Chapter 2: A Night Out

The bar's atmosphere was buzzing with laughter and chatter as Sophie, Will, and Jay sat together, reminiscing about old times.

Will smiled, "You know, Sophie, you should really consider staying longer this time. Chicago Med needs someone like you."

Jay chimed in, "Yeah, we've missed having you around, and it's been fun tonight, catching up."

Sophie smiled, swirling her drink in her hand. "Well, I can't deny I've had a great time catching up with you guys. But you know how it is, I tend to get restless after a while."

Will leaned in, his eyes earnest. "We get it, but maybe this time, you can give it a real shot. You've got friends here who care about you, and there's so much more this city has to offer."

Sophie nodded, touched by their sincerity. "I appreciate that, truly. It's just that... well, I lost Mark, and since then, I've, you know, found it hard to put down roots anywhere."

Jay rested a hand on her shoulder, a protective gesture. "We get that it's tough, but you know we're here for you, Soph."

The conversation was interrupted as Sergeant Hank Voight walked into the bar. Jay excused himself to talk to Hank. As they both approached the table, Will greeted him, "Hey, Sgt Voight, good to see you."

Hank nodded and took a seat, a hint of a smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "Thanks, Will, and it's Hank. It's good to see you again, nurse."

Sophie grinned playfully, looking at Hank. "Sophie, not nurse. Especially since we know you survived my expert stitching skills, right?"

Hank chuckled, remembering the encounter. "How could I forget? You've got quite the bedside manner, Sophie."

Will raised an eyebrow curiously. "Wait, Soph stitched has you up? What happened?"

Hank leaned back, crossing his arms casually. "A little incident during an arrest a couple of weeks ago. One of the suspects got a lucky swipe at me with a knife."

Sophie interjected, teasingly defending her skills, "It wasn't that bad. You were quite cooperative, considering."

Jay grinned, adding, "Well, everyone knows better than to mess with Sophie. She's not just good with needles; she can handle herself."

Sophie blushed slightly, appreciating the compliments but trying to steer the conversation away from herself.

Sophie excused herself to use the restroom. On her return, a man near the bar stepped in her path, overly eager to strike up a conversation with her. She smiled politely, hoping he'd get the hint and let her pass.

The man leaned in, his breath smelling of alcohol. "Hey there, beautiful. What's a lovely lady like you doing all alone in a place like this?"

Sophie kept her composure, trying to be polite but firm. "I'm just out with some friends. Thanks for the compliment, but I'm not interested."

Undeterred, the man persisted. "Come on, don't be like that. Let me buy you a drink, and we can get to know each other better."

"I appreciate the offer, but I already have a drink, and I'm not looking to meet anyone tonight," Sophie replied, trying to maintain a friendly tone.

The man's persistence bordered on aggressive now. He leaned closer, invading her personal space. "Aw, don't be shy. I know you want some company. How about a dance later?"

Sophie's discomfort grew, and she glanced around, hoping someone would notice and step in. Just as she was about to respond again, Hank appeared at her side, his imposing figure casting a protective shadow over her.

"Everything okay here?" Hank's voice was calm but firm, his eyes fixed on the man in a way that made it clear he meant business.

The man looked up at Hank, sizing him up for a moment before smirking. "Hey, man, we were just having a friendly chat. No need to get all territorial."

Hank's expression didn't change, and his tone remained steady. "She said she's not interested. It's time to back off."

The man hesitated, but Hank's presence was enough to make him think twice about causing trouble. With a half-hearted grin, he backed away. "Fine, whatever. She's not that special anyway."

As the man left, Hank turned his attention back to Sophie, concern etched on his face. "Are you okay?"

Sophie let out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding, feeling relieved to have Hank by her side. "Yeah, I'm fine. Thanks to you."

Hank's eyes softened, and he placed a comforting hand on her arm. "Don't mention it. I'm always here to help."

Sophie smiled gratefully, grateful for his protective instinct. "Well, it's good to know I have a guardian angel watching over me."

Hank chuckled, the tension in the air dissipating. "Guardian angel, huh? I like the sound of that."

As Sophie returned to the table, she shared the incident with the Halstead brothers. "You won't believe what just happened. That guy at the bar wouldn't take no for an answer, but Hank over here stepped in like a knight in shining armour," she said, her eyes gleaming with a mix of gratitude but also mild amusement.

Will grinned, raising his eyebrows playfully. "Oh, Hank, coming to the rescue, huh? Looks like you've got a protector, Sophie."

Hank shrugged, trying to play it cool. "It's just part of the job, you know. Can't have anyone causing trouble in my city."

Sophie chuckled, taking a sip of her drink. "Well, I appreciate it. You definitely scared him off."

Jay chimed in, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Yeah, don't mess with Sarg. He's got that intimidating stare down to an art."

Hank rolled his eyes but couldn't hide a small smile. "That's enough from you, otherwise it's desk duty." Jay stopped smiling.

As the night continued, the group fell into easy conversation, sharing stories and jokes as they enjoyed their time together. Sophie couldn't help but notice that Hank seemed more at ease as the evening went on.

She decided to test the waters a bit. "So, Hank, tell me more about your work. Being a sergeant must be challenging."

Hank nodded, taking a sip of his drink. "It can be, but I wouldn't trade it for anything. Chicago's my city, and I'll do whatever it takes to keep it safe."

Sophie admired his dedication. "That's commendable. It takes a strong person to handle that kind of responsibility."

Hank smiled, the admiration in her eyes not lost on him. "And what about you, Sophie?"

She shrugged modestly, but her eyes sparkled with pride. "I do what I can. It's a rewarding job, being able to help people when they're at their most vulnerable."

He nodded, genuinely interested. "I can imagine. You must see a lot of tough cases."

Sophie's smile faded slightly as memories of challenging cases crossed her mind. "Yes, some days are harder than others, but its part of the job. You learn to compartmentalize and focus on making a difference."

Hank's expression softened with understanding. "I get that. We all find our ways to cope with the weight of our work."

As the evening wore on, Jay excused himself to make a call and Will was already at the bar talking to a friend. With just the two of them left at the table, Sophie and Hank fell into a more intimate conversation.

"You know, Sophie," Hank began, hesitating for a moment. "I've lost a lot of people in my life. My wife, my son... friends." His voice trailed off, the pain evident in his eyes.

Sophie reached out, resting a gentle hand on his. "I'm so sorry, Hank. I can't imagine what you've been through."

He glanced down at their hands, appreciating her comforting touch. "It's been a rough road, but I've learned to bury myself in my work. It's easier that way, to avoid getting too close to anyone."

She nodded, understanding his defence mechanism. "I can see why that would be tempting. But sometimes, taking that risk is worth it."

He met her gaze, a mixture of vulnerability and curiosity in his eyes. "Is it, Sophie? Worth it?"

She smiled softly, giving his hand a reassuring squeeze. "It can be, Hank. You never know what you might find when you let someone in."

He seemed to ponder her words for a moment before nodding thoughtfully. "You're right. Maybe it's time to take a chance."

As their eyes locked, an unspoken connection formed between them, and Sophie felt her heart skip a beat. In that moment, she knew that she had touched something deep within Hank's heart, and she couldn't help but wonder where this newfound connection might lead them. Hank offered Sophie a lift home, rather than booking the Uber she intended.

As the conversation continued, Hank noticed Sophie glancing at her watch, probably checking the time to see when she should call an Uber to get home.

He leaned in slightly and said, "Hey, Sophie, how about I give you a lift home tonight? It's getting late, and I'd feel better knowing you're safe."

Sophie looked surprised by the offer but then smiled gratefully. "Oh, that's really kind of you, Hank. You don't have to do that, though. I can just call an Uber."

Hank shook his head, a determined look in his eyes. "Nonsense. It's the least I can do after you stitched me up and put up with my stubbornness in the ER. Besides, I want to make sure you get home safely."

Sophie's smile grew, and she felt a warmth in her heart from Hank's genuine concern. "Thank you, Hank. I really appreciate it. I'll take you up on that offer then."

Will and Jay exchanged knowing glances, their amusement evident. Jay chuckled and teased, "Looks like Hank's becoming quite the gentleman, huh, Sophie?"

Sophie playfully rolled her eyes, but her cheeks turned slightly pink. "I guess so. Who knew Sergeant Voight had a softer side?"

Hank smirked, not one to show vulnerability easily, but he couldn't deny the connection he felt with Sophie. "Don't go spreading rumours, Halstead. Just doing what needs to be done."

Will raised his hands in mock surrender. "We won't tell anyone, Hank. Your secret's safe with us."

As the night drew to a close, Hank stood up from the table, ready to fulfil his promise to drive Sophie home. He motioned for her to join him, and she bid her farewell to the Jay and Will. Jay winked at Sophie as she left, teasing, "You two have fun on your ride home."

In Hank's car, Sophie and Hank continued their conversation. They talked about their work, the challenges they faced, and the losses they had endured. Sophie's heart went out to Hank as he spoke about his late wife, his son, and his friend Al, who had been like a brother to him.

"I'm sorry you've been through so much pain, Hank," she said softly, her hand briefly touching his arm in a comforting gesture.

Hank's eyes softened, and he gazed at her appreciatively. "Thank you, Sophie. You have a way of making people feel understood."

Sophie blushed slightly, flattered by his words. "I guess it's just part of my job, trying to connect with people. But it's not often I meet someone as intriguing as you."

He chuckled, a genuine warmth in his smile. "Likewise, Sophie. You're a remarkable woman."

As they arrived at Sophie's apartment, Hank turned off the engine but hesitated to say goodbye. "Would you like to go out sometime, Sophie? Maybe grab a coffee in the next few days?"

Sophie felt her heart flutter at the invitation. "I'd like that," she replied, a soft smile on her lips. "Here's my number." She handed him a piece of paper, and he accepted it with a gentle touch of their fingers. "Thanks for the lift home, night Hank." Said Sophie as she started to climb out of the car. "Night Sophie" Hank replied quietly.

Sophie walked towards her building, feeling a sense of warmth and happiness that she hadn't felt in a long time. As she entered the lobby, she turned around to see Hank still watching her from his car. She smiled again and waved, feeling grateful for the unexpected connection she had made