First off, I want to thank anyone who took the time to review what they read. I really appreciate it. This fic has been slightly different from me as it is coming from something that has happened on the show and I always find that harder to write because the starting point for this fic wasn't my own creation; instead, I am simply putting my own spin on it.
I would love to know what you are all thinking/feeling about this chapter and fic in general so please be kind and review what you read. It would be a big help and I'd really appreciate it. Thanks!
P.S. This is kinda a long chapter. I hope you enjoy!
Chapter 2
Jay stayed frozen to the spot; he knew he should head up to the bullpen for the briefing but his mind and body were not working together. He heard Sergeant Platt gush at how beautiful Georgie, or rather Detective Georgina Fischer, i.e. the Commander's daughter had grown up since she last saw her when her dad was stationed there as a patrol man 20 years ago.
He heard Commander Fischer say how Georgina had been working with the NYPD but was now awaiting her transfer to the CPD. He watched as Georgina rolled her eyes and looked away, clearly embarrassed as her dad began listing off her accomplishments.
Then, he watched as her eyes widened and she did a double take, catching sight of Jay, still loitering outside the gate. She seemed as surprised as he was to find each other in the district. He knew he really should walk away, up to the bull pen but again, his legs would not shift.
He watched as she quickly recovered and interrupted her father and Sergeant Platt to excuse herself to the bathroom. Then he swallowed hard as he noticed her striding towards him, nodding her head towards the corridor leading to the vending machines, indicating that she wanted him to follow her.
Finally, his mind and body decided to communicate again and he followed her, looking around him to make sure Sergeant Platt and Commander Fischer were not looking; they weren't; they were too involved in their reminiscing.
When he turned into the corridor he found her pacing with her hands on her hips. "So, I guess you left out some vital information at the gym the other night, Detective Fischer?" Jay stated, still not quite believing that she could be a detective.
"Me?" She scoffed, stopping her pacing and marching straight towards him. "You're meant to be my personal trainer. Please tell me you're here to help with enquiries."
"Actually, I'm a Detective too...with Intelligence." Jay replied, crossing his arms and staring her down. "Although, I bet you already knew that...saying your dad..."
"Believe it or not Jay, my dad keeps his work at work." She shot back. "I mean, why would he even be talking about you to me anyway? Now who's not lacking in self esteem."
"Georgie...Georgina...Detective Fischer...whoever you are..." Jay began to ramble.
"It's Georgie!" She quickly interjected. "Only my parents call me Georgina."
"Whatever!" Jay muttered, brushing it off. "Have you told your dad anything of what I told you?"
"What? No! Why would I?" Georgie quickly shot back. "Up until a few moments ago, you were only my personal trainer."
"A personal trainer that you desperately need." Jay retorted. "I mean, you can't even throw a punch, how you can be a Detective..."
"Because there is more to police work than just beating up the bad guys!" Georgie snapped. "And I'll have you know I scored pretty well in my combat classes at the Academy and I was all state in my high school and college track teams."
"I still don't quite believe you're a Detective though." Jay stated. "A Personal Assistant yes but a Detective?"
"I am...was a profiler and criminal analyst for major crimes in New York." Georgie replied.
"So you're a desk cop?" Jay scoffed.
"Technically yes but I was on patrol for a few weeks while I was waiting for my Detective certification." Georgie replied. "I mean, it's not by choice..." She paused and sighed. "...it's just what it is."
Jay sighed and lowered his voice. "Georgie, what I told you about my 'friend' Erin...if your dad..." Jay began to say.
"Jay, I'm not going to tell him about your partner." Georgie cut him off.
"And I'm just meant to take your word on it?" Jay shot back. "I mean no offence Georgie but it seems to me you're climbing up the career ladder pretty fast and..."
"Jay, trust me...my dad will not find out from me." Georgie stated.
"And I'm just meant to believe you?" Jay retorted.
"Jay, I'll keep your secret because you have my secret as your insurance policy." Georgie reassured him.
"And what is that?" Jay asked.
"My dad doesn't know I'm gay." Georgie replied. "And I'd very much appreciate it if it stayed that way."
"Huh...how...how does he not know that?" Jay asked, completely confused. "I mean, you were in a relationship for 7 years."
"With a girl who was my college roommate and then my housemate after graduation." Georgie replied. "Or at least that's my parents understanding of the relationship."
Jay sighed; finally understanding that Georgie's relationship didn't break down because she didn't want to get married. It broke down because she didn't want to come out of the closet. "Georgie, your dad seems pretty open minded..." Jay began to reason.
"Jay, it's complicated." She cut him off. "So are you going to keep my secret or not?"
"It's not my secret to tell." Jay replied.
Georgie gave him a half smile and gently brushed his arm. "Thanks." She simply stated and turned the corner to head back to Platt's desk, crashing straight into Dawson's chest as she exited. Her eyes widened and she did another double check. "Oh God! You're a cop too?"
Dawson shook his head, completely confused as she continued to walk away. However, he didn't have time to react; he focused directly on Jay. "A body was found down at the pier." He stated. "Initial reports suggest it's the same M.O. as the last two."
Jay sighed; it was the third body in a matter of weeks. So far, the first two victims had nothing in common apart from the manner they were killed.
He followed Dawson out of the District, noting the further confusion on Dawson's face as he saw Georgie with Commander Fischer, looking very friendly.
Dawson looked over his shoulder at Jay, his eyes questioning him.
Jay sighed. "Yeah, I'll fill you in on the way to the scene." He replied.
########
Jay sat at his desk, staring at the pen he was twirling between his fingers as the rest of the unit cleared their desks and left the bull pen, well aware there were no new leads to act on; the case would have to wait until tomorrow.
After he heard Ruzek call out "Good night" he finally looked up to stare at the case board, finding a photo of the latest victim staring back at him. He found himself shuddering as he stared at her photo; her hazel eyes, defined cheekbones and highlighted hair haunting him.
She looked so much like Erin it scared him. He knew it had scared Voight and Olinsky as well. When they had arrived at the scene, they had all been too afraid to approach the body, well aware of the description supplied by the witness.
In the end, it was Atwater and Ruzek that checked out the victim, completely unaware of the fear and worry from their senior officers. The body was quickly identified as Jessica Philips, a 28 year old kindergarten teacher.
Jay sighed and stared back down at his desk, disgusted at his own reaction to the victim being identified. He had felt relief; a huge relief. He hadn't even considered poor Jessica's family; that he had felt such relief when something so disgusting happened to their daughter.
He could hear Voight clearing his throat, forcing him to look up. Voight stepped towards Jay's desk; his hands firmly in his pockets.
Jay nodded towards the case board and the victim's picture. "Tell me you didn't think the same as me today?" He stated.
"Jay..." Voight sighed.
"I thought it was her and I know you and Al thought the same too." Jay added. "How...how can you be okay with living like this?"
"Jay, it wasn't her." Voight replied.
"But it could have been!" Jay quickly retorted. He shook his head.
"Jay, I'd like to think if anything ever happened to Erin, I'd feel it." Voight stated. "And I think you would too." He reached out with one arm and placed it on Jay's shoulder, giving it a reassuring squeeze. "You just got to make peace that it wasn't her today and the relief you felt doesn't make you a bad person."
"Easier said than done." Jay muttered.
"I know." Voight sighed. He gently slapped Jay's back. "Now, head home and get some rest. Tomorrow will be busy...we have to get justice for Jessica Philips and the other victims."
Jay nodded his head knowingly. "Thanks sir." He muttered, before sliding back his chair and exiting the bullpen; well aware of Voight's concerned eyes on his back.
#############
Erin's eyes popped open wide as she jumped into a sitting position on her bed; woken by the opening and closing of cupboards in her kitchen. She reached over to her bedside locker, finding a few condoms, some condom wrappers, an empty quarter bottle of vodka and a few loose pills but no gun.
She sighed at her muscle memory, remembering that she handed her gun to Voight when she quit. She slid off her bed, dressed in sweat pants and Jay's black hoodie that he had left at her place after their brief romance.
She grabbed a candlestick from her dressing table and glanced at the clock on the TV; it was 9:36pm. She slithered into the living area towards her kitchen, ready to take action; the candlestick poised and ready to be swung.
She froze, well aware of the silhouette standing in front of her fridge, filling it with groceries. "How the hell did you get in here?" She snapped, slamming the candlestick onto the breakfast bar.
"I know where you keep your spare key." Jay replied nonchalantly. He eyed the candlestick. "Nice choice...if you want to create a little romance."
Erin rolled her eyes, ignoring his teasing. "You and I both know I could take you with or without a weapon." She shot back as she slid onto the stool at her breakfast bar. "You're just lucky I no longer have my gun or I would have shot your ass."
"Please! You wouldn't destroy this baby!" Jay teased, wiggling his bum. "It used to be one of your favourite parts of me."
"Yeah, the key word being used to." She threw back, attempting to run her fingers through her tangled hair.
She quickly scanned her apartment; the dirty dishes loitering around were now washed and put away; the dirty laundry was nowhere in sight. The scraps of food and empty take out containers filled her garbage. The bottles of liquor in the corner of her kitchen were no longer there and her recycling was full of empties.
"What the hell did you do Jay?" She hissed, marching over to the recycling and pulling out an empty bottle of scotch. "I just bought that this morning."
"Really? 'Cause I never would have guessed saying it was nearly empty!" Jay shot back, pulling the bottle out of her hands and tossing it back into the bin. "I'm doing you a favour Erin...you'll thank me someday!"
"Thank you? Jay, I don't want to see you!" She fired back. "Why can't you accept that and leave me alone?"
"Because I know it's not true or you wouldn't be sleeping in my hoodie!" He retorted.
Exasperated, Erin quickly pulled down the zip and slid the hoodie off her shoulder, revealing a greyish sport bra and tossed the hoodie towards Jay. "I'm only wearing it because if you haven't noticed, I didn't have anything clean." She snapped. "It was nothing personal!"
Jay sighed and sat the hoodie down on the breakfast bar. He turned back to the fridge and pulled it open. "I bought that tomato and red pepper soup you like if you want me to heat it up?" He suggested, as if nothing had happened.
"For God sake Jay! Why can't you just respect my wishes and leave me alone?" She fumed. "You're not wanted here! I'm living my life the want I want to. I'm finally being the real me. I really don't need you turning up here, trying to save me. I don't need saving Jay...people need saved from me. Don't you get it? I quit you!"
"Yeah, well I didn't quit you!" He fired back, glaring at her. He slammed the fridge shut and then slammed the carton of soup onto the counter beside the cooker.
Erin's eyes widened as she noticed his balled up fists, fighting the anger inside him. She watched as he unclenched his fists and placed them on the breakfast bar; his arms supporting him as he rocked his body weight back and forth. He finally looked back at her.
"We pulled a body today down at the pier." He stated. "And normally, as cold as it sounds, they don't affect me...not since I found Ben's body...or Nadia's."
"Jay, if this is you attempt to counsel me..." Erin hissed, hating him for even mentioning her name.
"But this one...this one I was so scared I couldn't look; I couldn't breathe because I thought it was you..." Jay choked, a single tear escaping her tear filled eyes. "...and I'm pretty sure Olinsky and Voight felt the same."
"Well as you can see I'm still breathing so you can..." She began to say, marching towards her apartment door and pulling it open.
"Erin, I get that you want to be alone to grief Nadia, to accept that she is gone." Jay stated, interrupting her. He lifted the hoodie from the breakfast bar and began walking towards the door. "And if you were to tell me that me, Voight, the unit...that we're constant reminders of her..."
"Because you are!" Erin confirmed, her own eyes filling with tears; feeling that Jay was finally understanding why she couldn't be around him or anything associated with intelligence; everything was tainted by Nadia.
Jay paused at the open door and looked her directly in the eyes. "...I would get it." He finished. "But what I don't get is how you could let Voight...me...the unit live like this, wondering if every dead body is you."
"I really don't want to get you killed Jay." She softly sobbed, a tear escaping her own eyes. "That's why you have to stay away from me...why you all have to stay away."
"Erin, not knowing if you are alive or dead; it is killing me." He softly replied, gently brushing away her tear and cupping her cheek.
Erin allowed herself to lean into his touch, her lips briefly skimming his fingers before she realised what was happening and pulled herself back. "So text me." She stated; her voice cold and stern.
"What?" Jay asked, his hand returning to his hip.
"Text me one a day a week." She replied. "Then if I don't reply within a day, you have my permission to look for me."
"Erin..." He sighed. "...I don't think I could last a week." He knew it was an olive branch and he was taking a chance pushing her but he had to try for more.
"Fine!" She retorted. "Twice a week...on a Sunday and a Wednesday, if I don't reply within 24 hours, launch your search party; do what you have to do."
He sighed, knowing he probably wouldn't get anything more than her current offer. "Okay...Sunday and Wednesday...I'll be in touch." He reluctantly stated.
She nodded and waited for him to exit through the open door.
He fought every urge that he had telling him to reach out and touch her again and instead; gave a simple nod and walked out; only looking back when the elevator arrived; only to find her apartment door already slammed shut.
###############
Dawson, Jay, Atwater and Ruzek were sitting at their desks, trying to make it look like they were working but in reality; their mind and eyes were solely focused on Voight's office. They were trying to decipher what was going on between Voight, Olinsky and the commander behind the closed door.
They had heard raised voices; mainly from Voight; and at one point, they were pretty sure Olinsky had to calm down the situation. Voight definitely didn't like what the Commander was telling him, or instructing him to do.
Jay couldn't help but feel a little panicked, wondering if Georgie had broken her promise and told her dad that Erin wasn't just on furlough, she had quit due to drinking and drug use. He felt a wad of paper squashed into a ball bounce off his chest, snapping him out of panicked thoughts.
He looked over at Dawson, the thrower of the paper ball; his eyes questioning him.
"What do you think is going on?" Dawson hissed.
"How the hell would I know?" Jay hissed back. He noticed Dawson, Ruzek and Atwater all sharing the same quizzical look with each other, questioning his response.
They had all noticed that Jay and Voight, and to an extend Olinsky, had been spending more time together, meeting behind the closed door of Voight's office. However no one wanted to question what was going on; just in case they would not like the answer.
Jay sighed. "Guys, I seriously do not know what is going on." He reiterated again.
"You ah...you don't think Fischer is trying to put his daughter in intelligence, do you?" Ruzek asked, accepting that Jay knew as much as them.
"If he is, sarge won't like it." Atwater replied. "And to be honest, I don't think I'd like it either...I mean what if he puts her in as a plant, to spy on us."
"You think that could happen?" Dawson asked, looking at Jay.
"I honestly don't think Georgie is like that." Jay answered. "I mean, what I could establish from our brief exchange after discovering who she was, she's a desk cop and her dad would probably want to keep it like that."
Just then, the Commander stepped out of Voight office and strode towards the exit of the bullpen, nodding acknowledgment to the rest for the unit as he passed their desks. He did not look pleased; he looked like he meant business.
The unit's eyes focused on Voight's office, waiting for him to step out and update them. As he appeared at the doorway, leaning up against the frame, his hands shoved in his pockets, with Olinsky behind him, they knew he was not happy. They prepared themselves to deal with whatever he was going to throw at them.
Jay stared at his desk, waiting to be called into the office for betraying Voight's trust; for telling Georgie about Erin. He heard Voight clear his throat and waited for him to call him, but it never came, causing Jay to sheepishly look up as Voight began speaking.
"So the commander is not happy with how the case is progressing." Voight simply stated.
"But..." Ruzek began to protest before quickly silencing himself as Olinsky gave him a nod and Voight glared at him.
"He is making a temporary addition to our unit." Voight continued.
"But I thought this was your unit...you do the hiring and the..." Atwater began to say before retreating, noting the glare from both Voight and Olinsky.
"He wants to introduce a profiler to help us catch this killer." Voight stated. "A profiler who also happens to be his daughter." Both Dawson and Jay simultaneously groaned. "I know it's not exactly ideal but my hands are tied on this...she'll be green so..."
"Jay's her personal trainer at the gym." Dawson quickly fired out, ignoring the glares from Jay. He really didn't want to be partnered up with an inexperienced desk cop.
Voight removed his hands from his pockets and crossed his arms as he looked over at Jay. "You know this kid?" He questioned.
"I only found out she's a cop and the commander's daughter yesterday." Jay answered. "She stopped by the gym on a few occasions...Antonio, Sean and I; we all met her but no one knew who she was and she definitely didn't know we're cops."
"Well as she's your 'client', she's your responsibility." Voight retorted. "She'll be here tomorrow."
Jay sighed reluctantly and nodded as Voight headed back into his office. Jay looked over at Dawson and fired back the wad of scrunched up paper.
"What?" Dawson scoffed, playing innocent.
"I'm her personal trainer?" He shot back. "Thanks for sacrificing me...not!"
"Hey! I didn't want to be paired with her." Dawson replied. "And um...you can forget about putting in a word for me. I don't really want to date the commander's daughter."
"Like I was going to put in a word after your threw me under the bus." Jay retorted.
###########
Erin walked towards her apartment building; pushing through the people rushing off to their work that morning while she was only making it home after a heavy night of partying. She heard her cell phone beep and momentarily paused to pull it out of her back pocket.
She sighed as a text message flashed up from Jay. "How are we today? Jay x." She chewed her lower lip, her eyes lingering on the kiss. She really didn't want hurt him; that's why she had begun keeping her distance; to save him from ending up like everyone she had every loved.
And although she had suggested the text message, she was already beginning to regret it; picturing him patiently waiting by his phone for her reply. She quickly typed a simple "Still breathing" and hit send before slipping her phone into her back pocket.
She entered her apartment building and froze; her eyes falling on her building superintendant; having a heated discussion with one of her neighbours regarding their rent. She lowered her head and quickly raced towards her elevator; not wanting to give him a chance to spot her.
She sighed with relief as the elevator door slid open then closed; allowing her quick getaway. She really didn't want to face him; especially as her rent was due and she didn't have it to give to him.
########
Georgie sat at Erin's desk, with a load of case files in front of her, studying them. She was wearing jeans, a white blouse and a midnight blue blazer. Ever so often her eyes would drift towards Jay's desk as he sat slouched back; repeatedly tossing a ball in the air and catching it again. There was no one else in the bull pen
She sighed and looked over at him again, studying him with intent. She sat forward and interweaved her fingers. "Jay, I'm sorry you got saddled with me." She stated. "I didn't want this to happen; my dad...he just wants to keep me close until I get my transfer confirmed."
"Georgie, seriously; you don't have to apologise." He stated, not taking his eyes off the ball as he continued tossing it into the air.
"I thought when my dad placed me in Intelligence; I thought I'd actually get to be part of the action." Georgie continued. "I didn't think that not only would I still be stuck on a desk but you would be stuck here too, babysitting me."
"Georgie, it's no biggie!" Jay replied, trying to sound nonchalantly. "I mean, I'm happy to have a day off the streets. It's not as action packed as you think." His phone beeped.
"You're a pathetic liar, you know that?" Georgie shot back as she watched him stop tossing the ball and sit up. He lifted his phone and sighed; the relief clearly evident to see. "Is that from Erin?"
"What? Huh?" Jay asked with a small smile on his lips as he finally looked over at Georgie.
"Erin." Georgie repeated. "It is a Wednesday, so I'm assuming it's from her and she's doing okay."
Jay sat his phone back down. He had forgotten that he had told Georgie about their little arrangement; she was just too easy to talk to and the loneliness of being desk bound while everyone was out chasing leads only emphasised it.
"I don't know if she is okay but she is definitely breathing." Jay replied, trying to sound nonchalant.
"Jay, it's a start." Georgie said. "She's taken a step in the right direction by communicating with you; I mean that must make you happy?"
"Don't!" Jay interjected, cutting her off.
Georgie shot him a questionable look.
"I know what you're doing Georgie." He scoffed as he picked up the ball again. "You're here to build a profile to help us catch a killer...not to psycho analyse me for some profile."
"What? I'm doing no such thing!" She scoffed.
"Uh huh...now who is a pathetic liar?" Jay stated, giving her a small smirk before beginning to toss the ball in the air again.
#######
Over the coming days and weeks, Georgie and Jay worked together with the unit and Mouse, building up a profile of the killer. They quickly established that the only thing the victims seemed to have in common was that the girls had all registered with an online dating site. Though, there was no common link regarding what man they had dated; none of them had dated the same man.
The process was slow and as a result, unfortunately a fourth victim had joined the other victims. It was a struggle and Georgie was desperately trying to prove to Voight and the rest of the unit that she was getting close to identifying their killer from the little evidence supplied from the crime scenes.
Jay was splitting his time between helping Georgie build up her profile of the killer and being out on the street, working on the other open cases and chasing leads. Occasionally, Voight even let Georgie join him if he was visiting his C.I.'s or carrying out a simple surveillance operation. Voight however, definitely didn't allow her to join them on busts.
Erin meanwhile, had stuck to her promise and was replying to Jay's messages twice a week. However, it didn't matter what Jay stated in his messages, the response was always the same; a simple "Still breathing."
Although he was missing seeing her face or hearing her voice; over those few days and weeks; he had began to accept the situation and was just happy to know that Erin was still alive. Of course he wanted her to heal herself and return to him and the unit but he still had piece of mind; which at this point, was better than where he was a few weeks ago.
#########
Erin stared at her reflection in the mirror as she pulled her dry, brittle hair into a rough bun. Her hair desperately needed styled but that was the least of her worries. She sighed at the sight of the deepening dark rings under her eyes against her pale skin.
She quickly wiped the few specks of white from the tip of her nose with the edge of the sleeve of her grey top and slipped on her denim jacket. She slipped her hand into the pocket of the jacket and sighed with relief as she felt the baggy between her fingers.
She headed out of her bedroom and towards the door of the apartment, pulling it open. Her eyes widened at the sight of her superintendant standing before her. She tried to close the apartment door but her reactions had slowed in her time away for the CPD and he jammed his foot in the doorway, blocking her.
"Erin, I need your rent." He stated. "I gave you an extension because you've always been on time but I can't wait any longer."
Erin reluctantly sighed; she knew it could no longer be avoided. "Fine." She muttered before walking back into her bedroom, leaving the superintendant at her door. She knew he was probably disgusted by the state of her apartment and knew that he'd probably send her a warning letter but she didn't care.
She headed straight to the dresser and pulled out the middle drawer; her underwear drawer. She slipped her hand right into the back of the drawer; her hand roaming between her panties and the various bags of pills and white powder before locating a wad of cash.
She unrolled enough from the wad of cash to cover the rent and replaced the wad, ensuring it was well hidden along with the drugs before closing over the drawer. Just as she was about to exit her bedroom, her phone beeped.
She looked at the message. "Where are you? Your customers are waiting." She groaned and pulled open the drawer again to lift out a baggy of pills. She quickly slipped them into her pocket and closed over the drawer before exiting her bedroom.
############
As Voight entered the bullpen, he found it the hive of activity as Mouse, Jay and Georgie set up the case board while the rest of the unit took their seats, waiting for the briefing. Voight sat down on the edge of Dawson's desk, crossing his arms and cleared his throat, making them aware of his presence.
"You got something?" He barked.
Georgie swallowed hard; still not used to Voight's bark. She felt the eyes of the unit on her and she suddenly felt sick. She felt Mouse nudge her, pushing her forward. She looked back at Jay; he nodded reassuringly.
She sighed and began to speak. "I think I might have come up with a way to catch our killer." She stated. She paused.
"Well? Any time now!" Voight barked. "It's only been like a few weeks."
"Oh right!" Georgie exclaimed and jumped into action. She pointed at the pictures of the victims on the board. "Now, we all know the only common factor between the victims that we've been able to establish so far is they were members of a dating website. However, there was no commonality regarding the men they were dating."
"Yes, we established that a few weeks ago." Voight barked. "I thought you established something new."
"She did." Jay stated, before nodding at Georgie again, encouraging her to continue.
"Well, I was so wrapped up on the man they may have all dated that I didn't even consider the profile of the girls and what they had in common to attract the same guy." Georgie stated. "So I looked back at the girls' bios and statements from their family and friends."
"So instead of a profile of our killer, we now have a profile on the victims?" Voight questioned. "We already have that."
"Yes, as individuals but not as a collective." Georgie stated. "And looking at them as a collective, I've discovered our killer has a type."
"And that is?" Olinsky asked.
Georgie nodded towards Jay. He stepped forward and began distributing information sheets. "The girls are all aged between 26 years old and 32 years old." He stated. "They all had a college education and were members of a sorority. They picked careers with a caring element but off the clock, they stayed close to their sorority roots; in short, were fun loving party girls."
"Sounds like the majority of ladies in Chicago." Atwater stated.
"Fischer, Halstead...I really don't see where this is heading." Voight barked. "How is this helping?"
"Well, we were all focused on who these girls were dating, we forgot that this singles website doesn't just offer dates, it offers singles night." Georgie stated.
"And I managed to get into the dating website's database." Mouse stated. "All our victims attended the singles nights regularly, including the nights they were killed."
"The girls didn't date the killer but they did meet him at singles night." Georgie stated.
"Along with lots of other single men." Dawson pointed out.
"Yeah but thanks to the database, I discovered there was only 7 men that attended all the singles nights our victims attended on the nights of their deaths."
"And thanks to DNA left at the scene, we can already eliminate another 3, leaving these 4 men." Jay added, pinning 4 pictures on the case board.
"So, your plan is?" Voight asked.
"Well, know we know what type of girl of killer goes for...we should set up a sting at the next singles night the website organises." Georgie stated.
"That is in two nights." Mouse added.
"That might just work." Voight stated. "Good work."
Jay slapped Mouse's back and tapped his shoulder against Georgie's, giving her a smile.
"So, do you want to pull up Kim...I mean Burgess for the mark?" Ruzek asked.
"Or, maybe I could do it?" Georgie interjected.
Ruzek scoffed. "You, as a party girl?"
"Ruzek, as a kid of a cop, I'm sure you know we're masters of partying on the DL." Georgie quickly retorted. "Plus I was Delta Gamma at Columbia...we were known for our partying while maintaining our dignity."
Ruzek looked back at Voight, who was studying Georgie with intent. "Sarge, you know Burgess can do this." He stated. "I mean no offence Fischer but you're a desk cop; you're too green..."
"Adam, you hadn't even graduated from the academy when Al pulled you." Jay pointed out.
"Sergeant Voight, I know I haven't done under cover before but I've been in these girls' heads and the killer's head for the last few weeks." Georgie stated. "I know I can do this."
Voight looked over at Jay. "You think she can pull this off?" He asked.
Jay looked at Georgie, her eyes pleading with him. He looked back at Voight. "Yeah, I think she can." He replied.
Voight nodded and stood up. "Well then, she's our girl." Voight replied. "This is on you Jay, you vouched for her." He walked into his office.
Georgie gave a little squeal and playfully bumped her body against Jay while Jay groaned and rubbed his face. He looked at Georgie. "I wouldn't be so happy if I was you." He stated. "We got a lot of work to do to get you ready."
##########
Erin's eyes blinked open as her bedroom was filled with the perky voice of the breakfast radio host blasting from her alarm. She slowly raised her head from the pillows, rubbing her eyes and then her temples.
Last night's partying was now having an after effect as she reached towards her bedside locker and grabbed two pills from the baggy sitting on top of the locker. She swallowed them without water as her eyes squinted to read the time on her alarm; it was 2:02pm.
Her eyes widened as the newscast began on the radio show, highlighting that it was a Thursday. Erin reached for her phone straight away, getting ready to reply to Jay's text message from yesterday. She really didn't need him or Voight coming looking for her.
She scrolled through the messages but there were no recent messages from Jay. "Huh!" She muttered, well aware that Jay had been sending her messages like clockwork every Wednesday and Sunday at 8am; only this Wednesday, there was nothing.
She tossed the phone back onto her bed and stretched her arm out to switch off the alarm, unable to shake off the question that had jumped into her mind; why hadn't he texted her?
############
Jay stood at the cooker, scrambling eggs and frying bacon. He could hear the water in the shower stop running. He served the eggs and bacon onto two plates and reached for two coffee cups. "Georgie, breakfast is ready." He called.
"Just gimme two minutes." She called as she ran from his bathroom and into his bedroom, wrapped in a towel. "Thanks for letting me crash here last night."
"It's no biggie." He called back as he sat down with his breakfast. They had been going over the case, prepping Georgie for her role for tonight's singles event. "So is your dad okay with this little sleepover?"
Georgie's head popped out from his bedroom. "If he asks, I was staying with a friend called Jayne." She answered.
Jay softly laughed. "Little does he know that Jayne would be more of a threat to his little girl's innocence than I am."
"Jay!" Georgie scoffed, tossing a balled up pair of socks towards his head.
Jay ducked his head, just as a knock at the door echoed around apartment. "You are so picking them up." He called back, lightly laughing as he reached out to open the door to his apartment.
He stopped laughing as his eyes fell on Erin, leaning against his door frame. Her eyes were dark and sunken into her face; her skin was pale; her hair looked like it hadn't seen a hair brush in a few days and her clothes were clean looking but wrinkled, as if she slept in them. She had her arms wrapped around herself, as if hugging herself for warmth.
"Erin." He gasped, surprised to find her there.
She exhaled with relief, thankful to see that he was okay. When he hadn't contacted on Wednesday, she had spent all of yesterday waiting for him text, apologising for being late but it didn't come. Then she couldn't shift the notion that he had been hurt or killed on the job and no one had thought to let her know.
"You're okay." She sighed.
"Of course I am." He replied, confused. "But are you?" He paused, silently hoping this was it; she was finally going to ask for him to help. "Erin, why are you here? Are you in trouble? Do you..."
"It's Friday Jay, it's Friday!" She interjected.
"Well yeah..." He muttered, quickly trying to understand the significance of a Friday. Did he forget some sort of anniversary?
She ran her fingers through her tangled mess of hair. "When you...when you didn't text..." She choked, before swallowing hard; fighting to keep the tears in her eyes.
"Oh God!" Jay exclaimed, finally remembering that he didn't text her on Wednesday.
"I thought...I thought..." She stuttered, fighting back her emotions.
"Erin..." Jay softly stated, realising that she had been worried about him. "I'm sorry, I'm working a case and I guess I got distracted and..."
"Jay, as nice as the breakfast looks, I'm gonna have to skip it to run home and grab a change of clothes before I get to the district." Georgie called as she exited his bedroom and headed towards him at his door. She stopped as soon as she noticed they had company. "Hey...you um, you must be Erin."
Erin completely ignored Georgie and turned to face Jay as she slowly backed away from the door. "Of course, you're not alone." She softly murmured. "I'm such an idiot."
"Erin, trust me...this is not what you think!" Jay pleaded.
"I um...I'm glad you're okay Halstead." She muttered. "And um...as you can see, I'm still breathing."
"Erin!" Jay pleaded but she stepped back into the open elevator door that then slid to a close.
"Jay, I am so sorry..." Georgie began to apologise as Jay closed the door. "...if I had known, I would have stayed in the bedroom."
"No, no...it's okay." Jay reassured her.
"How is this possibly okay Jay?" Georgie asked. "I just blew your chance at getting Erin back on track."
"No you didn't." Jay replied, a small smile appearing on his lips.
"Okay, now I'm completely confused." Georgie sighed.
"Don't you get it Georgie?" Jay stated; his smile widening. "She was worried about me; about my wellbeing. She still cares; the Erin I knew is still there; she isn't lost...I can still save her."
To be continued...