In My Head (Agent Severide Book 2)

Chapter 23

FBI Academy, Quantico Virginia

The BAU make their way back into the office after returning back from a case in Boston. That's when Garcia ran over looking extremely upset, "Babygirl what's wrong?" Morgan was the first to ask. "Severide's desk is cleared, there's nothing except a stack of files she never got around to," Garci said confusing the team as they walked into the office immediately noticing what she was talking about. "Hotch, what's going on?" Reid asked looking at the unit chief who looked just as surprised as the rest of the agents. "I... Don't know" he said as she walked upstairs to his office where his eyes landed on his desk where Severide's badge and gun sat. 

Hotch sighed setting his bag down as he walked over picking up the agent's affairs before walking back out to the top of the stairs. "I don't think Severide's coming back," Hotch said as the team looked up confused and shocked as they instantly saw the badge and gun in his hands. "Would she really just leave without saying anything?" Reid asked sounding hurt. "I don't know about you guys but that doesn't sound like Severide. I'm gonna go find her, I need answers" Morgan said before he walked out of the office and down the elevator. 

Firehouse 51, Chicago Illinois

Kelly sat at the Squad table on the apparatus floor trying to focus on the newspaper in his hand. Somehow he couldn't stop thinking about Zoey. He hadn't heard from her in almost a week which wasn't typical for her. The lieutenants shook it off and figured she was working and would call him when she had the chance. "Hey Severide, have you heard anything from Zoey?" Gabby asked walking over to him. "No, have you?" he asked looking up at the brunette who just shook her head sadly. 

That's when Kelly's phone began to ring causing him to pull the device out and answer. "Lieutenant Severide, no she's not here and I haven't heard from her in a week now. I figured she was back to work, Hmmm that doesn't sound like her. I'll ask around and see if I can find her," Kelly said into the phone before hanging up. "Is everything okay?" Gabby asked curiously. "I'm not sure, That was Morgan and apparently Zoey resigned without a word to anyone. She's not answering their calls either." Kelly said looking at Gabby. "Want me to call Antonio?" Gabby asks as Kelly nods his head. "SQUAD 3 LOAD UP WE'RE GOING FOR A DRIVE," Kelly said standing up from his spot as squad came running out and geared up before they hopped in the back of the truck and left the firehouse. 

21st District Police Department, Chicago

Jay sat at his desk trying to focus on their narcotic homicide case but the only thing going through his mind was Zoey and the family he was so close to having. a family he always knew he wanted but couldn't find the time for. Now not only did he lose his kid but he also lost the woman of his dreams. 

The sound of Antonio's phone is what pulled him from his thoughts and back to the case sitting in front of him. "Hey Gabby hows- Whoa slow down, okay, yea, wait what? I haven't heard from her but I can ask him. Halstead?" Antonio asked catching the dark-haired detective's attention. "Yea?" he asked, "Have you seen or heard from Zoey by any chance?" he asks. "Not recently, why?" he asked. "He hasn't talked to her either, I might head out and look around. Yea alright love you" Antonio said. "Zoey's resigned from the FBI out of the blue and now nobody has heard from her or seen her," the detective said standing up from his desk. "Firehouse 51 is out looking for her, Morgan's flying in from Chicago. I'm gonna go see if I can help them out, Sarg?" Antonio asked as the older man nodded telling him to go. "I'm coming with you," Halstead said standing up from his desk before following Antonio down the stairs. 

Condemned Apartment Bucktown Chicago 

Zoey sat in what was left of her and Kelly's apartment, the city tried to board up the building but it was still easy to sneak inside, especially with a ton of tequila in your system. The blonde was completely wasted she got the cab to take her to Shay's grave where she drank most of the day away laying against the tombstone drunkenly babbling to her best friend she missed so much. 

Zoey was now sat in the charred remains of the building she once called home the building she almost died in and the building her child died inside. The blonde couldn't contain her sorry as heart-wrenching sobs left her mouth as she sat on the dirty floor surrounded by debris. The building felt like her life was a mess, she felt so alone like when Shay died. 

Zoey sat on the floor numbing herself with a bottle of tequila setting it aside on the floor before she stumbled to her feet and out of the building, The blonde called a cab which didn't take long to arrive and she took the cab most of the way out to Kelly's cabin. The blonde got the man to drop her off in the small town by the cabin and she hiked the rest of the way chugging back tequila on the way. 

Kelly's Cabin, North of Chicago

By the time Zoey arrived at the cabin the set was just setting, The blonde walked inside and turned all the lights on and shut all the curtains and locked the door as she walked over and plugged Shay's iPod in that was still set up after all these years. Zoey walked over turning the speaking on and playing Disturbia by the one and only Rhianna as she began chugging back her third bottle of tequila today. 

It wasn't until halfway through the song that the tequila started hitting her like a train as she danced around the room singing at the top of her lungs the way she used to with Shay anytime life got hard. By the end of the song Zoey had finished off the tequila and passed out with the music blaring through the small cabin. 

The blonde woke up on the floor of the cabin with the music still playing loudly throughout the room. Zoey groaned pushing herself up off the floor noticing she'd passed out in her own puke... attractive she thought as she stood up and went to clean the mess. Zoey sighed looking around for her phone finding it on the counter. She paused for a moment thinking about calling Jay or anyone she was tired of being lost in a never-ending spiral of thoughts. 

Zoey turned her phone one going through her contact her finger hovering over Jay's contact as she sighed before deciding against it after all she did tell him to get out and leave her alone... even if she didn't mean it at the time. She was just emotional and couldn't look at him after looking at their child. 

The thought alone caused Zoey to begin sobbing again as she walked over to the kitchen cracking open a new bottle of tequila. At this point, she was on a bender an almost 1-month drinking bender. The blonde chugged back the clear liquid when she heard the familiar sound of Kelly's mustang causing the blonde to pause. 

Zoey shrugged not caring as she lay on the wooden floor of the cabin sipping on the bottle of tequila as she softly sang along to Misery by Maroon 5. The blonde lay there hearing the old mustang engine roar to a stop outside. Here we go, Zoey thought and it didn't take long for the sound of the keys in the lock and then the sound of the door opening.