11. Chapter 11

Hey guys, I just want to say thank you for the response to the last chapter. I am completely floored! I really appreciate all the positivity and love for this fic. Unfortunately, I think this chapter will disappoint as the story probably isn't going the direction you expected but I don't think the show will rush Linstead so I can't rush it either but it will happen...maybe one day ;)

Please read and review because I'm writing a few chapters ahead (to allow me to post twice a week rather than once a week) and I am struggling as I have started a case (which is the means to the beginning of Linstead) and I can't write crime at all! Please, let me know what you think. I can take the honesty.

Chapter 10

A few weeks later...

Erin walked beside Kelly as he pushed the shopping cart around the supermarket. Erin had her cell phone to her ear. "Nadia, can you call me back?" She requested. "We were meant to meet up to do the Thanksgiving shopping. Where are you? Call me."

"Is everything okay?" Kelly asked, looking sideways at Erin.

"I swear I don't know what is going on with that girl." Erin ranted. "Over the last two weeks, she's barely in at night. I just hope she hasn't started doing anything to jeopardise her recovery."

"Maybe she's got herself a boyfriend?" Kelly suggested as Erin tossed a few cans of pumpkin filling in the cart.

"Exactly! Relationships are a big no no for at least a year after rehab." Erin stated. "I dunno, maybe she's just hanging with Jay and Antonio."

"Wouldn't you know if she was?" Kelly asked.

Erin looked at him. "Not really. Halstead hasn't really hung out with me since Allie left town." Erin stated, watching his eyes for a reaction. She had never confronted him about the request he had made for Jay to keep his distance. Little did he know that Jay was keeping things strictly professional for a different reason.

There wasn't a flicker in his eyes. "Huh, Halstead and Allie must be pretty serious then." Kelly observed.

"He must be." Erin agreed, highly disappointed that he could hide his reaction so well. Did this mean he was an expert liar? She shook her head and told herself to stop being so silly, after all, she was the one who threw herself at Jay only to be rejected.

"I don't know why you're even bothering making Thanksgiving dinner." Kelly said. "You could just come to the fire house and have it with me. Mills is a mean cook."

"I'll let you know my yams rock!" Erin exclaimed. "Anyway, I always have Thanksgiving dinner with Voight, he's my family and I'm all he's got now."

"Well maybe you could stop by on the day?" Kelly asked.

"Yeah, maybe." Erin muttered, returning her focus to her shopping list.

Kelly looked at her and shook his head, trying to get all the negative thoughts out of his head. He couldn't help but feel that over the last few weeks, Erin was pulling away from him, and he didn't know why.

When Erin entered the break room the next morning, she found Nadia and Jay already there, drinking coffee. They muttered hello and she acknowledged it with a nod as she walked towards the coffee. She poured herself a cup and focused her eyes on Nadia.

"Where were you last night Nadia?" She asked. "Did you forget that we were meant to shop for the Thanksgiving dinner?"

"Sorry, I completely spaced." Nadia replied. "I was hanging out with a friend."

"Oh really, do I know this friend?" Erin pushed.

"I don't think so." Nadia replied. "Why?"

"Because you sure seem to be hanging out a lot... almost every weeknight." Erin retorted.

"You don't need to know all my friends." Nadia replied. "I can have a life without you." Nadia stormed out of the break room.

Erin was going to follow when Jay's voice stopped her. "Don't." He simply said. "I know you, you're planning on putting a tail on her."

"But..." Erin began to argue as she turned to face him.

"Erin, she needs to have her own life, you need to trust her." Jay stated.

"She's barely out of rehab Jay and she's out most evenings." Erin replied. "I can't help but worry about what she's doing and who with."

"She's been hanging with me." Jay stated. He knew that Nadia had been going to community college but he also knew she didn't want Erin knowing yet. "At least some of the nights anyway. She's helping me pull together some apartment viewings for Allie."

"Oh." Erin sighed. "Allie's coming back?"

"Yeah, for Thanksgiving. She flies in tomorrow." Jay replied. "Her parents are actually going to celebrate it this year. It's their first since Ben..." He trailed off.

"Well that's great!" Erin exclaimed.

"Yeah." Jay agreed. "I mean, I'll have to miss the dinner at Voight's but..."

"No, I um, totally get it." Erin replied.

Jay nodded and stepped out of the break room, leaving Erin alone.

Jay sat at his desk, watching Antonio at his desk, having a heated discussion with Laura over the phone. "But Laura..." He heard Antonio say. "...it's Thanksgiving!" And then the phone slammed down.

He watched as Antonio lifted the stapler and prepared to throw it but then put it down again.

Jay stood up and grabbed his jacket. "C'mon Dawson, I think we need a hot dog." He stated, knowing his mentor needed time out.

Dawson reluctantly nodded and followed Jay out of the office.

Within a few minutes, Jay was driving them towards a diner. Jay and Antonio had not spoken since they left the office. Finally, Antonio spoke. "Thanks man!"

Jay nodded. He knew Antonio was having a hard time. "I'm guessing Laura won't let you see the kids on Thanksgiving." He said.

"They'll not even be in Chicago." Antonio replied. "It's Thanksgiving! It's all about family! And my options are spending it with my baby sister and her fire house crew or my boss. How the hell did my life get like this?"

"I know it's an adjustment buddy but we're here for you." Jay stated. "We're your family too." Jay's cell phone began to ring.

"Do you need to get that?" Antonio asked.

"Nah, it's probably a realtor." Jay answered. "I can call them back."

"You moving? 'Cos it looks like I'll more than likely have a few spare rooms at my house now." Antonio offered.

"Thanks man but it's actually for Allie." Jay replied. "She wants to check out a few places while she's home for the holidays."

"So the big move is happening?" Antonio asked.

"Yeah, it looks like it." Jay replied. "She's set up an interview with St. Matthew's Prep as well."

"And how do you feel about the move?" Antonio asked.

"I haven't really thought about it." Jay replied. "I mean, I love having her here and I'm glad we re-connected."

"But is she cut out for being married to a cop?" Antonio asked.

"Jeez Antonio, we're barely dating!" Jay exclaimed.

"C'mon Halstead, are you telling me that you haven't even considered that you're a big pro on her list of pros and cons for moving?" Antonio shot back.

"I haven't made Allie any promises." Jay replied. "I mean sure, I could see us getting serious..."

"Well as a guy going through a divorce, can I give you some advice?" Antonio asked.

"I'm guessing you're gonna go ahead anyway." Jay retorted.

"As as couple, you might think you and Allie are strong." Antonio began. "But don't think of your relationship as 'Jay and Allie', think of it as 'Detective Halstead and his wife' and think about how many shots get fired at you and how many lies you tell on a daily basis. Now, do you think Allie will be able to happily live with that, especially if she's got a kid at home calling you daddy? Because when I popped the question to Laura, I didn't consider all that. I just considered how much I loved her and now, maybe if I had've asked myself those questions, I would have saved my family a lot of hurt."

"I guess." Jay muttered.

"All I'm saying is make sure you consider everything because I know what a big heart you have kid, and I know you don't want Allie ending up a casualty." Antonio said.

"Yeah I know." Jay muttered, deep in thought. "I know."

To be continued...