⋆° დ ༄ UNTIL THERE WAS US
chapter two. natural born story teller.

Sam steps out of the shower and wraps a towel around her body and smiles at her belly bump and whispers, "Grace Nadia Halstead, you don't know it yet, but you already have so many people who love you and you have the biggest family anyone could ask for. So, you better hurry the hell up and get out of there"

Jay knocks at the door and asks, "Sam, you okay?"

"Yeah, just giving our daughter a pep talk"

Jay smiles to himself and opens the door saying, "Voight called, we have a case. He told me to tell you not to come, but then I said you'd come either way and he just sighed"

"Obviously. Denise should be almost ready. Can you make sure she has all her homework in her bag, because last week she told her teacher the dog ate it"

"We don't have a dog"

"I know" Sam says, brushing through her wet hair. Jay stifles a laugh and says, "Okay" then goes in for a kiss with his girlfriend, "I love you"

"I love you too" Sam smiles, as Jay shuts the door behind him.

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As the Intelligence team is gathered in a backyard, looking at their victim -a child-, who had been tied up and stuffed into a fridge. Roman and Burgess explain to Al and Dawson how they found him, while Erin, Jay and Sam stand behind Voight who is bent down looking at the victim.

"This is a black neighborhood, always has been, we're gonna find out somebody moved that kid here" Erin says. Jay folds his arms over his chest and says, "that call that was on the zone this morning. Kid went missing from Rogers park. I think this is him"

Sam turns around to face the other direction and loops her arm with Jay's and takes a deep breath.

"It's gonna be okay" Jay says. Sam clears her throat and says, "Yeah. Yeah, I know"

"We're gonna solve this" Voight says, standing up, "Whatever it takes"

🌙🌙🌙

The team is now back on the unit, gathered around the white board. "We owe this kid our best. So what do we know?" Dawson questions.

"Alright. Tender age, white child found dead in a black neighborhood. We're still waiting on the M.E, but the responding EMTs indicate that, um, the kids neck was snapped. Stabbed in the abdomen three times" Adam explains.

Sam covers her mouth and shakes her head.

"Hey, you okay?" Hank whispers. Sam nods her head and says, "yeah, I'm good"

"His wrists and ankles were bound with sailors knots. For what that's worth" Al says.

Jay walks onto the bullpen with a file in his hand saying, "his name was Jeremy Dolan. He was reported missing 36 hours ago from Rogers Park. He was eight years old. His parents are Richard and Rochelle. They're waiting at the morgue to ID the body" then hands the file to Voight.

"Rogers park. That's three miles north of that house" Atwater says.

"Or he was probably killed elsewhere and transported to the scene" Ruzek suggests, "we got no eyeball witnesses of the body being placed, though"

"Do we know who owns the house?" Sam questions. Kevin hands the brunette a paper and says, "yep. Local real estate investors. That's one of 150 properties that they're buying and fixing up in that area"

"I'll see if there's anything there. Sammy, you wanna go?" Erin says and Sam nods her head yes.

"Alright, we start in Rogers park. I want all service calls the last 48 hours" Voight says, "Where was he abducted? I mean, somebody heard a scream, saw a car they didn't recognize, a strange face, something"

"The boys family is on their way to the morgue. I want to be there when they ID him" Dawson says, looking at Al to go with him.

~~~

The next morning, Sam and Denise walk into the district, as Adam, Kevin, Dawson and Jay walk down the stairs from the unit.

"Hey guys, I brought donuts" Sam says, lifting the box up to show the guys, all the glazed, goodness. The four guys smile, taking one from the box and Adam says, "thanks Sam. You're amazing"

"Yeah, thanks Sam" Kevin and Antonio say in unison, as they leave the district. Jay gives Sam a kiss and says, "thank you baby"

"You're welcome. Where are you guys going?"

"Going to question people in the neighborhood, see if they know anything"

"Okay, be safe please" Sam says, taking a donut out of the box and taking a bite from it.

"Always" Jay says, then fist bumps Denise, "hey, Dee"

"Hey Jay"

"Be good for Trudy, ok?" Jay says, walking towards the door. Denise smiles and says, "always"

~~~

After Sam puts the donuts in the break room, she heads into Voights office and closes the door behind her and sits down.

"Hank...it's eating me up inside. Did you find Wyatt's address?"

"I did" Hank says, leaning back in his chair.

"Well, can I have it?" Sam questions.

"No"

"Why?"

"Because Justin is taking a few days off and coming home to do this with you"

Sam smiles and says, "okay"

"Sammy, I will always be here for you, okay? And I just want to thank you for giving me a grandson"

Sam wipes a stray tear away from her eyes as the two get up and hug.

"I'd do anything for you Hank. Thank you for looking after me when my mom died, when no one else would"

"Of course, kiddo. It's what family does"

~~~

An hour later, Adam and Kevin walked onto the unit with loads of boxes with files inside as they and Sam go through them.

"Special investigations unit sent over the files of every registered sex offender in the vicinity of Rogers park" Atwater says, looking through a box.

"The M.E found tissue under Jeremy's fingernails. Little guy went down fighting" Sam says, looking through some papers, "he said no signs of sexual assault but that doesn't mean he couldn't have been made to..you know"

"I don't know, this block he was snatched from, they're pretty tight knit" Adam says, looking at this computer, "seems like an odd pool to pick your victims from"

"But if it was about sex, there's no logic it's just impulse" Sam states.

"Hey, this guy moved into the block last year, he's in from Salt Lake City. His P.O logged a complaint, he never registered in Chicago" Adam says.

"What's his name?" Sam asks. Adam hands the brunette a paper and says, "Darren Woodhull"

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Sam and Antonio walked onto the rooftop restaurant to question Woodhull when Sam says, "I'm so glad there was an elevator, cause damn those are a lot of stairs. You want to take lead in this?"

"I do, in fact" Dawson says, as the two detectives walk over to Darren Woodhull, then he flashes his shield and asks, "Darren Woodhull?"

Woodhull looks up from his paper and said, "officers. You must be here about the boy"

Antonio and Sam give each other a look and sit down across from Woodhull.

"two child murders equidistant from my condominium in Salt Lake. This was 2012. I was detained for nine hours by the PD and told in no uncertain terms that a confession was the only card I had to play. It's tiresome, being the usual suspect" Woodhull says.

"I imagine your victims grew tired of your abuse, back in Utah" Dawson says.

"I made mistakes. I sought treatment"

"Court ordered" Sam states.

"I know my rights officers. I don't need a lawyer, I have nothing to hide"

"Expect for the fact that you didn't register as a sex offender when you moved to Chicago. Why not?" Sam asks. Woodhull looks around and said, "I-I did. Your city's computer system created an erroneous problem report and I have an alibi for 6:45, Saturday night. I was here, stuck in a client presentation"

Dawson sighed, shrugging and asks, "you have a car?"

"I do. It's been in the shop all week"

Sam looks at the big bandage on Darren woodhulls neck and asks, "what happened to your neck? Did you, maybe, get attacked?"

"No more questions for today. I have a meeting to get to" Woodhull says, standing up.

"This isn't Salt Lake, Darren. Sit down" Antonio says with anger laced in his voice, "we got a kid down the street from you, dead, and your on the verge of pissing me off" as Woodhull sits back in his seat.

"Your injury. What happened?" Sam asks.

"I was sailing. I rented a sunfish, capsized on some rocks yesterday"

"We're gonna need the contact information of everyone that you were working with over the weekend and you should stay in town" Sam says as Dawson hands him a pad and pen.

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Sam, Hank, Al, and Jay arrive at Darren Woodhull's home, guns drawn, as they approach the front door. Voight knocks and yells, "Chicago Police!"

"Guy lied right to my face and violated his parole by not registering in Chicago. In case you need a reason" Sam says. Hank nods and looks at Jay, who then smashes in the front door.

The four head inside, guns still drawn and search the house. Voight and Al head up stairs, while Sam and Jay search the downstairs.

As Sam and Jay clear out the downstairs of the house, Sam goes to clear the last room when a door opens and a man is standing there with a loaded shotgun pointed at her, which makes Sam gasp, holding in a breath, only thinking about her daughter at this point.

"Drop the weapon" Jay shouts, pointing his gun at the armed man.

"Who are you?"

"We're the police" Sam states, "Who are you?"

"I'm Darren's Woodhulls protector"

"You want to die in a closet? Drop the gun now!" Jay yells.

"Show me a badge" the man says. Sam points to her vest and says, "it's right here"

The man lowers the shotgun and Sam snatches it from him.

"Don't hurt me please"

Jay grabs the man and pushes him against the wall -not caring if he hurts him-, and handcuffing him saying, "she's pregnant, asshat"

"I'm sorry. I'm sorry"

Jay looks at his girlfriend who has her hands placed on her stomach, trying to calm her breathing.

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Before the team headed out to find Richard Dolan and Damien Boyd, who kidnapped Darren Woodhull. Sam pulls her boyfriend aside and cups his face with her hands and says, "baby, look at me. I'm alright, okay? Gracie is okay. We're gonna be okay. Now be safe and get those s.o.b's."

Jay stifles a laugh and says, "you're right. I just love you so much" then he kisses his girlfriend, "and I love our little girl more then words can explain"

"I know. We love you too"

~~~

Sam walks onto the unit from seeing Trudy and Denise when Hank stops her and says, "Sam, I know you don't want to, but I need you to stay in house for the rest of the case"

Sam shrugs and says, "okay"

"Hmm, Alright then"  Hank says, leaving the unit.

~~~

An hour later, when Al and Jay come back to the district, trying to find the mechanic, Kurt Hollister, who has been on the run, the team is gathered around the white board.

"Our main suspect is Kurt Hollister. Last known location was his mechanic shop, four hours ago" Dawson explains, "we got tac guys sitting on his residence and an amber alert out on the vehicle and the kid"

"The body in the freezer" Mouse says, showing the team a picture, then handing it to Dawson to tape on the board, "Belonged to Ray Malone. He was 38 years old. Died a block from where he was born"

"Malone was a knock around guy, misdemeanor priors. Somehow he's the nexus" Adam says, "he went to high school with the father of the victim and the father of the missing kid"

"So, what's the motive?" Al asks, "why brutally murder a kid, take off with a second and leave an unrelated male body behind?"

"He's out there and he's holding a seven year old boy. He's not some mastermind. We should have him in custody" Dawson says.

"We were right there, we talked to him" Jay says, with anger laced in his voice. Sam places her hand on his back and rubs figure eights on it to try and calm him down.

"We all missed it" Antonio says, "lets connect the dots. Who was Ray Malone to this guy? How does he end up in his freezer"

~~~

Later that day, after finding out the real reason Hollister is doing what he's doing. The team minus Sam, head out to the marina to stop Kurt from killing the seven year old boy.

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Later that night, Sam waddles into Molly's bar and sees Jay drinking with his brother and walks over to them.

"Hey boys"

"Hi, gorgeous" Jay says, leaning in for a kiss, which Sam accepts.

"Hey Sam" Will says. Sam brings her -someday brother in law- in for a hug and says, "hey"

"Come sit down" Jay says.

"No, it's okay. I have to get Denise from a friends house. I just wanted to stop in and see everyone. Drink, have fun and Will, make sure he gets home safe"

"I will"

"Thank you. I'm gonna go see Kev and Adam real quick" Sam smiles and walks away.

"So, let me see it" Jay says. Will smiles and hands his baby brother a small red, velvet box.

Jay opens it to reveal a gorgeous diamond ring and says, "thank you for letting me use moms ring"

"Yeah, of course. Sam is a great girl. She'll love it. When do you plan on asking?" Will asks, taking a sip of his beer. Jay smiles and says, "Soon. Really soon"

"So you really love her, huh?"

Jay smiles and says, "I do. I'm in love with her Will. More in love than I've ever been in my whole life. She's my everything"

"That's great man. I'm happy for you" Will smiles.

"Thank you, man"

Jay and Will look over st Sam, who is talking and laughing with Kevin and Adam, while rubbing circles on her stomach.

a/n;

❤️🥺❤️