This is completely AU because it would never happen on the show. We aren't that lucky. I got this from a song by Tim McGraw called "Diamond Rings and Old Barstools." If you haven't heard it before, even if you don't like country music, I strongly encourage you to give it a listen. It is a gem and is what inspired this fic. Hope it's not too AU for anyone. Enjoy and let me know what you think.

Disclaimer: I do not own or have any affiliation with Chicago PD, its characters, writers, cast or crew.

He walked in through the front entrance, an aroma of stale cigarettes and beer hitting him immediately. He saw a familiar face behind the bar, a perky smile over her lips that disappeared as soon as her eyes landed on him. He ignored her, stuffing his hands into his coat pockets as he surveyed the place.

His eyes soon landed on the only person he was here to see, sat on a barstool towards the back of the place. He took quick steps until he stood beside her. He noticed her face first. Her dilated pupils stared straight ahead and her frail arms rested on the counter top. An open bottle of beer sat in front of her, and in the other between her shaking fingertips held a half gone Marlboro red cigarette.

"Since when do you smoke?" He asked as he took a seat next to her. The old barstool creaked under his weight.

She turned her head, as if just now noticing his presence. She brought the butt to her lips, took a quick drag. Inhale. Exhale. "What do you care, Halstead?"

Jay shook his head. "I do care. You know I do."

She snorted a dry laugh, seeming anything, but amused, and returned her gaze to the space in front of her. She took another drag of her cigarette before lifting the bottle to her lips and taking a long swig. "What do you want?"

"You know, Justin's having a kid."

Erin turned her head again and set her eyes on Jay's. "Did you come all the way down here just to tell me things I already know?"

"Well, did you know Adam and Kim are engaged?" Jay asked her.

She shook her head and took another swig of beer. "When did that happen?"

"A couple weeks ago."

She nodded and took another sip. "Good for them."

Jay let out a heavy sigh before he drawled out her name. "Erin..."

She didn't miss the way his voice sounded like a plea.

"What do you want Jay?" She asked again.

"You've been gone for weeks, Erin. You don't answer your phone or return anyone's messages. I stop by your apartment and you're not there. I'm worried about you. We all are. I mean, do you really want to miss out on these things happening to your family? Your friends? Do you really want to just stop living?"

She didn't respond and all he could do was let out another sigh of frustration. "I told you before, Erin. I don't care where you've been or what you've done. But this isn't you."

Erin shook her head. "But it is. This is who I've always been meant to be."

Jay shook his head. "I don't believe that. I don't think you do either."

When Erin didn't say anything he leaned in closer, his face inches from hers and he spoke into her ear. "Do you really believe that your mother is looking out for you? That she wants the best for you? The only reason she's doing any of this so-called parenting now is because she knows how vulnerable you are and she's trying to get one over on you and Voight. So she can gloat about it later and feel like the better parent. You and I both know she's only doing this for herself, Erin."

Erin turned to look at him. "I'm good here, Halstead."

Jay ignored her breath of nicotine and beer, and shook his head at her again. "No, you're not."

Erin ignored him and looked away. She brought the cigarette between her fingers to her lips once more to take a puff. Jay sighed, grabbed the cigarette from her hands, and snuffed it out in the ash tray on the counter.

She turned on her stool then to face him completely and spoke in a loud voice, clearly irritated. "What the hell do you want from me?"

"I want you to stop hurting yourself. This isn't you, Erin," he said.

She nearly laughed. "You don't know me."

"I do. I know the kind of person you are and what you've been through. The Erin I know, the woman I fell in love with wouldn't do this to herself. She wouldn't let this happen. She would fight."

"I don't have any fight left in me."

Jay could see the tears in her eyes, hear the cracked tone of her voice, but he pushed. "I'll help you. Let me help you."

She could hear the plea in his tone again. She saw tears in his own eyes like she'd seen that night he cornered her in the garage. He cared. She wanted to hate him for it, for being that kind of guy, but she couldn't.

"I don't know how," she whispered with a shrug of her shoulders.

"Come with me. Right now. Let me take you out of here. Please."

"And go where?"

"Your apartment. My apartment. You know you'll always have a home with me. With Voight. We love you and we don't want this for you. You're better than this. You deserve better than this."

Erin shook her head. "Voight's pissed at me. I handed him my badge. Told him I quit. He's done with me."

"No, he's not. Please, Erin. Come with me."

She shook her head again, and whispered once more. "I'm scared."

Jay's forehead creased. "Why?"

"Because I'm high right now. Been that way for a couple weeks."

"Let me help you," he begged her again.

She sniffed, hoped her tears wouldn't fall, but they betrayed her and she had to look away from him. Jay reached an arm out, grabbed hold of one of her hands. "Erin..."

He squeezed her hand against his and she turned back to face him. He'd hoped her resolve was fading.

"Let's get out of here. Let me take you some place safe. Where you're around people who care about you. Genuinely care about you. Please, don't stay here. Come with me."

Her eyes stayed on his and before she could stop herself she felt her head nodding up and down. Jay stood from the stool and helped Erin off of hers. She stumbled a bit, but he released her hand and wrapped an arm around her waist. They walked to the front of the bar together, passing Bunny behind the counter.

"Erin?" She called out.

Erin halted her steps, which caused Jay to do the same. She took a deep breath before she turned to face her mother. She only shook her head, tears still in her eyes and said, "Goodbye mom."

Erin turned back towards Jay. Her eyes met his and she nodded. He didn't say another word as he led her out of the bar, his arm still around her as they walked to his car.

She fell asleep sometime during the car ride, as short as it may have been, because when she opened her eyes Jay was at the passenger side door. He pulled it open and helped her stand on shaky legs. She stumbled again, still out of it, her head lolled to the side and her eyes continued to drift closed. The high she had felt from the dope she'd taken earlier was now gone and she just wanted to sleep.

Jay could tell she was struggling as they stood in front of his car.

"Come here," he called to her in a low voice. He took a step closer to her, reached his arms out and lifted her before she could protest. One arm under her legs and the other around her back. He kicked the door shut with his foot and carried her up the sidewalk, then up front porch steps. He nudged the doorbell with his elbow and waited with Erin now passed out in his arms.

When the door finally opened Jay offered a small smile and swore he saw tears in Hank Voight's eyes.

"You brought her home." Hank smiled, almost sadly, and pulled open the front door wider. Jay stepped inside and turned to catch Hank's gaze who pointed to the staircase.

"Upstairs. Second door on the right."

Jay nodded and started up the stairs, Erin still asleep and unaware in his arms.

Jay reached the top of the stairs and made his way to the second room to the right and walked through the open doorway. It was a guest bedroom. He carried Erin to the queen sized bed and laid her down. She mumbled incoherent jargon as Jay pulled the covers up over her small frame. He sat down on the bed and watched her for a few moments before he stood. He leaned down and kissed her forehead and then made his way back down the stairs.

He found Voight stood in front of the refrigerator in the kitchen. Jay stopped in the doorway, ran a hand through his hair and looked over at Hank.

"I'm not leaving her," Jay said firmly.

Hank nodded, pulling two beers from the fridge before he turned to face Jay and handed one to him.

"Didn't think you would."

Jay took the beer and took a long pull from it. "She said she was high."

Hank nodded, as the two sat at the island.

"This isn't gonna be easy, Halstead. I've seen her like this before. I know what to expect. Once the withdrawal sets in, it won't be pretty."

Jay took another swig from the bottle in his hands before he locked eyes with Hank. "I'm not leaving her."

Hank sipped from his own beer. "Alright then. Let's get our girl back."