15. Chapter 15

Hey guys, thanks to everyone who has read and reviewed this fic so far. I really appreciate it. Allie is gone for good (I think ;)) so hopefully there will be more Linstead (with some angst thrown in ;))

I was re-watching an old episode of Chicago Fire (to relive my first introduction to Jay) and it kinda made me realise they never make reference to him and Gabi which is kinda annoying because I like Gabi (not as much as Erin though - don't panic ;)) so I used it as inspiration. I hope you enjoy this chapter. It's starting the build up to the main arc of the story.

As always, please read and review! I love reading them!

Chapter 14

Later that day...

Jay and Nadia walked towards Molly's. "I know what you're doing Jay." Nadia said as they entered Molly's. "You're trying to clean up Erin's mess. It's your saviour complex. Everyone in the intelligence team seems to have one."

"I don't know what you're talking about." Jay replied, slipping into a stool at the bar. "I just need a drink before we grab dinner. It's been that kinda day."

"Hey Jay!" Gabi Dawson said, walking towards him from behind the bar. She looked over at Nadia, who was slipping into the stool beside Jay. "I'm guessing you must be Nadia. I'm Gabi – Antonio's kid sister."

"Oh, the paramedic turned fire fighter." Nadia stated, shaking Gabi's hand. "The saviour complex must be in the DNA."

Gabi looked at Jay, confused. Jay shook his head. "She thinks we all are doing our jobs because we have saviour complexes." Jay explained.

"Well it sure isn't for the money!" Gabi joked as she mixed a drink. She sat a Long Island Ice Tea in front of Jay. Jay shook his head and quietly laughed, while Nadia looked on confused.

"What is this?" He asked, smiling. He instantly remembered the first time he 'met' Gabi. "Spring break at Jersey Shore?"

"I know, I know...but I heard about you and Allie from Antonio and well, I wanted to cheer you up." Gabi replied.

"By reminding that not only have I lost Allie but I lost out on you too?" Jay teased.

"I was never technically yours to begin with Detective Halstead." Gabi shot back. "But that Jay guy, the construction worker..."

Jay nodded and smiled. "Well you definitely made me smile." He said.

"Good." Gabi said, before turning her attention to Nadia. "Saying you're underage, I'm guessing I can get you a virgin one of those?" She was referring to the Long Island Ice Tea.

"Um sure." Nadia replied. Gabi poured the drink and sat it in front of Nadia. She walked away to serve another customer. Nadia took a sip. "Wait, this is just coke."

"Exactly." Jay replied, with a half smile.

"So what was that just about?" Nadia asked, playing with the straw from her drink.

"What was what about?" Jay retorted, taking a gulp of his cocktail.

"That little flirt fest with Antonio's sister." Nadia replied. "You're playing with fire. First, there's a sparkler on her ring finger, and second...it's Antonio's little sister." She watched Jay, trying to read his expressed. "Oh my God! You banged her!"

"Ssshh!" Jay hissed. "We didn't 'bang' but we did date...kinda." Jay used his hands to invert coma the word 'bang'.

"Oh right." Nadia stated, nodding her head. She was able to read from his eyes that Jay had slept with Gabi but Antonio was unaware of that development in the relationship.

"I'm ashamed to say it but Gabi was an undercover target...it's actually how I crossed paths with Antonio and I got into Intelligence." Jay said.

"She doesn't seem too hurt by your lies." Nadia replied.

"Only because she found out I was undercover early on." Jay replied. "Once the case ended, she didn't want to date a cop. She didn't want to share our lifestyle for lies."

"That is kinda ironic when you think of your break up with Allie." Nadia observed.

"Yeah, I guess." Jay muttered. There was silence. "So, what should we do for dinner?"

"Wait!" Nadia exclaimed. "Are you seriously not even going to attempt to talk me into forgiving Erin?"

"And how would I do that?" He asked; before taking another gulp of his drink.

"Oh I don't know..." Nadia replied. "...maybe by telling me how Erin has trust issues and how she doesn't even really trust you? Maybe that the only person she trusts apart from herself is Voight and the fact she did those background checks on my friends is actually her way of showing me that she cares? You may even try to say that she's actually pretty similar to me? That we have a lot in common and she only does these things out of love?"

"They would be really good arguments to put forward." Jay agreed; a coy smile on his lips.

"Dammit!" Nadia exclaimed. "That was your plan all along, wasn't it? You made me figure it out myself! Now I have to go and forgive her."

"That is completely up to you." Jay replied, holding his hands up; his trademark grin on his lips.

"I'm going to have to call over and see her, aren't I?" Nadia said.

"I do know that whatever she does when it comes to you, she does because she cares." Jay confirmed. "And I know she is feeling like crap about what she did." Nadia nodded her solemnly. "I also know she only did those background checks because she has no idea what you're doing in the evenings and when you're completely in the dark, it's quite easy to let your mind think the worst...no matter how much you trust the person."

"You think I should tell her about my G.E.D?" Nadia asked.

"I get that you want to achieve it and then surprise her but her mind is working overtime trying to think about what you're doing." Jay replied. "I can only cover for you so much and now that Allie is out of the picture, it won't be long until she accuses me of dating you again and I don't want to go back to those days."

"You're right, I'll tell her." Nadia decided. "Is it okay if we blow off dinner?"

"Sure." Jay replied. "I have one of the leftover turkey sandwiches in my car anyway."

"Thanks." Nadia said as she stood up. "Oh, but saying you said dinner was on you, do you think you could sponsor me a pizza to take to Erin's?"

"Here!" Jay muttered, shoving $20 bucks into her hand.

"Thanks Jay!" Nadia stated, hugging him. "You're the best!" She left Molly's.

"Don't I know it!" He muttered under his breath as he watched her leave.

The next morning...

Jay was lying on back on a bench press, lifting weights, wearing his usual gym gear. He had just finished a set and was about to replace the bar when he saw Erin standing over him, also in her gym gear. She wrapped her arms around the bar and spotted him, helping to replace the bar.

Jay grabbed his towel and sat up. "Thanks." He panted, wiping away his sweat. He reached for a bottle of water sitting on the ground and began to drink it.

"I think it's me who should be saying thanks." Erin replied, slipping herself onto the bench press, a leg at each side. She was directly facing Jay; their knees barely grazing. "Nadia stopped by my place last night."

"Did she?" Jay asked, pretending he knew nothing.

"Yeah." Erin replied with a knowing smiling. "We had a great, honest conversation about a lot of stuff."

"Well that's good." Jay said.

"Yeah, I shared some information about my life pre-Voight and she shared that she's been so unreachable lately because she is doing her GED and those guys I background checked were her classmates." Erin stated.

"Her G.E.D? Wow, that's cool!" Jay said.

"Jay!" Erin exclaimed, playfully hitting his arm. "I know you know...and I know you helped organise it."

"She wanted it to be a surprise." Jay tried to explain.

"No I know, now." Erin said. "And I really appreciate how much you've done for her."

"She's a good kid." Jay retorted.

"Yeah but she's lucky to have you covering her back." Erin said. "But not as lucky as me...and I don't think I tell you enough. You're the best; I wouldn't want anyone else but you as my partner."

"Thanks." Jay responded. "I think I got lucky in the partner department as well."

"Oh you bet you did." Erin teased, relieving the tension. "So, as a thank you...why don't you come over to my place tonight and we could have a few beers and watch a few movies?"

"I don't think that is a good idea." Jay replied, slipping off the bench press. He lifted his gym bag.

"If you're worried about Kelly then don't...its cool." Erin began to say, confused by the brush off. She got up and followed Jay as he began to walk off. "I told him that I was going to hang out with you and he can't stop me. We're our own partnership thing."

Jay stopped walking and spun around, causing Erin to nearly crash into him. "This has nothing to do with your fireman boyfriend." He replied.

"So what is it?" She asked. She could tell that he was struggling to tell her what he wanted to say. "I'm not going to hit on you again if that's what you're worried about." She was joking but then she noticed a look in his eyes. "Oh my God! You thought I would go there again?"

"Erin...it's not..." He began but trailed off. "Look, lately, with us keeping our distance outside work, things have been..."

"Strained? Mind numbing? Tedious?" Erin began to list.

"A lot less complicated." Jay stated. He could see the shock and disappointment on her face.

"Oh!" She sighed, looking at the gym floor.

"I just think a little space has been good for us." Jay said.

"You really think that?" Erin asked, looking up at him. "Because I think things between us have sucked. I mean, we haven't had an inside joke to drive Ruzek crazy in ages. I've had no one complaining that my fridge doesn't keep beer cold enough. I haven't had a good run because there is no competition and dammit, you don't even complain anymore when I never let you drive!"

"Erin, we agreed; this is a professional partnership. Too many lines were getting blurred..." Jay retorted.

"I can't believe you want this!" Erin exclaimed.

"Oh I know what I want Erin...but this is what I've got!" Jay shot back.

She was about to argue back but Jay walked off, leaving Erin on her own; watching him go.

To be continued...