Erin stood on the bridge, staring at the glittering city lights. Voight told her not to look back but that, in and of itself, was her problem. She had looked back and what she saw - what she thought she saw, she couldn't be totally sure - floored her.
She'd gone to talk to Jay, give him the information she got from Bunny at the FBI headquarters.
He seemed distracted, like he was listening to her, but there was something else on his mind. But then again, there probably was. He had to learn to work with a new partner now that she'd been stripped.
She ignored it for now. They had to solve this case and she had information that could help. Her mother wouldn't walk away from what she'd done, but Erin wasn't about to let her go down with the full weight of it when her boyfriend was abusing her.
"Look, it was three men who robbed the truck. Driving was Ian McCauliff."
"That could be our shooter... Man, she opened up."
He didn't have to say what he was really thinking about Bunny's cooperation. She heard him loud and clear: Don't get caught up in this. You're already in enough trouble.
"I guess getting pinched by the FBI will do that to ya." I'm only trying to help. "Go. I shouldn't be here." She vaguely registered his hand moving toward his pocket as she gave him a quick pat on the chest as she turned and walked back to her Jeep. She really did need to get out of here. If the wrong people saw her talking to Jay, the whole case could be thrown out.
But as she pulled away, a bright red object in Jay's hand caught her eye from the rearview mirror. Was that what she thought it was? She swallowed hard, forcing herself to look back at the road ahead. She needed to concentrate on not interfering and he needed to focus on the case. Besides… that small glimpse of what appeared to be a small jewelry box couldn't be what she thought it was. . . could it?
Her phone rang from its place in her pocket, pulling her out of her reverie.
She looked at the name on the screen: Jay. She took a deep breath. She was supposed to be at Molly's, getting a drink with all of her former coworkers. But she couldn't face them, couldn't work up the heart to tell them she had to leave. Tonight.
Her finger floated to the button to ignore the call.
Hank's voice came into her mind: "Don't look back."
"I wanna hear you say it," Jay's voice interrupted Hank's in her head. "That you're no longer my partner. Look me in the eye, tell me it's over."
Dammit. She couldn't say it then and she can't say it now, but she can't just leave him like that again. Her thumb jabs the button to answer his call, right before it goes to voicemail. She slowly raises the phone to her ear.
"Erin?" his voice floats out of the receiver. "Erin, are you there?"
Her voice is thick as she answers, "Yeah, I'm here."
"Where are you? Are you okay?" The questions are rushed, back to back. He's worried.
"Jay," she starts, but she can't seem to find the words to say more. She doesn't have a problem leaving this city, but she has a BIG problem leaving him. Complications in their relationship be damned.
"Just tell me where you are," he says hurriedly. "Tell me where you are. I'll be there in a heartbeat."
She manages to say something, and she knows it must have been her location because the next thing out of his mouth is to stay right there and that he's on his way. Then the line goes dead.
She slides her phone back into her pocket and lowers herself to the ground, knees pulled to her chest, leaning against the railing on the bridge.
Next thing she knows, a car door slams and footsteps are running toward her.
"Erin!" Jay calls frantically. "Erin, are you okay?"
He all but slides onto his knees beside her, his grey eyes searching her for any sign of injury. Seeing no sign of physical injury, he puts one hand on her shoulder and uses the other one to cradle her face, gently guiding her to face him.
"Talk to me," he pleads.
She gathers up all her strength and looks him in the eye. "I'm moving to New York," she hears herself say. "FBI offered me a position and since there's no way in hell the Ivory Tower will let me anywhere near my badge again-"
"You have to go," he finishes for her, his somber tone matching her own.
"Yeah."
His face falls. "I, uh, I'm happy for you," he says with a thick swallow.
Normally, she might give him a playful shove, call him a liar. But normally, she's not gearing up to move halfway across the country, away from everyone she's ever loved. So they fall into silence instead, Jay rolling off of his knees to sit beside her.
"Are you happy?" he asks, but he already knows the answer.
She shrugs with a small shake of her head, confirming his thoughts.
His hand slips off of her shoulder and lands on the bulge in his pocket. His mother's ring still there, waiting.
"I wanna come with you," he says.
"You - you do?" She turns to face him, the corners of her lips tugging upward, eyes hopeful. If he came with, her only hesitation about leaving would go out the window, because her only hesitation about leaving was about leaving him.
"More than anything," he answers, thumbing the box in his pocket. Right now wasn't the time to pull it out, but he at least wanted to make sure he got the chance in the near future. "I got thrown for a loop when Abby showed up after all those years, and I'll always regret not telling you. I was an idiot and I totally fucked up a good thing. I love you, Erin. I don't want you to go, but if you have to, I want to come with you."
"But your whole life is here." She didn't know why she was arguing. She wanted him to come with her, more than anything.
"No," he started, wrapping his hand around the box in his pocket and pulling it out. Screw that bit about not the time. "My life is with you. I don't care where you are, where you're going. I'll follow you anywhere." He paused, shifting back onto his knees. "Wherever you are is where I want to be." He took her hand and placed the small box in her palm, gently wrapping her fingers around it.
She gasped, her lips parting as she brought the object in her hands in front of her face and flipped open the lid. She wasn't crazy. She had seen exactly what she thought she'd seen.
"It was my mom's," Jay explained, searching her eyes with his own.
Her eyes danced mischievously. "So are you gonna ask me?"
"Depends," he replied, terrified and excited at the same time. "You gonna say yes?"
The smile that lit up her face calmed any remaining doubts he had. He hadn't blown it with her, not totally. "You're an idiot if you don't know the answer to that," she teased, holding the box out toward him, inviting him to take it back. "Or are you gonna be the guy who makes the girl propose?"
"God no," he responded, snatching the ring from her hands. "Stand up. I wanna do this right."
She chuckled, pulling herself to her feet. She crossed her arms in front of her chest and looked at him expectantly.
"Erin Lindsay," he started, trying his best not to laugh at the way she quirked her eyebrow at him. "Will you marry me?"
"It would be my greatest honor," she answered, beaming as he slid the ring onto her finger. Then he stood and she pulled him into a tight embrace. "I love you so much."
He pulled back so he could kiss her. "Love you too."
A/N: I've been meaning to write a fix-it fic for 4x23 since I watched it and today, this just came to me. So this is my headcanon now. Anything post 4x23 that we see of Jay is just Jay's long-lost identical twin brother who also happens to be named Jay. XD
Anyway. I hope you all enjoyed!
Much love! 3
Kae