Lost Souls (Agent Severide Serie Book 5)

Chapter 17

Molly's Bar, Bucktown Chicago 

Zoey took a sip of the drink and nodded, "I did," she replied setting the cup down not sure as to where this conversation was going with the older sergeant. "How does an intelligent bright minded woman throw away one of the best jobs in the FBI?" he asked her. Zoey laughed lightly taking a sip of her drink noticing Voight was serious. "I guess I got tired of showing up after half a dozen bodies turn up and constantly chasing the worst humanity has to offer has its own toll," she replied shrugging as she took another sip of the drink. "You could have a huge difference in this city with you're vast knowledge on criminology and your work experience you'd made a great addition to the intelligence unit," the sergeant said taking a sip of his drink. 

"I don't know..." Zoey said looking over to her husband at the bar. I can't just leave the bureau and walk into Jay's job and take over. It felt wrong and it felt invasive, "You know it was Jay's idea," the older man said causing her to look at him. "Not just Jay," a familiar voice said causing her to look up to find Hotch standing there. What the hell is going on? "I thought you were on a case?" Zoey asked confused. "We're working a case in Naperville," the unit chief said. "May I sit?" Hotch asked as Zoey just nodded. 

"Sergeant Voight and I talked over the phone and we found a position for you where you'd still be able to stay with the FBI but also assist and train the detectives in intelligence on how to develop their own working profile for their cases," Hotch said. "That's if you want the position, like I said we could use your knowledge and skills." the sergeant said. "As long as I'm not stepping on anyone's toes," Zoey replied finishing off her drink. "Not at all, so what do you say?"Voight asked holding a hand out to the blonde who shook his hand. 

Hotch smiled, "I believe these are yours," he said returning her credentials and gun with a holster. Everything was the same except her credentials read 'SSA Halstead instead of SSA Severide. "I knew you wouldn't be able to resist," her husband said walking over with a smile. "How long did you know about this?" she asked him, "Since you said you resigned," Jay replied with his signature smirk. "Well I have to get back, I'll be in touch and Sergeant," Hotch said standing up. "I will eventually need Agent Halstead back at the Bau," the unit chief said cracking a smile. "On loan from the FBI," Voight agreed shaking Hotch's hand before the older agent smiled at Zoey and walked out of the bar. 

"On loan from the FBI, sounds like a crappy drama series of Fox," the blonde agent said laughing a bit before she stared at her badge. "8 Am sharp tomorrow morning, Welcome to Intelligence," Voight said to Zoey who nodded as the man walked out of the bar. The moment Hotch and Voight were gone she turned to look at her husband in disbelief. "So I lasted as a civilian for... 3 hours," The blond said checking her watch causing Jay to laugh. "We should head home, especially since we work in the morning," Zoey adds smiling at her words 'we'. Zoey closed their tab and she and Jay left Molly's heading back to his apartment; where they fell asleep in each other's hold. 

21st District Police Department, Chicago 

After Zoey scrambled around Jay's apartment for a solid 40 minutes she made it to the station and upstairs to the intelligence unit by 7:05, it was no surprise that the bullpen was empty. The blonde looked around noticing that Sergeant Voight was sitting in his office. Zoey walked over knocking on the older sergeant's door causing him to look up at her and then over to a clock on the wall. "You're early," was all he said, "I'd rather be early than late," the agent said causing the older man to nod. "I'm sorry there's not another office for you," the sergeant said more sarcastically than seriously causing the blonde to laugh and take a seat. "I don't need an office Sergeant, I'd rather be out there with the team anyways," The agent replied. 

"I still haven't told the team your working with us," Voight said standing up and shutting the door. "So I'm not sure what you've heard about me and how I run my unit- Sergeant no disrespect but you run your unit however you see fit. I'm only here to share my knowledge and assist on cases." Zoey said. The agent knew the sergeant's reputation on paper wasn't the greatest, In fact, he looked like a pretty dirty cop. If he was actually that bad how is he running one of the most elite task forces in Illinois? she asked herself. "Well let's go introduce you to the team," he said standing up and opening the door to his office. 

"So, a lot of rumours have been going around that we would be having a federal agent working with us moving forwards for a while," The older sergeant said as Zoey stayed in his office for a moment. "Ugh, so we got a glorified babysitter?" Detective Ruzek said irritated. Zoey had to contain a laugh as she emerged from Voight's office. "I don't do babysitting, and your all grown adults that can make your own decisions," The blonde agent said causing shock to cross the intelligence team except Jay that sat at his desk with an amused smirk. "Agent Severide, you're gonna be working with us?" detective Kim Burgess asks. "It's actually agent Halstead right?" a brunette in a beanie said more than asked. She didn't recognize the man, "Yea, how'd you-Mouse is a tech wiz, he can hack into the FBI's database without a trace," Jay said walking over and handing his wife a cup of coffee. 

"Thanks," she said with a smile accepting the coffee from him, "Wait you two got married?!?" Kevin asked shocked, "When?" Ruzek asked. "Last week, in Hawaii," Antonio said standing up and walking over to Zoey. "Gabby sent me the videos," Antonio said before pulling the blonde into a hug. "What the Hell, congratulations," Kevin said more shocked that the detective didn't say anything. "Your desk is over there," Voight said showing her a desk next to his and across from Jay. 

Zoey walked over to the desk setting her go bag next to the desk as Voight wandered back into his office. The blonde sat down on her chair taking a sip of her coffee as all eyes were on her. "So, how exactly does a federal agent with the best gig in the world end up stuck with a bunch of detectives in Chicago?" Adam asked bluntly earning a glare from Antonio who smacked the back of his head, "Dude" Jay added. "What I'm curious," Adam replied looking at Zoey. "Did you do something?" Upton asked her from her desk. 

"Your file said you took down one of the biggest human trafficking rings in north America, how did you end up here?" the brunette in the beanie asked. The blonde paused looking at the man as she took a sip of her coffee. "Can I at least know your name? Considering you investigated me," Zoey said raising an eyebrow. "Oh I'm Greg, I'm intelligence's tech guy. My friends call me Mouse though," he replied standing up and walking over to her with his hand held out. "Nice to meet you, Afghanistan or Iraq?" she asked him after shaking his hand taking him aback and causing Mouse to look at Jay. "I didn't say a word," her husband said holding his hands up. "How'd you- You still walk like a soldier, and your stance and few other things," The agent replied shrugging as she leaned on the side of her desk. 

"To answer your question, I don't tired of showing up to a case after half a dozen bodies turn up and teh 2-3 more bodies it takes teh team to catch the unsub, and believe it or not casing serial killers, cannibals and the worst humanity has to offer isn't all it's chalked up to be," she replied. "Cannibals?" Mouse asked looking at the agent slightly horrified. "Please don't share the story again, I just ate breakfast," Kim pleaded to the agent.