13. Chapter 13

Hey guys, so I'm guessing a lot of you didn't really like the last chapter. I'm sorry. That chapter and the next few chapters I was going through some bad writers block but hopefully, this chapter will be a bit an improvement but not perfect. Please read and review, I really do appreciate any comments, good or bad. Thank you!

Chapter 12

The intelligence team sat around the case board, looking up at the evidence they had already gathered over the weeks from the Montgomery killings. Everyone had their notepads with them.

"Okay, so what do we know about our second set of victims?" Voight barked.

"The deceased are Professor Lara Finley and her toyboy student lover Jacob Jones." Ruzek replied.

"Lara was a professor at the University of Chicago and on the Leadership of Women Council." Erin said. "She was pretty popular on campus, especially with the male students hence her toyboy lover Jacob Jones, a former student of hers from last year."

"And have we a link to the Montgomery's?" Voight asked.

"Not yet." Jay replied. "All we really know about the Montgomery's is they had an adventurous sex life. I was thinking maybe we should drop by Jacob's fraternity brothers because if there is anyone he's gonna tell about his sex life with the professor it's them."

"Good idea Halstead...take Ruzek with you." Voight ordered.

Jay and Ruzek stood up, gathering their stuff just as Nadia walked into the office.

"Ah, before you go anywhere Halstead, Allie is waiting down stairs for you." Nadia stated.

"Oh shit!" Jay muttered, suddenly remembering that he'd actually booked today off as a personal day to go look at apartments with Allie.

"Problem Halstead?" Voight barked.

"No, of course not!" Jay lied.

"Excuse me Halstead!" Nadia barked. "I worked really really hard to secure those viewings for you. I practically had to flash one of the realtors to get you in."

"You did what?" Erin snapped, jumping out of her seat to spin around to face Nadia. Nadia could see the anger in her eyes.

"Kidding, obviously!" Nadia lied.

"Oh yeah, you had booked off today..." Voight remembered.

"Yeah but the case is the priority..." Jay began to say.

"No, go." Voight ordered. "Human Resources get really pissy with me when you guys don't use your personal days. Atwater can take your place."

"Thanks boss." Jay muttered. He stopped at Ruzek as he walked out. "Enjoy the frat house."

"Oh I will!" Ruzek replied, happily.

"And as you can see, this apartment has great space and lighting." The female realtor said leading Jay and Allie through an apartment. It had wooden floors throughout, except the tiled kitchen and bathroom floors. The windows in the sitting room and bedrooms were ceiling to floor. The walls were a mixture of exposed red brickwork and painted cream.

"Wow! This place is wow!" Allie gasped. She spun around to face Jay. "Don't you think Jay?"

"Huh?" He asked; his mind still on the case. "Yeah, it's great!" Allie looked at him, her eyes questioning him.

The realtor could sense the tension between them. "You know, I'm just gonna step out and let you discuss this place." She said.

"Thank you!" Allie called after her before spinning around to face Jay. "What the hell Jay? You've been spaced out the last few viewings. Do you not want to be here?"

"Allie, it's you that needs an apartment." Jay retorted. "Does it really matter what I think?"

"Well I would like your opinion too." Allie replied.

"Why?" Jay asked, waving his arms. "I'm not gonna be living here."

"Well you could be." Allie replied.

"What?" Jay exclaimed. Suddenly all of Dawson's, Ruzek's and Nadia's comments about Allie expecting some sort of commitment flooded into his mind.

"C'mon Jay, please try and tell me you haven't thought about where this is going?" Allie answered. "I mean, your place is great but it's too small for the both of us and if I was to move back, I know us, it'd only be a few months before we move in together so ..."

"Allie, you know that I think it would be great if you moved home but us...I'm not promising anything." Jay stated. "I thought you knew that. I mean, this is fun but..."

"Seriously?" Allie hissed; pushing Jay against his chest, causing him to stumble back. "You are seriously only saying this now?"

"Allie, I'm a cop..." He began.

"I bloody well know that Jay!" Allie snapped. "What the hell does that have to do with us?"

"Truthfully?" Jay asked.

"I asked the question, didn't I?" Allie retorted.

"You know why my head isn't here today?" Jay shot back. "It's because I am currently on a case, a case I'd far rather be working than apartment hunting!"

"What the hell does that mean?" Allie asked, confused.

"I'm a cop, 24/7. I'm never off duty." Jay replied. "Sure, I might be sitting in a bar...in bed with you...on vacation; but my mind is always going to be with the intelligence team."

"Jay, I get that!" Allie said. "I know you see things and do things..."

"Allie, you have no idea!" Jay stated, interrupting her. "To you, I'm still that jock you met in high school but that guy...that guy doesn't exist anymore."

"What are you talking about?" Allie laughed. "I'm looking right at him."

"Allie, it's all a lie. I'm pretending to be who you want me to be" Jay said. "That's my job; I'm a master at lying."

"The only lying you're doing is the lying you're doing right now." Allie stated. "Jay, this isn't you."

"Allie, I'm not a good guy." Jay stated. "When I go undercover, I hurt people...I've done so many things..."

"But it's your job Jay, I understand that." Allie tried to rationalise.

"I used Antonio's sister Gabi in a case once, made her fall for me to gain her trust and then used her to get results against a mobster; I even put her life at risk." Jay stated.

"But I'm sure you were in control..." Allie began.

"And one time, when working for VICE, I went undercover for over six months, as a pimp...sending 14 and 15 year old girls out on the streets to sell themselves." Jay continued.

"But you did it to save them in the long run." Allie explained.

"Allie..." Jay began.

"I know you're trying to scare me Jay." Allie interrupted, stepping towards him. "It won't work. I know you love me really." She placed her hand on his cheek.

"It's because of my feelings for you that you need to realise that we...whatever this is, can go no further." Jay replied. Allie dropped her hand; her eyes filling with tears.

"It's the army all over again!" She muttered; a tear rolling down her cheek. "You think you're setting me free but..."

"Allie, you're not meant to be a cop's wife." Jay stated, resisting the urge to wipe away her tears.

"That should be my choice Jay!" Allie snapped, wiping away her tears.

"I know it doesn't seem like it now but I am saving you a lot of heartache in the long run." Jay replied.

"Screw you Jay!" She spat, before storming out of the apartment.

Jay took a deep breath and stared at the ground, getting his own feelings under control.

"I'm guessing you're no longer interested?" The realtor asked.

Jay looked up and shook his head.

"Yeah, I thought so." The realtor stated.

The next day...

Erin was busy working in the kitchen of Voight's home as Nadia and Burgess set the table. Voight, Dawson and Ruzek were sitting in the sitting room, drinking beers and watching the parade; waiting for the football to start. Olinski and Halstead were the only members of the intelligence team missing. Olinski was with his family and Halstead was heading to the Corson's for dinner.

From the corner of her eye, she could see Voight reaching for his cell phone. "Don't even think about it!" She called.

"I just want to check in." Voight replied.

"No way!" Erin retorted, marching into the sitting room. "It is Thanksgiving! Homicide is technically still in charge of the case so it can wait."

She could see the look on Dawson and Ruzek's face, amazed at how she spoke to Voight, their boss, and was getting away with it. But Erin knew this just wasn't Voight's home, it used to be her home as well, and therefore, Erin and Voight often slipped into their unofficial father/daughter relationship. She held out her hand. "C'mon...phone please!" She ordered.

Voight muttered something under his breath but reluctantly handed over the phone.

Erin headed back into the kitchen when the doorbell rang. She paused; waiting to see if anyone would respond to it. Nobody moved but Voight, Dawson and Ruzek shouted in unison "Door."

"This better be Halstead dropping off the pie or I will be seriously pissed." She muttered under her breath as she headed towards the door. She pulled open the door to find Jay standing there; a pecan pie held up in front of his face. "Thank God the pie is here!" She exclaimed, grabbing it out of his hands.

She looked at Jay and she could tell something was off. His eyes weren't filled with their usual twinkle. "Hey, you got time for a beer before..." She began to say.

"Can I come to dinner?" He asked outright, not even waiting for her to finish her sentence.

She knew right there and then; things had gone badly between him and Allie. Erin nodded her head solemnly, stepping back to let him through the door. She didn't comment on it, she just led him into the sitting room. "Look who's here and brought pie?" Erin called, announcing his arrival.

Dawson, Voight and Ruzek spun around. They knew by the look on Erin and Jay's faces not to ask questions. "Hey man, grab a beer!" Antonio said, offering Jay a beer.

"Is that pecan?" Voight asked, pointing to the pie.

"Yes sir." Jay replied, with a small smile as Voight's eyes lit up.

"Ruzek, let the man sit down!" Voight ordered. "He brought us pecan pie." Ruzek slid over on the couch.

"Glad you could make it man!" Ruzek said, fist pumping Jay as he sat down.

"Thanks man." Jay replied as he felt Erin give his shoulder a reassuring squeeze, before she headed into the kitchen. He heard her call to Burgess and Nadia to set another place and he knew he was where he was meant to be.

To be continued...