CHAPTER 10

JAYS POV

Jay felt his body lightly shaking as he lifted his head. His vision appeared hazy as he fought to focus on anything. The dull aching in his knees brought him back to the small fluorescently lit room. His heart sunk in his chest again as he realized the past day's events had not been the nightmare he had desperately hoped for but reality.

Jay traced his fingers down Erin's arm to her still motionless hand. He took her hand in his once again while he traced small circles with his thumb. He heard the deep clearing of a throat behind him which caused him to flinch momentarily before quickly spinning around, keeping a protective hand on Erin.

Voight stood behind him with both palms raised towards him. "Easy Halstead." Jay sighed as he ran a still blood crusted hand over his tired face. "Jesus Voight. How long have you been there?"

Voight crossed his arms as he looked from Jay to Erin. "Long enough to know you need some rest Halstead. You've been asleep for over thirty minutes in here. Time for you to go clean yourself up." Voight's eyes went to Jay's hands as he placed an emphasis on the last three words.

Jay turned from Voight back towards Erin. He stroked her cheek lightly as he silently shook his head. "I'm fine. I'm right where I need to be," he said in a little more than a whisper.

Voight uncrossed his arms and stepped to the head of the hospital bed. Jay could feel Voight's eyes burning a hole into the side of his head but he kept his gaze on Erin.

"Halstead this isn't a request. You are going to go clean yourself up and at least eat something. Do you really want Erin to wake and see her blood still all over you? Have you stopped to think about that?" Voight slightly raised his voice and Jay could tell his blood was beginning to boil at his resistance.

Jay looked down briefly at his hands again. "I'll wash my hands off okay? But I'm staying here." Jay kept his eyes on Erin face as he answered.

"I think you forgot who you are talking to Halstead. This isn't a choice. Ruzek is going with you. I'll stay with Erin." Voight's voice was surprising clam as he motioned with his hand to someone outside the door.

Jay looked over his shoulder and sighed as he saw Ruzek poke his head in. "I don't need a babysitter." Jay pushed out through a clenched jaw.

"Go Halstead. I'm not asking again. If anything changes before you get back I'll call you." Voight pulled a chair over to the side of Erin's bed, sitting down.

Jay let his shoulders sag as he released Erin's hand from his, letting his fingers linger on her hand momentarily before turning to face Voight.

"Alright, I'll go clean-up and change. Then I'm coming straight back." Jay said in a slightly challenging tone.

Voight pursed his lips slightly before nodding.

Jay ran his eyes one more time over Erin's form before slowly walking out of the room.

Ruzek was quiet as he and Jay walked outside the Hospital doors into the night's air. "So I'll take you to your place to get some clothes?" Ruzek asked in somewhat of a questioning tone.

Jay absently mindedly nodded as he got into the passenger seat of Ruzek's car. "Actually…you'll have to take me to Erin's to get my clothes." Jay felt Ruzek turn towards him, as he was about to put the keys into the ignition. Ruzek's hand froze as he leaned back in the driver's seat.

"I think a lot of things are beginning to make sense to me now," Ruzek said with a slight smile on his lips as he looked into the rearview mirror at the still very dark bruise around his nose. "I can't say I'm all that surprised." He said as his lips twitched upwards.

Jay bit the inside of his cheek as he sighed. "It's not what you think. Well…okay it's a little bit of what you think I guess. My apartment was flooded and I have been staying with her for a little bit is all." He avoided contact with Ruzek's which didn't stop the wide smile Jay saw creeping onto Ruzek's lips from the coroner of his eyes.

"Right, Common I'm not Voight. I think it's great you two finally…well you know." Ruzek was full smile now.

Jay let his head roll to his left shoulder as he looked at Ruzek's goofy smile. "Would you just shut up and drive already." Jay responded with a tinge of annoyance and amusement. "Just don't say anything to Voight alright?" He continued, looking back towards the hospital.

Ruzek put the keys into the ignition, finally starting the car. "No worries man. I wouldn't dream of being the one to drop that bomb on Voight ," Ruzek said chuckling slightly to himself. "I can't guarantee he hasn't already caught on a little after today though," Ruzek finished, his smile fading as the day's events washed over him.

Jay closed his eyes. The image of Erin's lifeless body on the floor of the hotel room flooded his mind once again. "Yeah, but right now Voight is least of my concerns," He mumbled as Ruzek pulled away from the curb.

ERIN'S POV

She fought the darkness as a faint voice invaded her senses. A wave of panic rushed over her as she fought to open her eyes and move her body. It was like she was trapped outside her body in dark dungeon. She tried to calm the rising terror that was invading her mind as she focused on the voice that seemed to be getting closer.

An electric bolt of hope rushed through her as she knew she could recognize that voice anywhere, Hank. Erin wanted nothing more than to run towards that voice and wrap her arms around him, but she couldn't shake the weighed darkness that was still holding her down.

Voight sat in the chair next to Erin with his arms crossed. He didn't quite know what he was supposed to say in a situation like this. He softly tapped his foot and let his eyes wander over Erin's face. He sighed softly as he scooted forward in his chair, placing a hand lightly on her knee.

"I've been told that talking to people while they are coming out of a coma can help so…I'll give it my best shot," Voight ran his free hand over his chin as he continued.

"I don't think I tell you enough how proud I am of you," He said as he lightly squeezed her knee. "Camille and I could have never imagined you to become more of a woman than you are." Voight lowered his head, letting his hand leave her knee to take her hand in his.

He looked down as his lap as he held her hand tenderly in his. "It's my fault Erin. I shouldn't have put you in this position," He shook his head as he continued. "The OP was too rushed. I wanted to catch that piece of shit so bad I put you in unnecessary danger." He looked up to her face as he continued to hold her hand.

"The team needs you. I need you," Voight softy chuckled at his next thought. "And Halstead…Well he is beyond a mess. I can see you haven't lost the effect you have on men. Don't let Halstead be another broken heart in the trail." Voight leaned forward in his chair and lowered his head letting out a defeated sigh.

Erin struggled against the darkness as she listened to Hank. She felt a tingling sensation beginning in her feet. It slowly began to creep up her body. Her foot involuntarily jerked as the tingling made its way to her hands. The sensation quickly spread to the rest of her body as her fingers lightly moved against the warm hand that held hers.

She pushed her eyelids apart as the blinding light invaded her senses. She slammed her eyes back shut as she let out a muffled moan. Erin slowly opened her eyes this time, letting them adjust. A white haze distorted everything as her eyes moved from left to right trying to bring anything into focus.

She felt her hand squeeze as a hazy figure stood over her. "Erin..Erin, can you hear me?" She tried swallowing the dry lump in her throat to speak but the unbearable pain of the action caused her to wince.

"Hey, I need a doctor in here!" The sound of Voight yelling caused Erin to fight past the dry lump in her throat as she raspily croaked out, "Owe Hank, can you dial it down just a few notches.." Her voice trailed off as the dryness became overwhelming.

Voight placed his hand on her arm as a rare smile began to play on his face. "You really had me going for a second you know." He lightly stroked her face with the back of his palm.

Erin struggled to sit up as Voight placed a hand on her shoulder. "Oh no you don't. You are staying right there while I get the doctor." Voight squeezed her shoulder as he gently pushed her back into the pillow.

He turned and walked towards the door, turning around at the threshold. "Thank you for coming back to us," He softly said before disappearing out the doorway.

Erin smiled slightly to herself as she watched him disappear out the doorway. Her whole body ached in fiery pain. She looked down at herself and tried desperately to remember what happened but the pounding pain in her head was clouding her memory. Erin closed her eyes tight as she willed the pain to go away. The only clear thought that entered her mind was Jay. Holding on to the image of his face, she drifted back off to a restless sleep.

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Well the writers once again gave us an awesome episode yesterday! I hope they keep it coming. Now that I've a taste of on-screen Linstead (um and shirtless Halstead), I don't think I can go without.

And Thank you to all that Review. I do really appreciate every single one :)