What I Need- a Hank Voight Chicago PD fanfiction

Pull

The doors slid open, the harsh lighting reflecting off of white tile. It smelled like antiseptic and forced clean air.

Antonio hated hospitals.

Lana had been completely silent as they drove, hands clenched and expression willfully neutral. Like she was afraid to let her fear show. He hadn't known what to say to her. 

Telling her he hoped Eric was okay would just be wishing thier boss had been the one to take the bullet. Antonio couldn't do that. So he had said nothing, and let the anxious silence stretch. 

They stopped at the nurses' station long enough to ask about the officers that were just brought in when a voice cut down the hall.

"'Tonio!"

Antonio's attention whipped around. Voight stood outside a hospital room. He looked worried, but unharmed and Antonio was hit with a wave of relief that a little bit suprised him.

He felt his grin stretching his face. "Boss, hey, you're okay."

"Yeah," Voight's gaze didn't last on Antonio, it dropped to where Lana stood beside and Antonio's relief twisted. Voight was fine. Eric wasn't.

He felt Lana begin to shake.

A hesitant step, two, then she stumbled into Voight. Her forehead met his chest as her arms closed around him.

Antonio felt a little bad. If she was looking for comfort that probably wasn't the best place to get it... Voight just looked stunned. Antonio had seen enough times like this, when people were scared and they reached for what was in front of them. He debated stepping forward, offering his own shoulder, helping her through this. Reactions like this were perfectly normal. She might feel a little embarrassed about it later but no one would blame her. Antonio certainly wouldn't. Of course she was upset about Eric.

But none of that explained Voight.

The way his hand slipped around her waist. At first like he was scared to move it but then like he couldn't help it. The way his head dropped onto her shoulder, like she was the breath he had been waiting to take. She curled into it, frightened and seeking comfort and Voight held her with a gentleness that made something in Antonio's stomache ache.

Antonio knew why Lana was freaking out. Heck, anyone would be in her situation.

But nothing could explain the way Voight held her.

********

"Hey," Voight's voice was low, but firm, his hands on her elbows drawing her back from his warmth and the sound of his heart, fast but strong. He was okay. He was okay. It was the only thing that held any focus for her, a mantra of relief, and Lana didn't want to care about anything anyone else had to say.

"He's gonna be fine. It looked worse than it was. Bullet was through and through."

It took her a moment to realize he was talking about Eric, and she felt guilty for the flash of disinterest. That wasn't fair. Eric was hurt and it should matter but every moment it took to get here had worn something down inside of her.

She was calming with the feel of his hands steadying her. The heat of every finger a reminder that he was okay. Proof he wasn't lying there hurt. Her fingers splayed against his chest, moving with its rise and fall of breath. Evidence, a solid case against that awful voice inside that had wanted her to believe the worst.

She hadn't known what it was like, to be this scared. Like she could taste her heartbeat with each pang. She felt the air from the vent above, brushing cold on her cheek. The concern in his gaze sharpened.