Erin could remember the day that she decided that she wanted to be a cop. If she tried hard enough then she could almost pin it down to a precise moment. It was a few months after Voight had taken her in and she had finally started to settle into her new life. Hank had come home later after a long case. It was way past Justin's bed time and they were both supposed to be fast asleep, but when cases dragged on neither of them could seem to. During those restless nights, Erin always let the younger boy sleep in her room. He would drag a duvet behind him and tuck a pillow underneath his arm, sheepishly tapping on her door regardless of the fact it was always opened. Camille didn't trust her enough yet to keep it closed unless she was changing.

She would hear the front door click softly and the wooden floorboards of the living room creak, the whispers of the adults downstairs resonating throughout the whole house. Camille could never sleep either on nights like that. She would wait up until the sun came back up if she had to. After a while Hank would shuffle upstairs, treading carefully and trying not to wake the two of them up, and stand at the bedroom door for a few minutes. Erin would always pretend to be asleep, praying that she wouldn't get caught but Hank always seemed to see right through it. He never said a word though.

Erin wanted that life. She wanted to have the excitement of the job and the hectic lifestyle, and the ability to come home at night regardless of what time it was and have the perfect family to watch over. It wasn't conventional but Erin hated conventional. She had never had conventional. She just wanted to be for someone what Voight was for her. She owed him that much. The only thing that she had to remind herself of was that it wasn't all fun and games. Life wouldn't be anything like the cop shows they watched on TV. Not every case would work out the way that they wanted and there would be people that she wouldn't be able to save. There were going to be nights where she wasn't sure if she would make it back home at all. It had taken years, but she got where she wanted to be.

She loved her job. There was no denying it. It was just difficult to watch things fall apart. She had lost count of how many bad days they'd had together as a team. It always brought everyone down a little. The only good thing that came from the bad cases was that the better days shone through that but brighter. Today had been one of the better days. They had somehow reunited a father and daughter after bringing down a human trafficking network. It was a long case but days like that were the days that Erin lived for.

"Molly's," Ruzek announced, pushing his chair in and grabbing his coat. "First round is on me."

They were all in a good mood. It didn't matter how exhausted they all were. Jay smiled as he moved over to where his girlfriend was standing. They had always kept things professional in the district but he couldn't help but beam at her. "I could sure use a drink."

Erin couldn't help but groan internally at the thought of Molly's. Sure, it was always good to celebrate but all she wanted to do was curl up in bed and binge watch a few episodes of Grey's Anatomy. The noise and constant obligation to keep up a conversation was not what she needed right now. "I'm beat. I think I'm just gonna head."

"What? No." Jay pouted, his face falling immediately. "Please Er."

She couldn't stand it when he pulled that move on her. She could never resist those puppy dog eyes. "I'd not be much company for you."

"You don't even have to speak. Just sit, have a beer and make me look pretty," Jay pleaded.

"I can't tempt you into coming home with me and getting take out instead?"

"Maybe," he considered for a moment. "Only if you come for a drink first though."

"One drink." Jay grinned as she replied, walking back over to his desk to grab his own jacket. "You drive a hard bargain, Halstead."

"One drink," he repeated her words. Erin couldn't help but smile slightly at the sight of him. He practically bounced over to his desk. The one thing that she would never understand about him was how he could go through a day like today and not be tired at all. He had the energy of a little kid waking up on Christmas morning when he wanted to. It was one of the things that she loved most about Jay.

The ride to Molly's seemed quicker than usual/ For a moment or two before they left the district, Erin had almost considered giving the car keys to Jay and letting him drive for once but she quickly changed her mind. She didn't want to encourage him; make him get the wrong idea and think that she would start letting him drive all the time. Erin smiled a little at the thought of him. Parking a few feet away from the bar door, she took her time unbuckling her seatbelt and grabbing her phone but before she could make another move she noticed Jay's swiftly moving figure in front of her. He had raced around to her door and pulled it open. The perfect gentleman. She swung her body around, placing her feet on the sidewalk and laughing slightly at his actions.

Just as it usually was, the bar was full and buzzing. They welcomed the warmth of the room as they stepped out of the cold Chicago night. Erin had almost forgotten all together that it was a Saturday night. It had been far too long since she had been able to enjoy one of those. Noticing an opening, Jay pulled her through the crowd and over to a newly empty booth, pushing her to the inside as he slid onto the seat beside her. Ruzek sat across from them soon after and Atwater followed closely behind, each of them carrying two bottles of beer and two shot glasses. Jay raised an eyebrow at them both and Adam looked back confusedly.

"Don't question my generosity," Ruzek said seriously. "It is a rare and generous gift."

"I'm I allowed to ask what the hell's in those shots?" Erin chuckled.

"What that is, is a creation of Herrmann's," Atwater grimaced. "If it's a deadly concoction then you can take it up with him."

Erin sighed and looked to Jay. He shrugged, picking up his own glass and motioning towards her to pick up her own. They raised them towards each other slightly before knocking them back, gasping as the smooth liquid made contact with their tongues and the backs of their throats.

"I don't think I want to know what's in that," Jay coughed, taking a long drink of his beer.

"Agreed."

"I can live with that."

It didn't take too long for Erin to forget that she had only promised Jay one drink. Empty bottles had begun to line the table, shot glasses dotted around them, but she barely noticed the build up. Their friends had abandoned them a few beers in, leaving the young couple alone as they snuck kisses in between gazes. She was leaning against his body, resting her head lightly on top of his shoulder after reaching up for another kiss, feeling her vision blur slightly. He took one last swig of his beer before turning towards her and whispering in her ear. "I think we should get out of here."

The brunette didn't hesitate to push his body slightly away from her, moving him so that she could get out of her space in the small booth. Jay glanced around the room, his eyes searching for Atwater and Ruzek. He spotted them talking to his older brother a few tables over, thoroughly engrossed in their conversation. Jay tried to grab their attention with shouting but failed. Before he could try again, Erin laced her fingers through his and began pulling him back through the crowd and towards the door just as he had done to her a few hours earlier.

"Shouldn't we say goodbye?" Jay asked as the reached the door.

Erin shook her head. "I'm sure they'll cope."

They stepped back out into the cold air and Jay didn't hesitate, pinning her against the wall and pressing his lips against hers. It was sloppy and impatient, and it made them both want to get home that bit sooner.

"My place or yours?" he said, attempting to catch his breath.

She smirked against his cheek. "So, was this just your way of trying to get me into bed tonight?"

"If I recall correctly, you were the one that suggested going home straight away after shift finished," he replied.

"Details," Erin said, pulling him back in for a kiss. "Either way you are now taking advantage of your slightly intoxicated girlfriend."

"I don't hear you complaining," he laughed. "So, my place or yours."

She thought for a second, reaching for his hand again. "Your place is closer. Do you wanna call a cab?"

He nodded with a smile, feeling in his pockets for his phone. His smile dropped when he realised that it wasn't there. "Shit. I had it back at the bar. I must have left it there."

"I can't take you anywhere, Halstead."

"I will be back in a minute," Jay sighed, kissing her quickly before turning back. "Don't go anywhere."

"I'll be here."

The brunette watched as he half-ran back in the direction of the bar, starting to walk in the direction of his apartment. She wouldn't get far before he caught back up and standing still in the streak always made her feel a little uneasy. If the few steps that she took were any indicator then she'd had far more to drink than she thought she did. Thank God neither of them was stupid enough to try driving in this state. She could imagine the earache that would cause her - 'Chicago Intelligence Unit Detectives Caught in Drink Driving Fiasco'.

Erin glanced back towards the bar before taking a couple more steps. He had been gone for a little longer than he should have been gone for but it didn't faze her. She knew what Jay was like. He could start a conversation in an empty room if he had to. He had probably felt guilty for not saying goodbye to everyone.

A hand grabbed her waist suddenly from behind and pulled her back. She laughed ever so slightly at first, thinking that he had snuck up behind him and tried to surprise her. Jay had always liked to try and catch her off guard. It just wasn't Jay's face that appeared in front of her own and it wasn't Jay's hands that were pushing her up against another wall. It wasn't his face, or his hands, or his voice that spoke loudly next to her ear.

"Give me everything you've got," the voice demanded. "I want your money, your phone, jewellery..."

"I don't have any money," she shouted back. "My phone is in my pocket."

Her wrists were pinned painfully high above her head, held in place by one of his forearms while his other hand searched her pockets desperately for anything of interest. It wasn't like her to freeze in moments like this. She didn't want to. Getting mugged was a sobering experience to say the least. While her attacker was distracted, Erin brought her right knee up and slammed it against his groin.

"Bitch." She felt a sharp pain in her stomach. He must have punched her. He definitely punched her hard. The air in her lungs seemed to escape quickly and she hit the ground hard as the man let go of her. His hands were still at her waist, she could still feel him grabbing at her. "What the fuck? You're a cop?"

She couldn't catch her breath at all. The sound of running footsteps grew fainter as they moved further and further away. It didn't take her long to be alone again. She tried to sit up, leaning back against the wall for support. Where was he? Where was Jay? Her vision began to blur again but she could tell it wasn't the alcohol this time. He definitely punched her hard.

Erin heard footsteps again and subconsciously braced herself for whatever was coming her way. She didn't know if he had managed to take her cell or not. What else was left for him to come back for. Unless he wanted to finish her off. She would put up a fight this time. She was better than what she had done before, she was tougher than that.

"Erin!" A familiar voice spoke as it approached her and she sighed with relief. Jay was the only person that she wanted near her right now. She heard his voice again but it wasn't talking to her. Maybe it was the cab that he said he was going to phone. She couldn't seem to bring her head up from it's position facing the concrete sidewalk in front of her to check. His hands pressed firmly against her stomach and she winced sharply, the oxygen leaving her chest again. "Erin, hold on for me."

She couldn't speak. She wanted to tell him to get off of her because it hurt. She had just been punched in the gut, she didn't need him to be prodding her in her already forming bruises. Looking down at where his hands were placed, she noticed the red mess covering them. It didn't make sense. Why was their blood? She had kicked her attacker and he had punched her. Right?

"What happened?" Erin managed to choke out.

"It's okay. You're okay. Just breath for me," he replied. He looked worried. Erin could tell that much. That was the one thing that told her things weren't okay. She wasn't okay. "You've been stabbed but it's alright. I've got you and the EMT's are on their way and they're going to take good care of you. Okay?"

She nodded slightly, feeling his hands lower her softly to the ground. He bundled up his jacket and placed it carefully under her head like a pillow. Her ears were ringing slightly but she could hear other voices that she knew around her, she just wasn't sure exactly where they were coming from. She had never been stabbed before, she didn't know what she was supposed to do. The only thing that she wanted to do was close her eyes but she knew that it was a bad idea, instead trying to focus on Jay's face above her. She brought her hands over her stomach, resting them on top of his and grimacing as she felt the sticky substance hit her fingers.

Time moved differently. It felt like one minute she was there and the next she had missed minutes completely. Her view shifted from that of Jay to one of the EMT's in the blink of an eye.

"Hey Erin, it's Sylvie," she said softly. Erin could feel another of the EMT's moving beside her. "You're going to be just fine. We're gonna take care of you."

She could see Jay's face again, feeling his hand holding on tightly to hers. "It's going to be okay." Erin wished that he would stop saying that.

"Are you in pain?" Erin shook her head.

She closed her eyes again, opening them to the sight of the bright lights of the emergency room. Noise filled her ears, making her head spin but she felt lighter than she had before.

"Female, early 30's. Knife wound to the left flank. BP's 80/50," a man spoke. She knew where she was. She could hear the nurses and doctors scrambling around her but the man's voice was calm and composed. "I'm gonna need two bags of O Neg and two bags of plasma."

Erin felt her body move. Arms lifted her quickly from the stretcher to the bed. She couldn't feel anything at all other than that. She couldn't feel their hands or the pillow beneath her head. She was almost grateful for that though. It meant that she couldn't feel any pain.

"Hey, Erin, can you hear me?" the same voice spoke again. She tried to speak but nothing came out, instead nodding as much as she could. She heard a sigh of relief from next to her and an oxygen mask was placed over her mouth. "It's looking deep. I'm gonna have to take her into surgery to get a better look and stop the bleeding."

The noise around her began to fade gradually. The brunette didn't even realise that she had closed her eyes this time at all. The room was darker when she opened them. The thought crossed her mind that she might be dead but the slow beeping of the monitor next to her bed brought her back to reality. The first things that she felt was the dryness of her throat and the painful ache in her stomach. Erin groaned slightly, scrunching up her eyes and wishing that she could go back to being unconscious again.

"Don't you ever do that to me again," Jay spoke suddenly. She turned her head to face him, licking her dry lips and smiling slightly at his worried expression. "I'm serious. You can't put me through this again."

"Through what? I was the one that got stabbed." Erin smirked, wincing slightly as she took another deep breath in. Jay frowned at her joking.

"Don't even kid," he shook his head and reached for her hand. "I was so worried about you."

"I'm okay now," she replied.

"I know, and I'm here for you. It's gonna be a long road to recovery Er."

"How about we start with some water?" Erin asked and Jay nodded, a small smile playing on his lips as he reached for the jug at the end of her bed. "I can feel a hangover coming on."

Thank you for the amazing response! I'm glad everyone liked the last chapter. I'm open for requests so just send me a review or a PM if you have anything that you want to see from me. Hope you liked this chapter!

(P.S. SassyBush, you are super enthusiastic and I appreciate it. Your review on my other story, Shoot Me, was actually what inspired me to start this collection. So, thank you.)