Raising Chicago's Next Generation

Chapter 15: "You Should Be Here."

(title credit to Cole Swindell..)

Lane stood looking at the wall of all the names. He saw a name, it looked familiar. Richard Voight. He saw the name and burst into tears. Then looked straight at Platt.
"Today We honor Henry Hank Voight. The Sergeant of Intelligence for over 30 years. He was a detective. He was a Dad and a Grandpa. He taught one of my finest detectives how to do the job. He taught one of my best Sergeants how to do it. He was one in a million. He didn't take shit from anyone. He wanted the best for every one. He got the job done even if that meant He'd go off the books. Hank,I'll miss you."
"You should be here
Standing with your arm around me here
Cuttin' up, crackin' a cold beer
Sayin' cheers, hey y'all it's sure been a good year
It's one of those moments
That's got your name written all over it
You know if I had just one wish
It'd be that you didn't have to miss this
You should be here"

Lane stood up,He cleared his throat and got ready to talk. "Grandpa,I know You are gone now. And im gonna miss you a lot. You were always there for me,when no one else would believe in me. You helped me. You helped me come a long way from where I first started. You always knew what to say and I'm sorry for being a pain in the ass because I know I was one sometimes. You are my best friend. You are my hero. You always said how I was the hero when you really were. You always said follow your dreams and I did. I followed 'em. I wish you were here to see the boys grow up but Someone had to take your life from me. Grandpa you taught me how to become a Police Officer you taught me how to do the impossible. You helped me get to the other side after everything happened. You always knew I could be something more and you did it. Grandpa you saved me. I want you to know I'll miss you and You will always be my hero. Thanks for saving me and Mom.."

Erin buried her head in Jay's chest and cried. She couldn't lift it up and speak. Lane got up and pulled the tape off the name....

The trumpets played and Lane raised his hand for one last salute.
"I'll miss you." He whispered

"Yeah this is one of those moments that's got your name written all over it
And you know that if I have just one with it'd be that you didn't have to miss this.
Aw you should be here.
You should be here."

The next month went by fast no one knew what to do. Intelligence hasn't picked up any big cases. Jessa has been out staying home with the Reese. Lacie woke up the next morning ready to go to work.
Chris woke up beside her and smiled.
"I love you Lacie." He kissed her. Lacie pulled him back and ran to the bathroom. She puked in the toilet. Chris ran into the bathroom and held her hair back.
"I'll call Lane and tell him you are sick."

"Oh..Ok-" She puked again. Lane sat in his kitchen sitting down looking at the paper. Britton came running into the room.
"Daddy,Daddy! Liam won't stop chasing me." She shouted.

"Liam Patrick! Stop chasing your little sister."

"Dad,She's not my little sister. Cassie is!"

"Liam Patrick Halstead! Britton is your sister. Now go to your room." Lane looked down at his ringing phone and answered it.

"Hey! What's wrong?"

"Lacie is sick. She's not coming into work today. Sorry."

"Chris,Don't sweat it. I'm giving everyone the day off. Aunt Nadia had her baby." Juliet ran into the kitchen.

"Daddy,JJ said Santa isn't real." Jay looked at JJ then back at Juliet.

"Jay Matthew Halstead Jr! Get your ass in this kitchen now. I don't care if you are almost 19 years old."

JJ came running into the kitchen
"JJ,Santa is to real. You are a big fat liar." Juliet crossed her arms.

"Whatever you say kiddo. Dad,I have to go watch Britton for Lane. He has to go with the boys to their tournaments."

"Alright. Your Mom is visiting Nadia and Jessa is upstairs with Reese."

JJ grabbed his keys and walked out the door.

"Love you Jules, Love you Dad."

JJ drove to Lane's house and walked in,there were light sabers and nerf guns everywhere and baby dolls for Britton.

"Uncle Jay!" yelled Lane

"Hey Bud. How's my favorite nephew?"

"Uncle Jay,I have my tournament today." JJ bent down and got eye to eye with Liam and Lane

"You two are going to do great. I promise." JJ ruffled their hair with his hand.

"Uncle Jay!" yelled Britton

"Hey Baby girl." JJ picked her up.
"Are you ready for an Uncle and Niece day at the zoo?"

"Yeah. Daddy,did you hear that? Uncle Jay is taking me to see the giraffes and elephants." She made an elephant noise.

"Have fun baby girl. JJ,she comes home with a tiny scratch and you are dead to me. Got it?"

"Lane,chill." Lane and the boys walked out the door. JJ grabbed Britton's bag and walked out with her. He locked the door and walked to his truck. He put her in and buckled her.

"Ready Britton?"

"Yeah. I'm ready." JJ started the car and drove to the zoo. He parked the truck and got out. He grabbed Britton from her seat then grabbed her bag. He put her on his shoulders.

"Uncle Jay,I wanna see the elephants first!"She yelled

"We will do whatever you want kiddo."
JJ put her down off his shoulder and She grabbed his finger and pulled him to the elephants. He followed her then picked her up and put her on his shoulders.

After that He walked her to the gift shop where He put her down and she ran towards the stuffed animals she picked up a big giraffe.
"Uncle Jay,Can I have this one?" JJ bent down and pulled out his wallet.

The lady standing behind him smiled.
"You have a beautiful daughter."

JJ looked up at her. "She's uh not mine. She's my brother's. He had to go to his son's tournament so I decided to watch her for him."

"She's a cutie. She must have you wrapped around her finger." The lady walked away. JJ picked Britton up and She cuddled the giraffe in her tiny arms.

"Uncle Jay,I'm tired." She yawned

JJ put Britton in her carseat and buckled her. Then started the car. Soon after he pulled out of the parking lot He heard some tiny snores. He chuckled.

He drove to his brother's house and picked her up and put her in her room.
After that he sat on the couch until Lacie walked in the house.
"Hey Lace! How's my niece and nephew doing?"

"Great. Em is doing good. She loves first grade with the twins and Grey he loves 6th grade. How's Britton doing?"

"Great. I took her to the zoo."
Lacie handed JJ an envelope.
"What's in here?" He looked confused

"My test results. I don't wanna look at them. Chris and I haven't discussed if we wanted another kid or not. I went to the doctor's last week and I don't know if I want another kid."
JJ turned his body and face his older sister.

"Lace,If you two have another kid. It'll be okay. You two are great parents now. You have nothing to worry about. Do you want me to open the letter?"

"Can you?" JJ opened the letter and his mouth shot open.......

To be continued.... Merry Early Christmas if I don't update by then. I love you all and am so thankful for you. It means a lot that you read my books still. What do you think about JJ as an Uncle?