The days of the week were slowly trickling by. Once Erin got through Monday, the rest of the week usually picked up, but this week was different. Thursday had just arrived and with work on top of classes, studying and homework, Erin felt flat out exhausted. She had to balance school, work, her personal relationships…and Tucker. After Monday, she thought he got the hint. She assumed she spoke to him loud and clear. She thought it was all over, until she opened her front door Thursday morning ready to leave for class.
A gift box was positioned in front of her doorway. She already knew who it was from. Erin picked it up and used her keys to cut the top open. It's another teddy bear. It resembled the first one. Lindsay dug into the box and pulled it out. At the immediate sight of its face, she drops it. It caught her completely off guard. Its clothes are ripped. Its right eye was missing and it's left eye was dangling out of the socket; a thin piece of thread is the only thing that held it connected. Erin sees black markings on the teddy bear's white fur. It resembles dirt, but Erin's not too sure.
With her purse on her shoulder and her backpack on her back, she throws the bear back into the gift box. She holds the flap of the box as if it's infected with something as she goes down the apartment stairs. Erin pushes the apartment complex main entrance door open. She rushes over to the garbage and dumps the gift inside. Tucker's watching. He disapproves. That was another gift he gave her that ended up going into the trash. Erin reaches into her purse, and grabs some hand sanitizer from inside to squirt some into her hands. Tucker starts his car and drives off. He knows where she's going. It's Thursday. Erin has classes today and her first one starts in thirty minutes.
Tucker had a few classes today, but he didn't go. Erin wasn't in any of his Tuesday and Thursday courses. He wanted to see her all day. Skipping classes was worth it if it meant he could see Erin. After the hours of the day passed, he lost her for a moment. He had to make a quick stop at the bathroom, and by the time he came back, her class was dismissed. Her professor let them out early. Tucker felt his heart drop. His whole world froze. He felt like a parent who lost his child in the store. He felt anxiety. What if she was in danger? What if someone was trying to take advantage of her? What if she was eating tree nuts? What if she was getting hurt? And he's not there to protect her. He had to find her.
The 27 year old thought quickly about her schedule; she had three courses today. It was a few hours after noon. Her classes were over for the day. She didn't have to go into work at the library until tonight. The only possible location Tucker could think of Erin being in is the parking lot. She's probably about to go home. He clenched the strap of his backpack and took off in the direction of the building's exit. He's running. Even though it's chilly outside, he's sweating. He's out of breath, but he had to find her. He was worried about her. He's supposed to have eyes on her every second of the day.
His adrenaline quickened his sprint across campus. He's running as fast as his body would allow. Tucker's eyes were wide in desperation. He would never forgive himself if someone were to hurt her. She's his. The only person who could hurt her is him. The control is in his hands. He has the power, not anyone else. Tucker abruptly stops –and stumbles- in the parking lot. He's out of breath, bent over with his hands resting on his knees. His eyes frantically scan the parking lot, before he spots her. A long sigh of relief escapes his mouth as he stands up straight. Erin's okay. She's fine. She's…Tucker notices her and her surroundings. She's not alone.
Erin Voight was leaning against her car door, laughing loudly as a guy talked to her. Their casual banter pulled in Tucker's undivided attention from across the parking lot. Tucker has never seen the man before. He has never heard her speak of another man in her life. She has obviously known him for some time. The young Voight is chuckling as the man tells her something. He wants to know what's so funny. Is she laughing because she knows Tucker is watching? She's intentionally trying to make him jealous. He appreciated the effort. It meant she cared. However, Tucker didn't like to feel jealous. He hated the emotion…and Erin purposefully made him feel that way. She had to know what's acceptable and what isn't. He had to teach her.
Lindsay unlocks her car door and tosses her backpack into the backseat of the car. She closes it and turns back around to face Roman, "If Burgess knew you were here, she'd kill you." Erin is smiling from ear to ear, "I appreciate you trying to look out for her, but there's only so much I can do. Kim comes to you with a problem…and you come to me with it," Erin chuckles, "You promised her you wouldn't tell anyone."
"That's before I gave her bad advice. On Tuesday, she asked me if I thought Ruzek was cheating on her. I said no, but she doesn't believe it…so I told her to follow him, but I don't think that's the best advice. You have to speak to her Erin. She's your best friend. Tell her what you would do." Roman's backside is leaning against the hood of her car.
Erin sets her purse onto the passenger seat, "You want me to talk to her, but she doesn't know I know. If I talk to her, she'll be mad at you."
"If she feels better, it'll be worth it."
"You're a good partner Sean," she pats his shoulder and smiles, "I'm glad you have her back."
"So when are you going to talk to her?"
Lindsay approaches him, "How about I tell you what I would have told her?" He's leaning back and she's standing in front of him, "You can take credit for it. She won't know you broke her promise. It's a win-win."
"Okay, cool, yeah, what do you think?"
"I don't think she should follow him. I think she should talk to him. Ask him."
"What if he lies?"
Erin cracks a smile, "Ruzek is a horrible liar. Anybody can tell when he's not telling the truth."
"If he isn't cheating, you don't think he'll be mad when Burgess confronts him about it?"
Lindsay bites against her bottom lip, "I think he'll be disappointed. If he does get mad, he won't be as mad as he would have been if she follows him to find out. They've been through too much together. She should be straight up with him about her worries."
Roman grins. He knew coming to Lindsay was the best option. He's in casual clothes since he's been working on a case with Intelligence. It's currently his lunch break and he decided to grab something quick to eat off of one of the food carts on Erin's campus. While he was here, it gave him the perfect opportunity to talk to her.
"You're amazing," he hugs her; "You know that?"
"I do, but I don't hear it enough."
"I should-"
Erin holds up a finger to cut him off. Her cell ringing in her pocket pulled her attention away from him. She pulled her phone out and sighed at the caller id; the blocked number. It wasn't her dad calling at his usual time, but the blocked number instead. Sean Roman watched the frown on her face and his brows furrowed in reaction to her unfamiliar expression, "Is everything okay?"
"Yeah," she sends the call straight to voicemail.
Roman's eyes slit in suspicion, "Who was calling you?"
"It's either a very obstinate salesperson, bill collector or the wrong number," she lies easily, nonchalantly shrugging it off, "there's just a bad signal or something because I can't seem to hear them." Erin hopes her lie sounds sure and confident enough to have Roman believe her.
"Did you ever try calling them back?"
"…No," She feels him reading through her lies. Maybe Ruzek wasn't the only terrible liar.
Her phone rang again, "How often do they call?"
"Since Monday," she thinks to herself, "um…about four or five times a day."
As if on cue, her phone began ringing again. She pats Roman's shoulder as if hinting towards him that she's about to leave, but his hand grabs her wrist, "Let me answer it." Erin doesn't argue. She reaches back into her pocket and hands him her phone. He swipes with his pointer finger and places the cell against his ear, "Hello? Who is this?"
There's nothing but breathing on the other end. Erin watches Roman's expression as he intently listens into the call. Sean makes eye contact with her as he responds, "Um, whoever this is, Erin isn't interested, please stop calling back." He sounds polite. The heavy breathing stops before a dial tone sounded. The call was ended.
Erin took her phone from him, "See," she lightly smiles, "It's nobody."
"Call your service provider just in case. Request a new number."
"…I can't."
"Why?" Roman raises an eyebrow.
"If I get a new number, my dad will want to know why. He'll make such a big deal out of this."
"If you would rather get calls from telemarketers at all hours of the day, then be my guest."
Erin gives him a thankful squeeze of the shoulder, "Thanks Roman…and don't tell my dad."
"I should be heading back. I don't want to suffer the wrath of your father for being late." Roman opens his arms and hugs Erin, "Thanks again."
During the hug, she pats his back, "No, thank you for having her back."
"Always," Roman ruffled the law student's hair, "See you later Erin." He waves as he walks in the direction of his parked cop cruiser. He was parked along the street. He didn't have a student parking pass to park in the parking lot.
Tucker remained crouched between two cars for the entire conversation. He was too far to hear anything, but he was close enough to watch. He saw the hug. He saw the smiles on their faces. He could see the laughs. The guy, whoever he is, answered her phone. It took every fiber of Tucker's being to keep himself calm. He wanted to yell into the phone. He wanted to threaten the guy. He wanted to break any and everything around him. No one was supposed to answer her phone. He's not calling for them. He's calling for her. He wants her!
The 27 year old is happy to see the man walking away. He hoped to never have to see him again. Tucker knew Lindsay's schedule. She usually went home after classes to get ready for work. Working in the library didn't require a uniform, but there was a lot of free time she had, so she usually brought in school work to do. Tucker had a surprise for her. There was a window of opportunity when she went to lunch that he used to stop by her place. He left another gift. She deserved the world and he was going to give it to her. He met Eric, the around the clock security guard, and while Tucker originally thought he would pose a threat, once he watched the man work, he knew he wouldn't. Eric barely made rounds. In the security booth, he slept through the day. The only weapon Eric had was a nightstick. Eric was far from a threat. Tucker found knowing that entirely comforting.
Erin's conversation with Roman lasted a bit longer than planned. She needed to run home, grab her packed dinner out of the fridge, grab her laptop and schoolwork and then head straight back to campus. Librarian Reeves needed to get off early today because she hadn't been feeling well. Erin may have been new to the job, but since she spent most of her time in the library, she knew the ropes and where everything was. She promised the librarian she'll come in half an hour early. She straps herself into her car and immediately pulls off, maintaining the speed limit while being mindful of traffic signs.
Tucker knew that she was going to have to come back. He knew this. This parking garage was the main parking area for students and on-campus workers. He decided to sit in the backseat of his car, load his laptop up on his lap to watch and wait for Erin to arrive home. With his laptop on his lap, he sits back and rests his head against the headrest, "Any day now…" he's growing impatient, but the moment she unlocks her apartment door and rushes inside, he smiles. She has the box in her arms as she keys in the alarm code. Erin sets his gift to her down onto the bar top. She doesn't seem interested. Tucker sits up straight, "Come on Erin. Open it." He watches her grab her packed dinner out of the fridge. Seconds afterwards she rushes to her room, packs up her laptop, and grabs a large textbook to switch it out with another one in her backpack.
"Open it Erin!" His voice shouts. He sees a few bystanders walking by take a suspicious look at his car, "Come on! Open it!" He's shouting and gripping his laptop.
Erin's eyes fall to the gift. She knew she didn't want it, but her curiosity had her interested in knowing what was inside of it. Lindsay grabbed her keys from the countertop and used the edge to cut open the box. Tucker leans his face in closer to the screen as he sees her pull out the first red piece. The young Voight's hand clenches around the silk threaded red lingerie top. She feels the anger bubbling up inside of her core. There are matching panties inside of the box as well. She throws the lingerie back inside, picks the box up and throws it into her full trashcan. Lindsay is forced to tie the bag up and run it outside. Instead of making two trips, she holds the trash bag in one hand while balancing everything else in the other. She's out of Tucker's line of vision. However, he does notice that in her haste to leave, she forgets to set the alarm. He smiles. He's forced to wait for her to get back to school.
Tucker doesn't know what to do to pass the time. He should have followed her. He didn't like for her to be out of his line of sight for too long. He was bored. The 27 year old slammed his laptop shut and waited. He watched cars in the parking garage soon begin to disappear the later it grew. Most people were done with classes. Most professors were done with office hours. Tucker felt his cell vibrate in his pocket and he practically shouts in excitement as he digs in to grab it. No one else had his number but Erin. He only had one contact and she was it. It was a text from her.
I'm not dumb. I know it's you. Stop it! If you pull some shit like this again, I swear I'm going to the police.
From the text, he had gathered she was upset. He knew she'll get over it. She threw it in the trash, but he knew gifting her lingerie wouldn't be for nothing. She knew what he was into. One day, she'll surprise him. He knows it. She'll wear something similar to what he bought her and show up at his place. He had to leave her his address. Maybe she always wanted to show up, but just couldn't because she didn't know where he lived.
I'm not sure what this is about.
He played dumb. It was the first thing he could think of saying. She was mad and he needed to calm her. He had to deny everything. Tucker's fingers tapped along his thighs as he waited for her to reply. She didn't…at least not right away. He knew she was driving and he figured it took her so long because she was no longer at a stop sign or red light. Tucker waited a little longer and saw her car pull into the parking garage. She didn't park in her last spot. She chose one closer to the exit. Once her car was put in park, she didn't leave right away. She sat in her car, responding to his last message.
Delete my number. Forget my address. Go to hell.
Tucker grins madly. God, he loves this woman. She was perfect. She wasn't like Valerie. Valerie lied to him. Valerie pretended to be his friend. Valerie didn't love him. Erin always told him the truth. She didn't pretend to be his friend, she actually was. And most importantly, Erin loves him just as much as he loves her. They're a match made in heaven.
From the backseat of his car, Tucker watches her. He sees her load her arms with her purse, backpack, laptop bag and packed dinner. He would offer to help, but he knows her. He knows that she'll turn him down even if she truly didn't want to. Minutes pass. He wants her to get adjusted behind the librarian desk before he goes inside. Tucker slowly grabs his laptop, bags it, and then steps out the backseat of his car. Darkness has fallen and surrounded the once daytime sky. He loved the nighttime. You could do anything. Darkness was a great cover to mask someone. Tucker looked both ways before crossing the street. Cars were barely out on campus. It made it easier to cross the street without hurrying.
The 27 year old swipes his student id card in order to be granted access into the library after hours. The actual university closed at five, but the library remained open until midnight. Erin worked Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from five to midnight. Once he stepped inside, he saw her. She was sitting behind the librarian's desk, looking down at a book, with her highlighter tapping against her bottom lip.
"Hi," Tucker approaches the desk.
Erin looks up with a smile, but it drops the moment she sees him, "What are you doing here?"
"I'm here to study."
"I gave you a warning Tucker. I told you to stop following me."
He's holding his laptop bag tightly, "So, because you're here, I'm not allowed to come to the library. I'm not allowed to study here. I pay tuition just like everyone else."
"You expect me to think this is a coincidence."
"…a coincidence or fate, whichever, but I'm not following you."
Tucker walks away from the desk and he can feel her eyes following him. He chooses a spot that grants him clear visual of her. During her shift, people were in and out. She took breaks from studying to check out a textbook for a few students and to shush a few loud studiers. He liked seeing her in action. He liked seeing her take charge. It was one of the differences between her and Valerie. It was a difference that he liked, but only to a certain extent. He liked her strong, but not too strong. He liked her brave, but she was too brave. Tucker knew that for Erin to be with him completely, he would have to knock her down off a few pedestals. He had to humble her. He wanted her scared, meek and fragile. He needed for her to come crawling to him in desperate need of his protection…and Tucker knew the one way to get that.
Within a few clicks of a button, he places an order. He orders an adult clown costume. Her fear of clowns was going to work in his favor. It was meant for him to hear that story. He'll use it against her and she'll have no other option than to come running into his arms. Tucker leaves a few minutes before her shift ends. He makes it back to his car and realizes only two vehicles are left in the garage; hers and his. The parking garage lights are dim. Anything can happen. He can't leave…not until Erin makes it to her car.
Lindsay hits the lights and exits the dark library. She's holding her backpack, purse and laptop bag with her phone pressed between her shoulder and ear, "I'm staying over your apartment tonight." Her voice is a whisper so she can listen and pay attention to her surroundings.
"Okay, did you eat?"
"Yeah," she answers, crossing the empty street, "I just got off work."
"So how is your friend?" She can hear the smirk that's most likely against his lips.
"I wish you guys would stop calling him that. He's not my friend! He's not my boyfriend! He's not anything but a creep, and I would really love it if you all would stop joking around about it!" Erin drops her purse, "Damn it!" Fortunately, nothing fell out. All she had to do was reach down and pick it back up.
Jay is quiet. Tucker's innocent crush on her was the butt of their jokes. Sometimes Burgess and Voight would even join in. Erin assured them all he wasn't a threat, and therefore their guard dropped a little. They trusted her instincts. She knew him better than they did. If he was a threat, she would know and tell them. Once she reassured them, they started joking around about him more. They trusted her, and with work at the unit, they trusted she would come to them if needed. They couldn't watch her 24/7.
"Erin, what's wrong?"
"Nothing is-"
"Don't lie to me Erin. What's wrong? What's going on?"
She arrives at the parking garage. On one end she sees Tucker, sitting against the trunk of his car as he watches her. He watches her walk towards her car. She blinks and the next moment he's gone, "I'm…I'm being paranoid Jay." Her eyes occasionally glance back at the car, "Tucker's driving me crazy. I think I'm starting to see him now," she looks back at the car across the parking garage, and she sees his form sitting on top of the trunk, "I think I'm looking right at him." She feels like she's losing her mind.
"Is he there? Want me to come pick you up?"
She's at her car, unlocking the door, "No," she looks back over and she doesn't see Tucker, "I think I'm imagining it. No one's there."
"Erin-"
"Jay, it's okay."
"Voight was right. He should have stayed with you a little longer."
"No," she's sliding into the driver's seat, "I'm fine! You don't need to worry."
"I always worry, especially when you call me freaking out over this guy."
She's strapping her seatbelt, "I knew I shouldn't have said anything."
"That's the thing," Jay's pacing in his apartment, "You haven't said anything. Talk to me."
"So, you can run and tell my dad?"
"Erin-"
"No," Lindsay starts her car, and the moment she looks back to glance at the car parked across the parking lot, she realizes it's gone, "I know where your loyalties lie. The second I tell you something, you rush and tell him…all of you do. When it comes to me and my father, you're more loyal to him than me."
Jay's hand is pressed against his forehead, "He's my boss!"
"And I'm your girlfriend! I've known you longer! I got you the job with him!" Erin remains parked. She doesn't want to drive while still on the phone.
"I got that job because of my own merit!"
"Right, of course you did." She locks her car doors, "You know how many people apply to Intelligence every year with credentials just as good as yours? You got that job because you're banging the boss's daughter and he figured you would know every aspect about my life that he doesn't. You're his little spy Halstead, and you're definitely living up to it."
"Bye Erin."
"Bye Jay." The call ends abruptly.
Erin releases a loud scream from within her car. She slams her hand against the wheel as she throws her phone into the passenger seat. Lindsay was stressed. Besides school and work, there was the large issue of Tucker. She wanted to tell Jay or Kim or her dad, but she knew telling them would shift her entire life. He didn't break any laws. All they would be able to legally do is give him a warning –which she has done countless times- and tell her that if he escalates to report it to them. That's the only impact it would have on Tucker's life, but her life would take a huge turn. Her dad would force her to move back into his house. He'll want constant updates on what she's doing at every second of the day. He'll trace her phone. He'll send officers to pop in on her. She can't live like a criminal. She can't live being watched for who knows how long.
Tucker did indeed sit on the trunk of the car. He wanted to play mind games on her. Every time she turned around, he disappeared behind his car. The movement in her steps and her body language made him aware of just how nervous and freaked out she was. When she hopped inside her car, Tucker chose that moment to leave. He wanted to go to her place. Her alarm wasn't on…and he heard her mention to Jay that she was staying at his place tonight.
The 27 year old made it to her apartment, picked the lock swiftly and stepped inside. Apartment locks were always easier to get into. She didn't have a deadbolt. He eyed her alarm system as he walked further inside. Tucker was exhausted. He was tired. The man made his way to her bedroom and turned on the light; he needed something of hers to sleep with. After opening up her drawer, grabbing a piece of clothing she owned, he smelled it. It smelt like laundry detergent. Knowing she wore this article of clothing sent amazing tremors through his body. Tucker kicked off his shoes, hit the light and climbed into her bed. His head pressed against the pillow, as he pulled the article of clothing closer to his body.
The man was seconds away from falling to sleep when he hears the front door open. Erin is home. She was no longer staying over Jay's place after their argument that Tucker knew nothing about. He quickly -but quietly- hops to his feet; time was of the essence. He hears her set her keys down and go to open the refrigerator, "Damn it!" he hears something shatter; maybe a cup or plate. Tucker kicks his shoes underneath the bed, clenches onto the article of clothing tighter and crawls under. He's on his stomach. Fortunately for him, his phone was still in his car. There was nothing on him that could possibly make a noise.
Minutes later, Erin enters her bedroom. She hits the light and he sees her bare feet walking against the carpet. There's a band-aid on the top of her foot. The cut or plate most likely fell against her foot when it shattered. He wanted to reach from underneath her bed to grab and massage it. He wanted to kiss it for her. She was hurt and he couldn't comfort her. Articles of Erin's clothing falls to the floor as she strips down into her underwear; Tucker wishes he was watching on his laptop. He couldn't see anything besides her feet and legs. He doesn't know what she changes into, but after she finishes changing, she hits the light.
Erin's sniffling as she crawls onto her bed. She's obviously crying. Her head hits her pillow and she pulls her covers over her shoulders. She's wiping the corner of her eyes as she stares forward. She has to remind herself. Tucker is just creepy. He hasn't done anything to hurt you. He won't. He's just persistent. Erin thinks to herself that he's not thinking about her. The week was over for Erin since she finished classes on Thursday. She had a week to get herself together. Next Saturday was the award ceremony for her dad. She was going to be in an auditorium full of cops. If anyone questioned her, they'll see through anything she says. She has nine days to get herself together. Nine days should be enough time. It took her longer than usual to fall asleep, but the moment she did, it felt like the weight of the world was off her shoulders.