Present Day

They ended up being late.

Jay was right that no one would care, they were probably wondering whether she was going to show up at all so what was a few minutes? Or an hour? Or two? Late was late and while she did feel mildly bad about making them wait, and making him wait on her being in his arms felt too good to just step out of them. And if he wanted to comfort her then there was no way she going to turn it down. So when he'd pulled away after giving her a soothing kiss she'd pulled him back in, again and again until they'd tumbled onto the bed and gave each other all the assurances they needed. Twice.

She wouldn't call it an addiction, more like a dependency, like her weed, but she was past the point of caring. She needed him and she was done pretending otherwise.

She'd gone without him long enough.

And it worked. Those dark thoughts were still at the edges of her mind but there was a chocolate scented hunter green wall they couldn't get past, and whenever they started pushing too hard she just grabbed his hand and they faded to the background again. It didn't change the way she'd hurt him last night but seeing his smile every time she did that made up for it. And he seemed intent on making amends himself because when they finally headed out he stopped at Starbucks and got her not one but two of her favourite drinks. He even insisted on getting the largest sizes possible, though he did make a little face when given the total. He was also making faces whenever he remembered why she was drinking them with her left hand but they were better than the one he'd made when she'd let him change her bandage so that was something.

So was his hand taking hers when they finally parked in the precincts backlot. Tess still had a few moments where she oscillated between work mode and boyfriend mode before it sunk in that while they were never going to be the same, they were fully combined now. Almost thirteen years later she and Jay were working together again. Of course that brought up what it had been like the last time but even though they were older and wiser, and both a lot higher in rank she knew the institutional challenges they'd faced were going to be just as prevalent. And honestly while she knew his team would be just as protective she wasn't so sure any of his other coworkers wouldn't try to make them just as physical. But this was what she did. Fought racist, sexist institutions until they made themselves better. Maybe she would've taken a longer break before taking on this particular battle but if she knew she was going to do it one day then why not today?

She'd decided to keep her wound on display again since even a long sleeve shirt had felt like a sad attempt at hiding so when they finally walked into the bullpen that was the first place everyone's eyes went. And she meant everyone because in addition to the Intelligence Unit Deputy Superintendent Miller was present too, looking a familiar mix of pleased and disgruntled.

"Can I call this one a stunt?" The woman asked dryly, her piercing gaze shifting to Jay when he straightened.

"I think badass rescue is more accurate."

The Superintendent pursed her lips but made a noise of agreement, softening as she looked him over before returning to her. "How bad is it?"

"It's fine. I'm guessing you're all caught up?" Tess asked when she, and everyone else made faces at her dismissal but apparently after last night they were done pushing her.

For now.

"I am." Sam said with a nod, quickly switching back into business mode. "You're certain the Triad isn't going to retaliate? And that CPD should not?"

"I am. Vehemently. The Triad is dealing with Ang themselves. As we speak, I believe."

"Now?" Voight asked in surprise, the others all expressing their shock while Adam and Vanessa questioned how they'd gotten here so quickly but before she could answer Jay did.

"It's only a thirteen-hour plane ride from mainland China to here."

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

Her boyfriend just raised his brow at Adam. "They're a global criminal syndicate. You think they don't have a couple jets?"

The younger officer opened then closed his mouth, then shot her a look when he saw her smirk, but it quickly fell.

"They're going to kill him." Hailey asked, stated, and though she looked uncomfortable when she nodded, and Tess felt uncomfortable doing it she gave the other woman her own look to remind her that this was the way the world worked.

And that she too had operated this way before, not too long ago.

The Detective flushed with shame before shooting her a remorseful look but she just nodded again before turning back to the Superintendent when she cleared her throat. "I hear you were offered a position with us?"

"Are you here to take it away?"

"The opposite." Sam said with a small smirk, a lot more pleased than she'd expected. "I'm here to expand it."

She should've seen that coming.

In truth she had, she'd had a couple more interactions with the deputy supe since their introduction a couple months ago, nothing serious, just keeping her in the loop and sharing information she thought she would find interesting. It had been in one of those impromptu meetings the older woman had told her that if she was ever interested she would like her help in cleaning up the department, a far cry from how the agency had treated her. She'd turned her down, but things you were trying to avoid had a habit of finding their way to you.

"There's a good chance you regret that, but I accept."

"Good. Take some time to decide what you want to tackle first then come by my office and we'll work it out." Sam said with a nod which she returned, watching as she gave one to Voight and the others before walking out.

She was still nervous about all of this but Tess could admit she was looking forward to working with the woman.

"How are they going to pay you?" Vanessa suddenly asked, by the looks of it a question she'd meant to ask silently but everyone relaxed when she 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." Adam pointed out, smirking as he took a seat on his desk, Kim's actually, more relaxed now their superior had left. "What do you need more money for?"

"Always get paid what you're worth."

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

Her gaze slid to Voight slowly and she held his stare for a moment before she dipped her chin, the undercurrent of tension that had been in the room since she'd walked in cautiously beginning to dissipate.

Before she brought it back.

Somewhat.

"I have. 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." She said evenly, trying not to wince at their obvious hurt.

Even though she knew it wasn't the enthusiastic response they'd probably been hoping for she'd talked with Jay and he'd told her how important it was that she tell them the truth about how she felt about this. Both for herself and for them.

So she took another breath before continuing, giving them all a soft but teasing smile. "But, I see no point in fighting the inevitable."

There was a second of silence, guilty yet hopeful, and then,

"Is that the kind of sweet talk she gives you?"

Jay was quick to give Adam an annoyed look, he'd told her about how tense things had gotten between them last night and while she understood and even appreciated where the young officer was coming from she also took pleasure in giving him a devilish smirk.

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

Adam smiled but then made a worried face which had everyone chuckling but once again the room went soft when Kim stepped forward and brought her into a hug. "Welcome to the team."

She was part of the team.

It was going to take a while to get used to that.

But she'd found so much with her first, love, joy and support. So Tess pushed those dark whispers away and squeezed the other woman back, tightly, she hoped only slightly awkwardly accepting everyone's well-wishes. And then she turned back to Voight, touched to see the warmth and care in his gaze.

"So. Which desk is mine?"