Hello readers! Thank you once again for all you review and rave about this story. It warms my heart and makes me smile. Congrats to the 100th reviewer MariaGleefan and thanks for the idea. Stick around for them in two/three chapters. ;)
Like stated in the chapter before I'm going on a little vacation to visit my bet friend. The internet connection is going to be poor, so I probably won't be able to update. But I will be writing and have about five chapter outline so everything should go smoothly. Finger ccrossed. Once again, thank you for the reviews, I can't believe I made to 100.
Enjoy!
Three days into her grounding and Erin was already bored. It was one thing she was forced to come straight home after school or work. But Hank must have mentioned to Platt of her grounding because she would have to conveniently go down to the evidence room or some other place when Tristan's trainee group was coming in.
Erin came from the break room, setting her water bottle down on the desk, "I finished the files and organized the break room cabinets."
"Good, take a break." Trudy said as she flipped through a file, "go grab a snack or something."
Erin nodded and walked around the large desk, grabbing her wallet as she passed.
She headed down the back hall to the nearest vending machine, putting her six quarters in and looking at the options for snacks.
"What to get, what to get?" She mumbles to herself.
"M&Ms and potatoes chips." A voice said.
Erin turned to the voice, a huge smile plastered on her face, "Tristan."
"Hey," he smiled and quickly gave her a kiss on the lips, "snack break?"
Erin nodded and turned back towards the vending machine, punching in the code and watching the metal coils uncoil, dropping the bag of chips and candy down.
Tristan placed his hand on the small of Erin's back, "Are you mad at me?"
"What? No. Why would you think that?" Erin's eyes widen and her heart thumped.
"You haven't called me at all in the last few days and it seems like you are avoiding me."
Erin quickly shook her head and looked at her boyfriend, reaching her hand up to touch his shoulder, giving it a gentle squeeze. "I'm grounded. Hank said school, work and home."
Tristan nodded and sighed, "What'd you do?"
Erin rolled her eyes, feeling embarrassed, "I had a few beers with a friend. Came home with alcohol on my breath."
"Oh." He looked at her, watching her face fall. "How long are you grounded far?"
"Just a week. So four more days," Erin informed.
"Simmons! Five minutes are up!" The loud voice of Tristan's instructor rang through the hall as he popped his head in from around the corner, spying on the young couple.
"Yes, sir." Tristan gave Erin a quick peck before jogging to meet up with the rest of the group, he winked and flashed a smile at Erin before disappearing around the corner.
Erin smiled and ripped the corner of the packaging of the candy. She popped a few chocolate coated candies in her mouth as she walked back to the front desk.
Trudy eyed her from the edge of the case forms she was reading, "You get lost?"
Erin rolled her eyes and sighed, "You said I could take a break." She took a seat next to Platt, chewing on the candies.
Trudy dropped the presorted and paperclipped empty forms in front of Erin, "Here, go take these and hand them out to the other units."
Erin slid off the stool and took the stack of forms under her arm and walked down the hall, dropping the forms in each designated cubbie.
Hank was at his desk, a scowl on his face as he rubbed his chin, concentrating on whatever thing he was reading. He looked up just as Erin stepped near Olinsky's desk. "Hey, Kid."
Erin gave him a small smile, "Hey."
"How's it going?" He leaned back in his office chair, his fingers laced together and hands rested on his chest, studying the young girl's posture.
Erin stood straighter at the watchful of him, "Good," she shrugged.
"Are you busy now?" He pointed to the stack of forms she held.
"Just have to finish handing these out."
"When you're done, come back over here.." Erin nodded, listening, "grab your coat and let Platt know you'll be with my for an hour or so."
Erin creased her brow, "Where are we going?"
"Just let her know you'll be with me,"
Still confused, Erin just nodded and finished her job and headed back to the main desk.
She tapped on the table top trying to get Trudy's attention.
Trudy didn't budge, like she didn't hear Erin. So she knocked firmly on the desk again.
"Erin, tell me something.." the teen looked at her with confusion, not sure if the statement was rhetorical. Trudy continued, "Does this desk look like a door?"
Erin looked down at the length of the desk, "Sorry, what?"
Trudy huffed, "This." She fanned her hand along the polished wood table top, "This isn't a door."
"Okay..." Erin was completely lost.
"So..stop knocking on it. I swear what is it with everyone hitting this desk like it's a drum." Erin just stood still, staring at her feet.
Erin finally looked up at the older woman, "Sorry."
"Its fine. Just next time try calling my name. That normally works to get someone's attention." Erin nodded, "So what did you want?"
"Hank wanted me to help him with something, he said we'd be gone for an hour."
"Fine, go." She handed Erin her coat and purse. "Just have Hank keep me informed."
Erin nodded and put her coat on, then flung her purse over the shoulder just as Hank met her near the exit, he secured his radio and holster to is hip. He tilted his up to thank Platt as he led Erin outside.
"So where are we going?"
"Just meeting a CI of mine." Hank said shortly as they walked briskly to the car. Hank got in the driver's side, buckling up and Erin mimicked in the passenger seat.
Erin sat back and stared out the window as they head down the street. The upkeep of the street deteriorated as they drove further and further. They must have have been driving for thirty minutes when hank finally pulled over down a side street. He parked the car and unbuckled.
Erin looked around, spotting a small group of people crowding around a corner near an abandoned building. They all turned their heads at the same time, eyeing the unmarked patrol car.
Hank stared back and then turned to Erin, "stay put."
Erin sat up slightly and looked over to Hank, "What? Why am I here then?"
"Just stay put." He stated firmly, "got it? I don't want you getting out of this car. Leave the doors locked."
Erin's eyes widen at the tone of Hank's voice, she suddenly felt a small rush of panic flush over her body, she swallowed loudly. "Okay." Was all she could muster up to say.
Hank patted her cheek gently and smiles softly before he stepped out of the car and walked over to the gathering of people.
Erin sunk in her seat and watched intently. Hank shook hands with the men and it appeared that they were talking. Erin couldn't hear what was being said and she wouldn't dare roll down her window. So she just stared, trying to read lips and facial expressions.
The one man that wore a beanie on his head, spoke with his hands, making fists signaling his frustration and rubbed his head as Hank spoke. Hank's finger poked the man's chest but the other men didn't seemed phased by it. They didn't huddle closer to Hank, as if they were going to gang up on him. Instead they stepped back.
Erin watched and paused when she saw the man with the beanie bring his hand to his side, under his oversized jacket. Please don't be a gun...please don't be a gun. Erin thought to herself and she sunk further in the seat, her seat belt almost strangling her.
The man retrieved a wad of cash from his jeans, looking around first before placing the bills into Hank's hand. Hank said one final thing before he shook the men's hands and walked back to the car.
Erin unlocked the doors for him and sat up, studying him with a careful eye. Once he was buckled and hadn't said anything about what just happened, she spoke up, "What the hell was that?"
Hank ignored her and drove off, glancing once more at the group. The man with the money tipped his head to Hank and Hank returned it.
"Hank!" Erin raised a brow to him.
Hank finally looked at her, "Its nothing Erin."
Erin shook her head and crossed her arms over her chest. Hank laughed shortly at her attitude. She must have forgotten that he deals with some of the most threatening people. Criminals. Her little teen drama wasn't going to make him talk.
Erin sighed, she was about to say something but Hank spoke, "There are ways of getting information from people." Was all he said, which made Erin confused.
"But what does that have to do with anything-"
"Erin, just drop it." Hank flicked his blinker on and turned down a side street.
Erin tisked but didn't protest, letting her arms drop her chest. Her mind couldn't help but wonder what just happened. She wanted answers but knew Hank wouldn't fess up.
So what do you guys think? Do you like the secretive-ness of Hank? I was planning on writing more of Erin and Hank at work. Would that be something you'd guys like to see? Leave a review and let me know.
Happy holidays and if I don't update by January, have a happy New year.