12. Chapter 12

Hey guys, thank you to everyone who is sticking with this story. I really appreciate it. There will be few rocky moments before Linstead will happen but my writers block had a productive day yesterday so fingers crossed the quality will improve ;)

Just an advance warning, the next few chapters will involve Allie but she's a means to an end so please don't hate me! LOL! As always, if you read it, please review it. I can take the honest feedback! Thanks!

Chapter 11

Jay was sitting in Allie's parents' house, at the dinner table; a big bowl of spaghetti and meatballs in the middle of the table. Allie's father was sitting directly opposite him and Allie was sitting to his left. Allie's mother entered the dining room, carrying a plate of garlic bread and a bowl of salad. "There, I think that is everything." She said as she placed them in the middle of the table. She took her seat on Jay's right.

"This looks amazing mum." Allie said, helping herself to salad.

"It smells delicious." Jay added. "I don't know how long it's been since I had a home cooked meal."

"I can tell." Mrs Corson observed, serving a large portion of spaghetti on Jay's plate. "You're too thin."

"Mum!" Allie squealed in embarrassment as Jay laughed, before taking a gulp of the wine in front of him.

"Leave the poor kid alone." Allie's father added. "He has to stay lean and fit to chase down bad guys."

"Which is why he needs more nutrition than what he gets out of a diet of pizzas, Chinese, beer and coffee." Mrs Corson said. Jay slightly choked on his drink. "Yes Jay, I can tell your daily diet."

"I will definitely try to cook more." Jay said.

"I wish you would." Mrs Corson said. "I didn't spend all that time in the kitchen with you during high school for you to live on take out."

Jay smiled, remembering how many dishes he had learnt to make just watching Allie's mother pulling together their family dinners, which he normally attended. "Well maybe I can start again by helping you with the Thanksgiving dinner?"

"Are you crazy?" Mr Corson scoffed while Allie laughed.

Jay ignored them. "You did teach me how to make a mean pecan pie." Jay reminded Mrs Corson.

"Thank you Jay but no thanks." Mrs Corson replied. "If you learn the secrets of my Thanksgiving dinner then you'll be able to make your own. I want you to need to come here every year, especially with my grandkids."

"Oh god!" Allie squealed, burying her head in her hands while Jay laughed, his face becoming red and flushed.

"Look what you did...you embarrassed them." Mr Corson said.

"I'm sorry but let's face it..." Mrs Corson said. "...the both you haven't found anyone in the 10 years you've been apart. Am I the only one that thinks you two reconnecting again is a sign?"

"Mum..." Allie groaned, still embarrassed. She couldn't even look over at Jay. She felt Jay reach over and take her hand in his. He could always handle her mother better than her. She glanced over at him as his thumb traced over her hand. He was looking right at her, before focusing on her mother.

"While I think it may be a little early to be planning having the grandkids over for Thanksgiving..." Jay began. "...I think you can safely say your grandkids will be coming to your home for Thanksgiving, especially given their mother's culinary skills."

"Hey!" Allie scoffed, laughing.

"Why do you think I taught you how to cook?" Mrs Corson replied.

"I'm sitting right here you know?" Allie exclaimed, jokingly. She glanced over at Jay and their eyes met. He gently kissed her hand before letting it go. He began talking to her father about sports. Allie smiled inwardly; another tricky situation diffused by Jay Halstead's charm offensive; it definitely had to be his superpower!

Jay and Allie sat on the couch in her parents' front room; in front of the TV, which was showing some sort of reality show. Allie was curled into Jay, her head resting on the crook of his shoulder; her feet curled up under her. Jay had his arm wrapped around her; his head slightly resting against hers.

Allie's fingers traced up and down Jay's chest as her eyes stayed focused on the TV. "I'm so sorry about my mother." She said. "She can be so embarrassing!"

"It's her job." Jay replied. "You know I love your folks, I can handle her. She just wants you to be happy."

"And I am happy...here; with you." Allie replied. There was silence.

Jay gently kissed the top of her head as he tried to push Antonio's words of advice out of his head. He knew that Antonio was going through a hard time but he and Allie were different; they had too much history; she knew him too well; she wouldn't make him choose between his job and their relationship or whatever this was becoming.

His cell phone began to ring. Allie automatically shifted out of his hold to allow him to answer it, which he did. "Halstead here. The Riverwalk? Yeah, can you pick me up? I'm at Allie's folks?" He said, talking down his phone.

"Is everything okay?" Allie asked but Jay briefly ignored her and provided Allie's address over the phone.

He closed his phone and stood up; his eyes falling on Allie; who was staring up at him, her eyes questioning him. "I have to go to a call out." He answered. "Erin is coming to pick me up."

Allie nodded, knowingly as Allie's parents walked into the sitting room, after washing up.

"You heading out Jay?" Mr Corson asked.

"You can't leave without a plate..." Mrs Corson began to say, already heading to the kitchen to make up a plate of leftovers.

"Please don't...I have to head to a call out." Jay called after her.

"At this time?" Mr Corson exclaimed.

"Daddy, crime doesn't work nine to five." Allie exclaimed.

"But..." Mr Corson began to argue.

"Stay safe." Allie said, cutting off her father.

Jay smiled and reached out to stroke her cheek. He placed a gentle kiss on her lips. "Thanks for understanding." He said. He headed towards the door. He turned to Mr Corson. "And thanks for dinner." He stepped out the door, just as Mrs Corson came out with a plate.

"He didn't get his plate..." She said, trailing off; highly disappointed.

Jay stepped into Erin's car. "Thanks for collecting me." He said.

"No problem. It's not like I'd let you drive." Erin retorted.

Jay smiled and looked at Erin; her jeans were covered in flour. "What the hell were you at?" He asked, laughing.

"I've been trying to make pecan pie." Erin replied. "Because apparently, since you brought pecan pie last year, my pumpkin pie is not enough for Voight now."

Jay smiled as he remembered the pie he brought last year to Voight's home. He'd only been in the department a few weeks when Erin had invited him to join them. He'd been so nervous he didn't know what to bring so he brought the only Thanksgiving dish he knew how to make.

"You know, I can make the pie and drop it off on my way to Allie's?" Jay offered.

"Are you sure you'll have time?" Erin retorted. "I mean, between family dinners and house hunting with Allie..."

"I'll always have time for my intelligence family." Jay stated, interrupting Erin and her rant.

"Your right, I'm sorry." She sighed, realising how her tone came across. "Thank you for your offer, I'd really appreciate it."

"You okay?" Jay asked, trying to get to the cause of her rant.

"I'm fine." Erin snapped.

"Erin..." Jay said softly. "Talk to me..."

"No, you'll get mad at me." Erin replied.

"Erin, what did you do?" He asked. She focused on the road, looking sheepish. "Oh, please don't tell me you had Nadia followed?" Erin said nothing. Her silence answering the question. "Erin!"

"I'm sorry but she's never available in the evenings." Erin retorted. "I needed a little piece of mind just to make sure."

"And what did you find out?" Jay asked.

"She was having coffee with three guys, around the corner from the community college." Erin replied. "I'm running a background check on them now."

"Erin, please!" Jay pleaded. "You have to stop this and trust her." He could probably guess those three guys were her classmates.

"I do trust her." Erin replied. "I just don't trust the people she is choosing to hang out with."

"Erin..." Jay began to say just as the car came to a stop. He noticed Voight and Dawson walking towards them. He also noticed a few homicide detectives further back. He stepped out of the car, just as Erin stepped out.

"What we got?" Erin asked.

"Two bodies; both naked and tied up; with bruising to their necks and wounds to their torsos." Dawson replied.

"The same M.O. as the Montgomery's." Jay observed.

"Shit!" Erin muttered, knowing what that meant.

"I don't care who technically has jurisdiction!" Voight barked. "This case is now our number one priority! Got it?" Antonio, Jay and Erin all nodded in agreement.

To be continued...