14. Chapter 14

Thanks for the response to the previous chapter. I really appreciate all your comments. Please continue to read and review! It inspires me to continue writing!

Chapter 13

The next day...

Erin sat opposite Kelly in a small cafe. She had a cup of coffee in front of her and a plate of pancakes. Kelly had a cup of coffee, scrambled eggs, bacon and rye toast in front of him.

"I missed you yesterday." Kelly said, looking over at her as he took a sip of his coffee. "I thought you were going to stop by the firehouse."

"Yeah um, things were a little hectic over at Voight's." Erin replied, her finger tracing the rim of her cup. "I kinda forgot how stressful it can be making Thanksgiving dinner."

"Well next year I think we should just all join together, have dinner at Molly's and let Mills take the stress of cooking?" Kelly suggested, a mile on his face.

Erin did not look at him; she focused on cutting up her pancakes. "Wow! That's forward planning." She muttered sarcastically.

"Erin, are you pissed at me?" Kelly asked.

"Sorry!" Erin exclaimed, realising how her behaviour sounded. "I guess I'm just suffering a turkey hangover." She took a gulp of her coffee.

"I am surprised you were able to meet me for breakfast." Kelly said, his eyes watching her. "I thought you and Halstead would have been out for a morning run."

"You know Jay doesn't run with me anymore." Erin replied without thinking. She looked up, meeting Kelly's eyes.

"And how would I know that?" Kelly asked.

Erin put down her knife and fork. This was her moment to be honest. "Because you told him to stop hanging out with me." Erin replied. "And Jay being the stand up guy that he is, decided to comply with it."

"I didn't tell him to do anything." Kelly tried to explain.

"Kelly, please don't!" Erin sighed. "Did you not think I would notice when my partner cut me completely out of his social life? I mean sure, I suppose I could have blamed Allie but Jay still has plenty of time for Nadia and Burgess."

"Erin..." Kelly began.

"So maybe I should answer your previous question honestly, yes Kelly...I'm pissed at you." Erin continued. "I thought I could go on, without confronting you but the truth is, the more I see you, the angrier I get. And I really like you Kelly, I don't want to be angry at you."

"I don't want that either." Kelly answered.

"So don't screw with my partnership!" Erin exclaimed in a low whisper. "Do you know when I raise my gun, I'm not raising it to protect myself, I'm raising it to protect Jay and he does the same for me? It's what partners do. We have to be able to read each other's movements, know each other's thoughts and being friends outside of work makes that so much easier."

"But there's a look in his eye Erin..." Kelly began to protest.

"If Jay and I had wanted to sleep with each other, we already would have." Erin stated. "But there is a professional line and we don't cross it. We won't cross it."

"So what now?" Kelly asked. "Are you breaking up with me?"

"No, I said I really like you." Erin replied. "Just don't try to come between me and anyone on the intelligence team again because they'll always come first, they're my family. I don't come between you and your firehouse 51 team because I know they're your family too."

"Fine...I'll leave it alone but only because I really like you too." Kelly replied.

"Good." Erin said, smiling. "Thank you!"

When Erin arrived in the office, the rest of the team had already gathered in front of the case board, listening to Voight's debrief. She met eyes with Voight and mouth the word "Sorry" as she took her seat. Voight nodded his head; accepting her apology.

"Okay, so what do we have linking the Montgomery's to the Professor?" Voight barked.

"At the moment there is nothing concrete." Dawson replied.

"All we know is the Montgomery's were big fans of 50 Shades of Grey." Ruzek said.

"And thanks to our trip to the frat house, we know Jones told his brothers that the Professor was very fond of public sex and swapping partners." Atwater added.

"So maybe they were both members of some sort of S & M club?" Jay suggested.

"Possibly Halstead." Voight agreed.

"And those clubs probably cost big money." Erin said

"Given their chosen careers though, I'm assuming it will not be listed in their bank statements and it's not our usual brothels and clubs." Olinski pointed out. "It would need to be pretty exclusive...a secret society even."

"Okay, right. Now we're thinking." Voight said. "I want feelers out...we need to uncover our link because if they are a member of a secret club, then I think the killer is too. Talk to your C.I.s, cross examine all the victims' finances – the money has to be coming from somewhere."

Voight disappeared into his office and the team returned to their desks, to get started on their orders.

"Suffering a turkey hangover Lindsey?" Dawson asked, referring to her lateness. "Halstead and I have already hit the gym."

"And I even had time to hit the Black Friday sales." Ruzek added. "Picked up a 60 inch TV, 60% off."

"Guess we know where we're heading next fight night!" Atwater stated.

"I got held up at breakfast with Kelly." Erin replied, looking over to view Halstead's reaction. He didn't flinch. "Plus I had to make a stack of Turkey sandwiches. They're in the fridge in the break room so please help yourself."

"More turkey?" Olinski groaned. "I'm going to have a turkey curry waiting for me at home. I really can't have turkey for lunch as well."

"Well I'm not eating the leftovers myself." Erin retorted as Nadia stopped in front of her desk. She looked up at her."Yes Nadia."

"Downstairs asked me to bring up these background checks." Nadia replied, handing over an envelope. "Platt apologises for them being late but with the holidays, there was a back log."

"Thanks Nadia." Erin replied, silently hoping Nadia had not seen the names.

"However, if you're gonna do background checks on my friends, you should save yourself the bother and just ask." Nadia stated.

"Shit!" Erin muttered, hanging her head in shame. Nadia had looked at the names. She probably had to look to keep her log of deliveries correct. She was aware that the whole team were looking at her disapproving of her actions. She glanced over at Jay, who was shaking his head. She looked at Nadia. "Nadia..."

"I mean, I could tell you that Robbie Dodd spent time in a detention centre for taking a baseball bat to his step dad after he witnessed his step dad breaking his mum's arm and jaw." Nadia stated. "And Carl Potts grew up in a variety of care homes and has a few misdemeanours for shop lifting. Oh, and A.J. Stevens was arrested a few times for possession of marijuana but he's been clean for the last 18 months."

Erin silently cursed herself, suddenly feeling very small.

"All you had to do was trust me and ask me." Nadia continued. "But you couldn't even do that." Nadia walked away, into the break room.

"Good going Lindsay!" Dawson stated sarcastically.

"Seriously Erin, give the kid a chance." Olinski added.

"I know, I know...I screwed up." Erin muttered. She looked over at Jay. She knew by the look in his eyes what he was going to say. "Don't say I told you so."

"I'm not saying anything." Jay replied, staring back at his partner.

Erin groaned and stood up. She began to make her way towards the break room when Nadia stepped back into the office. "Nadia..." She began to say but was met with Nadia's hand in front of her face. She stopped speaking.

"I really don't want to hear it right now." Nadia stated. "I am here to focus on my work. I may talk to you outside office hours...if you're lucky."

"Okay." Erin muttered, completely embarrassed and put in her place. She returned to her desk.

"Halstead, there is a visitor for you down stairs." Nadia added as she sat down at her desk.

"Um, thanks Nadia." Jay replied. Jay stood up, confused and puzzled as he wondered who it could be, sharing a glance with Erin as he left the office to make his way downstairs.

Jay exited the stairwell and headed towards the front desk. He was about to ask Sergeant Platt who was looking for him when she nodded towards the bench, beside the station entrance. He turned around to Allie sitting there, wearing jeans and a black duffle coat. Her strawberry blonde hair was cascading down her back and over her shoulders in light, bouncy curls.

"Allie?" He stated, in shock.

"Hey Jay!" She replied; a small smile on her lips as she stood up. "Sorry to drop by, I know you're working a case..."

"No...it's fine, better than fine." Jay replied; the shock subsiding. "I mean, despite what I said...I will always have time for you."

Allie nodded. She knew that Jay's harsh words a few days ago were his attempt to push her away. "I am flying back to Phoenix tonight and I didn't want to leave without having a chance to talk to you." She said.

"Good...we should talk." Jay said, stepping towards Allie. Then he remembered where he was, and Sergeant Platt's ever watchful presence at the front desk. He reached out and took hold of Allie's elbow and led her in the direction of an empty office, closing the door behind him. "Sorry, it's just the desk sergeant..."

"No, this is better." Allie replied, nervously playing with her hands, avoiding his gaze.

"I'm sorry about how everything went down on Wednesday." Jay said. "You are the last person I wanted to hurt Allie."

Allie nodded and then glanced up at him. "I know, and I get it." Allie replied. "I mean it really hurt and I was so pissed at you, I mean, really pissed. Although, I shouldn't have been surprised...I should have guessed it was coming."

"I'm only looking out for you Allie." Jay retorted. "I don't want you to live the life I have, you deserve more. The whole white picket fence; 2.4 children; a dog; a cat; the suburbs...it was your dream in high school and I really want you to have it. I just can't supply it."

"I only wanted that dream when it was with you." Allie simply stated. There was silence. "But, I guess it's time I had a new dream."

"Yeah, exactly." Jay said. "And don't let me stop Chicago being part of that dream. If you want to move back here, do it. I can keep my distance."

"No, don't!" Allie said, looking Jay in the eyes. Jay tilted his head in confusion; he tried to speak but couldn't find the words. "I mean sure, we don't need to hang out anymore." Allie continued. "But don't keep your distance from my parents...they love you Jay. You always were like their son, even when Ben was still here. Please still call to see them and have dinner with them ever so often, just like you did before we reconnected."

"Allie, they're gonna hate me." Jay said.

"Jay, they're the reason I'm here." Allie said, tears beginning to fill her eyes. "They reasoned with me and defended you."

"Allie..." Jay began to say.

"I um, I got to go." Allie said, quickly wiping away a tear that had escaped her tear filled eyes. She stepped towards Jay and gently kissed his left cheek while her left hand stroked his right cheek. "I hope you find the girl you're looking for Jay."

"Be happy Allie, please?" Jay pleaded, taking her left hand in his; he was looking her right in the eyes.

Allie nodded and pulled her hand away. She pulled the door open and walked out; leaving Jay to watch her go.

To be continued...