Sorry for being so late to post…I had work all day :P
Erin tried not to let the early morning drama with Kelly get to her. She had reflected on the encounter and was certain that she had responded appropriately. She had more important things to think about anyway. Today she was going to see her baby properly, not in hospital because she'd been reckless. Sitting in the waiting room alone Erin came to terms with the fact that while she didn't want to, she was certainly capable of raising the baby alone. It would be hard for the first few years, especially if she wanted to keep working but she would manage if it came to it.
"Erin Lindsay" The nurse called before escorting her to a small room where the sonographer sat waiting.
"Take a seat here" the red-headed sonographer said turning to the ultrasound machine. "And you've had plenty to drink today?" she asked, it was a routine question.
"Yes I have" Erin answered making herself comfortable.
"Alright, shirt up and we'll have a look" the sonographer instructed patiently. Erin obeyed without a word. "So we use this as a dating scan, to get a more accurate due date and check on development so far" the older woman said as she squeezed gel onto Erin's belly.
"That shouldn't be hard" Erin said before realising it might sound rude.
"What do you mean?" the sonographer asked pressing the probe into the gel.
"There's only one possible conception date" Erin answered.
"Well that does make things easier, just over ten weeks according to my measurements" the sonographer answered, she'd been busy measuring away while they'd been talking. Erin turned to look at the small screen, it didn't look much different to last week in the hospital, maybe a little bigger.
"Good" Erin said watching the grey blob intently.
"Everything looks normal" the sonographer said as the ultrasound machine began to whir. "Here you go" she added handing Erin the picture that had just printed.
"Thank you" Erin said holding the picture carefully.
"I'll see you again at 20 weeks" the sonographer said turning off the machine and wiping away the gel.
"Okay, thanks" Erin said standing and pulling down her shirt. That had been much easier than she was expecting. She placed the picture in her jacket pocket and made her way to work. Voight had given her the morning off without asking questions but the rest of the team weren't so tactful. Erin didn't bother to make up an elaborate lie instead telling them that it was none of their business. It didn't take long for them to brief her on the case. Frankie Ahrens, a known criminal, was the main suspect in a string of brutal assaults where rich women had had fingers removed for their rings. To make it worse he'd pawned the rings then gotten his two friends, the Johnson brothers, to rob the pawn shop.
"Detective Lindsay, Matt Casey here. I just wanted to let you know that Severide is back at work here at 51" the fireman said over the phone.
"Okay, thanks for letting me know" Erin replied, at least Severide hadn't retreated back to his cabin. If he was working surely that meant he'd come to terms with Shay's death.
"That's fine, I hope everything works out" Matt said before hanging up. Erin sighed, now the question was whether she should go to him or if she should wait for him initiate contact.
"Who was that?" Halstead asked, he never liked it when she answered the phone while driving.
"Did Voight say which of the Johnson brothers we're looking for?" Lindsay deflected, it was a talent.
"Either, they're both close with Ahrens" Halstead answered hating the way she always shut him out.
"We'll see what their mother has to say" She said pulling up out the front of a neat little house.
"If she's anything like them we're going to need backup" He laughed following Lindsay up the front path.
"She's actually really nice, we've talked before" Lindsay said knocking on the door. She wasn't wrong, a few minutes later they were in the sitting room enjoying tea and cake with a lovely old lady who had the misfortune of having two wayward sons.
"I haven't seen them since Peter's birthday a fortnight ago. No idea where they are. They were talking about some plan, didn't want me hearing but I did. Their friend, Frankie, was planning on robbing the pawn shop on 43rd street, they wanted to help so they could get their fathers war medals back. I told them to stay out of trouble but they haven't listened to me in years" the old woman said looking affectionately at the photos of her sons as boys displayed on the walls.
"Thank you Mrs Johnson. Same as usual, you call me if you hear from them" Lindsay said handing the woman her card.
"Certainly Detective Lindsay. Is there anything else I can get you before you go?" Mrs Johnson asked hospitably.
"We're fine. Thank you for your time" Lindsay said watching Halstead try to shove the rest of the slice of cake in his mouth. It wasn't until there were at the front door that he had swallowed and could speak.
"Thank you ma'am, that cake is amazing" He said with a grin before following Lindsay out into the cold.
"You pig" Lindsay commented once they were on they were in the car.
"That was the best cake" Halstead said trying to justify his behaviour.
"You would have made her day saying that" She commented. "Her boys are both horrible, must have something to do with her husband because she's lovely. They've hidden at her place in the past. I was hoping they'd be there but we're back to square one"
"But we don't have to find them to get to Ahrens, he's who we're after, they're just accomplices" He reminded.
"I know, it's just the best lead we've got at the moment. We'll swing by their old hangout and see if anyone knows anything" She said driving across town. The bar looked even worse than it had the last time she was there, the walls were damp and the whole place stank of mould and alcohol.
"Delightful" He commented watching as the barman tried to polish a filthy glass.
"Larry, lovely to see you!" Lindsay said, the barman's face lit up and he grinned.
"Erin my love" the old man greeted.
"Sorry I haven't been by, work is busy. That's why I'm here" She said sliding onto the barstool directly in front of him.
"Ask away, last time though. Next time you'll have to buy a drink" Larry said putting down the glass and dish towel.
"Of course. Now, have you seen Vince or Peter Johnson in the last week?" Lindsay asked keeping a close eye on him, he'd never been able to lie without his eyes darting to the roof.
"I have, they were in here on Sunday, big mouthing themselves. Going on about how they were going to be rich" Larry answered, he was telling the truth.
"Any idea where they are now?" She pressed.
"I heard Pete say something about a motel on Hillside. Other than that I can't help you" Larry said picking up the glass to resume his polishing.
"Thank you Larry. I'll come round for a drink sometime" Lindsay said leading Halstead back out to the car.
"How long have you known that guy?" Halstead asked.
"A bar fight there was the first call I got as a probationary officer, so forever" Lindsay explained, thinking back to the days when she'd been a uniform.
"Nice" He laughed, it must have always been a dump. "Have you ever bought a drink there?" He questioned.
"Nope but every time is the last time with Larry" She said, they were on their way back to the district with this new information. Voight sent Olinski and Ruzek to scope out the only motel on Hillside Street. Olinski called to confirm that the Johnson brothers were staying there then set up to stake out the place, hopeful Ahrens would drop by. Eventually Ahrens turned up, at 11 that night, ten minutes later all three were in police custody. The intelligence unit charged them and locked them up for the night before calling it a day.
Erin didn't go home instead she drove to fire house 51, Kelly would be on shift but she could no longer help herself. She'd given him plenty of time, they needed to talk, or at least to agree on a time and place to talk. Incidentally Matt Casey was the only person out by the truck when she walked in.
"Detective" He greeted, the look on his face wasn't what she'd been expecting. "Sorry, you just missed him, squad got a call" Casey said explaining his expression.
"That's fine" Erin said. She went to leave but then had an idea. Pacing in Severide's office gave her the chance to question her plan, it could go either way. Content that if nothing else it would guilt him into meeting with her she placed the ultrasound picture on his pillow and left.
How is Kelly going to react to seeing his baby for the first time?! I feel like I struggle to get Erin's work/life balance right but she makes it hard because she's so committed to her job…Hope you liked it and I'll see you again tomorrow :D