22. Chapter 22

Hey guys, thanks for the response to the latest chapter. I really appreciate it as I've had so little time to write but the time I've had has been inspired by your reviews so please let them continue.

I'm so excited by all the spoilers I'm hearing, especially 2x03. Not long to go now. Yay! Anyway, I hope you enjoy this chapter and please post your thoughts. Thanks!

Chapter 21

Jay entered the apartment; already stripping off his suit jacket and his tie. He noticed taco shells, sour cream and salsa sitting on the coffee table, in front of the TV; along with a six pack of beer. He turned towards the kitchen, finding Erin at the cooker, tossing something in a frying pan. She was dressed in baggy boyfriend jeans and a red tank top; her hair with pulled back in a ponytail. "You cooked?" He asked.

"Don't sound so surprised!" Erin retorted as Jay walked into the kitchen, stopping behind her to look over her shoulder at what she was cooking. "I told you I'd cook."

Jay looked down at the strips of smoky barbecued chicken, peppers and onions in the pan and then over at the food on the coffee table before returning his gaze to Erin. "And what exactly are you making?"

"Well it was meant to be chicken fajitas but then I realised we had no flour tortillas so now we're having a chicken fajita taco fusion." Erin replied.

Jay fought the urge to smile. "It smells good anyway." He stated, full of optimism.

"Hey! I'm trying here!" Erin exclaimed, playfully smacking Jay's chest. "Unfortunately, not all of us had a mum brilliant enough to teach us to cook. I only know how to make Thanksgiving dinner because that's the only meal Voight's wife let me help with."

"Hey, my mum didn't teach me how to cook...Allie's mum did." Jay replied, grabbing one of the raw pepper slices on the chopping board to eat.

"Wow!" Erin sighed, looking up at him. "She really was trying to make you the perfect house husband for Allie."

"Actually, she always knew I was going to enlist and she didn't want me starving on base." Jay retorted, eating another slice of pepper. "So have I time to change?" Jay asked.

"Yep." Erin replied. "I'll be serving up in 5 minutes...just in time for the Black Hawks game."

"Oh, I forgot about that." Jay said.

"Well isn't it lucky then that your wife might not cook but she lets you watch sports." Erin stated, recalling one of the perks Jay listed for being fake married to her.

"Yeah, I'll say it's a fair trade." Jay agreed. "I'll be back in a few minutes." Erin nodded as Jay ran off to get changed.

A while later...

"Oh my God!" Jay exclaimed, flopping back onto the couch; beer in hand. "That game was epic!" He was dressed in jeans and a blue t-shirt.

Erin was sitting on the other end of the couch, her feet curled under herself; sipping her beer; a smile on her face as she watched Jay. She could barely remember the last time they did something like this and it made her realise how much she missed it; missed him.

He looked over at Erin. "Thanks for tonight." He said. "The chicken fajita tacos were surprisingly tasty."

"I don't know why you had to add the 'surprisingly'." Erin teased. "I always knew what I was doing."

"Of course you did." Jay shot back before standing up and bending over to pick up the dirty plates; a slight grimace on his face.

Erin noticed the grimace straight away. "Jay, what's wrong?" She asked, leaning forward. "Are you hurt?"

"What? No, I'm fine." Jay replied. "My neck is a little tight. I just forgot about it and moved a little too fast."

"What happened?" Erin asked, standing up. She took the plates out his hand and sat them back on the coffee table before pushing him back down onto the sofa. She knelt on the couch beside him and pressed her hands into his shoulders. "Oh gosh! You are tight. How did you do that?"

"Erin, I'll be okay once I get moving again." Jay replied, trying to stand up but Erin pulled him back down. "The dishes need washed."

"I can load the dishwasher later." Erin replied; beginning to massage pressure into his neck and shoulders. "Seriously Jay, how long have you been like this?"

"Erin, it's nothing, I just pulled it but it is fine as long as I remember about it." Jay tried to explain.

Erin's eyes fell on the pillow and blanket sitting folded on the floor. "It's sleeping on the couch that is doing it, isn't it?" She guessed.

"Erin, it's fine...seriously." Jay replied as Erin sat down from kneeling.

She looked at him. "Jay, I know you are trying to be a gentleman and all but the bed is a fricking king-size and I never move from my side of the bed." Erin said. "I think it's time you start sleeping in the bed."

"Erin..." Jay began.

"No arguments Jay." Erin shot back. "I promise I won't try to feel you up."

Jay smiled, knowing she was teasing him. "If you're sure?" Jay asked. "I mean, what about Severide? I don't know if I'd be cool with my girlfriend sleeping in the same bed with a male friend..."

"So we're friends again?" Erin asked a smile on her lips.

"I'm not sure if we ever really stopped being friends." Jay replied, looking sheepish.

Erin nodded. "Well don't worry about Severide." She said. "He doesn't even exist here. Remember? We're Mr and Mrs Kingston; not Detective Lindsay and Detective Halstead. Got it"

"Got it." Jay replied.

Erin slowly opened her eyes, adjusting to the light in the room; she lifted her hands to rub her eyes and glanced over to her left; a small smile creeping across her lips as her eyes found Jay; lying on his side; facing her; peacefully sleeping. They had both stayed on their own side of the bed; in fact, apart from moving onto his side, it looked like Jay had barely moved.

Erin studied his face. "Not even a drop of drool." She silently thought before bringing her own hand to her mouth to check for evidence of drooling. She sighed with relief when she realised that she was clean. Her eyes widened as Jay began to slowly move; his body stirring awake. Erin quickly rolled over; not wanting Jay to know she was watching him sleep; she closed her eyes; pretending to sleep.

She felt the bed slowly shift; she assumed Jay was getting up. She pretended to stir awake and rolled over. She found Jay slipping out of the bed; dressed in boxers and a t-shirt. He paused as he noticed her movement. "Hey." Erin muttered quietly, rubbing her eyes. She did a quick glance of his body; there was no sign of a 'morning glory' and she didn't know if she should be relieved or offended.

"Hey, I didn't mean to wake you." Jay said, slowly sitting back down on the bed.

"You didn't." Erin replied, curling up under the duvet so only her face and shoulders were in view. "How's the neck?"

"Good, I think." Jay replied. "I'll go back to the couch tonight."

"Jay! There is no need." Erin protested. "This is your bedroom too."

Jay nodded and focused on the sheet in front of him. His fingers began to trace a pattern onto the sheet. There was silence; Erin's eyes watched him; neither of them knowing what to say next. Finally Jay spoke. "Maybe you should try to arrange to see Burgess and find out if Adam knows where the girls went last night?" Jay suggested, looking up at Erin.

Erin nodded. "I'll see if she is free for brunch today." Erin replied.

"Don't you have that luncheon today?" Jay asked.

"Yep but I learnt those society girls don't eat so I want to make sure I've ate before I go." Erin replied. "Last time we had lunch, I felt like a pig because I ate all my salad and they left most of theirs on the plates."

"You only had a salad for lunch?" Jay teased, faying surprise.

"Exactly!" Erin exclaimed.

Jay shook his head and laughed, before his eyes locked with Erin again. "I don't think I have time for a run this morning." Jay said. "I slept a little too well last night and overslept so I might just hit the gym after work." His eyes were questioning her; as if to ask if this was okay.

"I might join you." Erin replied, giving him his answer. "Especially if God forbid; I eat something at this luncheon."

"Yes because I definitely don't want to be married to a fat pig." Jay teased, standing up; already making his way into the bathroom.

"Hey!" Erin exclaimed, grabbing a pillow and tossing it towards him; he dodged it; laughing. "Oh yeah, you better run." Erin called after him as the bathroom door closed; before beginning to laugh herself.

Jay was in his office; gathering up the materials he needed to conduct a spot check on one of the clubs; just as Tony Wiltshire entered his office. "Hey Tony, did we have meeting?" He asked, quickly glancing at his calendar; there was nothing planned.

"Are you heading out?" Tony asked, closing the door behind him.

"It's nothing that can't be postponed." Jay replied, sitting himself on the edge of his desk. "I was just going to do a spot check on the Marina club."

"It's a pity you are not staying permanently as the head of my security team because you definitely are efficient at doing this." Tony said, sitting down. "Are you sure I can't tempt you to give up your day job?"Jay shot him a look; warning him not to make those type of comments in front of others.

"This is my job Tony. Remember, you hired me?" Jay replied.

Tony nodded; understanding that they had to maintain cover. "I just wanted to give you a heads up...Amy and Poppy will invite Erin and yourself to join us at my Oceania club tonight."

"I don't think Erin is much of a clubber." Jay replied.

"There may be someone there that you have an interest in meeting." Tony replied.

"Who?" Jay asked but he knew by Tony's reaction he didn't have the answers. "You don't actually know how you got into the Manor, do you?"

"I have it shortened down to a list of four." Tony replied. "One of which will be at the club tonight."

"And what should I expect?" Jay asked.

"I wish I could tell you." Tony replied. "All I know is myself and Amy got up to some things with someone in the bathroom of one of my club and the next thing I know, we had an invite to the Manor."

"Like an initiation?" Jay guessed.

Tony nodded and stood up. "Consider yourself informed." He stated and left the office.

Erin stepped into a little bistro; dressed in a white shift dress with green flowers that fell just above her knee, with matching green pumps and purse; her hair was hanging down, slightly curled. Her eyes scanned the room for Burgess; she found her; sitting in the corner. "Sarah!" Erin called, waving over to her as she approached; a genuine smile on her face.

Burgess stood up; revealing her jeans and white and blue flowered button down shirt; her hair hanging down naturally. "Erin! You look amazing!" Burgess stated, hugging her.

"I have a luncheon to attend after this." Erin quickly explained as they sat down. "The significant others of some of the guys that Jay works with have taken me under their wing and they are introducing me to society."

"Sounds fun." Burgess replied and smiled as Erin rolled her eyes.

"Not as fun as life back at the army base." Erin replied, maintaining her cover. "How is everything Sarah? I really miss everyone."

"Oh, we miss you too." Burgess replied. "We're just preparing for the war if we're needed but Ben is no longer being deployed."

Erin nodded, understanding that the concierge was no longer a person of interest. "Good." Erin replied; a little relieved; she was actually kinda fond of him; he was just so helpful. "So how did Adam's date with Amy turn out?"

"Oh, they went to the Manor." Burgess confirmed. "They stayed there until 2am."

"That's good to know." Erin stated, relieved to have her suspicions confirmed.

"So how is Jay?" Burgess asked, raising her eyebrows. "And more importantly, how is married life?"

"Sarah..." Erin laughed. "...get your mind out of whatever smut fest you've created." Erin waved the waiter over to take their order.

"I know what you're doing Erin but you can't avoid my questions." Burgess teased just as the waiter appeared. The girls placed their order and Burgess returned her focus onto Erin as soon as the waiter left. "So, how is it?"

"It's PG13...at most." Erin replied.

"But it's Jay!" Sarah exclaimed. "I mean, have you seen him?"

Erin laughed. "Sarah, do you have a crush on him?" She asked. "Because you seem to enjoy referring to how good looking he is. Should I inform Ruzek?"

"Please! He knows I window shop." Sarah replied. "His attitude is I can look but not touch. Anyway, Jay would never look at me in that way...he's got too much of a brother vibe going. But you and him, it's different; you two...it's like he always been your..."

"House husband?" Erin finished for her.

"Exactly! I think the reason Jay gives off the brother vibe to every other girl in the station is because he's yours." Burgess replied. She paused, knowing the comment had to sink in with Erin, before speaking again. "So, nothing has seriously happened between you?"

"Of course it hasn't...you of all people should know what Voight would do." Erin replied. "Plus there is Kelly to consider..."

"Erin!" Burgess exclaimed. "You're not on the base at the moment and he's you're husband. It's all part of the role..."

"Sarah..." Erin sighed, not knowing what to say. "Things are complicated..."

"Only if you make them." Burgess retorted.

Before Erin could respond, her cell phone began to ring. She glanced at the caller I.D.; it was Jay. She flashed her phone at Burgess to show her. "Speak of the devil." She stated; happy for the interruption. "Hey Jay, I'm here with Sarah at the moment."

"Hey Jay!" Burgess called.

"Tell Kim I said hi." Jay stated.

"He says hey." Erin told Burgess before returning her attention to the phone. "So what's up?"

"I just had Tony in with me." Jay replied. "He said the girls are gonna invite you to one of his clubs tonight so go along with it."

"Okay." Erin replied. "Is there a reason for it?"

"Tony thinks the Manor may be looking for new members and this may be our shot." Jay replied. "The details are a little foggy...Tony doesn't seem to have a clear idea."

"And you believe him?" Erin pressed.

"I do...he really doesn't seem to know how he got into the Manor...accept there was some sort of initiation." Jay replied.

"What sort of..." Erin began to say.

"It's better if we discuss it in person." Jay cut her off.

"Okay..." Erin replied, trailing off.

"I think we might have to get a little open minded Erin." Jay said. "I know we have our boundaries but..."

"I know Jay." Erin said, cutting him off.

"Look, we can talk back at the apartment." Jay replied. "I'll pick up dinner."

"Okay, thanks." Erin stated, before hanging up.

"Is everything okay?" Burgess asked; her eyes filled with concern.

"You can let the base know that we might just make contact tonight." Erin replied, her mind already whirling at the possibilities of what might be required from them; and she didn't know if she was ready for it.

To be continued...