41. Chapter 41

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Chapter 40

Erin glanced at her cell phone for the 18th time that day; there were still no messages. She sighed and tossed her phone to the side. She had arrived at the District a little before 9am and was touched by the fuss from the other officers she received; apparently, she had been missed. It was now a little after 2pm and she was only two thirds through her report.

She looked around the office; apart from herself and Nadia, it was empty. Of course there was no one at Jay's desk; Ruzek was out packing up her and Jay's belongings at the apartment with Burgess; Atwater and Olinski were downstairs taking an inventory; Voight was in his office, with the door closed and she had no idea where Dawson had disappeared too. He had got a phone call just before 12pm and left.

Her eyes lingered on Jay's empty desk; it felt strange being here without him. The office wasn't the only place that had felt strange to her in the last 24 hours. Even being in her apartment was strange; she felt so alone; even though Nadia was there with her; it didn't feel like home.

She glanced over at Nadia; sitting at her desk; feverishly typing, trying to get all her paperwork tidied up so she didn't have to come into work on Christmas Eve. Erin found herself smiling; a sense of pride filling her. Nadia had grown so much in such a short space of time. She was so confident and independent.

Her thoughts were interrupted by the sight and sound of Antonio coming up the stairs. She looked over at him; just as Voight came out of his office. She watched as Antonio slipped off his jacket and slipped it on to the back of his chair.

"So?" Voight asked. "Everything okay?"

"Yeah, he's 100%. I dropped him off." Antonio replied. "I even offered to stop at the grocery store for him but he said he'd be okay. He wanted to come back here to help finish the report but I told him I was under strict instructions from you that he had the day off."

"Good!" Voight muttered.

"Wait, did you pick Jay up at the hospital?" Erin asked.

"Yeah, he called a few hours ago asking for a ride." Antonio replied, his voice drifting off at the end when he saw the look in Erin's eyes. He exchanged a look with Voight as Erin focused back on her paperwork, muttering to herself. He hadn't realised that Erin wanted to pick him up; or at least was expecting the call. Voight shrugged his shoulders and headed back into his office.

Antonio continued to watch Erin; her head hanging down; focused on her paperwork. Thankfully, she had stopped muttering to herself. He knew the undercover operation would be a risk for both Jay and Erin as he knew that their partnership was falling apart; he thought it couldn't get any worse; he thought they'd come through it stronger. At the hospital it seemed like they had; that they had almost gotten too close; Erin was so protective of Jay; now, he was just confused.

He looked over at Nadia. "Um Nadia...do I still have an invite to join you. Voight and I guess Lindsay now for Christmas?" He asked. "Laura and I agreed that I could have the kids on the 26th saying we can't agree on being together."

"Of course." Nadia replied, looking up from her computer. "The more the merrier." She was relieved that she wouldn't be on her own with Voight and Erin. "I'm sorry that you can't see your kids."

"Well, I'll still get to go to Church with them on Christmas Eve." Antonio replied.

"Good." Nadia replied. "So um, did you remember to invite Jay?"

Antonio glanced over at Erin; he knew her interest was sparked. He turned back to Nadia. "He um said thanks but he can't make it." Antonio replied.

"What?" Nadia scoffed. "Well who is he spending Christmas with? He can't go to the Corsons, not after the mess he made with Allie..." Nadia stopped ranting when she noticed Antonio signalling for her to stop. She looked over at Erin and could see the hurt look in Erin's eyes as she tried to stay focused on the report in front of her. Nadia sighed and shared a look with Antonio; confused by what had happened in the last few hours.

Jay stepped into his apartment; it was still exactly the same as he had left it. He had asked Ruzek to check on it but it seemed like he never bothered. On the plus side, he didn't have to worry if Ruzek had brought Burgess over. He could happily sit or eat where he wanted without having to think if they had sex there.

He glanced down at his phone; there were no missed calls or messages. He thought that Erin may have called to check on him but maybe she was too distracted by Severide. He had desperately wanted to ask Antonio if she had driven to the District herself this morning or if Severide had dropped her in but he couldn't bring himself to say the words. He was too afraid of the response.

He walked over to his fridge and pulled it open. The only thing in it was the three bottles of beer he had left. Yep, Ruzek definitely was not over or those beers would have been gone. He sighed and reached for his car keys he had stored in his drawer. He had some grocery shopping to do.

At just after 5pm, Erin finally closed over her finished report and held up her arms above her head to stretch and celebrate its completion. "Finally! Christmas break can begin!" She sighed.

"Um Erin." Nadia said, replacing the phone in the receiver. "That was Platt on the phone...Tony Wiltshire is downstairs."

"Oh right." Erin said, standing up; wondering what he might want.

She headed downstairs and towards Platt's desk. "Hey Sergeant Platt, I heard I have a visitor." She began to say as Sergeant Platt nodded towards the seats beside the doors. She spun around to find Tony; sitting; looking a complete mess; in last night's suit; unshaven. "Hey...Tony."

"Sorry to turn up here, I just...I didn't know where else to go." Tony replied, his eyes filling with tears.

"It's okay Tony." Erin comforted him, placing her arm around him; guiding him towards an alcove. "You've had a lot to deal with in the last 24 hours."

"You...are you okay?" Tony asked. "I heard Jay...Detective Halstead had to be admitted to hospital."

"He's completely okay...we're both okay." Erin replied, gently rubbing his back.

"I can't believe this has happened." Tony sighed, sliding back down onto a chair. He held his head in his hands. "I can't believe my precious Amy could be involved in this...that she's not my Amy."

"Tony, her past doesn't change who she is." Erin stated. "She's still the Amy you fell in love with...she just didn't come from the same background."

"Are you going to press charges?" Tony asked, looking up at Erin.

"We don't know yet...the D.A. will look at our evidence and decide if there is enough to charge her with anything." Erin replied. "If she co-operates fully and testifies against Joel, she has a good chance of walking away...but she was in deep with the Manor."

"I do love her you know." Tony stated. "It's just..."

"I know Tony...I know." Erin sighed. There was silence for a few moments before Tony finally spoke again.

"So this is where you and Jay normally work then?" He asked, looking around him.

"Yep...I think it'll take Jay a little while to get used to not having the luxury he had working for your company." Erin joked.

"Any chance I could get him to stop being a cop and work for me permanently?" Tony asked. "He was the best head of security I ever had."

Erin smiled; wondering if he would still feel the same when narcotics busted the security men in his clubs that Jay had reported for dealing. "I think Jay is pretty happy being a cop." Erin replied.

Tony nodded. "I thought I'd give it a shot anyway." He stated reluctantly. He stood up. "I guess I better go...I don't want to take up any more of your time."

"The Chicago Police Department really does appreciate your help in this operation Tony." Erin said. "Think of the lives you've saved."

"Yeah but it might have just cost me the woman I love." Tony muttered before exiting the station. As Erin watched him go; she couldn't help but feel sorry for him.

Jay entered his apartment, carrying three grocery bags; stumbling over his two duffle bags that had been left just inside the door. Ruzek had obviously dropped off his belongings. "Typical half assed Ruzek!" Jay muttered under his breath as he regained his balance and headed towards the kitchen with his shopping.

He began to unpack his shopping; hoping it would make his apartment feel like home again. After he emptied out the contents of the bags onto the counter, he looked at them and quietly laughed. He lifted the shower gel and let his finger trace the label; he had bought the brand that she had to use because of her sensitive skin.

Then he looked at the cereal, the instant noodles, the pizza, the Pop Tarts...they were all Erin's favourite foods. He didn't even like Pop Tarts. He sighed and shook his head. He missed her; he missed living with her; and it hadn't even been a full 24 hours. He was her house husband; fully and completely.

He replaced the shower gel and reached for his cell phone; his finger hovering over Erin's name on his speed dial. He sighed and put his cell phone down; his mind not being able to shake the thought that she was with Severide.

Erin sighed with relief as she finally entered her apartment; her eyes landing on her bags and suitcase lying in her lobby. Burgess had dropped off her belongings from the apartment. She ignored them; not wanting to think about the unpacking she had to complete.

She headed straight to the fridge and pulled it open; a smile forming on her lips. She had asked Nadia to check on her apartment while she was away and she had done a good job; even stocking the essentials – beer, milk, coffee, bread, ice cream, frozen pizzas and Pop Tarts in the fridge and cupboard for her coming home.

She hadn't even time this morning to notice that she had done that. Erin took a mental note to say thank you when she saw her again on Christmas morning. She reached for a beer and popped its cap. She took a swig of it and headed towards the couch; beer in hand.

She flopped down on the couch and switched on the TV, debating whether she should check out the Holiday specials or begin watching what was on her DVR.

She glanced over at the bags and suitcase; her mind beginning to debate whether or not she should tackle the unpacking. She sighed and got up off the couch; she headed towards the bags and suitcase; her eyes falling on the familiar black hoodie sitting on top of the pile.

She lifted up the hoodie. She thought Burgess would have known that this was Jay's hoodie. Then again, Erin had kept it in her drawer of clothes. She held the hoodie to her nose; it no longer smelt of Jay; all she could smell was her perfume. It was an easy mistake for Burgess to make.

Erin looked at the hoodie and then glanced over at the door she had just entered a few minutes ago. Maybe Burgess had done her a favour? This was the perfect excuse to call on Jay and try and figure out what was going on with him.

She still couldn't understand why he was ignoring her. She thought things had finally changed for them; that they had moved to the next level in their partnership/relationship. She had to have answers. She had finally made up her mind. She switched off the TV and grabbed her car keys; exiting the apartment; clutching Jay's black hoodie.

Jay sat on his couch, nursing a bottle of beer. Every few minutes, his eyes would drift to his cell phone sitting on the coffee table. Finally, after about 15 minutes, he sat his bottle of beer down and reached for his phone. He was about to press Erin's name when a gentle tap rattled against his door.

He set the phone back down and got up off the couch to walk towards the door. He looked through his peephole and fought the urge to smile; his heart beginning to race. He pulled open the door to reveal Erin; dressed in jeans, a white button down shirt and her black leather jacket; her hair hanging down naturally.

She held up his hoodie. "Um Burgess..." She began to say; stuttering; suddenly losing the power of her tongue at the sight of Jay before her, dressed in jeans and a black t-shirt. There was a look in his eyes that she had only seen a few times before.

Within a split second, Jay stepped towards her, his right hand stretching out to her neck and left cheek, cupping them. His lips crashed against Erin's lips. Erin stumbled back with the force; leaning against the door frame; her arms becoming limp, the black hoodie dangling by her side.

At first, Erin was in shock but her lips quickly responded to his; pushing back with the same heat and force as Jay. She opened her mouth, granting him access.

Jay slowly pulled away; his breathing heavy; his forehead resting against Erin's, his nose gently grazing her nose; his fingers gently griping her neck. "I'm sorry." He apologised between pants. "That was highly inappropriate. You have a boyfriend..."

"I don't." Erin replied, also breathing heavy; her nose grazing Jay's nose; her lips hovering his; barely grazing; almost touching. "We...we had the talk."

Jay pulled back to look her in the eyes; his gentle grip on her neck; becoming a caressing touch; softly teasing one of her curls. "You had the talk?" He asked.

She softly nodded; still struggling to get her breath back. "I should have had it a few months ago...I just...with Shay..." She trailed off and Jay nodded; understanding what she was trying to say. She stepped towards him; gently grazing his nose with hers. She softly bit his lip. She heard Jay groan; as if he was battling with himself. "Are you going to invite me in or not?"

Jay didn't utter a word; his free arm quickly reached out and wrapped itself around Erin's waist pulling her close; her lips crashing against his with urgency as he pulled her into his apartment and slammed the door behind him.

Erin let the hoodie fall to the floor before wrapping her arms around his neck; her fingers gripping the tips of his hair on the nape of his neck. They stumbled towards the couch; their lips never parting; before falling back over the arm of the couch to land on the cushions.

Erin giggled and Jay pulled back to adjust their position on the couch. "That was smooth." He softly muttered, gently brushing a strand of Erin's hair behind her ear.

"Real smooth." She teased with a smile; her lips hovering his.

"Erin..." Jay began only to be silenced by her lips.

"Shhh Jay, just shhh!" She softly muttered between groans; not giving him the opportunity to talk himself out of what they were about to do. He didn't argue; he just kissed her harder.

To be continued...