Hank stared at Peter in shock and anger when he said that. What gave Marco the right to try and fight the adoption? His blood was boiling, he knew that if he did anything to the asshole he'd lose any chance of adopting Dani.
"Peter there's no way in hell that little girl is going back to that son of a bitch. I won't let that happen". Hank spoke.
"She won't go back to him. For the time being she'll stay with you but when it comes time for the court hearing she'll be back in the custody of DCFS just until its determined where she'll go". Peter replied.
"That bastard abused her, starved her, locked her up like an animal. He used around her and did god knows what else".
"I can use that against him to get his rights terminated but he's going to put up one hell of a fight".
"Why's he fighting all of a sudden? He never gave a damn about Dani, so why now?"
"I don't know".
Peter saw the look that was on Hank's face and knew what he wanted to do. "Hank if you do anything at all to Marco you'll ruin all your chances of adopting Dani".
"Peter that little girl is scared to death by him, she has trust issues right now. She thinks everyone is gonna hurt her. Why? Because of everything he did to her. I'm not letting Dani go back to him".
"Let me worry about this for now you take care of her, with his charges I doubt he'll get custody. Just know I can't promise anything but I will try my best to make sure you keep her".
"Will she have to leave when it's time for court?"
"It's a possibility, they don't want her in an unstable environment and with the case it's gonna get ugly".
"If it comes down to it and she does have to leave, can she stay with someone on the team or someone at 51. Someone she can trust right now".
"I'll see what I can do".
"Get his rights terminated I don't care how you do it, just do it. Dani doesn't need him, what she needs is a father that cares about her, that loves her, who can protect her. She needs a life. A home. A family. He ain't giving that to her".
"Like I said, I'll do what I can".
"It's all I ask".
Before the Attorney left he looked back at the older man. "Hank this is the only warning I can give you. Don't do anything to ruin your chances of this".
"I give you my word".
Peter left the office, he knew he had to tell the team. They were gonna dig up any information they could on Marco. There was no way in hell that his little girl was gonna get taken from him, over his cold dead body that was gonna happen.
Dani was starting to bounce around and get a little hyper, Adam had an idea but for obvious reasons he'd have to run it by Hank first.
"Hey Dani, wanna go to the park? I bet Kevin and I can teach you how to play football". Adam said.
"Really?" Dani replied, her voice full of excitement.
"Yeah you'd have to ask your dad first".
Wasting no time the six year old dashed to her father's office, she then bounced over to her father.
"Daddy". Dani spoke, the smile on her face.
Hank was broken out of his thoughts by his precious little girl. "Hey sweetheart. What's up".
"Adam said he and Kevin could teach me how to play football, can they take me to the park?"
"It's alright with me sweetie, can you tell them I'd like to see them before you guys leave".
"Ok".
He kissed her head and she kissed his cheek, Dani left the office going back out to the squad and went to Adam and Kevin.
"He said yes but he wants to talk to you guys first".
"Alright wait here and we'll be right back". Kevin said.
"Ok".
The two detectives went to their boss's office and shut the door while Dani gathered up some stuff to take with her.
"Kiddo take it to them". Erin said.
"I will".
Adam and Kevin were in their boss's office with the door shut as they faced him.
"You wanted to see us Sarge". Kevin said.
"Yeah. Keep your eyes on Dani while you're out, don't let her out of your sights. Anything happens to her you'll both be looking for new jobs". Hank told them.
"You got it boss". Adam says.
"Understood". Kevin spoke.
"She has her backpack with her, she packed a couple water bottles, a snack. She hasn't had lunch yet. If she gets sick bring her back here I have stuff here".
"Got it".
The two detectives headed out the office, Adam grabbed the football from his desk drawer. The three headed out to the park, the two adults made sure that they still had their weapons and radios but kept the weapons hidden out of view of the six year old. They weren't gonna be explaining that to Hank. While they headed to the park they hadn't noticed that they were being watched by two of Marco's people the began to follow the three but made sure to stay back so they wouldn't be seen.
Adam and Kevin made sure to keep their guards up with Dani around, they knew if anything happened to her they'd be looking for a new job. The six year old made sure to stay close to the two adults, she was starting to trust the team in a way they were all becoming a family.
Erin and Kim were her sisters, Jay, Adam, Kevin, Antonio, Sean, and Mouse were her brothers, Alvin was her uncle, Trudy was her aunt. She finally had a family.
As they were heading to the park the two detectives scanned the area quickly of any threats, once it was clear they started to play with the football.
"Alright Dani, first you wanna hold the ball like this". Adam says, adjusting it in her small hand.
Once her hand was gripping it tightly and her fingers were in position she was ready to throw it.
"Can I try and throw it now?" She asked.
"Yeah, hey Kev go long". Adam spoke.
Kevin was jogging and Dani threw the football perfectly and Kevin caught it, he then threw it under hand and softly so Dani was able to catch it. After playing for a bit, the two detectives needed a quick break while they sat down the six year old played on the playground.
"She's a good kid". Kevin said.
"Yeah, she's like the little sister I never had". Adam spoke.
"It's a great thing what Voight is doing, taking her in like that".
"I still wanna kill the son of a bitch".
"You ain't the only one".
As they talked they didn't see that Dani had wandered off farther down the park, Marco's two people had seen her leave the two detectives and made their way to her.
Dani was walking she kept looking back to make sure she could still see Adam and Kevin all of a sudden she seen two shadows then looked up.
She remembered them from Marco's crew, fear had filled her body without thinking she ran back to the two detectives.
Back over at the bench Kevin started to look around for the six year old when he couldn't see her anymore.
"Hey uh Ruzek, where's Dani?" Kevin asked his friend.
"What are you talking about she right-" He started but stopped when he didn't see her.
"Were dead".
"She couldn't have gotten that far she's six".
As they began searching they heard someone crying and it was very familiar to them.
"Kevin! Adam!" Dani cried.
The two wanted to be relieved but couldn't they were more concerned and worried.
"Hey hey, sweetheart what's wrong?" Adam asked.
"They found me!"
"Who?" Kevin asked.
"Marco's friends. Now he's gonna find me!"
"We won't let that happen". Adam gently assured her.
"I want my daddy".
"Let's go".
As they were walking back to the car gunshots began to fill the air.
District 21
Hank got a gut feeling something was really wrong, he kept trying to think of a way to have Marco's right terminated. The team was in the squad doing paperwork when Mouse's phone rang.
"Intelligence...Ruzek slow down I can't understand you….are you guys alright?...Yeah I'll tell them". He then hung up.
The entire team heard that was was ready to get up, Jay looked over at his friend with a worried curious look.
"Mouse what was that about?" Jay asked.
"Ruzek said that there are shots fired at the park where he and Kev took Dani, they're fine".
Erin ran from her desk to Hank's office, she was by his door in a second with a panicked look. "Hank we gotta go".
"What's wrong?"
"Ruzek called, there are shots fired at the park where they took Dani".
Hank shot up out of his chair as they all left the squad, they all headed to their cars leaving with the lights and sirens on. As Hank drove he tried not to think about the negative outcomes, he tried to think as a cop and not as a father. He couldn't lose his little girl he just couldn't.
Adam had Dani in his and Kevin's car, they were still under heavy fire. The six year old was in the back seat of the car on the floor cowering in fear, the two detectives were on the sidewalk as they took cover. They managed to come out and get off a couple of shots.
"Where's that backup?" Kevin asked.
"Should be on the way". Adam answered. He picked his radio up and began talking. "This is Detective Adam Ruzek of Intelligence, me and my partner are taking heavy fire we need that back up now!"
"Back up on route".
The shots stopped, the two look at each other then glance back out where the shots were coming from. A second later they started again just as they were going off Burgess and Roman showed up.
"Atwater! Ruzek! Where's the shooter?" Sean asked.
"We don't know, it could be more than one though". Kevin answered.
"Watch Dani while we go after them, the others should be on the way". Adam told the two.
"Where is she?" Kim asked.
"In the back on the floor".
Kim looked to her partner. "Let's go".
Sean and Kim went over to the boys car and opened the back door to see Dani cowering and crying. Carefully Kim bent down and picked up the young girl, the six year old didn't know who had her as she started fighting.
"Dani, it's alright sweetie it's Kim and Sean". Kim says to her soothingly.
The little girl looked up at her with fear and terror in her eyes. "I want my daddy".
"Let's get you some place safe". Sean said.
The two brought Dani to their car and sat her in the back, Kim was with her the whole time. The six year old was leaned into the woman's side as she gripped her vest. Sean saw Adam and Kevin chasing after the suspects and decided to help them.
"Kim, I'm going to help them you stay here with Dani". Sean said quickly.
"Alright go, just go. I got her". Kim replied.
Sean then ran off to help his friends. Dani kept whimpering she kept looking to see if her father would show up or not, Kim was stroking her hair back hoping to calm her.
"Kim". Dani whispered.
"Yes sweetie". Kim says softly.
"Is my daddy coming?"
"Everyone's on their way".
As they sat in the patrol car they heard sirens and Kim knew that they were approaching. Dani's ear perked when she heard the sirens she wanted to get out of the patrol car but couldn't because she didn't know if it was safe.
The team arrived to the park, Hank was the first one out of his car as he looked around. He didn't see his little girl or his detectives, his breathing began to pick up. The older Sergeant knew that Adam and Kevin could handle themselves but Dani was a defenseless little girl.
Kim looked out to see the team so she looked down to the scared little girl.
"Dani you're dad's here".
"Can I see him?"
"Of course, let's go".
They exited the patrol car and when Dani seen her father she ran straight to him.
"Daddy!" Dani cried.
Hank was able to breath as he bent down and effortlessly picked his baby up, Dani buried her face into his neck crying. He gently rubbed soothing circles on her back hoping to calm her.
"Shh it's alright now sweetheart, you're alright. You're safe now, daddy's here". Hank soothed her.
Dani remained in her father's hold, he pulled away and set her down to scan her for any injuries. Once she was clear of them he pulled her back into one more hug and kissed her head. He pulled away from the hug again giving her a gentle look.
"Sweetheart can you stay here with Kim and Antonio".
"I wanna stay with you".
"I know honey but it'll be for just a few minutes I promise".
"Come on kiddo". Antonio spoke gently.
Kim and Antonio guided the young girl away while the others ran to find Adam, Kevin, and Sean. By this point the three had gotten the gun men, it was the two guys that had been following Adam and Kevin. They were walking back when they seen the team.
"Now you're in for it". Adam told the two gang bangers.
"Nobody scares us". One spoke.
"Especially no cop". The other said.
"Let's see about that".
When Hank seen the two handcuffed men he was furious, he stormed over and punched them both knocking them to the ground.
"You shot at my detectives? My daughter?!" Hank spat.
"She ain't you're kid, Marco wants her back". One said.
"He ain't getting her back. Over my cold dead body".
Hank then looked to his team. "Get them up. Put them in the cage".
Dani was still with Antonio and Kim, she looked down not wanting to face the adults. She figured if she told one of them then Hank wouldn't be mad at her.
"Antonio". Dani spoke softly.
"What's up sweetheart". Antonio replied.
"I didn't mean to wander off".
Antonio and Kim looked at each other confused then they looked back at her.
"Dani what happened".
"After we played football, Adam and Kevin sat down so I went to the playground. I got bored and went for a walk but I made sure that they could still see me I swear. Then I saw them".
"Do you know them?"
"They were Marco's friends. It was Miguel and Juan Salazar, they're brothers. When I seen them I ran back to Adam and Kevin then we heard pop, pop, pop. They told me to hide in the car on the floor while they stayed out there they were doing the same thing".
"Good job kiddo".
"Is my dad gonna be mad at me? I swear I didn't mean to wander off".
"Hey he's not gonna be mad at you, he's gonna be ok that you're safe".
A couple of moments later the team returned with the two brothers, Erin and Jay put one of them in their car while the other went with Sean and Kim. Dani seen her father and ran back to him and he picked her up, she laid her head against his shoulder.
"I'm sorry daddy". Dani said.
"Sweetheart you have nothing to be sorry for this wasn't your fault". Hank replied.
"I wandered away from Adam and Kevin, I was only a minute when I seen them".
"As long as you're alright that's the only thing that matters. But sweetie never go anywhere by yourself again ok".
"Ok. I promise".
"Let's head back to the District".
They all headed back to the District, Dani wanted to ride back with her father so Hank quickly strapped her in her booster seat. Once they were situated they all drove off.
Back at the District everyone headed upstairs, Miguel and Juan were in the cage as they were handcuffed to seperate parts. Dani had fallen asleep on the way so Hank had carried her inside and up to the squad, he by passed his team to his office. Gently he laid Dani down on the couch so she could rest.
He then closed the blinds and quietly left his office, everyone was gathering information on the brothers. Hank looked to Adam and Kevin.
"Ruzek, Atwater, a second". Hank spoke.
The two detectives headed to their boss, they didn't know if they would get yelled at, lectured, or fired.
"Yeah Sarge". Adam said.
"Thank you for keeping Dani safe out there". Hank spoke.
"You're welcome". They said in union.
He didn't bother to bring up her sneaking off, instead he headed down to the cage where the brothers were. As soon as he hit the bottom step he looked into the cage to see the sons of bitches who shot at his detectives and his little girl.
Hank calmly walked over and unlocked the cage he opened it and stepped inside, glaring at the two men.
"Let's talk".