This story wanted to be written after I re-watched one of my favourite Chicago PD episodes from the earlier seasons, and talked to some of my fellow Upstead-fans - thank you, guys.

Chapter 1

It had been a slow week for the Intelligence Unit in Chicago's 21st precinct until now. No major cases; the unit had done a lot of catch-up on paperwork. For a few days they were fine with it, but by now everyone got a big edgy. They wanted to do real police work again, no paper pushing.

Little did they know their wish would be granted soon enough, that the next case would push some of them to their limits and beyond.

Jay Halstead and Hailey Upton had stopped at a coffee shop on their way to work this morning. They had only just ordered coffee and bagels when the call reached them.

"Possible mass shooting threat in Lincoln High School. All available officers report to scene immediately."

Jay and Hailey exchanged a quick glance. That didn't sound good. Everyone dreaded this kind of call; school shootings were among the worst that could happen. Nobody wanted to see dead children.

"That's only two blocks from here," Hailey remarked, and Jay nodded.

"Let's go," he agreed.

"5021 Henry, plainclothes officers on our way."

They grabbed their coffees and food, ran to their car, jumped inside, and within 5 minutes they arrived at Lincoln High School. Students and teachers were out on the yard and the street; there was a lot of yelling, people were running around.

A tall forty-something woman hurried towards Jay and Hailey, as soon as she saw them. Jay and Hailey ran across the schoolyard to the woman.

"Detective Upton," Hailey introduced herself, then pointed at Jay. "This is Detective Halstead. What's going on? Where is the shooting?"

"Veronica Summers," the woman introduced herself. "I'm the principal. We found evidence of a threat for a shooting with one of our kids. Nothing has happened yet."

"What exactly is going on?" Jay asked.

"Nothing yet, but we're following protocol." Ms. Summers explained. "One of our students, Cameron Davis, posted threatening messages on social media. A fellow student found it and immediately informed us. That's what we teach all the kids. We searched Cameron's locker, and found this." She handed Hailey a box.

Hailey opened the box cautiously; inside she found a phone and several papers. The papers were full of scribbled text – and at first glance it was clear: This boy was in serious trouble. The messages mainly stated that he wanted to get revenge, to kill, to run. And there were images and prints of guns, a sketch of a pipe bomb. But no gun. No weapons or ammunition at all.

"Where is the boy now?" Jay asked.

"We've got him in detention," the principal answered. "We managed to separate him from the other kids and locked him up."

"So there is no imminent threat?" Hailey asked. "Did he carry any weapons?"

"No, nothing at all. Please let me take you to him."

Hailey and Jay exchanged a glance. There was no direct danger, the situation was under control. Good news. But it still sounded a bit strange.

Jay radioed his colleagues. "5021 George. Situation is under control. No shooting. Backup required to search the premises. We will bring the suspect in."

Then he followed Ms. Summers and Hailey inside.

The doors leading into the school building were guarded by two uniformed policemen, the school was empty.

They were brought to the end of a long hallway, into an area that was off limits to students. Finally, the principal stopped at a heavy door in a corner of the building.

This door was guarded by two further cops.

"Would you please let us in?" Ms. Summers asked them.

The cops moved to the side, unlocked the door.

All three entered a large office room with no furniture except for a table and several chairs. The window was secured and locked.

A boy sat on one of the chairs. Lanky, with longish unkempt brown hair, the biggest brown eyes, old checkered shirt that seemed too big for him, and old denims. These big eyes looked at the two detectives in sheer panic, the boy seemed to shrink back into his seat when Jay and Hailey entered with the school principal.

Jay felt sorry for the boy immediately, even though he knew he shouldn't, because he probably was a threat to others. He knew he shouldn't let his emotions take over.

Slowly and carefully he approached, took a chair and sat down close to the boy.

"Cameron?" he asked quietly.

The boy nodded. "Yes. Why are you here? Why am I here? What is going on?"

"I'm Detective Halstead," Jay calmly said, then pointed at Hailey. "This is Detective Upstead. We need to talk to you, Cameron."

"What is this about?"

"These people are afraid that you want to kill other students and teachers here in the school," Jay calmly explained. "We need to take you to the precinct."

"Wha-what?"

Jay put a hand on the boy's shoulder. Somehow, he couldn't believe that this boy should be capable of shooting others, of killing others just like that. But he knew that looks could be deceiving. "Cameron, we need to take you in custody. Stand up."

Slowly, with obviously weak knees, the boy stood up, put his hands behind his back in defeat and allowed Jay to put handcuffs on him.

Hailey took over, read the boy his rights and led him outside.

"We've got it from here, Ms. Summers," she said. "Uniforms will check the whole building, and they will let you know when everyone can go back inside."

"Thank you," the principal just answered, following the two detectives.

Jay and Hailey shielded the boy off the groups of students and teachers, while they guided him to their car. The noise around them got louder, and people seemed to be closing in on them, as if they wanted to take care of Cameron right there. The boy's eyes showed that he was terrified, and Jay put his arm loosely on the boys' shoulders, almost automatically. Hailey eyed him from the side. His behavior was unusual under these circumstances. She would have to check with him later. Since when was Jay so caring, so protective with a suspect?

Jay sat Cameron in the car, and they drove off to the precinct.

Back at 21st, they brought the boy upstairs and placed him in one of the interrogation rooms.

"Wait here, we'll be back soon." Jay said to Cameron, then followed Hailey into the office.

Voight and the other members of the unit already waited for them.

"What is it, Halstead?" Voight didn't waste time, came right to the point.

"We heard the call to a possible shooting at Lincoln High on our way to work," Jay explained. "And since we were only a few blocks away, we answered the call."

"But when we arrived, there was no shooting," Hailey continued. "The principal told us that this boy, Cameron Davis, was in detention, because he posed a threat. Fellow students found posts on social media, in which Cameron threatened the school and his fellow students. And in his locker, there was more evidence of a threat." She placed the box on the desk.

"So nothing happened?" Adam asked.

Jay shook his head. "Nothing. The boy looked terrified, more than anything."

"But the principal followed the school protocol for such situations," Hailey explained. "Obviously the school cannot risk anything, so they called us. The best they could do. Imagine what would have happened if they had taken this too lightly, and Cameron would have shot someone."

"OK, let's interrogate Cameron and find out what this whole thing is about." Voight said. "But first of all, get his parents here. Burgess, Rojas, get their address and whereabouts and bring them here."

"Copy that," Kim answered, grabbed her jacket, and left the office with their newest member, Vanessa Rojas, in tow.

"Atwater, Ruzek, you check out Cameron Davis' social media accounts." Voight ordered. "Verify if there is an actual threat or just childish nonsense."

"Copy that," both answered and started working on their computers right away.

"And then we will call for a lawyer to be present at the interrogation."

"Sarge," Jay said. "Would you mind if I talked to Cameron now?"

Voight looked at Jay, as if trying to find out why he wanted to talk to the boy so urgently.

"Sarge, I just want to talk to him." Jay insisted.

"Hmmm," Voight just uttered. After a few seconds, he agreed. "OK, but no interrogation, just talk. And take Upton."

"Thanks, Sarge."