Also known as the cliche "find out about your long-lost relative through a genealogy site" but make it with Nolan Price and Sylvie Brett. Once that idea was in my head, it stuck and refused to leave. I originally planned on it being a two-parter, but considering we're at 10K words and haven't even gotten to them physically meeting . . . yeah, we're going four-parter. I don't think that's going to be a problem for some people.

The background you need to know to read forward: in Chicago, this takes place towards the end of 10x15 "The Missing Piece," around where Sylvie takes her furlough. Up in New York, Wheatley is about to be taken to trial, and Law & Order is a bit further along than it is in "Trouble Don't" - after 21x05 "Free Speech" and before 21x06 "Wicked Game." Unfortunately, Matt is currently in Portland with the Dardens . . . for now, anyway. ;)

Enjoy!

***

Far too many thoughts were whizzing around in Sylvie's head as she stared down at her phone screen, which she held in a white-knuckled grip while she pressed her other hand over her mouth. In the midst of running around fixing the ambulance's air conditioning, she hadn't gotten the chance to check the e-mail notification that had pinged in the morning. Now, as she sat in the back of the ambulance waiting for Violet to return with supplies from inside the hospital, she was wishing she hadn't checked while she was on shift.

Never, after years of waiting, had she expected the genealogy website she applied to years ago to contact her so suddenly with a familial match.

"Brett?"

Sylvie yelped and fumbled her phone, just managing to catch it before it clattered to the floor of the ambulance. Violet and Hawkins looked at her worriedly, a crateful of supplies in Violet's arms. "Everything OK?" the field chief asked, tilting his head in concern.

"Um . . . " Sylvie cleared her throat and pocketed her phone, brushing her hair behind her ear. "Yeah. Everything is . . . "

"Brett," Violet set down the supplies and climbed into the ambulance, approaching her as if she were a skittish animal. "You look ready to pass out. What is it?"

Sylvie swallowed hard and looked at Hawkins, who remained outside. "Um . . . "

"I can stay out here if you need to talk," Hawkins volunteered.

Sylvie meekly nodded, and Hawkins backed away, shutting the doors as he did. The moment the doors clicked, Violet sat across from her in the ambulance, dark eyes filled with worry. "What is it?" she asked.

"Well . . . " Sylvie took a deep breath. "You know I was adopted, and you know I found out about my birth mom."

"Julia," Violet nodded. "Yeah, and Amelia is your half-sister."

"When I was younger, I did a DNA test for a genealogy website, just to see if I could find my parents," Sylvie explained, staring down at her hands. "I didn't find anything back then. After Julia found me, I thought about trying again to find anything about my birth father but decided against it." She turned her eyes to her phone and swallowed. "Then I got an e-mail from the site this morning, but I didn't know that was what it was until now."

"Did it come up with a match?" Violet asked quietly.

Sylvie took a shaky breath. "To a half-brother," she admitted, and Violet's eyes widened. "He was apparently added to the site in the past week or so, and he didn't match any of Amelia's DNA."

"Which means you two share the same father," Violet finished, and Sylvie silently nodded. "Wow." Violet rubbed her palms on her pants, watching Sylvie worriedly. "Well, did the site tell you anything?"

"Just the age difference," Sylvie bit her lip. "He's older than me by thirteen years."

"Oh," Violet blinked. "That's . . . that's bigger than what I was expecting." Sylvie nodded again, and Violet cleared her throat. "Do . . . do you know what you're going to do?"

"I don't know!" Sylvie gestured wildly. "All I have is a name, an age difference, and how we're related! I don't know where he lives, I don't know if my – our father is alive. I'm terrified right now, Violet! I don't know what I expected when I applied to this site, but I never expected this!"

"OK," Violet scrambled to sit next to her partner, hugging Sylvie when she buried her face in her hands. "Take a deep breath, OK? You don't need to have a plan right now. You just found out, Sylvie. You can sit on it for a while before making a decision."

Sylvie swallowed hard as she attempted to even out her breathing. "After Julia died, I thought Amelia was all the blood family I had left," she whispered. "Now I find out this . . . what the hell am I supposed to be feeling right now?"

"You don't have to know that right now, either," Violet rubbed her back comfortingly. "Let's just get back to the house, finish our shift, and go from there. OK?"

Sylvie jerkily nodded. "OK," she agreed.

"OK," Violet patted her shoulder and moved to open the back of the ambulance.

Hawkins looked at her when the doors opened, his expression full of concern. "Everything OK?" he asked, eyes moving to glance at Sylvie.

Violet sighed and dropped down to the ground, watching Sylvie fiddle with her coat. "Eventually," she finally said. "I'll call you later, OK?"

"OK," Hawkins nodded.

He gave them one last concerned look before walking to his vehicle, and Sylvie finally hopped out of the back, beelining for the passenger's seat. Violet didn't argue, and she climbed into the driver's seat. "I didn't ask," she realized, looking at Sylvie as she started the ambulance. "And you don't have to answer if you don't want to. What's your brother's name?"

The smile that formed on Sylvie's face made Violet feel like everything would eventually turn out to be OK. "Nolan," she answered. "His name is Nolan Price."

***

The world was spinning around him, and Nolan didn't know how to make it stop.

He was aware enough of his surroundings to hear his two closest friends having a heated discussion about some piece of evidence and its credibility in court, but the conversation fell on deaf ears as Nolan stared long and hard at the e-mail he had pulled up on his phone. When Lily had babbled about her excitement over the genealogy project she was doing for her biology class and she had asked the prosecution team if they had ever done a genealogy test, Nolan had honestly expected nothing to result from humoring her and doing the test. His partner never had any results returned to her, and Nolan had anticipated the same. But as he stared at the e-mail he received from the site, and the world around him kept turning end over end and spinningspinningspinning . . .

"Tell him!"

Sam's irritated bark finally jolted Nolan out of his stupor, and the world righted itself as he blinked rapidly and looked up to find both Sam and Frank looking at him in anticipation. His disorientation must have shown, however, when Frank frowned at him. "Nolan?" he asked.

Nolan shook his head, unable to even recall what their argument had been about, and he pinched the bridge of his nose. "Can we pick this discussion up later?" he asked, checking his watch. "My headspace for this is not where it needs to be right now."

Sam frowned in a mixture of concern for him and annoyance about pushing back the argument. "Nolan, this is – "

"It can wait for an hour or two, Sam," Nolan interrupted, holding up his hand to stop her from continuing. "I'm no good for this at this time, and I don't want to make a decision that leads to us losing this case." That made Frank and Sam exchange surprised looks, ones Nolan couldn't blame them for when this was a circumstance that had never come up before. Despite the brief flutter of appreciation he felt for their concern, irritation ate the concern away, and Nolan narrowed his eyes at them. "Please," he bit out. "Later." Sam, thankfully, took her cue to leave, and she hastily gathered her materials and hurried out the door, giving him a quick look of concern over her shoulder before she entered her office. Frank hovered slightly longer, his head tilted as he looked long and hard at Nolan. The prosecutor rolled his eyes and folded his arms, giving his best friend a challenging look. "Find anything interesting in your detective work on me?" he asked, not sugar-coating his words.

Frank wasn't one to back down from such a challenge, and it showed in the way he raised an eyebrow in return. "You were fine when we got in here, then we lost you a few minutes ago," he said. "What message did you get that's screwing so badly with your head?"

Nolan gritted his teeth and closed his eyes. "Something that I need time to work out myself," he answered, stressing the last word. "I'll be fine later, Frank. Just give me the time."

Silence was his only answer for several seconds, and Nolan braced himself for an impending argument. "Alright," Frank finally acquiesced, and Nolan sighed in relief, looking up to see Frank nod and back away. "I'll be back in a few hours, then."

"Thank you," Nolan said gratefully, hoping his tone conveyed just how grateful he was.

Frank's expression softened, and he nodded when he reached the door. "Look, if you need me back sooner or need an ear, my ringer is on."

"I appreciate it," Nolan told him. "I'll see you later."

"Later," Frank agreed, shutting the door behind him.

As soon as the latch clicked, Nolan surged to his feet and paced behind his desk, resisting the urge to run a hand through his hair. He kept glancing down at the open e-mail on his phone, but he knew there was no chance of its contents changing on him. He finally shook his head and turned to the window, bracing his hands on the sill. The kicker for him was he knew, without a doubt, that this could have absolutely been possible. He remembered his father taking an extended business trip, and he clearly remembered the tension between his parents for at least a month after his father returned. That had been when he was twelve. And according to the information the genealogy site had sent him, his sister was thirteen years younger than him.

I have a little sister.

Any remaining shock abruptly drained out of Nolan, and he dropped back into his chair and leaned back to stare at the ceiling. For years, he thought he was the only remaining member of his family. Health problems had taken his parents, and his brother had overdosed on drugs shortly before he took the Executive ADA position in Manhattan. Before this year, all he had in his life was his work in the District Attorney's office. His unsteady truce with Frank after the Nicole Bell trial had morphed into a friendship built on respect and growing trust, and now that he was coordinating with SVU and Sergeant Bell's organized crime task force to take Richard Wheatley to trial, he could firmly say that his family was comprised of the three squads.

But now . . . now he had an actual family member somewhere, a blood relative whom he had no idea existed until the genealogy site e-mailed him with a DNA match. He picked up his phone and stared at the name, unaware of the smile forming on his face. "Sylvie Brett," he said quietly. It was a beautiful name, and he was certain it matched the woman.

Now if only he could find some way to find her.

His office phone ringing interrupted his train of thought, and with a motion that spoke to years of completing the action, Nolan robotically reached over and picked up the phone. "Price," he said automatically.

"Nolan." Nolan immediately straightened in his chair at the concern in his boss's voice. "Ms. Maroun informed me something might be wrong?"

Nolan sighed wearily. "Not wrong, per se," he said. "I just found out something that . . . " He trailed off, trying to put into words how he felt about the bombshell that was dropped into his lap.

He finally made a sound of frustration when he couldn't find the words, which was a rare thing for him. "Is it perhaps something I could assist with?" Jack offered.

Nolan opened his mouth to decline then reconsidered. "It's a personal thing, not professional," he said.

"If this is something that'll occupy your mind and keep it away from your work, then it doesn't matter," Jack said firmly. "I have nothing pressing on my schedule the rest of the day if you need to visit."

Nolan chewed on his lip and stared at his phone before nodding decisively and standing. "Can I come on up now?"

"I'll have the door open for you."

***

Jack waited patiently as Nolan paced the length of the office and shared what happened, and his hawklike eyes watched when the younger man finally finished and took a deep breath. "You have a sister, and now you're trying to figure out where to go from here," he concluded.

"Yes," Nolan sighed and nodded, sitting on the couch across from Jack. "I mean . . . " He gestured impatiently. "Where the hell do I start with something like this?"

"I assume the genealogy site could put you in touch with each other?" Jack asked.

"That's if she wants to get in touch with me," Nolan muttered, running a hand through his hair. "Who knows, Jack? Judging by how quickly the results returned to me, I was the last one to submit a test. She could have had it done years ago. She might not want to know now."

Jack hummed thoughtfully. "But what if she does?"

Nolan groaned and leaned back on the couch, staring up at the ceiling. "I hate this," he complained. He could feel Jack's inquisitive gaze on him, and he held up his hands. "Not that I have a sister," he hastened to say. "But all the 'what ifs.'"

Jack chuckled lightly. "You can eliminate several 'what ifs' if you simply see if she wants contact, Nolan."

Nolan sighed and sat up straight again, choosing to look at his clasped hands instead of the ceiling. "I can't believe this is happening."

"I wish I could tell you how to get through this," Jack said softly. "But it'll ultimately be up to you where you go from here." Nolan nodded absently, feeling his mind run miles per minute. "Sylvie Brett," Jack repeated the name; his voice had a certain edge to it that made Nolan look up at him curiously. "Hmm . . . " Before Nolan could ask what his boss was thinking, there was a knock on the door, and Jack frowned thoughtfully at the door. "Come in," he finally called.

The door cracked open, and the SVU prosecutor poked his head into the room. "Sorry, guys," Peter said, looking between the men. "I tried calling Nolan about more information regarding the Wheatley trial, but I didn't get an answer. Sam said she saw you head this direction."

Nolan quickly checked his phone and sighed when he saw the missed call alert. "Sorry," he apologized.

"Sam said something was off with you," Peter waved away his apology. "I get it." He looked between the men uncertainly. "Is everything OK?"

Jack glanced at Nolan, letting the younger man decide what he wanted to say. "I found out I have a half-sister," Nolan revealed. "And I'm figuring out where to go from here."

"Really?" Peter blinked in surprise. "Wow." He glanced at the room, then he gestured to an open chair. "May I – ?"

"Please," Nolan nodded for him to sit. "I imagine you've had to deal with this in SVU."

"Well, in far more difficult circumstances," Peter said as he sat. "It's never happened to one of my bosses before, and it was definitely never anything that happened in Chicago." His attention was focused on Nolan, so he never noticed Jack straighten in his chair. "So . . . what do you know about her?"

"Not much," Nolan answered. "Name and age, basically."

Peter nodded thoughtfully. "Well, next big question . . . do you want to know more?"

"Of course," Nolan nodded instantly. "I feel like my world just got flipped upside down, but . . . " He closed his eyes and swallowed hard. "It's been just me for so long," he said, trying to put his thoughts into words. "And now that it's not . . . "

"I get it," Peter nodded. "It's a lot."

Nolan snorted. "That's an understatement."

"Pardon my brief change of topic," Jack leaned forward, his forearms on his knees. "Peter, you've mentioned before that there's a friend you've been wanting to have visit New York, yes?"

"Yeah," Peter said slowly, looking confused by the topic change. "My best friend from when I was in the State's Attorney's office. She came up with me for my father's funeral, but she hasn't been here since. Why?"

Jack glanced at Nolan. "What's her name?"

Peter looked even more confused, but he answered promptly. "Sylvie Brett."

Nolan's heart stuttered in his chest, and he felt the blood drain from his face. Jack nodded slowly, sitting back in his chair. "I would give her a call if I were you," he advised.

Peter looked at Nolan for help, but Nolan could only imagine the sight he made based on how Peter's eyes widened. "Oh," he murmured, swallowing hard. "Your sister is . . . ?"

"That's the name that was given to me by the site," Nolan croaked, feeling his heart prepare to jump out of his chest. "She's . . . " He shook his head and buried his face in his hands, feeling a lump in his throat. "Oh, my God."

Peter took a deep breath and slowly stood. "I'm going to go make that call," he said, smoothing out his suit. "Depending on how it goes . . . " He trailed off and coughed uncomfortably. "I'll come back."

"Take your time," Jack told him. "I put you both on the spot."

"It was a good on the spot, at least for me," Nolan said quietly. "And I know a little more now than I did."

"And now Sylvie will know more, too," Jack nodded, watching as Peter left the office. "Once Peter returns, perhaps there will be a clearer path forward."

Nolan wished that thought didn't make his stomach churn. "I hope so."

***

"OK," Violet climbed into the back of the ambulance, two mugs in her hands. "Gallo and Ritter gave me very confused looks, and I think Tony and Capp are thinking about storming the ambo, but I got your coffee."

"Thank God for you, Violet," Sylvie sighed in relief, sitting up from where she had been reclining on the gurney.

"Any time, partner," Violet smiled, handing her a mug. "So . . . any further thoughts?"

Sylvie tucked her knees up under her chin, staring down into the offered coffee. "I want to get to know him," she finally said. "Not just because this is my only chance to know about my birth father . . . but I got so little time with Julia, and Amelia is still so young. To have the chance to know a member of my family closer in age . . . "

Violet nodded in understanding. "You should definitely have that chance."

"I want it," Sylvie said as she sipped her coffee. "But at the same time, I keep thinking about what Nolan might be thinking. Just look at the difference in age between us. What are the chances I was the result of some . . . I don't know, affair?"

"Did Julia ever mention that?" Violet raised an eyebrow.

"No," Sylvie admitted. "She said it was a one-night stand." She sighed and dropped her chin onto her knees. "There are so many worst-case scenarios swirling in my head right now. What if he doesn't want to know anything about me?"

"He submitted a test into the system," Violet pointed out. "Surely he wanted to know about his family if he did that . . . right?"

Sylvie worried her lip between her teeth, but her thoughts were interrupted by her phone trilling a familiar tone. She checked the Caller ID and cleared her throat. "I need to take this."

"Sure," Violet nodded immediately and headed to the doors. "I'll tell Squad not to barge in here."

"Thanks," Sylvie nodded, waiting until Violet left to answer the phone. "Hey, Peter."

"Hey, Sylvie." Her friend had an odd tone of voice, one that made Sylvie frown in concern. "Sorry for the call out of the blue."

"You have good timing, actually," Sylvie told him, rubbing her forehead and adjusting her position so she sat cross-legged on the gurney. "I, uh . . . " She let out a small giggle. "God, I don't even know where to start."

Peter was silent for a moment then cleared his throat. "Well . . . I'm guessing it might have something to do with what I just heard in my boss's office."

Sylvie frowned in confusion. "Excuse me?"

Peter sighed heavily. "Sylvie . . . you told me a while ago that you had a genealogy test in the system somewhere. Did you get a hit in the past day or so?"

The coffee Sylvie had drunk settled like a heavy stone in her stomach, and she swallowed hard. "How did you know?" she asked hoarsely.

"Because one of my bosses got a hit, too," Peter answered. "And according to Nolan, your name is his match."

Sylvie whimpered. "Nolan Price?" she asked, hardly daring to believe.

"Yeah, Sylvie," Peter told her. "As soon as he said you were the match, I left to call you. I knew you would want to know."

Sylvie had to put her mug to the side and use that hand to cover her mouth and attempt to muffle the sob she could feel bubbling in her throat. "Oh, my God," she finally managed to choke out.

"That was Nolan's reaction, too," Peter said. "And the look on his face . . . "

"Did . . . " Sylvie forced herself to take a deep breath and try to calm her racing heart. "Did he say anything? React in a certain way?"

"He looked like he had seen a ghost," Peter admitted. "But while I don't know him as well as I do the SVU team, I know enough about him to know he looked ready to unleash a barrage of questions about you."

Sylvie nodded, absently chewing on a nail. "And that's . . . a good thing?" she asked tentatively.

"I think so," Peter confirmed. "Look, I am more than happy to be the bridge between the two of you if you would like . . . but while he's my boss, you're my best friend, Sylvie. Whatever you want me to say is what I'll say."

Sylvie looked down at her nails, her head suddenly dizzy with possibilities. She so desperately wanted to know more about her brother . . . but now she knew a location, she knew an occupation, and she knew exactly where she could find him if she wanted to. "You can . . . " She cleared her throat and tried to speak again, feeling proud when her voice evened out. "If he has questions, you can answer them. Can you return the favor later, when I'm not on shift?"

"Absolutely," Peter said firmly. "If there's something he asks that I think would be more personal, I'll let him know."

"And Peter?" Sylvie winced when she felt her voice break. "Later, can . . . can you let me know . . . ?"

"Oh, Sylvie." Peter sighed, and Sylvie ducked her head, knowing he had guessed what she wanted to ask. "I already know he wants to meet you in person, but I'll make sure I have an answer later. Just let me know when you're done with your shift."

Sylvie sniffed and weakly giggled. "Just my luck that my best friend works with my brother."

Peter snickered. "I always wondered if you were living in some sort of soap opera with how things worked in Chicago." Sylvie's laughter was stronger that time, and she could hear Peter's grin. "I'll go put Nolan out of his misery. How about we FaceTime later when we get the chance? No matter what happens, I've been seriously trying to get you up here to meet Liv and Noah."

"Soon," Sylvie promised. "I've been saving up my furlough days for a reason."

"I'm holding you to that. Hang in there, Sylvie."

"I will."

A click on the line signaled Peter hanging up, and Sylvie fell back onto the gurney with a delirious laugh. What the hell was her life?

***

The moment the door opened again, Nolan's head shot up from where he had rested it on his palm. Peter took one look at him and let out a small snort, a smile on his lips. "Do you have any court sessions the rest of the day?" he asked, glancing at the clock on the wall.

"No," Nolan shook his head. "I just need to meet with Sam and Frank again."

"Good," Peter nodded with a wry look at Jack. "Because I, for one, need a drink for this conversation." Jack chuckled and nodded, standing from his chair and walking behind his desk. "Warning in advance," Peter pointed at Nolan. "I've already promised Sylvie that I'll tell her about you later. You may be one of my bosses, but she's my best friend. I'm doing my best to respect some boundaries here."

"Thank you," Nolan swallowed, nodding in agreement as Peter retook his seat. "Yeah, I appreciate it."

"I figured you both would," Peter said, rubbing his hands together. "So . . . Sylvie." He took the scotch offered to him by Jack with a smile. "Thanks." He waited until Jack had handed Nolan a glass as well, then he took a sip and started to speak. "She's been a paramedic at Firehouse 51 since the fall of 2014. She took the place of a paramedic who had been killed in the line of duty. It took less than two years for her to become the Paramedic In-Charge of her ambulance – it's like the FDNY equivalent of a Paramedic Lieutenant. I have no doubt she would get the Paramedic Captain equivalent if she wanted to test for it."

Nolan nodded, indicating he was following, and Peter took another sip before he continued. "There was a massive warehouse fire in 2017 that killed 39 people, including the daughter of one of the senior detectives of Hank Voight's Intelligence Unit. 51 responded to that fire, and once Intelligence had found the arsonist and murderer, it was up to my team to prosecute. Most people focused on how the case was a boost to my career. Not Sylvie."

He smiled down at his glass. "There's a bar run by firefighters, called Molly's, and that's where she found me after the case. She wasn't concerned about if I had an ego boost with that conviction. She just wanted to make sure I was OK after what the case entailed. That's the kind of woman your sister is – the perfect embodiment of her profession, someone who looks out for anyone, no matter the amount of pain they may be in." His smile turned somber. "Someone who will put others' happiness over her own."

Nolan felt Jack's pointed gaze on him. Yes, that sounded like it was genetic. "And the house is good to her?" he asked.

"51 is one of the best houses in Chicago," Peter nodded. "It's run by Wallace Boden – he was Battalion Chief while I was there, but he took a promotion to Deputy District Chief earlier last year. Sylvie is one of the four apparatus leaders – the other three are lieutenants."

Jack suddenly frowned over his glass. "I thought I remember you saying before that Firehouse 51 had a captain."

"Exactly," Peter nodded. "Had a captain. One of Sylvie's best friends, Captain Matt Casey, used to run Truck 81. A few months ago, he moved to Portland to take custody of the sons of his late friend. Firefighter Darden died in the line of duty – he was under Casey's command – and the boys' mother is currently serving time for a DUI." He made a face at his drink. "Her fourth DUI."

"Her fourth?!" Nolan balked.

"That's why the eldest Darden flew to Chicago originally," Peter said. "Heather Darden's first DUI resulted in the boys living with Casey for a time." He pursed his lips. "That was the fall of 2013."

"Just over eight years ago," Jack murmured.

"God," Nolan facepalmed. "How did nothing happen until the fourth DUI?"

"I have no idea," Peter shook his head. "But from what Sylvie told me, the boys were moved all around the country by their mother."

Jack frowned, not looking pleased by what he had just heard. "But the truck has a new officer now?"

"From what I've heard, yes," Peter nodded. "Chief Boden encouraged one of the truck members to take the lieutenant's exam, and she recently claimed the position." He chuckled. "So now she just has to find a new member for the team."

"Good luck to her finding someone who will take the place left by the former officer," Nolan remarked.

Peter snorted. "From what I've heard, Kidd is stubborn as hell. She'll find someone even if she dies trying."

"You don't know her very well?"

"No," Peter shook his head. "Kidd normally worked the bar, and if I was meeting Sylvie there, we took one of the tables. The only other person from 51 I ever really got to know aside from at Molly's was Sylvie's other best friend – Kelly Severide, the lieutenant of Rescue Squad 3. The man is a natural arson investigator, and he's been tapped several times by OFI in the past few years to help them close cases." He grinned at Nolan. "I haven't been to Chicago since I left in early 2018, but I know the year after I left, that was when Brett, Casey, and Severide clicked. They could've given Liv and Stabler a run for their money."

"I'm glad she has that," Nolan smiled. "Well . . . had." He frowned at Peter. "Casey left, but is Severide still at the house?"

"He is," Peter nodded. "And it would be a huge loss to 51 if Severide went anywhere else. His team is the team you want to respond to your emergency, just like Sylvie's ambulance is the one you want in case of a medical emergency . . . or your non-emergency."

"Non-emergency?" Nolan parroted.

"After the pandemic, dispatch was flooded with calls such as people not having taken medicine for mental illnesses or someone wanted an ambulance to be the one to drive them to a doctor's appointment," Peter explained. "It was to the point paramedics were responding to so many non-emergencies that no ambulances were available for calls that actually needed them. Sylvie and her partner were called to a stabbing . . . only to find out en route that they were the second ambulance summoned because the first was delayed."

Nolan's heart dropped. "How long had the victim been waiting?" he asked quietly.

"I don't think I ever found out," Peter shook his head. "But their victim didn't make it. And I think that was part of what made Chief Hawkins finally jump on her plan. Sylvie runs a program with a co-worker at 51, Randy McHolland – nicknamed Mouch – that caters to those non-emergency calls. She made a list of all frequent fliers so they can visit them and see what they need. They handle the non-emergencies . . . "

"And the firehouse ambulances are available for the real emergencies," Jack finished. "I remember Jefferies saying their number of homicides had decreased since a program had started for non-emergencies."

"That's Sylvie's paramedicine program," Peter grinned. "Maybe I should call Jefferies and ask him to back up Sylvie with that piece of information the next time she has to make a presentation for funding." At Nolan's curious look, Peter chuckled. "Sylvie started the program in the fall, and Chief Hawkins had her present her progress to the brass to continue funding. It took him some time, but he pulled as many of her clients as he could so they could share how the program helped them. By the end of the day, her program was fully funded by the CFD."

Nolan couldn't help the proud grin on his face. "Good for her."

"She's the best," Peter agreed, then he blinked. "Oh!" He placed his drink on the table and pulled out his phone, scrolling through it. "Hang on, I should have . . . aha!" He flipped his phone around and handed it to Nolan. "Mouch received the Firefighter's Award of Valor last year. That's him and Sylvie at the ceremony."

"That's a big deal in the firefighting community," Jack remarked.

Nolan nodded absently, hearing the words in the back of his head as he stared at the picture Peter had found. His sister was hugging her coworker tightly, her beaming smile lighting up her face. Her blonde hair, cut in a shoulder-length bob, shone like spun gold in the sunlight, and her eyes appeared to mirror a cloudless sky. "She's beautiful," he whispered, feeling his throat tighten again.

"I can see the resemblance now that I know," Peter admitted, not appearing to be in a hurry to take his phone back. "You have the same look on your face when you're committed to figuring out a problem."

Nolan couldn't help but laugh, and he reluctantly handed back Peter's phone. "Maybe I'll see that one day."

Peter dropped his phone into his lap and rested his forearms on his knees, raising an eyebrow at Nolan. "I meant it when I said I've been trying to get her up here for years," he said. "If she can make a trip up here, would you be open to – ?"

"Yes," Nolan nodded immediately, biting his lip when he realized how eager he sounded. "I mean . . . that's probably easier than me getting time off with all the cases that come in. I can't tell you how much I want to meet her."

Peter smiled in response to his words. "I know Sylvie. I have a good idea of how much she wants it, so I can imagine." He finished his drink and stood from his chair. "I should go prepare for her interrogation," he quipped with a smirk, making Nolan snort into his drink. "I'll talk to you again tomorrow."

"Thank you, Peter," Nolan told him gratefully.

"You're welcome," Peter smiled, squeezing his shoulder supportively.

Peter closed the door on his way out, and Jack moved to claim the opposite side of the sofa from Nolan, his eyes watching younger man as he twisted his glass in his hands. "I only briefly met Sylvie when she accompanied Peter for Ben's funeral," he finally said. "He didn't mention that she also stayed the duration of Barba's trial when Peter acted as special counsel and supported him. She was one of very few who seemed to understand what many, even Captain Benson, did not – this office would have found itself tearing apart if one of us had to take the case and prosecute one of our own. She was a lifeline to Peter when he needed support while he was in the lions' den, and she never once backed down from being that support for him. She is fiercely loyal to her own." He smiled. "Sound familiar?"

Nolan chuckled weakly and nodded. "Yeah. Yeah, it does." He sighed and downed the rest of his drink in one go. "God, I hope this doesn't implode in my face."

"After what Peter just shared, I don't see how it could," Jack shook his head. "I think you both have questions that only the other can answer, and there's only one way that can happen." He stood from the sofa and patted Nolan's shoulder. "After your conversation with Maroun and Cosgrove, take the rest of the day off," he said. "There's nothing pressing on your plate, and my guess is you'll be anxiously awaiting whatever Peter will have to say tomorrow."

"I will," Nolan agreed, standing from the sofa as well. "Thank you, Jack."

"Whatever I can do to help you, I will," Jack promised with a smile. "Good luck, Nolan."

"I'll need it," Nolan nodded, heading for the exit.

He closed the door behind him, taking a moment to lean against the wall and take a deep breath to calm his racing heart. As much as he was going to hate sitting and doing nothing, he knew Jack was right. He had barely been aware of what was happening around him when he first got the e-mail from the genealogy site. There was no way he was going to be able to concentrate on his work until he heard from Peter what Sylvie – his sister – had to say.

He finally collected himself and headed for the elevator, pulling out his phone and firing off a text as he did.

Nolan: My head is on as straight as it can be. Come on over.

Frank: On my way.

Frank: Need me to pick up caffeine for you or anything?

Nolan smiled at Frank's thoughtfulness then countered the offer.

Nolan: You don't have Lily tonight, do you?

Nolan: Jack is releasing me early and I need a drink.

Frank: Why? Is something wrong?

Nolan: Not wrong.

Nolan: At least I hope not. I don't think it is.

Nolan: But now I need to figure out what amazing present to get Lily for her birthday.

Frank: Coffee now, drinks later.

Nolan: Done.

***

"Special rosé from behind the bar, per the lady's request," Kelly pretended to bow when he arrived at the table.

Sylvie raised an eyebrow and tapped her fingers on the tabletop. "Seager finally take her claws out of you?" she asked.

"She is currently having a drink to celebrate," Kelly told her. "Grainger texted – he and Pelham are on their way home from the funeral and will be back tomorrow."

Sylvie took pity on her friend and held out her hand for her glass. "Good," she smiled. "You belong at 51."

"Oh, come on, you like Seager," Kelly laughed, hopping onto the chair across from her.

"I do," Sylvie nodded. "Not when she's stealing you for her arson investigations."

"It doesn't happen that often anymore," Kelly pointed out. "She's got Grainger and Pelham to drag around now."

"And when they're gone?" Sylvie pointed out with a swallow. "She pulls you in, and it's like all you need to hear is 'arson' and you're diving headfirst into your work. Barely any of us see you when you get these cases. I know how long you work into the night because Seager has sometimes called me to make you sleep." She bit her lip and fiddled with her glass. "I know you're in the same city," she said, and Kelly's face fell. "But now that Matt is in Portland . . . it's hard without you on shift, Kelly."

"Sylvie," Kelly swallowed, quickly standing from his chair and gesturing for her to move. Sylvie slid onto the chair next to her, and Kelly took her former place so he could wrap his arm around her. "I'm not going anywhere. Arson may be a passion, but squad, firefighting, is my life. I wouldn't give it up for anything." He smirked. "No matter how much coercing Van Meter and Seager try."

Sylvie relaxed at his words and rested her head on his shoulder. "I miss him," she whispered, wincing when she heard her voice break.

Kelly sighed and kissed the top of her head, resting his chin atop her head as he rubbed circles into her arm with his thumb. "I do, too," he admitted. "Why the hell are those women so insistent the Dardens need to stay in that hellhole?"

Sylvie shook her head, unable to answer. "I want him back as soon as he's able to be here."

"You and me both."

A chirp from Sylvie's phone made both look up, and Sylvie cleared her throat as she reached for her phone and checked the incoming text.

Peter: Noah just went down fifteen minutes ago. Ready for a call whenever you are.

Sylvie's heart jumped into her throat, and she exhaled shakily, her hand trembling as she placed her phone back on the table. "Sylvie?" Kelly asked worriedly.

"I need to finish this drink and go," she said, immediately grabbing her glass.

Kelly's eyes widened at the speed at which she downed her wine. "Is everything OK?" he asked in concern, standing from his chair at the same time as Sylvie.

"God, I hope so," Sylvie replied, seeing Violet crane her neck from where she sat at the bar and glance at her. "You can ask Violet for more. I just . . . " She shook her head and backed up towards the door. "I'll explain later," she promised. "I will, but this . . . "

She took off out the door as fast as her heeled boots could take her, and Kelly watched her go with a stupefied expression. "She will," a voice said from the side, and he looked sharply at Violet as she joined him. "She found out something today that . . . " She trailed off and pursed her lips. "I think she wants more information before it spreads around the house." Kelly looked unconvinced, and Violet nudged him with her elbow. "She almost had a panic attack in front of our chief. I bet she'll be better tomorrow."

"I hope so," Kelly sighed, chewing his lip uneasily as he stared out the door where Sylvie had vanished.

***

As soon as her apartment door shut behind her, Sylvie pulled up Peter's contact information on FaceTime. Peter answered almost immediately, and Sylvie almost missed her couch when she sat down. "How did it go?" she asked eagerly.

"I didn't finish asking my question before he said he wanted to meet you," Peter smiled, and Sylvie relaxed into the cushions behind her. "Most of it was me talking and him listening, but Nolan soaked up everything he could get. Honestly, he probably would have been figuring out if he could get to Chicago if I hadn't told him I've been gunning to get you up here."

Warmth bloomed in Sylvie's chest at his words, and she couldn't help the giggle that bubbled in her throat. She was used to Amelia's excitement when they were able to meet up with each other . . . but for her older brother to be that eager? "That's a relief," she said, wincing at the understatement.

"I bet," Peter chuckled. "So . . . I talk, you listen, stop me if you have any questions?" Sylvie nodded and propped her phone up against the vase of flowers on her coffee table so she could tuck her legs under her and pay attention. "Alright," Peter nodded, appearing to prop his own phone up. "Nolan was a defense attorney before he chose to switch to prosecution. I know Jack had been aiming to hire him for his office for a while, and he was quick to offer him the position of Executive Assistant District Attorney. He's held that post for nine years now, coming up on ten. He was consulting on a case outside of the state when my father died, so he wasn't in New York while we were there." He snorted. "Honestly, God forbid the 2-7 ever has to work a case with Intelligence. Voight would meet one hell of a match." He paused. "Well . . . matches." He shook his head. "Back on that later. Nolan primarily prosecutes high-profile homicide cases which are investigated by the Manhattan North Homicide Squad, operating out of the 27th precinct. However, given he's essentially Jack's right-hand man, he also steps in to prosecute other cases that require his expertise. He's actually taking on one that used to be mine."

"Which one is that?" Sylvie frowned.

Peter sighed. "Has the news said anything about a man named Richard Wheatley?"

Sylvie tilted her head thoughtfully. "The name sounds familiar . . . "

"He's going to trial for the murder of a police detective's wife," Peter explained. "It was originally my case because the detective is Liv's former partner, and SVU initially began the investigation. Wheatley's last defender successfully argued I was 'too close' to the case, so I shouldn't prosecute." Peter snorted. "Which is ridiculous, but now Wheatley gets Nolan on his case, and I'd like to see what defender would willingly agree to go against him. Nolan's reputation before he joined the DA's office was that the prosecutors would rather swallow nails than face him in court."

"He's that good?" Sylvie's eyes widened.

Peter grinned. "I'll have to get you in a courtroom so you can see him in action. I know you enjoyed watching me when you got the chance."

Sylvie nodded with a matching grin. "I still go to the courthouse sometimes if I'm extremely bored. Most of the staff there remember me enough to direct me to the good courtrooms."

Peter laughed. "Let me guess. They're usually Anna's?"

Sylvie nodded. "You trained a good one."

"I did my best." Peter folded his hands in his lap. "Look, Nolan is still my boss, so just like I didn't share too much personal information about you because you're my best friend, I don't want to share much of his with you," he said, and Sylvie nodded her understanding. "But believe me, with what I know, I can say with certainty you both have answers only you each can answer. The closest thing he has to family right now is his second chair, Samantha Maroun, and the Cosgroves – Frank is one of the detectives from the Homicide Squad, and his daughter, Lily, thinks Nolan is one of the best people on the planet. The teams here have been getting more tightly knit since Nolan agreed to take Wheatley's case, but it's nothing like 51. Believe me when I say you would be very welcome here."

Sylvie blew out her breath slowly. "Sounds like I need to talk to Chief Boden as soon as I can." At Peter's surprised look, Sylvie shrugged and gave him a somber smile. "Chicago isn't the same without Matt, Peter. And honestly . . . a vacation outside of the city would probably help me a lot. Now I have the perfect reason to take one. Well . . . reasons." She managed a cheeky grin. "I get to make sure the Bensons are right for you."

"Yeesh, Sylvie." Peter gave her such an offended look that she burst out laughing. "I've been with Liv since you gave me a verbal headslap three years ago. If something was wrong, you'd think I would have told you by now."

Sylvie rolled her eyes. "Says the man who looks ready to fly down and give Kelly a shovel talk every time I tell a story."

"Casey, too," Peter corrected. "Before he moved, at least."

Sylvie facepalmed. "I regret ever calling you while I was drunk as hell after they brought me back to Chicago."

"Sylvie, you know I'm never going to judge you for who you love," Peter told her. "Will I ever understand it? Probably not, because I've never fallen in love with more than one person at the same time. But after everything you've gone through? You deserve to be happy, and I'm not saying that just because it's my duty as your best friend to say it."

Sylvie gave him a teary smile. "Benson is lucky as hell to have you."

"I'm lucky to have her," Peter smiled in return.

Sylvie looked down at her hands and took a deep breath. "I'll call Chief Boden tonight and see if I can meet him tomorrow. I've rarely taken a day off unless I was sick, so I have furlough galore stocked up to use. I want to get up to New York as soon as I can."

Peter smiled happily. "We'll wait however long we have to."

***

"Let me make sure I have this straight," Frank said as he walked into the living room and held out a glass of whiskey for Nolan to take. "You agreed to submit the DNA test like Lily asked because you didn't think the site would find anything . . . and it matched you to a half-sister?"

"It did," Nolan nodded.

"And this woman is also Counselor Stone's best friend from when he was in Chicago?"

"Correct."

Frank whistled as he sat next to Nolan. "Damn. Now I get why you were in a weird headspace earlier." Nolan nodded silently as he sipped his drink. "So . . . where do you go from here?"

"I don't know," Nolan shrugged. "Stone said he and Sylvie made plans to talk tonight, and he would get back to me tomorrow." He checked his watch and made a face. "Well . . . later today now, I guess."

Frank smirked. "I have nowhere to be."

"Lucky you," Nolan grumbled, staring down at his drink. "I would be having a lot more otherwise."

Judging by the look on Nolan's face, the prosecutor wasn't kidding. "You think this'll end up going south?" Frank asked, brow knitted in worry for his friend.

Nolan sighed. "I don't think it will, based on what Stone said," he answered, taking a sip of his drink. "It's reassuring to hear his thoughts on what Sylvie is thinking, but he's also respecting his professional boundaries with me and his personal ones with her. I have no idea how this will go until we're in the same room and answering each other's questions."

Frank nodded in understanding, taking a drink of his own. "Funny how things you think should be so simple can turn into the most complicated thing ever."

Nolan snorted. "I don't blame Lily for this, if that's somehow going around in your head."

"Oh, no, I didn't even consider it," Frank shook his head. "But I appreciate knowing that Lily is still in the competition for your favorite person."

"It's a competition?" Nolan raised an eyebrow dubiously.

Frank shrugged and grinned. "Well, she's competing against me, but what are you gonna do?" Nolan burst out laughing, and Frank's grin widened. "You know if this all works out, she's probably gonna gloat she had a hand in it, right?"

"All due gratitude will be given," Nolan promised.

"Good," Frank smiled in satisfaction. "So . . . feeling better before tomorrow?"

"Better," Nolan nodded, resting his head back on the couch. "Thanks for letting me drop by."

"Please," Frank waved away the gratitude. "Any time, Nolan. You're always welcome here."

***

"What?"

Kelly's stunned expression made Sylvie bite her lip and hide behind her cup of coffee to avoid outright grinning. "That's a good summary of my day yesterday," she nodded. "And I'm still processing it myself."

"A half-brother." Boden shook his head in disbelief. "Wow. How are you feeling?"

"Like my world just got flipped on its head," Sylvie answered truthfully. "I'm nervous, I'm anxious . . . but I'm excited. Yes, there's an age gap between me and Nolan . . . but this is part of my birth family I know nothing about. I was so curious when Julia came back, but I never got to ask her anything before she died. I have that chance now. I want to take it. I need to take it." She glanced at Kelly. "If anyone understands even a little bit of what I'm feeling, it's you."

Kelly nodded in agreement. "I do. I'm glad I have Katie, even if she's a few states away. That's better than not having her in my life at all." He watched Sylvie take a sip of her coffee before he took a deep breath. "So . . . where do you go from here?"

"New York," Sylvie answered simply. "Peter's been telling me to visit ever since he started dating Captain Benson, and now I know that's where Nolan is, too. I have the furlough saved for an extended trip."

"And you have every right to use it," Boden nodded. "You push yourself every day you're on shift, and you do so even more now with your paramedicine program. You deserve a break, too." Sylvie smiled gratefully at her chief, and Boden folded his hands in his lap. "How soon do you plan to go, and how long do you plan on being there?"

"I'd like to fly out after next shift," Sylvie admitted; she saw Kelly do a double take in surprise, and she guessed he hadn't expected it to be that soon. "Now that I know there's so much to look forward to up there, I want to be there as soon as I can without leaving you down a paramedic next shift. As for how long . . . " She shrugged with a sheepish smile. "At least a month? I don't know."

"I'll put your leave down for a month, and if you come back sooner or decide to stay longer, we'll jump that hurdle when we get to it," Boden nodded. "You keep your focus up there. We'll handle everything here."

"Thanks, Chief," Sylvie smiled as she finished her coffee. "This means a lot to me."

"It's your family," Boden smiled in return. "I know it does." Sylvie nodded, remembering how considerate he had been of her following Julia's death. "I'll let you know when I push everything through."

"Thank you," Sylvie nodded and stood. "And thank you for making the time on such short notice."

"You're welcome," Boden nodded, looking between Sylvie and Kelly. "Is there anything else?"

"No, Chief," Kelly shook his head, finishing his coffee as well and standing. "Thank you."

"Enjoy the rest of your day, then," Boden nodded.

The pair were silent as they left Boden's house, then Sylvie sighed and shuffled her feet anxiously. "I probably should have told you right away," she whispered.

"Hey, no," Kelly immediately shook his head, wrapping his arm around her shoulders to tug her to his side. "Am I surprised you didn't tell me? Yeah, I am . . . but I know what it feels like to have a bomb like that dropped in your lap. Everyone handles it differently."

Sylvie sagged in relief, leaning against Kelly as they walked towards Kelly's car. "I just feel like a backstabber after all we talked about last night about not going anywhere."

"It's just for a visit, right?" When Sylvie nodded, Kelly squeezed her. "And I'll be waiting right here when you come back. It's not going to change a thing." He paused then tilted his head thoughtfully. "Unless this brother of yours turns out to be a complete bastard. Then I'll be on the first flight up there to punch him in the face and bring you back myself."

Sylvie burst out laughing. "You wouldn't!"

"Oh, I would," Kelly smirked smugly. "Because I doubt Stone would punch his boss, even if he wanted to."

Sylvie giggled, wiping tears away from her eyes. "Overprotective bastard."

"Your overprotective bastard," Kelly corrected cheekily.

"Yeah, you are," Sylvie agreed, looking up at Kelly with a fond smile. "Thank you. I mean that from the bottom of my heart. Things are different without Matt, but I'm glad I have you."

"You always will," Kelly promised, cupping her cheek in his hand. "You and me against the world, huh?"

Sylvie beamed at him. "Always."

Kelly kissed the top of her head with a fond smile. "Always."

***

"And in other news," Olivia rolled her eyes as she took a seat in Jack's office, "Richard Wheatley has fired his third defender."

"What the hell is this guy up to?" Frank asked incredulously, looking around at the group assembled. "Is he trying to plow through all the defenders in the state?"

"He's got a long way to go if that's his plan," Nolan snorted as he flipped through the files Peter had brought with him.

"It's all one game to him," Elliot scowled. "He's trying to get in our heads."

Nolan didn't look up from his reading. "Is it working, Detective?"

Elliot snorted. "I'm not the one who'll be prosecuting him."

"No, but you're testifying against him," Peter pointed out, sitting on the arm of Olivia's chair. "He'll do his best to throw you off."

"But that can be manipulated the other way, too," Nolan pointed out, shutting his folder with an audible snap. "You know Wheatley best. We'll figure out how to throw him off his game."

Elliot's grin resembled a shark. "Now I know why Cosgrove likes you so much."

Frank rolled his eyes. "Thanks, Stabler."

"Whatever Wheatley's plan is, he can't push back his trial forever," Jack said, folding his hands on his desk. "He'll have his day in court eventually. Prep your witnesses, get ready for whatever he might have prepared. However much he wants to be free from jail, we want to keep him there for as long as possible."

As heads nodded around the room, the sudden trill of a phone made Olivia turn in surprise. Peter looked through his pockets before checking his Caller ID, and his sudden grin made Nolan sit up straight. "Typical," Peter chuckled as he answered his phone, Elliot looking curiously at him. "What is it with you and your timing?"

"Because that's the difference between life and death in my line of work," Sylvie answered promptly, making Peter snort. "Is this a good or bad time?"

"Good," Peter assured her. "Is there something I can do for you?"

He heard Sylvie take a deep breath. "Tell me if me flying out in four days is a problem?"

Peter's eyes widened, and he laughed gleefully as he jumped to his feet. "Four days?" he repeated, throwing a grin at Nolan when he saw his expression brighten. "You got the time that quickly?"

"Chief Boden is the best," Sylvie giggled. "Kelly and I visited him this morning, and I got the leave confirmation a few minutes ago. Are there enough things to do up there to keep me busy for a month?"

"We get you for a month?!" Nolan's face split with a grin, and while Olivia and Elliot exchanged confused looks, Jack and Frank's expressions cleared in understanding. "Are you kidding me?" Peter sounded seconds from bouncing off the walls in happiness. "Sylvie, that's the best news I've heard in a while!"

"Oh, good," Sylvie sighed in relief. "Just warn Benson she'll be under a microscope once I get there."

Peter snickered. "She always knew she would be when I finally managed to convince you to come up." Olivia's eyes widened at his words, and Peter patted her shoulder comfortingly. "Send me the details once you figure out when you're arriving. You're in for a hell of a time."

"I'm counting on it. Thank you for everything, Peter. See you soon."

"See you soon." As soon as the line clicked to disconnect the call, Peter whooped in delight and pocketed his phone. "If I had known making you get a genealogy test would be all it would take to get Sylvie up here, I would have asked you to do that years ago," he told Nolan with a grin.

"Sylvie Brett?" Olivia asked for confirmation, looking between the prosecutors in confusion. "Your best friend?"

"Yeah," Nolan nodded with a disbelieving smile. "And as I found out yesterday, my half-sister."

"What?" Olivia's jaw dropped.

"Your best friend is his half-sister?" Elliot pointed from Peter to Nolan in shock.

"I think that was everyone's reaction," Frank smirked, leaning on the back of Nolan's chair. "So that's a confirmation? She's coming up?"

"She talked to her chief this morning, and he pushed her furlough through," Peter nodded with a grin. "She's aiming to be here Monday."

"Excellent," Jack smiled happily. "Though perhaps you should warn Ms. Maroun, if Sylvie's interests in trials are as high as Peter says they are."

Olivia inhaled sharply. "So she's here for Wheatley's trial?"

"If he doesn't fire another lawyer," Elliot scoffed.

"She'll want to catch anything she can," Peter shrugged with a smile at Nolan. "She's like a sponge with how she soaks up knowledge."

"Sounds like someone else I know," Frank grinned.

Nolan shook his head, unable to keep from laughing. "Can four days come any faster?"

"I wish," Peter grinned. "Think you can handle waiting that long?"

"I've waited this long," Nolan grinned in return. "I can wait a little longer."

***

I posted an overview of what I wanted this multi-shot to be on my profile a few weeks ago, and in conversation with supercorpsbixth I determined I could actually write both prompts and extend the multi-shot further. I still planned on it being a two-shot with the time jump, but man, is this running away from me. This is my favorite platonic/familial relationship I've written for a fandom, so I want to give it the love and attention it deserves. Plus, there's Brettseyride and Pricegrove to write into place, and that's definitely not something I want to screw up.

So, part two will be Sylvie's time in New York, and the last two parts will be a time jump to wrap up the multi-shot. Let's just say if you like the New York squads teaming up and raining hell, you'll enjoy it.

graphic by marvelity