And Then There Was You...

Chapter 16: And So You're Here...

3rd Person POV:

It had been two weeks since Thanksgiving, and the air in Chicago had turned crisp, carrying with it the promise of Christmas. The festive spirit was evident everywhere, from the lights that adorned the streets to the cheerful chatter in the ED. But for Grace, the excitement of the season was slowly being overshadowed by something far more sinister.

It started innocuously enough—an occasional hang-up call or a note left on her doorstep. At first, she dismissed it as a harmless prank, perhaps a bored teenager or someone with too much time on their hands. She didn't want to worry anyone, especially Connor, who had enough on his plate with work and the ongoing issues with his heating at his place. So, she kept the notes to herself, hiding them away in a drawer, trying to ignore the growing unease gnawing at her.

But as the days passed, the notes became more frequent and unsettling. Each one praised her beauty, her kindness, her accomplishments. The handwriting was neat, almost too perfect, and there was an eerie obsession in the words that Grace couldn't shake. Yet, she kept silent, convincing herself that as long as no real harm was being done, it wasn't worth bringing up.

That was until the day Connor had to stay at his place to oversee the electricians fixing the heating. Grace had just finished a long shift at the ED, eager to freshen up and meet Connor for dinner. As she walked up to her apartment, she noticed something on her doorstep—a bouquet of roses, a note, and a small photo album.

Her heart pounded as she picked them up, a cold chill creeping down her spine. Milo, sensing her unease, stayed close to her side, his little whines echoing her own anxiety. Once inside, she locked the door behind her, her hands trembling as she set the items on the coffee table.

Grace sat on the couch, Milo nestled beside her, and slowly opened the note. The words were sweet, almost romantic, but there was something deeply unsettling about them.

"You're so amazing, Grace. I've watched you for so long. I know you're meant to be mine. Forever."

Her breath hitched, fear tightening its grip on her chest. With shaky hands, she opened the photo album, her eyes widening in horror as she flipped through the pages. There were pictures of her at the ED, on her walks to the pier, even candid shots of her with Connor—except in those, Connor's face had been violently scratched out with a black sharpie. The album was filled with newspaper clippings of her, documenting her achievements, her life-saving moments, and photos that were taken inside her own house. The realization hit her like a freight train—someone had been watching her, someone had been inside her home.

Terrified and on the verge of panic, Grace knew she couldn't stay there. She quickly packed a duffel bag with some clothes, essentials, and grabbed Milo before rushing out of the apartment, the photo album and note clutched tightly in her hand. She didn't stop until she reached Chicago PD, her mind racing with fear and disbelief.

As she entered the station, she spotted Trudy at the front desk. "Trudy, I need to see Voight and the others. Now."

Trudy, sensing the urgency in her voice, didn't ask questions and immediately directed her upstairs. Grace hurried up the stairs, Milo struggling to keep up, his distressed whines echoing her own inner turmoil. She burst into the intelligence unit, her voice trembling as she addressed them.

"Something's been happening, and I should have told you sooner, but I didn't think... I didn't realize how serious it was." She explained everything—how it started with the hang-up calls, the notes, and now this—the roses, the disturbing photo album. She handed over the items, her hands shaking uncontrollably. Milo pressed close to her side, sensing her distress.

Erin immediately moved to comfort her, urging her to sit down and take a deep breath. "We're going to figure this out, Grace. You're safe here."

Kevin volunteered to pick up Connor, knowing Grace would need him. As he left, the others gathered around, examining the evidence, their expressions darkening with each passing second.