Chapter 17; Blueberry Pancakes
Hiii beautiful people!! Hope you're all doing well and keeping safe! Big thank you for all your reviews, follows and faves, they really mean a lot to me! This is my longer chapter yet so hopefully it'll take your mind off of things and cure your boredom a little! It's a little sad, beware! Enjoy lovelies!!"Detective Lindsay." A tall man in a suit, with two officers behind him came into view of the bullpen. "May I speak to you?"
Erin looked up and her heart dropped. He was one of those prison officials who must be handling her dads escape from prison last night. She could tell by the prison guard uniforms the officers wore.
Erin nodded, than looked to Jay, nodding from him to follow. She knocked on Hank's door, him and Al in there trying to keep her as far away from this as possible. Her opening the door when Hank waved her in.
"Hank, Al, this is-." She began.
"A very busy man, let's make this quick." The man shook Al and Hank's hands rather aggressively, then took a seat, as did Erin, across from Hank. Al was leaning against the window, Jay coming to stand behind Erin.
"I'm Mark Stewart. I'll be handling your fathers case." He looked to Erin. "Do you have any knowledge as to why your father would escape from prison?"
"No."
"Anywhere he could go?"
"Well, his family is in Florida."
"We've already contacted his family. They'll be in Chicago as soon as possible. We've troops watching every single exit of Chicago. Your father won't be able to leave the city. Anywhere else?"
"My mother was just released from prison. They could of, I don't know, linked up?"
"Do you know your mothers adresss?"
"No. I don't think she even has one anymore. She's probably just crashing somewhere."
"Your family has a... colorful history, correct?" Mark asked.
Erin just rolled her eyes. "My father is not a drug addict. He's a good man."
"Huh." Mark just coughed. "Does he have any parents, siblings?"
"His dad lives in Chicago."
"How is questioning Erin useful to your investigation?" Al asked. "I mean she has no relationship with him."
"It's protocol."
"It's also protocol to keep prisoners in prison." Hank bit back.
"Well coming here is useless to your investigation." Jay told him. "Erin's 30 weeks pregnant and doesn't need anymore stress from you's."
"Of course. My apologies, Detective." Mark stood up. "Please, let me know if you hear from your father."
"Yeah. Of course." Erin sighed.
"Erin." Jay said, as Mark left the room.
She was 30 weeks pregnant. Her psycho mother just got off scot-free from death row and now her father just escaped from a prison.
Coincidental or not. Her and Jay didn't need this.
"Erin." Jay repeated, Erin obviously daydreaming in her own little world.
"What?" She suddenly snapped out of her daze.
"Where did you go there?" Jay asked, sitting down next to her.
"Nothing. It's fine." She stood up. "I just can't be dealing with this right now."
"Erin, they'll get him." Al told her.
"Then what? They send him to prison for longer? He has two children that need him."
"Well Erin, that tends to happen when someone escapes from prison." Hank told her.
"I know but-" Erin began but was interrupted when Adam knocked on the door.
"Lindsay, your phone is ringing."
Hank, Al and Jay followed Erin as she followed Adam into the bullpen, her picking up her work phone.
"Detective Lindsay."
"Hi Belle." The man on the phone replied.
Erin's heart dropped.
Jay scrunched his brows when Erin looked like she saw a ghost.
'Dad.' She mouthed.
"Speakerphone." Hank told her, everyone in the bullpen paying close attention. "Mouse, track that cell."
"I missed you, my beautiful girl." Her father spoke over the phone. "Why haven't you come to see me?"
"How did you get this number?" Erin asked. It could of been possible from him to get her normal phone number, but her work phone? Not so much.
"Want to meet?"
"I'd have to arrest you then."
"Burner cell." Mouse whispered. Everyone shaking their heads. "Can't trace it."
"Belle-" Her father began.
"Where are you? Why did you escape from prison? Do you realize how stupid that is?"
"I'm on a mission."
"A mission? What's this? Mission Impossible?"
"To take you back."
"Listen here you scum-" Jay began. That last comment really rattled him.
Erin wasn't going anywhere. Not on his watch.
"Ahh, if that isn't Mr Halstead. Arguably the man who's caused my little girl the most pain."
"That's something coming from you." Jay laughed.
Erin shot him a look that told him to shut up.
"Daddy." Erin said in the most babiest voice she could.
She was about to have him wrapped her finger.
"Yes Belle?"
"I need you. All these men are abandoning me and I need my daddy."
"I know, sweetie. And I'm coming. And all those men. They won't ever hurt you again. That's my mission. To stop them."
"You have to tell me where you are though. We could meet at the pier? Like old times."
"No, darling. I'm coming to you. To the men who've hurt you."
"What does-" Erin began.
"See you soon, love." And with that, he hung up the phone.
"He's a hooligan, Erin." Jay told her, rubbing her shoulder.
"Yeah a hooligan who's coming to get us!" Erin shouted. "What in the world is a mission!?"
"Erin-" Jay started.
"What does he mean by the men who hurt you?" Hailey asked.
"I've no clue. And I don't care either." And with that, she walked up and left the bullpen, Jay following her.
"Erin!"
"Erin!"
Jay followed her all the way down to the car, ignoring the glances from nosey patrolmen. It was a cold spring day, the rain coming down hard in Chicago.
"Erin!"
"What!" Erin turned from where she was opening her car door.
"Talk to me."
"He's playing games! He's probably watching us right now! Laughing. Like, what does he want?!"
"I don't know."
"Why can't this just stop." She sighed, leaning against the car. "My mother, my father. Why can't they just stop?"
"Babe, don't worry about your mom and dad. Voight will handle it. Me and you, we have bigger things to worry about."
"Well, what do we do know? Just wait until he's caught? He's pissed." She began to get upset. "I'm scared for Hank, I'm scared for you. He hates you's."
"I'm well able to take care of myself, so is Voight."
"What do I do when his ex wife gets here? His kids?"
"We worry about that when we get to it."
"I don't want too."
"Then I will."
"I don't want you to either."
"Babe."
"I know. I'm sorry."
"C'mon. It's freezing, lets go inside."
"Okay, lets go." She sighed.
Life was about to get even more complicated.
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"I'll need a list of any men who may of hurt you." Mark sighed. "Your father is clearly not right in the head and will hurt anyone who has hurt you."
Here Jay, Erin and Hank sat in Hank's office with Mark once again, Mark not very happy to be there.
"Just go visit half of Chicago, that should just about do it." Erin replied.
"What?"
"Listen, the only people I'm concerned about my dad getting is Hank and Jay. He doesn't like them. He doesn't have a reason for anyone else." She shook her head. "There are hundreds of men who fucked me over in my past, but I barely remember them. Never mind him. He was on the other side of the country."
"I know you may not be concerned. But it's my job to be concerned."
"I'll try."
"Thank you." He stood up. "I shall get going now."
"Bye." Erin gave a half smile.
"Sorry kiddo." Hank ruffled her hair.
This would be a long day.
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Jay and Erin were in the car on the way home, just having dropped of a list of men Erin's father could potentially target.
"You okay?" Jay asked, as he glanced across at Erin, who was currently looking out the window, just watching Chicago go by. Her not even arguing about who gets to drive.
"Mhm."
"I don't think there's any food at home. What would you like to eat?"
"I don't mind."
"You have to be in the mood for something." Jay told her. "We could get Chinese, Indian-"
He was interupted by the sound Erin's phone ringing, her immediately answering it, not even looking at the caller ID.
"Dad!"
Jay immediately stopped the car, luckily they were in their car park.
"Oh, sorry. Hi Stella. Yep, we're still up for it. We'll see you tomorrow. Bye gorgeousss." Erin then hung up her phone.
"Guessing it wasn't your dad?" Jay said. "Bit odd to call your dad gorgeous." He smirked.
Erin rolled her eyes. "Nope. Hailey, Kim and I are meant to be meeting the girls for lunch tomorrow."
"Meant? You told her you'll see her tomorrow."
"Jay, I can't just leave you. What if my dad jumps you while you're in the bathroom?"
"I'll bring Adam or Kev. They can cover me." Jay said, smiling when Erin burst out laughing.
"You really know how to make a girl laugh, don't you Halstead?"
"I know how to make my girl laugh." Jay leaned over and gave her a soft kiss, knowing 'my girl' was Erin's favorite pet name.
"You know I love when you call me that." Erin whispered as she nuzzled her nose against his, gently rubbing her thumb across his stubble.
"Why don't we go up to the apartment and you show me how much."
"Jay Halstead, the ladies man of Chicago." Erin laughed.
Her boyfriend was such a dork.
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"Jay!! You have to stay still." Erin laughed.
She was currently rubbing some of her blue detox face mask onto his face, as they sat on the couch in the living room. Jay insisted on doing one too when Erin came out of their bedroom in sweats, one of his large Blackhawks t-shirt, some fluffy stocks and a messy pigtail. So he changed as well and asked Erin to apply a mask.
"Babe, it's colddd." He moaned. "It's kinda itchy too."
"That means it's working. It's detoxing."
"Detoxing what?"
"Your dirty pores."
"I don't have dirty pores!"
"Yeah, you do." Erin burst out laughing when Milo started to bark loudly at them. "See, even Milo thinks you do."
"No I don't. Milo is just hungry and rude."
"Everyone has pores, Jay and they tend to get dirty. Plus didn't Adam push you over in the mud today? That would really dirt you pores."
"I tripped."
"Sure."
"Don't be rude, Detective Lindsay." Jay joked.
"Me? Rude? I'm giving you a free facial, you should feel blessed."
Jay burst out laughing at his girl's innocence. "First of all, not really free. I bought you this." He indicated to the open tub of fase mask on the coffee table, Erin just sarcastically scoffing. "Second of all, spending a Friday night looking like a smurf with your girlfriend isn't a blessing."
"It isn't?" Erin looked like a sad pup.
Jay pulled Erin onto his lap and planted a kiss on her nose. "It's a very big blessing."
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Erin jolted awake to a loud banging, her hand naturally going straight to her bump. She turned her head to where her partner would normally lay. Though it was dark, she could see he wasn't there.
"Jay." She called.
No answer.
"Jay." She said a little louder.
"Jay!" She shouted.
When he didn't answer, she threw her feet over the bed, put on her housecoat as it was rather chilly, and began walking to the door. She groaned as she felt something cold and wet on her feet. Erin opened the door and screamed at what she saw.
Blood.
The lamp that they always left on in the living room gave Erin enough light to see the white bedroom door, along with the surrounding walls, covered in blood. She looked down at her feet and relized that cold, wet substance she felt on her feet was more blood.
"Jay!!" Erin began to become frantic as she ran around the apartment, looking for any sign of her boyfriend. "Milo!" She called, hoping their dog could lead her to her boyfriend. But nothing.
Erin heard another clash, this time from the bathroom. She grabbed a knife from the kitchen and slowly made her way over.
Nothing could prepare her for what she saw.
They say getting over the loss of a loved one can take years. Though you never actually get over it, you learn to deal with it. Erin knew neither of those things would happen for her.
This was it.
She had nothing left to fight for without him.
"W..hat... what.. di...d yo..u do-do?" Erin dropped the knife, falling to her knees, somehow making her way to the bathtub where the love of her life, her oxygen, her smile, her life, her home, lay.
Lifeless.
Completely and utterly lifeless.
Gone.
Dead.
"Hi, darling." Erin's father, Louis, came into view, him sporting an even bigger knife.
"WHAT DID YOU DO!?" Erin screamed at her father.
"I hurt him."
"Why would you do that!?" Erin sobbed, turning back to her lifeless boyfriend. "Jay! Jay! You gotta wake up. Please, baby. Wake up!"
"He hurt you."
"Jay has never hurt me!" Erin sobbed. "If I don't kill you, Hank will. YOU ARE DEAD!"
"But Hank is dead too. He can't hurt me. Or you, sweetie."
"What?"
"I took care of them all."
Erin remotely heard her father list off names of men in her life.
Men in intelligence, men in the 21st, the police and FBI departments. Men from 51, Med. Men from her past. Even men from cases she's handled.
Literally every man she's ever interacted with.
"You-you ca...can't do...do this." Erin sobbed as her father tried to pull her away from Jay's dead body.
"No! Jay!"
"Let's go, darling."
"But.. but I-I wan..t- want Jay. Jay.. Jay." Erin sobbed, looking at her father like a little child.
"But you need your daddy." Louis smiled, placing a kiss on her hair and began to pull her out of the bathroom.
"Jay!"
"Jay!"
"Jay!"
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"Jay!"
"Jay!"
"Jay!"
Jay was jolted from his sleep when he heard someone shout his name.
The first thing that he noticed was that his and Erin's room was pitch black. It was still nighttime.
He quickly glanced at his alarm clock. The big red numbers read 2:37am. He immediately turned his head to see the the source of what had woken him up.
Erin.
She was trashing and bellowing Jay's name, clearly experiencing a nightmare of some sort.
Jay froze. Sure, since they got together Erin had experienced her fair share of nightmares. Everyone has. He rememberd holding her through a few, more violent ones after she got off her bender, after Nadia passed away.
This nightmare seemed like this. But worse. And he had a slight feeling what this one was about.
"Erin." Jay said softly, turning on his lamp.
"Jayyy." Erin cried in her sleep. "You have to come back. Please don't leave me!"
Jay's heart broke at how is normally so strong girl seemed so vulnerable.
"Babe, I'm right here." Jay gently took his hand in hers.
This soft movement must of triggered something in the sleeping woman, because as soon as Jay joint their hands, Erin jolted awake, taking Jay by surprise.
"Er." Jay said and began patting down her unruly hair. "That's it, baby. Breathe." He told her, as Erin struggled for breathes.
Erin just looked at him, in that moment realizing she could never spend another second away from him. She practically launched herself into his comforting embrace.
"You're okay." Erin cried onto his chest. "I-I thou..ght you-you we..re de..dead."
Jay couldn't even imagine what Erin was going through right now. Having a nightmare that your loved one, your partner, was dead, must be like torture.
"I'm okay. You're okay." Jay cooed. "Wanna talk about it, baby?"
"He-he kill...ed you-you. And Hank. Everyone."
"Who?"
"My-my da..d"
"I'm sorry." Jay hugged her a little tighter. "But babe, I promise, your dad isn't going to come near me. Or Voight, or anyone else. They'll get him."
"It's not just him." Erin cried. "Seeing-seeing you li..ke that. I can't breathe."
"Erin, look at me. Erin please, look at me." Jay pleaded, Erin finally turning to look at him. "I'm not going anywhere." He wiped away her falling tears.
Erin just sniffled and nodded against his bare chest, having no fight in her to argue that he shouldn't say promises he may not be able to keep. But at the end of the day this was Jay. The person she never ever had to think about trusting. It just came so natural. He was her rock, she was his.
"I'm sorry for waking you up. I just got a fright." She sniffled, snuggling into Jay's chest.
"That's okay." He noticed her shift uncomfortably in his hands. "You alright?"
"Yeah. Your daughter is just playing her nightly game of hopscotch." Erin laughed.
"Hi Daisy." Jay laughed. "She's just reminding her mommy that she's right there. As am I."
Erin smiled. "Thank you."
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"Who ate my snacks?" Adam sighed as he walked out of the break room.
"Probably you, Ruzek. You're the only one who eats like a child." Tony laughed.
"Hey! Rainbow pop tarts are good." Adam defended.
"They're pure sugar, Ruzek." Kim told him.
"Well unless someone broke into the bullpen last night, it was one of yous, and I'm going to find out who. Just because I'm not a detective, doesn't mean I can't play one." Adam snarled, but was soon interrupted by Alvin.
"Ruzek! How many times do I've to tell you to lock the bathrooms up when we're leaving! One job, Adam. One job we give you."
"I did lock it!"
"It was wide opened this morning."
"Maybe someone really did break in." Atwater joked.
"For a pop tart and a piss? I don't think so." Kim laughed.
"Spooky." Mouse smirked.
"How about we stop acting like we're in scooby doo and solve real crimes? New case. Halstead and Lindsay are already at the scene. Let's go!" Hank called.
Nobody knew how spooky things were actually about to get.
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"Are you sure?" Erin looked to her boyfriend. "I won't go if you're scared or worried."
"Babe, I'm going to fine. Go."
"Are you sure?" She then looked to her father figure.
"Erin, we are all going to be fine."
"Er, come on. They'll be fine. Kim's going to eat us if we don't eat." Hailey laughed.
Erin, Kim and Hailey were meant to be meeting a few girls from Med and 51 for lunch. But with everything going on with her dad, Erin was of course hesitant to leave her boys alone.
"And yous are all okay?" She turned to the guys in the bullpen.
"Lindsay were fine." Adam reassured, everyone nodding.
"Please, please call me if there's anything."
"We will." Jay reassured.
Erin took a deep breathe. She didn't know why but she just had a bad feeling about leaving, even if it was just to meet the girls for a bit of lunch down the street.
"Okay."
"Be safe." Jay told her.
"You too."
And with that the 3 girls all trotted down the stairs.
"Poor girl." Antonio shook his head. "Never gets a break."
Everyone nodded, it was true.
"Jay." Hank nodded his head into his office, Jay getting that sicky feeling in his stomach. He hated going in that office without Erin.
"What's up?" Jay asked, shutting the door.
"Sit down." Hank told him as he did the same. Jay obliged. "How's Erin?"
She breathed a sigh of relief. He wasn't in trouble.
"She's um... she was good. Last night anyways, at least for a bit."
He hated 'betraying' Erin, but there was no point in lying. Especially not to Hank Voight. Plus, Voight's intentions for Erin were always for the best.
"Once I got some food into her she was all smiley and happy."
"Sounds like Erin." Hank smirked. "But?" Hank asked, knowing there was more.
"She had a nightmare. A bad one."
"She say what it was about?"
"She didn't say much. Just her dad... murdered me, you.. everyone." Jay sighed and rubbed his face. "I don't know, she was pretty hysterical." He shook his head. "Clinging even, she's normally never like that."
"I'm going to kill him, Halstead."
"Count me in." Jay sighed.
"You're good for her, Halstead. I don't thank you enough."
Jay smiled. It was very rare Voight was this sentimental, especially around the idea of him and his little girl.
"You don't have to thank me, Sir. You know Erin is everything to me. So is the baby."
Hank nodded. He was about to reply when they heard a loud crash from the bullpen.
"What the hell was that?" Jay said, as the two went to the door, Hank swinging it open.
"What the -"
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"To the soon to be momma!" All the girls cheered.
The girls had all met at an adorable little Italian restraunt that Sylvie swore by.
Erin, Kim, Hailey, Nat, Stella, Sylvie, Emily, April, Maggie and even Trudy tagging along, all sat around a circled table at the back of the restraunt.
Erin blushed and raised the glass. "And to all you ladies, becoming aunts."
The girls all laughed and giggled, thankfully no one bringing up her dad, when the topic changed to all things baby related.
To say Erin's girlfriends were more excited than her, was an understatement.
"Do you and Halstead have a name yet?" Stella asked, taking a bite of her food.
"They do! But they won't tell us." Kim laughed.
"What! Why?" Sylvie smirked.
"Because it's a secret! Plus, we gotta be sure." Erin smiled. "I'm so scared I'll see her and she just doesn't look like a-, well her name."
"Don't worry. You build the name up so much in your head she'll have it to look like it. Trust me." Nat winked. "I did that exact thing with Owen."
"Can we guess?" April laughed.
"She'll hardly tell us if one of us gets it though, right?" Emily asked, laughing as she sipped her drink.
"She won't need too. Lindsay may be one of Chicago's best undercovers but she can't lie to people she loves. She gets all nervous and fidgety." Platt laughed.
Platt has known Erin a long time, ever since Hank had brought ger home. Sometimes Voight would get Platt to talk to Erin when they were dealing with the law because sometimes all you need is a woman to woman chat, just like right now. Nearly 20 years later, Platt could still read the young woman like an open book.
"Aw, Erin loves us!" Maggie joked.
"Of course I do." Erin smirked. "But seriously, I do. Thank you, all of you. This pregnancy has not been easy but you all have been so amazing to me, to Jay. We really, really appreciate it."
"Hey, what are girlfriends for, right?" Sylvie smiled.
"I couldn't ask for a better group of them." Erin said.
"To sisters. In the job and outside the job." Stella raised her glass.
"To sisters." They all clinked glasses.
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"If this weirdo calls me one more time, I'm going to scream." Kim sighed.
Hailey, Kim and Erin were currently walking up the steps of the precinct, only coming back from their lunch with the ladies.
"Who?" Hailey asked.
"Some guy I hooked up. Cheeto."
"His names Cheeto? What is he? A cat?" Erin laughed.
"Hey, it's a nickname." Kim defended, as she pulled the front door open.
"Where did he get it from?" Hailey asked. She's never heard a nickname like Cheeto before.
"He looks like one." Kim admitted, the girls shaking their heads.
"What does he do?" Erin asked, scanning her palm into the intelligence scanner.
"Cocaine probably." Kim jokingly sighed, the girls bursting out with laughter, but immediately stopped at the sight in the bullpen.
Erin's worst nightmare had actually happened.
The girls all drew their guns.
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"Hey, dad... you mind putting that gun down for me?" Erin asked.
What she saw before her was like nothing she's ever seen before. The boys were all bound at their desks, knees and ankles tied with a gag covering their mouths. But what she was especially focused on was Hank and Jay who were at the top of the bullpen, on their knees, they weren't tied but were gagged. Her father stood behind them, still in his prison outfit, toying with a gun at their heads.
"Hi, Belle." Louis smiled.
"Put the gun down, Mr Lindsay!" Kim shouted, her and Hailey at either side of Erin, all 3 women pointing their guns at the man.
"Hey, hey." Erin said as she put her gun down, looking back at Kim and Hailey, indicating for them to fall back. "There's no need for this. Let's talk."
"I missed you." Louis sighed. "You've gotten so big." Erin could of sworn she saw a tear roll down her dads eye as he looked at her bump.
"I missed you too. But you can't do this. You're being silly."
"I'm doing this for you."
"I don't want you too. These people mean an awful lot to me and you'll hurt me if you hurt them."
"No I won't, baby."
'Anyone know?' Hailey mouthed to Antonio, hoping another cop was getting help, but he just shook his head. She reached for her phone but immediately stopped when Louis shouted.
"No phones!"
"Hey, dad. Look at me. I'm unarmed. I wanna help you."
"I'm helping you."
"Dad, I don't want to hurt you. Hailey and Kim don't want to hurt you, but we'll have to if you don't put that gun down."
She looked to Jay. The two having a conversation with their eyes.
'I'm okay.' Erin nodded, knowing what he was trying to tell her.
When Louis cocked his gun behind Hanks head, Erin immediately picked her gun back up. "Put the gun down!!!"
"Belle! How could you point a gun at me?"
"Your kids and ex wife are going to be here soon. You don't want them to see you like this, do you?"
Erin knew she had to do something. The guys all looked like they were going to have a panic attack, and well Jay and Hank had a cocked gun to the back of their heads.
"How did you even get up here?" Erin asked, honestly not even caring, just trying to distract him.
Hailey and Kim looked to each other, neither of them would shoot her dad. They knew this was going to end messy. But it also made sense, the guys joking from this morning that someone broke in seemed pretty true.
"I tried Belle, I really tried. I tried to be the perfect father to you but I couldn't." Louis sighed as he pushed the gun deeper into Hank's neck.
"I know. You did your best. But you did even better for your other kids. Don't throw everything away, they need you."
"I'm sorry, my angel, but I have to do this. For you. These men hurt you. Stole you from me. This is payback. Say goodbye, Sargent Voight."
And in that moment time stood still. Without a seconds thought Erin fired her gun, the gun immediately falling from her hands as she fell to the floor with emotion, Hank pulling the gag off of his face, taking Erin in his hands.
She had just risked her biological fathers life for his. Her real father.
"Unite them." Jay told Hailey and Kim, indicating to the rest of intelligence who all looked sick to their stomachs.
Jay then went over to Louis. "He's alive, bullet just hit his shoulder." Jay confirmed, looking at a dozy looking Louis. "Hailey, call an ambo."
"Got it." Hailey nodded.
"He's alive?" Erin sobbed, looking up from Hank's shoulder.
"Yeah. Shit, he passed out." Jay was about to move the gun away from Louis as it was still in his hand and to check his pulse when he was interrupted.
"HEY!! GUN DOWN!" Intelligence heard someone shout and another gun shot.
"What the hell!!!???" Jay shouted as a patrol officer came running into the bullpen. Jay looked down at Louis and realized the officer had shot him.
Straight bullet to the head.
"What the... OH MY GOD." Erin screamed. "Dad! Daddy, wake up! Please. No. Oh my God."
"He-he had a gun." The patrol officer stuttered. "I-I thou..ght he-he was gonna hurt Det..ective Hal..Halstead."
"You just killed my father." Erin turned to look at him.
His name tag read 'Officer Cuttle,' he couldn't of been a year out of the acedemy. He was probably sent upstairs to fetch something for his Sargent when he figured he could play hero.
"YOU KILLED MY FATHER!" Erin lunged herself at the young officer. Jay and Hank holding her back.
"He-he had a gun!"
"He was unconscious." Jay muttered, looking over to Kev who had just placed a blanket over Louis, shaking his head at Jay. He had no pulse.
He was definitely dead.
Tony put his hand on the officers back. "Go sit in the break room, call your FOP rep."
"I'm sorry, Detective Lindsay." He sighed as he walked past her, Erin not even noticing it as she bend down to take her fathers lifeless hand.
"Baby." Jay whispered.
Erin turned to look at him, her eyes tearstained as Sylvie Brett and Emily Foster made their way up the stairs.
"Guys! What's wrong?!" Emily asked, her and Brett obviously being worried when they were called up to the 21st district's intelligence unit.
"Did I hear a shot a minute ago?" Platt came to view behind the two paramedics, everyone's eyes falling to Erin.
She sat beside her lifeless dad, Jay beside her, Erin seemed to be saying a prayer of some sort.
Adam began to explain what had happened to Trudy, Emily and Sylvie, though Erin didn't even notice.
She was in her own world.
Her life had completely changed in the course of minutes, once again.
"Hey, sweetie." Came the voice of Foster. "Do you mind if we pick him up?"
"I-I don't know." Erin began, too frazzled to speak properly. "Jay. I want Jay." Erin frantically looked around the busy room, finding the man she wanted sitting right next to her. "Jay."
"Come here." Jay cooed. He was thankful that she allowed herself to fall back onto him.
Jay knew things were going to get messy in the bullpen, with a body being removed, people being questioned and checked out, so he knew he couldn't just leave with Erin like he wanted too, but he could give them a little alone time.
So he picked her up and gently carried her to the locker room.
"Erin, I need you to clam down for me, okay?" Jay told her as he placed her on the bench and turned to face her.
"I-I did..n't wa..nt him to-to die."
"I know." Jay brushed her hair behind her ears. "It's not your fault."
"He-he jus..t sho..t him-him. He shouldn't of even been up here!!!"
"I know, baby."
"M..y dad his-his ex wife and kids." Erin sobbed. "They'll be- here tomorrow. I can't-can't."
"We can." Jay took her hand. "We can."
"I wanna go home. Jay please, take me home."
"I know you do. We just gotta wait a little longer."
Erin just leaned into his chest and nodded.
Her father was just murdered by some patrolmen who's had 5 minutes on the job. And now she had a lot of explaining to do to her fathers family.
xxxxxxxxxx
"So they let him go for tonight considering... circumstances. But he could be looking at manslaughter." Hank told Erin and Jay as they sat in office, once again.
The day had been a busy one, it was late and everyone just wanted to go home. People were in and out of the bullpen being questioned and checked over. The bullpen had to be mopped at one point since Louis' blood was still had the top of the bullpen. Right beside his daughters desk.
Erin sighed. She got really angry at the patrol officer today. Well, obviously. But still, her father knew what he was doing. But she couldn't help but think that maybe that patrol officer wouldn't of shot Louis if Erin didn't shoot her father first, even if it wasn't a 'dangerous' shot. Things could of went different. But she made that decision to shoot him, as did that patrolman. And she'd make that decision again and again to protect her boys.
"Hank, that's ridiculous. He's like 12 years old. Drop it."
"Not my call, kiddo."
Erin just looked at her feet, trying to keep her tears at bay. "He's really dead, isn't he?"
"Don't you dare go down this road again, Erin." Hank warned. "You barely grazed him. This is on that patrolmen. Not you."
"I never said it was! It's not like I had a relationship with him. But his other kids did. And in a way I took that away."
"Erin." Jay sighed. He hated the way that she dug so, so deep with every situation she experienced and somehow always found a minor detail to blame on herself, regardless how ridiculous.
Erin sighed. "I know, I'm sorry. And I know it's not my fault, but he was my father."
"When does his family get into Chicago?" Hank asked.
"Tomorrow morning. They'll be at the district at 10. They don't know yet so please keep this inside the district, they don't need to find out from the news. And for the love of God, I don't want to see that lawyer man rep or whatever he was down here."
"I'll look after it kiddo."
"One more thing." Jay now spoke, Erin and Hank furrowing their brows at him. "No Bunny Fletchers at our door."
"Ha. Chicago ain't miracle street hon." Erin joked.
"I'll take care of things." Hank told them. "Now go home and don't come back here till you're ready."
"Are they all pissed off?" Erin asked, looking out at her very tired, semi-traumatized team mates.
"Don't be silly." Hank told her, opening the door.
Lindsay looked out at her teammates, realizing this was the first time they were all alone since any of this happened.
"I am so-" Erin began.
"If you dare apologize we're going to have to kill you." Antonio told her, as everyone began to gather up around her.
"But I am." Erin shrugged and wiped and falling tear for her cheek.
"No, we're sorry." Mouse said, Erin just looking confused.
"Linds, you just watched your own father pass away and yet your still worried about us." Kev said.
"But he held yous hostage. That wouldn't of happened if yous didn't know me!"
"Well, we'd take that risk all day, any day." Al told her.
"We were just worried about you and baby H." Adam said.
"Hey." Kim joked.
"Oh and of course your little side bitches." Adam winked, which made Erin smile, a genuine smile.
"And looked who ended up saving us." Jay said.
"You did, kiddo." Hank smiled.
"I'm just sor-" Lindsay began.
"Nope!" They all shouted.
"No one is sorry. We're family and we turn up for each other. Always." Adam smiled.
"Always." Erin repeated.
"C'mon." Jay said. "Let's get you home."
Erin nodded and linked hands with Jay, the two starting to walk down the stairs.
"Erin." Hailey called, Erin turning around.
"Sylvie said they found this in his pocket." Hailey smiled, handing Erin a sealed letter that just said 'Erin' written across it in fancy, neat writing.
Erin just looked down at it and smiled. "Thank you."
Jay nodded his thanks at everyone and led his girl out.
It had been an uneventful, unfair and very, very long day. All he wanted to do was snuggle up with his girl on the couch and forget the outside world.
xxxxxxxxxx
"Blueberry pancakes for my girl." Jay placed a stack of pancakes down in front of Erin.
As soon as they came home, Erin went straight to the shower while Jay went into the kitchen. Erin told him she wasn't hungry but she hadn't eaten all day and he knew there was one food Erin Lindsay would never refuse.
Blueberry pancakes.
Erin just looked up at him and smiled from the couch where she was currently petting Milo.
"You made me pancakes?"
"Of course I did." He leaned down and gave her a peck on the lips.
"You didn't have to do that."
"Eat. Please."
"Sit with me?"
"Of course."
Jay went over and got himself some pancakes and sat down beside Lindsay and turned the tv on, them watching a rerun of friends.
"They good?" Jay asked as the episode began to finish up.
"Erin." Jay said again when she didn't answer, she seemed to be just staring off into space. "Babe."
"Huh. Yeah, they're good. As always." She smirked.
"You okay?"
Erin just looked at him but didn't reply. She stood up and went to her jacket that was hanging up on the coatrack and took out the letter that Hailey had given her.
"Should I read it?"
"Do you wanna read it?" Jay asked, as she walked back over.
"I don't know. I mean it's not like I'm broken up over his death, but still."
"You can leave-" Jay began.
"Can you read it for me?"
"Of course."
Erin sat down his lap, handing Jay the note.
"You sure?" Jay asked.
"Mhm." Erin mumbled against the creek of his neck.
"Okay." Jay coughed and began to open the handwritten letter, reading it aloud.
Dear Erin,
My daughter, my pride, my greatest gift, my daddy's girl.
I have hurt you in more ways then I can express.
You needed a father and family, and that was my job. I can admit I failed. I failed horribly. I'm very sorry for that. I hope that one day you can forgive me for that and realize my love for you will always be much bigger than my failures. It fills me with so much joy to know that you found a man to do all that. Hank Voight, I owe my life to him. But I'm your father. I want to be, I need to be your father. I remember the day you were born. I didn't even know your mother was pregnant. You were so, so small. Definitely the most beautiful baby I'd ever seen, so smiley and you always had me wrapped around your finger. And now that tiny baby is going to have one of them. If I hear right, a baby girl. A daughter. Congratulations. I hope your partner looks after you two. I hope he holds your hand as you bring your daughter into this world. I hope he buys you flowers every Mother's Day. I hope a tear or two rolls down his eyes as you walk down the aisle. I hope he tells you he loves you and that you're the most beautiful thing in this world everyday. I hope you're happy, Belle. I have no idea how this whole thing is going to go, but I hope you know I do this for you. I risk this all for you. To be able to be your dad again. Wether or not it works out, I hope you know I love you. The world is lucky to have you in it. Please look after your siblings. They will be excited to meet you, I know it. Tell them I love them. But until next time, my love.
Il n'y a pas d'amour au monde comme l'amour d'un père pour sa petite fille.
- Daddy.
By the end of the letter both Erin and Jay were in tears.
"What does this last part mean?" Jay asked, pointing to the part in French.
"There is no love in the world like a father's love for his little girl." Erin sighed, her voice husky and weak.
"He thought he had to hurt the men in my life to be back in my life." Her voice broke.
"He really loved you, Erin."
"I feel- I feel like I should be sadder." Erin weeped.
"You didn't have a proper relationship."
"It's just showing me how grateful I am for Hank. For you. He was a coward. It took him 25 years to admit his wrongdoings."
"He knew what he was doing."
"I think he knew he was going to end up dead. It's why he wrote this."
"Are you okay?"
"I don't know."
"Bed?" Jay suggested, it was rather late, nearly midnight.
Erin looked up at him and shook her head. "More blueberry pancakes will do the trick."
Jay smirked, he'd do anything as long as it meant she was smiling, even if it was eating pancakes at 12am.
He'd do it, over and over again.
xxxxxxxxxx
"Erin, theres a Tessa Lindsay downstairs for you." Platt came up in the bullpen. "She's been notified."
It was the next day. The day Erin would meet her fathers family and deal with all of this mess.
"Can you send her up, please?" Erin coughed out.
"Of course." Platt smiled. Any other day, Platt would of made some snarky comment about her having legs, but she knew the severity of this to Erin. "She has her children with her."
Erin froze. She looked to Hank.
"They can wait up here." Hank told Trudy. Trudy nodding and going back downstairs to get them.
"I'm going to pass out." Erin sighed.
"You said she sounded okay over the phone." Jay said.
"Yeah over the phone." Erin snarled as she got up from her desk as she heard the intelligence gate open.
Up the stairs came 3 people.
A middle aged lady, with blonde hair and tired eyes. Behind her were two children, that looked freakishly like Erin. Same dark hair, hazel eyes and dimples. The boy, who she remembered as James, was tall and dressed like any other teenage boy and had headphones around his neck. Then the girl, Erin remembered her father saying Ellie was he name, was definitely a ringer for Erin, but was clearly not happy to be in the presence of these people.
"Hi. I'm Erin, we spoke on the phone. You must be Tessa." Erin reached her hand out to shake the woman's, the woman returning the gesture.
"It's really good to finally meet you. Congratulations by the way." Tessa indicated towards her bump.
"Thank you." Erin smiled, then looked at the children, her siblings. "Ellie and James?"
James nodded. "It's nice to meet you, Detective."
Erin smiled, he seemed like a really good kid. "You can call me Erin."
"So where was my dad murdered?" Ellie asked.
"Eh..um." Erin began, not knowing how to answer this.
Her sister hated her and they met less then 2 minutes ago.
"Ellie! Stop being so rude." Tessa warned. "I'm sorry."
"That's okay." Erin smiled. "Tessa, do you mind if we go speak in here?" Erin indicated towards the break room.
"Of course."
"Guys this is, Adam, Mouse, Kevin, Kim, Alvin, Jay, Hailey, Antonio and Hank. Do you mind waiting with them while I talk to your mom?" Erin asked her siblings, pointing out each member of her team, her team all smiling politely at them.
Are you all cops too?!" James asked excitedly, them all nodding. "I have like 1000 questions."
Erin smirked, but it immediately fell when she saw Ellie ignore everyone and go sit at the bench. She nodded her gratitude to her team and led Tessa into the break room.
"He always wanted to become a cop. He was ecstatic when he found out he had a sister who was a cop." Tessa smirked, Erin returning the smile as the women entered the break room.
"First of all, I want to say how sorry I am." Erin put a box of tissues in front of her. "Can I get you anything? Tea? Coffee?"
"Coffees fine."
"How are you, genuinely?" Erin asked, placing the coffee cup in front of her.
"Me and your father have been separated a good while. I'm okay." Tessa smiled.
Erin nodded, yet it was weird someone saying 'your father' taking about Louis.
"I'm worried about Ellie. Louis and James never had a relationship, but him and Ellie did. It broke her when he got arrested. I mean we've been separated years but he stayed around. But then he came up to Chicago and got arrested. And now." She wiped a tear.
"I'm sure he loved you all a lot."
"He loved you too, Erin." Erin furrowed her brows, she thought that Louis never told Tessa about her. "After we decided to separate he told me about his smiley, green eyed daughter that he left in Chicago. I told him he should go fix things with you, but he said the damage was done."
Erin just nodded. "The um, officer who shot him, he's looking at manslaughter if you decided to press charges."
"Me?"
"You're his immediate family."
"No, no charges. I heard he was a youngster."
"Well, he's loosing his badge anyways, there's no avoiding that."
"If it were up to Ellie, she'd give him the death penalty. But if it were James, he'd throw a celebration for him." Tessa laughed.
Erin smiled. "I'll let the States Attorney know. Hopefully they can work it out."
"As I heard, it was an honest mistake."
"Yeah."
"I hate to bring this up, but-"
"Don't worry hon. I'll sort funeral arrangements. We had deposits saved away in case anything were to happen. And I'd like to bury him here. In Chicago. It's his home."
"Does his father know?"
"Yes, just came from his house. We um, I know this sounds crazy, but I was thinking of moving back up here."
"Really? Ditching the sun for snow?" Erin laughed.
"I'll always be a Chicago girl by heart." Tessa smirked. "There's just nothing down in Florida for us anymore. Too many memories, too many judgmental old folks. We have family up here. On both sides."
"Well, Chicago's great."
"Erin, I'd love for you to be in our lives. You, Jay, the baby. I don't know much about you, nor do the kids. But we'd love to try. If that's what you want."
Erin smiled. She truly felt a connection with this woman. "I'd love too."
"When are you due?"
"Little over 9 weeks."
"Kids are a blessing."
"So I've been told." Erin smiled. "Do you and the kids have somewhere to stay up here?"
"Yeah, were staying in my mother's. Canaryville."
"Well, we should all meet sometime. Jay would love to get to know yous."
"Sounds lovely. And Erin, again I'm so sorry about Ellie."
"No need. I get it. She's a daddy's girl. This must be awful on her." Erin smiled, the women standing up.
"Yeah." Tessa sighed. "Well, I'll call you. We can figure this all out. Oh and please, get that States Attorney to call me. I don't want any kids in prison because of Louis."
"Of course."
The two made their way into the bullpen, Erin smiling at the sight. James seemed to be engrossed in whatever story the guys were telling him, while Ellie sat alone with Jay, smiling.
"He got her smiling." Tessa whispered. "First smile in weeks."
Erin smiled. Did she need anymore proof Jay was going to be the best father in the world?
"Kids, say thank you. We gotta go."
"Thank yous." The children said in union.
"It was really good meeting yous." Erin told them, as they stood at the stairs.
"You too." Erin was caught of guard when James gave her a hug, but she quickly returned it. "See you soon?"
"Of course." Erin smiled.
"See you soon, too?" Ellie smiled nervously. Jay had definitely gotten through to her that Erin wasn't some witch that got her dad killed.
"Absolutely."
"Thanks." Tessa winked once more and the family made their way down the stairs.
"Wasn't too bad, right?" Erin sighed. "They want to move to Chicago."
"They do?" Hank asked. Erin nodding.
"Well they're definitely your siblings." Adam smirked.
"What does that mean?" Erin scoffed.
Everyone just burst out laughing.
xxxxxxxxxx
"So, you got Ellie to speak? Impressive." Erin smirked as her and Jay made their way to the car.
It was only 4pm but since they had no new case, Hank let them all go home early, also warning Jay and Erin to take a few days off, which they happily obligated.
"Well, she is technically my sister-in-law." Jay smirked as they got into car, Jay being blessed with the honour to drive.
"Oh, so we're married now?" Erin smiled.
She never thought she'd ever want to get married but the thought of marrying Jay gave her butterflies. Happy ones, of course. All 3 of them, Her, Jay and Daisy all being called Halstead made her smile more than she cared to admit.
"Technically."
"What does that mean?" Erin smiled.
"Whatever you want it too, babe." Jay winked.
The car fell into a comfortable silence for the next 5 minutes, the only sound being the quite songs from the radio.
"Turn left." Erin told Jay.
"Left? We go right." Jay said, confused. They never went left. It'd bring them to the other side of Chicago.
"Just go left." Erin said.
Jay obligied. "Wanna tell me where we're going?"
"I want to go visit someone."
"Who?"
"My grandfather. Turn right." Erin said as they rounded the next stop.
"Are you sure?"
"Yeah. I mean he knows he's dead, but still. My dad begged me to go see him. I never did. He could use some family. Go left."
"You're adorable." Jay smiled.
Erin just scrunched her nose, as she continued to call out directions.
"Erin everything is in French!" Jay moaned as they began pulling into a small street with rows of bungalows.
"So? I can understand it."
"Yeah and I can't. I'll look like a weirdo."
"My weirdo."
"Ha."
"Well this is it." Erin swallowed, looking at a bungalow with a big red door.
"You don't have to if you don't want too, Erin."
"No, I need too. You come with?"
"Of course."
Jay got out of the car and helped Erin out, her bump seriously getting in the way of everything, them linking hands.
'Knock, Knock.' Jay knocked at the door, within seconds a very old man, with white hair, glasses and a cane came out.
"Bonjour, tu es Monsieur Lindsay? Je suis Erin-"
'Hello, are you Mr Lindsay? I am Erin.' Jay thought he was a boss that he could understand that much French.
"Erin?" The old man spoke, his accent thick. "My- granddaughter Erin?"
"Yes! Qui." Erin couldn't believe how much they looked like one another, or how fast he relized Erin was his grandkid.
"I cannot, how do you say? Believe this! Come in." He spoke, emotion vivid in his voice. "You look so much like your father."
"It's so good to meet you." Erin smiled.
Her grandfather led them into the living room, the room decorated with family pictures and souvenirs, just like any other grandparents home.
"Please, sit." Her grandfather said. "You are having a baby?"
Erin nodded. "This is my boyfriend, Jay. Petit ami." She smiled, just in case he needed it in French, her speaking English for Jay's sake.
"Jay, hello." He reached out to shake his hand. "Can I get yous something. Food or drink?"
"No, thank you. We just wanted to come say hello."
Erin smiled.
"I can't believe I am meeting you, my granddaughter, after so many years. What do you do?, do you work?"
"Yes, we're both detectives." Erin smiled.
"Merveilleuse." He replied, Jay not knowing that it meant wonderful yet he smiled and nodded just following Erin's lead. "Thank you for the service you do for Chicago." Jay and Erin nodding their thanks.
"It's amazing to see you. I'm so sorry about Louis." Erin gave a sad smile.
It was time to start talking about the stuff no one wanted too.
"I am sorry for what my son did to you. He was not a good man or father to you, my dear." Erin just nodded. " I always tried to find you, but when my Louis left, everything went down the drain."
Erin smiled. "Well we get to meet now, right?"
"I will be great grandfather?" Louis smirked, obviously not wanting to speak about his son.
"Yes." Erin laughed.
"Garçon ou fille?" Louis asked, now looking at Jay, obviously thinking Jay could speak French.
"Ehh." Jay thought, but suddenly remembered Erin told him that 'garçon' was boy, and 'fille' was girl. "Fille."
As long as he didn't have to spell it, he was good.
"I'm so happy for you two."
"Merci." Jay replied, feeling all cool for speaking the language.
"I would love to meet her one day."
"Of course." Erin smiled.
The 3 made small talk for the next hour or so, things like Erin's family such as her grandmother who always wanted to meet her again, her grandfathers life growing up, Louis was brought up, Erin and Jay even told him what it was like to be a cop in Chicago, which he found very cool.
As Jay and her grandfather spoke, Erin noticed a picture on the mantelpiece.
"That baby." She said. "Is that-"
"That is you, my dear." Her grandfather stood up and went and took the small picture frame and handed it to Erin.
Jay and Erin looked at the picture. It was of 4 people. Louis, baby Erin, her grandfather and who she assumed was her grandmother. Her grandfather held her as she slept in his hands while her grandmother sat next to them and Louis peered down at his sleeping daughter, love written all over his face as he touched her cheek.
"Sorry." Erin sniffed as one of her tears fell onto the picture frame. "It's a beautiful photo."
"It is." Jay smiled at his girlfriend. He hoped, yet he knew his newborn daughter was going to be as beautiful as newborn Erin was.
"Take it. Hang it up in your home." Her grandfather told her.
"Oh, no. That's okay."
"I have many pictures, Erin. Keep your fathers memory alive."
Erin smiled and nodded. "Thank you. This is- it's very special to me."
Her grandfather nodded when suddenly Jay's phone started to ring.
"Sorry, I gotta take this." He excused himself.
Well, we should probably getting going anyway." Erin coughed out.
"It's been such a blessing to see you today, dear child. Thank you for coming to see me." He touched her cheeks the leaned in to kiss her forehead. "Family is very important."
"It is and it was so good to mee you. I've met Ellie, James and Tessa. It's amazing to know you all, finally." Her voice cracked.
"I'm sorry for what you had to experience."
"I'm okay now." She smiled rubbing her bump.
"When will she be here?"
"9 weeks give or take."
"I meet her, yes?"
"Of course."
Jay came back from his phone call, staying at door realizing Erin was ready to go. Erin's grandfather walking her to the door.
"Please, come back soon. You can call me."
"We will." Jay told him.
Erin gave her grandfather one last hug, Jay a handshake and they all said their goodbyes, Jay and Erin walking to their car, it now dark outside.
"Wow." Erin sighed as she plopped herself into the passenger seat.
"I'm proud of you, baby."
"I'm proud of you." Erin giggled.
"You are? For what?" Jay laughed.
"For remembering what girl was in French."
Jay smirked. "Yeah I was pretty chuffed. But that word mervel.. oh I don't know." He gave up and began to drive.
Erin burst out laughing. "Merveilleuse. It means wonderful."
"You gotta teach me this language some time."
"Well, maybe when Daisy is older and I'm teaching her I'll let you join in."
"You're going to teach Dais how to speak French!?"
"Yep." Erin smirked.
"Why? We emigrating to France or something?"
"How else are we going to talk about you when you're around?"
"Huh. Living with two clones of each other. Fun."
"You love us."
"Of course I love my girls."
"Aw. Now turn right." Erin demanded.
"Home is left, though. Are we meeting another family member?" Jay joked.
"No. We're going to IHOP. I want pancakes."
"You always want pancakes." Jay shook his head as he pulled into the drive-thru.
"So does your daughter."
Jay just shook his head. "Hi, can I have two orders of blueberry pancakes."
Erin just smirked. "You're the best."
"I love you."
"I love you too."
Hi lovelies! Hope you liked this chapter, if you did please review and let me know!! I hope it wasn't too sad :( I tried to put in as many happy Linstead scenes as possible!
Also did yous watch the new one Chicago episodes?! Fire has me dying omg!!
Anyways stay safe and be kind!! Until next time xox
All my love x
