Recognition for this prompt goes to Caroline: "Love your story! Prompt: Voight raising Erin and dealing with rebellious phases."

**Keep Holding On**

Erin pulled the large leather jacket tighter around her thin arms as she stared out of the passenger seat window. Buildings and people flashed by as the police cruiser sped through the dark night. She pulled a small mirror from her purse, and stared into her reflection, "I look horrible." The mirror disappeared from her hands and soon enough afterwards she heard it crunch against the outside ground. Even though the mirror was gone, it was no big deal. She had more at home.
"You don't look horrible Erin," Olinsky informed, patting her knee, "You're quite beautiful. Lexi even thinks you're gorgeous, and she ruled you over her own mom. She placed her mom as second."

Lindsey's hands fumbled in her lap as Olinsky's words went through one ear and out of the other. She knew where he was taking her, and she wasn't looking forward to it. The young girl has been living with the Voights for a little over a year. While it took some time for Justin to get used to her, Mrs. Voight quickly latched on. She always wanted a daughter…and in Erin she found one.

The car pulled to a stop, "We're here." She glanced out of the window and noticed the living room lights on. Mrs. Voight was probably freaking out. Hank was probably upset and Justin was most likely upstairs asleep. Olinsky walked around the vehicle and opened the door, "They're probably more worried than angry."

Erin nodded her head and brushed a loose strand of her streaked hair behind her ear. She departed the police cruiser, before following Alvin up the stairs of her front porch. Once she approached the door, he didn't knock right away. Instead, he turned to face her, "Whatever happens," he placed his hands against her shoulders, "just know that it's out of concern. They were worried about you. If I didn't find you within a few hours, Voight was going to call in every law enforcement agency within a fifty mile radius of Chicago. And Mrs. Voight," Alvin smirked, "she was tempted to go out and question every individual in this big city and she didn't care what kind of tactics she needed to use. I know it's hard, but you just got to keep holding on. They just want you safe and sound." Lindsey gave Olinsky a mediocre smile as he turned forward and knocked gently against the front door. She pulled the leather jacket from around her bare arms and handed it back over to Olinsky.

The young teenager had a pretty eventful day. She skipped school with a few of her friends, snuck into a movie, got her bellybutton pierced, allowed her friends to streak her hair a darkish red color, and then she met up with Annie and they used their fake IDs to sneak into a 21 and older club. School let out at three and by the time Alvin found her it was eleven at night. The Voights were at work and didn't get home until around six and seven. After that time, they realized Erin was nowhere to be found.

When the door swung open, Erin stepped back fearfully. She hated seeing Hank angry. It scared her…it reminded her of her father. Olinsky directed her into the house, "She was in a 21 and older club with her friend Annie when I found her. I already dropped Annie off at home."
"Thanks for bringing her here," Hank nodded his head.
Mrs. Voight smiled, "Yeah, thanks Alvin."
"See ya kid."

Once Olinsky was gone and the door was closed, Mrs. Voight raced across the floor. Erin squeezed her eyes closed, expecting to be hit as a way of discipline. Instead of a sharp pain shooting against her face, she felt arms surround her in a tight squeeze. She temporarily placed her hands against Erin's shoulders, and pulled her back, "We were so worried!" Her eyes scanned the small teenager in an attempt to search for anything out of place, "Where were you?" When she discovered nothing out of place, she pulled Erin back into her arms to resume their hug.

Hank crossed his arms, and leaned against the threshold connecting the living room to the main entrance hallway, "What's one of the Voight household rules kid?"
"You guys should know where we are at all times." Mrs. Voight nodded at Erin's words before pecking the teenager's forehead.
Hank's wife pressed another comforting peck against Erin's temple, "It's not because we don't trust you! I just worry," She rested her chin upon the top of Erin's head, "Ask Hank. I'm a worry wart!"

Voight pushed himself off of the wall and completely entered the living room. He took a seat on the couch, and pats the spot next to him, "You've been acting strange these past few days, more rebellious, ever since your birthday." Mrs. Voight was forced to release the young teenager. When Erin took the offered seat beside Hank, he proceeded, "You got your nose pierced. You went joy riding. You're staying up late, and-" his fingers twirl a few strands of her streaked hair, "when did you dye your hair?"

With all of the worry and relief, Mrs. Voight completely overlooked Erin's changed hair style. The smile on her face dropped, as she went to go take the unoccupied seat on the other side of Erin, "Why did you ruin your beautiful hair?"
"Nothing on me is beautiful," Erin whispers.
Mrs. Voight sadly shook her head, as she used her index finger to turn the young child's head towards her, "That's where you're wrong Erin." Her finger dropped and her arms wrapped around her slim figure, "You, my sweetheart, are one of the most beautiful girls I have ever laid eyes on."
"You have to say that."

Mrs. Voight momentarily pulled her away, "Why? Is it because I'm your guardian? Your parental figure? Your mother?" Erin answered with a silent nod of the head.
"Did your mother say it to you?" She inched closer to the vulnerable girl, "I'm not saying it out of duty. I'm saying it because it's the truth. And because I want to say it."
"I'm just a project child," Erin admitted, wiping underneath her eye, "you two only care for me out of civic duty."
Hank abruptly shook his head, "No. Erin don't say that because that's where you're wrong."
"I'm not like those kids at school! They came from something, I didn't. They have money, I don't. They're going to be somebody, and I'm not. No matter how hard you try to fix me, it won't work. I'm already a screwed up child. And screwed up children only lead to screwed up adults."

Mrs. Voight snapped her fingers in the girl's direction, "Erin Lindsey, look at me." She patiently waited to gain the teenager's attention, and when it became undivided, she continued, "I don't know who told you that, but they're wrong! They're just jealous!"
"Of what? I have nothing."
"I, my dear, consider myself something," She smiled brightly, "and you have me…and Hank, Justin, the Olinskys and not to mention the entire Chicago police department. People like that, who tell you those things to put you down, will go nowhere in life because they'll constantly put others down. It's up to you whether or not you want to listen to it or not," She thought to herself before shrugging, "Well, okay, it's not up to you, because I'm making the decision. We're not listening to that crap. We're going to show those spoiled brats that Erin Lindsey isn't a force to be reckoned with! Nobody talks about you, without having to suffer the wrath of me! Now where do we start," Mrs. Voight clasped her hands together, "Who is first on the list of putdowns?"

Erin ignored her question. She leaned back into the couch and shut her eyes. Lindsey could feel their eyes burning into her soul for some type of response. During her year and a half at their house, she got past any shyness. She is actually a part of the family.
"You're sixteen kid," Voight gave her a half-smile, "and despite the fact that you've been through adult things and feel like an adult, you're not."
"You're still a baby," Mrs. Voight added.

Because her eyes and her mouth were shut, they didn't know what she was thinking. Voight used his elbow to gently nudge her side.
"Talk to us," Voight urged.
She pried her eyes open, "I didn't mean to make you guys worry."
"Oh don't worry about it sweetheart," Mrs. Voight giggled, patting Erin's knee, "Despite all the precautions any of you take, I'm always going to worry. When you three leave out in the morning, I worry. When you three go to bed at night, I worry. And Erin, I know you've been through so much. You've been through things that teenagers your age should not have to go through, and I worry every second that all of those people who hurt you might come back…and take you from me."

A small smile tugged at Erin's lips, "You don't have to worry about me leaving. I promise I'm not going anywhere. You all," she cleared her throat, "you guys are my family."
"You don't know how good it feels to hear that." Mrs. Voight leaned back in her seat, and calmed herself, "You made me a promise, and I'll make you one. I promise that no matter what we're always going to be here." She wrapped her arm around Erin's shoulders, "We're not going to let anything happen to you. We'll always protect you about any and everything. If you do something wrong, whether big or small, just remember to tell us the truth, so we can lie for you." Hank smiled at his wife's words as he watched her press another kiss against Erin's cheek. He took a hold of Erin's hand and brushed his thumb gently over her knuckles. His head nodded in assurance as his silent affirmation guaranteed everything his wife just said.