Trials, Tribulations and Triangles 2. - Chicago PD/Fire

Holding On and Letting Go

Tuesday February 19th - Morning

Lexi was the first to arrive at the district. She had done it purposely, arriving at ten minutes past seven, knowing Antonio liked to the be first one in and typically got in around seven thirty. She slowly ascended the stairs, listening to the hustle and bustle of the day shift starting downstairs, Platt bellowing out assignments.

Lexi took a deep trembling breath at the top of the stairs, looking around at the empty desks of her colleagues. Only they weren't her colleagues, more than just friends, they were family. The family she had chosen.

Hank and Alvin had become surrogate Father to Lexi for the last eight years. Laying down the law, giving a firm hand, when it was needed, being role models showing her what made an amazing cop, however knowing when to take a step back and letting her decide what her definition of a good cop should be.

Kevin and Antonio were the big brothers she never had but always wanted. Kevin, a big softie at heart, she was going to miss seeing his big, broad, dazzling white teeth smile every morning. She would miss Antonio's advise and being the voice of reason.

Kim had slowly become one of Lexi's best friends, an adopted sister. She felt a little guilty knowing she had neglected Kim lately. Being so caught up in her own life and dramas to give Kim the attention and friendship she deserved.

Adam was the little annoying brother. The thought of Adam made Lexi chuckle affectionately. He was the class clown and she loved him for it, always making light of a difficult situation, making a joke at inappropriate times to break the tension. Yet he always knew when a situation required him to be serious.

She was going to miss them all so much. She fought back the tears that threatened to choke her, she was making the right decision, she knew she was, but it didn't make it any easier.

She walked to her desk, running her hands over the old, dented wood as she walked around it to put her jacket on the back of her chair before making herself a coffee.

Sitting at her desk she began gathering the information she would need to hand over her cases and criminal informant files to the team.

"Morning" Antonio greeted walking past her having come from the back entrance. "It's rare anyone beats me in"

"I couldn't sleep, figured I'd get a head start on the day" Lexi explained flippantly.

"How's Jay doing?" he asked taking off his jacket.

"He's good" Lexi confirmed gazing up from her computer screen. "Hopefully he'll be back on desk duty next week"

The truth was she hadn't seen Jay since he had been released from the hospital two days before. She had been at the hospital every day but could only keep up her pretence of everything being fine and normal for a couple of hours at a time.

Since he had been home Lexi had been avoiding spending time with him; claiming work or Molly's was keeping her away. It wasn't a complete lie, she had been busy with work, busy tidying everything up, giving statements and completing reports on Jordan Evans. They had spoken on the phone, exchanged a few messages but she hadn't been to see him, fearing he would suspect she was hiding something or realise she was distancing herself from him, trying to make her departure easier on them both.

The rest of the team slowly appeared, Kim and Adam being the last to arrive. Hank exited his office and stood beside her desk with a sympathetic smile, Lexi nodded her head knowing it was now or never. "Okay listen up" Hank called out gaining the attention of the room. "Lexi has some news"

Lexi stood from her desk and slowly walked around it to lean against it, she cleared her throat three times before she was able to talk. "Today is my last day" she announced with a happy smile that she didn't feel. "I've been offered the chance to run my own covert taskforce in New York and I'm taking it," She made the mistake of making eye contact with Kim and seeing her eyes brim with sad tears Lexi couldn't stop her own tears from forming. "I'm done in Chicago, we all know it and I'm not going to ride a desk"