarge," she called softly.

"Go away, Burgess," he managed, his voice subdued and his eyes closed.

Kim's eyes flashed with concern as she leaned closer, ignoring the stern tone of his raspy voice. After five years in the unit, she knew how he worked. While she might have been afraid and a little intimidated by him when on patrol, she was far from it now. He was her commanding officer, she respected that, but he was also human like the rest of them and right now he needed help. She fondly remembered when he'd brought her donuts while being hospitalized and wished her well, telling her everything would be fine. It was her time to make sure he would be just fine now. The younger woman gently placed her hand on his forehead and grimaced in surprise at how warm his skin was.

He slowly opened his dark brown eyes. "Kim," he began.

"You are burning up," she said.

"It's nothing," he replied quickly.

Kim rose and opened the door, searching for Ruzek. Jay was downstairs, Hailey was still out on the streets and Kevin should have left through the back door already to go to Med and see if he could secure more evidence. "Adam?" she called.

He came out from the break room with a steaming cup of coffee.

She nodded towards their sergeant's office. "I need your help," she whispered.

As they stepped into the office, Voight was sitting up on the sofa. "I didn't realize my office door was a revolving door," he muttered sourly.

Ignoring the remark, the two officers moved forward. Kim gently placed a hand on his shoulder. "Sarge, you need to get home and get some rest. Adam and I'll drive you."

Adam held his breath, wondering if Voight would let them, but after a moment's hesitation the older man nodded faintly.

"Okay," he said. "But then you leave. I am too old for a babysitter and you're too young to pretend to be my parents." The latter part came out in a lighter, almost teasing, tone. It was his way of saying he appreciated the gesture but didn't think it was necessary.

"Boss," Adam spoke up. "Everyone needs someone sometimes. We're here to help you because we want to help you. We have your back, just like you have had ours all these years."

Voight felt his mouth go dry at the sincere statement. It made Miller's offer so much harder to consider. If he took the position she'd offered him, he'd lose the only family he had left. They might not be his flesh and blood but he considered them to be his children. He'd go out of his way to help them anyway he could.

OOOOOO

To be continued