Perfect Storm

Chapter 14 - You Jump, I Jump

"Why is your car so fucking cold Kevin!?"

Kate pulled her grey beanie as far down over her ears as she could, sending a glare across the console to her partner who merely raised an eyebrow at her hissed complaint, cracking the window a little further in defiance.

"Gotta stay alert. Can't be sleepin' on the job."

"You're an asshole."

Kate rolled her eyes, crossing her arms over her chest as she tried to control the involuntary shivers that wracked her body, knees bouncing in an effort to warm up. It was early February and Chicago was still blanketed in snow, the temperature sitting well below freezing.

The two of them had dropped an anchor outside of a known stash house in Englewood, eyes trained on the front door that had closed behind Kevin's CI about thirty minutes prior.

After a few more minutes of nothing, Kevin let out a huff and swung the car door open.

"Where are you going?"

"I'm goin' to check on his ass." Once he was out of the car, he unhooked his badge and holster, throwing them both onto the driver's seat before securing his weapon in the waistband of his jeans.

"Kev, we aren't even supposed to be here! Fischer shut us down..."

"I know Fischer shut us down but I got way too much skin in the game to let this drop now, a'ight?"

Kate watched him move across the street and take the front porch steps two at a time, his hulking frame shielding the door from Kate's line of sight until he was ushered inside. Kevin had called in to say that they were on a personal as, technically, the Commissioner had shut down their case earlier that day.

The CI currently inside the stash house was a school friend of Kevin's younger brother Jordan. Kevin had known Danté Williams since he was ten years old, watching as the kid grew into a young man who had become involved with some of the worst criminals Chicago had to offer. Eventually, the 'life' caught up with him and he got busted for running guns and fentanyl for the East Side Hustlers. To save him from doing hard time, Kevin cut him a deal; help them bring down the gang kingpin and he'd do a year inside. Unfortunately the bust went sideways and Fischer shut them down, despite Kevin, Kate and Voight arguing the toss.

Kate felt a pang of guilt at the thought of her boss, knowing full well he would be livid at her for keeping him in the dark.

'You tell me the truth so that I can lie for you.'

She let her head drop back onto the headrest with a groan. She knew she didn't have much of a choice on this one. Sure, she could have come clean to Voight but that would mean rolling on her partner and, in Kate's view, that wasn't even an option. Besides, neither she nor Kevin wanted this to blow back on him if the shit hit the fan.

Things had been going well between them over the past few weeks, feeling their way around balancing their personal and professional relationship. During the day, Kate would keep her interactions with him to a minimum, partially because she didn't want to draw unnecessary attention to them but also because she was slightly terrified that she would slip up and call him 'Hank' or 'babe' in front of the others. 

On a rare free Saturday in late January, the two of them bundled up and took a drive to Indiana Dunes National Park where they walked hand in hand on the beach, both of them enjoying the change of scenery as the frigid sea air whipped around them. When they got back to Hank's place, they took a hot shower together in an effort to drive away the chill before curling up on his couch for the remainder of the evening. It already felt so comfortable and easy; Kate loved every second she spent with him.