Co-created by Mar & Sharon

Tonight was the night she was going to say goodbye to her friends and colleagues. Not forever, of course. They would be part of her real family forever and she would never forget about them. But this had been an opportunity of a lifetime, one she couldn't slip through her fingers. She was going to be leading her own task force for the Feds. Who would've known?

Erin pushed her hands deeper into the pockets of her jacket and took a deep breath. Even though it wasn't even autumn yet, it was still cold at night in Chicago. Something she'd never get used to, probably. While she made her way to Molly's, she put on her happy face. This was a good thing, and she wanted this, right? Besides, it was only a temporary goodbye. Keep telling yourself that, a little voice in the back of her head pitched in.

"It's true," she said to herself out loud, trying to silence that same little voice that tried to tell her that if she really left the city for that new job, she wouldn't be a part of the family anymore. Not really. No one was going to forget about her, everyone had made that loud and clear in the last couple of days. And she didn't even want to take the job if she didn't have Voight's blessing. But he'd told her to go for it, to dream big and do good in the world. He'd told her that she was ready for this, that she was destined to do great things. He believed in her with all his heart so why couldn't she be happy about it? He was right. This was the right choice, this was what she wanted.

Finally, she spotted Molly's across the street. Muffled music mixed with faint laughter greeted her, as she walked towards the bar. Her friends were inside. Her colleagues. The friends she made at Firehouse 51. It meant the world to her that they'd done this for her. She'd never asked for a going away party, but it was out of the question. Atwater had decided he was the right guy for the job and contacted Herrmann and Antonio's sister Gabriela, owners of Molly's, to make some arrangements. It wasn't a surprise, but that was a good thing. Erin hated surprises. And now she'd had the chance to prepare herself for this evening. She knew how to put on a happy face, how to avoid talking about her feelings. She just wanted to have a good time with the people she cared about before she opened another chapter in her life.

Without thinking, Erin pushed open the heavy wooden door to the bar. She knew she couldn't sneak in unnoticed and just have a nice, normal evening with her closest friends. Get a beer with Jay, have a laugh with Ruzek and hug Olinsky goodnight. The moment she pushed the door open, she'd be the center of attention.

"Hey, look who we have here!" an all too familiar voice called out across the bar, "if it isn't our guest of honor!"

Herrmann was standing behind the bar, a glass of beer raised high to let everyone know their special guest was finally here. Erin put a smile on her face, a bright smile that would let people know how thankful she was, even though it hurt as well.

"Let's raise a glass to Erin Lindsay, the newest , youngest and probably best looking task force leader the Feds have ever had! You go give 'em hell, girl. You deserve this. To Lindsay!"

"To Lindsay!" every voice in the room cried out at the same time and for a second she was overwhelmed. There she was, standing in the doorway of a bar, surrounded by all the people she held most dear in this world and they all supported her decision, even if it meant that they wouldn't see her anymore.

"Thanks, guys," she smiled, an honest smile this time. "But please, I want this to be a happy night so… drinks are on me!"

A loud cheer rose up again and everyone went back to their drinks, their laughter and their small talk.

Except for one person.

"Hey." Jay Halstead's bright blue eyes didn't join his beautiful lips in a smile. He tried to hide it, by closing the door behind her and offering to take her coat, but Erin saw it before he could look away.

"Hey."

Everyone supported her decision. Everyone was happy for her. Everyone was happy to be here on her going away party tonight. Everyone except one person. Everyone except Jay. And still, he was here, because that's what partners do.

She handed him her coat and he flung it over the top of the rack. "Don't worry, I'll get it for you before you leave," he promised. "Come on, let's go get you something to drink."

She followed him to the bar, where a couple of firefighters she'd actually never spoken to before made room for her and patted her on the back, laughing and congratulating her.

"Thanks," she mumbled, even though her 'thanks' was meant for Jay and not for the other men around her. She could really use a drink right now.

"What can I get you?" Gaby Dawson appeared in front of them, smiling as usual.

"Eh, I'll have a scotch," she decided. "One for me as well," Jay told Gaby.

Erin didn't say a word. At least not until she and Jay both had her drinks and Gaby was gone again, off to giving booze to other people. Booze she'd eventually had to pay for but that was something she'd worry about later.

"Are you mad at me for leaving?" she blurted out, eyeing Jay carefully as he took a sip of his scotch. Was he? She couldn't tell. The only thing she knew that he wasn't happy about the situation.

"Mad? How could I be mad at you, Erin?" he asked and put his glass down on the bar. He looked at her, straight at her, and she felt a shiver go down her spine. There was something between them, there always had been something and even though she'd tried to deny it and tried to bury her feelings for him, it didn't work. It was as if he was a magnet and she was made of iron.

"I don't know why, but you just… you haven't said a word about it to me, except for congratulations. I'd expected you to… I don't know. Have an opinion?"

"Would my opinion change your mind?"

Erin swallowed a gulp of her scotch and closed her eyes as the strong liquor burnt its way into her stomach. That felt good. She would need a lot more of those tonight. She looked at Jay again and shook her head a bit.

"That's not fair, Jay…"

"I know it isn't. But you leaving isn't either. I can't be the only one here who feels the chemistry between us? And that's not just because we're good as partners. There's something more here and you know it."

She sighed. He was right, even though she didn't want to admit it. It had been there all along. The tension between them, the flirtations, the bickering like an old married couple, how the way he looked at her with his beautiful blue eyes made her melt inside… She had feelings for him, there was no way in denying that now. But she was leaving the day after tomorrow to get training for her new job and there was no way in hell she could juggle that new job with a long distance relationship. She was not that kind of girl.

"Just give me one night to prove we're good together," he bargained, taking another sip from his scotch. "If you're still convinced you should take that job by the end of the night, I won't bother you anymore."

"Jay…"

"I know. I know, it's not fair to ask that of you, but the truth is… I don't want to lose you, Erin. Not as a partner, but certainly not as a friend. Besides, you promised me one day, right? Maybe that one day is tonight and it's only one day."

Without saying a word, Erin picked up her glass again and emptied it in one turn. The alcohol burnt down her throat, but it felt good. It was exactly what she needed right now. With a slam, she put her glass back on the bar and got off of her seat. Jay turned around, watching her every move, looking at her with one eyebrow raised high, waiting for an answer.

"Fine," she said eventually. "But I don't want to live my life full of regrets. This job… this job is what I want, Jay. Nothing can change my mind about that. I'm leaving either way, but that doesn't mean I'm out of your life for good, because you won't get rid of me that easily."

Jay could speak his mind, but so could she. She wasn't the kind of girl who put a boy in front of her own wishes, or her career. This was important to her and if he couldn't understand that, than that was his problem.

He got up too, towering above her but never posing as a threat. He was the most beautiful, most honest and most loyal guy she knew. He would never do anything to hurt her, and even though he cared for her and had obvious feelings for her, he would let her go if that was what she asked of him.

"I know I probably won't change your mind about this job, but maybe I can change your mind about us. And that's a shot I'm willing to take." He smiled, an honest smile this time and even his eyes joined in. She answered his smile with one of her own, and nodded.

His hand found hers, their fingers intertwined and he pulled her a bit closer. "Care for a dance?"

She laughed and nodded. "Sure, why not? It's a party, right?"