Hi all - I apologize that this chapter is not Christmas themed but I thought that I would give you all the gift of updating with a new chapter! I hope you all have a very Merry Christmas or Hanukkah or Kwanzaa, depending on what you celebrate. Happy Holidays, and I hope to update again within the next week. :D

Chapter 12

While Olinsky and Voight were checking out a possible lead on the other side of town, the rest of the team was idly filling out paperwork from the week before or trying to generate leads on the current case. Some were also waiting for calls from their CIs to see if they could offer any help. Halstead had gotten zero calls back from any of his, and since he had his paperwork finished, he was scrolling through apartment listings for him and Erin. Unbeknownst to him, Ruzek was walking back from the break room and saw what was on his computer screen.

"Halstead, why are you looking at apartment listings?" Ruzek asked with a raised eyebrow as he passed behind Jay's desk.

Jay immediately switched to another window and shrugged, "No reason."

"People generally apartment shop when they're moving, bro," Ruzek reasoned.

"Shut it, Ruzek," Jay snapped. Ruzek whistled and after Ruzek sat down again, Jay made eye contact with Antonio, who was giving him the "Antonio raised eyebrow" look. Jay raised his eyebrows in return and when back to looking at his computer. He only switched back to the apartment listing window after he had dimmed the screen brightness.

"Speaking of moving, when's Erin coming back?" Atwater asked.

Jay turned towards everyone and said, "She has a psychiatric evaluation next week and then she's good to go. Apparently her ribs also need another week of rest too."

"Thank heavens," Antonio replied happily, stopping Ruzek from making another silly comment. Atwater nodded in agreement, and Ruzek just slinked back into his chair and said, "We just need her back, that's all."

"Oh, yeah?" Jay asked with a smirk. "You want more estrogen in the room?"

Atwater and Antonio cracked up with Jay as Ruzek spilled most of his coffee on himself in an attempt to stand up and escape the criticisms that were sure to follow. He stood next to his desk for a few seconds, then announced, "I'm going to go change. I've got some clothes in my locker." He laughed himself as he headed down the stairs.

Voight came in from the rollup as Ruzek was heading down the stairs, and after looking around he asked the group, "What happened to Ruzek?"

"He spilled coffee on himself," Jay said, trying not to crack up, "Where's Olinsky?"

"He's meeting a CI so he dropped me back here," Voight replied. "Jay."

"Yeah?"

"Has Erin contacted you the past few days? I haven't heard from her."

Jay stuttered as he began to talk, fear that he was about to get busted filling his mind. "Uh…yeah, she said she needs to pass a psychiatric evaluation next week and then she's good to go."

"She's been cleared by her doctor?"

"Yep. But her doctor did say that her ribs could use a bit more rest."

"A word in my office. Now," Voight ordered. As Jay anxiously stood up and followed Voight into his office, the other three cops were stunned into silence. After the door slammed shut, Ruzek returned.

"Why is Jay in Voight's office? With the door closed?"

"Who knows?" Antonio asked in a low tone, signaling to Ruzek to stop talking.

***In Voight's office***

"Could you give Erin a message for me?"

"Uh-" Jay stuttered. He was going to say yes, but Voight cut him off.

"Why is she talking to you and not me?"

"She called you three days ago!" Jay replied angrily.

"Exactly! I haven't heard from her in three days, but you have!" Voight replied in a forceful, low tone. Jay could tell he was angry and wanted to get out of the office as soon as possible.

"I don't control who she does and doesn't contact," Jay said.

"But people can be influenced. And you clearly have an influence over her," Voight concluded, "I'm telling you to back off starting now."

"Are you kidding me? We're work partners. I care a lot about her," Jay replied, putting a finger up to stop Voight from interrupting. "I'm not finished," Jay spat. "After we found her, Erin asked me to take care of her for a while, so I did. I just did what I was asked."

"Nothing more?" Voight asked, head tilted at an angle. "'Cause if I hear that you're more than just friends, you are getting kicked out of my unit before you can say her name. Now go. I don't want to see you until tomorrow unless you generate a lead. Go."

"Yes, sir," Jay said in a pissed-off tone. After flinging the office door open and sighing heavily, he shut down his computer, grabbed his jacket, phone, and keys, said a friendly goodbye to everyone, and left.

***That evening, at Jay's apartment***

After three hours of running random errands around town, Jay entered his apartment with four bags of groceries and a new hat for Erin. He had seen it in the clothing store next to the supermarket, and thought why not buy her something as a little gift after all she'd been through.

"Erin? Where are you?" Jay shouted into the apartment. A couple of seconds later, Erin came into the kitchen wearing sweatpants and one of Jay's shirts. While she was definitely wearing casual clothes, Jay thought to himself that she looked so damn beautiful. But apparently he wasn't allowed to think of her that way even though that's what Jay's heart wanted.

"You're back a little early," Erin commented, looking at Jay's eyes as Jay tried to mask his anger and frustration. Jay was thankful that he could break eye contact with Erin to put the grocery bags on the floor, but when he looked back up, he knew from her facial expression that she could see right through him. "What's wrong, Jay?"

"I don't want to talk about it," Jay quickly replied, opening the fridge to put groceries away.

"Jay, talk to me. Please," Erin begged, putting her hand on his shoulder. Jay tossed the bread he had been holding in the fridge, took Erin's hand, and told her, "Well, it kind of sucks when you feel a certain way about a person and your boss tells you that you're not allowed to think that way."

"What on earth are you talking about? Are you talking about me? About Voight?" Erin asked, concerned. As she rubbed Jay's arm, he replied, "Voight basically told me to back off. He was pissed because I've heard from you since three days ago and he hasn't.

"It made feel so angry because he was implying I shouldn't be in love with you and that I don't deserve you. He said he'd kick me out of Intelligence if he found out that I was anything more than a friend to you."

Erin took a step back, pondering her options. She felt so bad, but part of her was wondering whether Voight was right. As she reached into a cabinet for her painkillers, she said, "You're driving me to Voight's house."

"When?"

"Right now."