Help Me Heal

Chapter 23

It was starting to become a morning routine for Hank to head home after spending the night with Kalinda to grab some breakfast and a change of clothes before work. It gave Erin a chance to catch up the latest news. Hank had started by informing her of Kalinda's decision not to come and work for their private detective service.

"Not surprising," Erin conceded, nursing a cup of coffee in her hands as they sat at the table in the kitchen.

Hank had his usual toast and coffee breakfast to work on. "No. I didn't even give her a sales pitch because I could tell before I got that far what her decision was going to be. Can't blame her at all when she only just started with Intelligence."

"Any thoughts on when you're going to leave CPD? I figure the sooner you do, the sooner we can devote our attention to starting our venture up. We need to get our private detective licenses, and we need to rent an office."

"And hire a receptionist," Hank added while eating some of his toast.

Erin nodded. "And that. If you like, I can start looking for people and searching for office spaces? Makes sense for me to be productive while I have nothing else to do."

"Alright, you can make a start. As for your first question, I'm thinking about calling Sam Miller today. I assume she'll want me to work notice until they select someone to replace me, so the sooner the better makes sense. It does feel strange to think today is the day I quit Intelligence."

Erin gave him a sympathetic look. "It must be hard. As much as possible, try to look forwards rather than backwards. We're going to start a business and make a success of it. We'll be able to work our own hours, and the only people we'll answer to will be our clients. No more bullshit from so-called higher-ups who are actually out of touch clowns."

"It does all sound good," Hank said, trying his best to look at the positives. "Once I've left Intelligence I'll be fine. It's the leaving that's going to be difficult."

"I know," Erin said quietly. There was nothing else she could say. "Are you going to tell the team today?"

"I've been in two minds about that. Maybe today, maybe tomorrow. Being honest with them feels fair to me so I won't keep them in the dark."

"Agreed. Well, good luck with it all. Try not to let it get you down too much, and keep the future in mind. A few months from now we'll be in business, likely thriving, and you'll be even closer to Kalinda. Things are looking up."

Hank appreciated what she was trying to do. And she was right, too. A few weeks ago he'd had Intelligence and absolutely nothing else in his life. Now he had Erin back, and they were going to work on becoming closer as father daughter. Kalinda had come into his life, in a relationship that was going from strength to strength very rapidly. And he was going to get to do something he had wanted to do for years by starting his own private detective service. In that moment, something clicked into place in his brain. Intelligence was a job that he was leaving, nothing more. It was time to put himself above that job and move on with his life. It was time to say 'fuck you' to the people who wanted the satisfaction of firing him. Kalinda had made a good point the previous night when she had said that moving on would allow him to leave some baggage behind. All in all, the more he thought about it the better he felt about leaving Intelligence.

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In his office that afternoon, with the door closed for privacy, Hank found Sam Miller's cell phone number in the list of contacts in his phone and called the number. He was aware of his lack of apprehension over what he was about to say. His decision had been made and he was happy with it.

It was fairly common for Miller to be busy when Hank called her. He would have to leave a message and wait for a call back. However, this time she answered after several rings.

"Hank."

"Sam. I want to apologise for snapping at you when you came to see me. I shot the messenger, wrongly."

"Don't worry about it. I'm assuming you've been putting thought into what we talked about?"

"Yes. At first I didn't like your idea of taking the option of leaving with my full pension. Felt a bit like quitting when there was a fight to be had, and that's not me."

Miller gave a single laugh. "That's the truth. I'm sensing there's a 'but' coming."

"There is," Hank said. "The 'but' is I have decided to take the option of leaving Chicago PD with my full pension, at the soonest opportunity. However, I am happy to help you out – that's you personally, not the assholes above you – and work notice while you find a replacement, if you need me to."

Miller took a moment to process that. "On a personal level, while I think you're making the right decision, I'll be sad to see you go. You're an old school cop who uses methods that work, and I think you've done excellent work with Intelligence throughout your tenure. I'd like to thank you for that."

"I appreciate that," Hank said, and he meant it.

"Now, speaking from a professional standpoint, obviously I need you to put your intentions in writing and email me. I'll then formally accept your resignation and inform you how to take advantage of the mayor's early retirement scheme. I'd like you to work a two week notice period. That should give you time to tie things up and leave Intelligence ready for your successor, and it will give me some time to appoint that successor. Will any of that be a problem?"

"No. You'll receive my resignation letter this afternoon."

"Okay," Miller said with a sigh. "Back on a personal level, do you have something lined up? Reason I ask, you don't strike me as a quitter. Figures you've got something to walk into."

Hank decided there was no reason not to tell her. "I'm going to start up a private detective service, with my daughter Erin." That was the first time he had referred to Erin that way, instead of saying foster daughter. It felt good. "So, if you ever want something doing off the books, you know who to call."

"I may well do that. Just don't go taking what's left of Intelligence with you."

Hank figured that comment was made half in jest at the very most. She was definitely concerned that he might take people with him. Apart from Kalinda, he hadn't yet considered doing that. Now, he was.

"I've not made offers to anyone as of now," he said. Honest, but non-committal.

"Right. Well, good luck to you, Hank. Maybe we'll talk again."

"Maybe. Take care of yourself," Hank said, and ended the call.

The call had gone well, he thought as he sat back in his chair. His resignation would be accepted, and he had only been asked to work a short notice period of two weeks. The main takeaway he had from the conversation was the idea of recruiting someone from Intelligence. Kalinda didn't want in, for understandable reasons that he respected. But Kalinda turning the position down did leave a potential opportunity for someone else from Intelligence, if they were interested.

But who? In truth, that was an easy question to answer, he realised after a few minutes of thinking about it. At least it was if he could have his pick.

"Kim!" he shouted through to the bullpen.

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A/N: A slightly shorter chapter than usual, but this seemed like an ideal place to end one.

Do you think Kim will take a job with Hank and Erin's upcoming private detective service?