Old Friends
After a long day of work, the intelligence team goes out to Molly's for some drinks after a successful case.
"After this case I can use a drink" Jay said.
"Or 10" piped in Ruzek making Jay laugh.
"It was definitely one of the tougher ones we have solved, im just glad its over and I can spend the rest of the night here," Jay said back to him.
Jay was looking around for Erin surprised that she wasn't here yet. Lately his feelings for her have been out of control ever since the sex club case. Even though nothing happened between them, just the thought that something could have has had him thinking even more about her then normal.
Just then the door opens and in walks Erin… with Kelly. Jay groans, I guess they are on talking terms again.
Ruzek seeing his mood changes pipes up "I don't understand why you don't just tell her how you feel, she clearly feels the same way.
Jay roles his eyes "I don't know what you are talking about, I don't see her that way she is just my partner." As he finishes his defense Erin and Kelly get to the table. "Hey Erin…Kelly" he says barely acknowledging him.
"Erin ill be back, im just going to get us our drinks" Kelly tells her.
"So you and the fireman are back together" Jay asks annoyed.
"We are trying to be friends, see where things go" Erin says very nonchalantly.
"I hope you get what you want," says Jay.
Erin automatically thinks what she wants is to be wrapped up in Jay's arms. However thinking he doesn't want the same thing, which is why she is trying again with Kelly.
Kelly returns and the group gets into a light, easy chat not talking about the case that they just solved.
As Jay goes to get the next round, Kelly heads for the bathroom leaving Ruzek and Erin at the table.
"What are you doing?" Ruzek asked Erin
"What do you mean?"
"You know what I mean, why are you trying again with Kelly? What about Jay what about what you told me last time we were here?" Ruzek demanded.
"look Ruzek, I was drunk I didn't mean anything, yeah I think Jay is very attractive but I can never think anymore of him, he is my partner that is it."
"You and I both know, that that is not it" Ruzek whispers to Erin fast as Kelly walks back to the table.
Just as Kelly sits down, Ruzek looks up to see a woman walking into Molly's.
"Holy Shit" he says causing Kelly and Erin to turn around.
"Who is that?" Erin asks, while Kelly stares at the woman astonished. She was tall, tan and blonde and absolutely gorgeous.
"Only the most gorgeous woman I have ever seen in my life" Ruzek says just as Jay walks back to the table.
Jay walks back to the table wondering what the guys are staring at. "Guys whats going on, is everyone okay?" He looks at Erin and she just shrugs her shoulders.
"Boys will be boys" she says.
"Look at her" Ruzek tells him without taking his eyes off of her.
As Erin watches Jay for his reaction at the woman, she sees all the color drain from his face like he has seen a ghost.
"Dakota?" he says.
Just then the girl turns their way and locks eyes with Jay.
"Jay Jay?!" she says as she walks over.
When she gets to him she wraps her arms around his neck and hugs him.
"What are you doing here Dak? Its been years." Jay asks a little confused.
"Im in town for a job, if I would have known you still lived here I would have called you! I thought you were going to move after what happened with your brother…" She trails off not wanting to bring up the past.
"Well you know things happen" he replies a little upset.
"I know Jay im sorry" she says as she places a hand on his shoulder and squeezes. "Oh I am so sorry, am I interrupting your night?" She asks honestly concerned.
"No, its okay im just out with some colleagues after a long case. This is Ruzek, Kelly and my partner Erin." He introduces them.
They all say hello and welcome her to sit down with them. Erin is a little hesitant because she could sense the tension between Dakota and Jay and she was praying that it was not a sexual tension.
"So, how does such a beautiful lady know someone like Jay here?" Ruzek asked trying to make Dakota laugh.
"She was one of my closest friends in high school" Jay rushes to say, making Erin question that he is hiding something.
"Oh Jay, it was more then that." Dakota piped in.
"How much more?" Erin asked not being able to hold it in, and getting a glare from Jay.
"Well we dated throughout high school, and we were engaged a week after we graduated, before Jay was deployed." Dakota said smiling at Jay.
Jay stared at her and stuck his tongue out.
"You two were engaged? No way." Kelly asked.
Erin felt a wave of nausea crash over her; Jay was engaged to this woman at some point? Why has he never told her? Jay then stared at her trying to get a read of what she was thinking.
"Well it only made sense, head cheerleader and quarterback, Prom Queen and Prom King. It all just fit together so well." She said smiling.
"Yeah, oh the good ol' days." He said kissing her on the cheek.
"Wait, but you guys seem fine, like no awkwardness or anything between you two." Ruzek said.
"That's because Jay is probably my greatest friend in the whole world, even though I haven't seen him in 3 years, I feel like I never left. We both knew we weren't meant to be engaged and once we broke it off we couldn't bare to not be in each other's lives so we stuck around and lived with each other for I think 2 years." Dakota told them.
"So, Dakota, what do you do? What job has you in Chicago?" Erin asked not wanting to know anything else about her and Jay.
"I'm a lingerie model, and I was just offered a job for one of the shops here in Chicago."
Just when Erin thinks it couldn't get any worse, it just does.
"Wait no way, are you going to take it?" Jays asks excitedly.
"Yeah I think I am, I need to let them know tomorrow."
"Do you have a place yet?" Jay asked.
"Honestly, I haven't even looked yet. Oh gosh I should probably start doing that." Dakota trailed off.
"There is no need, I have a spare room you can live with me, just like the old days." Jay told her.
"Jay are you sure? I don't want to intrude on your personal life, im sure you have a girlfriend and she wouldn't be too happy with that."
"No, no girlfriend, no one to be upset with you living with me." He promised her.
"Okay you got yourself a roommate. This is going to be so much fun, just like the old days. We can have strip poker nights just like the old days also! You guys all in?" Dakota asked excitedly.
"Hell yeah" Ruzek said.
"Absolutely" Kelly agreed.
Erin just sat there quietly absorbing everything that just happened. Jay and his ex fiancé. Living together. Strip poker nights. She doesn't know what to do other then stare at the table and try to not make eye contact with anyone.
