Present Day

There were a lot of things he loved about Tess. Her strength, her grace, her intelligence and her impeccable sense of sass. Her kindness and generosity, her willingness to accept others where they were while staying firm in her belief that things could always be better. She used to make fun of him for his belief in God, not in a mean way but simply because she hadn't been able to understand having that much faith in anything that wasn't real which made it a lot more uncomfortable for her when people started likening her to a deity. And he knew she wasn't, she was a human just like everyone else, flawed and imperfect but in his mind that just made her even more amazing.

Because even with all the darkness she immersed herself in she was a light to so many.

Not always herself unfortunately, but to no one more than him.

And maybe it wasn't a good thing, maybe it was unhealthy or co-dependent but when someone that strong and that beautiful relied on you that became part of who you were. Tess was his guiding light and he was her pillar so when she needed him Jay gave himself to her. And after a decade and a half he knew what she needed, whether that was his hugs or his kisses or some other part of him. Or Starbucks.

Her shoulders were doing that adorable little shimmy girls did whenever they got food, and they said the way to a man's heart was his stomach, but he'd get her all the sugar in the world if it made her smile like that. Then she saw him watching her and she gave him that smile, the one where her sapphire eyes got bigger and bluer and brighter than any gemstone. He loved all of her smiles, well most of them but that was his favourite. And seeing it right now? After the chaos that had been the last fourteen to fifteen hours? That drew all of the tension out of his back until he could finally relax in his seat. He knew she was still nervous about working with them in an official capacity and she was probably right that in some way it was going to backfire on them but she agreed with him now that it would either way. And having her with him was a hell of a lot better than being without her.

He'd had enough of that to last a lifetime.

So when her breaths started getting measured as they parked at the 21st he took a moment to give her a kiss and then took her hand in his, holding it all the way until they reached the bullpen and he realized that in addition to his team the deputy supe was also there. Not because he was afraid of her but because he'd put Tess in unfair positions in his work before and he was adamant he wouldn't make the same mistakes again. And because if he wanted this to last they had to show they could still be professional and realistically speaking everyone knew that was going to be more of a challenge for him than it was her.

The Deputy Superintendent raised a brow when they walked in but her eyes went not to their clasped hands but Tess's arm where her bandage was still clearly visible. She'd been right that the burn wasn't that bad, he'd heard some awful stories from 51 and seen some horrible things himself but it still filled him with rage whenever he thought about it too long.

"Can I call this one a stunt?"

"I think badass rescue is more accurate." Jay replied when Tess just snorted, careful to hold that line between protective boyfriend and respectful officer.

Surprisingly, or maybe not the deputy supe returned his nod, her face softening as she looked Tess over again. "How bad is it?"

"It's fine." Tess said with a shrug, giving her arm a little wiggle as if to prove it. "I'm guessing you're all caught up?"

"I am. You're certain the Triad isn't going to retaliate? And that CPD should not?"

Tess's eyes widened for just a second, because that would be a bad idea, then nodded. "I am. Vehemently. The Triad is dealing with Ang themselves. As we speak, I believe."

"Now?" Voight demanded before he looked to him, clearly annoyed he hadn't given him a heads up which he supposed he could have, but it wasn't like he could do anything.

Or should do anything.

He didn't blame his boss for what happened yesterday but he had suggested they loop Tess in before seeing Walter Ng, or after and he'd been shut down. Kindly, but still. And while he wasn't going to cut the older man out he was going to have to realize that his loyalty now was to Tess first and them second.

"It's only a thirteen-hour plane ride from mainland China to here." He explained to Adam, raising a brow when he shook his head.

"Yeah but how they'd get a flight so quickly?"

"They're a global criminal syndicate. You think they don't have a couple jets?"

Kim and Kevin just smothered laughs, even Vanessa giving Adam a look but then Hailey straightened and his attention shot straight to her.

"They're going to kill him." She said quietly, less a question and more a statement.

His first instinct was to get mad, because this wasn't something she had the right to judge Tess on. Or anyone. Not when she'd done the same to Darius Walker. But he didn't say anything, and neither did anyone else, she and Tess sharing a brief look before she nodded in apology, shooting him one too which he returned after a moment, belatedly tuning back into the conversation.

"Are you here to take it away?" Tess asked the deputy supe, in response to her comment on her new job offer, which he supposed they should have run by her but judging by her smile she didn't mind.

"The opposite. I'm here to expand it."

And judging by the way Tess didn't seem surprised by that it wasn't the first time the offer had been made. And though he could feel her deep breath, and was pretty sure everyone else could too after a second her lips quirked up. "There's a good chance you regret that, but I accept."

"Good." Miller said with a firm nod and he didn't know why but he realized she was probably a lot like how Tess would've been if she hadn't decided to become an operative. "Take some time to decide what you want to tackle first then come by my office and we'll work it out."

Another quick look around the room and she left, everyone staying quiet until she was gone; she was a lot nicer than any of their past superiors but old habits died hard and they hadn't worked with her enough to build up a lot of trust.

Yet.

"How are they going to pay you?"

Vanessa's immediate flush told him that was meant to be an inside thought, probably because it was a tactless question but Tess just laughed. "I'll be a consultant. But don't worry, I'll give you guys the friends and family discount."

"You're already a multi-millionaire. What do you need more money for?" Adam joked, shrugging when Kim rolled her eyes.

"Always get paid what you're worth." Tess answered but her easy-going smile faltered when Voight spoke up.

"Does that mean you've agreed to work with us too?"

"I have." She said after another tense minute of silence and even though he knew what she was going to say it still made his own heart heavy. "There is still a large part of me that thinks this is a bad idea and I am certain a moment is going to come where all of us will look back on this moment and you'll all know I was right. But, I see no point in fighting the inevitable."

Not exactly the exuberant yes they may have wanted but no one could blame her for her hesitance.

Though they would made fun of her for it.

"Is that the kind of sweet talk she gives you?" Adam asked him and while he gave him a hard look he enjoyed the wicked smirk Tess shot him.

"I'm going to have fun with you."

That got everyone to chuckle, he and Hailey sharing a lighter look this time before he shared one with Kim when she stepped forward to pull Tess into a hug. "Welcome to the team."

She was on his team.

That vision he'd seen when she'd first come back was finally coming true and it made his heart feel like it was going to burst as he watched everyone welcome her, especially when she turned to Voight with that soft, sparkling smile that was half mischief and half mercy.

"So. Which desk is mine?"