Halstead was distracted for the rest of the night and barely made a comment when Lindsay dropped him back at his apartment early the morning.

"Meet me for breakfast?" Lindsay asked as Halstead climbed out of the passenger seat. Maybe plying him with bacon and pancakes would get him talking.

Halstead looked back at Lindsay quickly and nodded, "Sounds good to me."

He wanted to get in as much time with her as possible before he left.

Lindsay smiled tiredly, "Good. It'll be my treat."

When Halstead didn't comment, Lindsay knew something was wrong. He just gave her a two finger wave and went up to his apartment.

Lindsay frowned as she watched Halstead's retreating back. Come hell or high water she was going to find out what was bothering him.

Jay stooped to pick up the discarded Army letter after he closed and locked the door behind him.

He scanned the words again.

October 20th.

Just under a month.

How the fuck was he going to tell Voight?

He crumpled the letter in his fist and dropped it onto the hall table.

Voight had told them all to be back at the precinct by 9:30, so they could get a few hours of sleep.

Jay stripped to his boxers and climbed into bed. He stared at the ceiling, trying to block out the images from his last tour.

He hadn't had nightmares in months, despite some of the horrible things they saw on the job.

But just the thought of going back...there...sent his imagination into overdrive. Every horrible thing that he saw in Afghanistan was not brought to the front of his mind.

The tapping of the tree outside against his window was as loud as gunshots.

The shadows being thrown across the room by passing cars were hidden insurgents.

He shuddered in bed when a car backfired. It could have been an IED explosion.

Jay flipped on his TV. It was going to be a long night.

Jay finally got out of bed at 8 to shower. He figured that he'd gotten maybe three hours of sleep.

He yawned as he scrubbed shampoo into his short hair. There was definitely going to be a large cup of coffee in his future.

He sighed, leaning his head against the cool shower tile, the hot water streaming down his back.

Going back was going to be difficult. He didn't want to leave his life in Chicago. He loved his job and his friends.

And Erin...a voice in the back of his mind whispered.

"Stop," he told himself out loud, "Voight made the rule. Follow it."

He rinsed off the last of the soap and stepped out of the shower.

He was wrapping a towel around his waist while he walked into his bedroom.

"I was wondering when you'd be done."

"Shit!" Halstead grabbed at his chest and glared, "Lindsay! You can't just break into a guy's place. No matter how bad you want to sleep with him."

Lindsay smirked, "In your dreams, buddy. And I didn't break it. You keep a key in the plant outside."

Jay grimaced, "Turn around or cover your eyes or something. I want to get dressed."

Lindsay grinned wolfishly, "Nothing I haven't seen before."

"Yeah, you haven't seen it on me though," Halstead grumbled, "Cover your eyes."

Lindsay laughed and put her hands over her eyes, "Get dressed fast. I want breakfast."

"No looking," Halstead said, grabbing a pair of briefs and a t-shirt.

Lindsay laughed, "Come on, Halstead. I'm not looking."

He scoffed and moved into the bathroom. Once he was covered, he went back into the bedroom, "So, why are you here?"

Lindsay flopped back against the messy sheets, "Breakfast. Remember?"

Halstead pulled on a pair of Levi's, "Yeah, I remember. I also remember telling you I'd meet you."

Lindsay was quiet, admiring the way Halstead's muscles moved as he pulled a long sleeved shirt over his head.

"I... Something's up with you, Halstead, and I want to know what it is," she finally said, as Halstead pulled on a pair of sneakers.

Jay looked up at her, "Hey, nothing's up. I promise."

Lindsay chewed on the inside of her cheek. She didn't buy it. But maybe, just maybe, she shouldn't push this one.

"Okay," she pushed off from the bed, "I'll wait inside, but make sure you brush your teeth. You stink."

"Thanks!" Halstead called as she made her way into the living room.

He shook his head, a small smile on his face as he went about the rest of his morning routine.

Lindsay peeked back through the doorway. The bathroom door was closed, so Halstead would be distracted for a little bit.

Perfect time to snoop, she grinned.

If Halstead wasn't going to talk to her, she was going to find out in a different way.

She quickly, but methodically worked her way through his living room.

"Where are you hiding your secret, Halstead?" She murmured to herself. Lindsay stood, hands on her hips, in the middle of the living room, looking for something that was out of place.

There was a pile of old newspapers on the coffee table, dirty dishes and mugs resting on the kitchen counters, and –aha!- a crumpled up piece of paper on the hall table.

Quickly looking to make sure Halstead was still occupied, Lindsay grabbed the paper and smoothed it out against the wall.

As she read it, her eyes widened and her mouth fell open.

"Oh," she mumbled.

"What are you looking at? And it better not be my credit card bill," Halstead said, clipping his badge and gun to his belt as he walked out of his bedroom.

Lindsay turned to him, big hazel eyes full of sadness, the crumpled letter shaking in her hand.

Halstead groaned, "Fuck, please tell me that's not what I think it is?"

"Were you going to tell me? Were you going to tell any of us, or were you just going to be gone come October 20th?" Lindsay asked, trying to keep her voice calm and emotionless.

Jay stepped forward and moved to take the letter from Lindsay's hand, but she snatched it away.

"Answer me, Halstead," she snapped.

Jay groaned, "Of course I was going to tell you. I just got the fucking letter yesterday. I didn't even process it myself."

Lindsay looked down, "Sorry… I just…you have to go don't you?"

Halstead nodded, "Yeah. I don't want to though."

Hazel eyes met blue ones, "How long will you be gone?"

Halstead shrugged, 'Probably long enough for you to break in a new partner."

"I'm still breaking you in," Lindsay laughed, "I can't deal with someone brand new."

Halstead rolled his eyes, "You know I'm the best partner in the world. Now I thought you were treating me to breakfast?"

"That was only so I could find out what was bothering you," Lindsay smiled, "Now that I know, I don't have to treat you to anything."

"Wow," Halstead laughed, hip checking Lindsay on his way to the door, "That's a really nice way to treat a Ranger."

"I can't just start treating you differently now," Lindsay trailed a step behind Halstead, "What would that do to my reputation?"

A/N: Here we are, my loves. Chapter 2. I was blown away by the amazing response to chapter 1, like really. your reviews just made me so stinking happy.

This chapter actually came to me really quickly. I had fun writing it.

So now Erin knows about the Rangers, but no one else does. I'm trying to decide if I want to show Jay telling everyone else, or if I want to skip time a little bit. Let me know if you have any preferences in your review =)

Um, that's pretty much it. I hope you like it and CPD IS TOMORROW! MORE LINSTEAD AND BURZEK AHHHH