Author's Note: A little note before we jump in. As we are getting very close to Chapter 50, the final chapter of this story, I decided to go ahead and share the next step in Hank and Jenna's story. I've received a lot of comments and messages from readers saying they don't want this story to end, so I'm excited to announce Sweet Home Chicago: The One-Shots. This will be a collection of scenes that didn't make the final cut, scenes that didn't fit the direction of the story, and scenes that YOU want to see. I will take requests, and although I can't promise to fulfill every single one of them, I'll do my best. Feel free to PM me with requests! I won't have a regular posting schedule, but I'll update as I get ideas or inspirations.

Thanks again to everyone who has been so supportive of this story!

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Chapter 48-It'll All Work Out

It had been a few days since Hank's retirement announcement, and the Ivory Tower wasn't wasting any time. Hank was instructed to immediately begin talks with all of his detectives to determine interest in his soon-to-be vacant position. But before that could happen, Hank had to have a very serious and very difficult conversation with his surrogate daughter.

As Jenna prepared dinner, Hank anxiously paced the kitchen floor. She watched him out of the corner of her eye, concerned by the nervous cloud over her usually-confident husband. She was also slightly annoyed by the theoretical hole he was wearing into her floor.

"Babe," Jenna said, knocking Hank out of his thoughts.

"Yeah?" Hank said, momentarily pausing.

"Will you stop? Pacing isn't going to make the conversation any easier."

Hank brushed his hand over his face, leaning against the kitchen table. "I know, I just…it's going to be hard, Jen."

Jenna walked over, slipping her arms around his waist. "It will all be fine."

Hank sighed as his hands came to rest on his wife's shoulders. "I hope you're right. I'm not sure how to even do this."

"After dinner, you're going to take her out back, and Jay and I will stay in here. Then you'll just…tell her."

"It's that easy?" Hank asked, wrapping his arms around her and pulling her closer.

"It's that easy," Jenna said, kissing him softly. "Now, go hold your baby. If that doesn't help calm you down, then you're a lost cause."

Hank couldn't help but smile at the satisfied smirk on her face. "Fine. I'll go hold my baby."

Moments after turning back to her food, Jenna heard the sweet sounds of her husband talking to their baby girl. She understood his anxiety about the upcoming difficult conversation, but she also knew that Erin would understand.

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Hank was mostly silent during dinner, lost in his thoughts. He didn't notice Erin and Jay shooting confused and concerned looks at Jenna and between themselves. As they finished dinner, Erin decided she'd waited long enough.

"Hank, why are you being weird tonight?" she asked bluntly.

Hank shook his head, poking at his food. "I'm not."

Erin sighed, frustrated that he wouldn't just talk to her. "Is it because you're going to tell me that I can't interview for the sergeant position?" she asked.

Hank looked up, surprised to hear Erin mention the exact topic he was planning to discuss with her. "You know?"

Erin shrugged. "It wasn't hard to guess."

Jenna met Jay's eyes across the table. "Let's give them a minute," she said, nodding toward the living room.

As Jenna stood, Erin held her hands out. "Leave her," she said, reaching for the sleeping baby in Jenna's arms.

Jenna gently transferred Emerson to Erin's arms before joining Jay in the living room.

After a few minutes of silence, Erin asked, "Why is this so hard for you to say to me?"

"I'm sorry, Erin," he sighed. "I just…hoped when this time came, I'd get to hand the reins of the unit over to you."

"But they won't let you, right?" she asked.

"Right."

"Because of my head injury?"

"Right."

Erin looked down at Emerson, who chose that moment to snuggle closer to her. A smile briefly crossed her face, amused at the thought that this sweet baby knew Erin needed a little extra support.

"It's going to be ok, Hank. As much as I would love the opportunity to advance, to try to carry on the work you've done, I'm really just grateful that I was even cleared to return to work at all. I love what I do, and I love the people I work with, and I will fully support whoever is selected to replace you. It'll all work out, Hank."

Hank moved to the empty chair next to Erin, pulling her and Emerson into his arms. "Thank you for understanding. It wasn't my decision. I fought for you to have the opportunity, but they made it clear that if I didn't leave it alone, they wouldn't let me be a part of this selection process. I'm sorry, kiddo. I did the best I could."

Erin smiled up at him. "It's ok, Hank. I'm not upset, especially not with you."

"Yeah, well, you may be the only one not upset with me when this thing is all said and done. I hope this doesn't tear the unit apart." He covered his face with his hand for a moment, a million scenarios running through his head.

Erin shook her head. "We'll all support whoever it is. I just…hope that person can handle it. They have really big shoes to fill."

Hank forced a smile.

Tear formed in Erin's eyes. "I'm so glad we finally got to work together. I'm glad I got to spend the last years of your career beside you in your unit."

Hank fought back his own tears. "It's been the greatest honor of my career getting to serve this city with you. I'm so proud of everything you've accomplished up to this point, and I can't wait to see what the future holds for you."

"I couldn't have done any of it without your support."

Just then, Emerson let out a huge yawn, causing both of them to smile.

"You're going to be so lucky getting to spend all day every day with this little angel," Erin said.

"Yeah, I'm really looking forward to it," Hank said, gently stroking Emerson's cheek.

"You should let the candidates hold Emerson during their interviews. There's nothing more relaxing or more therapeutic than having her in your arms."

Hank chuckled. "Not a bad idea." He looked back up at Erin. "How do I choose? I don't have the final say, but they said they want my opinion. How do I choose one over the others?"

"Hank, you have three really great people to choose from. We've all talked about it, and we've agreed that any of them deserve it, and we've agreed we'll support whoever is selected." Erin put her hand on Hank's arm. "Stop worrying. Everything will be fine."

Hank sighed. "I hope you're right."

"I am. Stop stressing. Do you need some Emmie therapy now?"

Smiling at her, Hank said, "This is the second time this evening that I've been told to hold her. I guess I am stressed."

"Trust your team, Hank. It'll all work out."

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Several weeks later…

All Hank wanted to do was get home. It was the last day of interviews for his replacement, and a huge part of him wished that he'd just walked away and let them figure it out. The last few days, he'd barely slept, he'd barely been home, and he was just ready for all of the unknowns and decisions to be over.

When he finally made it home, Jenna met him at the door. Hank immediately pulled her into his arms, burying his face in her hair. Jenna rubbed her hands slowly up and down his back, taking deep breaths in hopes of calming him, refusing to let go of him until she felt some of the tension leave his body.

After a few minutes, Jenna finally felt Hank's arms loosen, and he stepped back, resting his forehead against hers.

"Hi honey," she said softly.

"Hi Jen."

"Rough day?" she asked.

Hank nodded. "Last day of interviews. It's almost over, and I can't wait."

Jenna took his hand, leading him to his recliner. She gently pushed him down before settling herself in his lap. Hank held her close again, resting his head against her chest.

"Tell me about today."

Hank sighed, as Jenna gently rubbed the back of his neck. "We conducted the last interview today. We meet tomorrow to make a decision. I think I know how it's going to shake out, but I have to give my opinion before the final decision is made. Problem is, I don't know what my opinion is."

Jenna wrapped her arm tighter around him. "Ok, so talk it out with me. Tell me how the interviews went, and tell me what you think about everyone."

"I told you that Al took himself out of it, right?"

"You did," Jenna said. "You said he was so close to retirement himself that he didn't want chance taking the opportunity away from someone else."

"Right. So, we interviewed Jay, Hailey, and Antonio. I think Antonio, and probably most of the unit, thinks it will be him. He's been approached several times about taking over when they've tried to replace me. He has a lot more experience than any of the others, and he's a very skilled undercover, my best. However, the few times he's had to handle the unit in my place, for whatever reason, it hasn't worked out well. He's very by the book, and that doesn't always work."

"Do you think it might be different if he was actually the one in charge?" Jenna asked. "Like maybe it's harder for him to step in when the unit isn't actually his?"

Hank processed her questions. "I hadn't thought about it that way, but you make a good point. Then Halstead…I have to be careful about what I say, considering he's married to my kid. He has a lot of potential, and he's smart, capable, a good leader. The unit respects him, and I think he has what it takes. But, I can't look like I'm favoring him."

"Ok, so you let Jay's skills speak for themselves. If he's really the one for the job, they'll be able to see it."

"Then Upton, she…she's one of the best detectives I've ever seen," Hank said. "She's tough, she's driven, she's incredibly smart, she's quick on her feet, easily finds a Plan B when Plan A doesn't work. She's a good kid, and I think she'd be a great sergeant, especially for this kind of specialized unit."

"It sounds like she would be a great choice as well. They all sound like great choices," Jenna said.

Hank stared at her for a moment. "Jen, that's not helpful."

Jenna giggled, leaning back against him. "Babe, I can't tell you what to do. I know who they are as people outside of the unit, but I can't answer the question of who is right to lead the unit. The only advice I can offer you is that if you don't think you can choose, tell the Ivory Tower exactly what you've told me, lay out all of their skills and qualifications, defend your team, and then let them decide. I honestly think you'd feel better about it if you don't actually make the decision. My gut tells me that is what is really bothering you the most."

Hank brushed his hand over his face. "Yeah, you're probably right. It's just hard. I want to leave my unit in good hands."

"And you will," Jenna said, wrapping her arm around him and holding him tighter. "From what you've described, any of them would be capable of doing the job very well, and the others will support whoever is chosen. Everything will be fine."

"How is it that you always know exactly what to say to make me feel better?" Hank asked.

Jenna leaned close, her lips just millimeters from his. "Because I know you better than anyone else in this world, and I know exactly what you need," she said as she kissed him softly.

"Oh yeah?" Hank asked. "And what exactly do you think I need?" Hank asked, kissing her again.

"What you need is to go upstairs…"

"Yeah," Hank said, his lips trailing along her jaw.

"And go into our room…"

"Keep going," Hank said, kissing down her neck.

"And pick up our baby girl. It's almost time to feed her." Jenna smiled, knowing exactly how she was teasing her husband.

Hank rested his head against hers again. "Not exactly what I had in mind, but I think that will still make me feel better."

"She's missed you this week. I know she'll be happy to see you. I'll fix a bottle for you while you go get her."

Minutes later, Hank was settled back in his chair with his baby girl snuggled in his arms. He smiled as her hand curled around one of his fingers holding her bottle. She looked up at him, and it was as if her eyes were staring into his soul, like she could read exactly what he was thinking and feeling. After a few moments, she gave him a small smile.

Hank smiled back. "I love you, little one. I'm going to be home with you and your momma every day very soon. I just have to help decide who takes my place at work."

Emerson continued staring intently at him, as if she understood exactly what he was saying.

"So, who should it be, huh? What should Daddy tell the Ivory Tower tomorrow?"

At that moment, Emerson smiled at him again, causing a chuckle to slip out of him. "You don't care, do you? Just as long as Dad comes home, right?" He leaned down and kissed her forehead.

"That's all I want too," Jenna said, walking into the room and kneeling beside his chair so she could see Emerson too.

Hank looked back down at Emerson. "Jen, these little smiles she's giving around the bottle are killing me."

"Oh, I know. She's been giving me those too, and I just melt."

"How did we end up with her? How is she ours?" Hank asked.

Jenna shrugged. "I don't know. We're just lucky, I guess."

Emerson finished her bottle and drifted back to sleep. Hank rose from his chair, holding his hand out to Jenna and helping her up from the floor. After putting Emerson down for the night, Jenna said, "You shower, then we'll sleep."

Hank nodded, pulling her close and kissing her. "Tell me it's going to work out."

"It's going to work out. Tomorrow, you'll tell them how incredible your team is, and then in a few weeks, you'll be home with us."

"I can't wait." He started toward the bathroom, but stopped, turning back around to Jenna. "Join me?" he asked, holding out his hand.

Jenna smiled at him. "I'd love to."

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Author's Note: Who should be the next sergeant for Intelligence? I actually haven't decided who it's going to be, so let me know who YOU think it should be!