Forbidden (JAY HALSTEAD)

21st District

Ayla

Today I am starting my first day at the 21st district. I inhale sharply before walking up the steps and past those doors.

I walk up to the desk where there stood an older lady and clear my throat. The lady was too concentrated on some papers she was flipping through, her glasses resting on the bridge of her nose.

"Excuse me? I'm here to see Hank Voight" I keep my head high and wait for the lady to acknowledge me. She exhales and slowly brings her eyes up to me, pushing her glasses up with her middle finger. I catch a glimpse of the name on her badge. Platt.

"Darling. People come in here all the time to see Hank Voight" Platt says rather bored.

"My name is Ayla Grace" I add.
"You could've started with that. Let me buzz you up" she points in the direction of some stairs to my right. I tap lightly on the counter and thank her.

I walk up to the unit and can hear Hank's gravelly voice.

All heads are turned towards me when I step in. My eyes immediately land on Hank and I feel a smile break across my face.

"Hank" I say
"There she is" Hank stretches his hands out to me. "Everyone, this is Ayla Grace. Make sure she feels welcomed here at 21. Ayla, meet everyone"

Everyone was still looking at me. I nod my head to them all. The guy closest to me pushes himself off his desk and walks over to me with his arm outstretched and an open palm.

"Antonio Dawson" he introduces himself. His name sounds familiar. Dawson.

"Hey! Your Gabbys brother right?" We shake hands. Antonio smiles and nods. He is a cute one.

"Yeah that's my lil sis" he says. "Here let me introduce to everybody else. This is Kevin Atwater, Kim Burgess, Adam Ruzek, Alvin Olinsky, and Jay Halstead" Antonio goes around in order and introduces me to the rest of the team.

My eyes betray me as they linger a little longer on the last one Antonio introduced, Jay Halstead. The corner of his mouth twists up into a side smile.

In the corner of my eye I notice Hank crossing his arms and clearing his throat. I immediately recover and look at Hank. But I can still feel a pair of green eyes on me.

"Let's go into my office" Hank turns. I look around to everyone and smile.

"Nice meeting everyone" I say before walking into Hank's office and shutting the door quietly behind me.

Hank leans against his desk, arms crossed. His usual expressionless face he wore.

"Good to have you back home kid" Hank starts. "I didn't think you would've agreed to my offer so easily."

I shrug. "Felt like it was time to come back home" I try not to say much due to the fact I have not told Voight the whole truth about me and Leo, my ex fiancée.

Voight studies me for a moment as if seeing right through me. "Where's Leo?"

"Back in New York" I answer.
"When is he coming?" He pushes for the truth. He knows. I try to hold back the laugh but it falls out anyways. This man never fails to know when I'm not being honest.

"He's not" my eyes fall to the floor. "It didn't work out between us."

Voight clicks his tongue. "Ayla" he says in that tone of his where he knows I'm holding something back. I sigh in defeat. He's not letting me off easily.

"Hank" I whine. "Sometimes two people just aren't mea-"

"Did he do anything to hurt you?" His eyes bore into mine. "Be honest with me. You know you can come to me about anything."

"I know but I also know how you will react."

Voight furrows his eyebrows. "How I will react?" He questions. "React about what?"

There's a knock on the door before I could say anything. Alvin pops his head in slowly.

"We gotta roll out, Hank" Alvin looks at Hank who nods.

Hank stands up and starts walking to the door but pauses next to me.

"Hey. I'm glad you're back kid. I am, but this conversation isn't done."

I give him a nod and he opens the door. "Let's get to work."