A few months have passed since the adoption and everything has been great. Dani loved her new life, she had the most amazing family. Antonio and Alvin we're her uncles, Trudy was her aunt, the guys were her brothers, and the girls we're her sisters. The six and a half year old had the perfect family.
Hank loved having his little girl, he had a second chance at being a father. Dani would follow him almost anywhere, she was his shadow. The older man loved being a father again, his little girl had always put a smile on his face.
Early one morning Hank woke up and got ready for work, he checked in on Dani and saw that she's still sleeping which was very odd. The six and a half year old was always up before him but this time she wasn't. Getting concerned he went over to her.
"Dani, wake up sweet girl. Come on baby wake up". Hank says, gently shaking her.
The little girl awoke but was very dizzy and felt extremely nauseous, she blindly looked at her father.
"Daddy, I don't feel good". Dani said, her voice cracking.
He then felt her forehead and it was warm. "You're burning up sweet pea".
Hank then had to decide what to do, he couldn't get a baby sitter at the last second, then an idea popped into his head.
"Wanna come to the District with me?"
"Ok".
Normally Dani would be excited about going to the District but this time not so much. She was very tired.
" Do I gotta change?"
Dani was wearing a soft grey shirt and on it, in pink it read, 'Daddy's little princess'. With a pink crown. She wore the matching pink shorts.
"You can stay in your pajamas, I'm gonna go pack you a bag and we'll go".
All the little girl did was nod, Hank kissed her head and left the room. The older father then went to pack her Frozen backpack, he put in some medicine, a couple of cans of soup, the thermometer, a sweater, a blanket, and a few other things.
He put the backpack on his shoulder and went back to get his sick little girl. Dani sat on the bed waiting for her father, she was so sick that she was barely able to keep her eyes open. Her eyes kept closing but she woke up, Hank walked in and saw his little girl reaching out for him. Going over he picked her up, Dani wrapped herself around her father and buried her face into his neck.
Hank then carried his little princess out of the house, the father daughter duo then headed off to the District.
During the drive Dani whined and whimpered in the back, Hank slowly felt his heart break. It had been a long while since he took care of a sick child and to hear his little girl whining and whimpering in pain it killed him.
"Make it stop daddy". Dani whimpered.
"It'll be alright sweet girl". Hank comforted her.
Hank was now pulling up to the District, he grabbed the backpack putting it on his shoulder. Opening the back door he unbuckled the six and a half year old from her booster seat, she looked over to her father with sunken eyes.
"I-I'm cold".
The older father then pulled her Frozen blanket out wrapping her in it and picked her up, once again Dani had wrapped herself around her father. Her small arms wrapped tightly around his neck and her little legs wrapped tightly around his midsection. Hank then walked inside, when Trudy had seen her friend walk in she noticed that she was carrying her goddaughter.
"Oh my god is she ok". Trudy said concerned.
"Dani's sick, I think she caught a bug from a kid at school". Hank answers.
The older woman looked at her sick goddaughter, Dani had fallen back asleep on her father's shoulder. She ran her hand over her goddaughter's head.
"I'll be right up to help Mouse".
"Thanks Trudy".
"No problem".
The older man then headed up to the squad, Trudy buzzed him since his arms were full. Hank sent a grateful smile over to his friend, using his free hand he opened the gate and headed up. He was half way up when he heard the the team goofing off as usual, Dani had started to stir awake due to the loudness.
Once he reached the squad everyone saw him carrying Dani, Erin rushed over to see her surrogate little sister.
"Is she ok?" Erin asked.
"She's sick, I think she caught a bug from a kid at school". Hank answered.
Adam and Kevin were back and forth bickering about something, Hank gently handed his little girl over to Erin who took her and cradled her. The two detectives didn't see their boss but they stopped when they both felt sharp slaps upside there heads, they were about to protest but stopped when they saw the look on Hank's face.
The look on Hank's face said, 'wake her up and I'll kill you'. They quickly stopped their bickering. Hank sighed, sometimes it was like dealing with grown children instead of detectives. He then got his little girl back from Erin and carried her to his office, closing the door he laid her down on the couch and set her backpack down.
He then pulled out her medicine and set it up, gently he shook her awake. "Dani, wake up baby, come on sweet pea wake up".
Dani then woke, her eyes fluttered open through green blurry eyes she managed to make out her father. "D'ddy?"
"Time for some medicine sweetie".
"Don't want any".
"It'll help you, the quicker you take the quicker it starts to work and you'll feel better".
The six year old then took the medicine and Hank handed her the orange juice. Hank smiled gently at her.
"That's my brave girl. You rest now ok".
"Are you still gonna be here?"
"I have to go catch bad guys so Mouse and Trudy are gonna keep an eye on you".
"But I want you to stay".
"I know honey, by the time you wake up I'll be back".
"Promise?"
"I promise".
He kissed her up and made sure the blanket was wrapped around her securly, a second later Dani was once again fast asleep. Hank then quietly left the room closing the door behind him. Everyone knew not to wake the six year old or else they'd be in deep trouble.
Pulling out the white board with a picture and writing on it, Hank then slapped the picture pointing to it with this thumb.
"Tyrone Harris, known trafficker, from what we know he traffics people, drugs, weapons, and money". Hank states.
"I remember him, back when I was in Vice we tried to pin a triple homicide on him but could never prove it. When we tried to look for him after that he disappeared without a trace, looks like he came back". Antonio spoke from his desk.
"Where's he been all this time?" Adam asked.
"Nobody knows, he got out of dodge until things cooled down. We got a tip that Tyrone is coming back to make a deal then he's hailing out of town again, this is our only chance to stop him". Hank told his team.
After that everyone then went to get ready, Hank then went over to Mouse. The tech saw his boss coming and probably figured what he was gonna ask.
"What's up Sarge". Mouse spoke.
"I need you to keep an eye on Dani, Trudy's coming up to help out". Hank said.
"You got it".
"All her stuff is in her backpack, her medicine, juice, soup, I packed her a sweater in case she got cold. She has her blanket now. If she wakes up you can heat her up a can of soup she likes to eat it with her goldfish crackers. I packed her dvd player and a few movies if she gets bored".
Mouse had chuckled but hit it into a cough, he knew Hank was gonna be the over protective parent. They'd all grown use to it in the past few months. Dani had even grown to it.
"Got it sir".
Before heading down to get ready Hank once again checked in on his little girl, when he opened his door he heard Dani snoring and she let out a few harsh coughs. He went over and kissed her head, he then whispered something in her ear.
"I love you my sweet girl".
Then as quietly as he could he left the office and went down to get ready to head out with the team.
Mouse was a bit nervous, he had watched Dani before but this time it was different. She's sick. He never watched a sick child before and Hank trusted him to watch the six year old, Trudy came up to help with her goddaughter.
The older woman sat in the office with Dani, as she looked at the little girl it was hard to believe that Hank only adopted her a few months ago. It seemed like Dani had been his daughter forever.
Meanwhile
The team was on there way to the deal, once they were there they were all getting out their cars and moving into position. Hank was trying to focus on the case and not his little girl, he tried pushing all that to the back of his mind but somehow it still creeped to his mind. Was she alright? Is she ok with Mouse and Trudy? All that and more was roaming his mind.
Jay was looking through the window, the deal had just went down and Kevin looked over to his boss who gave the nod. The detective then busted the door in and they all swarmed in.
"Chicago PD!" Adam yelled.
Everyone in the warehouse ran like mice, Tyrone ran out of there like a bat outta hell. Hank stormed in, he wanted Harris alive. The trafficker wouldn't stop running which caused Hank, Antonio, and Erin to chase after him. Tyrone had turned for a moment shooting at the three, they took cover. Once the shots have stopped they continued there chase.
As Tyrone ran he then once again turned to shoot at the three, Hank didn't make it out of the way in time. He ended up with three bullets in his vest, sending him down to the ground.
"Hank!" Erin called out.
Antonio then chased the son of a bitch who shot his boss and friend, when the others heard that they followed the voice. When the others arrived they saw Erin holding Hank's head, the older man was screaming in pain.
"That son of a bitch". Hank growled.
He tried to get up only for Erin to hold him down. "Hank you need to sit still".
"What I need is to find that son of a bitch".
"Should we call a bus?" Adam asked.
"No"
"Yes". Erin said.
"I don't need an ambulance Erin, I'm fine". He then looked to his other detectives. "Go find Tyrone".
The others have ran off while Erin stayed with her father figure, it took Hank a few minutes to finally get back to his feet the whole time his midsection hurt like a bitch.
"Hank you need a hospital to get checked out".
Hank then turned to face his surrogate daughter. "You wanna explain to Dani that I'm at a hospital getting checked out. Because I don't".
"Dani will get scared but she'll be ok".
"I'm not doing that to her".
Erin sighed, he was a very stubborn son of a bitch at times and this was one of those times. She figured that he'd put Dani first and now he always would.
Meanwhile
Back at the District, Dani was getting worse. She was getting sharp pains in her side but she hadn't told anyone because she didn't want them to worry But it kept getting worse by the minute, Trudy cradled her sick goddaughter in her arms. All of a sudden the six year old felt something lurch in her stomach, as quickly as she could she got out of Trudy's hold and ran out the office.
Mouse heard the office door open and saw the little girl run out as fast as she could, but ended up throwing up on the floor. He then rushed over.
"You alright Dani?" The tech asked softly.
"Don't..feel good…Mousey". Dani whimpered.
Trudy then radioed for an ambulance, Dani then threw up on the floor again.
"I..want...my daddy".
"It'll be alright kiddo".
The six year old whimpered in pain, a few minutes have gone by when Gabby and Brett arrived rushing up to the squad. They saw the little girl covered in vomit, they also saw the tech and the desk sergeant around her.
"Guys back up a little give us some room". Brett said.
"Dani, you ok honey". Gabby says softly.
"My...tummy hurts...make it...stop". Dani whimpered.
"How long has your tummy been hurting sweetie?
"All...day. Daddy...doesn't know".
"Dani, I'm gonna press on your tummy tell me where it hurts".
"Ok".
Gabby then began to gently press around the little girl's stomach area, when she pressed down on the right side Dani screamed in pain. The two paramedics looked at each other which caused Mouse and Trudy to panic.
"What is it? What's wrong?" Trudy asked.
"Looks like appendicitis, we have to get her to Med". Brett answered.
"What's that?" Dani asked.
"The doctor has to take your appendix out". Gabby says gently.
Dani was now paralyzed in fear, she wanted her father. Mouse carefully lifted the little girl into his arms and they brought her out to the ambulance. Trudy rode with her goddaughter while Mouse called Jay.
"Jay oh thank god, there's something wrong with Dani". Mouse said into the phone panicking.
Meanwhile
Tyrone was finally caught and they brought him out, Jay's phone then rang.
-Hey man, what's up. Jay answered.
-Jay oh thank god, there's a problem with Dani. Mouse came on panicking.
That caused the detective to panic. -What happened Mouse.
-Dani started throwing up like crazy and said her stomach hurts. Trudy called for an ambulance and rode with her to Med. Brett said it's appendicitis.
-Alright, I'll tell Voight.
Quickly hanging up everyone saw Jay with a distraught look on his face, Hank then moved closer to his detective he heard the, "I'll tell Voight' part.
"Halstead what is it?" Hank asked.
"Mouse said that Dani started throwing up like crazy, something about her stomach hurting. Platt rode with her to the hospital. Brett said it's appendicitis" . Jay told everyone.
Hank felt his heart drop, his little girl was on her way to the hospital and he wasn't with her. Without another word the older man went and got in his car turning on the lights and sirens speeding off down the streets as half the team followed and the others took Tyrone back to the District.
Chicago Med
Dani was now at the hospital, Will and Natalie were trying to work on her but the six year old fought them.
"I want my daddy!" Dani yelled out, her voice raspy.
"He's on his way sweetie". Trudy told her.
"Dani, we have to look at your tummy". Will spoke gently.
"No! I want my daddy!"
"It's ok honey, we won't hurt you". Natalie coaxed.
"I'm scared, I want my daddy".
"He's on his way sweetheart I promise. You think you can be a brave girl until he gets here".
"I guess so".
The little girl finally stopped fighting and let the doctors examine her. A few minutes later Hank rushed into the hospital, fear and worry was filled in his body as he frantically searched the ER when he saw his friend he rushed over.
"Trudy, where's Dani?" Hank asked worried.
"Right in here, I think they're about to take her to surgery". Trudy answers.
He stepped in the trauma room, the two doctors looked over to see the older father. When Dani saw her father she began reaching out for him.
"Daddy". Dani spoke in a raspy voice.
Going over to his little girl he brushed her frizzy blonde hair off her damp forehead, he gave her a gentle smile.
"It's ok sweet girl, daddy's here now you're ok". Hank said gently.
"They have to take my appendix daddy, I'm scared".
"It won't hurt baby, I promise. You're gonna be asleep the whole time".
"Will you be here when I wake up?"
"I'll be right here when you wake up sweetheart".
"Hank we have to take her up to surgery now". Will told the father.
The older father looked back down to his scared little girl. "I want you to be brave for me, can you do that?"
"Yes. I love you daddy".
"I love you too sweet girl".
Dani was then wheeled out of the room and up to the OR, the whole time Hank felt his heart shatter. His little girl needed surgery, that was the one thing he couldn't protect her from. Her own body.
Everyone stood around pacing waiting to hear something on the six year old. Hank couldn't do anything except pace and sit, he was on his third coffee trying to keep his nerves calm.
After what seems like forever but it was only an hour, Will and Natalie approached the older father. When Hank seen them wasting no time he rushed over to them.
"How's Dani? Is she ok?" Hank asked quickly.
The two doctors chuckled and gave him reassuring smiles.
"Dani's just fine, she's in recovery. She'll be a little groggy due to the anesthesia". Natalie says.
"Can I see her?"
"Of course". Will said.
Once Dani was brought to a room, Will had escorted the older father there. They got to the little girl's room, the six year old was still asleep Hank then shook Will's hand then went in the room.
He saw his little girl's face and she looked so peaceful, her face was angelic. Hank kissed her head and brushed her hair back off her forehead, he noticed how her forehead felt warmer compared to that morning.
A few minutes later Dani had stirred a little waking up, her eyes began fluttering open. She felt like there was a weight on her eyes. Her eyes finally opened and she looked over at her father.
"Daddy". Dani's voice was weak and groggy.
Snapping his head over, Hank smiled when he saw his baby awake. "Hey pretty girl".
"You're here".
"I am, I never break a promise. How do you feel?"
"My tummy doesn't hurt anymore".
"The doctors fixed you".
"When can we go home?"
"Probably in a couple of days, they wanna make sure you're strong enough to go home".
"I was brave like you".
"Yes you were sweetheart, you were very brave".
Her eyes began to droop close and she mumbled something. "Was I brave like Justin?"
A lump had formed in Hank's throat, he swallowed it and gave her a smile. "Yes baby you were brave like Justin".
"Can you lay with me daddy? You keep the bad dreams away".
"Of course I can sweet girl".
Being very careful of the wires Hank got next to his baby girl and she cuddled into him. Dani laid her head on his chest listening to his heartbeat, she was slowly being lulled to sleep but she fought it. The older father brushed her hair back and watched as her eyes droop closed.
"Go to sleep sweetheart, daddy's here. I'm not gonna let anyone hurt you".
"G'night daddy, I love you".
Kissing her head, Hank rested his cheek on her head. "I love you too my sweet girl".
…
A/N: A secret about Dani will be revealed in the next couple of chapters. Stay tuned in for more!