16. Chapter 16

A/N: I'm SO sorry it's taken so long to update! I had a really hard time figuring out what to write, but I've also been really sick the past few weeks and spent pretty much all of my time sleeping :P

Anyways, thanks for sticking with me on this story and for all the reviews and messages :)

(PS: Excuse any typos, it's midnight and I just wanted to get this up for you guys)

Enjoy!

December 2015

"Explain to me why we needed a fresh Christmas tree?" Erin groaned as she and Jay held onto Ben's hands as she somewhat unsteadily walked between them.

It had been a week since Erin and Jay had had lunch with Aaron, and for the most part their lives had returned to normal. With Christmas two weeks away, they were both getting Erin's apartment ready and teaching Ben how to walk. Over the past month, their little boy had been slowly advancing from crawling to walking; holding onto the coffee table or his parent's hands to aid him. The entire unit had yet again been placing bets on when Ben would walk, ranging from the next few days to just before the new year.

"Erin, I've always had a fresh Christmas tree, since I was a kid." Jay answered.

"But I hate snow." Erin whined dragging her feet.

"You love snow. You know you do." Jay chuckles looking over at her.

Erin narrowed her eyes at him "... I don't love it when I have to trudge through snow up to my ankles trying to hold our kid up too."

Jay sighed and stopped in his path and Erin looking at him curiously before he picked up Ben and placed him on his shoulders, the little boy grasping onto his father's hair and giggling loudly at the motions he felt every time Jay moved.

"Happy now?" Jay grumbled continuing to walk.

Erin frowned catching up to Jay and linking her arm in his "Hey. You know I'm just being a grouch right?" She said.

"I know." Jay sighed "I'm sorry, it's just … Christmas was always my favorite holiday. I just wanted to carry on those same traditions with you and Ben."

"I'm sorry. It's just that it's our first day off in three weeks. All I thought about doing was curling up with you and Ben in front of the couch and not moving for the whole day." Erin said cheekily.

Jay looked down at her with an understanding smile "How about this; if we don't find a tree within the next … 3o mins, we'll go home and snuggle on the couch for the rest of the day. Deal?"

Erin smiled brightly "Deal."

They found a tree within 15 minutes and were loaded up on their way home. Luckily Erin's apartment had an elevator which made talking the tree up to her third floor apartment a lot easier.

As promised, Erin and Jay ordered lunch and then chose a child-appropriate movie to watch before snuggling up on the couch together, Ben drinking some juice from his sippy cup as he lay across Erin and Jay's upper legs, while Erin rested herself against Jay's side while his arm was wrapped over her shoulders holding her to him.

Their intimate family moment was interrupted as Jay's phone started to buzz. He reached to grab I off the coffee table, checking the screen before clicking the lock button silencing the incessant buzzing and throwing his phone on the couch beside him.

"Who was it?" Erin asked looking up at him.

Jay's eyes remained focused on the TV screen "No one important."

Erin didn't buy it. She reached across him and grabbed his phone checking the notifications.

3 missed calls: Aaron Halstead

5 unread messages: Will Halstead

2 unread messages: Aaron Halstead

"Jay." Erin spoke sternly "You can't just keep ignoring him."

"I'm not ready to deal with him right now Er." Jay replied.

"Jay, come on –"

"I don't want to talk about my dad right now. I just want to enjoy spending the day with you and this little guy." Jay cuts her off reaching down to tickle Ben's sides.

Erin inwardly groaned. 'Those damn Halstead men are as stubborn as the other.'

LINEBREAK

It was now the next morning and the intelligence unit were starting a new case.

"Okay, here's what we know." Antonio says placing two photos on the board "This is Jason Summers. 56, doctor at Chicago Med. He worked for over 30 years and is one of the most respected doctors in his field."

"And this" Voight jumps in pointing at the second photo "is Jason Summers as of four hours ago. M.E. reported strangulation as the cause of death, but there is also severe bruising of the chest that they reckon is from a few weeks ago."

"So it's possible that however he got those bruises, is linked to how he died?" Adam asks.

"It's likely. But we need to find a concrete link between the two events." Antonio replied.

Jay walks up the steps, placing his coat on the hook near the stairs before walking towards his desk.

"Sorry I'm late, traffic from the daycare was insane. I swear they need a –" Jay stopped short as he saw the board "Oh my god."

"What is it?" You know him?" Alvin asks.

"Uh, yeah. He's an old family friend. He and my dad went to med school together, he was like an uncle to me and Will." Jay explains.

"I'm sorry Halstead. But, do you know anyone who would want to harm him?" Voight asks.

Jay shakes his head "I haven't spoken to him for a few months, not since the case with Keyes happened. Even then he didn't mention that anything was wrong. He mentioned a few disgruntled patients, but that's nothing new."

"Why would any of his patients hold a grudge?" Erin finally speaks up.

Jay shrugs "It was more the family members of patients, especially after the patient dies. When you've got a doctor with one of the highest oncology success rates, people tend to put a lot of faith in him. And when the patient passes away, they often blame him. They're blinded by grief more than anything."

"… I can start looking into the patient's families sarge?" Atwater says after a few moments.

Voight nods his approval "Alvin, Ruzek, look into Summers past. See if there were ever any suspicious activity with anyone he was connected to. Lindsat, Check if any patients or family have a criminal history or any legal pursuits against Summers. Antonio, look into everyone he was in contact with the past week." Voight orders "Halstead, my office."

Jay nods and follows his boss, glancing at Erin and giving her a small smile in an attempt to reassure her that he's okay. Jay sits down across from Voight at his desk waiting for his boss to speak.

"Look, I don't want to take you off the case But, if I this gets to be too much, then I'll understand."

"I'm fine." Jay answers bluntly.

"Okay." Voight replies "But with that being said, if I think your emotions are clouding your judgement, I'll pull you off this case without a second thought. Understood?"

"Yes sir." Jay says.

Voight nods at him and Jay stands up and heads to his desk. He opens up the file on Jason's murder and begins to catch himself up on the case, according to the M.E. the time of death was 4 am. Jay examined the pictures of the man who had been a big part of his life, his body lying in his backyard.

"Erin." Antonio whispers.

Erin walks over to his desk and Antonio points at the log sheet for visitors at the hospital. Erin's eyes scroll until he sees the name Antonio was looking to.

December 9th 2016Sign in: 8:45 am.Visitor: Dr Aaron Halstead.Ward: Oncology, Dr Summers.Sign out: 9:30 am.

"Isn't that …" Antonio trails off.

"His dad." Erin sighs.

She looks up and sees Jay's empty desk, spying him standing in the breakroom making himself a cup of coffee.

"I'll tell him." Erin says standing up and walking in the direction of Voight's office.

Erin walks quietly into the breakroom, observing her partner for a moment as he puts the ground coffee into the machine and starts it waiting for the liquid to fill the pot.

"Hey." Erin says with a smile as she moves to stand next to him "You okay?"

"Yeah, it's just hard to believe someone could do this to him. He was so kind Erin, when my mum couldn't afford the medical bills, he paid for some of them himself. Did I ever tell you my parents named him after me?"

Erin shakes her head no "… Jay, have your dad and Dr Summers stayed in contact over the years?"

Jay frowns "I think a little? Jason said they'd seen each other at some of the medical conferences over the years. Why?"

"Uh, your dad visited him at the hospital two days ago."

"Wait. Are you saying you think my Dad did this?" Jay's voice rose as he asked the question.

Erin immediately panicked "No no no! It's just that, maybe he knows something about who could've done this?"

"They've barely had a meaningful conversation in years. Do you really think Jason's just going to tell my Dad something that personal to someone he's barely spoken to!?" He exclaimed.

Erin shrugs in response "Maybe not. But they were friends for years before your parents split, sometimes people turn to an old friend in times of need. Either way, you know Voight will want to talk to him about his visit."

Jay braces himself against the counter, taking in a few deep breaths before he spoke again "I know. I just wish my Dad would just go away. If he's not in my life, he's in my work."

"I know babe. But he could help us with the case, and either way he deserves to know his friend died." Erin rested her hand on his should kissing his cheek "Look, if it's too much I can take Antonio with me?"

Jay shook his head quickly "No, I should do it. He'll be more likely to talk if I'm there. He doesn't want to risk screwing up our relationship anymore." Jay chuckled bitterly.

"Jay. Seriously, maybe you should sit this one out. I don't think you're –"

"I'm fine." Jay snapped "Let's just get this case over with."

Erin nods patting Jay on the back before moving out of the breakroom. Jay fills his cup of coffee before proceeding to Voight's office and knocking on the doorway.

"Hey, did anyone do the notification?" Jay asks.

Voight shakes his head "Patrol's heading over there soon, we still need to question her."

"I'll do it." Jay says.

Voight nods his head and Jay heads into the main office, tapping on Erin's desk as he walked past her and Erin stood up and followed him out of the office and down to the car.

LINEBREAK

Jay and Erin walk up the stairs of the Summers' household, both pausing at the door for a moment before Jay knocks on the door. They hear footsteps inside and then the door opens revealing a mature aged woman standing in the doorway.

Erin notes her curly orange hair, pale freckled skin and her bloodshot green eyes – evidence of her tears. She's slighter shorter than Erin herself but her hunched posture makes it hard to be sure. A small smile graces her sad face as she looks at the two detectives.

"Jay." She says warmly opening her arms.

"Hi Alice." Jay bends down slightly to give the woman a hug before the two detectives enter the house.

"Erin, this is Jason's wife Alice. Alice, this is my partner Erin."

"I've heard so much about you dear." Alice says shaking her hand.

Erin smiles warmly "It's nice to meet you Mrs Summers, I wish it were under different circumstances."

"Me too. And please, call me Alice."

"Of course." Erin replies following behind Jay as the three walk into the living room and take a seat.

"This place hasn't changed." Jay smiles looking around.

Alice chuckles softly "That husband of mine is, was, such a neat freak. He didn't like mess, everything had a place and that place never changed."

Erin stays quiet listening to Jay and Alice reminisce for a few moments, knowing she'll have to break their conversation soon enough.

"Alice, I'm sorry but we do have a few questions for you."

"Of course." Alice replies.

"Can you walk us through that night? How did you find your husband?" Erin starts.

"I had gone to bed around 10:30 the night before, Jason had called and said he would be late because a last-minute surgery came up. I woke up around 6:00 am to use the bathroom. The window in there faces towards the backyard and ..." Alice's voice starts to break.

"I saw the light on so I headed downstairs to turn it off. That's when I saw him. I tried to wake him up, but he wouldn't move." She cried.

Jay reached over and placed his hand on top of Alice's to comfort her, Alice smiling back gratefully as Erin asked "Do you know anyone who would want to harm your husband?" Erin asks.

Alice shook her head "I mean, he had a few grieving patients but most of them let it go and apologized months later. There was one woman though. I went to visit Jason for lunch and she was in the office with him."

"Can you describe her for me?" Jay asks.

"She was blonde, hazel eyes. Maybe your height, detective Lindsay? I'm not really sure about much else." Alice explains "I just remember they were yelling. It was all muffled though, and when I asked him about it he just said that her daughter was a patient and she disagreed with the course of treatment that Jason was pursuing."

"You didn't believe him?" Erin asked.

"There was just something about the way he acted. I've known him for 25 years, we've been married for 20. I could read him like a book." Erin smiled slightly at that, looking over at Jay who looked back at her, smiling slightly as well.

She snapped out of her daze, focusing back on Alice. "Do you remember when this was?"

"About 1:30, last Thursday."

Erin nods writing down the details in her notepad "Thank you." Erin and Jay both stood up, Alice standing too and leaning in to hug Jay.

"If you need anything, don't hesitate to call okay?" Jay whispered hugging her tighter.

"I will, I promise." Alice whispers back so softly that Erin almost missed it.

They head out the door, waving to Alice as they drive off. They sit in silence as they reach a red light. Erin looks over to see Jay gazing out the window, and she reaches over and pats his hand quickly.

"Hey, you okay?" Erin asks.

Jay reaches his hand over and rests it on her thigh, squeezing gently "I'll be fine."

The light goes green and Erin continues to drive "You know, I was thinking we could take Ben and visit Alice again after we finish the case, maybe have dinner together?"

Jay smiles and leans over to kiss her cheek "You're too good for me, Erin Lindsay."

"I know." Erin says with a smirk.

Jay laughs softly as the two continue to head to the district.

LINEBREAK

"So, what have we got so far?" Voight asks when Erin and Jay walked up the stairs.

"The wife says he had a suspicious woman visit him at the hospital a few days ago. Apparently they were arguing." Erin debriefs the team.

"A few of the patients that Summers treated were criminals, but they all alibied out for the night of the murder." Antonio says "Same for most of his visitors at the hospital. We're still trying to track a few people down."

Jay sees Antonio glancing at him and he knows; his father is one of those people.

"What about the families" Voight asks looking to Atwater.

"We talked to all the family members of any deceased patient who had been noted as disgruntled in Dr Summers files. They all said the same thing, once they were less upset and had time to process their loss a bit more, they were remorseful and apologized to Summers."

"We're missing something." Jay mumbles flipping through the file once again.

"What time did the wife say she came to visit?" Antonio asks sitting down at his computer.

"Last Thursday, around 1:30 pm." Jay answers.

"Okay, the oncology departments visitor log has a Deborah Allen, says she came at 1:00 and left at 1:40." Antonio says.

"That's got to be her." Jay exclaims "Have we got an address?"

"Yeah, 1145 Rosewood Lane." Antonio replies.

"Dawson, Atwater. Bring her in." Voight orders.

The two detectives nod and head out the office, Antonio stopping at Jay's desk on his way out "Jay, your dad, he's the only one who hasn't responded to our calls. We can't clear him until we do."

Jay sighs nodding and heading into Voight's office "Hey, you mind if we –"

"Go for it." Voight says not looking up from his paperwork.

"Do you want us to bring him in?" Jay asks.

Voight looks up and shakes his head "No, just find out what he knows and see if he has any idea who could've done this … And check his alibi."

Jay heads back into the bullpen and knocks on Erin's desk and she stands from her desk following him out of the office.

LINEBREAK

"So, what brings you two here? Not that I'm not happy to see you, of course I am, I just didn't think –"

"We're actually here on an official police basis." Jay cut in stopping his father's rambling.

"Oh, of course. Sorry." Aaron replies looking down at his coffee cup "So, what's this about then?"

"I'm really sorry to have to tell you this Aaron, but Jason Summers was murdered last night."

" … What?" Aaron says shocked.

Erin looks to Jay who remains quiet "Uh- he was drugged. Do you have any idea who could've done this to him?"

"I … I'm not sure. He had a few disgruntled patients over the years but –"

"What about Deborah Allen?" Jay finally cuts in "Alice said she and Jason had an argument a few days ago."

"Debbie …" Aaron sighed "She was Jason's fiancée."

"Jason had a fiancée before Alice?" Jay exclaims.

"Yeah, it's not something he mentions a lot. Ali knew he was engaged but she didn't know to who. They didn't end on the best of the terms."

"Is there any reason she would be in touch with him now?" Erin asked.

Aaron shrugs "I can't think of one. They haven't spoken in over 25 years."

"Okay." Erin replies writing down the details "I'm sorry Aaron but we have to ask, where were you between the hours of 11pm and 6 am last night?"

"I had surgery from 12:30 am until 4. I stayed at the Chicago Med for a few hours in one of the rooms they have. I would never hurt him."

Erin nods her head "Okay."

"We should get going." Jay says standing up.

Erin gives Aaron a smile "Thank you for your time."

Aaron nods his head walking the two out of his apartment. The two detectives are almost in the car when they hear Aaron calling out for Jay. Erin looks at her boyfriend, who gives her a nod and she gets in the car while he walks to meet his father on the pavement.

"What is it?" Jay asks.

"I just wanted to know if Alice had been notified, I don't have her number to contact her and her home phone isn't in service anymore."

"She's still at the same address, you're welcome to go see her." Jay snaps back.

Aaron sighs "Look, I get that you're mad with me, but Jason was a part of our family. I know what he did for your mother, and I'm sorry that you lost him. But I lost him too. If you want to be mad at me fine, but not today."

Jay closes his eyes taking a few deep breaths "You're right. I'm sorry."

"Jay…Do you think we could talk?" Aaron says looking shyly to his son.

"I'm busy right now."

"Of course. Just, uh, let me know."

Jay doesn't say anything further, not wanting to give his father false hope. He simply nods, turning away from Aaron and walking to the 300.

LINEBREAK

Jay stood behind the two-way mirror the next day, watching Voight and Alvin take Deborah Allen's statement.

"My partner Matthew, he did this." Deborah whispered sadly.

"What makes you think that?" Alvin asked.

"He told me."

Voight sat down next to Alvin "Look at this from our perspective Ms Allen. You're partner has no motive to kill Dr Summers, you however do. He left you for another woman."

"I didn't kill Jason, I loved him. And when he left me, it broke my heart, but I never had any hatred towards him. I was actually grateful that he broke up with me before we were married instead of waiting until after, and us resenting each other down the track."

"But it still doesn't explain why he would do this." Alvin argued.

"I fell pregnant after Jason and I broke up!" Deborah cried "I was first … intimate … with Mathew a week after Jason and I broke up. And then I found out I was pregnant. I didn't tell Jason there was a possibility the baby was his, I didn't want him to feel trapped into a family he didn't want. And I really thought Mathew was the dad."

"So why now, over twenty years later, would it matter?" Hank asked.

Deborah sighed softly "Jake was in a car accident a few weeks back. It wasn't too serious luckily, but the doctors wanted us to both be tested as a match for blood donation just in case. It turns out Mathew's blood type is completely different to Jake's, there's no way the two could be biologically related."

"So Mathew was angry." Alvin stated.

"At first he didn't say anything, he just told me he wanted to make sure Jake was fully recovered and they would talk about it. But he was livid. I tried to explain to him that it wasn't purpose, that I really did think he was the dad. He kept rambling on about how he was going to make us both pay for doing this to him, for pretending all this time and toying with his feelings. That was a few days before Jason was killed."

"Jason was injected with a high dose of Cyanide, how would Mathew get his hands on that?"

"He works part-time as an exterminator, Cyanide's found in a lot of the pesticides they use." Deborah explains.

Erin walks into the room Jay was standing in placing her arm on his shoulder "You okay?"

Jay nods "I will be once we catch this guy."

LINEBREAK

"So, he's confessed. The State's Attorney reckons he'll get minimum 20 years." Jay says as Alice holds Ben's hands, helping him to stand on his own in front of her position on the couch.

"That's a relief." Alice says distractedly as she watches Ben "I'm glad, Jason can rest in peace now."

Jay and Erin both smile watching Alice play with Ben, the little boy bouncing up and down on his legs excitedly. There's a knock on the door and Alice hands Ben to Jay going to answer the door.

"He's getting so big." Erin says softly stroking Ben's cheek as he giggles at her.

"I know, he's almost talking and walking. It's crazy."

Erin sighs softly "I missed so much those weeks I was away, I can't believe how much he's grown since then."

"Hey." Jay says looking to her "It's in the past now, we've moved forward from that right?"

"Right." Erin nods kissing him.

Alice comes back into the room, dropping a box down on the dining table before whisking Ben back up into her arms and bouncing him around as she walked across the living room.

"Who was that?" Erin asks.

"No one." Alice quickly replies.

Jay eyes her suspiciously "Alice?"

"…It was your dad. He just wanted to pay his respects, I told him you were in here and he needed to leave."

Jay can feel Erin eyeing him and he turns to look at her, already knowing what she's trying to say.He's your dad.He deserves another chance.

"I'll be right back." Jay says standing up, Erin squeezing his hand as he walks past her.

Jay runs out of the house, seeing Aaron walking down the street to his car.

"Hey!" Jay yells trying to catch up to his father.

Aaron stops walking an looks at Jay "I'm sorry, didn't mean to intrude."

"I know. Uh, I was actually wondering if you wanted to come inside."

"Really?" Aaron says shocked.

Jay nods "We're having dinner with Alice, sort of celebrating Jason I guess. You're welcome to join us."

Aaron smiles brightly "I'd really like that."

Jay smiles slightly as well, walking back to the house with his Dad. Erin is standing at the doorway waiting for their return, smiling when she sees Aaron in tow.

"Nice to see you Aaron." Erin says shaking his hand.

"You too Erin." Aaron replies, the smile never leaving his face.

Erin wraps her arms around Jay's waist while Aaron heads inside "You made the right decision."

"I hope so." Jay says.

A/N: Okay, so this feels like a REALLY long filler chapter, But I wanted to kind of fast-track all the Aaron drama and just get him and Jay on the path to reconciliation, which is what this chapter tried to do!

I hope you liked it, and please leave a review! They motivate me to update faster! I'll try to get another update up this coming week, I start university soon so I want to try and update as much as possible before that happens!

Maddie :)