"Lindsay, I've got you covered... Let's move!"

She nods in reply.

There were probably five or more criminals between the two of them and the rest of their squad was waiting outside. They're both sharp shooters so there really isn't an issue but you can never be too careful. They're pretty damn thrilled when they make out alive and mostly unscathed.

"Hey, thanks for all that back there..." She smiles, "pretty badass…"

Jay nods, "To protect and serve, right?"

She nods "right..."


"I know you're probably in a deep sleep but you need to be fine for me and you need to be more than fine for Voight—he can't lose you too..." His voice quivers.

"Just come back to us please..." Jay pleads, "If there's one thing your stubborn ass can do for us now is to come home..."


She doesn't know how it happened—well she does know how it happened but you know what she's getting at. They start spending more time together outside work just the usual stuff like drinks at Molly's and whatnot. But then they start having dinners together and they're never awkward, mostly she just likes the fact that she can have an honest conversation with him and not have the whole 'sex at the end of the night' card on the table.

Being partners and hanging out like that, it's got her really comfortable around him and she kind of trusts him (which is a rare thing these days).

"The Blackhawks are playing tonight, want to watch the game at mine?" She offers.

He shrugs, "yeah, I got nothing better to do..."

She rolls her eyes, "typical—just make sure you bring beer this time..."

He chuckles, "yeah, I still owe you a six pack from two weeks ago..."

She scoffs playfully, "more like two months ago!"

"Yeah yeah... Whatever!" He nudges her, "I'll see you around 7:30 and if you're lucky I might even buy you dinner!" He smirks.


It's been a couple of hours since this whole nightmare began. Jay rests his head in his hands trying to put up a good front but he's exhausted. He is emotionally and physically spent, you can do all the training in the world but nothing ever really prepares you to see your partner get shot in front of you.

He takes a deep breath looking back at her, he just wants to be there when she wakes up. She's been the constant in his life and losing her just wouldn't be okay.

He remembers all the times she's been there for him, whether he has needed it or not. She was always kind of there, no questions asked and he loved her for it. He remembers when she showed up with Chinese takeout and beer after he was put on suspension, albeit she was advised not to see him but she did so anyway.

He remembers the nights they'd spent on her couch just talking about everything. He remembers the month she disappeared for a while because she had a boyfriend and he had to respect that. But despite everything Jay remembers that she's his family—he would do anything and almost everything for her. She's been there for him through some rough patches and she's kind of the best wing woman a guy could have.


Caffeine is really all he has going for him, it's his third cup of the day. He's losing his mind not knowing how the squad is going and not being able to help. He should have news from Voight by now, right? Even if it's not total news, he just needs an update.

"Halstead..." a gravelly voice calls out to him.

Jay turns meeting the tired eyes of his sergeant, "Hey Sarge…" he smiles takes a deep breath.

Voight rubs his hands nervously, "how is she?"

"She's stable, so far nothing serious to keep her here longer than tonight but she hasn't woken up..." Jay shrugs, "I'll take you to her..."


Jay leaves Voight to talk with her in private. Over the course of his time working in Intelligence, he could see how deeply Voight and Erin cared for each other. The guy was basically Erin's only family and although Jay was skeptical of Voight at first, he now knows how far he would go to protect his own.

Voight smiles taking Erin's pale hand in his, "you know kid you're really scaring me here..."

"And you know I don't scare easily Erin..." He sighs, "you were meant to be wearing your vest..."

"We got the guy though and I'm gonna make sure he rots in prison for the rest of his life..." He smiles squeezing her hand gently, "so you rest up, okay? You make sure you come right on back here..."

He kisses her forehead before exiting the room.

"Hey Jay, I got a lot of paperwork to do…" he places a hand on Jay's shoulder, "and with Justin and Olive at my house–"

"Sarge, I get it..."

"I'll be back to check on her in the morning" Voight nods, "you should go home and get some rest Jay…"

Jay tiredly smiles, "I hope you don't mind if stay around for awhile Sarge? I just need to be here for her..."

"You're a good man Jay," Voight pats him on the back, "but you need to take care of yourself too..."

Jay nods understanding Voight's concern but he just needed to be there.

"I promise I'll rest up when she's okay…" he nods, "Ruzek's dropping a bag off for me so it's really not a hassle sir..."

"Just get some rest..."

"I will sarge..."


"Hey man..." Ruzek smiles, handing over the duffel bag he brought for Jay.

Jay smiles back, "hey..."

"You should have seen Voight man—it was like when we dealt with Pulpo but like a billion times worse..." He smiles reassuring Jay.

"I bet..." Jay tiredly laughs.

Ruzek pats him on the back, "She'll be alright Jay—this is Erin we're talking about!" he grins, "She's got more fight than all of us dudes put together..."

He smiles again, "yeah so everyone keeps telling me but I just need to see her with her eyes open and telling me I'm overreacting..."

Adam chuckles, "dude I don't think that'll be a problem... Ladies of the 21st district are all hard asses!"

Jay lets out a genuine laugh, "yeah man—hey thanks for all this by the way..."

"Anytime dude, you'd do the same for me..." He smiles, "plus Kim wanted an update..."

Jay smiles, "I don't know how you're getting away with this dude but I'm happy for you and Burgess..."

"You and Erin will figure this out..." Ruzek shrugs, "hey but y'know I gotta head off but the whole unit is coming by tomorrow so I'll see you then..."

Jay nods.


He washes his face although it does nothing for his tired exterior. He looks like he's been drinking for three weeks straight and has a deadly hangover. He changes into some cleaner clothes considering he has her blood all over his shirt and jeans. He makes his way back to her room after repeatedly telling himself that it was going to be okay and that Erin was going to be okay.

He sits in the chair by her bed just like he has for the past eight hours and yet there's still nothing—just her chest slowly rising and falling.

He finally allows himself to be vulnerable giving into the feelings he had so desperately tried to repress. He hesitantly takes one of her hands in his own, surprised by how cold they are—it scares him a little. She should be warm, right?

He watches her seeing if making contact with her made a difference. Nothing. He runs his thumb over her knuckles smiling noticing a little scar on her middle knuckle. He comes up with the most ridiculous—although now that he thinks about it, it could be possible—backstory about how she knocked a guy in the nose because he was talking back to her and she ended up having to get stitches.

She's gotta be one of the most fearless people he knows and one of the few people that can actually manage rifles like she does.

"I got your back..." he whispers.


She doesn't remember much. All she can manage to remember is the pain that came after being shot. She knows she was out chasing someone with Jay and Sargent Benson but she has no recollection of the ambulance or the hospital.

The pain's still there but at least she's alive, right?

It takes her a while to realize that someone else is in the room with her—it's dark so she can't really make out who the figure it actually is. It's around two in the morning and the only person she could think of that would be in the chair was Voight.

The build wasn't right though. The guy was taller and had broader shoulders. She smiles to herself falling back to sleep knowing exactly who was in that chair.