A/N: So sorry about the long wait! I want to thank you all for the lovely reviews. I want you to know they make all the difference, so keep leaving them okay? Okay.
Huge thanks to my beta quesera1! She's the best human and I love her.
Now, without further ado, here's the chapter! Enjoy!
The weeks breeze by as they focus on solving one crime after another. Erin's social life is practically non-existent—something Jay is not happy about. They have barely had a chance to talk since New Year's—but case after case keeps them busy all the time, so when they go home, they go to sleep. They have no other choice but to push their relationship onto the backburner, at least for however long the case streak lasts.
But when peace finally comes, Erin worries that it something is coming, and she is not wrong.
She should have known it would involve crying. When she comes home for a "girls night" with Camille with the intention of telling her about New York, she should have known. But it goes surprisingly well, aside from the tears they both shed in buckets.
They end up watching old movies and talking almost the entire night. It's a tradition they started when Erin was a teenager and it is still their favourite way to spend time together. Somehow, life seems easier in black and white, even when Humphrey and Ingrid part at the airport with the famous words We'll always have Paris.
"I'm so happy you took the time."
Feeling warm and safe, cuddled up on the couch with the only mother she ever knew, she agrees. "I'll always find time for you."
"And how is Jay?"
Camille tries, really tries to make that question sound casual, but fails so badly, which is why Erin ends up chuckling in reply.
"He's fine. We haven't really seen each other much, outside of work."
"Are you afraid it will cause problems at work if you go for it?"
It's Camille's words that really cause Erin to think long and hard about, why she has been so reluctant to get closer to Jay. The truth is, she is running out of excuses—and willpower as well.
The truth is, she is afraid of what might happen if she lets herself fall.
"Hey, you're not a Yankees fan, are you?"
Erin shoots him a glare that makes him want to run for his life. He has seen that glare before, and he knows exactly who she got it from. "Never," she replies, "why?"
"Oh, just got these sweet, sweet tickets for a Cubs game …" He places them on the desk, watching her eyes widen, following by a smile. "I wouldn't want to waste them on a Yankees fan."
"You're one to talk. Aren't you a White Sox fan?"
"Yes, I'm so glad you brought that up. If it were Cubs against White Sox, the choice is obvious. But, it's Chicago playing, so … you in? It's the first time since New Year's that we aren't slammed with cases."
"I don't know. This seems like a wicked pretence of getting me on a date."
"I would never." He feigns innocence, but his eyes do sparkle a little at the word date. She knows she is being unfair, because they haven't even talked much since New Year's, much less had the opportunity to pursue whatever there is lingering between them.
"I can always give them to Ruzek," he suggests, and she quickly snaps the second ticket off the desk.
"But I'm a much better date than he is."
"I'll pick you up."
As they arrive at the stadium, he can finally take all of her in. She looks very casual in a Cubs jersey underneath a jean jacket. It's unusually warm for March, but the wind can still be chilly. He fights the urge to hold her hand, and instead pushes them into his jacket.
Erin throws nervous glances at her buzzing phone.
"You can take it. I don't mind."
But she shakes her head almost angrily and shoves the phone into her pocket.
"I needed this." He can see she's changing the topic, but if she doesn't want to talk about the mysterious caller, he's not going to push. "To just get away. This case is killing me," she admits. "So, thanks."
"You're welcome. I'd much rather look at you than at Ruzek."
"Ha-ha. Oh, isn't that your friend from the hospital?"
Jay looks around, and realizes Erin is right, it is Natalie. "Yeah, that's her."
"You two seem pretty close."
"Yeah, she's awesome. And her son is the best," he comments, observing the dynamic between mother and son.
"Do you want to go say hi?"
That's the moment when Natalie spots them and waves, so they really have no other choice but to make it through the crowd to greet her. Natalie smiles warmly at Jay, but her reaction is nothing compared to her son's, who apparently worships Jay and the floor he walks on.
"Erin, it's so good to see you. I sleep better at night, knowing you're looking after Jay out there."
"You know, that's not exactly accurate," Jay jumps in. "We look after each other."
"Sure, you do," Natalie agrees in a way that makes it obvious that she doesn't in fact agree. She laughs, and Erin joins in, even though she doesn't exactly feel like laughing. The relationship between Jay and Natalie is still a mystery to Erin, and though she doesn't think Jay would have kissed her if he was dating someone, there is definitely something there—something she might have to ask him about at some point.
She steals a glance at Jay and is surprised to find out he is returning it. When their eyes meet, her cheeks flush softly, which is completely out of character for her. Her gaze drops to the floor.
She is saved by the bell, or in this case, Jay's phone ringing. Please don't be a case, she thinks to herself, crossing fingers in her mind. She needs some fun, but as always, the job doesn't take breaks.
"It's Voight," Jay mouths, before taking the call. "Yeah? Okay, I'll be right there. Okay."
"We got a case?" She asks, even though she already knows the answer.
"Another jogger," Jay confirms. Erin sighs, and waves goodbye to Owen and Natalie. Natalie looks at them with pity, but they all know that if her pager beeped, they would be heading to the hospital too.
"Erin …" He waits for them to get into the car, before explaining more about the case.
"What?"
"This one didn't make it."
Which means that their case just went from a series of rapes to murder.
"I hate that we haven't gotten him yet." Her voice shakes a little, even though she does her best to cover it up. Her reputation is something she would like to hold on to, even though she doubts it's in any danger with him.
"Well, he stopped during the winter. No new leads. There was nothing we could do."
Even though he knows Erin tried anyway. Countless times during the winter, he came in early to find she never went home. It came to a point where Voight had to give her an involuntary day off so she got some necessary rest.
"I've got a theory about that too," she murmurs. "Cold and ice. I love running, but there is nothing that can make me go out there with temperatures below twenty."
"Which means he does it out of convenience?"
"Could be. Except I found three rapes that happened in near proximities of gyms. We didn't make the connection before, but maybe …"
"He has a type," Jay finishes for her, causing her to nod.
"And I've got a plan."
They arrive to the bullpen, and everyone else is already there. It's clear this interrupted everybody's plans. Voight throws them a funny look, before grunting that they should let him know when Al gets there. Al then promptly shows up from behind something, and as that means the unit is complete, they can begin.
Burgess takes them through the latest victim. "Again, we've got nothing, no DNA, but the same puncture wounds. We still can't find the manufacturer, but I have threatened some people, so hopefully we'll get something soon. We tried tracing him through the drugs he uses, but it's the most common cocktail out there."
"Erin's found two reported rapes that happened near a gym, and one attempt. Looks like this guy hasn't been sleeping during the winter like we originally thought."
"But how do we catch him? This guy is careful."
"We give him a target." All eyes turn to Erin after those words. "Undercover."
"I think it's a good idea. We'll find somebody …"
She cuts Voight off before anyone can say another word. "I'll do it. We need to put a stop to this."
Voight only nods, his eyes not giving away the battle Erin knows is happening inside of him. For all intents and purposes—in every way that matters—he is her father. And she can't imagine what it feels like to have to send your kid off to face a danger like that. But then again, she signed up for this the day they pinned the badge on her chest.
"Are you sure about this?" Jay asks for the tenth time, watching her nod. "Nobody will blame you if you change your mind."
"It's just another undercover assignment," she reassures him. "I'll be fine. Besides, I know you'll have my back." She's already dressed, so she pulls her hair into a high pony tail and add a sports headband. "How do I look?"
He swallows the word hot and gives her a thumbs-up. "This reminds me of the time you helped out with that Serbian mob case and uncovered a mass white crime organization."
"God, I'm a badass."
"Yeah, you are. But also, be smart. Please?"
"Don't worry," she tells him, obviously uncomfortable with how worried he is. It helps her to try and put herself into his shoes, which isn't hard to do, because she has been in his shoes before.
"That's kind of impossible," he replies, pulling her against him for a hug.
With the case at a standstill, they are both in need of some relaxation, so when he invites her over to watch the game that wasn't meant to be, she willingly shows up with Thai take-out from his favourite place.
She is acutely aware of her surroundings. The recording of the Cubs game they missed on the tv, the chilly March air coming in through the open window, and especially Jay's body next to hers on the couch.
Jay is seemingly focused on the game, so she gets a chance to observe him unnoticed. He's handsome—that much has always been clear to her, but the last time she got to watch him like this he was younger. His face seems more mature now, his jaw more defined, his eyes darker from everything he's seen on the job. But there is still something—a spark—that makes Erin drawn to him and goes beyond the looks.
Oh god, I'm in love with him.
And how could she not be. He's patient, good at his job, compassionate and passionate. He's funny—his weird sense of humour never fails to make her smile. He's kind, loyal to a fault, and apparently good with kids, she thinks, remembering his with Natalie's son. It's not wonder she's fallen for him long and hard.
"I need to ask you something," she blurts out, taking him by surprise. He nods, encouraging her to continue. "Do you have something going on with Natalie?"
The brief pause he makes before answering the question tells her that there is something there. She didn't become a detective for nothing. But of course, she never expected anything but the truth from him, or she wouldn't have asked.
"There was something—briefly. But the timing was off, and it was complicated. We stayed friends though. I like hanging out with Owen."
"But there is nothing more?"
He shakes his head, genuinely curious why she's asking about it. Maybe it's that, or the fact that she can always count on him to tell her the truth that prompts her to reach over and crush her lips against his. He responds right away, by cupping her jaw with his hand, deepening the kiss.
She lets out a breathy moan, that startles her out of her hot-headed reverie. The hand she places on his chest to maintain distance is a clear sign to Jay, and he pulls back, confused but smiling.
"Were you jealous?" He asks, because he can't think of anything else to say. She doesn't respond to that.
"I should go," she murmurs, "we've got work so early in the morning and I need to get some sleep." They have been out there in the park every morning so far, with no luck.
Jay nods, accompanying her to the door.
Right before she leaves, she turns back. "I was a little jealous. Maybe. Possibly."
His lips spread into a gorgeous smile illuminating his whole face. "Good to know. Night, Erin."
"Night, Jay."
The perp doesn't show up the first couple mornings, and if nothing else, at least Erin is getting her exercise in, and Adam has something to complain about (waking up early, and Erin panting into the mic).
But on the fourth morning, when the weather is especially chilly, and the area is all but abandoned at this early hour, there is another runner coming in the opposite direction. Erin maintains her path and feels his body crush into hers. If she didn't know it was coming, she wouldn't have felt the small ping of a needle, since her whole body was still recovering from the crush.
"I'm so sorry, I tripped over my feet. Here, let me help you." He takes her further into the woody part of a park, leaning her onto a tree.
Her whole body turns with revulsion and anger, and in that moment, if she could move, she would have gotten a good punch in. But the drugs are kicking in too fast, and she finds herself weak and disoriented.
Where are you guys?
