Here's to Chapter 2!

Jay had already been in the kitchen with a cup of coffee when he heard a small pitter patter of feet from across the hall. It was still early so he wondered why Sophia was out of bed but if he had to guess it had been the result of her restless night, he had to see to his young daughter on numerous occasions during the night after having a night terror.

Peering his head from the kitchen he spotted his 5-year-old daughter clutching Officer bear close to her chest. Sophia’s head was down as she wandered carelessly towards her father, Jay noticed at an instant something was bothering his daughter.

Placing his coffee out of reach he crouched down to his daughter’s height and held his arms opened for her. She fell into them in an instant and started to sob. Jay ran his hand up and down Sophia’s back as he recited soothing words to her.

“You okay angel?” He asked her, eye contact remained still as he looked over his daughter to see if she was physically harmed.

“Da-daddy- the- the man- got me - again.” Sophia struggled through her hiccups. It had been the same situation every night for the past week. Sophia had been suffering from them ever since the masked criminal had attempted to take her from their home during the night nearly a week ago.

“Angel. Angel. It’s okay. Daddy’s got you.” He smiled gently as he used his thumbs to wipe the tears from Sophia’s eyes. “You got a big day today sweetheart!”

“I wanna go to work with daddy” Sophia sniffed slightly.

“You know you can’t angel. How about I come and pick you up from school today?” Jay suggested.

At those words, Sophia instantly had a smile on her face and her toothy grin was intact.

“Really daddy? And not Uncle Will?” Sophia’s eyebrows furrowed slightly as she made sure that her daddy was serious.

"Hey now, I always keep my promises, Angel.” Jay never broke his promises but normally if Sophia’s daddy was home early it meant that he had a really bad day and the 5-year-old didn’t like that one bit.

“Okay, daddy.”

“Now, how ‘bout we go get you dressed and then daddy will drop you at school. How's that sound?” Jay suggested softly

Nodding shyly, the little girl moved towards her bedroom. Looking back, she checked that Jay had been following her before she continued to head towards the room at the end of the hall.

It took Jay longer than usual to find his daughter something to wear. He really needed to do some washing. He thought as he rooted through her drawers. He had been so busy with making sure Sophia hadn’t moved from his sight that he completely forgot about the household chores.

Finally finding something for Sophia to wear he lifted the small outfit up. “What about this, Angel?”

Sophia just looked at her daddy like he had forgot the blueberries for blueberry pancake Saturday. “Oh no daddy!” She exclaimed slapping her hands to her cheek as she stared at her daddy open mouthed. “Daddy, you need a talk with Aunt Gabby.”

And the sassiness had returned. “Why what’s wrong with this?” He argued looking over the outfit he had picked. He had picked out a red Minnie mouse top and a pink legging set.

Sophia just buried her head in her hands in exasperation. Her daddy didn’t have any idea.

Deciding that he had already lost the argument before it had even begun he found a jean skirt and some tights, pulling them from the drawer he held them in the air with raised eyebrows. “Better?”

Looking up Sophia smiled. “Good job Officer Daddy!”

“Come on angel, let’s get you dressed.”

Once Jay had dressed his daughter he guided her back to the kitchen where he placed her on the chair.

“Eat up angel.” Jay pressed as he placed the bowl of oatmeal in front of his daughter.

It didn’t take long for Sophia to demolish her oatmeal, pulling her down from the chair he carried her to the bathroom where she brushed her teeth. Within minutes Jay had picked up his badge, gun and keys before taking his daughter to the car. Jay strapped his daughter into the car and headed off in the direction of Sophia’s school.

In the car, Sophia was bobbing her head to the music signing her little heart out, Jay looked up into the mirror and smiled at the sight. Luckily Jay didn’t live too far away so it only took 10 minutes to get to his daughter’s school.

Parking the SUV on the side of the road Jay cut the engine and got out of the driver’s side. Rounding the blacked-out vehicle, he lifted Sophia from the car. Picking up her bag he slung it over his shoulder and walked towards the gates looking around every few seconds to make sure he had arrived undetected. Jay had been on high alert ever since a masked criminal had attempted to take Sophia, he was adamant to find out who had attempted to kidnap his daughter. Whatever the cost.

“Bye Angel.” Jay smiled, ruffling her hair lightly.

Crouching down so he could hug his daughter Sophia beat him to it and hugged her father tightly. "Be careful, Daddy" she pleaded.

"Always, Angel. I’ll pick you up later, okay? Have fun." Jay kissed the top of her head before heading back towards the car.

****

Jay sat on the edge of his desk, his arms crossed over his chest, as he watched Burgess and Lindsay update the team on what they had so far on the burglar, who had attempted to kidnap Sophia, although the rest of team, save Voight, didn't know about Sophia's existence, let alone that she had nearly been kidnapped.

They had barely gotten anywhere, since there had be no clues left behind in Jay's apartment, and Jay was getting more frustrated and angrier by the minute. Every minute wasted meant that the man was out there, probably plotting his next plan of attack, and if it involved Sophia, Jay would rather see him dead than in the wind.

"Halstead, I think you shouldn't work this case," Voight suddenly spoke, and the whole team looked up at Jay and Voight.

Jay remained right where he was, a neutral expression on his face. "Sarge, I need to be on this case, you know I do," Jay replied, his voice calm and steady, although he was feeling anything but calm.

"You heard me, you're too involved in this case," Hank continued, watching Jay's body stiffen.

"I need to do this, Sarge, no matter what you may think," Jay retorted.

Erin came forward and touched Jay's arm. "Jay, Hank's right. You were targeted,

you can't work on this case!"

"I need to find the guy, Lindsay," Jay insisted, looking into her lovely brown eyes, and wishing he could just kiss her right there and then, but he

held himself back and stared down her gaze.

"Jay-" Erin began, but now he was officially enraged.

"You don't understand, Erin! None of you do!" With that outburst, Jay grabbed his leather jacket and stormed off, and out of the precinct, his anger not dissipating.

He went over to his car and sat at the wheel, breathing heavily. He tried to regulate his breathing, but barely managed to do so, before slapping his hand against the wheel in anger and frustration. He was falling apart. Ever since that night when the man had tried to take Sophia from their apartment, Jay had been watching over his daughter, in every possible way, making sure he was there to protect her properly the next time something like this happened. He hoped it never would happen again, but with the kind of life he led, he knew he could not count on any peace.

Jay finally calmed himself down enough to start driving home. He checked the time,

it was 12pm, he still had 2 hours before he needed to pick Sophia up. He was

only five minutes away from home when a thought crossed his mind, and he turned

the wheel, heading past his apartment block and towards the more crime-filled

areas of Chicago...His CI could confirm his suspicion, he was sure of it.

****

*Flashback Begins*

Sophia watched her Uncle Will pace nervously around the waiting room of Med, his brow furrowed and his lips pressed tightly together. He looked worried and tensed, and Sophia couldn't understand why. All she wanted to know was, where her daddy

was, and why he hadn't picked her up from school like he usually did.

"Uncle Will?" Sophia piped up, watching as her uncle stopped and turned to her, a small smile lighting his face when his eyes landed on his cute little niece. "Yeah,

cutie?" Will replied, sitting beside her.

"Where's Daddy?" Sophia asked quickly.

Will paled slightly, unsure of what to say. He finally placed his hand on the top of

his niece's head. "He's resting," Will replied.

"But he always comes to pick me up from school. And he isn't home right now, he's not resting, Uncle

Will," Sophia huffed, catching her own uncle in his lie.

Will sighed loudly. "Soph, your daddy has a hard job, you know," he

explained. "Things happen, and Daddy gets held back sometimes, you know

that."

Sophia nodded. "Yeah Uncle Will, but, then Uncle Tonio comes to pick me if Daddy

is late."

"Cutie, do you know what your father does? HIs job?"

"No, what is Daddy's job?" Sophia asked inquisitively.

"Your daddy saves people, from bad guys," Will replied, and he saw his niece's

eyes light up with pride. He smiled at her and she looked up him happily.

"My daddy is a superhero?" Sophia bounced on her seat joyously.

"Yeah, he is," Will nodded. "Superheroes save people, just like your daddy

does."

Suddenly Sophia frowned and her lower lip quivered as she questioned her uncle yet

again. "Does my daddy not want me, Uncle Will?"

Will's heart broke into a million pieces, and he looked at his niece, who looked like

she was about to cry. He pulled her onto his lap and hugged her. "Soph,

your daddy loves you more than anything or anyone in this world. You know that,

don't you?"

"But my mommy didn't want me, so why does daddy want me?"

"Your mommy isn't like your daddy, baby. He's loves you so much, and he works so many hours a day to keep you safe and protected from bad guys. Your mommy loved her job, she's not as nice or loving as your daddy," Will explained gently.

Sophia wrapped her arms around Will's neck. "Is Daddy in the owie?"

Will closed his eyes, cursing himself for initially underestimating this particular

5-year-old's cleverness. And since she had Jay's genes, she was bound to be

perceptive. Like father, like daughter. "Your daddy is okay, cutie,"

Will finally replied confidently.

He silently prayed and hoped that Jay would be more careful next time, whether he was undercover or not. But Will didn't want to see Sophia's heart and world shatter into a million little pieces if her daddy, whom she thought the world of, died in the line of duty, and left her without a parent who actually loved her and cared for her because she needed at least one of those.

*End of Flashback*

****

It was 1pm and the children at Sophia’s school had all been let out for lunch break. Sophia and her friend Connie had skipped, in sync all the way towards the climbing frame. They headed straight for the monkey bars where they took turns in jumping from one bar to another.

It had been Connie’s turn when she began to ask Sophia a question about her daddy.

“Sophie? Why does your daddy get to be a superhero?” Connie breathed out as she reached her hand out for the next bar.

“Because he stops the baddies” Sophia declared proudly as she swung her legs from the wooden platform.

“Do you think my mommy could be a superhero?” Swinging her body and latching her hand to the last bar in front of her. Using her legs Connie jumped to the wooden platform leaving Sophia to have a go.

It was now Sophia’s turn on the monkey bars. She had clung to the first bar before she answered her best friend. “I think she can.”

She had nearly been at the end of the playing frame when she spotted someone wearing old worn out sneakers stood in her way. She really needed this kid to move otherwise she’d fall. Sophia was strong for a five-year-old but not that strong.

“Sophia’s dad isn’t a hero.” The bigger kid retorted sulkily. “My dad says your daddy takes people away from their family.”

“That’s not true.” Anger was burning through Sophia as she stared at the bully. Her daddy was her hero and nothing anyone would say would ever change that.

Sophia’s grip was beginning to loosen on the bars and her face began to crease in panic.

“Yes, he is. He took my daddy from me!” The kid shouted at the light-haired Halstead.

“NO!” For a moment, Sophia thought the boy was going to move out of the way and she would be able to reach the platform. The young Halstead was wrong and the next thing she saw was a foot moving closer to her before it connected with her body. She hadn’t been strong enough and Sophia’s hands slid from the monkey bars causing her to fall through the air and land awkwardly on the playground floor.

Sophia screamed in pain as her arm crunched beneath her and her head hit the ground. She wanted her Officer daddy, she wanted her superhero.

****

“Hello there” Connor smiled gently as he entered the trauma bay. Walking in Connor took a quick over look on the young girl’s injuries. She was cradling her right arm which had been placed in a splint which he had almost instantly assumed was broken. She had a gash across the lefts side of her face which ran from her hairline at the top of her head all the way down to her ear, the blood trickled and.

Looking up again he saw the young girl, she was willing herself not to cry but Connor could see that she was in pain. He hadn’t even looked at the name of the file he had received so it came a shock when he looked at the girl again. It took him a few moments but as he advanced towards her he knew exactly who she was. “Sophia?”

“I want- my daddy.” The little girl hiccupped as she tried her best to stop her tears. Her daddy never cried and she wanted to be strong like her daddy.

“Your daddy will be here real soon okay? My name’s Dr Rhodes, but you can call me Connor if you want?” He suggested quietly. He moved beside Sophia and took out his penlight before instructing the young girl. “Okay Sophia? The paramedic says that you hit your head and your arm when you fell. Is it okay, if I check you over?”

When Sophia nodded, weakly Connor lifted the penlight to her eyes whilst he spoke to her softly.

Sophia shied away from the light and whimpered, closing her eyes tightly Connor was sure she had a concussion but he wanted to get a CT scan first.

“Can I check your arm little one?”

Sophia tried her best to obey the instructions the doctor was giving to her but it was too painful. “When is my daddy going to come? I want my daddy”

Connor perched himself on the bottom of her gurney before speaking. “I’m sure your daddy is on his way now, okay? Right now, we’re going to fix you up, is that okay little one?”

Sophia nodded, her responses had started to delay so Connor was now certain the young Halstead had a concussion.

Reassuring the young girl that he was going to find her daddy Connor walked over to the nurses station where he called the number they had on file for Jay Halstead. It had barely rung when the voicemail message came on.

“Jay, it’s Connor Rhodes. I need you to get to med as soon as you can, Sophia’s been brought in.” Connor thanked before trying another number.

Will was in a conference so he was sure that his phone would’ve been turned off but nevertheless he tried to dial the redheaded Halstead.

“Will? It’s Connor. I have Sophia with me and Jay’s not picking up. She’ll be okay. Just an you call me back when you get this.

Sighing Connor put the phone down. Sophia really needed someone by her side. At that moment, a thought crossed his mind and he picked up the phone for a third time.

“Voight” The gruff voiced man answered.

“Hank. It’s Connor Rhodes from Med.” Connor informed immediately, finally he had gotten hold of someone.

“Dr Rhodes? What can I do for you?”

“Sophia’s been brought in-“ Connor hadn’t even managed to finish his sentence when the Sergeant cut across him in a frantic worry.

“Sophia?”

****

The minute Dr. Rhodes had called Hank to inform him that he couldn't get a hold of

Jay and that Sophia was in the hospital, with a concussion and a broken

arm, Hank had immediately headed straight to Med, after telling his team he needed to deal with something. They all had given him that look, because usually when he said that, they knew he meant he was playing the dirty cop card, and they hadn't bothered to ask him where he was going.

Hank was now at the hospital, sitting in the waiting room, and continuously

dialled and re-dialled Jay's number. But every single time it went straight to

voicemail, "Jay Halstead, sorry I can't get to the phone right now. Leave

a message and I'll see if I wanna get back to you." BEEP.

"Halstead, get to Med now!" Hank literally growled, fed up that his detective wasn't

picking up the phone when his daughter had been injured badly. Hank promised

that when Jay got here, he was going to give him a piece of his mind.

****

Getting out of the car Jay walked down the shaded alleyway, his CI reassured him that the information he had was worth it.

Jay’s phone began to buzz from his jacket pocket, pulling it out, one hand still on his side harm he noticed the caller ID. Voight. Something inside of him told him to answer the phone but he didn’t, he just swiped the dismiss.

****

“Grumpy?” Sophia spoke up.

Hank breathed out a laugh, Sophia had been calling him the same thing ever since she could talk. Jay would often reprimand her but Voight always assured him that it had been okay, he was the closest thing Sophia had to a grandfather.

“How are you feeling kiddo?” He asked. His once gruff voice was now one of pure concern.

“It hurt grumpy” Sophia's voice quavered.

Voight could tell Sophia was willing herself not to cry so he pulled off his jacket and moved closer to the little girl. The cut on her head had since been stitched and her arm was now in a plaster being supported by a sling.

“How about we read a book?” Voight tried to coax as he indicated the pile of books a nurse had brought in to occupy Sophia. Picking up the pile Voight began to shift through the pile when he came across the ideal book. “How about Peter Pan?”

Sophia’s smile brightened at an instant. Her toothy grin appeared and she nodded excitedly. “Yes please Grumpy Hank.”

And Voight began to read the tale of Peter Pan.

He had only been half way through the fairy-tale before the sound of a frantic Will Halstead echoed through the hospital corridor. It hadn’t took him long to find his niece’s room.