[I know it's been forever, I apologize. This isn't my best, but it is my attempt to force myself out of this insane case of writer's block. Be kind!]

Reason Number Seven: because of all the asses in the world.

"Why are we here?" Jay questioned as he followed Erin into the unfamiliar bar. The two agreed to drinks after shift, and Jay was surprised when Erin drove by not only Molly's but also all of their other regular bars.

"Maybe I didn't feel like seeing everyone we know tonight." Erin curtly replied as she made her way to two open spots at the bar.

"I think you just wanted me all to yourself." He teased as he relaxed into the seat next to her.

"What can I get you, handsome?" A female voice interrupted before Erin could reply. Normally, Erin would be grateful for a reprieve, but the look red head was giving her partner was anything but welcomed.

"What do you have on tap?" Jay began.

"We'll each take a double whiskey neat." Erin interrupted, leaning into Jay as she offered their order.

"Coming right up." The bartender smiled sweetly at Jay before turning back towards the shelves of liquor.

"Good service." Jay offered as he leaned back against his seat, "We barely sat down. Want to order a snack?"

Erin couldn't help but shake her head at her partner. For a detective, he sure as hell could be clueless. "Want to go to a restaurant instead?"

"No, bar food will cut it." He responded as he surveyed the room.

"Here, you go. Should I start two separate tabs?" The woman returned, again refusing to acknowledge Erin.

"No, together. Can we see a menu?" Erin replied through her teeth while reaching for her drink. The idea was to get away from the crowd for a relaxed evening, not to spend the night watching a woman throw herself at her partner.

"No problem." She answered as she reached for a menu, "I recommend the wings if you're into spicy."

"We'll keep that in mind." Erin gritted through her teeth as she reached for the menu.

"Are you alright?" Jay questioned, still oblivious to the tension between the females.

"How does she know we aren't together?" Erin snapped once the woman was out of earshot.

"What?"

"She is throwing herself at you, and for all she knows we could be together." Erin continued to vent as she finished the rest of her glass.

"She isn't throwing herself at me. And we aren't together." Jay replied, motioning for another drink, "We'll have another round and an order of those wings you mentioned."

"Are you sure she can handle the heat?" The red head motioned to Erin while keeping her eyes on Jay.

"Can we get some of their oysters, too?" Erin whispered as she snaked her arm across Jay's shoulders while pointing to the menu with her free hand. "I'm in the mood."

"Oysters and wings coming right up." The bartender shortly replied.

"And don't forget the refills." Erin grinned, sliding her glass towards the edge of the bar.

"Well how about that?" Jay questioned, a smirk covering his face.

"What?" Erin innocently replied, dropping her arm to the back of his seat.

"You're jealous."

"You wish." Erin snorted as she leaned away from her partner.

"Doesn't make it not true." Jay answered before nodding to the bartender as she deposited their refills, "Thanks."

Erin took a long drink from her whiskey before answering, "What? I've had a long day – I'm not in the mood to watch this girl drool over you all night."

"I never pegged you as the jealous type." Jay commented as he took a drink of his whiskey.

"Like you would enjoy spending your first night off in weeks watching some guy throw himself at me." Erin retorted, finishing her glass.

"That actually wouldn't bother me at all." Jay lied before finishing his glass.

"Come on, you beat the shit out of a guy for a few innocent catcalls."

"He threw a glass bottle at you." Jay argued, leaning forward against the bar. "I was being a gentleman, as always."

"So you're saying you would be fine if I went over there and flirted with that guy at the end of the bar?" Erin questioned.

"I'm not flirting with anyone. There's a difference." Jay defended, gently spinning his glass under his hand against the bar.

"Is there?" Erin's eyebrow rose as she sensed her partner's discomfort, knowing she had made her point.

"Your food." The bartender appeared, placing two plates in front of the pair. "Careful" she began, looking at Erin for the first time, "wouldn't want to get burnt."

"We like it hot. Refills again please." A fake smile covered Erin's face as the woman turned again to find a bottle. "What? We have off tomorrow." She reasoned as she pulled some chicken from a wing before taking a bite.

"These are good" Jay offered as he began eating a wing of his own. "Good call." He smirked towards the bartender as she refilled their drinks yet again.

"You've got some sauce, right here." The bartender boldly reached across the bar, gently wiping the sauce from Jay's lips with her thumb. "Glad you like them."

"I'm going to use the bathroom." Jay responded, instantly feeling the glare of his partner burning through his side. "Be nice." He whispered into the female detective's hair, before making his way across the room to wash up. The cold water was a jolt to his system compared to the warmth filling his body. Jay never appreciated jealousy before, but the display Erin was putting on tonight was addicting. He constantly ached for her; it was nice being reminded that she might be doing the same.

As Jay made his way back to the bar, he immediately noticed two empty stools in front of their plates of food. Assuming Erin had made a trip to the restroom herself, Jay started to eat another wing, silently enjoying the music filling the bar. He was mid-bite when a husky laugh made his head snap to the corner of the bar. A different kind of heat filled his body as he saw Erin resting her hand on the shoulder of another man.

Erin could feel Jay's eyes on her immediately. She pulled hers away from her new friend to return the look, quickly motioning to her face indicating that he once again had some sauce on his lips. Jay angrily wiped his mouth with a napkin before making a beeline towards Erin.

"You've made your point." He gritted through his teeth, as his hand gripped Erin's waist and instinctively pulled her into him.

"I don't think I have." Erin sweetly smiled before turning back to the other man. "Mike here works construction, said he's great with his hands."

"Would love to get the chance to show you." The man responded, ignoring Jay.

"Enjoy them by yourself. Take it easy, Mark." Jay snapped before pulling Erin across the room.

"It's Mike." A voice called at their backs.

"What are you doing?" Erin questioned, pretending to be mad despite the lightness filling her body.

"We're dancing." Jay responded before turning towards Erin, firmly placing his hands on her lower back.

"Well how about that?" Erin teased as her hands rose to the back of his neck, "You're jealous."

"Please, he was a tool." Jay stared over her towards the bar, "I'm good with my hands." He mocked, shaking his head.

"I never pegged you as the jealous type." Her voice was soft despite the anger she would typically feel after such a display.

"I'm not."

"Clearly." Erin laughed as she began to sway with the music. The combination of whiskey and Jay made her feel like floating. Jay, however still stood straight, staring at the space in the distance they had just left. "Jay." Erin's hand drifted up the back of his neck, pulling his head to face her. "It's over, let's dance."

"I'm not though." His voice softened as their eyes made contact, "I mean I never was."

"It's been a long week, Jay, we are both tired and drank a lot of whiskey pretty quickly."

"This isn't the first time I felt that way." He whispered as they continued to stand in each other's arms in the middle of the bar. "About you I mean. No one else, just you."

"I know what you mean." Erin agreed, her voice dropping to a whisper, "I'm that way about you, too. Just means we give a rat's ass."

"I give more than a rat's ass. I give all the rats' asses." His crooked smile finally returned to his lips.

"Plus all of the cat's and all of the dog's." Erin added, playing with his hair as they gently began to sway to the music.

"All the asses in the world." Jay offered, leaning his forehead against hers.

"And then some." Erin agreed, exhaling deeply. "Now, I don't know about you. But it's not everyday that we find ourselves alone in a bar with no one we know."

Jay's eyebrows rose as he stood straight, hands still firmly on her small waist.

"I want to take you up on that dance." Erin further explained, loving how cute her partner looked when confused.

"This is us dancing." He replied as he drummed his fingers against her back.

"This is how you dance with your grandma." Erin teased, her head tilting to the side.

"This is how I dance." Jay reiterated, continuing the gentle sway.

"I did not drive 45 minutes to leave room for the Holy Spirit."

"So you did just want me alone." Jay confirmed, a smile filling his face.

"This isn't the place for a slow dance, pick it up Halstead." Erin smiled, dropping her hands to his waist, motioning for the muscular detective to move his hips.

"Erin." Jay groaned, dropping his head back.

"Maybe Mike wouldn't mind." Erin joked before Jay pulled her body into his.

"Too soon." Jay replied as he began to move with more speed, "Only for you."

"Seems to be the theme of the night. Don't worry, I'll make it worth it." She whispered into his ear before spinning in his arms and pushing her back against him to the music.

"With you it always is."