24. Chapter 24

Hey guys! I'm going to be totally honest and admit I did no writing this week so I may not have a mid-week update. I've been super busy at work; dog sitting and well, this weekend was the Ryder Cup. Yay! Team Europe! McGinley is a legend! LOL...okay, I got that out of my system.

I also finally got to see the first episode of season 2 and I'm sorry but I have to rant...why is Erin making Jay out to be a dog? So peeved at the direction the writers seem to be heading; making Jay look like a player. Even (spoiler coming up) the look between him and the bartender in the sneak peak hinting at a past between them or at least a flirtation. Also why was Silva (the new paramedic in Chicago Fire) so briefly introduced? Is she a possible new love interest? Not that I'm complaining...I'm realistic and know that Linstead will more than likely not happen this season, if ever (I was a Tony/Ziva from NCIS fan...it never really happened for them) so I'm all for Jay getting a love interest. If anything, it could create some jealousy but I far rather have Allie back on the scene because in my head, Jay is one of the good, loyal guys, not a player like Severide was season 1 of Chicago Fire (although the writers seem to forget that!)

Okay! Rant over! LOL! This is a short chapter but the next will be longer. Thanks to everyone who is reading and reviewing. Please continue! I love reading your comments. Some things have been suggested (they may/may not happen) so all will be revealed in the coming chapters...especially the request for a kiss. Oh, and this chapter is rated M.

Chapter 23

Jay and Erin rode the elevator up to the apartment in silence; just as the car ride home had also been silent. The elevator stopped at their floor; they got out and Jay pulled out his key; opened the door and stepped back to allow Erin to enter first.

He watched her as slipped off her shoes and sat her purse on the coffee table; before taking off her earrings and sitting them beside her purse. "Should we discuss how tonight went?" Jay asked.

Erin spun around to face him. "I just want a shower." She replied.

Jay nodded. "So do you need me to prepare you some munchies?"

Erin gave a small smile; Jay knew her too well; a heavy night of drinking was always followed by eating any late night snack she could get her hands on. "Not tonight." She replied. "I just want a shower and my bed."

He nodded again. She could tell there was something he wanted to say but couldn't find the words. As she walked towards the bathroom she paused briefly in front of him and give his chest a gentle tap; it was her way of letting him know she okay.

She knew that his eyes followed her as she went into the bathroom. She knew he still wanted to talk; her only hope was that he would be sleeping when she got out of the bathroom.

When Erin finally exited the bathroom; freshly showered, dressed in her pyjamas and her hair dried; she found Jay lying in the bed; in his t-shirt and boxers; still wide awake.

She sighed and headed towards her side of the bed; she began removing the excess pillows; tossing them onto the chair nearby before climbing into the bed. She could feel Jay roll onto his side so he was now facing her side of the bed; but he was clearly keeping to his side.

"Erin..." He began to say.

"Jay, not now." She stated, cutting him off. She rolled over to face him but made sure to stay on her own side of the bed. "I know your mind is spinning...wondering what happened because I know mine is...but right now, I just need sleep."

He reached over and gently placed his exposed hand on Erin's exposed hand and gave it a squeeze. "Are you okay?" He asked.

She nodded yes. "Are you?" She asked.

He nodded in return.

"I promise, first thing tomorrow morning we will discuss everything." Erin said, her eyes never leaving Jay's.

"I'll hold you to that...especially as I don't have to be in work until lunchtime." Jay replied. He began to lift his hand away when he felt Erin entwine her fingers in his. She looked at him; her eyes almost pleading with him. He kept his hand where it was. "Goodnight Erin."

"Good night Jay." Erin replied, before closing her eyes; her body still facing his; their fingers still entwined.

Jay began to stir from his sleep; the cramping pain in his hand could no longer be ignored. He slowly opened his eyes; finding his face was arched only a few centimetres from Erin's face; her head arched towards him but their bodies still as far away as possible. He glanced at his hand; still entwined with Erin's hand; he tried to wiggle his fingers; to ease the cramp.

Erin began to stir from her sleep; she slowly opened her eyes before her head recoiled back in shock of how close she was to his face. "Sorry." She muttered; her cheeks gathering a rosy glow from blushing.

"I didn't mean to waken you...it's just my hand is cramping..." Jay began to explain, a small smile on his lips.

Erin looked down at her hand, still entwined with Jay's hand. Her face grew redder and she quickly released his hand. "Oh...sorry." She muttered, desperately wishing the bed would swallow her whole as she rolled onto her back to stare at the ceiling.

"Are you ready to talk about last night?" Jay asked; his eyes on Erin as he wiggled his fingers, trying to get rid of the cramp.

"Wow! You were straight in there!" Erin sighed, looking over at him. "You couldn't even wait until I got some coffee."

"You promised we'd talk about last night first thing this morning and that is now." Jay replied.

Erin sighed and rolled back onto her side to face Jay. "There's not much to tell." She replied. "I went and danced with Amy, she introduced me to her friend Joel, he left then Amy and I went to the ladies room and made out."

"Wait!" Jay exclaimed, sitting up in the bed. "You and Amy made out and I missed it?"

"Jay!" Erin laughed at his expression.

"I can't believe that you got to make out with another girl while I had to fight Poppy off me before she sucked me dry in the middle of the club." Jay stated.

"Wait!" Erin exclaimed, jumping up. "She hit on you? She tried to give you a blow job? She's meant to be my friend...what a bitch!"

"Erin..." Jay tried to calm her down.

"I can't believe she did that!" Erin continued to rant. "Friends do not hit on another friend's husband."

"Erin, it's not like we're actually married." Jay reasoned.

"She doesn't know that!" Erin hissed. "It so goes against the girl code!"

"Erin, I'm sure it was just the initiation." Jay replied. "It could have been a lot worse...I mean, you got to make out with a hot girl and I nearly had every guy's dream."

"I didn't just make out with Amy." Erin said; her eyes focusing on her hands sitting on her lap.

"What did you do then?" Jay asked.

She could feel his eyes on her and hear the concern in his voice. She glanced at him before running her hands through her hair. She focused on her hands again. "Joel decided to join us in the bathroom..." Erin began to say.

"Please don't tell me you had a threesome." Jay pleaded, trying to sustain his anger.

"Oh, I can't lose it when my supposed friend tries to give you oral sex but..." Erin retorted.

"Erin?" Jay asked.

"No...the offer was there but nothing was forced on me." Erin replied. "They just wanted me to watch."

"Shit! Are you okay?" Jay asked; his hand reaching out to stroke her cheek.

She looked at him; his hand still lingering on her cheek. "Jay, trust me...I've done a whole lot worse during my time with Charlie." She replied.

Jay nodded his head and slowly removed his hand. He knew he would probably never know the full extent of Erin's past but each little piece of past he discovered; always seemed to stab him in the heart. She never knew the innocence of childhood; and it killed him.

"Jay, if this was just a taster for Walton Manor, what is going to happen if we get in?" Erin asked.

"Well, if Walton Manor is really about creating your once in a lifetime experience, we'll have to be in control of what that is." Jay replied.

"So what do we do now?" Erin asked, glancing at Jay.

"We hope that last night really was our initiation and we didn't experience that crazy night for nothing." Jay replied. "And hopefully our invitation follows soon."

"And if it doesn't?" Erin asked.

"We'll deal with that when it happens." Jay replied. "Just remember...we're in this together and we'll figure it out together."

Erin nodded; hoping that the invitation would come soon. The sooner it came, the sooner this operation would be over; and she needed it to be over. She didn't want to admit it but she was getting a little too fond their life in this apartment together and she knew the longer the operation lasted, the harder it would be to return to life in District 21; and to return to life as 'just' partners.

To be continued...