Chicago Hearts

One Chicago. Many hearts.

[chicagohearts]

"What do you want from me?" "I want to know you’re okay."

Chicago Hearts - A Wattpad story.

[chicagohearts]

The Windy City felt quieter at that hour. Not truly calm—just slower, as if it had finally taken a breath. Jessica sat on the hood of the ambulance, her legs swinging slightly, a small bottle of water held loosely between her hands. She was still in uniform, but there was no urgency left in her posture. For once, there was nothing she needed to chase.

Hank approached from behind, the way he always did. No wasted sound, no haste in his movements. He stopped a step away.

“Heading home?” he asked.

“In a bit.” Jessica hesitated. “I just wanted to stay here for a while.”

Hank nodded. He didn’t press, didn’t ask why. He leaned against the hood beside her, his gaze fixed on the street ahead. For a few seconds, they said nothing. The silence wasn’t uncomfortable. It felt settled, almost deliberate.

“I’ve started putting some things back in order,” Jessica said eventually. “Not everything. Just enough not to scare myself.”

“Good.”

“I’m not better,” she added. “Not yet.”

Hank didn’t turn toward her. “That’s not what matters.”

Jessica looked at him then, taking in the hard, familiar lines of his face. “No,” she said softly. “What matters is that I’m not running anymore.”

This time, Hank looked at her. Not with worry. Not with control. Just with quiet attention.

“I’m not going anywhere,” he said.

Jessica smiled—not the automatic kind, but a slow, imperfect one that lingered and grew. She slid down from the hood and stepped in front of him, close enough to make it real.

“Looks like you’re stuck with me.”

Hank dropped his gaze for a brief moment, then lifted it again. “Yeah,” he said. “Looks that way.”

He opened his arms without thinking. She stepped into them just as naturally. The hug wasn’t tight or desperate—just solid, grounding. A pause in the noise.

No promises. No definitions. Just two people in the same place, choosing to stay.

And for both of them, that night, it was enough.

[chicagohearts]

Red and blue lights bounced off the shop windows as the scene was finally brought under control. The air was still thick with smoke and noise—overlapping voices, sharp orders, hurried footsteps. Jessica pulled off her gloves with a nervous motion and shoved them into her jacket pocket without looking at them.

“Chili.”

Hank’s voice came from behind her, low but firm. She didn’t turn right away. She kept checking a monitor, far too long to be truly focused.

“You moved too fast,” he said. “You didn’t have cover.”

Jessica clenched her jaw. “The patient was crashing.”

“And you were taking risks,” Hank replied, stepping closer. It wasn’t a reprimand. It was a warning.

She turned on him sharply. Her eyes were bright—not with anger, but exhaustion. “I’m a paramedic. It’s my job.”

“It’s my job to make sure you walk away in one piece.”

That did it. Jessica shook her head, incredulous, then took half a step back, like she needed space to breathe.

“Back off, Hank. I’m fine.”

The words came out sharp, too fast. More reflex than conviction.

Hank didn’t flinch. “You’re not.”

“I’m not one of your cases, Voight,” she shot back, her voice low but firm. “And I don’t need you to protect me.”

“That’s not what I’m doing.”

“Yes, it is,” she cut in. “You look at me like I’m about to fall apart. Like I need to be stopped. Like I can’t stand on my own.”

Around them, the chaos was slowly settling, but the tension between them stayed sharp. Hank took a slow breath. “You’re pushing yourself too hard.”

“And you’re crossing a line.” Jessica gestured at his vest, his badge. “We’re on duty. Do your job and let me do mine.”

He didn’t move. “You’re exhausted. You’re not okay.”

“I’m alive,” she snapped. “That has to be enough.”

For a moment, it looked like Hank wanted to say more. Then he stopped. His expression hardened—not out of anger, but fear.

Jessica saw it. And that was why it hurt even more.

“You can’t protect me from myself,” she added, stepping back. “So stop trying.”

She turned and walked toward the ambulance without waiting for an answer. Hank stayed where he was, hands on his hips, eyes fixed on her back as she disappeared into the lights and the noise.

[chicagohearts]

Chapter 1 - The guardian

It was a usual night at Molly’s, the kind that only comes after a long, demanding day ends the right way. The pub wasn't chaotic, the steady hum of voices and laughter blending with the clink of glasses and low music in the background. The air smelled of beer, wood, and shared exhaustion.

Jessica was standing beside the table, her glass raised before anyone had fully realized what she was doing. Her jacket was draped over a chair, her eyes still lit with the adrenaline of the shift. “Okay,” she said, drawing everyone’s attention, “I think we can officially say it went well.”

Will was seated, slightly turned toward her, a half-smile already in place. Jay was sitting next to him, one leg stretched out under the table, his glass resting in front of him, and he rolled his eyes with amused resignation. Erin, beside Jay, laughed before Jessica had even finished speaking.

“To everyone who made it home in one piece,” Jessica went on, lifting her glass a little higher, “and to those who did their job right today.”

Jay grabbed his glass. “Finally, something we can all agree on.”

Erin leaned closer to the table, resting her elbow on it. “Don’t ruin the moment, Halstead.”

Hank was standing a little farther back, leaning against the bar. He had a glass in his hand but hadn’t raised it yet. He watched Jessica as she spoke, gestured, effortlessly holding the table together with her energy. When Erin caught his eye, they shared a brief, knowing look, a silent understanding, as if they were both thinking the same thing: if anyone deserved to celebrate tonight, it was her.

Infected by Jessica’s enthusiasm, Hank finally raised his glass. “She’s right” he said simply.

The glasses met above the table in an imperfect, noisy toast. Jessica took the first sip, then finally dropped into her chair. For a moment, everything felt exactly where it was meant to be: them, Molly’s, and a day that - against all odds - had ended the right way.

[chicagohearts]

Chapter 3 - It's over

The hospital waiting room was crowded that early morning. The plastic chairs were lined up against the wall, cold and uncomfortable. Jessica was sitting there, her hands folded in her lap, her gaze fixed on an indistinct spot on the floor. The fluorescent lights were too bright, too white, as if they left no room for anything blurred or softened.

Will arrived shortly after, still in uniform, the badge catching the light. He saw her immediately. He stopped in front of her, hesitated for a moment, then sat down in the chair beside her without touching her.

“Did something happen?” he asked.

Jessica slowly shook her head. “No. That’s exactly the problem.”

Silence settled between them, heavy. Will ran a hand over his face, a nervous, familiar gesture. “Jess…”

She looked up at him. There was no anger in her eyes, only a deep, exhausting weariness. “I don’t want to fight. And I don’t want to explain everything. I’ve spent months asking myself if it was me, if it was just a rough patch, if it would pass.”

Will stayed still. “And now?”

Jessica took a breath, feeling her chest tighten. “This doesn’t work for me, not anymore.”

The words hung in the sterile air of the waiting room. Will turned toward her. “We can fix it. We always have.”

“No,” she said softly. “We’ve always endured. That’s different.”

An automatic door slid open nearby, letting in the noise of the ER. No one was paying attention to them. Everything kept moving, as if nothing were ending.

“I care about you,” Jessica added. “But I don’t want to stay just because it’s easier.”

Will lowered his gaze to his hands. When he looked back up, there was something like resignation in his eyes. “How long have you known?”

“Long enough” she said.

He nodded slowly, then stood up. He didn’t try to stop her. He didn’t say anything that could change things.

Jessica stood up as well and walked down the corridor. Every step hurt, but it was a clean, precise kind of pain.

And it was the only way forward.

[chicagohearts]

Chapter 2 - Please, don't leave

The police station at that hour felt larger than usual. The neon lights hummed softly, the empty corridors amplified every step. There were only the three of them. No radio chatter, no sirens. Just the distant tapping of a keyboard someone had forgotten to turn off.

Erin stood near the desk, her duffel bag on the floor, one hand hooked into the strap as if she could still decide to stay. Jessica was facing her, motionless. She had understood everything before Erin even spoke.

“Tell me this is just a bad night.” Jessica whispered, forcing a fragile smile that never reached her eyes.

Erin shook her head. Slowly, almost respectfully. “I’m leaving Chicago.” Her voice barely trembled. “I’m sorry. I have to.”

Jessica took a step forward, then another. The tears came all at once, without warning. “You can’t leave me here” she said, broken. “You’re the only one who really knows me.”

Erin closed her eyes for a moment. When she opened them again, there were tears too. Jessica broke down completely, all defenses gone. Erin moved closer, just enough to be heard.

“This isn’t goodbye,” she whispered. “It’s just a step away from here.”

Then Erin turned toward Hank, who had remained silent the entire time, leaning against the glass wall of the office. His gaze was steady, but everything was there.

“You saved my life.”

Hank gave a small nod. He didn’t say anything. He didn’t need to. Erin picked up the duffel bag, cast one last look at Jessica, and headed for the exit. The doors closed behind her with a sharp, final sound.

In the station, only the emptiness of what had not been said remained.

[chicagohearts]

[chicagohearts]

Nodding, cause girls are always right 😉

[chicagohearts]

Sisterhood 👯‍♀️

[chicagohearts]

It's sad how someone

who meant everything to you

ends up meaning nothing.

[chicagohearts]

"You know what it’s like to lose someone. To carry it and not let anyone see."

[chicagohearts]

"Both of them looked out for her."

[chicagohearts]

Chicago Hearts 🧡

Hank Voight leads Chicago PD’s Intelligence Unit and protects his people with fierce, uncompromising loyalty. Jessica Chilton, a Chicago Fire paramedic and Erin Lindsay’s best friend, has long been part of his unspoken idea of family. After Jessica once saves Hank’s life, their connection deepens into something built on trust, shared silence, and the certainty that Hank will always step in when those he cares about are in danger.

When Erin leaves Chicago and Jessica’s long-term relationship with Will Halstead begins to unravel, Hank becomes her constant—not as a lover, but as her protector. As lines begin to blur and loyalties are tested, both are forced to confront what it truly means to protect someone without crossing the line, and just how far Hank is willing to go for the people he loves.